~The following is a work of fan fiction. It uses characters, places, and things from J.K. Rowling's fantastic creation Harry Potter, which is copyrighted by her. I do not claim ownership of anything owned/copyrighted by the lovely J.K. Rowling.~

Hermione awoke to the gentle nudging of a cleverly cast alarm spell that she had discovered in her first year. She yawned and rolled over, dislodging the heavy book that had been propped on her stomach. She realized as she rolled that she was gripping the Time-Turner which was attached to a delicate but sturdy chain around her neck. She tucked it securely beneath her nightgown thinking that she may have to remove it while she slept from now on.

She sighed as the early morning sun began to shine through the girl's dormitory windows and slipped quietly out of her four poster, conscious of the other girls who would not be awake for hours yet. Lavender was one to get particularly annoyed if her beauty rest was interrupted and Hermione knew she had been up late cramming for the Transfiguration quiz.

Hermione stretched and padded over to the window while thinking of her ever-growing list of assignments and her carefully crafted schedule for that day. She noticed that Professor Dumbledore stood at the window of the Headmaster's Office as well, gazing thoughtfully over the castle and grounds. She wondered to herself that he never seemed to sleep - a product of a busy schedule or haunted thoughts? She suspected that Sirius Black's attack on the Fat Lady just a few days ago may still be on his mind. Hermione shook her head slightly, scolding herself for her usual nosiness, and went to the washroom to attempt to tame the wild nest that her bushy hair had become in the night.

"Oi, you're about to nod off into your porridge," said Ron as he hesitantly tapped Hermione's shoulder. Ron, like any typical 13-year-old boy, became immediately awkward at the prospect of touching a girl, even his best friend.

Hermione started but replied sharply "No I wasn't, Ronald, I was simply deep in thought. Did you finish your Charms homework?"

Ron mumbled something into his own breakfast about Merlin's wrinkled left something-or-other and a wonderment on who may have peed in her potion. Hermione inwardly winced at her curt reply and noticed Harry looking at her with concern across the Gryffindor table.

"Hermione, are you sure you're not overwhelmed? We know you have a lot on your plate…besides cold, half-eaten porridge," he said, his eyes soft.

"I'm alright, really, just a bit tired," she smiled apologetically at them both. "I spent the morning in the library editing my essay for Arithmancy and doing some last minute studying for Transfiguration."

Ron looked up at her gaping. "Transfiguration?"

"Yes, remember, we went over flashcards last night in the common room to prepare for the quiz."

"Errr, that's right. I reckon I'll ace it. Definitely. No problem."

Hermione laughed lightly and resisted the urge to ruffle his already rumpled hair. "Of course you will. Now come on both of you, breakfast is nearly over."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed towards Care of Magical Creatures but Hermione stopped when they reached the Entrance Hall.

"I'll meet you at Hagrid's," she said. "I just have to visit the lavatory."

Hermione hurried to the Arithmancy classroom where she spent the hour soaking up every word of Professor Vector. Hermione delightedly took notes about the absent minded and paranoid Bridget Wenlock, although she already knew the details of Wenlock's discovery of the magical properties of the number seven. Hermione left the classroom elated and already looking forward to the next lesson where she would receive Professor Vector's notes on the essay she had just handed in.

Hermione turned the corner and went straight into the girl's bathroom, refusing to catch the eye of Lucy, a fellow Gryffindor third year, who would likely want to complain to Hermione about the difficulty of Arithmancy. The redheaded girl had taken to asking Hermione to explain the material following each lesson, which Hermione didn't usually mind, but simply didn't have time for at the moment.

Today was one of the days when she would have four classes before lunch and one after, and although she was excited to see Hagrid and take the quiz in Transfiguration that she had prepared so meticulously for, she had to admit she was truly exhausted. She peered in each of the stalls, making sure no one was hanging around, before entering the stall farthest from the door. She had begun using that one for her time travel because the orientation of the pipes made it so Moaning Myrtle would periodically shoot out of the toilet when she was unwittingly flushed down her own. This, of course, made is so no one ever used this particular stall. Hermione slid the bolt in place and pulled the Time-Turner from beneath her robes. She carefully rotated the tiny hourglass backwards one time and braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut, as she began to feel her very molecules start to unravel.

When she opened her eyes, she listened as two Slytherin girls washed their hands and gushed over the supposed miracle of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion.

"I bet that stuff could even tame Hermione Granger's horrible hair," one tittered.

The other girl was laughing loudly as they exited the bathroom. Maybe I should keep that in mind, Hermione thought tiredly.

Hermione spent the next hour in Muggle Studies which she loved simply for the atmosphere of acceptance and curiosity of the Muggle world. She would never admit it to Harry and Ron but she also enjoyed being one of the "experts" on the subject; Professor Burbage called on her frequently to explain everything from hair dryers to gaming consoles. Hermione was glad that Ron wasn't in the class to snicker at her exuberance. She had made the somewhat whimsical decision to use a mechanical pencil and bright pink notebook rather than quill and parchment to take notes on the Muggle world.

As she left the classroom tucking her notebook into a zippered compartment of her bag, Hermione could feel her exhaustion setting in once again. The excitement over her latest monologue on the Muggle Underground was quickly fading.

As she tripped toward the bathroom and her usual stall, she noticed the Whomping Willow out of a small, circular window. Two of it's huge branches swung at a brazen squirrel that had apparently tried to run up it's trunk. Hermione hoped the squirrel was quick enough to avoid the aggressive tree.

Hermione sat heavily on the closed lid of the toilet and pulled the Time-Turner free of her robes. She yanked it haphazardly over her head thinking that she would just rest her eyes for a few moments before going back the hour to meet Harry and Ron at Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures.

Her tired mind thought fuzzily of the Whomping Willow. After it had attacked the boys in the beginning of their second year, Hermione had done some research on the magical plant. She found that it had been planted in the 70's but she couldn't find any explanation as to why such a dangerous plant would be purposely placed on the Hogwart's grounds. She wondered as well why no one ever seemed to go near it, neither in curiosity or foolish bravery. Hermione fiddled absently with the Time-Turner as she struggled not to drift off entirely. She was fighting a losing battle, however, and as she sank into a dreamless sleep, the Time-Turner fell, spinning quickly from her fingers.