The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn by SheWalksWithRavens

A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, I appreciate them very much. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving if you celebrate it. Also as I reread chapters that I have written I notice grammatical mistakes and typos, which one day I will fix with a revision to the entire story. There is also a bit of an issue as to the timeline of this story, which I need to go back and clear up one day. I operate without a beta-reader, mostly because I like to get the story out to you guys as soon as I'm done with the chapter. This next chapter should clear some more things up. Enjoy, and review in the end.

Chapter Fifteen- The Secret Window

"This is hopeless, we're never going to find anything." Ron moaned as he shut another dusty tome and added it to the pile of useless books on the table.

"We have to find something…maybe we are just looking in the wrong spot." Harry said as he shut the volume in his hand, also coming up with nothing.

"Harry we've been looking for over four hours." Ginny said softly laying a hand on his arm.

"Wait… we've only been searching for ways to bring people in time back."

"Yes, that is our goal isn't it?" Ron said staring up at his friend questioningly.

"Well, we know where Hermione is. But maybe there are clues that can help us to help her, from the past."

"I'm not following you mate…"

"You're absolutely right, Harry. Ron, if we can find any information about Hermione during the time she has spent in the past, it might allow us to find an opportunity to bring her home."

Ron sighed standing with a bit of a stretch.

"So… to the Daily Prophet archives then?"

Journey to the Past…

Hermione sat in the garden which had now mostly withered away into dead leaves as the cold began to creep in. Yet the stone statues, bubbling fountain and high hedges still welcomed her presence. She had spent the better part of an hour staring at her ring, when she should have been working on the essay for Transfiguration. She didn't even look up when someone slid onto the empty spot of the bench and stared at her.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Alicia, have you ever felt confused? Like you knew something was supposed to be one way, only to find the exact opposite." Hermione said turning to her red head friend.

"Maybe… I think we all have at some point. But who is vexing you? Riddle?"

"What? No…as much of a mystery Tom Riddle is, he isn't on my thoughts."

"I find that hard to believe. The whole of Hogwarts is talking about you two, you know."

"And what are they saying?"

"That you are going steady and having a secret love affair, all very passionate of course. And the Slytherin with a Gryffindor, is almost like Romeo and Juliet." Alicia said with a dramatic flair that made Hermione laugh.

"Well, they must get used to disappointment then. There isn't anything between Riddle and myself." Hermione replied standing and gathering her books about her.

"And if there was?"

"Life doesn't operate on what ifs, Alicia. Now come on, its getting rather nippy and I being the dolt that I am forgot my cloak." She said hurrying back inside the walls of Hogwarts with Alicia fast on her heels.

Hermione had found it increasingly easier to separate herself from Tom Riddle as the work load increased before the winter Holidays. She rarely surfaced from the Gryffindor common room, and that was only to eat, attend classes or grab a book from the library. She couldn't risk spending too long amongst the books however, as Tom Riddle often lurked somewhere in the stacks.

Hermione wasn't entirely sure of her feelings toward Riddle and that frightened her to her very core. It was a man she was supposed to hate, a man who would try to kill her and her best friends in the future, an evil man. Yet, all Hermione ever saw was the piercing green eyes. All she ever felt were his smooth and slightly cold hands. Smacking herself in the forehead, Hermione let out an agitated groan. There was no way around it, she was attracted to a psychopath.

'Well done, Hermione. Well done.' She said to herself, balling her hand into a tight fist, effectively scrunching up the paper she had spent the past hour making notes on for her History of Magic Essay. When she realized her error, she let out a mini-squeak of horror while frantically trying to smooth out the wrinkles.

"Reparo." Said a calm cool voice behind her and instantly the wrinkles and small tears mended themselves.

Hermione looked up with honey-brown eyes surrounded by bags, and hair that had been tussled too many times in her frustration. Connor however, just smiled down at her with one of his toothy grins before playfully tapping her nose.

"You know, you would think that you weren't a witch, Hermione." Connor said confidently sliding next to her on the squishy red velvet couch.

He stretched his long legs out, allowing them to enjoy the warmth of the fire. He had been out at the Quidditch pitch practicing some maneuvers for the next game, when the sun set effectively telling him to call it a night.

"Its just that I'm so frustrated you know, with all the extra work that the professors have given us." Hermione complained sinking further into the corner of the couch as one hand rubbed her temples.

"It is a bit akin to torture I have to agree…" She let out a snort and looked up at him with one brow raised.

"A bit?"

"Right, a lot then. Hermione, Gwen and I were talking, and we were wondering, if you had any place to spend the winter holidays?"

"Um…" Connor sensing Hermione's discomfort placed a hand on her arm.

"Oh you don't have to answer right this minute, just know that my family is happy to have you. Gwen's family spends the Christmas season with us as well, so you don't have to worry about being without feminine company. Let me know though, before the week is up so my parents can make the arrangements."

Standing up with a great yawn and a stretch, he excused himself to the boys dormitories and left Hermione to have a bit of a think. She had just assumed she would spend the Winter holiday at Hogwarts, it wasn't the worst thing in the world, and it wasn't like she had anywhere to go here did she?

Maybe she ought to speak to Dumbledore, he would let her know what was best. After all, the more Hermione involved herself with the people here in the past, the more she was impacting the future. Stacking her books, one atop the other, she trudged up the staircase to the girl's dormitories, to try and get some sleep.

We go forward…

Ron had fallen asleep on a pile of books, a bit of drool finding its way out of the side of his mouth. Harry and Ginny however, sat opposite each other on the floor combing each and every daily prophet article, yearbook and other piece of 40's related material they could get their hands on.

"Harry, look at this." Ginny said excitedly pointing to an article from May 3rd, 1942.

Harry took the newspaper clipping from Ginny, accidentally brushing her hand which caused both of them to blush, before looking down at what Ginny found.

A Medical Breakthrough Discovered at St. Mungo's

By Walter Pickering.

Today is a new, bright exciting day for St. Mungo's, the premiere Wizarding hospital in the world. The Hospital Director, Galen Clowes, proudly announced that St. Mungo's would now be able to offer low cost treatment to all in the magical community. "It is time that we took a step forward, and overlooked the blood prejudices that have often crippled our society. By offering affordable care to all, St. Mungo's will set the example for the rest of the medical community which has previously only catered to the wealthy." Said Clowes.

Her husband, Fallon Clowes, famed philanthropist and Ministry official was also on hand for the announcement. "What my wife is now able to offer St. Mungo's was a long time coming, I am incredibly proud of her—this has been her life's work."

However, not all were happy with this announcement. Many pureblood families are trying to fight against lowering the health care costs, believing that it will limit the care they are able to be provided with. There is no doubt that this will go before the Ministry, however whether or not the nay-sayers will be placated remains unknown. Threats have also been made against the family, but the Ministry assures that an increased Auror presence will be made available to the Clowes family at all times.

"We won't allow a repeat of past events." Stated Head Auror, Owen Shacklebolt.

Shacklebolt of course refers to the infamous disappearance of the Clowes only daughter, Hermione eight years ago. The case still remains unsolved, though it is widely believed she was killed by Grindlewald's supporters.

Harry's eyes widened at the mention of a "Hermione." But there was nothing else to make him think that they were one and the same.

"There could be more than one person in this world with the name Hermione, Ginny." Harry said with a sigh pushing the paper back to her. Ron let out a loud snore then wriggling his nose, went back into a still sleep.

"Look at the photograph, Harry." Ginny said handing it back to him, this time unfolded to show a moving photograph of a couple waving from behind a podium while many flashbulbs went off around them.

The man had a bit of a scruffy beard, but his smile was wide and pleasant. His dark hair curled atop his head, and he had his arm proudly wrapped around his wife. His wife had honey brown hair which fell in waves around her shoulders, she looked almost exactly like Hermione, except she had a true classical beauty that Hermione had yet to grow into.

"Merlin…We've got to tell Dumbledore." Harry breathed out locking eyes with Ginny.

We go back…

"Can anyone tell me the importance of the blood-replenishing potion?" Slughorn asked with his hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed his sleepy students.

Three people raised their hands, Tom Riddle, Hermione Granger and Bethen Burrows. Slughorn surveyed his potential candidates and barely even noticed that Bethen was there.

"Yes, Mr. Riddle?"

"Well, Professor, without the blood-replenishing potion, people would die should they receive a large wound causing the loss of a substantial amount of blood. The potion will give the drinker back the blood lost, restoring them to health, provided that the wound is also healed."

"Excellent, 10 points to Slytherin. Now, can anyone tell me the main ingredients of a blood-replenishing potion?"

Again the same three hands went up. Since Riddle just answered a question and was looking like a cross between being smug and bored, Slughorn chose Hermione effectively yet again ignoring the girl sitting in the second row.

"Sage, phoenix tears, willow bark and holly berries." Hermione answered confidently.

"Right again, 10 points to Gryffindor. The blood-replenishing potion is an excellent medical feat, which is probably responsible for many of you being here today. We are not going to manufacture the blood-replenishing potion here today, because phoenix tears are rarely given and therefore are too hard to come by for daily practice. However, we will be discussing its potential uses and failings, as well as the usage of potions in medicinal magic. Please open your texts to page four hundred thirty three and begin reading."

The rest of the class passed uneventfully, as they mostly all sat there and listened to Slughorn drone on and on about his connections to various famed Healers. Having already read this chapter, Hermione skimmed the paragraphs again not really paying attention to the actual words on the page. Until a large hand was clasped on to her shoulder, causing her to jump. She looked up to see the walrus like mustache of Slughorn twitching into a smile.

"Ms. Granger, if I might have a word with you after class." Professor Slughorn said, the light reflecting off his blading head.

Hermione knew that smile and its implications. Slughorn was going to invite her to a meeting with the Slug club. She hoped to have avoided it, having had to endure the annoying parties in her 6th year, but apparently she did not escape this time.

When the class was over, everyone hurried to leave the room, their stomachs screaming for sustenance. Hermione gathered her things, slipping them into her bag before making her way over to Slughorn's desk.

Tom watched her as he slowly put his own things away, taking his time to arrange his potions ingredients perfectly in their kit. She had avoided him like the plague these last few weeks, which both amused him and angered him at the same time. Narrowing his eyes he watched as Slughorn jovially handed her a piece of paper, an invitation to the Slug Club social no doubt.

Of course Slughorn would want her to join, she was brilliant and intelligent, a witch like her didn't come along very often. And if you were to win a witch like her to your cause, it would be most beneficial indeed. Swinging his worn leather bag over his shoulder, Riddle stalked out of the classroom.

"So will you consider it Miss Granger?" Slughorn said hopefully.

"Sure, I'll think on it." Hermione said with a forced smile.

"Excellent, m'dear. Now, I am afraid I've detained you from lunch too long. You must hurry otherwise all the food will be gone."

Hermione said a hasty goodbye before hurrying down the hall, attempting to make it to her friends and the Great Hall. She was heading up one of the staircases when it got the bright idea of switching on her. Finding herself in a hallway that she didn't recognize, Hermione grew confused.

She walked slowly forward, hoping to find a portrait or statue she'd recognize, but there was nothing, only the sound of her footfalls echoing through the corridor. Finally seeing a huge stained glass window up ahead, she thought she might be able to determine her location in the castle by her position to the outside.

The stained glass window was of a woman sitting beneath a large willow tree in medieval dress, leaning against a dark looking aristocratic man.

"Rowena Ravenclaw and Salaazar Slytherin." Hermione said to herself as she looked at the window.

Why was their a window of them like this though? They almost looked intimate. As far as she knew, none of the Founders were romantically involved with one another. Quirking a brow, she realized she had been staring at the window for quite some time. Lunch would now be drawing to a close, and she still wasn't quite sure where she was.

Turning around she found herself standing face to face with Tom Riddle. He looked down at her with his piercing green eyes, and she wondered how long he had been standing there.

"Merlin, don't sneak up on people like that."

"No, I'm Tom Riddle and I didn't sneak, you were just so engrossed in the window that you didn't notice."

"Its just strange that Rowena Ravenclaw and Salaazar Slytherin would be pictured like this that's all. And I've never seen it before wandering through Hogwarts."

"Is it really all that strange? Ravenclaw was an intelligent witch, and Slytherin was attracted to power."

"Yes, but I suspected that Rowena would have had better judgment than that. Besides, I've never read anything about the two of them."

"You wouldn't. This window is one of the last things that remains alluding to the relationship of Ravenclaw and Slytherin. It's a bit of a dark tale mind you, not with a fairy tale ending so I don't know if you would want to hear it."

"You know that I do, so tell the tale."

"Very well. The Founders all had come together to create Hogwarts, naturally you would have read all about that in The Founders of Hogwarts." He smirked at her, and Hermione was reminded of the day in the library where he attempted to violate her mind.

"Well, all the Founders were relatively young. And in youth, hormones tend to race. Just look about the Halls for proof of that. Rowena Ravenclaw was a beautiful woman, and she possessed a great deal of intelligence. These were two things, Salaazar Slytherin found very, very, attractive. So they had an affair kept quiet from the other two Founders, because they didn't want to jeopardize the school. They kept this window hidden from them as well."

Riddle spoke from behind her, allowing Hermione to view the window unobstructed. She could feel his body heat he was standing that close, yet he wasn't close enough to touch her. She shut her eyes momentarily his voice entrancing her, as she worked to steady the strange feeling she was getting.

"Then one day, Slytherin offered Ravenclaw the world on a silver platter, if only she would help him to rid the school of any…impurities. Ravenclaw refused siding with Gryffindor, and their love affair ended quite bitterly in fact. But still out of all the houses, it is Ravenclaw that the Slytherins like best." Riddle whispered into Hermione's ear the last sentence causing her heart rate to increase quite a bit.

"Well lucky for me then that I'm a Gryffindor." Hermione breathed out.

Tom's eyes twinkled with a look that Hermione came to describe as 'I know something you don't know' and she took a step away from him, only realizing how close they had become while he was talking.

"You missed lunch by the way; your friends were frantically looking for you." He said coldly.

"I am afraid I got a bit turned around up here, I'm still finding my way around the castle it seems."

"I'll take you back." Riddle said motioning for her to follow him.

"How did you know?" Hermione asked her voice cracking a little in her nervousness.

"Know what?" Riddle responded over his shoulder.

"About Ravenclaw and Slytherin…"

"Maybe one day I'll show you. Now hurry up, if you want to make it back in time before your next class you can't walk as slow as a sloth."

Hermione's face contorted in anger. She did not walk as slow as a sloth! It wasn't her fault that he had ridiculously long legs, and she was on the petite side. Quickening her stride to match his, she sent him a death glare which caused him to smirk. Before she knew it, they had reached the end of the corridor and came out near the Transfiguration classroom, where she would be able to find her way back from.

"Thanks, Riddle." Hermione said stiffly before hurrying away from him towards the Gryffindor Common room.

Riddle watched her disappear around the corner, over a thousand year later, and Slytherin men were still attracted to the same sort of girls. Laughing to himself, he made his way to his next class.

Time keeps on slippin' into the future…

Dumbledore sat at his desk, his half-moon spectacles riding low on his nose as he examined the newspaper article laid out in front of him. Harry, Ron and Ginny sat anxiously on the other side of his desk in large wing-backed arm chairs that Dumbledore had conjured for them. It was a wonder that there was space in the cluttered office, but somehow they all fit.

"This is most curious indeed. Having never met the Clowes child, I cannot say for certain if she and Ms. Granger are one in the same. Yet, if they were… the implications would be enormous."

"Excuse me, Professor, I'm not following." Harry said echoing everyone's thoughts at that moment.

"Time, Mr. Potter. Its an interesting thing, you alter it the slightest bit, and you will have a result beyond anyone's reckoning. If you remove an object from its set place in time, or put one there which wasn't meant to exist yet, you create a new world, an alternate universe, that was not predestined by fate. Its all quite complicated, and even I don't know all the workings of it, but to make a long story short. If Miss Granger is from the past, then her being here in the future set things out of the loop in the past, altering the future to what it is now. Then again, if Miss Granger, is from the future, her being in the past now is changing our present. Do you follow?"

The dumbfounded looks on the children's faces before him, told Albus Dumbledore that they did not. He didn't despair however, for even the most brilliant wizards and witches could not fathom time and fate.

A/N: There you have it, Chapter 15. Please review. Pwetty Pweety Please?