Hermione knocked on the door before opening it. She stepped into headmaster Dippet's bedroom as she did every Sunday. The room was easily twice the size of a regular dorm room and was decorated in Hufflepuff theme. Dippet was sitting in a high-back chair on the other end of the room. The fireplace roared with life since the season was turning and winter was just around the corner.
"Hermione, dear," smiled Dippet when he saw her. She shut the door behind her and joined him in front of the fire. "You played wonderfully yesterday, my dear."
Hermione returned his smile. "I thought you would be disappointed that your house lost," she joked.
Dippet chuckled which caused his mop of wiry gray hair to bounce. "I am sad and do hope they pull through in the other matches but my true pride will always lie with you whether you be my granddaughter, great-great-granddaughter, or a stranger."
Hermione felt her smile fall away. Dippet was a true Hufflepuff and was way too kind. "I practically am a stranger," she whispered a bit brokenly.
Dippet patted her knee, still wearing that warm smile. "I suppose we should fix that. Shall we start by you revealing your real name? I would hate to keep calling you by my granddaughter's real name when behind closed doors. Then you can tell me whatever you wish to reveal to me." He gave a conspiratorial wink that clashed with his small, toothless smile that warmed her heart.
"'Kay," Hermione laughed. It was amazing that Dippet always seemed to know what to do or say to soothe her. "First off, I should tell you that I was named after my grandmother. My full name is Hermione Jean Granger." An image of her younger sister flickered across her mind. "I also have a little sister named Hester. Hester Aria Granger." She missed her family.
"Would you tell me more about your family? I assume I am no longer around during this time and it would be lovely to get to know them and you."
"Of course," said Hermione as she leaned back into the chair. A tray with two glasses of butterbeer appeared on the table beside them. It appeared right on time just like always thanks to the house elves. She wondered how they were doing. It had been so busy this school year that she had yet to find the time to visit them.
"My family consists of me, my sister, and my parents," began Hermione. She decided to deliver the bad news first before diving into more detail. "My grandparents on my mother's side, which were Hermione and Peter, passed away before I was born." She watched as Dippet's smile fell away and tears formed in his eyes. When he saw her looking, he nodded for her to continue. "I've mentioned my sister already. She's two years and three months younger than I. When we found out I was a witch, her eyes lit up like saucers in the hope that she too will one day be accepted into Hogwarts. When that day never came she became distant. So much so that she will hardly talk to me."
Dippet once again patted her knee in comfort. "I'm sure she will come around. A bond between sisters is hard to break."
Hermione nodded though she was doubtful. The last time she saw her sister it had ended in an argument. It didn't help that her sister now lived in Australia and was under the impression that she was an only child.
Hermione wiped away the tears that formed in the corners of her eyes. "You would love my parents. They're both dentists. The practice isn't that common right now as it is in the future. What they do is work on teeth to make them healthier. When they first found out about magic it was like they turned into children. They were apprehensive about the dangers of magic but very enthusiastic about its implements," chuckled Hermione as a fond memory of her parents' first time in Diagon Alley popped into her head. Her family loved it there. Her father had been drawn to the candy shop while her mother had been drawn to the dress maker's. It had been an interesting experience to watch the colored material buzzing around in the shop. Little Hester had been drawn to the brooms with wild fascination while Hermione had wanted nothing more than to spend all of her time in the bookstore. The experience had been wonderful and magical all at the same time.
"It sounds as if it were quite the experience."
"It was. Oh, how I wish you could see it."
Dippet cocked his silver eyebrows and his eyes sparkled with an idea. "I happen to be an excellent legilimens."
Hermione mauled over his words and decided that it couldn't hurt. She relaxed her shoulders and nodded. She knew as soon as Dippet entered her mind because she felt the small pull before the memory of her first time in Diagon Alley came to her mind for the second time. When Dippet exited her memory, he wore a gleeful expression and a wide smile. "It seemed as if they had quite a bit of fun."
"They did," smiled Hermione fondly. A memory of a passage from one of the textbooks that she had read years ago flashed through her mind's eye. She sat up straight in the chair and grinned from ear to ear. "You know, it might just be possible that you have met them, my family that is. Especially if you had the information that you now do. You see, you don't die until the early nineties."
Instead of scolding her for revealing too much about his own future, which Hermione was mentally kicking herself for almost giving his exact death date, his look turned thoughtful. "What year did you come from?" he asked slowly. Hermione could see the gears turning in his head though she hadn't an inkling as to what he was thinking.
"1998," she whispered.
Dippet nodded his head absentmindedly. "That gives me plenty of time."
"Plenty of time for what? You know how I feel about changing the future. I don't want to change it anymore than it already has."
Dippet smiled conspiratorially at her. "You will see when you return to your time. What I am thinking will not affect your past. Only the future you have yet to live."
"Oh."
Dippet took a drink from his butterbeer. With a smack of his lips, he delivered words of hope to her. "I may also have an idea. I have already gathered that you are here because of a particular person and that you have decided to abort your mention because of them. Am I correct in assuming that Tom has strayed from the path?" Hermione nodded in shock. The books had always painted Dippet as being whimsical and well-not very observant. And Harry had told them about Dippet's behavior when he was in Dumbledore's memory. They were so very wrong. Hermione realized right then that it was all an act. Dippet was more Slytherin than anyone had ever realized. "It's really just a thought but what if the Tom Riddle of your time is just a horcrux?"
"How could he be a horcrux? And if he were, then what happened to the real Tom Riddle? And, how did you know about the horcruxes?" The questions tumbled out, almost blurring together into an incoherent sentence.
"Horcruxes? I was under the impression that he had only made one so far-nevermind." Dippet waved his hand for emphasis. "I figured it out when I saw the instability within him. If one knows where to look then one will discover the damage to his soul. Based on the damage, I would assume that Tom had accidentally placed a large portion into the object he used for the horcrux. And I believe the answer to your question about where the real Tom Riddle might have gone to during your time will be quite obvious." He elaborated when Hermione said nothing. "I can only assume that he traveled back to your time with you."
It was possible. The words that he said did make a lot of sense. But if that were the case then did that mean that there was a chance that she hadn't wrecked the future? Was it possible that her Tom never turned into the Lord Voldemort that she knew? She would have to do more research. "Do you think your personal library might have anything that could shed light onto this situation?"
Dippet smiled and with a wave of his wand, a stack of books appeared on the floor at her feet. "You may read over them in case I might have missed something."
. . .
Mary was resting in the garden when the owl appeared. The beautiful creature landed on the bench beside her. She rubbed her hand gently down his feathers. "Hello, Wizengamot." The owl trilled his own greeting before showing her the letter tied to its leg. Mary untied the letter gently then unfolded it.
Hello, my dear grandmother.
I am writing to inform you that I have decided to pursue my companion that I had brought with me during the masquerade ball. I am pleased to tell you that she has said yes. I wanted to tell you in person but was afraid harm might befall you if he ever found out so I write this letter instead. I really think she is the one.
Love, your grandson.
Tears of joy sprang to her eyes. Never had Tom addressed her as 'grandmother' in his letter nor had he ever once signed them with his love. She was right in believing that this Hermione he spoke so fondly of was changing him for the better.
Mary clutched the letter close to her heart. "Wait here," she told the owl. Her husband was thankfully enjoying a game of poker and would be absent for another hour or two. She ran into the house. She found what she was looking for in the bottom drawer of her jewelry box.
After writing a quick letter and wrapping it around the gold bands that were her parents' wedding set, she broke off a piece of biscuit for Wizengamot. She had never been so happy since the death of her son.