Hermione straightened her shoulders as though someone had nailed a cross to her back. The girl's skin turned unnaturally pale, and a very real inner struggle played out across her face. She glanced into the suitcase and stared thoughtfully inside for some time. Then she decisively slammed the lid shut and declared:
"I understand! Richard, I'll do everything I can to get back home!"
***
For the next several days, Hogwarts was abuzz. Every conversation seemed to revolve around the appearance of the second Hermione. Almost everyone stared shamelessly at the displaced girl, making her feel decidedly uncomfortable.
Richard hadn't expected anything good from Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons in the first place.
Professor Fletcher looked every bit as disreputable as he had at the feast: stubble on his face, the reek of cheap booze mingling with the acrid smell of tobacco, and bags beneath his eyes.
Like every new teacher, he began the lesson by getting acquainted with the class. Fortunately, no one had decided to reshuffle pupils from different Houses this year, so Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were taking the subject together.
After calling the register, the teacher continued:
"From what I've heard, that rogue Lockhart didn't teach you a bloody thing last year. Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to take the teaching post and approved my syllabus. So this year, we'll be studying the most important thing for any wizard—how to save your own skin."
Mundungus, who had recently taught the Gryffindors and Slytherins, had expected a lively reaction from the pupils. Instead, he was met only by attentive looks and their readiness to take notes. Somewhat surprised, he continued:
"The whole point of Defence Against the Dark Arts is keeping a wizard alive. And I know a thing or two about that from personal experience," the teacher added with a trace of irony in his voice. "So remember this—or better yet, write it down. The first rule of survival for a wizard is this: whenever you find yourself in danger, leg it! See some high-danger beast like a dragon or a manticore? Run like hell. If you can, fly, Apparate or use a Portkey. If you get into a fight, there's no guarantee you'll come out of it alive."
An original approach, Richard thought. Can't say I dislike it. I wonder what rubbish heap Dumbledore dug this wizard out of? I wouldn't be surprised if the Headmaster really did offer a professorship to some tramp.
"Over the course of this year, we'll be learning ways of getting yourselves out of difficult situations," the teacher continued hoarsely. "Unlocking and locking spells, so you can get out of a locked room or barricade yourself away from a monster chasing you. Concealment charms, so you can avoid attracting the attention of dangerous magical creatures. A spell for covering your tracks, so various nasty beasts can't follow you. Charms for sealing parchment so no one but the intended recipient can read your correspondence. And towards the end of the year, we'll move on to finding charms, so you can locate things that have been stashed aw—er... forgotten or lost."
Richard was pleasantly surprised. The lesson proved remarkably informative, though it left a rather peculiar aftertaste. He wasn't the only one who thought so, as Padma, walking beside him, decided to share her impressions.
"Richie, I'm glad we're actually going to learn something in DADA for once. Though the spells Professor Fletcher mentioned don't sound much like defensive magic."
"I agree, Padma," Grosvenor replied. "Sounds more like a burglar's toolkit. Still, that's not a bad thing either. Where else are we going to learn anything like that?"
"Oh." Patil breathed out in relief. "I was beginning to think I was the only one who noticed..."
At last, the Hermione from this world was discharged from the hospital wing. This immediately drew renewed interest from the pupils, which only began to die down towards the end of the week. Seeing a single Granger and hearing vague rumours was one thing; seeing two Hermiones together was quite another.
After her treatment, the real Granger looked much better. She threw herself back into her studies with renewed vigour, making up for lost time.
At one point, when they were alone, she complained to her friend:
"Richie, my copy is unbearable! Can you imagine, she doesn't think ordinary school subjects are important! When I told her I was studying the Year Eleven curriculum, she was completely astonished and actually twirled a finger beside her temple. Can you believe that?!"
"I can. Hermione, you've just described most of the pupils at Hogwarts. What matters is that you understand the importance of education. But please, don't push yourself so hard again."
"I'll try. But Richie, you should see the way my copy keeps hovering around Harry Potter! He practically tells her to get lost to her face, and she still follows him around like a remora. But the worst part is that she lets that freeloader Ron copy her homework!"
"You're different people, Hermione. You'll simply have to accept that."
"No, Richie, you just don't have to share a room with her," Hermione continued indignantly. "You should hear the way she talks about Divination! Says it's unscientific... As though she's the very embodiment of scientific thinking! Oh yes, absolutely... What sort of idiot chooses every single subject and then uses a time machine just to attend them?!"
"Hermione, don't be so judgemental. You and Miss Granger still have a great deal in common, different though you may be."
Richard had compared the two Hermiones and found quite a few similarities between them. Both had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. One had used a time machine to acquire it; the other had been ruining her health with potions.
"Richie, did you give her an Illusion?" his friend continued, sounding aggrieved. "I noticed the bracelet on her wrist."
"Not exactly. It's a low-powered AI with the ability to scan its surroundings. Hmm..."
Richard considered whether he ought to tell her the truth.
"You're hiding something, aren't you?" Granger narrowed her eyes.
"Of course, Hermione." Grosvenor smiled in reply. "I'm full of secrets and mysteries. But I can trust you with a secret. Can't I?"
"You can," the girl replied seriously.
"Have you ever dreamt of travelling through the multiverse?"
"Erm..." Hermione thoughtfully twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "I think it would be fascinating. There's so much we could learn in other worlds..."
"I like the way you think," Richard continued warmly. "I hinted to your double that we'd need a Time-Turner in order to study it. There's a chance we could send her home. But that's not the important part. If we're lucky, we might learn how to travel to other realities ourselves—and through time as well."
"Oh!" Granger exclaimed delightedly. "Did you give her a ninja suit?"
"Yes."
"Good." Hermione looked determined. "I'll show her a few tricks. If it means getting rid of that thorn in my side, I suppose I can put up with talking to her..."
(End of Chapter)
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