Disclaimer: I own no characters or settings used in this story. I intend to make no money from this, so please don't sue me! Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated ….
Chapter 1
"Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts" the headmaster said, smiling as he looked around the great hall. "Mr. Filch has asked me to say that the list of banned places on the grounds is on the door to his office. I suggest you read this well. There was once a boy of Hogwarts who did not heed this warning and vanished, never to be seen again. It is believed he found the portrait of Venelius, the Wizard who created time-travel. Upon touching this he was taken out of time for ever. It is wise to exercise caution around the less-travelled corners of the castle."
"He's lying" Ron stated flatly. "Like that would ever happen."
"He's not lying" Harry said lightly. "I think he's trying to tell us something. He's been watching us the whole time he was speaking. Last time he did that he was talking to us."
Hermione leaned forward across the table, so she could join in the conversation. "What do you think he wants us to do? Other than find the portrait, obviously."
Harry had been watching the headmaster throughout the conversation, but now looked over at the girl who sat across from him. "He's not talking to us, Hermione, he's talking to you" he told her. "His eyes did not leave you once. There's something he wants you to discover."
"I'll go to the library after the feast" Hermione decided. "It has to be important. I'll let you know what I find out."
The rest of the meal passed in comparative silence for the three who had been reunited after a long summer apart. Ron never spoke much in the Welcome feast, afraid he would miss out on some food. Harry had been less talkative this summer, after witnessing the return of Voldermort in such a horrifying turn of events during the tri-wizard tournament. Hermione was thinking hard as she ate. She had never heard of Venelius, or the story of the vanishing school-boy. She couldn't wait to get to the library to begin her research.
As soon as dessert had finished, Hermione slipped out of the hall, giving the boys a wave as she left. She had thought of the perfect place to start. Nestled in a forgotten corner of the library, Hermione sat practically hidden by a mound of dusty text-books. She was reading furiously, determined to find way to solve the puzzle Harry was sure was hers alone to solve.
It was hours later that an exhausted Hermione entered the common room. Most Gryffindors had already gone up to bed, only a few left. Fred and George Weasley sat in front of the fire, with a few other seventh-years. Harry and Ron were sat on the floor nearby, playing Wizard's chess.
They looked up as Hermione approached and sat down beside them. "Did you find anything?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione nodded, her eyes bright. "I think I know where it is" she told them.
"Where?" Ron asked, smiling as Hermione yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"I think it's somewhere off the third-floor corridor close to where Fluffy was guarding the trap-door" she said. "According to one source, the portrait of Venelius has a charm on it, so that any who look upon it are drawn to it, and cannot restrain themselves from touching it. I think I have found a charm so that I will be protected from anything happening to me should I touch it."
"Are you going to find it?" Harry asked her.
"Tonight" Hermione said instantly.
Ron sat up. "We'll come with you" he said.
Hermione shook her head. "I'll be fine on my own" she told him. "Besides, if something goes wrong, and I don't come back, I'll need you to tell Dumbledore what I've done."
Harry sighed. "Hermione, I don't know if this is such a good idea" he said.
"You are the one who believed I had to find it" Hermione replied quickly. "Dumbledore must have a plan. I'm going to go. It's late enough now, so I won't be caught. If I'm not back in an hour, go to find Dumbledore, and tell him to look for me at the portrait; I know he knows where it is."
Before they could stop her, she was gone out of the portrait hole again. Walking swiftly through the corridors of the castle, the girl was grateful for all the times she had been sneaking around the halls with Harry and Ron. She only had one near miss with a Professor, but Snape did not see her as he strode past, robes billowing out behind him. It did not take her long at all to reach the long-deserted third floor. Judging it safe to light her wand, she walked more easily down to the forgotten passage which she followed to a corner. Knowing the portrait lay just around the corner; the girl placed the protective charm around herself, then walked slowly around the corner. There it was; right in front of her. Venelius, the time-traveller. Gazing on the portrait in front of her, Hermione could not resist the force that pulled her forward. Not knowing how to stop herself, Hermione reached out and touched the painting, disappearing with a flash.
"Harry, it has been more than an hour" Ron said finally. The two boys were now the only ones in the common-room.
Harry sighed, getting to his feet. "Let's go to Dumbledore" he said.
Together, they crept out of the portrait-hole into the school, reaching Dumbledore's office without mishap. "Do you think he's in here at night?" Ron said quietly.
"Who might that be?" a voice spoke in the shadows, half-moon glasses glinting in a slant of moon-light as a shape moved out of the shadows.
"Professor, it's about Hermione" Harry said quickly. "She went to find the portrait, and she hasn't come back."
Dumbledore smiled mysteriously. "She has found what she was looking for. She is safe and well" he said, looking down at the two boys from his great height. "If you come to my office tomorrow morning I shall give you the answers you are looking for. Goodnight" he said, taking a step backwards and disappearing from sight.
"Do you think she's alive?" a voice whispered.
Hermione attempted to open her eyes, but did not succeed. Everything hurt so much, it was less painful to lie still and so she did.
"I think her eyes just flickered" a voice answered. Hermione's brain tried to work. She recognised these voices, somehow.
"What shall we do?"
"Take her to the hospital, what else?" the second voice replied instantly.
Feeling suddenly weightless, Hermione realised they were levitating her. All thought now seemed too difficult, and darkness was welcomed once more.