A smile washed over Hermione's face, bringing a glimmer of excitement to her widened eyes.
"Really? Do you mean it?" She stood nearly on her toes, teaming with excitement.

"Yes, really!" said the Time Lord. "Traveling in time is great and all, but it's much more exciting with a companion aboard. So what do you say?"

Harry grabbed Hermione by the arm.

"Can I talk to you for a minute Hermione?" He asked, eyeing the man in the blue suit.

"Right then, I'll be inside if you need me" said the time traveler, slipping into his box.

"Hermione, do you really think this is a good idea?" Harry asked, his brows furrowed slightly in concern. "We don't know him. For all we know, he could be a criminal, or a Death Eater, or-"

Hermione cut him off. "Harry, Dumbledore knows him. He told me about him, they're friends, remember? He trusts him."

"Dumbledore also trusts Snape, for some bloody reason…" Harry said bitterly. "I'm just worried, Hermione."

Hermione pulled her best friend into a hug. "Don't worry, Harry, everything will be fine. I'll be back before you've even reached the Common Room," she said smiling.

"How do you mean?" Harry asked quizzically.

"It's Time Travel, Harry, remember?" she said with a laugh. "It's brilliant, isn't it? I could travel for days, months, even years, but still be back in time for lessons tomorrow morning!" She turned toward the doors of the police box. "I suppose I'm off then," she said to herself.
She gripped the door handle, turned back to wave at Harry, and pushed.

Hermione's breath drew sharply as they took in the incredible sight. The interior of the police box was not the size that the interior of a police box should be. It was vast, nearly as large as the Gryffindor common room! "It's-"
"Bigger on the inside?" chimed the Time Lord. "Yes, fantastic, isn't it?"

"It's brilliant!" Hermione said, unable to keep her eyes in one spot. There were knobs and levers, screens and speakers, too many things to look at, and most everything in vivid shades of orange and green.

"It's brilliant" Hermione said breathlessly. "Absolutely brilliant!" She stood leaning against the doors, eyes darting around.

"Why thank you! First thing's first, you can call me The Doctor. This is my TARDIS."

"TARDIS?" Hermione asked. "What's that stand for?"
"Glad you asked!" The Doctor said, hopping down from the control station. "It stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. This baby allows me to go anywhere and anywhen that I want." He said, patting the wall of the TARDIS affectionately.

"I love it" she said with a beaming grin. "It's fantastic."

"Of course it is! Now, where would you like to go? Or rather, when?"

"I, er-I have no idea." Hermione said, overwhelmed with the possibilities. "Somewhere impressive?"

"Somewhere impressive, okay, I like it. Do you want to meet Shakespeare? Lovely fellow he is. What about Cleopatra? Napaolean Bonaparte? Well maybe not him, he's a bit of a handful. So?"

"Er-surprise me!" Hermione said. "All my life I think I've been waiting for this moment, and now I can't think of anywhere to go!"

"Quite alright Hermione!" said the Doctor cheerfully. "Let's make it a surprise then!" He skipped over to the center of the TARDIS and began pulling knobs, pushing buttons, and circling the control station. "Are you ready?" he asked with an infectious smile.

"Of course!" Hermione said without hesitation.

The TARDIS began to shake, and Hermione grabbed onto the nearby railing. She wasn't sure if her stomach was turning from the movement or from the excitement.

The jostling suddenly stopped, and the Doctor stepped down the stairs toward the door.

"We're here," he said, grabbing the door handle. "Want to see what's outside?" He extended his hand to Hermione. She took it, and stepped through the door.