Hermione (mid-20s, working at the Department of Mysteries) is testing a newly developed Time-Turner with limited jump capability. She thinks she’s going back a few months—but instead lands in the early 1990s, near a Muggle primary school in Little Whinging.

Hermione was about to pull the trigger on the time turner, when she realizes that the name of the school is familiar. She enters in and notices a lonely boy sitting by himself at recess, getting picked on. It’s him—Harry Potter, age 9. Messy hair. Oversized clothes. The lightning scar. She’s stunned. He looks up at her, and she panics and walks away… but not too far. Hermione decides that she needs to stay.

The next day, she returns. This time, she gently approaches and asks to sit next to him. They talk. Harry is shy but curious—Hermione introduces herself with a fake name. She listens more than she speaks. He clearly has no friends. Hermione feels pained and tries to do what she can to make little Harry's life better until he can get to Hogwarts.

While talking about books, a leaf floats unnaturally in the air between them. Harry laughs—says “weird things happen” around him sometimes. Hermione smiles softly but doesn’t explain anything. Her heart aches, knowing what he’ll face and what he doesn’t know. Hermione tries to ask Harry about his life at home, and she is shocked to hear him lie- he sugarcoats his life with the Dursleys, pretending that he has a beautiful family life.

She offers to walk him home one day (he refuses, says his aunt would be mad), so instead they hang out at the local library. She recommends books. He asks if she’s a teacher. She says “not yet.” When Hermione asks little Harry about his dreams, she listens to him open up about dreams he doesn’t share with anyone else.

One day, she sees a bruise on Harry’s arm. He tries to brush it off. Hermione has to excuse herself to not cry in front of him. This moment cements why she had to meet him. Why she can’t stay. But also why this matters. Just then, Hermione notices that the Time-Turner starts glowing. The clock is quite literally ticking and she needs to make her way back to the present before it is too late.

Hermione accidentally witnesses one of Harry’s first magical moments when the lights in the library begin to flicker on and off. Little Harry, flustered and wide-eyed, laughs nervously and jokes, “It’s like magic!” Then he pauses, turns to Hermione, and asks, “Do you believe in magic?” Hermione meets his hopeful gaze and replies softly, “More than anything. And I think one day, you’ll be brilliant at it.” Composing herself, she gently offers Harry a few quiet messages of hope—small truths he’ll carry with him through the loneliness: advice for when his aunt, uncle, or cousin are unkind, reminders that he is not alone. “If you ever get a letter,” she tells him, “hold it tight, and remember—you are very loved.” Later, Hermione carefully writes a tender, anonymous note and hides it inside one of Harry’s favorite library books, leaving behind a piece of her heart in words: “From a friend who believes in you.” She bids him farewell. Harry is sad to see her go, but she leaves with a warm smi

Hermione returns to her time. Everything’s the same… except her heart feels heavier and lighter at the same time. She visits Harry (now grown, her best friend) but doesn’t tell him what happened. Just smiles a little more around him now.

Years later, Harry visits a Muggle library with his son and finds a forgotten book; tucked inside is a faded note from long ago—its words echo with familiarity, and he smiles, not knowing why his heart feels so full.

Harry meets Hermione and hands her a folded, worn piece of paper. She reads it—and gasps, recognizing the note she once left in a library book. Her secret is exposed. Harry pulls her into a hug and murmurs, “You meddled, didn’t you?” There’s a smile in his voice, not blame, only warmth. “I used to dream of friends, adventures… even a family,” he says softly. “I didn’t know if it would ever come true—but it did. Maybe because of you.” He squeezes her hand. “Thank you. Little me needed someone to believe.”