Aberforth Dumbledore?
Hermione looked at the scruffy, visibly emotional middle-aged man, a swarm of question marks practically popping up above her head.
It wasn't that she didn't know who he was. The problem was that, regardless of the point in time, she shouldn't have had anything to do with him.
Why had he suddenly come looking for her?
Before Hermione could ask, Aberforth's next move left her dumbfounded.
Thud!
A dull impact rang out.
Aberforth dropped straight onto one knee and bowed his head deeply to Hermione.
"Thank you for everything you've done for my family!"
"Whoa, what are you doing?" Startled, Hermione turned to Dumbledore. "Has your brother been drinking dodgy booze?"
Dumbledore didn't laugh. He took his brother by the arm and pulled him up.
Aberforth rose with the pull, but his gaze never left Hermione.
Dumbledore sighed.
"You once shielded Ariana from an attack and saved her life, so all three of us are deeply grateful to you."
Hermione was even more confused.
When did that happen?
She'd only been here half a month. Apart from fighting Grindelwald, she'd been holed up at Hogwarts. When had she ever taken a hit for Ariana?
Wait, no. Didn't she remember that, by this point, Ariana should already have died in their chaotic fight?
Seeing that Hermione still looked puzzled, Dumbledore explained.
"Over twenty years ago, also in Godric's Hollow... the three of us and Grindelwald had an argument. Things got out of hand, and someone cast the Avada Kedavra Curse. Just as it was about to strike Ariana, you appeared, took the Killing Curse for her, and then vanished into thin air."
Taking an Avada Kedavra...
Hermione's memories gradually cleared.
After the Time-Turner exploded, she'd indeed taken an Avada Kedavra on her first jump. Someone had apparently even tried