Illuminated
A/N: Whilst I am not new to FF, I am however, new to this section. I think Rowling did a fabulous job with her characters and I have always found TR compelling, so I decided to try my hand at a very common storyline. I also do not have a beta, so it also self edited; please bear this in mind. Hopefully you can enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own any publishing rights to the Harry Potter Series, nor do I own anything in the book or film franchise. If there are any similarities between mine and any other author on the website/or any others, it is completely coincidental and I am prepared to remove such work if it interferes with the authors rights.
Alrighty then, on with the story!
Stay
The sparks shot from her wand, her mind buzzing with anxiety. Bodies dropped and she screamed spell after spell. Among them she saw a tall boy with blazing red hair. Her instincts told her to run as bodies cloaked in black kept lunging at her, their masks obscuring everything but their narrow eyes, concentrating on killing her. A green light slashed by her, grazing her arm; and it sent her hurtling backwards. She cried out, but nobody heard, everyone was dead. She ran with all her might, zooming past the trees and weaving through the mass of dead bodies. Her own body was racked with sobs as she stopped, when no more screams could be heard. She caught a glint in the corner of her eye, and dropped down to inspect it. All that was left was a pair of round spectacles...drenched in blood.
It was a cold December evening in Hogwarts and Hermione rushed through the corridors. Her shoes clapped against the floor in her haste to see the Headmaster. She skidded to a stop outside the griffin that guarded the entrance. Her mind was alight with frustration; Harry's attitude of late had been more martyr than savour. There was a storm coming, and none of them knew when it would strike. She crept up the stairs apprehensive about her visit. The wait was portentous at best, but given the circumstances, she knew it was to do with the war. Dumbledore appeared, looking older now than ever. His eyes shone blue, but the bags under his eyes revealed his true feelings. He wearily brought a hand under his chin and sighed.
He began hesitantly, gazing at the trembling girl. "Miss Granger, I have called you here only for the most dire need. You and I both know the war is finished." Hermione tried to interrupt but Dumbledore merely nodded and continued "Don't insult your intelligence Miss Granger, the war is nearing climax and we have lost. Harry has given up hope and the order's numbers are too depleted for any action. I am trusting you Hermione; to save us all. There may be a way to save those who are dead, and save those who will inevitably die." Dumbledore paused, the glint returning to his eye as he lifted a thick metal chain. "Sir, I can't possibly. Ron, and Harry, and Ginny? Where will I go? It's too much sir, I won't manage..." Hermione had frenzied into a panic, but Dumbledore remained impassive throughout her tirade. "You must Miss Granger. It is the last hope, Voldemort is too strong, and you must understand the severity of this." Hermione nodded and shook as she took it from his hands.
The hourglass shined in the light, the sand resting on the dials. "I believe you remember this particular object from third year. I want you to promise me Miss Granger that when the battle is over, most likely for the worse, you will go back and change this. This is an essential task and I trust you won't fail. Good day Miss Granger, I pray to Merlin you won't have to use it." Hermione shook as she gingerly held the time-turner and pulled it over head to lay it gracefully on her chest. She left the study with a last parting glance. "Good day professor."
Hermione left the room and shivered in the cold of the corridor. She left to find the library, or Harry, or anything that could bring her some semblance of comfort. Her mind wandered, as she meandered through the grey stone "Bad things come to those who meddle with time." Hermione murmured to herself and slipped through her common room door. Dumbledore stood and stared out of the window, horrified at what he had done. He repeated Hermione's thinking, the old saying slipping through his lips. "Bad things come to those who meddle with time."
Hermione sat down and cried. The rain beat down against her face and the mud squelched beneath her. She contemplated the battle; Dumbledore was dead, Harry dead, Ron was...She wouldn't allow herself to mourn when they didn't need to die. She felt the magic pulse around her throat and she remembered. The conversation with Dumbledore had to mean something, they had to live. She had made her decision and summoned her infamous courage, a lump in her throat. Hermione pulled the dial up to her face. She turned her might; going once, twice and on and on. Curses were flying everywhere, they had found her. Her fingers fumbled with the turns and she kept rotating the dial. She felt a pop, and then she vanished.
Her head pounded as she woke up, her eyes blinded with a white flash. She groaned and lifted a hand to her face. The time-turner around her neck was shaking and the magic throbbed in her, coursing through her veins. The room was stark white and full of hospital cots, a breeze blowing gently through the window. She could hear whispers from the portraits, as they uttered gossip about the new arrival. Her hair fell down her back limp as she absently brushed through it for comfort. A gasp fell from her lips as she looked at the date; September 2nd 1944...
