Summary: The wizarding world is at war and the aurors are losing. Humanity rests on one man, who must return to the beginning and change the future.

Disclaimer: It's all mine, MINE!!!!…. Nope, actually its not – none of it is mine, (sobs uncontrollably)

A/N: Feedback rocks my tiny little world, but flames just make me chuckle.

I've uploaded a 2nd chapter to this story, but some people cant get to it – if you want to read it type in '&chapter=2' after what is already there and you will get it – Thanx every1

Prologue – A Time to Rewind

In the eye of the storm, he stood. Battered and bruised, though still strong. Torn cloak waving the breeze, while grey eyes darted back and forth, surveying the scene. The area was shrouded in thick smog, accumulated from a thousand curses that had been uttered there. Figures ran past him, some desperately crawling toward aid, but he was too immune to notice anymore. Above, the night sky was a rainbow of magic light, flashing constantly as new spells were cast – an ironic celebration, he thought, of the war that we are losing.

He made his way through the fallen, the panic steadily rising. He spotted a flash of chestnut hair in the distance, and changed direction to where he thought it had been. He saw a rumpled mass, fall to the ground ahead of him and raced onward to catch it. He knelt beside the fallen body, his heart in his throat, but as he turned it over he recognised it as a girl he had worked with, back at the Ministry. He felt a presence behind him and turned.

"Where is she, Ron?" he asked, "I looked away for one minute and she was gone"

The figure looked away and then back before admitting, "I don't know, Draco."

Pain arose in the man's eyes, before it was quickly forced down and replaced with determination.

No time for tears now, he reprimanded himself, she needs you – you have to find her.

"Ron – let's go back to where we were and look again. She has to be nearby."

"I agree, she probably stopped to help – " "Incendere Dementia"

Ron's words were cut off by a Death Eater's sharp cry and a blinding purple light suddenly surrounded his head. The screams of agony awoke the man from his trance and he raised his wand, but a flash came from beside him.

"Petrificus Totalus". The minion fell to ground, frozen in place. "Finite Incantatum". Ron stopped writhing on the ground and fell unconscious.

Draco cocked his head to the right and regarded the newcomer with a raised eyebrow.

"Took your time there, Granger", he whispered, seeing her reproachful look.

"Well, I heard a cry for help and –", he cut her off with a fierce hug and kissed her cheek before releasing her. They smiled at each other, relief evident in both faces.

"Got to help, Weasley" She nodded, all business, and followed him to kneel beside Ron's immobile figure.

"That spell must have wiped him out. We've got to get him to a healer."

They each grasped one of Ron's hands and apparated to the nearest rest point. A nurse approached them and began tending to the patient.

"Spell?"

"Incendere Dementia"

"Nasty – we'll have to keep a close eye on him. You have to be strong to beat that one. Go and get yourselves looked at, while your waiting."

Draco took Hermione's hand and led her out of the infirmary. She turned to him with the same look he had given her a few minutes ago.

"Why did you call me that?" she asked

"What did I call you?"

"Granger"

"Ah," He said "Old habit, I guess"

"Well you of all people should know that I haven't been 'Granger' for a long time – I believe I'm 'Malfoy' now" she smiled at him

"Quite true", he laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Immediately, the corridor was ablaze with green light and screams were echoing off the walls. Draco pulled them into a room of to one side.

"Stay here", he commanded.

"No, Draco" She said, "It's time. While we're both still together. While there's still something to fight for"

They shared a look and Hermione produced a small vial of liquid from inside her worn robes. Draco sighed and pulled out a brass key and his wand from his, and remembered….

'This is it, Draco' said Albus Dumbledore, 'The secret weapon. The ministry's been developing this for a year.' He handed him a large, dull key and a vial of indigo liquid.

'What does it do?' asked Draco, cautiously

'The key will, with the right words, send the caster back to a moment precisely ten years into the past'

'But why. Nobody would know what is to come. Surely the same events will occur. History will repeat itself all over again and we will be no better off than we are now!'

'Ah, clever boy' smiled the Sorcerer 'That is what the potion is for. The caster drinks the contents of the vial before he casts the spell…. And all his memories will remain intact. The caster will know of everything that has happened in the original future. That is, of course, unless things change."

'What exactly do you mean?'

'Well, as events in the past change, so will the future. The caster will begin to 'remember' things that will happen in the new alternative future.'

'Like what?'

'For example, if someone were to save Harry from his death five years ago, then they would cease to remember that he had ever died'

'How, then, would they realise that they had in fact changed the future?'

'Well, dear boy, I would suggest they write down their memories of the past ten years before enacting a change!'

'Why are you telling me this, Albus'

'Because it is you, my boy. You will be this caster. There is only you who have the strength and the skill left to do this.'

'Surely Ron could do it –'

'No Draco, he does not have the power. Only you can do this. Now listen closely, you must drink the potion fully, and I mean that, before you begin. Immediately, you must recite these words three times – 'Reditus ipse'. Whilst doing this you must be holding the key with both hands. The key will begin to glow and eventually it will shine with a blinding white light. When it has dissipated, you will be transported to the exact point in space that you were occupying ten years ago, Okay?'

'I understand, Albus'

'Remember this. The spell is very powerful and you will need to prepare yourself mentally for the level of concentration you'll require. Most importantly, Mr. Malfoy, the spell needs time to build up enough power to complete. You must give yourself three minutes to fully complete the spell. Three minutes of complete focus, so do everything to keep your mind on the job. One try is all we've got, Draco. Once those words are spoken there is no going back. There is only enough power for one to go.'

'I understand'…

Draco broke the stare he had on Hermione and took the Key from her.

"You know you need to start it now, Draco. You need three minutes and they're coming – I'll give you what I can."

He nodded and took a deep breath, before running up to his wife and holding her to him. He kissed her softly and stroked her cheek, while gazing lovingly into her eyes.

"You can do this," she whispered, tears falling onto his hand, "for Albus, for Ron and for Harry. For us and for our child."

"I won't fail you" he said, and pulled away from her. He raised the vial to his lips and swallowed. After several calming breaths, he took the key in both hands and began.

"Reditus ipse. Reditus ipse. Reditus ipse." The key began to glow faintly, the light gradually increasing in strength.

The door burst open, and Draco vaguely saw Hermione, wand raised, fighting off three Death Eaters. His protective side flared, but he needed to focus. For her.

"Hermione. Hermione. Hermione", he chanted. The key's light was almost at its peak.

Then, in his peripheral vision, he saw him enter. Striding into the room, Voldemort saw his treacherous protégé and the mudblood.

"Hermione. Hermione. Hermione"

Raising his wand at Hermione, he whispered quietly. But Draco knew what he had said. As if in slow motion, Hermione was bathed in green light. She turned toward Draco and mouthed "I love you", before she fell to the floor, as Voldemort raised his wand to Draco.

"HERMIONE!!" screamed Draco and went blind.

"NO!"

Draco fell to the hard wooden floor, expecting the fatal blow that would send him to join Hermione. But it never came. He stood on shaky legs and glanced around. He recognised the room he was in as his old bedroom at Malfoy Manor. He checked the date on the calendar on his desk, – August 17th, 1999 . It was exactly ten years earlier, making him almost seventeen years old. Draco looked in his full-length mirror and noted the changes.

My hair is longer. The scars on my face have gone. I'm less toned, though. Intrigued he looked closer. My eyes. My eyes are the same. The grey pools were dark and sad, as though the soul within had seen much tragedy and pain. The heart of a grown man looking through the eyes of a boy. They were swirling dangerously – a tornado of anger and loss.

Loss. he thought. And then it hit him hard. I watched her die. She's gone. I've lost everything.

And for the first time in years, Draco cried.