Chapter 1: A Heroic Endeavour
Since that memorable day all those weeks ago when a portal had opened between this world and a world in which Harry had been together with Hermione the trio and Ginny had been fascinated by what might have happened after the other Harry got himself back home. Hermione, in particular, was also very interested in the spell work needed to make the pathway between the two worlds. She found it intriguing that from their side they needed to use a spell whereas from the other side all they had to do was discuss the theory while the spell was being cast on this side. Did that mean there were numerous worlds that could have opened and they opened the one that had the right person in the right place at the right time? What if she wanted to open the same one again? How could you guarantee that the one you opened was the one you wanted to see?
Hermione pondered on it long and hard. These days life at Hogwarts was so tinged with sadness that moving out of herself and thinking about 'the other world' was liberating. There were no classes in the wake of Dumbledore's death so thinking through this problem also gave her brain something to dwell on that wasn't 'How are we going to survive without him?'
While Hermione pondered on the problem a sudden thought struck her which made her turn and hurry away to the library. If she was right about this, the problem of the conflicting 'passages' wouldn't be important anyway. Hermione had a theory that the link had been created from their end and that the other side had just been the closest world to theirs where another Ron had been thinking about alternate realities while their Ron cast the spell. Now that link had been strengthened because the portal had been opened twice before so Hermione thought that it was possible that she could open a direct link to that world without the necessity of her other self being on the other side. One certain book was all she needed to confirm her suspicions and be able to reopen the doorway.
The reason she was so interested, apart from trying to escape from the memory of Dumbledore's death and the funeral tomorrow, was because she was worried about her counterpart. That world's Harry had left here teeming with anxiety over his relationship with Hermione and obviously beginning to take notice of Ginny. While Hermione shuddered at the very idea of being together with Harry (it was far too almost-incestuous for her liking) she knew that world's Hermione was in a relationship with him. The Harry they sent back to her was so different to the one who had come through just a few hours earlier that Hermione was anxious to know how her counterpart felt about her new model Harry.
The library was deserted since classes had been cancelled, so Hermione had quickly found the book she wanted, looked up the passage she required, given a whoop of joy that had Madame Pince looking aghast and was headed back to the Gryffindor common room faster than she had expected. As she climbed in through the portrait hole her heart constricted in her chest as she took in the group in front of her. Her 3 best friends were all arrayed on a couch facing towards her and the expressions on their faces and their dejected attitudes spoke to the depth of the pain and loss Dumbledore's death had left in its wake.
Harry was a shell of his former self, his face almost constantly pallid and drawn. He still blamed himself in numerous ways for the manner in which events had played out that night. Today, though he was talking with the others, he was still very obviously reliving the events of that day over again in his head, he was clearly paying only scant attention to what was being said around him. He had his arm firmly clamped around the one person that seemed to be keeping him together. Ginny sat to his left with her head on his shoulder trying to keep a cheerful aspect to the group but her face was tight with the effort of remaining happy, and her eyes were hollow.
However, since the two of them were so clearly supporting each other, Hermione's eyes were drawn to the one who was most precious to her. Ron. He was to Harry's right, offering him support in the form of mindless jokes but Hermione knew him so well that she could tell that he was as dejected as the other two. His laugh was forced and he was holding himself stiffly. He may have been better at hiding his pains than the others, but they were still there and seemed all the worse for being unacknowledged. Trying to ignore her own pain Hermione hurried over to them.
'Guess what! I think I can reopen the portal!'
'Really? Without needing our other selves?' Animation sparked in Harry's eyes for the first time.
'Yeah. It's been opened twice before, so I think that if whoever casts the spell concentrates really hard on that particular world we should be able to do it. Even without them being on the other side waiting.'
'Well, what about getting back? The portal closes so fast we'd need a plan to get back out of there.'
'"We" would need a plan?'
'Yeah. I want to go, and I assume you guys don't want to be left behind.'
There was a chorus of agreement. All of them were eager for something to distract them from tomorrow.
'Hmmmmm, so either one of us needs to stay behind to reopen the portal at a set time, or …'
'Or I need to do some more research,' said Hermione. She got up and headed back to the library, desperate to figure this out so they didn't have to decide who to leave behind.
Several frustrating hours later and Hermione was faced once again with the unwelcome knowledge that the library had failed her. In a fury, she returned to the common room, and was heartened to see that the spark that had been injected into the others was still there. They looked at her eagerly. She shook her head, looking miffed that the library had been no help.
'Oh. Well, I guess one of us will have to stay behind. We can't know if we can open it from the other side the same way.'
'I'll do it mate' said Ron.
'But …' said Hermione.
'No, Hermione. I need to do this, I'm sure of it. This is a timing thing, a strategy thing. You guys are great at other stuff but honestly strategy was never your strong point.'
'How do you figure this is strategy?' asked Hermione, irritated that Ron said she lacked strategic skills even while she knew he was right.
'Well, the person left here has to judge the rift, work out the best time to reopen assuming you guys'll be in the right place at the right time, make sure no-one else is around to interfere. It all takes strategy skills.' His face took on a mutinous look, and Hermione knew enough to know that he had made up his mind. She sighed and nodded.
Harry and Ginny, who had remained silently engrossed in each other while Ron and Hermione argued, now looked up and took in the atmosphere.
'Are you sure Ron?'
'Yeah I am. Besides if it works maybe I can go through another time.' He grinned. 'Anyway, you reckless wonders need someone sensible to get you through it all in tact.'
They all laughed and began the debate on when they would go through and how they would contact their other selves without causing a panic in the other world.