This Is Not A Fairytale

Hello everyone! This is my first longer story set in an HP universe. I have some really high expectations for this, and I really have a whole bunch of ideas I want to incorporate. I will be using some OC characters but will also try and keep dear Hermione as IC as I can. The story begins in 1994. and will span over the next few years after the graduation. It will follow Hermione and her small international team of students who are sent back in time to prevent the young Dark Lord from becoming a Dark Lord. Unfortunately for them, it won't be as easy as they hope it will be, fortunately for me and my readers it will be full of adventure, drama, romance and even some angst.

I truly appreciate constructive criticism but don't be mean just because you can leave a review. If you don't like the story, you don't have to read it, so nasty comments and words are completely unnecessary. I'll be keeping the rating T for now, but it might change in the future. I'll be posting every 7-10 days since I am writing this as I go. English is not my native language, Serbian is, so I am sorry for the mistakes. If anyone is interested in betaing the story, I'll be glad to accept the offer (PM me or leave it in the review!) ^_^

R&R since it takes just a couple of minutes for you to do so, but means a world to the writer!

Chocolate kisses and candy hugs for all of you!

-Caerina

CHAPTER 1 - This Is Not A Good Plan...

It started out like a lot of other adventures – with a crazy idea that had nothing to do with her. So how did, for the love of everything fluffy and pink, Hermione Granger get herself entangled into this mess?

Sitting in a large comfy chair at the Headmistress McGonagall's office was bliss. Hermione's mind started drifting off into daydreams, lulled into comfort by the beautiful smell of books and wood. She has been waiting for the last half an hour for the Headmistress to appear, but there was still no sign of her, so her guard was completely down.

At first, Hermione was a bit worried when she heard that the Headmistress asked for her. Was her work as the newly appointed Head Girl not up to the standards of Hogwarts? She gave her best, but it was sometimes so hard to split her time between her duties, school work and her friends. She patrolled a lot, helped solve problems until late at prefect meetings, then she would run to the library and study for her NEWTs. While her last school year started just three weeks ago, Hermione could already feel that it's taking its toll on her.

Alas, her problems weren't just revolving around school. Hermione found herself often strategizing and working on newest plans of attack and defense with the Order. The situation with the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters was getting tense and more serious than ever. Somehow, Hermione could practically feel that their chances of victory were getting slimmer by the day. And Harry, her dear friend was slowly losing hope and confidence in himself and the victory also. He needed his friends to be there for him, and Hermione couldn't let him down no matter how busy she was, or how late it was at night.

But now, all those problems seemed distant. Hermione didn't have the time to relax and spend time with herself for weeks now, and she could feel her eyes slowly start to close under the pressure of her tiredness. Seconds before she drifted to sleep there was a loud noise coming from behind her and she sobered up and straightened in the chair, trying to look as sharp and ready for action as ever. Few mixed voices entered the room, arguing and discussing something that sounded important. Hermione turned her head towards the crowd.

It was led by the Headmistress McGonagall who held a rather large, old-looking book in her hands. Flanking her from the sides were two people Hermione couldn't recognize. Their accents were foreign, suggesting they were from Germany and France. They were apparently arguing with each other, while the Headmistress stood between them like a neutral zone and not too happy to be there as she gave no support to either of the men. Behind that trio, there were two young men dressed in dark Durmstrang uniforms and a petite girl in blue Beauxbaton robes.

"This is Miss Granger, our Head Girl" McGonagall said in a hard voice that cut through the argument and made all the eyes in the room to turn towards her, in complete silence "I apologize for the delay. But, now that we are all here, I believe it is time for some explanations."

Headmistress now stood behind her large, wooden table, obviously more relaxed without the two men arguing at her sides. Instead, one of the men sat into the second chair next to Hermione, throwing a mean look to the other man who was left standing at his side. The three students were standing behind them in silence. McGonagall put the large book onto the table. Hermione curiously glanced towards it, disappointed to find out that the title was written in runes she couldn't recognize from her studies.

"Miss Granger these are Mr. Cousteau sent by the French Ministry and Mr. Fuhrmann from the German Ministry. They are both here to advise and assist," McGonagall said, punctuating both words "And also, you've probably noticed Mr. Adler and Mr. Krause from Durmstrang and Miss Croix from Beauxbaton Academy."

Hermione nodded slightly, trying to keep her calm façade, but inside she was quite confused. While people from other Ministries over Europe would come and assist the Order quite regularly, she never actually worked with any of them. So why was she now introduced to them as if they were going to work together? And who would be that much out of his mind to send foreign students to Britain, now when they have a Dark Lord on the loose and when Hogwarts is basically a battlefield? The serious look in McGonagall's eyes only added to the list of questions.

"I will try and make this as clear as I can, Miss Granger. Still, you will probably have questions, but I ask of you not to interrupt me until I finish," the Headmistress said "Everything that I am about to share with you cannot, under any circumstances leave this room. Do you understand?"

Hermione looked over to the two foreign advisors with suspicion, but then her gaze returned back to her professor. If this needed clearance from the other Ministries, it was probably something important and illegal. Knowing things like these was usually a death sentence for people. Did she really want to risk her already over-flowing plate with more obligations? Something in McGonagall's stern gaze told her she didn't have much choice.

"Yes, Headmistress McGonagall, but can I..?" McGonagall stopped her with a sharp and dismissive move of her hand. Alright, silence it is. Hermione closed her mouth and nodded slightly. It was obvious her Headmistress lost all the patience she had earlier and was not feeling up for another heavy argument.

"Miss Granger, you are already aware of the situation we are in and the fact that the war hasn't been going in the direction we need it to go. And, to make it all that worse, the chances of it turning to our side are slim at best," McGonagall laced her fingers in front of her as she watched the curly haired young woman nod "This made us and many others agree to take a somewhat drastic measure in order to salvage what is left. A plan that could turn the situation around or even reverse all the ill effects caused by it."

Hermione was a bright young woman, but she couldn't say she understood a word of what her Headmistress was saying. Reverse the effects? That wasn't possible. The scars ran far too deep for them to just disappear. It wasn't just the buildings that were destroyed, it was the people. They were irreversibly changed by the war and it wasn't something it could be reversed by any means. Hermione doubted even magic could do anything about it.

"The plan is very dangerous, Miss Granger, but you do realize that desperate times call for desperate measures," McGonagall sighed with a somewhat sad expression "And I couldn't even think about asking anyone else but you for this task. You are resourceful, smart and talented, everything we need for this to work."

At any other time, Hermione would be thrilled to hear such words of praise, but now those words just made her anxious. There was something about the tone McGonagall spoke in that made a strange chill pass down her spine. Hermione shuffled slightly in her chair, obviously uncomfortable.

"So, I will put this as plain as I can for both our sakes," McGonagall said firmly "You and the three students behind you will be sent back through time and will be tasked with destroying the Dark Lord before he becomes powerful enough to try and enslave the world."

Hermione was very much aware that her mouth just dropped open to McGonagall's words, but she couldn't find the willpower to close it. They wanted her, a mere student, to travel through time (not only it was impossible, according to the books, but was also very illegal) and kill the Darkest Wizard of all times while he was the Darkest-Wizard-of-all-times-in-training. A few words like impossible, crazy and absolutely out of her mind, crossed Hermione's mind as she watched McGonagall calmly open the book in front of her. The worst of all was that Hermione didn't really seem to have a choice in the matter.

"Can I… Ask something?" Hermione's voice was strained as she struggled with the words that were coming out of her mouth. Once McGonagall nodded, Hermione found herself unable to form a coherent question.

"H-how?" it was indeed one big, fat 'How', indeed. How did they manage to find a spell that would get them to travel through time? How were they supposed to kill him? How could they decide all this without telling her? Questions whirled around her head, but Hermione had trouble forming the words.

"Ancient Magic," McGonagall answered shortly "We have clearance of the highest level for this mission, Miss Granger. This collaboration is, after all, the only chance we have in winning this war at this point, and the Ministries understand that. Mr. Cousteau will be performing the ritual and Mr. Fuhrmann will give you the necessary information about the time period and will assist you with supplies."

Hermione was still looking at her Headmistress with her eyes wide. They were just going to throw this on her like this? Hermione always thought that if the miraculous opportunity presented itself and somehow she could help finish this war, she wouldn't even hesitate to accept it. Unfortunately, now that the choice was indeed there, she found it really hard to agree with the terms. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes. She wasn't rested enough for all this.

"I understand this feels like a lot to take in, Miss Granger," McGonagall's voice softened slightly "But this is the chance we have been waiting for, an opportunity to turn this war around and save so much. I also chose you, Miss Granger, because I know you would never let an opportunity like this slip through your hands."

At least she was being honest about it, Hermione thought tiredly. They were playing her and trying to corner her on the guilt card, influencing her basic nature to help others. Well, it was in a way a compliment on its own.

"Does the rest of the Order know?" Hermione asked, opening her eyes and sharply turning them to the Headmistress.

"No, this is a mission of international significance but also a secret. No one knows about it except the people in this room and their respective Ministers. We cannot allow a mistake now that we've gotten this far."

"What about Harry, Ron? What about every other student here?" Hermione continued.

"Both Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are needed here, as you are already aware and I do not see any good in worrying them about this. Their plates, especially young Potter's, are already overflowing. As for the students, they," the Headmistress said sternly "Will all be dead if you decide to let this opportunity slide away, Miss Granger and we both know that. The answer is no, nobody except you will know anything about this mission."

As much as Hermione wanted to be angry with McGonagall, she just couldn't. The old Headmistress was right. They didn't stand a chance against the Dark Lord's forces which were growing each day. Harry's confidence was falling, Ron shut everything down and turned all of his attentions to Quidditch, pretending that the world wasn't in war. What was left of Hogwarts students were in a rather dreary mood. Ginny was still mourning after her father, Luna spent most of her time closed off in the library and Lavander just sat there, her face and eyes devoid of emotions. A sad end for such wonderful people.

But, it wasn't an end, was it? Not if she could make a difference. Taking a big breath in, Hermione nodded.

"What is the plan?" she asked resolutely.

A small, relieved smile lit McGonagall's face, but it quickly disappeared when she got back into her no-nonsense mode.

"Few years ago, when Dumbledore realized that the Dark Lord was returning he started working on a way to travel through long distances in time. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to finish this project," McGongall explained "I continued his research and with the assistance of Mr. Cousteau managed to find an Ancient ritual powerful enough to do this. We have been planning this for the last two months, the team, the supplies, the new identities. Everything needs to be no less than perfect or the plan will surely fail."

Hermione took a few moments taking in everything that her Headmistress had told her. She nodded slightly at her as if telling her that she was ready to hear more. Hermione wasn't sure if that was the truth.

"You and the three of your future colleagues are the best our schools currently possess, and also the only ones we would dare send into such a serious situation. Anyone else would surely fail, but combining your strengths and weaknesses, the four of you actually stand a chance," the Headmistress said seriously "You will have four days to prepare for this and get acquainted better. We already have a prepared plan, but considering the mission is very peculiar and could easily change, I believe it is better for the four of you to decide upon the way you wish to follow."

The silence of the room was in stark contrast to the flowing thoughts in her head. Her head was somewhat hung as she stared into her fingers that were nervously straightening her skirt over her thighs. She couldn't really concentrate long on anything that McGonagall said to her, her thought passed her in a blur as her tiredness completely evaporated from her eyes. They were much sharper as she raised her head back up and looked at her Headmistress.

"So we will just disappear? You know as well as I do that Harry, Ron and others will ask questions," Hermione concluded "How will you explain them that I am fifty years back in time trying to destroy the Dark Lord and that there is a solid chance that I'm never coming back?"

"That is something you should leave up to me," McGonagall said calmly, not explaining anything further. Hermione raised her eyebrow indignantly.

"How will our actions in the past affect the future exactly?" Hermione read a whole bunch of books written about theories of time travel and what caught her attention more than anything were the terrible consequences. Chances were that if something goes wrong, the future will become much more screwed up than it is right now.

"Time is a very flexible thing, Miss Granger, and although we do not understand it completely at the moment, time has the talent of filling the blanks on its' own," McGonagall said "Time mends itself, so only major, irreversible events, such as killing someone or leaving a specific mark behind you, would have any direct effect on what is happening today."

Hermione could understand this, and while it didn't make her completely at ease it did take some of the weight from her shoulders. In order to change things they had to make some drastic changes to the past, or it would result in the same future as it is today.

"I have one more question Headmistress, if you will?" Hermione said with a deep sigh. There was really little doubt for her, she was going to accept this mission because she knew it was the only way. Any other way and she would spend the rest of her life blaming her and drowning in guilt. She would go through with this as much for herself as for the rest of the magical world.

"Is there any way for us to return?" she asked simply.

"No, Ms. Granger," her Headmistress smiled sadly "Once you are there you will have no way of returning here."

Hermione felt her heart speeding up for a notch. She was here because she was chosen by these people, because they had fate that she has what it takes to win this along with other students. As much as she feared her results, feared being dropped into a world without anything familiar to her, she had no right to fail their trust like that. Hermione nodded sternly, making her decision.

"When do we begin?" she asked.

Hermione spent the next four days avoiding her best friends. She was apparently always busy with Head Girl assignments or with NEWTs. In the end she even went as far as spending the days locked up in her office, sleeping with her head on the table among papers. She knew it wasn't a very Gryffindor thing to do, to avoid them until she left. Hermione feared what they will think of her once she left them never to return. Would they be angry, sad? Will they be betrayed by her actions? Covering herself in work and preparations, Hermione not only avoided them, she also avoided thinking of them altogether.

It was harder as the time passed by and strangely enough, Hermione couldn't wait for the day of her departure to actually come so she can leave all this behind. As bad as the situation ahead of her and the team she worked with seemed, it also felt like she had a chance to start anew, turn a new leaf. That is, of course, if the young Dark Lord doesn't kill her first.

Between avoiding her friends, Head Girl duties, the library, Hermione had little time to meet her new team mates. They were all nice people, intelligent and well versed in dueling, but they weren't Harry and Ron.

Ivan Adler was the most at-ease person in the team, with a quick wit and a charming smile. He was an excellent liar and actor, so he was apparently the one who will be assigned to help them with their background stories and will assist when something goes wrong and suspicions arise. Hermione had the strangest instinct that he will end up at Slytherin because of this and make a good infiltrator for that closed off society.

His blond not-quite-friend was Alexander Krause and was apparently there to ensure they have a decent amount of brooding in the team. He was silent most of the time, which was a strange trait for a Quidditch player and the team captain. Krause was their to-be sports infiltrator, because obviously a lot of things can be heard from the other players when they were in the changing rooms. Not that Hermione knew anything about that,

Astra Croix was probably the person who surprised her the most. Hermione never really had much of a history of being friends with girls. She and Astra clicked really well with each other since the first meeting they held in the Room of Requirements. Astra was bright, but observant, and she looked very inconspicuous and innocent with large green eyes and light brown hair. Ivan once mentioned she would make the perfect spy, and Hermione found herself agreeing with him.

All in all, her team was quite diverse in talents and personalities and Hermione wondered where she fit in. Once McGonagall explained this to her, she thought that she might've been happier if she hadn't known. She was something like bait, since they planned on using her intelligence and attitude that was quite different from the attitudes of most girls in the '40s to attract attention of the young Dark Lord and his followers. Hermione had problems deciding whether she was afraid of the importance of her assignment or excited to have such a large part in this.

Also, Hermione and the rest of the team spent some time reading and collecting information about Hogwarts and the magical world in the '40s. Hermione wasn't impressed with the lack of magical theory in some fields. They also decided not to discuss much about the plan before seeing the situation they will get thrown into. Hermione felt a bit under prepared because of that, since she was used to having everything ready, but after some convincing she agreed.

It was late after midnight when Hermione closed the door behind the Heads' Common Room, hoping that the Ravenclaw Head Boy was not a light sleeper. She dragged her baggage behind her quite loudly before muttering a silencing spell. She glided through the long and empty hallways with flickering fire enlightening them and protecting her from complete darkness. For some reason, Hermione felt tears prickling in the corner of her eyes. She was silently saying goodbye to her Hogwarts. McGonagall also advised her not to say goodbye to her friends, so Hermione just hugged them both after dinner and smiled before barricading herself into the Heads' Room. She didn't cry until now.

Straightening herself and wiping the tears quickly from her eyes, Hermione watched as the doors to the Room of Requirement appeared in front of her eyes. She pushed them firmly and entered the room before she could get the chance to change her mind and flee as a coward. Everyone was there and waiting with their baggage. Mr. Cousteau, who she later learned was Astra's uncle, was already preparing for the ritual, Mr. Fuhrmann was giving some last minute advice and McGonagall was smiling gently at her.

Something in Hermione's chest tightened.

"Miss Granger, have you brought everything necessary," Hermione nodded slowly as McGonagall offered her a white envelope "Very well, then I believe you are ready to depart .This is the letter you will give to professor Dumbledore once you arrive there."

Hermione took the letter in her shaky hands. It was completely white, with no names or instructions on it but she could feel it slightly vibrating with magic. It was closed, but it didn't mean she couldn't stare at it with a frown and hope its contents are going to reveal themselves to her.

"One more thing," McGonagall's voice made her gaze leave the envelope and look at the face of her Headmistress "Take care once you're there, Hermione."

Hermione smiled at her and nodded. There was no chance she was going to let everyone down, not when she knew how people depended on her although most of them didn't even know what she was doing. Before Hermione could leave her presence, she wrapped her arms around the older woman, much to her surprise. It was strangely encouraging, and Hermione felt tears prickling in the corner of her eyes again. The older woman returned the hug and soothingly tapped her back.

A few short moments later Hermione moved away and smiled sadly at McGonagall. That was it, it was now or never. But, before she completely pulled out of her reach, Headmistress took her hand and put a small time-turner in it. Confused, Hermione wondered whether it was a parting gift or something else.

"If you can make it work, we will see each other again," the Headmistress said before pulling away and approaching Mr. Cousteau. Hermione dropped her gaze towards the time turner and questioningly observed it. To her disappointment, it looked just like any other time-turner. Deciding to investigate it further a bit later, Hermione stuffed it into the pocket of her dark cloak.

"Is Madame Granger ready to begin?" Mr. Cousteau asked her. She nodded and dragged her baggage into a marked circle right beside the rest of her comrades. Ivan looked amused, Alexander seemed mildly distressed and Astra was on the verge of running away. Hermione felt quite empty as she straightened herself.

As Mr. Cousteau spoke in a language she couldn't understand, she could feel thick the magic in the air. It was heavy and old, very hard to perform, so it wasn't a surprise it was lost for such a long time. McGonagall looked very proud and yet very sad, as if she already knew something will go wrong. But, Hermione rationalized, she couldn't have possibly known anything. If they knew, if anyone knew what was waiting for them on the other side, they would've never even started this mission.

All the candles went out as the four young wizards and witches disappeared into thin air. What a crazy plan this was, indeed.