Prologue: The Way Back
Harry hasn't smiled in weeks. Heck, he hadn't had any reason to smile. They may have won the war, but the price… it had been too high. The losses weighed on him. He'd lost everything and also nearly everyone. People were looking to him for guidance he didn't have and didn't have the strength to fake anymore.
Hagrid had been the first of his friends to die, and everything had gone downhill from there. Percy died, shaking the entire Weasely Family to the end of their tethers. Then there was the business with Ron and Krum, which had torn Hermione apart and Harry with her. MrGonogall, Kingsley and little Dennis Creevy went down with the attack on Hogwarts. There was… what happened to Neville and Draco. Then Crookshanks, Sirius… even little Teddy didn't make it in the end. He'd been just a baby. He couldn't have hurt anyone if he'd wanted to.
"Get out of bed, Harry," a sharp, hardened voice like knife shaped flint cut from the doorway, behind Harry's back.
Harry didn't respond.
Hermione was having none of that. "Harry, look at me," she ordered, coming to sit in front of him. "Now, Harry."
He didn't have it in him to refuse her. She was some of the last of his family. He loved her, and she knew that. She was willing to use his love for her to both of their benefit. "Harry, remember in our third year, that business with the Time Turner?" she asked softly.
It had been so long ago. "I remember," Harry admitted. Things had been easier then.
"I still have it."
Harry sat up. His back was straight for once. There was a certain light in his bleary, tired eyes that had been missing for years. "You said it could only go a few hours." He remembered. Harry had always listened when Hermione spoke. Knowledge was power and power helped you protect what you loved. He couldn't afford anything less in this world. Not even now.
"With the correct runic displays and ritual, it is possible to change it to years instead of hours. But Harry, my magical core isn't large enough to sustain me through that sort of procedure. I'd destabilize and loose my memories. Nothing would change. You though-"
"I'll do it."