New HGMM fic from me folks. Its my first go at time travel and for the sake of my own plot i've 'created' an ancient blood ritual sort of deal which you will see early on. I will apologise now if there are any Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islanders reading this because i honestly know very little of Aboriginal culture and totally made most of this shit up in the start. Yay fiction?
Anyways its kind of loosely time travel but really on at the beginning i think. At least for now. This will be multichapter but im not sure how frequently i can update, my husband and i are separating and hes returning to America, its my two year olds birthday, school and the season warming up just means im busy. I hate being busy but this is life, no?
I hope you guys enjoy the new fic, this will be a some what angsty/fluffy kind of slow burn kind of... ya know what. Just read it and find out. ;)
All mistakes are my own and i do not own Harry Potter or his friends family or foes!
Reviews appreciated.
(Australia - After the Battle of Hogwarts.)
In the days leading up to the Battle at Hogwarts things really had seemed to be on their side. The trio had been working diligently on their plan to rid the world of the Dark Lord and it had been going well. It had been going really well right up until the Battle had begun. They were quickly and easily over whelmed but they held the castle for a time. The horcuxs had been destroyed all except for the snake. Nagini had triumphed how ever, bitten and killed Neville long bottom and returned to a safe place, a place at her master's side. Foolishly, thinking he had an advantage, the under trained but naturally talented Harry Potter challenged Lord Voldemort.
Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan, Dolohov, Yaxley and many other Death Eaters fell at the Order's hand but when the Dark Lord felled The-Boy-Who-Lived for the final time there was no chance, all hope left the Order and surrender was their new goal. Ronald Weasley was one of the first to drop his wand, to give himself over to the Dark Lord yet the pure-blood men were to become nothing but captive studs, offered out to any Half-blood and greater to sire the next line of great witches and wizards which strong magical blood and hopefully stronger magical ability.
The women were treated no better, if they were half blood or more and had been surrendered from the Battle of Hogwarts they were kept and fed and fucked and bred like little more than broodmares. The disease that was Lord Voldemort slowly spread out from England with aspirations of taking the world. Unfortunately for those who wished to remain free of tyranny, it looked more and more every day like the Dark Forces would get there wish. They conquered a little more land from both muggle and magical alike.
Those that fled went into deep hiding, all of them except one that was. Hermione Granger, who had escaped just as Harry fell, was alive and plotting as she ever was. Learning and listening and gathering resources. She was solely determined to fix what had happened because this travesty, this scar on the world that was Lord Voldemort, she not have been allowed to win. He should not have been allowed to preach and inspire the Twisted who follow him so devoutly. There were only a few, old ones, ancient ones, who could help though and they had long ago learned to distrust anyone, but especially any speakings the Queens tongue.
Earning their trust took months, learning their tongue took longer, but they had secrets they would willingly divulge to her, secrets she needed to know. The information they would bestow was key in changing what had already happened to them in the recent past. There was no way to use a simple time turner even if they had any left but they had all been destroyed early in the war, because of the fear of a Tyrant who would do anything in his power not to be over thrown. Seemingly it had worked out well for him.
Now though, Hermione Granger, muggle-born and the only one free to do this with the yearning to seek knowledge, to seek the power to do so. Hermione Granger was so closer to victory she could practically taste it yet it was all taking time. So much time. Time to spend, time to change. She was ready, at the height of a full moon, and prepared above all else. The Old Ones had gathered along with the closest of their younger generations and they were ready. At the pinnacle of the evening, the full height of the moon they were ready.
"The Family gather's now, brothers, to welcome our sister. A true descendant of the Ancient Ones, Hermione. Today she is Reborn, today she is cleansed of this reality. We send her back, back to save us all for even we are not safe anymore." The Old One, the Elder, speaks in his disused and gravelly voice. A voice that sounded like wisdom.
"Do we accept her? Is she worthy of being Family?" He spoke not to the Old Ones but to the Younguns.
"Yes Uncle!" Was the out cry of the young Indigenous and it had Hermione smiling. She had grown fond of them over the months she had lived with them.
"Then it will be! She will be reborn. Alkina!" The Elder raises his hands and shouts the new name that Hermione shall now be referred to by her new people.
The Elders moved forward, three Uncles and an Aunty, she was stripped down to nothing and her body, already pale was smeared with white Ocre.
"Our sister is to save us! Who shall sacrifice to aid her in her journey past?" The Old One asked once Hermione had been covered.
"I will." A small child chirps, she was a little girl with thick dark hair bleached at the ends by the sun.
The child's mother shuffled her forward and the Aunty held a small knife over a pot over a fire. The little girl didn't hesitate to toddle forward and hold out her little fingers to the Aunty, trusting implicitly. The Elder gently pricked the little girls finger and allowed a few drops of blood to drip into the pot that already seemed to have liquid in it, part of a potion Hermione had been working on for months. A little lip wobbled from the sting but soon enough it was over and the little wound was smeared with honey.
"Who else?" The Elder, the designated spokesman, says looking at the crowd before them.
This time it is a middle aged man, possibly in his early 40's with dark hair smattered with grey. He walked to the pot with a small smile on his face and allowed his finger to be cut, for the liquid to mix with what was already in the pot. With a smile still he smeared a little honey over the wound and walked back to his spot. The crowd looked to the Aunty holding her knife who then cut her finger and let it bleed into the pot. The elder watched and then scooped up a handful of the sand at his feel and walked over to Hermione.
"Alkina, bleed upon this earth, so that it may be imbued with your essence." He holds his hand out to you with the sand exposed. Hermione lifted her hand and offered it to the Aunty who approached her, her hand was cut and she bled into the sand, soaking it.
Only when the 'red' sand was the colour of blood was honey applied to Hermione's hand and the elder dropped the sand into the pot, it was the final ingredient but a test was set to finish this old, ancient, blood magic. With her uncut hand Hermione was required to reach into the boiling liquid and pull out the item at the bottom of the pot. Hermione knew that the liquid would not truly burn her, anyone else yes, but this was blood magic and this item was hers to command, it was the only reason she was so willing to do it.
Reaching in Hermione hissed, it didn't burn her but it stung regardless and she had to fish around in the pot for a long moment before she found it, a small round object she closed her fist about before pulling it out. The Elders watched and waited for the process to finally end before looking at the hand as it uncurled, the blood opal resting in her palm let them all know it had been a success. Hermione sighed softly with relief because this meant she needed to get ready. She had to prepare because she would save so many lives or lose her own trying.
"It is done! The blood opal, it will allow you to move through time, forward or back, Alkina." The Elder spoke and the others murmured, most of the tribesman were muggle but even those of magical blood were shocked at such an ancient magic.
"Uncle, will it allow me to specify where i stop?" Hermione asks softly but the elder shakes his head.
"The Opal of Time is yours and yours alone to command but you can only command it take you forward or backward. The opal decides where you need to be in time." The elder explains and Hermione's has to nod, she had expected as much.
Unlike the Time Turners, an item that had its limits, the Opal of Time had none but it did had slightly sentient magic of its own, it was tied more to the earth and time than even the Time Turner which was made with the Sands of Time. Opal had ties to not only time but also its creators timeline, as well as fate itself. Yet where the Sands of Time allowed time to be manipulated the Opal of Time sort out forks in timelines and tries to correct the issue that caused it. This was only part of what Hermione had realised had happened with her own timeline, something had shifted and it no longer sat right.
It happened before the fall of the castle, before Harry was killed. It happened in the Chamber of Secrets while she was down there with Ron, while they were collecting teeth. It happened when they had kissed, the exact moment their relationship had changed so to had the course of Hermione's timeline, but it was the wrong course, within the general course. It was complex and off and Hermione wasn't sure what a was going on with it at all. She was sure that even more than her own timeline she had to correct everyone else's. There was no reasonable way that the Dark Lord should have been allowed to win.
"Thank you, family. Brothers and Sisters. Uncles and Aunties. You have helped us save the world from the Dark Stain. Now i should prepare for my journey." Hermione proclaimed and the surrounding men, women and children shouted their agreement. For Hermione this was the end of her celebration but only the beginning for the tribe.
HGMMHGMM
Hermione had, after leaving the ensuing celebration, travelled to the nearest billabong and washed off before pulling on a simple T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Stowing her wand she spent a moment looking out at the sky above, clear and sparkling with the billions of stars she could see. She hadn't heard Kala walk up her, the Aunty who had bled those who helped this night, but she wasn't surprised or startled when the woman spoke to her either.
"You will need a new name when you get there, so not to change too much. What have you decided?" The woman asks curiously.
"I will play on my long lost French Heritage, suspecting it helps i speak a good bit of the language. I will be known as Yseult. Yseult Durant." Hermione explains softly.
"Your back story?" Kala probes.
"I was born in France, but we moved to Britain when i was just a small child, 5 or so. I speak the Queens tongue but also French. I will find someone i can trust, above all others, i'll get into the school if i can and work to change things." Hermione further explained, she expected only to be sent back a few months before the battle, a year at the most. But she had the information that they would need, information that would change it all.
"If you go a long way?" Kala was a woman of few words but like the other Elders she spoke wisdom.
"The plan remains the same, perhaps just a little more difficult to accomplish." Hermione smiles and looks at the old woman.
"It won't be a short time you spend there, it is a delicate mission." The woman points out turning to look at the young charge.
"I will take my time, build trust. I will have more time there and should i fail, i will trust in that the Opal might take me back to start over." Hermione says softly because at this point she had more time than anyone else in existence in this time.
"Be safe, Yseult. Get on with you now. I will tell the others you have left." Kala urges and Hermione smiles yet again.
"Thank you, Aunty." Hermione coos softly and surprises the old woman by kissing her cheek.
"Be safe." Kala spoke again softly.
"Retrosum." The Elder watched as Hermione gripped the little Opal in her hand and closed her eyes the word whispered something from her lips and a moment later Hermione was gone, no long in this direct timeline but returned to an older one. The Elder knew just as the others did, that the longevity they once thought they had was now only a matter of being found before it was snuffed. Their lives, the lives of all those that were already affected and those yet to be, was in the hands of the tenacious young woman who had sought them out months ago.
HGMMHGMM
(Scotland-Past(1967)
Hermione had seriously suspected that she would return in time where she had physically been when she had initiated the travel, which was why she was extremely surprised to find herself on the Hogwarts Express, the very back where there was thankfully no one else standing. She needed first to learn what time it was, why she was there would come later. It would all straighten out she hoped, in due course. Taking her wand Hermione transfigured her clothes into robes and ventured into the train. She was quite good at keeping herself relatively unnoticed.
1967 Was the year she had landed herself in, specifically the first of September, on the Train to Hogwarts. This was both a blessing and a curse she felt as she was almost positive that she would have too much trouble directly influencing things from here. It was just before the first war with Voldemort so maybe Hermione could influence things, it was too late to change him directly, kill him as a child. Be his friend and talk him around. Hell she would have even shown him love if that were what was needed. Apparently though, time had a different idea.
"Well shit... Where to start?" Hermione sighed and tossed the Daily Prophet aside, she was standing outside a compartment in the mostly deserted hall of the carriage towards the back of the train.
"Start what?" A voice beside her startled her, and with good measure as standing there beside her was a young and much more sane looking Bellatrix Black.
"Er... Making friends? I'm starting Hogwarts in my 6th year you see." Hermione explains to the woman who she should hate, yet seeing sanity in those bright chocolate eyes was making it hard for her.
"Well, you'll have to be sorted of course but i feel like you're friend-worthy, I'm Bella." The eldest Black daughter reaches out and offers her hand to Hermione. Hermione smiles and shakes it in return.
"I'm Yseult."
"French? You sound so English." Bellatrix tugs the hand until Hermione is inside the compartment. It was empty aside from Bellatrix and Hermione.
"Born, we moved when i was a few years old though. My parents passed last year so i transferred from Beaubatons." Hermione further explains and sits down across from the other witch.
"I'm sorry to hear that." The sincerity was startling for Hermione.
"It is unfortunate but death is inevitable." Hermione gives a little shrug.
The irony of the situation here was that Hermione wasn't exactly lying, not about her parents being killed earlier last year. Well not last year for them now, but last year for Hermione. Unlike what she had assumed, Monica and Wendell Wilkins had been being watched since before Hermione got home from Hogwarts after Dumbledor's death. They hadn't even made it to Australia before they met with the volatile end of a wand. She didn't know who had killed them, she wasn't exactly sure why they were a target, she just remembered reading their obituary while on the run with the boys.
"You sound like you've seen a lot of it." Bellatrix looked interested and it made Hermione more curious about her.
"More than necessary. A war of sorts." Hermione explains frowning slightly.
"My parental figures, they're... they are beginning to follow a wizard calling himself Lord. I actually had to watch him kill some peasant girl. The look in his eye's it was... twisted." Bellatrix actually shuddered and it was shocking to Hermione to see someone so twisted in her future so utterly repulsed by the same in her youth.
"Lord... Voldemort? There are whispers of him. I can't say i really understand his thinking on it all." Hermione frowns trying to play it a little dumb on the Voldemort front.
"No, its complete none sense. Even Pure-bloods can end up with a squib." Bellatrix rolls her eyes like that much should have been obvious and it genuinely makes Hermione grin.
Bellatrix and Hermione, surprisingly, lapsed into conversation about school subjects after this. They seemed to have a great deal in common and were both very intelligent women. They wiled away the hours regardless and it even gave Hermione time to plan how she was going to get into the school considering she didn't have her name there anywhere. Her main hope was that Dumbledor was Headmaster, as she wasn't sure what year he took on the role.
HGMMHGMM
She neednt have worried too much though as it appeared by the time they were at Hogwarts she was being ushered, rather rudely, up to Headmaster Dumbledor's room. She hadn't come upon any teachers except for Silvanus Kettleburn, a much younger Silvanus, who she vaguely remembered as the Care of Magical Creatures professor during her first and second years at Hogwarts. The man rather rudely scruffed her, questioned her briefly and then marched her upstairs. Once in the office she was shoved forward, which she allowed, an a younger Albus Dumbledor turned to look at her.
"Who do we have here?" Albus asked curiously.
"Headmaster, may i speak with you alone? It's of great import." Hermione urged without introduction.
"Absolutely not!" Kettleburn barks scowling behind her.
"You'll excuse us for being a little dubious." Albus tilts his head and Hermione nods. Without word she took the opal from her pocket and showed it to Albus who hesitated for only a moment before holding his hand out.
As she had hoped the man realised quickly what it was despite the blood magics used to create it being lost to all but that small Aboriginal tribe in Outback Australia. The Opal of Time was a true source of power and only few had ever wielded it and not taken advantage of it and what it meant. Even still the number of actual holders of an Opal was only around the range of a dozen in history, people undervalued sacrifice in the past and over estimated what it meant which made creating the Opal a heinous act and few had the stomach for it.
"I think, Silvanus, that it will be ok if you return to the hall. I will be down momentarily." Albus speaks calmly but gives a pointed look at Silvanus when he opens his mouth to object. Only when the Magical Creatures Professor was gone did things become more serious.
"Tell me what you can." Albus urges seriously.
"In many years there is a war, it doesn't end well for us. It needs to be changed, i am here to figure out how to do so." Hermione explains.
"Go on. No details." Albus prods.
"You figure it out first, and send a young man and his two friends to look for items that must be destroyed to win. We fail to destroy them all and so we lose. I thought it would be more simple that this, i did not think i would come back this far. Bellatrix Black, she marries Rodulphus Lestrange and slowly over many years she goes completely insane. She tortures me in the future, yet here she is so... i could easily be friends with her." Hermione explains yet frustratedly runs her hand down her face.
"I suppose then, that time wishes for you to correct more than the general timeline but perhaps to correct the time line of others as well. Why else would it send you this far back?" Albus inquires with a tilt to his head. Hermione had considered this of course but who? Aside from the general line the only other she was hoping to change was Bellatrix's at this point.
"Indeed perhaps you are right. But when do i know that i can return?" Hermione asks frowning slightly.
"You will feel it i imagine." He informs handing back the stone she had given to him earlier. "Now. Who are you right now so you may be introduced and sorted into a house."
"I will go by Yseult Durant in this time." Hermione explained as Albus stands and moves about his desk and towards her.
"Very well. Come along Yseult, we will go and join the feast." Albus urges and the young witch smiles and goes on.
HGMMHGMM
"I can't believe you were sorted into Gryffindor." Bellatrix chimed later that evening after the meal was done. She and Hermione had gone out to the courtyard to enjoy the mild night.
"You like me anyway." Hermione teases back with a grin. She really did like this Bellatrix.
"Yeah i suppose." Bellatrix heaves a long suffering sigh at this.
There was movement to the left of them and when they looked over a young Ravenclaw boy, around Bellatrix's age maybe a 7th year, moved out of the shadows towards them. Hermione watched him curiously and Bellatrix seemed to positively beam at the sight of him. The time traveller watched in wonder and Bellatrix stood and greeted the boy with arms thrown around his neck and a kiss planted right on his lips. Hermione recognised him as one of her fellow Gryffindor's and when the light caught him she realised he had ginger hair.
"Gideon... how i missed you." Bellatrix coos happily hugging the boy close.
"And i you, i feel so much better with you in my arms." Gideon Prewett in the flesh it seemed. Hermione might have gagged in her own time to hear such a cheesy proclamation but here knowing the future of both of these people it just made their apparent love all the more romantic.
"Can i see you later?" Bellatrix asks threading her fingers with Gideon's and looking to Hermione.
"I'll be around." Hermione confirmed with a small smile as she looked at the two. Bellatrix grinned brightly and the two lovers turned and ran off to god only knows where so they could get reacquainted.
Hermione had mostly kept her head down, she had noticed Molly at the Gryffindor table and her year younger twin brothers, she had also noticed Arthur Weasley, he and Molly were loves since Hogwarts and that was apparent already. She hadn't noticed anyone else as yet, but it was her first night there, she would figure it out eventually and learn who was who and all of that. Her main concern at the moment was something she had failed to mention to Albus. Where the hell was she to sleep?
Apparently though she needed have really worried about it because a few moment later a shadow stepped into the light. Hermione was struck dumb at what she saw though. Who she saw. The person before her was 30 years younger, give or take a few years and it showed in an incredible way. Of course even in her own time Hermione had been attracted though it had been on a far more intellectual level, she had never considered them physically. Yet it seemed that not only did Hermione herself feel differently right now but so too did the opal that seemed to warm at this crossing of threads, theirs and Hermione's, along the general line.
"Miss Durant, it seems Albus is convinced you wont be here for very long and as your arrival was so sudden he had decided that you will be sharing quarters with me. The Deputy's rooms are some of the few staff rooms with guest rooms within." Minerva McGonagall explains not unkindly.
"Professor. I hope that isnt putting you out at all. I could find... somewhere to sleep." Hermione frowned slightly at that before where the hell else would she sleep.
"No, it is alright. I don't mind really." Minerva smiled a little because it seemed she understood as well.
"Well thank you, i appreciate that." Hermione smiles in return even though she was reeling at the beauty of a young Minerva who wore a smile on her face.
HGMMHGMM
Hermione spent the following week learning the people there, growing closer only to Minerva and Bellatrix, Gideon and Fabian as well. She didn't have anything to do with the others. Not Molly or Arthur, Ted or Andromeda. But she observed plenty enough. Namely the dynamic of the houses, there did not seem to be nearly so much animosity in this era as there was in her own. Bellatrix and Hermione got on swimmingly here and the Slytherins, though still arrogant, were not nearly so hostile towards the other houses.
Hermione herself had grown very fond of Bellatrix though she agonised over the difference between the Bellatrix now and the Bellatrix in her own time, how she felt an ache in her chest at what she wasn't sure would twist the woman later in life. Of course if Hermione knew what that would be she would gladly change it before she had a feeling that would come after Hogwarts and she just did not think she would be around long enough for that to count. She wanted, a little more every day, to be able to save the girl she knew from the woman she would become.
"You seem to be deep in thought." Minerva spoke from the doorway of her bedroom.
Hermione had been sitting in the living quarters since the end of dinner when everyone else had retired. She was staring into the fireplace without seeing it while wearing a pair of boxer shorts and a tank top with a throw wrapped about her shoulders. She had been so deep in thought she hadn't even seen or heard Minerva come into the quarters and into the bedroom where she had apparently changed into, surprisingly, flannel pyjama bottoms and top.
"I am. I have... things to do that i don't know how to do them." Hermione explains turning to give the gorgeous woman her attention.
"I wont pretend to know why you are here. But I know you aren't just some common student. You know all of the syllabus to the point you are bored in eveyone's classes. You don't have to tell me but tell me seriously, are you even a student? How old are you?" Minerva says seriously and it was no surprise to Hermione that the brilliant woman beside her, pouring them both a glass of scotch, was able to see through her to some degree.
"I am not a student anymore no. I'm actually almost 19." Hermione explains though realistically she was like negative 12 at this point in time.
"I'm sure i cant get you to tell me why you are here, though i imagine it has something to do with a certain whisper of an uprising i've heard only this past summer." Minerva was prodding.
"It does. Can't you help me just not think about it for a little while? Please? My brain is rebelling." Hermione actually whined, she had been thinking of nothing but trying to change things since she had gotten to this time and she wanted a break, if only a small one.
"Are you propositioning me?" Minerva lifts an eyebrow at this and Hermione tilts her head. She was.
"I'm a virgin but i'm curious and you're extremely beautiful. Plus i'm not really a student." Hermione points out seriously. She didn't know where this person came from, maybe it was just herself really taking advantage of her Yseult person.
"I've never been with a woman, i wouldn't know how." Minerva reasons sipping her scotch, that wasn't a no.
"Neither have i. We could figure it out." Hermione returns.
"Or, i'm a transfiguration mistress." Minerva practically purred this time.
"Yes. Yes you are." Hermione was grinning now and actually excited by this new development.
It appeared this Minerva was considerably less likely to immediately shoot you down than the older one. In fact it seemed like this Minerva was practically eager for a little rendezvous in the bedroom and Hermione had to momentarily wonder what it was that made the older woman seem so... unaccepting of advances. But Hermione didn't really have time to contemplate this before Minerva was taking her hand and leading her back into the bedroom that the Deputy still, in the future, called her own.
Hermione didn't have time to be nervous, which was ironic, because she really had more time than anyone else right now. Minerva felt like time shouldn't be wasted though and a mere moment later, with a silent divesto, the two were standing naked. Hermione didn't balk and actually rather liked the way Minerva looked over her body so intently, mapping her. Hermione returned the favor gladly because Minerva McGonagall was a stunning specimen of a woman and Hermione found herself wondering if her Minerva was still just as glorious under her robes. Aged but glorious.
They came together in a sudden clashing of lips and tongues and there was nothing soft about there meeting. Minerva mumbled about wanting her first time with a woman to be as a woman so the two of them learned together. It was hotter than Hermione had expected as she had really expected her first time to be with a boy and for it to be a fumbling mess and over too soon. Yet it turned out that the two women were very thorough in their love making. They were both a mess when they finally decided to stop, for now, though it was clear this wouldn't be a one time thing.
"Where did this come from?" Minerva inquired lightly tracing the still tender scar carved into Hermione's arm. They were both bare and tangled in a mess of sheets.
"I got captured by some rather nasty people not so long ago. They are aware of my blood status." Hermione explains not lying though her explanation was mediocre.
"That is horrible. You're so young." Minerva actually pouted and Hermione didn't even try to resist the urge to kiss it right off the young professors face.
"You're gorgeous you know that. If i was staying i would court you appropriately." Hermione admits and it was not a lie. Minerva was gorgeous and after a blissful couple of hours Hermione was almost certain that if she had been born in this age she would have done all she could to be acknowledged by this woman in such a way.
"You flatter me, but now i feel we should get some rest." Minerva smiles sweetly at the younger witch who nods. They settle down together to get some sleep.
HGMMHGMM
"Merlin... that felt incredible." Hermione finally says a little breathlessly.
They were laying, breathing heavily, on Minerva's bed together, entirely naked and Minerva was now sporting a flaccid cock that had impressed Hermione to no end and then some. They had continued to indulge in their sexual relationship for almost a month now though they seldom spoke out of the living quarters. It was an an agreement they had decided on after that first night. Discretion and all that.
"You're leaving soon aren't you." Minerva says after a long few minutes, she was laying on her side facing Hermione and teasing one of the young witches nipples.
"I think so. Things are starting to feel different. I cant stay here long. Maybe a day or so." Hermione whispers softly and she was so desperately wishing she could tell Minerva everything, but it would change things too much, likely kill Minerva in the end.
"I will miss you, and not just because of the amazing sex. You're a very intelligent young woman and so easy to talk to. To have a thorough conversation with." Minerva was whispering now too and it was a moment neither wanted to end it seemed.
"I will miss you too." Hermione admits gently and even though Minerva was in her own time she knew she would miss this woman here with her now, the woman who was more liberated and playful, the woman who wasn't hardened by too many wars and too much loss.
They share a lingering kiss and eventually make love yet again, this time with Hermione on top and taking full advantage of the transfiguration professors newest addition to her body. When they were finally sated they fell asleep together only to wake the next morning and spend a few lingering moments kissing, a silent goodbye, before they parted ways to go about their day.
Hermione didn't go to breakfast though. Instead she went straight to the library where she took out her parchment and penned a letter. The letter was for Bellatrix and it told of a story of a young woman in love with someone she would not be allowed to have. It was, as far as Bellatrix would be concerned, a fictional story and not overly detailed but it was a variation of Bellatrix Black from the original time line. This Bellatrix would suffer a great loss but instead of turning to this Lord she would turn to a trusted ally, Albus, and strike up a deal.
She knew, or at least she hoped very much, that that would be enough to save Bellatrix though the feeling in her gut was a pleasant one. Once the note was finished she went to the owlery as she intended for it to arrive after she was gone and then she went back into the castle. She made her way slowly through the halls until she was outside the Transfiguration Classroom. She could hear Minerva inside teaching her class and smiles softly, it reminded her so much of her own Minerva. Leaning in the doorway Hermione watched for a moment until it finally seemed she got Minerva's attention. It was the most goodbye she could muster, to blow a small kiss to the young professor. Minerva understood.
Hermione had only one letter left to give and it was a simple one. It listen seven things, five items a creature and a person and nothing else. The young woman makes her way up to Albus Dumbledors office and into the room when the door opened to admit her. Albus himself was standing in the middle of the office looking at a pile of ash in a small basin, Hermione had to wonder if that was perhaps Fawkes.
"Professor." She speaks softly to garner his attention.
"Yseult, departing today?" Albus queries from where he had turned on the spot and given her a pleasant smile.
"Yes sir, i fear i need to go forward again, but not before giving you this." Hermione moves forward with her arm extended and hands Albus the note. Waiting she lets him read it first.
"A list?" He asks not understanding.
"Keep it sir, it will make more sense later." Hermione explains softly and he seems to understand it has to do with time, the future.
"Then i guess this is goodbye." Albus says finally and Hermione smiles.
"Only for a time." She agrees as she pulls the opal from her pocket. Albus smiles and watches as the young woman blinks out of time.
HGMMHGMM
(Scotland - New Present(1998)
This time when Hermione moved through time it wasn't directly, one existence to another, instead as she moved forward as time allowed it she saw things that happened, some along the general line and others along individual lines. Things seemed to be going as she had hoped though it caused her pain to watch. To witness Bellatrix having to be married off to a loveless man, to see her have to watch her husband kill the love of her life and her good friend, the Prewett twins were felled by the dark lord.
Minerva grew older and moved on and eventually agreed to marry Elphinstone, they lived and seemed happy but it was so short lived and it became clear that Minerva was no longer interested in that sort of romantic companionship, that she felt she did not deserve that sort of happiness. It upset Hermione a great deal because she would very much like to be that for Minerva, even in her own time. Yet there was no way Minerva would accept Hermione the way that she had accepted Yseult.
When things finally started to slow down Hermione realised she was stopping too soon, no longer where she hoped she would be but instead in a crumbling hall nearby a Neville Longbottom wielding a sword. She was so close to where she needed to be, but so far as well, instead she had to save Neville from Nagini so that he would kill her, she hoped that would be enough to right things. It took a simple Protego spell to save Neville and the snakes head was lopped off and Hermione felt the shift in time correcting itself.
Things moved quickly and suddenly Hermione wasn't saving Neville anymore but in a duel with Bellatrix along with Ginny Weasley. This was a bit of a surprise yet Hermione didn't let the fact she had been thrown back in to the time line distract her from the truth of the matter. Hermione's wand dropped but Ginny was relentlessly casting spell after spell the the Death Eater. It was only when Bellatrix almost hit Ginny with a stun that Molly stepped up and Hermione had to intervene at this point.
"Molly! Stop!" Hermione screamed only barely managed to disarm Molly before she killed the Death Eater. Everyone was surprised when Hermione stepped in front of Bellatrix Lestrange.
HGMMHGMM
Things went a little sour there for a moment but really there was no time for arguments as the war raged on around them, Molly took up her wand and stalked off angrily with a confused Ginny following her. Hermione moved off as well though this time she had an equally confused but no less grateful Bellatrix. Everyone just seemed so confused to see Bellatrix Lestrange fighting the dark forces alongside none other that Hermione Granger who was fighting this fight for the second time. This time it was different though because having changed Bellatrix's mind on this all early she also managed to save Nymphadora Lupin. Remus how ever still fell in battle.
When it came time for Harry and Voldemort to duel everyone held their breath anxiously especially Hermione who hoped desperately that it wasn't all for not. Thankfully though, and it had seemed very evenly matched, Harry ended the victor this time and Hermione damn near fainted with relief. Except she didn't have the chance because as soon as Voldemort fell all hell broke loose. Some of the Dark Forces fled but those that stayed and were yet to be captured fought recklessly. A do or die attitude had the battle lasting almost another hour before finally the Death Eaters and Snatchers remaining were fell or captured.
The creatures all dispersed almost immediately after Voldemort was killed as they had realised their promised freedom was no longer on the table even though most disputed that it ever even had been. Bellatrix helped capture the others but she and Hermione both had known that it would only be a matter of time before they attempted to arrest the eldest Black woman, even as they seemed ready to pardon Narcissa and Draco so easily, all on Harry's merit no less.
"You'll drop the wand now, Lestrange." It was Bill Weasley and Fleur of all people, though there were several other faces behind them.
"I'd rather not?" Bellatrix gives a half shrug. Ironically Hermione was still using Bellatrix's true wand.
"Bellatrix isnt the enemy anymore." Hermione frowns standing beside the woman next to her, she remembered vividly the girl who was best friends with Yseult.
"She killed Sirius!" Harry frowns walking over as he spouts the accusation not for the first time.
"That was an accident. I only meant to stun him but he fell back through the Veil." Bellatrix actually looked stricken.
"She did save my life. That has to count for something." Nymphadora Lupin comes over from where she had been sitting near her husbands body.
"But why? Why betray Voldemort after so many years of service." Fleur queried curiously, she was not entirely sold on condemning Bellatrix it seemed.
"It wasn't a sudden betrayal. I have never been Tom's. A Half blood pretending to be a pure blood? He was a power hungry little man. No... my true allegiance was with Albus Dumbledor." Bellatrix explains shrugging and folding her arms over her chest. She looked both arrogant and defensive but the crazy that had been there when the battle started was leeching away into nothingness.
"What? Since when?" Narcissa had been listening from the side lines a deep frown on her face.
"Since i was young, shortly after i was forced to marry Rod." Bellatrix shrugged her shoulders again.
"But why? You had everyone convinced you were for Voldemort." Narcissa was somehow frowning even more now.
"Because i met this really curious girl when i was in my 6th year, she disappeared and i never saw her again but she wrote me this odd story. I got married off to Rod who was a follower already and so i was required to be as well. I was still sleeping with someone else though, in secret, and i think Rabastan found out and told Voldemort, not all of it, but about who the person was. My lover and his brother was murdered and it was at that point i decided to become the best operative. How do you think Albus found the Horcrux, the one i didn't know was a fake?" Bellatrix explains with another shrug but there was a little pain in her expression now, she looked to Harry as she said the last.
"Well... it could be true, but why would killing your lover make you want to betray him to the light side? Why not just want to kill him yourself?" Harry was unsure but Hermione could see that Bella was winning him over.
"Because my love was on the light side of things but had otherwise been entirely innocent." Bellatrix sighed softly.
"Wait, who was your lover?" Molly Weasley was there with a half scowl, half frown on her face.
"Gideon. We had begun seeing each other late in our 5th year. I was at his and Fabian's place when Voldemort showed up with the other death eaters, they made me hide but i had to watch them die." Bellatrix had almost sobbed when she explained this but Molly's expression of anguish mirrored the new widows own.
"You... you was feeding Dumbledor information the whole time?" Harry asks softly and Bellatrix nods. The wands that were still raised dropped to their owners sides.
"Someone will have claim responsibility of you." Kingsley says stepping up. "And you will have to go to trial, though i imagine you might be able to stay out of Azkaban this time."
"I'll be responsible for her." Hermione says seriously looking at the people around her, she was still in a mild state of shock that she had succeeded in changing things for the better it seemed.
There had been a murmur of agreement and Hermione was happy that they didn't question her, she wasn't sure how she would explain that she was the girl Bellatrix knew and she really didn't know how she would explain that she even knew Bellatrix was on the right side all of the sudden. Nymphadora sent a patronus to Andromeda who came to the castle almost immediately. Narcissa and Andromeda seemed to be on speaking terms but no one really wanted to know Bellatrix right now so she stuck close to Hermione who sadly mourned the death of Fred Weasley along with those of her other fallen friends.
When it came time for those who could leave to leave they all went about their way of leaving, most aparating out and others going down to the village. A few, including the staff, had stayed there, not sure were else to go. With the remaining staff was Bellatrix and Hermione, two women who didn't know where else to go or where they were even welcome at this point. Of course Hermione had been welcomed to the Weasley residence but it was clear that Bellatrix was not so despite Ron's protestations she remained at the castle.
HGMMHGMM
It had been almost a week and things had gone relatively smoothly. Harry and Ron had opted out of doing their seventh year of Hogwarts and instead took the offer of waiving their NEWTS requirements for going into Auror training. Hermione on the other hand had refused this offer as she genuinely felt she needed to earn her NEWTS not just have them handed to her. The boys went right into Auror training and in doing so got hands on experience with going out to round up the remaining Death Eaters. Bellatrix remained with Minerva and the other staff at the castle the day after the battle was won and Hermione left to go and sort out some sort of residence for them both instead of living in the Great Hall with everyone else.
Hermione managed to acquire them a small cottage in the village beneath Hogwarts. Hogsmead had taken a little damage but not every much in the grand scheme of things. Neither herself or Bellatrix had a lot of possessions at this point so moving into the cottage was a simple fair before they returned to the castle to help with the repairs. It was going to take a while to fix everything even with magic but those remaining were determined to do just that. It took a few weeks before the castle itself was back up to par and that didn't include the damage to the grounds.
Bellatrix and Hermione didn't fall into a friendship like a few had expected they would, Bellatrix seemed uncomfortable and Hermione had to remind herself that she wasn't Yseult with one of her best girl friends anymore. Now she was Hermione and Bellatrix was old enough to be her mother. On top of that Minerva didn't seem to have much time for anyone in the face of everything that had to be done at the Castle and at the Ministry regarding the castle. Yet somehow when Hermione started feeling ill Bellatrix seemed to notice though she didn't ask about it. It went on like this for almost a week before Bellatrix finally inquired.
"Are you ok? Maybe you should go to St Mungo's." The woman suggested as she sat at the small table in their shared kitchen sipping toast.
"No, i think i'm fine." Hermione mumbles washing her mouth in the sink and sitting down heavily at the table.
"How did you know to save me?" Bellatrix finally asked and Hermione was surprised it had taken so long.
"You told me about the cup in the vault and left the hair." Hermione reasons without making eye contact. Those had been a memory she hadn't lived that had come after Hermione returned to the original timeline.
"I didn't tell you that and i tortured you." Bellatrix points out.
"You were almost crying while you were doing that and you were too focused on the sword that was meant to be in your vault. Was you not trying to subtly tell us what was going on?" Hermione countered reasonably, she didn't hold a grudge, not this time or last time.
"I'm not sure i buy it." Bellatrix drawls after a moment and Hermione shrugs her shoulders.
"How else would i know?" Hermione gets up to rinse out the tea cups once they were done.
"Want my theory?" Bellatrix gets up and leans against the counter beside Hermione with a tea towel in hand to dry the cups.
"Go on then." Hermione urges almost annoyed with this conversation, it was too coy and she felt on the brink of being found out.
"I think that originally you didnt even win the battle, i think you were beaten and the monsters won and you ran. You found a way to go back and change it. Change everything." Bellatrix gave her very accurate theory as best she could and Hermione remained silent.
"I think you fixed things how they needed to be fixed and i think you're Yseult." Bellatrix finishes with a soft whisper.
"Belle, you cant tell anyone! Especially Miner- Professor McGonagall." Hermione pleads gently and Bellatrix scoffs.
"Why would i tell anyone? This has worked out better for me this time i bet, or you wouldnt have written me that story." Bellatrix sets the cups away and takes Hermiones wrist before leading her over to the small sofa the two had transfigured from a stool.
"Tell me everything though, of the last time line." Bellatrix urges with a friendly smile and Hermione sighs, the only thing she omits is the relationship she held with Minerva.
HGMMHGMM
"Hello Headmistress. I'm not intruding am i? I didn't expect anyone to be out here." Hermione had been at the castle most of the day working on helping the final touches, she had gone down to the quidditch pitch for some air. They were erecting all of the wards and barriers again tomorrow around the school grounds.
"Its a really nice night and i've been stuck behind that horrid desk all day." Minerva explains with a huff. The woman was sitting on the grass in the middle of the pitch.
"I understand. If im not here helping im sitting in the cottage listening to Bella complain about being stuck in the cottage." Hermione chuckles softly and sits down beside Minerva. It had been a week since she had told Bella about the time travel but it had been since 1967 that Hermione had really spoken with the woman beside her.
"How are things, living with Bellatrix i mean." Minerva inquires curiously looking at her favourite student.
"Not so bad really. Oddly domestic which i am sure would blow anyone's mind if we ever got any kind of visitors." Hermione shrugs and lays back on the grass with a sigh.
Its not exactly that she had missed her friends, well she had but she had always been busy enough that it hadn't really bothered her either, plus she had Bellatrix who was just as open as she remembered her much younger friend. Still she hadn't gotten so much as a letter either and that kind of stung because she had taken the time to send a letter or two out herself but they had clearly been blatantly ignored.
"Kind of been forgotten hm?" Minerva inquires and surprises Hermione when she lays back beside the young witch.
"Pretty much. Oh well. I guess maybe i've been a little too busy for it to bother me too much." Herione lets a little sigh escape.
"Why don't you come have lunch with me tomorrow. Bring Bellatrix if you have too, i'm sure we could both use a friend at this point." Minerva suggests sincerely and Hermione inwardly growled because she already had plans.
"That sounds so good but i have a check up St Mungos tomorrow at 11." Hermione says truthfully and Minerva frowns.
"Are you alright?" Minerva was genuinely concerned.
"Yes i think so. I feel fight right now but i've been consistently sick the last couple of weeks. Usually around lunch time. Bella has insisted i go to St Mungos and get checked." Hermione explains truthfully and Minerva nods.
"That seems wise. What about lunch the day after then?" Minerva prompts because the woman seriously anted to have lunch with the young witch even if only to touch base and be sure the young woman was ok.
"Yeah that sounds really great, Professor." Hermione agrees with a fond smile on her face. "Actually i was hoping to ask you a favor, i've been thinking about trying to become an animagus."
Minerva smiles fondly, "Yes i'd like to help you achieve that. I'd love to see what your animagus is." The woman informs with an almost playful grin, the sort Hermione remembered kissing off her face more than once.
It hurt Hermione more than she had thought it would, of course Minerva and Yseult had never professed any great love but they had gotten so close and had been so comfortable with one another and not just in a physical way but on an intellectual and borderline emotional levels as well. In the back of her mind she knew she could tell Minerva everything, none of the past mattered now as far as the future was concerned but a bigger part of Hermione realised what a betrayal that would be, Minerva was young and having an affair with a woman who wasn't her student, for Hermione to tell her now that would just be inappropriate.
Instead the two lapsed into comfortable silence, it was a warm clear night and they lay there together looking up at the stars and feeling a sense of peace and calm for the first time since the battle had been won. Hermione had, for the most part, used the alone time she had of a night, to tell of the differing time lines, documenting the things she had changed for the sense of her own sanity. Bellatrix had urged her to do so, that it would be good if one day these things were necessary to know of, a learning exercise even. But tonight she was just happy to stay silent and enjoy the peace with a woman she both did and didnt know intimately.
HGMMHGMM
Hermione was sitting quietly in the examination room, Bellatrix was there with her as not only was the older woman under her care at the moment but the two had struck up the friendship that they had once had when Hermione was pretending to be someone else. It was as drab and sterile as a muggle hospital even though magic allowed for a great level of care and most things were sterilised with a simple flick of a wrist. Hermione was simply waiting on a medi-witch to arrive to check her over, again with a relatively simple set of spells. Hermione was just about to strike up a conversation with Bellatrix when the door opened and a woman walked in.
"Miss Granger, My name is Gretchen Walker and i'll be checking you over today. Madame Black." The woman greeted Hermione first before looking over to the silent Bellatrix.
"Hey Gretch, been a while." Bellatrix seemed to confuse the woman when she smiled at her.
"Only like, 30 years give or take a few years." Gretchen gave a half smile.
"You became a Medi-witch. You was my favourite Quidditch player, what happened?" Bellatrix inquires seriously and Gretchen wrinkles her nose.
"I got recruited for the Harpies and my second practice i got knocked off my broom, it caused damage in my shoulder that couldn't be completely healed." Gretchen explained with a huff and Hermione cringed a little. Gretchen was a year younger than Bellatrix and had been a star Ravenclaw Chaser.
"Oh, i'm really sorry to hear that. You had amazing talent." Bellatrix says genuinely sympathetic which seemed to surprise Gretchen more than anything else.
"You really are the same old Bella." Gretchen says rather happily at this and Bellatrix grins.
"Yeah i am. Granger already pointed that out though. Very reliable source this one." Bellatrix draped her arm around Hermione's shoulder and effectively brought the attention back to the younger witch.
"Yes right, lets run these tests then shall we." Gretchen smiles and moves closer to Hermione, she places a charm on a sheet of paper she had and then cast some sort of spell of Hermione, she hadn't studied too much medical magic so she wasn't sure what the spell was.
With a few flicks of her wrist Gretchen had a magical link between Hermione and the piece of paper and, amazingly to Hermione, the piece of paper was filling with results and diagnosis' depending on what the spell was looking for. Her blood pressure was fine, heart rate normal, slightly dehydrated but not requiring medical attention. Her temperature was normal there was no residual magic in her body that could be affecting her, no curses or jinx's. Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Bellatrix who had been reading the results as well. The problem was that Bellatrix, who had begun to, wasn't smiling anymore as she still looked at the paper.
"You're pregnant." Bellatrix blurts out looking shocked.
"What?" Hermione asks dumbly before looking back at the paper and sure enough there it was.
Pregnancy: Confirmed; 9 weeks 3 days.
HGMMHGMM
"You... you are pregnant." Bellatrix points out only when they were home and in the cottage again.
"I am." Hermione murmured, she was in a state of shock.
"Whose is it?" Bellatrix asks softly as she knelt in front of the young witch sitting on the couch.
Hermione looked into Bellatrix's eyes, her good friend and confidant was there, then and now the same person only now she had more life experience. Hermione was torn between wishing for her old Bellatrix, the past that wasn't her own, the Minerva she knew and adored. She wished the peace she had felt after the battle at the castle had lasted for her but now all she felt was dread. Not because she was pregnant, but because of who she was pregnant by. A thirty years younger Minerva McGonagall who had trusted a young woman who didn't even exist. Hermione had committed the worst betrayal and now as a result she was pregnant to a woman who would hate her if she knew. She didn't answer Bellatrix, instead she burst into tears.