Harry listened to Kreacher, hanging on every word, when he noticed Hermoine. She was crying into her hands beside him, practically gasping for air between sobs. He knew she must care for Kreacher and be terrified while hearing the elf's story of plight, but even while he was explaining his lucky escape, she kept crying, harder and harder. He looked back at Kreacher as he spoke about Regulus' death, then back to Hermoine as she gripped the wall, completely beside herself with tears still streaming from her eyes. It's probably just every emotion she's had in the past few weeks. I'll never say anything, Harry thought. But still…
Hermoine clutched the little time-turner in her hand and took a deep breath. This was it. She'd counted how many turns she would need, but that wasn't the hardest part. She still didn't know what she was going to do once she'd gotten there. No one ever spoke of Regulus Black, and yet something still drew her to him like a magnet. There must be something that would help them to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; something that would help Harry.
She began turning, slowly at first, but soon fast enough that the little time turner was practically buzzing with speed around Hermoine's neck. Glancing at the clock, Hermione saw that she'd been turning the necklace for nearly an hour, and by the time she'd finished, her hand was cramping so badly she could hardly move it. As she took one final look around her bedroom, the very walls began to spin away, replaced by an empty lot. Her house hadn't even been built yet.
With a final deep breath, Hermione tucked the time-turner into her shirt and set off for Grimmauld Place.
It'll be longer next time. Promise(;