Hermione Granger grasped a small piece of ripped, crumpled paper in her right hand as she walked toward her former school. She walked faster as she got closer and closer to her destination.

"Ms. Granger?" A dark clothed wizard stood at the door of the burrow next to Arthur Weasley. He had chestnut brown hair, light green eyes, a long nose and pale skin. His forehead had permanent worry lines. He looked like a normal man except for his hands. His hands looked as if someone had just lit them on fire.

"Yes. I am Hermione Granger." Hermione stood from her place on the couch and walked over.

"My name is Samuel Leonidas and I am from the ministry. I was put in charge of Ablus Dumbledore's will." He reached into his satchel and pulled out a large, thick book. "He left this to you." Hermione grabbed the book from him. Samuel Leonidas reached into his pocket and pulled out a tightly sealed letter with Hermione's name on it. "He also left this to you. We checked for and curses or dark magic and found none." Hermione took the letter from him and saw some fingerprint marks on it.

"You tried to open it didn't you?" Hermione exclaimed. Samuel Leonidas looked away ashamed. "The ministry never can leave things alone. They always have to pry so they can feel like they know something. They want to feel like they still know what's going on in the world." Hermione felt all of the anger and sadness she had been bottling up coming out. "So you disrespect the dead, you disrespect Dumbledore's wishes, and try to read what left for his loved ones. You disgust me." She snatched the letter away from him and walked upstairs.

Hermione walked past the destroyed gates of Hogwarts and cast a disillusion charm on herself so she would not be seen as she walked up the path toward Hogwarts. She felt like an ice cold egg was being cracked down her back. She held her hands up and watched them disappear like someone was erasing her.

After her feet disappeared she took off her backpack and, while holding on to the strap of her bag, cast the charm so that would blend in as well. She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked down the long path toward Hogwarts.

Hermione stormed upstairs angry and aggravated at the ministry's inability to keep to themselves about private matters. She shut the door to Ginny's room and locked it. Ginny was staying with her brother's Fred and George, helping them clean up and run their shop for the summer because Angelina had gone to see her family for 2 weeks.

Hermione sat on the bed, with the book Dumbledore had left her, and tried to calm herself down. She had been bottling up all of her anger after Dumbledore died. She had to be strong for Harry. Harry had been crying in his room every night since Dumbledore died and occasionally she heard him talking in his sleep. He had been saying things like, 'Why?Why me?' or 'Why did you leave me Dumbledore?'

Ron had been no help when Harry had tried to tell him the troubles he was having. Ron just looked mortified couldn't handle the fact that Harry was having doubts about winning the war. Harry didn't tell anyone else because he was afraid that he would get the same reaction. He didn't even go to Hermione and she only found out about him talking to Ron because Ron told her.

She felt her eyes begin to burn and a lump form in her throat. That was what happened when she was about to cry. She couldn't cry, she didn't want anyone to see her cry. She had to be strong for everyone. Hermione had to be strong for Harry, for Ronald, Ginny, and even for Arthur and Molly Weasley. Hermione could tell that Arthur and Molly sensed that Harry was having trouble and having his doubts and they began to worry as well.

Hermione swallowed back her tears and breathed deeply until she regained composure. The letter that Dumbledore left her was laying on the nightstand near her bed and she reached for it. Her name was spelled perfectly in cursive on the front of the envelope. She smiled slightly at her memory of Dumbledore claiming that one of his flaw's was that he was a perfectionist. The letter opened itself once she pressed a finger against it's seal. She smiled slightly once more at Dumbledore genius. What a man to put enchantments on it to prevent others, such as the ministry, from reading it's content.

Hermione pulled the letter out from the envelope and unfolded it.

Dear Hermione,

If you are reading this then I have, unfortunately, have passed away. I have known that I would die for quite some time now. As I felt death coming closer and closer I noticed a change in Harry. He had become distant, even from those closest to him. He had begun to shut himself off from those closest to him. He can not win this war alone, but he is under the impression that he must. He believes he is saving everyone by trying to win on his own, but in reality he is killing everyone.

You, Hermione, are a beautiful and intelligent woman. You are the brightest witch of your age and that is why I am trusting you with this mission. I hope that you will accept it.

It is to dangerous to tell you in this letter. Further instructions can be found in my office.

Do not tell anyone else.

Remember, Follow your heart.

Yours truly,

Albus Dumbledore

Hermione reached the broom shed by the playing field. She quietly opened it and looked inside. Two beaten up brooms were left. She reached for the one in better shape and left the broom shed.

She flew up past the astronomy tower and by the open window that was another entrance to the Headmaster's office. She stuck her head through and looked around. She searched for anyone that might be in the room. She heard someone reading under their breath. She looked over the small ledge of the Headmaster's small indoor balcony and saw Severus Snape sitting at Dumbledore's desk slouched over some papers.

Hermione wanted to curse him right then and there. She wanted him to suffer for what he did to Dumbledore but she had a mission do to for Dumbledore. 'Soutier.' Hermione thought. It was a spell that caused heavy sleep for a few hours. It was a spell of her own creation that she had been casting in secret upon Harry so her could get to sleep and stay asleep.

Hermione waited for a few minutes until she heard Snape's slight snoring. As quietly and gracefully as she could, Hermione entered the Headmaster's office. After placeing the broomstick on the ground she walked quietly down the small staircase until she was a few feet away from Snape. She looked at him. His face had worry lines in them. She resisted the urge to curse him into oblivion for killing Dumbledore and making her life a living hell. She wanted to kill him for making her feel like dying every night. Instead she searched around the room for any clues as to where Dumbledore might have hidden the continuation of the letter.

She pulled out her wand and cast the disillusion charm upon herself. She watched her hands come into view. Then she saw her arms and legs come into view and felt her whole body temperature increase. She glanced over at Snape to make sure he was still asleep. His soft snores could still be heard.

Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out Dumbledore's letter. She re-read it, searching for clues. Her eyes stopped at 'follow your heart'. She mouthed the words, wrinkling her eyebrows in confusion. She let out a small annoyed groan and stuffed the letter back in her pocket.

Her eyes scanned the room. Everything was neat, tidy, and perfectly organized. The only thing that was a mess was a pile of cards by the window. Hermione walked over to it. She wondered if this was the clue she was looking for.

The card deck was in a small pile in the center of the window sill. Every card was face down except for one card. The ace of hearts was sitting on top of the pile. She reached for the card and as soon as her fingers grazed the edge of the card it transformed into a letter. She smirked at how clever Dumbledore was.

Dear Hermione,

You are a beautiful and intelligent woman. I believe that makes you fully qualified for this assignment. I want you to travel back to 1944, Tom Riddle's seventh year at Hogwarts, and prevent him from ever becoming Lord Voldemort. You must show him that he can love.

I realize how drastically this shall change the future but now I believe that that is our only option. I hope that you shall accept.

The spell that shall send you back in time is' Listiria Groutius'.

Good Luck,

Albus Dumbledore

Hermione was in shock. She was to travel back decades before she was born, and rewrite history. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore was asking her to make Voldemort fall in love with her.

A load snore from Snape caused her to snap out of her thoughts. She glanced at the spell once more before stuffing it in her pocket.

"Listiria Groutius."