Chapter 1: One Hour

A/N: Guys, I'm back. It's been a while since I started my first attempt at a fanfiction, and for a sad reason. While I was happy with the reviews I got, I wasn't happy about my story. I wrote the first chapter and published it as soon as it was done (rookie mistake). I realized that I couldn't do that, you can't blindly attempt to continue a story you haven't thought through. No ideas came to my head, and I barely resisted posting a cliché fanfiction. So I wrote this story. I may have written a couple chapters by the time you are reading this, and hopefully this story would turn up better. I also would like to point out that I'm still not sure whether or not to continue the last story, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when it gets there.

This is an AU Harry/Hermione fic. Telling you just in case you didn't read the summary. The beginning chapter will follow the original story somewhat (i.e., the ending battle at Hogwarts), just from an alternate perspective.

I've rambled enough, so without further ado, here is the story!

Disclaimer: None of this story belongs to me (except for the tweaks to the main story). All credits go to J.K. Rowling and the brain that created the Harry Potter universe.

My bushy hair fell around my face and tears welled up in my eyes as Harry Potter knelt down in front of the man laying on the floor. The man was beckoning my friend without a sound as everyone in the room knew that if any words where spoken out loud, that would mean death for the man. Harry sat in front of the adult and stared hopelessly at him, that was until I saw it. The man was crying, it seemed, but it wasn't tears that flowed out of his eyes. Instead, it was a strange substance that I've only seen in my textbooks. Memories. I waved my wand wordlessly and a vial appeared in my hand. Ron Weasley gave me a slight glance, no doubt surprised at my use of wandless magic.

It seemed normal to me, doing something that others my age couldn't. Normally I would get snide remarks about being a "know-it-all" and I would cry silently when no one was looking, but that day didn't consist of me being in class, with my hand raised at every moment while I gripped the edge of my seat. No, that day didn't have class, or school, or anything a teenager would normally do, for that matter. That day was terrifying and shook me to the core, nearly ridding me of my emotions. Maybe it was the fact that at Harry, Ron, and I were hiding in a shack when everyone else was risking their lives in the castle, or maybe it was the fact that we watched a Professor be abandoned to die while bleeding out. The likely reason, though, was the man who had brutally attacked the older adult.

Voldemort.

I was certain that Voldemort wasn't human, but instead some devil spawn from Hell. He was insane, murderous, and flat out terrifying. White skin that somehow got so white it looked blue, red, snake-like eyes, and two slits for a nose. If that wasn't horrifying enough, then you should've heard his voice. It was like stone scraping against stone. I wondered how I managed to stand up to him, as he was ruthless. He killed Harry's parents, Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory, and lastly, Severus Snape. Severus Snape was responsible for the death of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and loyal servant to Voldemort. But, Voldemort killed him, or at least attacked him to a certain extent. The Dark Wizard had left him to die, and Harry, Ron and I were standing over him while I was carefully pushing a vial into Harry's hands. Harry put the vial in the path of the flowing memories and slowly collected them. My best friend stood up slowly when he finished and turned to look at Snape. Snape opened his mouth and whispered something only Harry could hear, before he let out his final breath. He moved no more. I opened my mouth to say something to him when suddenly I heard a faint buzzing. Looking around, I deducted that whatever the hell wasn't making the sound was indeed not in the room. Suddenly, the buzzing became loud and amplified, as if a thousand bees had found their way into the Shrieking Shack. My hand gripped my wand when suddenly, the buzzing stopped, only to be replaced by that cold, dreadful voice.

"You have fought valiantly," the voice of Lord Voldemort said, and I realized that he wasn't near us, but instead talking to everyone in the area. Ron flattened his hands against his ears in a painful wince, and Harry, who I supposed was too deep in thought about the death of Snape to hear the buzzing, nearly toppled over in surprise. "Lord Voldemort knows how you value bravery. Yet," Voldemort continued in that same horrid voice, "you have sustained many losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen". Ron gave a snort of disbelief. "Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." Silence. I saw Ron remove his hands from his ears, only to slap them back in their place again as Voldemort clearly wasn't done talking.

"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you," the voice said, and I turned to look at Harry. His face was dead white, sweat dripping from his forehead, and upon closer examination, I could tell he was holding in his breath. "You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, that you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour," Voldemort finished.

Harry looked like he was about to faint, and I could tell that he was contemplating whether or not to turn himself in. I tried my best not to get mad at him for doing so, which under any normal circumstance I would have, but that day was different. It was going to be the day that would set everything in place. Either Voldemort, an immortal, savage being will die, or everyone else would. Shivers flew down my spine. The hunt for the Horcruxes felt like a game, or a warmup. Now, it became real, and I couldn't blame Harry one bit. Ron spoke aloud, breaking the terrifying silence.

"Don't listen to him!" Harry jumped, startled by the noise, and turned to look back at Snape.

I racked my brains, trying to think of something that would comfort my friend. For once, I didn't have a solution, or at least not a great one. "It'll be all right," I whispered, hoping not to startle Harry again. "Let's - let's get back to the castle, if he's gone to the forest we'll need to think of a new plan..." I trailed off. I mentally kicked myself. Way to make things feel better! Before I could worry Harry even more, I looked at Snape then almost ran back towards to tunnel. I heard Ron follow me but I knew Harry would stay a bit back. How I figured that out, I don't know, but he did. The grass was cold as I climbed out of the tunnel, with Ron following suit in less than ten seconds. Harry slowly climbed out after thirty seconds and he looked towards the castle, deliberately not meeting our eyes. Ron sighed, then led the way towards the Great Hall. None of us uttered a word as we trudged towards the castle, and once again, Harry hung back, leaving him a good 10 meters behind us. Ron reached the doors and waited patiently for Harry and I. I gave Harry a small, reassuring smile, one he did not return, before opening the doors. My first thought was probably everybody's thought. "Where is everyone?" Ron shrugged, and opened the door to the Great Hall. I gasped. The tables were cast to the sides of the rom and there were people milling about everywhere. This was where the dead and injured were kept. Ron immediately spotted his family and walked over to them, I followed suit, and Harry hung back yet again.

I saw Ginny, who slowly made her way over to me. Poor soul, she looked like a downright mess. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy. I hugged her as she came closer and we held the hug for a long time, before she let go and solemnly led me towards Fred, who was lying on the floor with his mouth slightly agape and eyes closed. It almost looked like he was sleeping. Almost. He looked like Cedric had on the night Voldemort returned. Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked past Fred and I saw Lupin and Tonks lying dead on the ground. Ginny hugged me again and Ron leaned his head against mine, something I wasn't fond of. Whatever feelings I had for him vanished when Ron abandoned Harry and I in that bloody tent. But, since it was Ron's family, I let him. And together the three of us sat, staring and mourning for Fred for God knows how long, before I finally said anything.

"How are you doing, Harry?"

Silence

Ginny piped up, her voice throaty. "Harry?"

More silence.

Ron turned around abruptly to face him. "Oi, you foul git, you don't need to -" Ron stopped midsentence. "He's not here," he muttered ashamedly. I turned around and sure enough, he wasn't there. Panic crept up to my chest. Where is he? I looked around, but I couldn't find a trace of him.

"Erm, I'm going to look for him," I said to the siblings, standing up. Ron stood up as well, but I pushed him back down. "Stay with your family, Ron. I can manage," I said with patience. The redhead nodded and sat down next to Ginny. My eyes swept over Fred, Lupin, and Tonks, and then I turned around. My feet carried me towards the door, yet I still didn't know where he was. Panic flowed through me again, but this time, I couldn't keep it down. My mind was frantic at this point. Where are you? I started to run towards the door, ignoring the curious stares that followed me. Images of Harry laying limp like Fred invaded my mind. Tears pulled at my eyes again. I let out a gargled sound as I thought about him turning himself in. He wouldn't do that! Not to his friends! I charged out the door and stopped, unsure of where to go next. I looked up the stairs and I saw Neville milling about on the second floor. My feet met the first step an in nearly and instant I somehow managed to make it all the way up without stopping. "Neville!" I shouted at him. The boy turned, startled, before he saw me, and I saw him visibly relax. "Neville," I panted again, coming to a stop next to him. "Have - have you s-seen Harry?" I croaked out, and the tears of worry started leaving my eyes and started flowing on my cheeks.

Neville looked a bit startled at my sudden crying, but he patted me on the shoulder and nodded. "Yea," he said.

I looked up at him. I noticed the change in him since I last saw him last. His jaw was well more defined and he looked a lot more confident, but I didn't have time to dwell on that. "Where was he?!" I demanded.

"I - I don't know! He told me he had something to do. And no!" he exclaimed, seeing the obvious fear that crept to my face. "He's not turning himself in. That's what he told me. He just told me to kill the snake," Neville said.

I was confused. "The snake?"

Neville looked at me strangely. "Blimey, Hermione, are you okay?" My eyes met his, and I was still oblivious as to what he was talking about. "Voldemort's snake! Nagini, I think it's called..." Neville trailed off.

Suddenly it came back to me. Of course, Nagini. Voldemort's snake. The snake that killed Snape. Snape. Suddenly, it dawned on me.

Snape!

His memories, the ones Harry took. Suddenly she was on full blast. "Neville, is there a Pensieve in Dumbledore's office?"

"Yeah, why?" Neville started, but I was already charging down the hallway, towards Dumbledore's office.

The stone gargoyle looked at me as I walked up to it. "I don't know the password," I said. Let me in! "Please?" I asked with no hope that he would let me in. The gargoyle stared at me for some time before sighing and moving to the side, much to my surprise. "Thank you!" I breathed a sigh of relief. I ran past him and up the stairs. I was met with the door, and I pulled it open, expecting to see Harry inside. Instead, it was empty, but someone had occupied it shortly before I arrived, as the Pensieve was still out in the open. I looked in, and I could tell that the memories were still inside. I didn't want to intrude on Snape's memories, and I really needed to find Harry, but I just couldn't resist. I dipped my head into the contents and I was transported to an unknown place.

I landed with a soft thud in a grassy field. I took in my surroundings as I straightened up. Swings. A playground. I saw two kids on the swings together, none of them had any features of Snape, though, and when I was going to get closer to investigate, a movement next to me made me jump. There, behind that bush. There was a kid with long hair and strange clothes. That must've been Snape. But who were they? I wondered, following Snape's gaze towards the children. One of them was swinging higher and higher than the other, and I thought that the kid was surely going to fall and break herself. Instead, the other child screamed, "Lily, don't do it!" My blood ran cold when the girl said that. Lily? Could it be? And sure enough, the child, Lily, let go of the swings and soared through the air. I closed my eyes, waiting to hear the sickening crunch, but none came. Instead, I opened my eyes to see her landing softly on the ground. "Mummy told you not to!" the other girl screamed again, hopping of her swing at a much lower height.

"But I'm fine! Tuney, look at this!" Lily said.

I then watched as Snape let himself be seen by them. Already, I could tell why Harry's aunt didn't like magic. Being a normal sister to a magical girl would've been hard on me as well. I wondered why this had anything to do with Harry, whatsoever, so I stayed to watch.

As time passed and memories changed, I saw why Snape really did try to protect Harry, his love for Lily was too much. I got a shock when Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him, but I was transported into Dumbledore's office again, and I was sure that I haven't understood everything yet. Dumbledore was walking around his desk while Snape sat as still as stone.

"Harry must not know, not until the last moment, not until it is necessary, otherwise how could he have the strength to do what must be done?" Dumbledore asked out loud.

"But what must he do?" Snape inquired.

"This is between Harry and me. Now listen closely, Severus. There will come a time - after my death - do not argue, do not interrupt! There will be a time when Lord Voldemort will seem to fear for the life of his snake."

Snape looked bewildered. "For Nagini?"

"Precisely. If there comes a time when Lord Voldemort stops sending that snake forth to do his bidding, but keeps it safe beside him under magical protection, then, I think, it will be safe to tell Harry."

"Tell him what?" Snape asked slowly.

I could see the anguish in Dumbledore's face. "Tell him that on the night Lord Voldemort tried to kill him, when Lily cast her own life between them as a shield, the Killing Curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort, and a fragment of Lord Voldemort's soul was blasted apart from the whole, and latched itself onto the only living soul left in that collapsed building. Part of Lord Voldemort lives inside Harry, and it is that which gives him the power of speech to snakes, and a connection with Lord Voldemort's mind that he has never understood. And while that fragment of soul, unmissed by Voldemort, remains attached to and protected by Harry, Lord Voldemort cannot die."

I wasn't aware of falling, but I was on the ground by then, shedding newfound tears for my best friend. He has to die! I buried my face in my hands, not paying attention to most of the conversation. Those images of him being dead resurfaced back to me and I wept even harder, begging for him to be alright. I looked up slowly to see that Snape was in Dumbledore's face, his own face set, jaw cleched, and eyes narrowed.

"I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter -"

"But this is touching, Severus. Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?"

Snape's face was flushed, full of fury and anger. He pulled out his wand, and I was sure he was going to hex Dumbledore. "For HIM?" he screamed. "Expecto Patronum!" His wand glowed, and in the split second before it came out I realized who sent the silver doe to our aid that night in the forest. The doe shot out of the man's wand, danced around the room, then soared out of the window. Dumbledore looked at Snape sadly.

"After all this time?"

"Always!"

I exited the Pensieve, eyelids heavy from crying. My best friend was marked for death and the only way to defeat the enemy was to die. Life had a funny way of telling you that you fucked up, especially when it came to wars. I sat down on the carpeted floor, thinking about my life with Harry.

We had met on the train to Hogwarts, I had been looking for Neville's toad, when I had stumbled into Harry's compartment. That was the day I fixed Harry's glasses, an act of helpfulness that he said he would never forget. Then I remembered him jumping on the back of a troll to save my life. That was the day he became my best friend. Images of Harry hugging me before walking through the fire to meet what we thought was Professor Snape filled my mind. That was the day I realized that Harry had a special place in my heart. And then I woke up from being Petrified, to find out that Harry one-handedly took out the Basilisk. That was the day I realized how brave he was. And then he saved me and Sirius from all the dementors. That was the day he and I learned how much Harry cared about his friends and his family. I remember the day we fought after the ministry and Harry came back depressed and guilty. That was the day Sirius Black died. I stood by Harry at Dumbledore's funeral. That was the day I saw Harry lose some feeling, some trust.

And that brought me to Dumbledore's office, standing up to find Harry and tell him how much I cared about him. To tell him so much before he even thought about turning himself in to Voldemort. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was to go behind his back to tell McGonagall about his broom, about how sorry I was to always be at Ron's side by the time Harry arrived for any holiday, and especially about how sorry I was when I didn't believe him about the Half-Blood Prince's book. For the umpteenth time that day, tears fell down my face. I stormed out of the office and ran down the staircase, determination on my mind to convince Harry that there would be another way, even if I knew there wasn't. When I got to the stairs, however, I noticed that there was something very wrong. People were streaming out the front doors slowly, and not a sound was uttered. I followed behind in bewilderment. A hand slipped in mine and I jumped, but relaxed when Ron came into view next to me. I gave him a questioning look but he just shook his head and shrugged in response. I let him tug me along, searching for Harry while I did so. Wherever I looked, however, there was someone huddled up next to me, trying to get out the entrance. I was about to say something to Ron when I heard McGonagall's voice echo throughout the air.

"NO!"

If I were honest with myself, it sent shivers down my spine. But I didn't care. What was she yelling about, and why? Suddenly, cool air hit my face as I reached the front doors. People strewed out against the wall of the cast as they got outside. It was dark, but the sky was starting to become blue, so it must have been a couple hours before dawn. I looked in front of me, and to my horror I saw Voldemort, just standing there. I never got a good glimpse of him until then, and it shook me to the core. I then saw Hagrid behind him, tied up and carrying what looked like a bundle of sheets in his arms. I felt Ron stiffen beside me, and then I realized that I could see a face in that bundle. And then it struck me that it wasn't a bundle of sheets, but instead a dead body. I let loose a cry, seeing who Hagrid was carrying.

Harry Potter.