THE ONLY WAY

CHAPTER 1: THE PLAN

It was the day after the war and though everyone was ecstatic that Voldemort was dead and it was finally over, no one was much in the mood to celebrate. The losses were colossal. George Weasley had not spoken a word since he had seen his dead twin, refused to eat and sat on a couch in the corner of the room staring vacantly at the blazing fireplace. Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Lee Jordan, Neville and Hagrid sat by the back wall of the Burrow sitting room, drinking like Harry had never seen anyone drink, evidently trying to drown their sorrow. Molly, Flure, Luna and Ginny were all crowded around a small crib that held Teddy Lupin. That had been another couple of people lost. Remus and Tonks. They had also lost young Colin Creevy, Mad Eye Moody, Dobby the house elf and Severus Snape, not to mention the countless nameless people killed. Harry sat, alone, not wanting to interrupt anyone else's grief. He looked out the window and saw his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They had their backs turned to him but he could see Hermione leaning on Ron's shoulder, and her entire body was shaking. Ron was, no doubt, crying very hard as well, after all Fred was his brother and everyone else, his friends. Harry, too felt the total and complete grief of it all. It was one of those days he wished he didn't feel anything. He looked over at George and decided that he would go and try to talk to him. No one took any notice of him as he got up and crossed the room. When he came to George he sat next to him and there was silence, for Harry had no idea what to say. After a while of silent thinking Harry decided on the most obvious and simple thing he could think of.

"I'm sorry." He said sincerely.

More silence passed and it seemed that George wasn't going to respond. After a few more minutes he said, Hoarsely, Quietly and without looking up:

"He was my best friend…"

Harry felt tears stinging his eyes.

"I know." he replied sadly. George still didn't look up.

"I guess it's only Weasley wizard wheezes now." He said his voice breaking.

"George…" Harry said, trying to find the comforting words that Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus always said to him.

He finally looked up directly at Harry. His blue eyes had lost all signs of a laugh. He mouth in a frown and tears streaked down his face. One thing was for sure, though he could tell it was George, he looked completely different. He seemed to have aged 20 years, overnight.

"I don't…I can't…" George stammered, as though tasting each word to see what would get his message across.

"I can't be George…without Fred." He said with so much anguish that Harry didn't know if he could bear it for much longer. George saw the look on Harry's face and nodded.

"You don't have to stay with me. I understand." He said quietly. Harry nodded and got up. He walked to the crib slowly but when he got over no one took notice.

"How is he?" Harry asked quietly.

Mrs. Weasley looked up, tears still leaking from her eyes.

"He just stopped crying. I think he may know that his mummy and daddy are…are…" at that point Mrs. Weasley had to exit the room to stop from waking little Teddy with her loud sobs, Flure and Luna following. That just left Harry and Ginny, looking at the sleeping baby sadly. He had the talent that his mother had, to change his appearance at will, but at the time he seemed to have taken his normal looks.

"He looks like Remus. With Tonks eyes…" Ginny said in a broken voice. She looked up at Harry, Tears coming fast, but silent down her face. "Kind of like you. Looks like his dad with his mum's eyes… and both…" she trailed off

"And both orphans." Harry finished grimly.

They both looked back down at the baby.

"You're his Godfather you know. You might have to take him…he may have to live with you…" Ginny said sadly.

"I know…" Harry whispered. They looked at each other.

"Ginny, I love you." Harry said abruptly and rather louder than he had hoped. Everyone in the room looked up and stared. Ginny smiled through her tears.

"I love you too Harry." She said and kissed him, softly. It was then that Ron and Hermione came in the door, holding hands tightly. They both looked awful, eyes bloodshot covered in grime and blood and tears.

"Harry, we have to talk to you." Hermione said urgently.

"Now." Ron said. Ginny looked from Harry to Ron to Hermione and then back to Harry. He seemed to understand the looks.

"Can Ginny come?" He asked them

Hermione looked at her and nodded.

"Ron's room." She said.

"Wait! We can't just leave Teddy. Mum, Flure and Luna can't stop crying, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Hagrid and Neville are all too drunk and George…" Ginny trailed off.

"Is going to watch him." George's voice came from behind him. They hadn't even noticed his arrival.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.

He nodded.

"Thank you." Ginny said, hugging her brother tightly.

Ron led the way, Followed by Hermione, Followed by Harry, and Followed by Ginny. When they were in the small attic room Ron sat on the bed and pulled Hermione in his lap gently. Harry sat next to them.

"Ginny, the door." Hermione said in a fast, breathy voice that had the smallest trace of what seemed like hope, but why?

Ginny bolted the door and went to sit next to Harry, grabbing his hand.

"Ok Hermione, what's up?" He asked uncertainly.

"Yeah, I might like to know as well." Ron said in a voice that suggested he was a bit irritated with her for not telling him.

"Well…I've been thinking…and I think I might know a way to…err…well…sort of bring Fred, Tonks, Remus and maybe even Colin…uh…back." She finished meekly.

"Back?" Ron asked faintly, staring at the girl in his lap with amazement mixed with disbelief.

"Like from the dead?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Sort of…" Hermione replied.

"Hermione no magic can bring back the dead…" Harry said a bit surprised that she didn't already know this.

"I know! But…what if…their not there yet!" Hermione whispered the last words as though they were forbidden.

"…What?!" Ron asked, looking thoroughly confused.

"What he said." Ginny and Harry said together.

"Well…we can't bring them back at the current time, but what about if we stop it from ever happening? What if we save them before their even gone?" She now sounded rather excited. Ron looked at her pityingly.

"Mione…hunny…they died yesterday. It's already happened."

Hermione looked impatiently at him.

"I'm very much aware of that thank you Ronald." She snapped at him. "I'm talking about going back! Getting them before they die! And there are four of us so one could get Fred, one Remus, one Tonks, and one Colin!"

"But Hermione, there's only one way to go back in time…" Harry said

"And that's time turners. But the whole box got smashed didn't it?" asked Ron, hope creeping in his voice

"All the ministry ones did but they're not the only ones who have them." She said in a low voice.

"You know where to find one?" Ginny asked quietly.

Hermione just nodded.

"But it would be impossible to save them without being seen by the other us's wouldn't it?" Harry asked, a small bubble of excitement forming in his stomach.

"Who cares if they see us?!" Hermione said. "This is more important than thinking were insane. I'm sure if you said the words Time Turner to us we'd get it."

"It would put us right back in the battle…" Ron said slowly.

"Yes." Hermione agreed anxiously.

"Right." Ron said briskly. "You're not coming with us."

Hermione looked as though she had just been slapped.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M NOT COMING WITH YOU?!" She screeched in outrage. Ron winced.

"Mione… I already lost friends, and a brother. I can't lose you too." He said gently, avoiding looking at her. Harry saw her eyes soften as she looked at him.

"Ron…" She said gently. "Ron…I have to come."

Ron looked into her eyes and seemed to have realized he was fighting a losing battle. He sighed and looked away.

"I 'spose I can't ask you to stay then?" Harry said to Ginny, knowing the answer but still hopeful it would change.

"Not a chance."

He too sighed.

"Who has the time turner?" Ginny asked.

"An elderly witch. I contacted her and she's agreed to give it to us for a price."

"And what price is that?" Ron asked.

"Well we have to pay her about 200 galleons and I have to…err….well Ron don't get mad but I have to…go on a date with her grandson." Hermione said and winced, waiting for the explosion, as were Ginny and Harry.

"WHAT!?!?" Ron bellowed. "YOU HAVE TO GO ON A DATE WITH HIM!??!?!?! BUT YOU A-AND ME…!" His face was red.

"I know and I don't want to but its worth it right?" she asked timidly. "Ron? I promise I won't fall in love with anyone else." She said attempting a smile.

"Fine." Ron said grumpily. "But only for Fred, Tonks, Remus and Colin."

"That's settled then! When do we do this?" Harry asked.

"I think sooner is better than later." Ginny said. Harry thought of Teddy and George…

"Agreed." He said in a throaty voice.

"So we go and get it today and do it tonight?" Hermione asked. They all nodded, Knowing this was the only way to make things right, once and for all.