Summary: Hermione goes back to the Final Battle to save the one person who she believes shouldn't have been allowed to die, even knowing that she'll be ripping herself from every other timeline. AU from beginning of epilogue on.

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own these characters. The epilogue wouldn't have been in Book 7 if I did.

A/N (Veronika): I'm so amazingly surprised that people noticed this from the first chapter, it certainly pushed me forward to finish this one right away. Thanks of course to who puts up with me in all of my crazy ways. Enjoy!
_

I'll Give You All My Futures

Chapter 2: The Thin Line Between Genius and Insanity

It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up. - J.K. Rowling; Goblet of Fire

Five Months Ago September, 2002

Maybe Hermione was just getting bored with her job, but there really were some days when she longed for the days of danger that had encompassed every year of her life at Hogwarts. If it wasn't for the variety of magical creature histories she had lying about her small flat she would definitely be bored. There just wasn't enough work for her here. After the major breakthrough that her team had made in developing a confidential messaging system for magical creatures in unwanted servitude, Hermione had almost no work. It made it difficult to go into work some days.

Leaning back in her desk chair, she closed her eyes with a sigh. Suddenly she sat up abruptly, breathing quickly. Rubbing her chest, she felt her heart pound wildly in her chest. She'd gotten something similar a few months ago, but it hadn't lasted this long.

"Hermione, you alright?"

"Belinda," Hermione said, spinning quickly to one of her fellow workers, "Yes, I'm fine."

Whatever the flutter was, it had passed. The conversation quickly turned to the three claims that had been made over the weekend that their department had to go over and address. Two house elves and a goblin. The paperwork was tedious, but she would actually have to do some legwork on the one house elf case. At least it was something.

Four Months Ago October, 2002

Preparations for Halloween were in full swing at the Burrow. Molly had really outdone herself. Paper bats occasionally took off from the rafters if you startled them too quickly. Pumpkins sang rather obnoxious lyrics. Orange and black decorations were everywhere. Hermione loved her parents' world, but really, no one did Halloween like a witch. It made her giddy that it was only a week away.

"Hermione! So glad you came to help dear. You know the way the boys will be when it's actually time for the party. Drive me half mad and back again," Molly said, bustling her in.

Ever since she and Ron had started really dating, and honestly ever since Harry and Ginny had gotten married, Mrs. Weasley would use any little excuse to invite her over the Burrow. Even if it was chaotic she didn't really mind. She was starting to mind the looks though that, at this point, Ron seemed to be getting at every possible opportunity.

"And Merlin's beard, when the children get here," Molly said as she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Hermione to look around for places to clean.

Since she had been to help last Christmas, the two witches had an understanding of sorts. Hermione was still very Muggle when it came to things like cooking. Her mother loved that the only magic Hermione actually used in the house was to clean dishes, both women found it to be the most tedious chore. Since Mrs. Weasley worked wonders with kitchen magic, and with so many to feed all the time it was little wonder, Hermione took charge of cleaning the rooms.

As she spelled two sweaters, one sock, three pairs of boots, and a stack of opened Weasley products, to the laundry, back porch, and garbage respectively she couldn't help but wonder if it was time.

Halloween would be an easy holiday for her parents to meet the Weasley clan. Her father was a bit uncomfortable about magic, ever since the Final Battle. Though her mother had understood, even accepted, her daughter's decision but realizing that they had lived an entire year as other people had hit her father very hard. It had taken awhile before they were able to talk like they had before. She knew that her father would warm to Mr. Weasley quickly enough though.

"Mum, Dad?"

Hermione grinned as excited yells echoed throughout the house. Ginny's arrival always had that reaction.

As she rounded the corner, she saw the younger woman completely engulfed in one of her mother's hugs. When Hermione caught her friend's eye over Mrs. Weasley's shoulder she mouthed an exaggerated 'help me'.

Ever since Ginny had started touring with the Holyhead Harpies she'd barely had enough time for her honeymoon, much less too many house visits. That was one distinct advantage to magical life, Hermione thought with a grin. With the exceptions of match games of course, Ginny was able to apparate from wherever she was to spend her nights at home with Harry.

"Marriage and Quidditch really do suit you, you know that right?" Hermione said with a grin after Mrs. Weasley released her daughter to run back into the kitchen to silence an alarm.

It did suit her. Ginny still maintained the figure she'd had in school, though her arms and legs were now toned with strong and limber muscle from being a Chaser. Her hair was pulled back in a tail, jeans showed off her legs, and the navy sweater helped to show off her more mature curves.

Ginny grinned, "Harry's really been fantastic about it. I think it's only because he likes to brag about the box seats I let him give away to his co-workers. Like he couldn't get them on his own with a flash of his bloody forehead."

"I heard that Ginerva! Mind your mouth!"

Both women laughed before Ginny followed Hermione upstairs to help with the cleaning.

"Where is Harry anyway? I'd assumed with a Burrow visit, he'd be coming with you," Hermione said, charming a broom and tray to start sweeping.

"Funny thing that," Ginny said, sitting on her old bed. "He got this lookon his face when he got the message to go in. Aurors do work funny hours sometimes, you know."

"As funny as Quidditch players?" Hermione asked, going to sit next to her.

"Ya, and almost as dangerous," Ginny said with a frown.

Silence fell as both of their minds turned towards darker thoughts.

"Sorry, didn't mean to do that," Ginny said after a second. "Happy thoughts, it's almost Halloween. How are things getting on with that git brother of mine. He proposed yet?"

"Ginny!" Hermione half yelled with a grin.

"Don't be like that, you know you're thinking it," Ginny said as she stood, levitating the now finished broom to follow the two of them to the next room. "Besides, it's almost embarrassing that he hasn't asked you yet- I know he wants to. Such a bloody slow mover!"

"GINERVA!" Molly Weasley's voice echoed from downstairs.

Ginny paused in the hall. "You know, it's been yearsand I still don't know how she does that."

Hermione laughed as they went into the room that Bill and Fleur would be staying in. Bill had been able to get a few days so they'd be in early with the baby. Transfiguring the extra chest of drawers into a crib, Hermione nudged Ginny to start with the sweeping. Downstairs, they heard another commotion as someone arrived through the Floo.

"I can't help if I'm not really ready yet either," Hermione said. "I mean, he's met my parents, they approve and all, but they haven't really met everyone here yet you know?"

Ginny gave her a sideways grin, "You know who I think I hear downstairs now? Maybe I should just bully him into it."

"Gin, don't," Hermione started, but Ginny was already off, running for the stairs with Hermione close behind.

Hermione managed to catch up to her on the stairs, but nearly ran into her at the foot of them. Harry and Mrs. Weasley were talking at the entrance to the kitchen. When Molly looked at her, Hermione knew something terrible had happened. Harry wouldn't meet her eyes. Her heart almost stopped, worried that Ron had been hurt somehow. Her panic doubled though when Ron came into view, his eyes red and full of tears that hadn't fallen yet.

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

"I'm so sorry Hermione, you've gotta believe me," Ron said, almost choking on the words.

"Ron, you're scaring me, what's happened?" she asked, going to stand in front of him.

"We got a tip with a location on the Carrows," Harry said, Ginny going over and slipping under his arm. "Some… anonymous source. We get them sometimes. It said what the target would be, but, we... We didn't get there in time."

"Where? What target? In time for what?" Hermione asked, her voice rising as little voices of denial and panic started screaming in her head. She turned to look at Ron.

He took a shaky breath in, "Your parents Hermione. They targeted your house."

Three Months Ago November, 2002

Everyone had been surprised when Hermione returned to work the week after Halloween. Everyone, surprisingly, but Ginny. The now Mrs. Potter had simply told her that if she needed someone to talk to who wasn't Ron, her door was open. Hermione had even gotten a reassurance that Harry would allow himself to be kicked out at a moment's notice if necessary, which had startled her into a laugh. Ginny was the only one who wasn't treating her like she was made of glass, ready to break if they said or did something wrong. So she was also the one who supported her when she went back to work.

"It's an easy way to make yourself not think about bad things," Ginny had said. "Keeps you focused on the little things. Things that matter, but that distract you from having to deal with everything else."

The Weasleys had offered her a room at the Burrow for her to stay in if she didn't want to be alone. She'd refused. She didn't want to walk past their pitying faces at every turn. Or to have the reminder of Ron still living there. Maybe if her independence hadn't prompted her to get her own flat then…

Hermione found herself wiping away a tear, even though she'd sworn that she wouldn't cry at work. She had tried to keep the news as contained as possible, but it wasn't everyday Muggles were killed under the Dark Mark. Not these days. Their deaths had made the papers.

What had made it worse was the fact that there hadn't even been bodies to bury. The wards hadn't even been tripped. They had come, set her world upside down, and vanished. If it hadn't been for the trace spells lingering in the air for the Aurors to pick up it would have almost been like they had gone on holiday. Except her mother would never have left the kettle on. And her father would never have left a book he was in the middle of behind.

Hermione had sworn. She had sworn that no one she knew would be killed after the war. It had been bad enough cleaning up and burying the bodies after the Battle of Hogwarts. Now? Now she didn't even have gravestones for them.

Her extended family didn't understand. She didn't even want to explain it to them. None of them knew she was a witch. None of them knew that her parents were gone because she was Hermione Granger, witch, fighter in the Second Wizarding War that brought down Voldemort. She had had to go through the Muggle system, file a police report, talk to officers. Talk to her family. Listen to their hopes that they would be found. That they were missing, presumed kidnapped for reasons unknown.

She hadn't believed it at first either. She had demanded to see the Auror reports. She went over the spells. Spells that lined up as connecting with bodies. A Muggle recipient of a spell glowed a different color than a wizard or witch. Torture spells had connected with Muggles. But though two Killing Curses had been cast, it didn't show the color signature of the recipients. Everyone assumed… Looking at the evidence, she knew what they assumed. It wasn't carved in an iron placard, but even Hermione had to admit how fruitless a search would be.

Sighing, Hermione propped elbows on her desk and rested her head in her hands. The world wasn't built on if onlys. They were gone. She had to move on. Even as she coached those thoughts in her head, she still had to keep swallowing down tears.

Hermione jumped suddenly as her heart started racing again. Her breathing quickened to match it as she looked around, trying to see if anyone else was reacting the same way. Closing her eyes, she tried slowing her breathing down. In and out, come on Hermione, calm down, she coached. Eventually it passed. Looking at the time piece she kept in her desk corner, she frowned. This one had been longer. She had dismissed the first one as nothing, but two? Shaking her head, she tried to concentrate on work. There were reports to file and paperwork to fill out. Maybe she could convince her boss that she was in fact, fine, and he would let her go out interviewing today.

Two Months Ago December, 2002

The weeks approaching Christmas were the hardest. Hermione couldn't bring herself to decorate. All of her ornaments, even her tree, had been in her parents' house. She found herself crying at stupid things. Like putting tea on the stove, the Muggle way. It had always been her way, but now it felt like her mother's way. Officially, the Grangers were still listed as missing. It would be that way for months. Officially. She almost thought it would be easier if they hadfound bodies. Thinking that though made her want to cry again.

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Walking over, she found herself almost chanting, don't be Ron, don't be Ron, don't be Ron.

Ron had been wonderful. He came over at the perfect interval with food wrapped up with love from Molly Weasley. He surprised her with flowers at work "for no reason in particular." Every so often, he'd pop by with plans to go see a show, or just dinner. The one that had surprised her the most had been a lecture in the beginning of November on new ways of constructing Potions using Elvenlark. But every time, she had to put up with theface. The face that told her he was weighing every word that came out of his mouth. The face that told her every time he looked at her he blamed himself. The face that pitied her, and himself.

Checking the peephole, Hermione relaxed back with a sigh.

"I brought wine, cheesecake, and chess," Ginny said with a smile. "We need a girls' night."

Hermione smiled, "Thanks Gin, come on in."

Thankfully, Ginny let her pretend that nothing was wrong. She wasn't sure how hard Ginny had to act to keep it up, but Hermione was grateful just the same. They giggled over details about Harry and Ron that both men would probably have been both shocked and embarrassed if they found out had been shared.

"Ugh, I'm so glad he stopped doing that," Ginny said with a laugh as she refilled both of their glasses. "Mum used to want to clock him over the head with a broom when she caught him. Seriously, clipping toenails at the kitchen table? It was disgusting, let me tell you."

Hermione shuddered, "I agree."

"So what's going on with you two now? Has he been good?"

Hermione swirled the wine around in her glass. "As good as can be expected I guess. I snapped at him a few times when I really shouldn't have. He made comments about me continuously reading, of all things. I said a few things that I shouldn't have. It was a long day, and I've been working on it. I don't read when he comes over to visit really anymore."

"How's that going?" Ginny asked, grabbing another bite of cheesecake.

"Better," Hermione said, "Better with us anyway. I mean, it's harder when he stays over, because it's longer that I go without it. It's how I relax, you know? I don't know. Am I being unreasonable?"

"No, not at all!" Ginny said. "I think he's being a bit of a prick about it actually. It's not like he can say that this wasn't who you were before."

"Have you and Harry had any spats like that?" Hermione asked, almost not believing that she was asking for advice from the girl she had actually givenadvice to about her now husband.

The soft and almost dreamy smile that crossed Ginny's face made her feel a stab of envy.

"Not really. I mean, I've been myself, from start to finish. Well," Ginny nudged her, "Ever since I took your advice to relax. Spot on, by the way. Harry just accepts me and I accept him. I've never really seen him as anything but who he was. I mean ya, there was a time that I had an absolutely huge crush on him that wasn't based in reality by any stretch of the imagination, but when I actually got to know him, really know him? That's when I started respecting who he was and admiring what he could do. There was a time when I thought he was being a right prick too, don't get me wrong, but… He worked past it. He got through it. And then he saw me.

"From what I've found, guys… Guys need to get it together first. Girls can't help them. Girls can't change them. They change when they're ready, not even when we need them to. They don't change for girls. They change, and then they're open to the right girl. Does that make sense?"

Hermione grinned sheepishly, looking at the carpet they sat on, "When did you get so wise?"

Ginny laughed. "You helped. And Mum. And Harry too, though sometimes only in spite of himself. Also, when you have a lot of bad relationships, you learn to know what you're looking for. And what you never, ever, want to have again. Harry was there right when I decided what I wanted. It was a small miracle it itself actually. And he didn't have any of the things I wasn't looking for. And he had almost everything I did."

"Almost everything?" Hermione asked.

"I had to teach him how to give a good massage. He was horrid at it at first," Ginny said with such a straight face that Hermione couldn't help laughing.

Seconds later Ginny joined in.

Hermione had actually been anxious at Ginny's invitation over to the Burrow for dinner the next night, but she knew that her promises were sincere.

"Hermione, I solemnly swear that no one will treat you like a delicate china cup for the entire night. I made them all promise. It'll be a beautiful bubble of fine, I promise you," she had said, toasting her with her wine glass.

As she bundled up to apparate (she had a working Floo, but she preferred snow to Floo powder on her robes any day), she still wasn't sure. She wasn't sure why, but she'd dressed up a little for the occasion. It wasn't Christmas yet, but she was determined to not let anything ruin her holiday. Or ruin anything for that matter. She'd come to that realization the other night. If she let the actions of some good for nothing Death Eating sympathizers, or Death Eaters in truth, depress her, or keep her down, it was like letting them win twice. She'd let them win once. They wouldn't get her again.

When she saw the reaction to her outfit when she walked in the door, she knew that she'd made the right choice. Shaking snow off her outer robe, she grinned as a bunch of male redheads had their jaws drop.

"Hermione, you look…" Ron started.

"Amazing, he means to say amazing," George said with a grin, coming up and clocking his brother on the back of the head.

From behind the boys, she saw Ginny wink on Harry's arm. The dress had been Ginny's idea. They had gone shopping on one of her free days. The dress was casual, technically, in fabric. It was a cotton blended with something magical, because it was warm enough to wear out in even this weather. But that's where the practicality ended. It only swirled over one shoulder and hugged her tight all the way down to her hips only to flar out with an uneven hem . The left side had as small flare of fabric at her ankle, the right went up to her knee. The fabric was actually longer at the back as well, keeping the length almost until the side hem. It was also a brilliant Christmas red.

"How've you been George?" Hermione asked with a smile, receiving a hug and a kiss from the older Weasley.

"Perfect as ever I'll have you know. Even better since my brother finally got his ghost name." George said with a grin. "Cause you know, no ghost gets their own, of course. Humans give 'em out. And most ghosts hate 'em."

"Do I even want to know?" Hermione asked.

"DEAD FRED!" Fred yelled, popping into existence behind his twin. "How unoriginal AREpeople?"

"Aren't you supposed to keep to the shop?" George asked, "Aint it some kind of rule?"

"I'm not haunting the bloody shop," Fred continued, following George as he left the room.

"It gets weirder and weirder, believe me," Ron said. "And you do look… amazing, Hermione. Really, you do."

"Thanks Ron," Hermione said with a smile, reaching in for a hug and quick peck before their audience could make comments. "You don't look so bad yourself, what's the occasion?"

"Hm? Oh! No occasion," Ron said, a bit nervously. "Come in more though, you're hands are freezing."

Dinner passed exactly as Ginny had promised. No one brought up Death Eaters, Aurors, her parents, the holidays, and most importantly, no one looked at her like she was an abandoned puppy.

"Come on then George, help with the dishes," Mrs. Weasley said.

"You know what the worst part about Fred being all ghostly now?" George asked, leaning over to whisper in Hermione's ear.

"What?" she whispered back.

"We can't pretend to be each other anymore, she knows I have to be George."

"GEORGE!" Mrs. Weasley called again.

"Yes Majesty!" he answered , winking at Hermione and going to follow the crowd.

"Hermione?"

Hermione stopped stacking dishes to look back at Ron whose ears were slowly turning redder by the second.

"Yes, Ron, what's the matter?"

"C'mere a second, I want to show you something," he said taking her hand.

Letting herself be led away with only a half-hearted protest, "she won't mind, believe me, I've been working overtime for her this past week", he led her to the added back porch of the Burrow.

Faelights had been strung up and conjured into all of the trees along the back. Evergreens had been sporadically transported around the grounds, strung with more of the blinking lights. It was the peaceful kind of cold where they could see their breath and see the snow, but not feel immediately frozen.

"Watch," he said with a shy smile. "Try not to critique it too much."

Flicking his wand and muttering something under his breath, the lights began to dance. The yellow glowing lights flickered in and out, as if to music, red chased some of the yellow lights, blinking in and out of existence. Green lights started appearing, joining the rest of the dance in the trees.

"Ron, it's amazing!" Hermione said with a smile.

Poinsettias began blooming in lights on the trees, then spinning. Slowly, each flower folded in one by one, leaving the yard in darkness.

"That was amazing," Hermione said, turning to him.

"It's not done yet," he said, nodding back to the trees.

Turning with a grin, she watched as the lights started appearing again, white lights started writing in the snow this time, making the snow glow.

Marry Me, Hermione.

Gasping she turned back to find Ron on one knee next to her. Grinning up at her, he opened the small velvet box, letting the soft porch lights fall on the ring.

"I know we've been having some trouble, but my feelings haven't changed. Will you?"

Smiling now, almost ready to cry, Hermione nodded, "Yes, yes I will."

With a happy yell, he stood and swooped her up in his arms. Her lips met his, parting quickly to his warm mouth. Behind them, they heard catcalls and cheers from inside the house, making them break apart, Hermione blushing fiercely despite the cold. He chuckled, resting his forehead on hers.

"Sorry about that, crazy people. We'll move far away," Ron whispered.

Hermione sniffed and shook her head, making him laugh. Pulling away a bit, he held out the ring, taking her offered left hand, he slipped it on.

"I know it's not much, but Bill already got Granny Weasley's ring and…"

Hermione stopped him with a quiet hand on his arm. "It's perfect Ron. It's better."

He smiled and kissed her again. Seizing in his arms, she felt her heart take off again racing making it hard to breathe.

"Hermione?" Ron pulled back. "Hermione? Hermione?"

She fainted clean away.

Of course the next day she was subjected to the customary Weasley teasing, and Ron even more so, for making her faint right after agreeing to marrying him. It was lovely...