Chapter Two

Lupin gave the russet witch a grave look before inquiring, "Well, then, Lily Evans, are you ready to save the world?"

Images of her loved ones appeared in front of her mental eyes, one after the other as in a video reel, the movie of her life playing out in front of her eyes, as in front of those who were about to die; the faces of her brothers, her parents, scattered with freckles with laugh lines around their big, warm, brown eyes; the faces of her friends at Hogwarts, those of Hermione and Luna, eyes filled with tenderness and trust as they looked at her… Then much more somber memories penetrated her mind, particularly that of Sirius, prostrate on the floor, face covered with his own blood, mixed with dirt; the expression of Lupin's moon-white face, overtaken by chagrin, tears streaming down his dirty cheeks, and finally, the wink Dumbledore addressed to her.

This gesture could have seemed insignificant at first blush, but to Ginny it was actually the most important, because it let her know that the headmaster considered her capable of fulfilling the task.

And finally, Harry's face, the expression of chagrin and profound sadness in his green eyes that showed despite all his efforts to make others believe that he was doing alright, that he was capable of doing everything alone… She allowed herself to think about him before forcing herself to forget him forever. As well as her entire life, her friends and her loved, ever so loved family…

Her eyes filled with tears at the mere thought of leaving this ever so difficult but ever so precious life, filled with the gifts of God, behind her.

"Tell them I love them," she implored Lupin.

Seeing her desperation, Lupin's features softened in compassion, and he nodded his head in agreement.

"Tell them that I am doing this for them. And also, tell Harry that…"

For the length of a second, she could tell by the shocked expression on Lupin's face that he thought she would divulge her most intimate thoughts, but perhaps partly due to the look on the face of her old professor, she changed her mind in the last minute. The emotions she harbored for Harry no longer made sense. Currently, her own feelings revolted her, making her stomach churn, on the verge of crying or vomiting.

"…tell him good luck. I know he will succeed in defeating Voldemort."

I will sacrifice myself for him, she thought, the realization hitting her suddenly. I will exchange my life for his two times. This time, my death is proverbial, it is the death of Ginny Weasley and everything that she has known so far, to resurrect the poor Lily Evans, torn away by the incisive claws of Death, at such a terribly young age; the second time, she will sacrifice herself as Lily Evans to save her beloved son and for the future of the entire world.

A smile appeared on her face.

"So that is why I have always loved him so, isn't it? Because he is my own blood. As an adolescent, I wasn't able to interpret the depth of his emotion right and I considered it a manifestation of the only kind of love a girl like me is capable of understanding. But in reality, it's much more than that.

Lupin nodded her head but didn't seem like he understood what she wanted to say, but to her, everything became clear all at once; by pronouncing these words, which testified to a wisdom well beyond her years, she became aware of their veracity, she felt it in her bones, filling her entire body like divine fire, reviving her soul from the verge of death, both proverbial and real.

"Blood and family are magic well beyond our understanding," said Lupin without much conviction.

But how would he have known? He had no children. Maybe he never would. But she, who existed, like him, in many places and different eras at the same time, she understood. The love that she had harbored for a stranger and which had eaten her alive with its incomprehensible depth suddenly made sense and troubled her no more. She wasn't a pitiful fool deluding herself, and the love she felt was of the paternal kind. Everything was so clear suddenly.

"Ginny," Lupin said suddenly. "We have to hurry. If Molly arrives before you leave, we will have failed."

Ginny nodded and approached him. Suddenly, a wave of culpability washed over her as she remembered her violent reaction to learning her veritable identity. She would have preferred to spend her last moments with Lupin differently. After she communicated this to him, Lupin's eyes seemed to sparkle with tears again.

"Don't worry. We will see each other again soon, dear friend," he said before giving her a soft, friendly kiss on the forehead.

Suddenly, Ginny could understand the situation in its entirety: she was going to die. She would continue to exist in another time and in another body, in an era she had no knowledge of, without her friends or family. She would die in the past while the life of her loved ones continued in the future, without her, where she would be nothing more than a painful memory they tried to avoid thinking about to prevent being submerged by pain. She would be nothing more than a source of sadness for her loved ones.

All of a sudden, she wanted to die: she was ready to do everything and anything to help in any way, except sacrifice herself in this terrible way. Her life would be nothing more than a living grave. So, before she ruminated too much over this and put everything in danger due to her feelings, she said, "So, how will we do this?"

"Put this on," Lupin said as he handed her the Time Turner.

She put it on, arching an eyebrow as she looked at him.

"You have to turn back the wheel exactly ninety times to go back in time."

"Ninety times? Hermione has told me about hers, and she said…"

"Oh, please, the Ministry obviously won't reveal its best-kept secrets to a 13-year-old school kid! Yes, most Time Turners aren't sufficiently powerful to take its user back in time to another era, but there are artefacts of the same kind possessing much more impressive magical properties. This is a prototype that Dumbledore had already tested. Don't worry, he wouldn't risk your life. 90 turns will be sufficient."

They heard the sound of footsteps, of cries and sobs. The others had just arrived at the Burrow.

"Quickly, quickly!"

"But how will I know how to act once I'm there? Who should I turn to for help? Or will I be all alone?" Ginny began to turn the wheel of the Time Turner back with frenetic speed, desperately trying to count the number of turns and pay attention to Lupin at the same time.

The sound of footsteps became louder and louder; her family was nearing them.

"Turn to Dumbledore! He knows about your arrival. And now, hurry up!"

"Okay, okay!" she said contritely before she finally turned the wheel of the Time Turner back for the ninetieth time.

Before disappearing in a circle of blinding white light, she could see her family's and brothers' faces. The last thing she heard was the strident cry of her mother: "What is the meaning of this, Remus?"

And suddenly, Ginny Weasley was no more.

She was now Lily Evans.