Disclaimer: I own nothing!
ATTENTION: I suck at keeping up with fanfiction these days. I finished up my master's degree last month, and I began a new job in August. I just began re-reading the HP series, so my attention was drawn back here once again. I've missed it, but my time has been split in too many directions to adequately keep up with my writing. But I'm going to try to put something out at least once a week.
I hope you enjoy the next chapter of "Backwards."
Hermione pulled her long brown tresses out of her face and bound them with a wide scrunchie. She pulled out a pen (she kept a supply on her when she wasn't at school) and scribbled some notes on a notebook she kept in her bag. The last couple of days had been more stressful on her than she led Harry to believe, but the last thing he needed was for her to break down.
Harry Potter was the single-most important person in Hermione's life, and until she made arrangements to travel to Australia and reverse the memory charms on her parents, he was the only one she loved unconditionally. Of course, she loved the Weasleys, and they had always treated her like family, but Harry…
Harry…what's happened to you? Her fiancé…she hadn't broken that news to him yet…was the same sweet guy she had fallen in love with years ago, but there was something there, just behind his eyes, that let her know he had seen some things that had changed him. This Harry had experienced abuse at the hands of his own family, witnessed the deaths of far too many friends and family members at a young age. Her Harry had been supported throughout his childhood and time at Hogwarts, even when a manipulative headmaster was determined to see him dead.
The brunette sighed. Harry was out with Ron and the twins playing a game of Quidditch; Harry had been relieved to see that he still had his Firebolt in this timeline. Hermione listed as many reasons as she could think of for Harry's timeline switch:
Dark magic (Rogue Deatheater?)
Magical overload
Department of Mysteries error (but no time turners were recovered!)
Something happened in Hogsmeade that we're not aware of
Hermione's brow furrowed. The last one had to be it. Harry had been left to his own devices for a bit while Ron and the others had talked to various women and recounted their own versions of the battle. They had found Harry passed out, supposedly drunk, in the back room of the tavern and had brought him to the Burrow to sober up. Only it had taken him two days to wake up.
"Hermione!" Harry bounded into the house, hair windblown and a grin on his face. She had to grin. This was the boy she loved. "Hermione! Let's go out!"
"Go…go where?" Hermione was confused. Harry usually wanted to stay at home, preferring to watch movies or read or…other things…with her. Go out?
Harry nodded. "We can go into muggle London. We won't be recognized there, and," bending down and whispering in her ear, "I can be alone with you." Hermione blushed a bit at this and slowly nodded.
"Where do you want to go?"
Harry was on Cloud Nine. He was dressed in nice muggle clothes (something he had never had in his other life), and on his arm was the love of his life. Hermione Granger, even when she was the buck-toothed know-it-all that got on his nerves at times, had always occupied a soft spot in his heart that had spread to encompass the entire thing over the years. It had driven him crazy in his fourth year, seeing her laugh and dance with Viktor Krum at the Yule Ball, but that was also the year, apparently, he had come to his senses and won her over for himself.
Hermione had grown into a lovely woman, her hair naturally more straight and easily manageable than it had been in her youth. She had cut it before Bill and Fleur's wedding, but it had grown back out since. She looked wonderful tonight, wearing a nice, simple summer dress that hung below her knees. Harry couldn't believe Ron had let her go.
"What?" Hermione was looking at him as they walked.
Harry grinned. "Just thinking about how my life has changed in the last day. I can't believe I have you all to myself."
"Well," Hermione smiled, "I'm just glad you're here. I can't imagine a life as Mrs. Ron Weasley. Don't get me wrong; I mean, I love Ron. But I couldn't live with him forever."
"Who knows?" Harry shrugged. "You two might have had something." He then grinned slyly. "But I never plan on giving him a chance to find out."
The couple entered a building Hermione indicated, as Harry had never truly experienced life in muggle London. They dined on burgers and chips, and they shared a large cup of ice cream. They walked down the street and caught a live show in the theatre, and by the time they left, Harry and Hermione were holding onto each other, laughing.
"That…" Harry wiped tears out of his eyes, "was the funniest thing I had ever seen."
Hermione nodded, still laughing. "That's the best part of live performances. You never know what you'll see. Even when it's someone's actual arse."
The two roamed around the city for a while longer, then they dipped inside a hotel, too tired to apparate and too anxious to spend some alone time together. They laid in bed until late, talking, touching, kissing, and Harry and Hermione both realized that neither had changed at all. Harry still knew Hermione, still knew what she loved, what she hated, where she liked to be kissed (that took a bit of experimenting), and how she loved to be held.
Hermione melted under Harry's touch, and in no time, it was as if nothing had changed, and later on, as she pushed Harry's hair back as he slept, she determined that nothing important had.
James Potter ran his hand through his hair. "Lily, we can't leave Sudan yet. There have been sightings of at least three of Voldemort's followers here in the last week!"
"Prongs, we can handle this if Evans wants to head back to Harry." Sirius Black and Remus Lupin played chess on the other side of the room. "She's worried."
Lily sighed. "James, our son woke up and thought we had been dead for almost eighteen years. He probably needs some confirmation. Actually, he thinks we're all dead."
"I know, Lily. I just want to get these last three out of the way. We have got to make sure they are all gone this time. We'll be too old to take care of it again in twenty years."
Lupin laughed. "Speak for yourself, James. I will be in excellent condition in twenty years. That's what marrying young will do for you!" Looking over at Sirius, he added, "You should try the whole matrimonial thing, Padfoot."
Sirius shook his head. "Not happening. But," glancing at Lily, "go, Evans. We've got this."
Lily looked at her husband, who nodded. "Harry needs one of us right now. Moony and Padfoot and I have this, and we'll be home later this week." James pulled Lily closer. "Be careful."
"Will do, love." Lily nodded. "I'll be back if I don't see you in a few days."
Harry woke with a start. For the first time since he began his new life, he woke up alone. He put on his glasses and looked around the hotel room. Hermione was sitting in the armchair across the room, reading a letter.
"Hermione, is everything ok?"
Hermione looked up with a smile. "Harry, you're finally awake!" She got up and bounded across the room, holding out the letter in her hands. "Your mum wrote us."
Harry took the folded note from Hermione's hand and read:
Harry and Hermione,
I'm leaving this morning on my way back to you. I have to check in at the Ministry, but that shouldn't take very long. James, Sirius, and Remus have stayed back to reign in the last three Deatheaters, so they won't be along until a bit later. Tell Molly to expect me for dinner tonight.
Mum
Harry's hands began shaking. "Hermione…"
Hermione's eyes looked at Harry with worry. "What's wrong, love? I thought you'd be happy!"
"I…I am. But Hermione, I've…I've never met my mum. I mean, not that I remember. What if…?"
"What if she doesn't like you?" Hermione smiled. "Harry, she loves you. And she seems to like me a good bit as well."
Harry nodded. "Well, of course she loves you." He paused. "Wait, Hermione. Are your parents..?"
Hermione knew what he was thinking. "Yes. My mum and dad are still in Australia. That much didn't change. I had planned on going to get them whenever the Ministry finished rounding up the remaining followers of Voldemort."
"Then that's what we'll do. In the meantime, let's go enjoy this beautiful day."
Dumbledore was becoming frustrated. The spell, which he knew he had executed perfectly, wasn't working. Fawkes hadn't arrived as he should have, and the dementors were spending more time than necessary around his cell, as if suspicious of something.
The former headmaster walked around his drawings in the dirt, determining if he had left something out. No, the etchings were perfect, down to the most minute detail. So what was wrong?
A flutter caught his attention, and he looked up hopefully, thinking it was his beloved phoenix. However, surprisingly enough, a tawny owl flew between the guards and threw in a letter to his cell, disappearing just as quickly. Dumbledore hurriedly opened the message to reveal just a short note:
I ricived yur summuns. Will take care of it today.
Dumbledore smiled. It wasn't Fawkes, but it was almost as good.
