A/N: Here's the next chapter of Backward With Purpose by Deadwoodpecker with my commentary. Please read the original, it is mind-blowing! Enjoi…


Backward With Purpose: Hallows and Halloween

The next evening, everyone gathered in the kitchen of No. 12 eagerly anticipating reading about the time-travelers' adventures and wondering just what had caused Merlin to send the book into the past. Moody and Kingsley, their faces changing from disbelief to shock to wonder, were filled in on the bleak future and Harry, Ron and Ginny's efforts to set things right.

Finally, they were ready to resume reading. Percy picked up the book and began, '"Hallows and Halloween"'

It was with mild trepidation that Harry and Ron entered the dungeons the following Saturday to serve their first detention with Professor Snape.

"Didn't stop them from wrecking my classroom," said Snape bitterly as everyone else was amused.

Snape's words had come to pass. Harry and Ron had gone back to the common room to find a hero's welcome. They'd been pulled in by the twins who had showered Ron with praise for being a true younger brother to them. The older students had been stunned and impressed, and Harry had felt a little fissure of warmth that even his fellow first years (excepting Hermione) had forgiven them for what Seamus called 'mass projectile vomiting.' A burly fifth year had even congratulated them for what he said was a prank for the ages.

"Just like old times," Sirius sighed, while Remus and Tonks chuckled.

Snape merely growled his displeasure.

Over the past days – even when it came out that they had run afoul of an illegal potion called the Confuzzle Draught – their fellow Gryffindors had followed them around in crowds.

This grated at Snape's temper, and he had said some very vicious things to the two of them that they hoped were only for the sake of appearances. Unfortunately, they couldn't be sure.

"Getting cranky, Snape?" Moody couldn't help but say.

Snape did not deign to reply.

"Are you sure he's not going to make us disembowel frogs again?" Ron asked anxiously for the seventeenth time.

"No," Harry replied, just as anxious. Just yesterday, Snape had called him a four-eyed madman who ought to be put out of his misery.

"I expect Albus has something else in mind," said Kingsley calmly, looking at the aged wizard.

"I am sure I very much regret dismissing them when I did, said Dumbledore ruefully. "I would like to ensure the Horcrux is safe, for one thing."

They found Snape standing before his desk. On it was a thick cauldron full of what looked like Polyjuice Potion. Did Snape have some sort of humiliating task involving transforming into someone horrible planned?

Everyone laughed at the convoluted workings of Harry's brain.

"I am sure I have better taste," said Snape silkily.

"No need to give me that look, Potter," Snape snapped. "I'll explain when our guest arrives."

"I'm here, Severus," said Dumbledore, whipping off an Invisibility Cloak that looked very familiar. "I arrived just before they did. Allow me to secure the room."

"James's Cloak," said Sirius grinning.

He then performed some rather complicated spells. Harry recognized most of them; he'd spent enough time in hiding that he was very familiar with spells of protection. But some he didn't.

"Good," growled Moody. "That means they have a good arsenal of protective spells."

"I should not have let you leave when I did on Monday," Dumbledore said quietly. "I was quite overwhelmed, to be honest. Do you still have the Horcrux?"

"Yeah," Harry brought it out and looked at it with distaste. "I had it in my trunk."

"Was that wise?"

"Wiser than keeping it on your person," Ron muttered darkly. He had certainly not forgotten the influence of the locket; it had led to him abandoning Harry and Hermione. "Trust me."

Everyone was shocked.

"So the Horcrux can play on your mind even when you are not dependent on it," Dumbledore mused to himself.

"If you spend too much time with them they start to change you," Harry added, patting Ron on the shoulder. "I secured my trunk as best I could."

Dumbledore seemed to accept this explanation and moved on. "I've been attempting to find a way to speak to you before this, but you always had your admirers with you."

Snape scowled.

"Were you trying to get us mad enough to do something about it in class?" Ron asked curiously. "So you could take us to Dumbledore again?"

"I would go out on a limb and say that wasn't your objective," Remus said, chuckling at Snape's sour expression.

"No," Snape said shortly.

Everyone laughed while Remus grinned.

"There's so much to ask," Dumbledore said ruefully. "I was obviously not thinking clearly when I told you I needed a week. I regretted that within hours. Tell me… do you know how to destroy a Horcrux?"

"Of course," Harry said. "We destroyed all of them. We simply didn't have the means to do so. I thought about going to the Chamber, but we couldn't seem to get away long enough."

"The Chamber of Secrets?" McGonagall asked shocked.

Those who were not aware looked shocked and started asking questions of the Professors.

"The Chamber of Secrets was opened almost three years ago by one of Voldemort's Horcruxes," said Dumbledore in a somber voice, sending a reassuring glance at a very pale Weasley family. "It contained a basilisk which petrified quite a few students until it was finally defeated by Harry and Mr. Ronald Weasley. Harry destroyed the Horcrux using basilisk venom and I am sure that is what he is referring to in the book."

Sirius, Remus and Tonks were not at all happy that a second year had gone up against a basilisk and resolved to have some words with Dumbledore.

"And we didn't think you'd want us to unleash Fiendfyre on Hogwarts grounds."

"Excellent deduction, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Now what is this Chamber?"

Everyone laughed at this.

"The Chamber of Secrets," Ron replied, as though it was obvious. "It's got a ruddy Basilisk in it. Harry destroyed his first Horcrux with a fang. Hermione destroyed another one years later the same way."

"The Chamber of Secrets?" Snape asked faintly.

I'm sure that came as a bit of a shock," said Tonks slyly.

"They do have a way of bringing myths and fairy tales to life, don't they?" Dumbledore asked quietly. "I think we've got our task for the evening, Severus. We'll all go kill the Basilisk."

"Actually," Harry said, equally quiet. "We're not sure if that's wise. Certain eventsmusthappen the way they happened last time." And he told them every detail of it, with Ron's help and input. "So we think that Ginny has to do it. It has to happen the same way. We can, of course, take every precaution that no one is Petrified. But the Sword of Gryffindor needs to be impregnated with Basilisk venom. That's the only safe way to get rid of the Horcruxes, especially if we're unable to get to the fangs."

"And the only way to acquire the Sword of Gryffindor would be in circumstances of dire need," Dumbledore said nodding. "Actually that is how Harry defeated the basilisk all those years ago."

"But that's extremely risky," said Arthur white-faced. His wife and kids looked incapable of articulating speech.

"I am sure they will take all necessary precautions and I will be watching over them," said Dumbledore kindly.

"That's… very wise," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

"Your portrait helped us," Ron told him. "Ginny will have a coin or something that she'll charm so that the coins Harry and I will carry will send us a message when she starts writing in the diary, every time."

"Still very risky," Molly mumbled.

"You don't like this idea," Snape said suddenly, staring at Harry.

"He must hate it," Bill said, looking at Fleur and wondering how Dumbledore's portrait had convinced Harry to put his wife's life in such peril.

"No, I hate it," Harry replied. "There's a risk, even with every precaution. If I lost Ginny…"

"They're married," Ron said in a stage-whisper.

"I am least interested in Potter's marital affairs," said Snape looking slightly sick.

"What's the Polyjuice Potion for?" Harry asked curiously. It was too weird to talk about his ten year old wife with Dumbledore and Snape listening in.

"It's for when we Apparate to the cave you mentioned," Snape said. He looked equally grateful for the diversion of topic. "I think we all agree that this must be done in the utmost of secrecy? I can't be seen anywhere near it. And neither can you," He paused. "Do I want to know how you knew what it was?"

"I don't think you do," said Tonks chuckling.

"We snuck into your personal storeroom last time, nicked the more sensitive ingredients, and used it to infiltrate the Slytherin common room to find out if Draco Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin," Ron grinned. He appeared to be enjoying himself a great deal. Harry couldn't blame him. He was too.

"I'm going to have them in detention the entire term," Snape muttered nastily, while the others laughed.

"Then we used it when we broke into both the Ministry of Magic and Gringotts," Harry informed them, grinning. "We've used it loads of times."

"They infiltrated the Ministry and broke into Gringotts?" Tonks said in awe. "I think I've got a new set of idols," she said seriously turning to Sirius and Remus.

"I think I'll give you another detention just for that," Snape said, aggravated.

"I think," Dumbledore said suddenly. "That we should spend this detention merely talking. There's so much that we didn't cover…"

Harry and Ron looked at each other, relieved, and began to speak. They told them as much as they could, up until their third year, with the promise of continuing on the following Saturday. But it was growing late, and not even Snape would keep them much longer without arousing protests from the other professors.

"I trust you can find a suitable punishment for yourselves?" Snape raised one eyebrow.

"Yeah. I think we just spent the last few hours disemboweling frogs without gloves," Ron said. "And that wouldn't even be a lie, you made us do that once."

"Must be something I think of this year," said Snape happily, while Sirius growled.

"In the interest of having a free Saturday sometime before Christmas, I suggest you do not tell him what you did to earn that," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Harry. Take this," He held out the Cloak. "Use it well."

"I will," Harry promised. "I'm hungry. I'll use it to sneak into the kitchens."

Everyone laughed.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Dear Ron,

The house is ever so much quieter without you here – I love it! I'm glad to hear that you Sorted into Gryffindor. I'm sure the Hat was debating whether or not to put you in Hufflepuff, and that's why it took so long. Weasleys belong in Gryffindor! I hope I make it too.

Thanks for the advice about Auntie Muriel, but I like my life. If I stole the tiara, it'd be a toss-up between who would kill me: Mum or Auntie Muriel.

Dad's doing well. Don't tell Mum, but he finished his project in the shed and he let me take a ride. It was a bit scary being up that high – thanks to my kind brothers, I've never spent a lot of time on a broom – and I was glad that there weren't any Whomping Willows again.

"Ron and Harry crashed my old car into the Whomping Willow," explained a grinning Arthur to a curious Tonks, Sirius and Remus, while Molly, Minerva and Snape scowled in disapproval.

Ron, I hope your wash went all right. We mustn't have you smelling like Fred and George.

And good for you making friends with Harry Potter, although if you tell him about my crush, I'll hex you. (Mum just read this over my shoulder, and is making me change it). Maybe I won't hex you. But I will be angry at you for always and always if you let him read this letter. Don't even let him touch it!

Love,

Ginny

"Excellent code," Moody said approvingly.

Ginny was a lot subtler than either Harry or Ron, but it did not take long for Harry grip the parchment in his hands, set his wand against it, and muttered their favorite words.

"Always and always."

My Harry,

We've been back for nearly a week and I still can't believe this miracle. Mum and Dad are wonderful, just like we remembered. Bill stopped by for breakfast last Wednesday (apparently he was in the country for some sort of Gringotts business) and I fell off my chair.

The entire Weasley family smiled.

I've been on the verge of tears for almost every minute of every day. And I'm not even at Hogwarts where I can see more people besides Mum, Dad, and a brother or two. Tell me all about your talk with Dumbledore and Professor Snape. What is this prophecy, and why does everyone know it? You don't think it's anything to really worry about, do you? And, if so, what are we going to do about it? I wanted to ask Mum about it, but what if it's suspicious?

"I would think she was too young to know," Molly said ruefully.

Also, she's very, very angry with Ron for the prank the two of you pulled (I'd pay loads of galleons to have been able to watch). If the letter from Dumbledore hadn't arrived soon after Percy's, Ron would've gotten a Howler.

"I still should have sent one," she muttered. Snape seemed to agree.

(Tell Ron to stop reading this now) Harry, I miss you. You did very well at the train station, but that moment you looked at me from the compartment, I just wanted to run to you and hold you. Can you imagine Mum's reaction? These past few days at the Burrow have been happier than I could have guessed; the only thing missing is you. Four years is a long time to wait…

"Please tell me she isn't talking about what I think she is," Bill muttered.

"Don't be such a kil-joy, Bill," said Fleur smiling.

I charmed this parchment (obviously), and I'm writing this in the dead of night. Mum isn't suspicious at all, but she would be if I was to strike up a secret correspondence. For now, I think it best if you keep writing the way you two did with the first letter (and good job, boys, with the subtlety).

I love you both, always and always,

Ginny

Harry smiled, even though he ached to see her. He wished he could take his quill and write her the sort of love letter that he wanted and send Hedwig back to the Burrow, but she was right. Still, he carefully folded the parchment and stuck it in his trunk. He cast a spell to make it look blank, to protect it and keep it safe.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

The Saturday detentions went well, although they talked rather than did anything with the Horcruxes.

"There's no hurry," said Moody nodding.

Professor Dumbledore had brought down his Pensieve which made the telling much faster and easier. Not to mention that there might have been miscommunication or misunderstandings; the Pensieve allowed the two older men to view the memories objectively.

"I'm glad I thought of it," said Dumbledore smiling.

Snape emerged, ashen, one night. "You could havewarnedme, Potter! Do you have any idea how bizarre it felt to be flying through the air with no means of support while you two and that Granger girl flew on the back of a dragon?"

"They flew on a dragon," Molly said faintly clutching Arthur's hand.

"I have to tell Charlie," said Bill chuckling.

"It felt pretty bizarre to fly on the dragon, actually," Harry told him. "Now how do you two suppose we get the cup from Gringotts?"

"Hufflepuff's Cup," said Dumbledore nodding. "And it must most assuredly be in the Lestrange Vault, seeing as Tom Riddle never had one himself."

They continued in that manner to hone the plan, fine-tune it, and make sure that they left themselves enough leeway to change it if they must. Dumbledore's portrait had been right to insist that they tell his living counterpart. Harry could not imagine doing it any other way. Still, this time around it was different, and Harry was grateful. Dumbledore had been mindful of his childhood, and had sought to protect him, even if Harry had had cause to resent it. This Dumbledore treated Harry as an equal, and Ron too. It was very refreshing.

Dumbledore's heart ached that his need to protect Harry had caused a rift between them.

The only blight on the days leading up to Halloween came from a source that Harry ought to have expected.

Hermione.

"She would be angry at them for the Dungbombs," said Percy.

It bothered Ron quite a lot. He did not like deceiving her (for that matter, neither did Harry), but they couldn't possibly tell her the secret. Not yet, and not for a long time. But whatever misgivings he had about it, Ron's were even worse. He didn't speak of it much, but the look on his face when he stole glances at Hermione was that of wistful longing.

Everyone sighed.

Harry actually looked forward to the troll, the instance that would bind them in friendship. He tried very hard not to think about Hermione aflame.

"Mister Potter and Mister Weasley saved her from a troll in their first year," said McGonagall somewhat proudly. "Though I'm pretty sure we never got the entire truth."

But Ron's thoughts were not the only problem. This Hermione still had a keen and penetrating mind, and she was suspicious. She'd grilled them one night for fifteen very uncomfortable minutes outside the library. She asked them to describe the effects of the Confuzzle Draught, to describe exactly where and when they ran into it, and all sorts of leading questions that made Ron break out into a cold sweat.

"She would easily see through the lies," said McGonagall smiling faintly.

"I don't believe you," Hermione said after Harry had stammered out an answer.

"Dumbledorebelieves us!"

"I'm not sure that will quite work," said Dumbledore chuckling.

"Yes," Hermione said slowly. "But that doesn't change the facts. I was with you for pretty much the entire day. I didn't see anyone give you a suspicious potion. Besides, the Confuzzle Draught doesn't work for more than thirty minutes. I was walking behind you. And until you stood up and threw Dungbombs, you didn't act at all odd."

"That is true," Snape said reluctantly.

"Even confuzzled, Snape was a bit frightening, I reckon," Harry explained again.

Everyone chuckled.

"You can't control the confuzzling effects," Hermione told them sternly.

"Listen," Harry said. "Snape just said it was the most likely possibility. Maybe it was some other potion."

Hermione's mouth twisted with suspicion. "I don't believe either of you. And I can'timaginewhy Dumbledore would go along with this."

"That is one tenacious witch," said Sirius whistling.

"Snape hates us," Ron said flatly. "He wouldn't try to get us out of trouble by lying! He'd get usintotrouble by lying!"

"I wish!" he muttered.

"No," Hermione shook her head. "You need to be honest. And Ron, don't come to me for help with Transfiguration again."

She swept away, clutching her books, and looking very formidable for one so young. Harry and Ron watched her go.

"Ihatethis!" Ron kicked the wall. One of the portraits looked at him reprovingly. He made a face at it. "I didn't really mean that," He said quietly as they walked down the empty hall. "I just… I'm looking forward to Halloween."

"Me too," Harry agreed.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Harry looked wistfully out the window toward the Quidditch pitch and wished, for the hundredth time, that he could have justified playing again all through his years at Hogwarts. But he couldn't.

"Why not?" Sirius asked scandalized.

"Because he'd be too busy saving the world, Black!" Moody growled.

He supposed he might have this year – ensuring that Quirrell did not retrieve the Philosopher's Stone did not really interfere with Quidditch, except in that last match – but he would not put Ginny in any more danger than he had to, and Quidditch was a distraction he could not afford. He smiled fondly, remembering the blazing argument.

"I bet there was!" Bill said grinning. His sister loved Quidditch as much as any Weasley.

"What do you mean you aren't going to play Quidditch because you'd be too worried?" Ginny asked angrily, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder. "Ron can be there when you aren't. I don't need to be taken care of, Potter!"

Yes, you do,thought Harry, but he knew enough not to make his wife even angrier. "Quidditch will take up too much time. I think it would be dangerous to play, especially during second year."

"Dangerous for me, you mean," Ginny's eyes narrowed. "I'm a fairly talented witch, Harry."

"This is Voldemort!" Moody growled. "Talent is barely a factor. Constant Vigilance!"

"Talent has nothing to do with it!" He shouted suddenly, and her eyes widened. "Voldemort will be enough of a danger, without his pet. The Basilisk can kill anyone and anything with just a look. And if you think that I'm going to endanger you – and anyone else, but most especially you – by flying in the air on a broom while the Basilisk is still alive, you're dead wrong."

Ginny looked annoyed. "You just ruined my anger for me."

Everyone chuckled at the odd end to the argument.

"Good," He grinned. "You know I'm right. You're a very talented witch, love, but you can't speak Parseltongue."

She hugged him. "Promise me you won't lock me away to protect me."

"Never," He said. "We're in this together. I need you."

"Easier said than done," Remus mused looking at Tonks. He was very aware of her closeness but could not bring himself to ruin her life by acting on his feelings.

But that was almost four years ago, and Harry hadn't known how much of a disappointment it would be for him to be on the ground while his old team – plus a small seventh year who played Seeker – flew high in the sky.

Today was Halloween, though, and he couldn't afford to let himself be distracted.

Breakfast was normal; even though Ron fidgeted with nerves and agitation, he still managed to eat enough food that Hermione watched him from a few seats away with a look of disgust on her face. Here was the problem. Ron absolutely refused to say anything to make her cry enough to go hide in the girls' loo. Harry couldn't blame him, but he wished that Ron was a little more pragmatic and a little less chivalrous.

Snape snorted at Weasley being called chivalrous. Even Bill and Percy couldn't hide an amused smile.

Harry would have to do it himself.

In the end, he didn't have to. Ron betrayed his nerves by sending his feather zooming into the air on his first try with a perfectly executedWingardium Leviosa. Flitwick clapped his hands, delighted, and gave Gryffindor ten points. Hermione looked angry, but chose not to mention anything until they exited the classroom.

"That's a bit of a role-reversal," said Remus amused.

"Good job on the charm, Ron," She said viciously. "Think you can do it again to earn enough points for you and Harry to make up for what you did what you were… confuzzled?"

"Ouch," Tonks said sympathetically.

It was the first time she'd spoken to either of them since the day outside the library. Ron opened his mouth, at a loss for words. Harry was about to say something mean, his insides twisting.

"Shut up, know-it-all," Lavender Brown said haughtily. "It wasn't their fault. No wonder you haven't got any friends!"

"That was uncalled for!" said McGonagall, her nostrils flaring.

Several things happened at once. Hermione's face scrunched up and she fled; Harry prayed that she'd find her way to the same loo; and Ron rounded on Lavender with such a look of murderous rage that she stepped back. Harry, hoping to avoid Ron killing Lavender, pulled him away.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

"Remember control," Harry whispered very, very quietly to Ron. He appeared to be on the verge of jumping from his seat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall and running to the girls' loo.

"What doyouknow of it?" Ron snarled. Harry remained unperturbed and Ron's face fell. "I'm sorry, mate. That was stupid. I'm just worried is all. What if we're too late? What if the troll gets her, or another teacher, and what if she still doesn't like us?"

"I'm sure she will," Molly said consolingly. "They are perfect for each other."

Harry slowly sipped his water. Not because he didn't want to answer Ron, but because Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were sitting right across from them. They were laughing and generally carrying on and not one bit suspicious, but Harry was afraid. "It'll be okay, Ron," He murmured finally. "Hermione won't get hurt. She won't. And if she doesn't start to like us… we'll wear her down eventually."

Ten minutes later, Professor Quirrell made his big entrance, shouted about the troll, and fainted. Harry and Ron were the first on their feet and heading toward the door by the time Dumbledore told everyone to follow the prefects back to their common rooms.

This was it. Everyone listened intently as Percy read.

They didn't quite make it to the door fast enough, and soon found themselves jostling for position amongst a sea of children. Harry plowed through, Ron at his side. They didn't have much time to spare; by their reckoning they'd just barely made it the last time. Adrenaline pumped through Harry. He only had one thought as he pushed through the crowd: get to Hermione. Ron, a grim look of determination etched upon his face, was even more single-minded. They detached themselves as quickly and quietly as they could and immediately sprinted to Hermione and the troll.

"I hope they reach there in time," Tonks murmured.

They smelled it long before they saw it. They both paused.

"Always and always," Harry said.

"Always and always," Ron agreed. Together, they moved forward.

Both were capable of taking down a troll. A few Bludgeoning Hexes would do it;Sectumsempracertainly would, and there was no doubt thatAvada Kedavracould do it as well. The only problem, as they saw it, was that they could not use any of the spells that would effectively stop the troll in its tracks. Hermione would never, ever believe that first years could do it.

"True," Remus sighed.

Snape was left wondering how they knew one of the spells he'd invented. Surely, he hadn't told them!

So they had to get by on dodging, jumping, and the few spells in the first year arsenal.

"This is going to get messy," Sirius predicted grimacing.

Approximately seven minutes and one stunned troll later, Harry and Ron stood triumphant next to the great, snoring, smelly head while Hermione trembled from underneath a partially demolished sink. Harry was actually surprised by this; they'd had to improvise quite a bit, and the bathroom was in greater disarray than it had been last time. He was relatively unhurt, although one of his fingers stung a bit. Ron was trying not to smirk at his own perfectly executed Wingardium Leviosa.

Everybody looked relieved.

"Are you all right?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Yeah," Harry said, he stepped over the trolls head and hovered a few feet away from her. "Are you?"

"I-I-I think so," Hermione said shakily. "But what are you doing here?"

"We came to rescue you," Harry said simply. This was a mistake.

"And a very stupid idea that was, Potter!"

"Oh, oh!" said Sirius, grinning at McGonagall.

He whirled around and saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick standing in the door. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and they were white around the edges. "You could have beenkilled! I can't believe the two of you would be so foolish."

"Yeah, a couple of thirty-year-olds taking on a troll," Tonks said in a mock stern voice. McGonagall glared at her.

"P-p-please, Professor," Hermione was sobbing. "Theyrescuedme!"

"Be that as it may –"

Ron then did something both very brave and very foolish. He interrupted Professor McGonagall. "She could have been killed!"

Sirius and Tonks tried to stifle their laughter.

Harry tried to mask his wince. "Professor," He said pleadingly, and then he lied, "We didn't know the troll would be here. We just wanted to warn her, and then we saw the troll coming in here…"

Professor McGonagall softened just a tiny bit. "Be that as it may, Mr. Potter, you ought to have warned a teacher."

Harry saw Ron open his mouth, but kicked him before he could say anything. He wasn't very gentle about it, either. "Professor, there just wasn't time. It was mad, and there weren't any teachers in sight."

Snape appeared out of nowhere behind Professor McGonagall. He gave Harry a small nod; he'd made sure that Quirrell hadn't taken advantage of the distraction to attempt to get to the Stone. Harry bowed his head.

"That's a relief," said Kingsley.

"Five points from Gryffindor," Professor McGonagall said tightly. "For Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter," She sighed. "And ten points to Gryffindor for you both. It was a very foolish thing you did, but not many first years can take on a fully grown mountain troll and win."

"That point still stands," McGonagall said primly, reminding them that Harry and Ron had defeated the troll in this timeline as well.

Hermione did not say anything at all as they marched back to their common room. She was still in shock, Harry supposed. They entered, and Harry laughed at the way Ron's eyes lit up when he saw the mounds of food piled on top of the tables.

"Thanks," Hermione finally said, not looking at either of them, and hurried off to get a plate.

Harry and Ron grinned at each other, before Ron, rubbing his stomach, moved to do likewise.

From that moment on, Hermione Granger was their friend again. It was good to know that facing down a mountain troll together was still something the three couldn't experience without becoming friends.

"That's good to know," Tonks said brightly.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Winter came early. November storms rattled the castle, and by early December, Hogwarts was covered in a thick blanket of snow that probably would not melt until spring warmed the frigid air. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, disheartened by the recent loss, continued to practice but did so with little joy.

Snape smiled joyfully while Sirius and McGonagall grimaced.

"I wish he'd reconsider his position on Quidditch," she said ruefully.

Oliver Wood could be found most evenings sitting in front of the fire, gazing moodily. Harry could tell that he was reliving the last match – they'd been flattened by Ravenclaw, to Professor Snape's delight. He'd managed to give them several more detentions, and could not seem to stop himself from gloating during their near-weekly meetings.

They both scowled at Snape.

Harry lay in his bed one Sunday morning with his curtains drawn. Hedwig had arrived to wake Harry up with a special letter from Ginny concealed in one from Ron. This was only the third she'd been able to send, and Harry felt that Christmas had come a bit early.

Dear Ron,Ginny wrote.

There's been a change of plans! We aren't going to Romania this year – I accidentally destroyed the kitchen with magic (after she finished yelling at me, Mum said that she hadn't seen any accidental magic like it since the twins cut up Percy's pants, and he set their room on fire) so we have to stay behind to repair it and set up all the household spells. Mum says that she'll be too exhausted to go, and Dad agreed. So you're coming home for Christmas after all!

"I guess I can't blame her for wanting to see them," Molly said ruefully. She herself was glad that Ron and Harry would get to spend some time at the Burrow.

"They might also tell us about the time-traveling," said Bill cheerfully. The Weasleys all looked excited at this.

Mum decided that I must be lonely, so she said that she's going to have a witch my age come over a few times a week after the holidays. Her name is Luna Lovegood and she'll be at Hogwarts next year too. I don't think I've ever heard about the Lovegoods before, but Mum says they live near us, and that I must be sensitive because this Luna girl just lost her mother. I'm happy that I'll know someone at Hogwarts besides my annoying brothers.

Not much else is new; life at the Burrow is not quite as exciting as battling a mountain troll! You should've heard Mum. I'll bet she gives you a firm talking-to once you get home, so if I were you, I wouldn't be too excited. Dad's dead proud, though. I'm glad to hear that you are making new friends. This Hermione girl sounds very nice, even if she's got bad taste in friends.

See you at Christmas!

Love,

Ginny

Harry hurriedly read through the note, then tapped the parchment with his wand, muttering, "Always and always." The real letter appeared in short order.

My Harry,

It was very difficult to destroy the kitchen without it looking deliberate, let me tell you. And I feel horribly guilty about it, but I couldn't stand waiting all the way to summer without seeing you.

"I'm sure we'd understand," said Arthur smiling.

It has already been too long. Did you know that this is the longest we've been parted since the Burrow was destroyed? I'm sure you do, but I think about it every day. Mum will forgive me once she realizes why I did it, although I'm vexed at her (and yet mindful that I have a mother to be vexed at again). I kept trying to ask her about Voldemort, but she keeps putting me off and telling me I'm too young.

Molly sighed already knowing this would be her reaction.

I know it's unfair of me – she couldn't possibly know that I'm really almost thirty years old, and as wonderful as it is to have my parents and my childhood home again, I can't help but feel impatient to get to Hogwarts and to help you and Ron. We'll think of a way to sneak off and you can tell me everything that Mum hasn't.

Mum finally took the bait and suggested that Luna would be a good playmate over the next few months. I can't wait to see her – I'll bet she's even crazier as a child! Make sure that Ron knows to be very careful with his words around her. Remember the keen mind obscured by the battiness.

"I remember her," said Remus smiling fondly. "Her beliefs are quite... outlandish, but she is very perceptive."

Sirius and Tonks looked interested at the description, while Snape snorted. That Ravenclaw was nothing less than mad, according to him.

I'll bet you that if any of our friends figure it out before we tell them, it'll be Luna. Hermione's brilliant, but you know she'd never suspect something so ludicrous as time travel.

Speaking of Hermione, I'm so very glad that the three of you are friends once more. I knew the troll would do it, despite Ron's misgivings. Harry, I can guess what you see when you look at her, but try not to let the flames obscure the reality. She's here, she's alive, and so are we. She and Ron will get married and give us nieces and nephews to love.

Molly simply glowed at the prospect of grandchildren. No one had quite the heart to tell her it was a few years off yet.

I love you, Harry. I'll see you in two weeks (and we'll discuss a compromise on the four year thing).

Always and always,

Ginny

Harry smiled and folded the letter, placing it with the others she'd managed to send. It wasn't easy for her, he knew. She couldn't have any idea when he and Ron would send letters to her, and she'd find it hard to explain why she spent so much time thinking about a simple note to her brother. It was enough that she'd managed to steal one of her parents' wands several times to charm the parchment. He ached to see her, and it was like a knot in his belly.

The Weasleys smiled at the obvious love between them.

He, Ron, and Hermione had been quite busy since Halloween and the return of their friendship. They'd spent time without her with Hagrid during the weeks that she'd ignored them. A few days after Halloween they'd told her everything they "knew" about the theft at Gringotts, the three-headed dog named Fluffy, and what they thought it was guarding. She was now in the thick of it right along with them.

"Nosy," Snape muttered.

"But who is Nicolas Flamel?" She'd asked, frustrated, yesterday morning at breakfast. "I know I've heard that name before! But he isn't in any of the books I've studied in the library."

Harry and Ron just shook their heads, pretending to be just as confused as she. "We'll keep looking, Hermione," Ron told her. "Meanwhile, we've got to find out who is trying to steal it."

This time around, they'd decided not to accuse Snape.

"But that would have been so much fun!" Sirius whined, while the others chuckled.

Things were moving just as slowly with Snape and Dumbledore. The tiara had been destroyed, at least, for which Harry was very grateful. Dumbledore had taken it outside Hogwarts grounds in early December and had performed several complex experiments upon it. He'd wanted to discover another, less dangerous way of destroying it besides resorting to Fiendfyre, and without having to be dependent upon the Sword of Gryffindor or the highly poisonous Basilisk fangs.

"Unfortunately, I do not believe any other way exists," Dumbledore sighed. He had done quite some research on all possible means of destroying them since Harry'd shown him Riddle's diary.

Nothing seemed to work, and finally (after telling Harry and Ron, who were 'serving another detention,' to stand well back) had destroyed the vile object with an awe-inspiring display of dragons and chimeras made of flame.

Everyone looked impressed and a little scared.

The Horcrux, now broken and free of the bit of soul Voldemort had placed in it, was placed in a shelf in Dumbledore's office.

So it was with good humor that Harry made his way down to the Great Hall several days before the Christmas holidays were set to begin. Ron had written his mum directly after receiving Ginny's note, and while an answer had not come back yet (he'd used Errol instead of Hedwig), both Harry and Ron were certain that the soft-hearted matriarch of the Weasley clan would not deny an orphan.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Molly beamed.

"HARRY!" Ron shouted. He was standing on his chair and beaming. Even Hermione, seated next to him, was smiling. "You're coming home with us for Christmas!"

"That's it," Percy smiled, putting down the book.

"I'll read!" Molly said excitedly. "The next chapter should be about The Burrow."


A/N: Thank you everyone for reviewing. I appreciate the feedback.