Chapter 4: Love is a Leap, Part III

After several rounds of exploding snap, without the return of Arthur and Molly, the Golden Trio decided to call it a night. The rest of the Weasley's then chose to head out and wait for their parents to contact them about Ginny. They all said a heartfelt goodbye, knowing this would be the last time they'd see them in person. George was particularly upset knowing that he'd in essence be losing another brother. Ron tried to cheer him up by telling him that the mirrors Hermione made to keep in touch with the family would be dedicated to Fred. She then made sure to add that all royalties were set to go to the Weasley family. He started crying and thanking her for honoring his memory. Once the tears had been shed and all hugs dispensed, it was soon only Ron, Harry, and Hermione left at the table.

"This is hard. How are we going to live without them?" Ron asked sadly, broken up over George and knowing that tomorrow would be the last time he could ever hug his mother.

"It's hard letting go. Obliviating my parents knowing that I'd never see them again was the worst thing I ever had to do. They are safe and happy in their ignorance and that gives me comfort. It also makes it easier for me to finish the ritual. I have to believe that being with Rhett will help and over time, hopefully, we'll have our own family and start new traditions. I just keep focusing on my belief that it will all be worth it in the end," Hermione explained, trying to console her friend.

"At least you have the mirrors, mate. You have a way to keep in touch and that's more than Hermione and I have. The only way to talk to my parents would be to use the resurrection stone again and I wouldn't want to now. They are happy with Padfoot and Moony and I know I'll see them again someday," Harry added and Ron sat there pensively.

He suddenly replied, "Yeah, you're both right. I have to believe that my life with Suellen will be worth it. We all could have died during the war, but now we have this chance to be with our soulmates. I guess if everyone knew they could do this, they'd be lining up to try." Hermione nodded.

"That's why after I made the copy for Strongfist I hid the book at Hogwarts. I didn't want anyone else to find it easily and I couldn't take it from school grounds. It now resides in the Chamber of Secrets."

"Hey, you didn't ask me for help, how'd you get in?" Harry asked, surprised at her ability to bypass the parseltongue password.

"Oh I have a secret weapon," she replied slyly. "I have a pensieve and I was able to project the memory of Ron imitating you from the final battle when we went after the fang. Worked like a charm!" She looked at them both smugly.

"Huh? I knew you could make projections because of all the time I spent with Dumbledore and his pensieve in sixth year, but I didn't think to use it like that. Where did you get one anyway, I thought they were rare?" Harry was intrigued.

"Well, that day in Diagon Alley when I was looking into the history of magical America, I just so happened across a new shop. It was filled with all sorts of hodge podge, so I decided to take a look. I don't think they knew what they had because I was able to get it for a galleon. I checked all the runes first to make sure it still worked and what's amazing about this one is that there is a set of runes to allow it to shrink and then enlarge again with a touch of a wand. That makes it very portable and I thought it would be useful to show our soulmates about our lives someday."

"That's incredible, Mione! Can muggles use them?" Ron asked excitedly, obviously thinking about Suellen.

She replied, "Not that I know of, but since it can project, no one needs to jump into the memory to see them. Rhett and Scarlett may want to experience things the conventional way, but that's probably a long way off. Anyway, are you both ready for tomorrow?"

"I'm ready. I've got everything packed except for the clothes Molly made. I went through the Potter and Black heirlooms and found some interesting pieces I think will work for us now that all the curses are gone." He continued, "I found some functional pocket watches for me and Ron, cravat tacks, cufflinks, rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, you name it, I've probably got something that's close to it. There are tiaras and diadems, too. Maybe you should have one, Hermione, since you're now the smartest witch since Ravenclaw," Harry said jokingly. She snorted.

"I think that I'll have to take a look at your loot and see what I like. I know what I want to wear tomorrow so I'll probably need to see if you have any onyx earrings."

Harry replied, "I think so, they're the black stones, right?" She nodded. "Yeah, I have some of those, along with any other gem you can think of. I don't think you'll ever need to buy a piece of jewelry again if you can stand wearing something from the Blacks." Hermione grimaced, but then smirked.

"Well, I think I could. It would be fitting right, kind of like the spoils of war. Now that I know I won't drop dead by even looking at them funny, it will be a pleasure to show them off." She grinned.

"That's our girl!" Ron chimed in, "I bet if you walked into Number 12 wearing something from the vault, old Walburga be'd so barmy she'd implode. You could get rid of that nasty painting easily now, Harry." Harry instead had a huge grin like he knew something they didn't.

"What'd you do, Harry?" Hermione asked her brother and he kept grinning.

"Oh, I had Strongfist gut the place. Her portrait was the first thing to go right after I gave Kreature clothes. He was so upset he beheaded himself."

Hermione gasped, "No!" Harry nodded.

"He was so old and set in his ways as a Black elf that the idea of being freed was too much for him. He had been given the option of working at Hogwarts, but suddenly his head was gone. Strongfist had some goblins take care of him and now the property sits vacant. The fidelius charm is gone along with anything magical so he'll just sell it to some muggles and put the funds in the Weasley's vault. I watched Walburga burn, so I think Sirius would be proud."

"Yeah, mate. I bet Sirius would still be laughing over that one if he could. Good show, Harry!" Ron beamed at his best friend who then spontaneously stood up and took a bow.

"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here until tomorrow." Harry sat back down and even Hermione couldn't keep a straight face.

"Oh, Harry. Never change." He blew her a kiss and she burst out laughing. They all then went to bed knowing that tomorrow would be upon them soon enough.

The wonderful aroma coming from downstairs gently woke the trio from their slumber. It was still early, but considering there was still much to do, it would be best to get the day started. Ron, Harry, and Hermione all met up at the landing of the stairs and proceeded down to the kitchen. Molly, who hadn't slept much the night before, was up making enough food for a small army.

"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said and Molly turned to acknowledge her greeting.

"The same to you, dear. I hope you're all hungry. I figured you'd need to at least have a good breakfast before you go. You don't know what kind of food you'll have next so the least I can do is send you off right." She gave the three a weak smile which prompted Hermione to hug her from behind as Molly was still browning bacon at the stove.

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. You're the best," Hermione said truthfully and Molly let a tear escape.

"Oh, don't get me started yet. I'll have plenty of these to come later on. Come now, sit down and eat. Arthur should be up anytime now and, oh here he is!" As Molly was speaking, Arthur had just come down the stairs and was approaching the table.

"Good morning, everyone. How are you all fairing this fine day?" They could tell that even though the words were there, Arthur's typical enthusiasm was not.

"I'm fine, Mr. Weasley. How did everything go? We all called it a night and you both hadn't returned yet," Harry asked, concerned for his foster parents and even for Ginny.

Arthur replied, "Well, let's all sit down to a nice breakfast and we'll fill you in on what happened. Then we need to take care of you three before we head back to the hospital." He looked tired and the three knew that today would be hard on them all. The four sat down at the table, which was already set with Molly's finest dishware, as she started laying platters of deliciousness in front of them. Once she was done, they all dug in, Ron especially, until they were pleasantly full. Molly cleared the dishes and then graciously accepted Hermione's help to clean up now that she knew the spells. In no time at all, they were sitting down with some coffee, ready to discuss the plan for the day.

"Well," Arthur said, "Ginny is under an enchanted sleep right now as the doctor wanted her mind to really rest. We will be heading back there this afternoon to see how she's doing. Once the doctors wake her up, she will most likely need a course of mood altering potions with behavioral therapy. They do think that she was scarred by the diary incident and was fixated on you, Harry, due to your hero status and because you saved her personally as a little girl. You were her shining prince and never thought you'd be otherwise. She's got a long road to travel before she'll be well, but we'll take good care of our baby girl." Molly became teary thinking of what Ginny will have to endure next with treatment and hoped she wouldn't fight it too hard.

Hermione interjected, "That sounds like what would happen in the muggle world, too. There is such a thing as post traumatic stress and it can cause all sorts of havoc on a person. I really hope she'll be okay. We're not leaving to hurt her, we're just looking for our other halves." Molly gave her a watery smile.

"We know that, dear, and Ginny will understand it someday." She took a deep breath and stood up. "So who wants to see all the clothes I made for you?"

Hermione gasped at the large collection of dresses in front of her. Since Molly could use magic with her dressmaking there was no need for dress forms as they were all suspended midair.

"Mrs. Weasley, these are amazing! I don't think I'll ever be this good even after you taught me all your tricks." She stared at the older woman in awe.

"Hermione, dear, I've just had lots of practice, seven children you know, so don't give up and one day you could probably even make better ones." Molly had really enjoyed this project and figured maybe she could make herself a dress next just for the fun of it.

"I'd like to wear the black and white day dress today with a white and black attitude hat I transfigured to match." Hermione had chosen as one of her patterns a white dress with black trim around the hem and throughout the bodice, which made it look like a little jacket. There was a bold greek key motif running around the bottom edge of the skirt, at the small of her back, and along the edges of the jacket. She had loved this pattern when she saw it and with the addition of the hat and some of the onyx earrings Harry promised she could have, she may just look like she fit in 1861.

"What do you want to do with your hair?" Molly asked and Hermione had to think for a moment.

"I believe I'll do a side ponytail with ringlet curls, and add some wave to the top. These hairstyles seem really complicated and I don't know how I'll be able to manage on my own." The younger witch looked to Molly for help.

"Well, there are all sorts of spells for that. When you're ready, I'll show you a few I figured out while looking through your old books. Don't worry about a thing. Now, should we check on the boys to see how they're handling this?" Hermione giggled knowing that Ron was not going to be happy.

"Bloody hell, I have to wear what?" Ron cursed and Harry laughed.

"We have to pick a suit and wear all the undergarments, too. The long white pants are called drawers, I think, and they have to be worn under the normal pants because they'd be too itchy." Harry also couldn't believe the layers they'd have to wear to pull off the look of an 1860's gentleman.

"Well, that's stupid." Ron frowned.

"Yeah, well, it's what we have to do. At least we can use cooling charms if we get too hot." Harry grinned. He loved magic.

"Okay, boys, are you clear on what you're wearing?" Hermione had popped into Ron's room with Molly in tow to check on their progress.

"Yeah, I suppose. We just need to get dressed and then manage our hair and accessories. We'll need your help for that part." She nodded.

"Okay, well, while you're getting dressed, pick out the black earrings for me and then pull out the watches and cufflinks. If you're wearing cravats, then pull out some tacks. If you're wearing bow ties, you won't need those. I need to get dressed and then finish the potion. All I need to do is add one ingredient and stir three times counterclockwise. The potion will then turn red, which means it's finally ready. We will each drink a full goblet then repeat the following phrase three times: dilectus meus misit me. After that, we'll be on our way. From what I read, it should feel a bit like a portkey, but less jarring. Anyway, let's all get dressed, gather our stuff and head downstairs where we'll do the ritual."

Hermione went off with Molly to dress in her selected outfit, fix her hair, and pack her remaining dresses and underclothes while the boys joked around as they got dressed. In the end, the three time travelers looked as though they stepped out from Hermione's magazines. Harry and Ron were decked out in day suits, both with gray pants and black jackets. They had on different waistcoats, though, where Harry's was green with black accents, Ron's was a muted gold. Harry had went with a black and silver checked cravat while Ron favored a black and gold pinstriped one. They had added their accessories and Molly made sure to take a quick photo of the Golden Trio so she'd have one more keepsake before they left for good.

Arthur and Molly made sure to give each one them a last hug and kiss before stepping back while Hermione finished the potion. She added, stirred, and saw that it became the perfect shade of red. She immediately ladled some into three goblets then vanished the rest. She then put the empty cauldron in her beaded bag, which was charmed black to match her outfit and filled with all her earthly belongings. The boys were each strapped with a leather satchel filled with all their things plus a lot of cash and gold. They were finally ready.

"Okay, this is it. Drink, chant, and I'll see you in 1861 Georgia somewhere near Twelve Oaks. On the count of three: one, two, three!" Each member of the trio chugged the potion, which surprisingly tasted like berries, then chanted the phrase three times that would send them each to their true loves. Immediately after the final syllable was uttered, a flash of light enveloped them and they were gone.

Molly broke down in tears, falling to the floor. Arthur simply decided to set his pride aside, and joined her.

In a blinding flash, Hermione shut her eyes and felt the world shift. As quickly as the light came, it faded and the witch could tell she was now outside as a gentle breeze was floating about her. Birds were chirping and everything smelled fresh and new. With her other senses appeased, she opened her eyes to take in the amazing sight of farmland and red clay. She made it! Oh, but what about Harry and Ron?

"Hermione, where are we?" She heard Harry's voice ask and she breathed out a sigh of relief. She turned and saw that both of her boys were there with her. She rushed over to them and gave each an enthusiastic hug.

"Oh, this is so incredible! I believe we made it to Georgia alright, see the red clay and the cotton fields." She turned around to look at where they were which was very close to a dirt road. She cast a tempus charm to confirm that they were when they expected to be. Glowing letters and numbers floated in the air and established what they already believed to be true: April 16, 1861, 9 am. She canceled the charm and smiled brightly. She then cast a point me charm in relation to Twelve Oaks Plantation and her wand directed her to the west. Satisfied, she canceled that charm, too.

"Okay. We made it and Twelve Oaks is in that direction." She pointed where her wand had indicated they should go. Harry and Ron both grinned. All the work Hermione poured into this effort paid off and they were finally in the same time period as their soulmates. Just a little longer and they'd actually get to meet them in person. The pull was still there, but they knew from the ritual that as soon as their eyes met, the pull would vanish. They expected that to be resolved today at the plantation.

"So now that we're here and planted in a cotton field, how are we going to explain our presence? I know we were hoping to be close enough to Jonesboro to blend in first, but that's out the window now. What do you think, Hermione?" Harry asked and even she looked a bit perplexed. After a moment, she had an idea.

"Well, if we could find a large log or tree, I could transfigure it into a carriage with a broken wheel. We could say the driver took off with the horse and left us stranded. The famous Southern hospitality of anyone passing by should take care of the rest." She beamed at her idea and since the boys couldn't come up with anything better, they took off to find a fallen tree for Hermione.

It took them about ten minutes, but in the end, they had a handsome open carriage with a broken wheel. Hermione, as the supposed lady, climbed into the carriage while the boys stood around looking at the wheel, pretending to debate about what should be done with it. It was a good thing, too, as moments later they could hear another carriage approaching from around the nearby bend, whose view had been blocked by trees.

Looking up, the trio could see an older gentleman seated on a white stallion, riding alongside another open carriage. Inside there were three girls and it didn't take long for Harry and Ron to recognize two of them.

"Hello, there! What happened here?" The man asked in an Irish lilt. The trio smiled and as previously decided, Harry was to be the spokesman.

"Hello, we had a bit of trouble with our wheel and the hired driver abandoned us by taking the horse. We have been discussing what to do for ages before you encountered us here." The Irishman smiled brightly.

"Well, it has been awhile since I've heard an Englishman speak. Where are you from, originally, and how did you end up here of all places?"

Harry answered according to their pre-prepared story, "Well, I'm from Surrey, my friend here is from Devon, and the dear lady in the carriage is from Oxford. As to what we are doing here, we have recently arrived in America and decided to depart the train in Jonesboro. We found a carriage and have been looking around the countryside, simply taking it all in when we had our mishap." Harry smiled and the other man started laughing.

"I would have expected you to head to Atlanta, our closest city, instead of Jonesboro, but no matter, you are here now. My name is Gerald O'Hara and I own the plantation down yonder called Tara and these here are my daughters, Katie Scarlett, Suellen, and Careen." He had first gestured to the east where his land was situated and then indicated to each girl in turn. "May we get your names?" Gerald asked.

"Ah, yes," Harry replied. "My name is Harry Potter and my colleague here is Ronald Weasley. Our dear friend is Miss Hermione Granger." Hermione nods in greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you."

Gerald beams brightly at having met fellow Europeans. "Well, now, I don't suppose we could be leaving you here like this. We are on our way to a barbeque at the neighboring plantation, Twelve Oaks, and I'd like to invite you all to join us. I could then introduce you to John Wilkes, the owner, and the rest of the folks from the county. It should be a grand time! Please say you'll come."

Gerald looked hopeful while the girls were quiet. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione who both gave subtle nods. He looked at Scarlett who met his gaze boldly and his pull immediately stopped. She was eying him appreciatively and even gave him a bit of a smile.

"We would love to, thank you for inviting us along." Gerald gave Harry a slap on the back while Ron helped Hermione down from the "broken" carriage and escorted her to the O'Hara's. As he was helping her climb, he noticed Suellen staring at him intently, and once their eyes met, his pull vanished. He took a small breath in relief and Suellen gave him a flirty smile. Once Hermione was situated, Harry and Ron hopped up to sit next to the driver, who then urged the horses forward to Twelve Oaks.

As the horses were clipping along, Miss Scarlett O'Hara, Belle of the County, was staring at the back of one Mr. Harry Potter, curious about this dark, mysterious stranger. She then looked across the carriage where Miss Granger was sitting next to Careen. She was a beautiful and exotic creature who would definitely stand out at the barbeque. Anyone new to the area was sure to be an attention getter amongst the single men. A surge of jealously flooded through her at that thought so Scarlett would certainly have to keep a close eye on her competition.

She then turned to observe her sister, Suellen, who was intensely focused on the back of Mr. Weasley's red head. Scarlett thought that if she didn't know better, he could almost pass himself off as a Tarleton. She wondered what old Frank Kennedy would think seeing Suellen eying up another man. Even she thought her annoying sister could do better than that old maid in britches and it was starting to look like that would be the case.

It was odd, she pondered, that these three folks from England would just so happen upon them on their way to Twelve Oaks. Today was the day she'd tell Ashley she loved him and she didn't need any distractions. If she could do that, he couldn't marry Melanie, that mousy, weak-willed girl whose brother was no more than an annoyance. She had decided that if she could just get Ashley alone, she would confess her heart and he'd make the better choice.

Scarlett remained quiet for the remainder of the trip to Twelve Oaks, her mind set on finally making Ashley hers.

The arrival at Twelve Oaks was a grand affair. Carriages were lining up to drop off their passengers at the front portico of a very large mansion. People were milling about everywhere and Hermione was getting excited. She knew that soon she'd see Rhett for the first time and had to hide her eagerness for their turn to disembark.

Gerald had already dismounted his horse which was then lead away by a servant, not a slave, as Hermione refused to think of them as slaves right then so she could get through the day. Their new host approached an older gentleman who was balding and had tufts of white hair on either side of his head. Hermione thought that this must be John Wilkes, the owner of Twelve Oaks. She also noticed a girl, about her age, standing next to Mr. Wilkes who was wearing a plain brown dress with ivory lace around the collar. She also had on an embellished hair snood which Hermione had learned was popular in this period. Harry and Ron had already climbed down from the front of the carriage and were waiting to assist the girls down as well.

Hermione went first as Ron grabbed her hand and maneuvered her down the unfolded steps. She quickly stood aside to allow Harry to do the same for Scarlett. The girl gave him a polite thank you and hurriedly made her way up the steps towards her father. She could tell Harry felt a bit hurt, but shook it off quickly, as if he knew this would happen. Apparently, Scarlett was going to be a tough nut to crack.

Ron took his turn to assist Suellen, who gave him a bright and flirty smile. He gave her one in return and led her away so Harry could assist Careen. The youngest O'Hara was very polite and Hermione felt that she must be the calmest of all three sisters while Scarlett was the biggest handful. She figured Suellen was somewhere in between.

As they approached Gerald and Mr. Wilkes, the boisterous Irishman called them over.

"John, here they are, our visitors from England! Let me introduce you to Mr. Harry Potter of Surrey, Mr. Ronald Weasley of Devon, and Miss Hermione Granger from Oxford. This is Mr. John Wilkes, owner of this fine plantation and his lovely daughter, India."

John gave a polite smile and said, "Welcome to Twelve Oaks. Gerald here was telling me of your troubles this morning. If you allow, we can certainly do something about the rogue who left you stranded. We don't let things like that go here." He looked stern and Harry took this as his cue to assume his leadership position.

"Well, I do appreciate your assistance, but I'm sure he's long gone by now. He seemed like a nice enough fellow, but it looks like he was just looking for a quick bit of cash. I'm sure we could do with a ride back to Jonesboro at some point if someone would be willing to take us." Hermione was impressed with Harry's behavior. He obviously took all the coaching on manners to heart.

Gerald replied, "Now, now, I'm sure we could host you at Tara for a spell and I could show you about the place. I believe that Miss Granger would get along splendidly with my wife, Ellen, and my daughters. We have plenty of room for each of you!" Hermione was amazed at his acceptance and figured it was because they were from England.

Harry smiled. "That is very kind of you. I think we shall accept your gracious offer. We've been enjoying our travels around your fine country so seeing the workings of a thriving plantation would be brilliant." The witch could see Ron trying to hide a grin as now the two of them would be in close proximity to their soulmates. If now only she could meet Rhett as the pull was getting stronger...

"That's settled then! We shall all enjoy the barbeque and the ball tonight and then take care of the details," Gerald said happily. "My wife is dealing with some business at Tara, but she will be here for the ball tonight."

Mr. Wilkes replied sincerely, "Yes, please join us today. I hope you will enjoy all that we have to offer here in Clayton County."

"Thank you, Mr. Wilkes and Mr. O'Hara, you've both been most kind to us in our time of need. I do believe my friends and I will have a grand time today," Harry stated and Gerald beamed.

"Alright then, enjoy your day and I shall see you boys later on for brandy and cigars." Hermione hid a smirk knowing that her two cohorts were in for a trial by fire as she figured it would be all boring war talk and bragging. In about four years, this air of carefree indulgence would be long destroyed. It made her sad to know that many of the men she'd walk by today would most likely be dead by then, or at least wounded in some way. She straightened herself and then followed Harry and Ron into the front entry hall.

Her first impression was that this place was way over the top. The two large staircases and vaulted ceiling made her feel like she was back in the Great Hall at Hogwarts just for the sheer amount of space it encompassed. She continued to follow Harry and Ron who chose to stand to the side, out of the way of the other entering guests. Hermione could tell that they felt as out of place as she did because they just weren't comfortable enough to strike up random conversations with the strangers milling about. She decided to break the silence.

"How are you both doing now that you've seen Scarlett and Suellen?" Hermione asked quietly. Ron answered just as softly, "It's amazing, Mione, as soon as your eyes lock, the pull stops. Have you seen Rhett yet?" She looked up and scanned the vast room until she saw someone staring at her with a smirk on his face. Her eyes met his and it was just as Ron described – the pull vanished and she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. She gave the man a smirk in return and he chuckled.

"I just did. See the man over there smiling and laughing at me, that's him." The boys casually looked at the man she indicated on the other side of the hall.

"So that's him, eh?" Harry asked. "He looks kinda shady to me, but I know looks aren't everything. Just be careful, okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course, oh and I can already see yours is going to be a handful." She watched as Scarlett was looking around the entry for someone and then obviously spotted them on the staircase. "Will you be alright?"

Harry followed her gaze and saw Scarlett speaking to another man. "I think so, I mean I know what I saw in the cauldron about her and it kind of disturbed me a bit, but I'll probably have to be very patient. I mean, we've known what we have about them for months and they know nothing. It isn't fair to expect a lot right now as we need to get to know them first." Ron nodded.

"Yeah, mate, I hear ya. We really didn't know what to expect when we arrived and now we're closer than ever. We've got time, right?" Hermione agreed. They had time.

When Harry had walked through the door, he felt very out of place. Here he was in 1861, completely out of his element. He was grateful that Ron and Hermione were here with him as their familiar presence comforted him. They all knew that it would be an adjustment, living in a new era, but he felt like they were in the deep end of a pool not knowing how to swim. Harry looked around and saw all the different people going to and fro, laughing and having a good time. He knew this wouldn't last as the war would begin at any minute, but for the moment, it was nice to see.

The man Hermione pointed out as Rhett looked like he'd be a fun guy to hang around with. Everyone else seemed so proper as if anything less was unthinkable. He also wondered how he'd do learning magic. It will probably be a great shock to him, but at least he'd have Hermione there teaching him. Harry couldn't think of anyone better for the job and of course he'd offer to help. He'd have to ask Hermione what she thought of also working with Scarlett. He had mixed feelings about giving her a wand as she looked like she'd use it unpredictably, but if it was him, he'd want to know. He decided he'd just need to get to know her first.

"Ashley!"

Harry heard Scarlett's voice call out and he noticed Hermione track his soulmate while she approached a man on the staircase. It was the same scene he observed in his cauldron so it wasn't a surprise to him. He could see that Scarlett was smitten with the man, but he seemed to be a bit reserved. He watched their interaction closely and then saw as they met up with a woman at the bottom of the stairs. They conversed for a few minutes and he saw the man named Ashley wrap a shawl lovingly around the new woman. It was obvious to him that this upset Scarlett, but she was trying to wave it off. Harry was curious and he hoped to find out more about that situation soon.

Harry then watched Scarlett as she parted from the couple and started walking up the stairs, flirting her way past every man she saw before she met up with another girl. They appeared to chat for a bit before making their way to the second floor and out of sight. Harry sighed and then looked at Ron who had been longingly staring at Suellen. He saw that she'd been conversing with India Wilkes about something and then looked up to see Ron's gaze. She smiled brightly and he could tell his friend was blushing.

"So, Ron, it looks like things are going well for you already." Harry ribbed his friend who was still blushing.

"Um, yeah. It seems she likes me. I hope so anyway. It's like you said Harry, we need time to see how things go."

Harry smiled, grateful that at least one of them was making progress.

Hermione excused herself from the boys as she wanted to wander around a bit. What she really wanted was to find the library and promised to meet up with them at the barbeque. Before she could get too far, however, Suellen approached her.

"Hello, again, Miss Granger, how are you finding Twelve Oaks?"

Hermione answered politely "Very well, Miss O'Hara, this is a very fine home. I'm looking forward to seeing Tara as well." The other girl smiled dismissively.

"Oh, Tara? It's not a grand as Twelve Oaks, but it's home. Our father loves the place dearly, as if it was his own flesh and blood. I'm not much for wanting to run a farm, but for someone used to life in England, it will probably be boring for you." Hermione smiled, getting the idea that Suellen wanted to have a more glamorous life.

"Oh well, England is fine. I'm sure it's as boring to me because it's home. We three decided to tour America as we were looking for adventure and it seems we've found some here. This morning we couldn't have imagined ending up attending such a fine party considering we were stranded in what we thought was the middle of nowhere." Suellen was pensive.

"Well, I do hope you will enjoy staying with us. My elder sister, Scarlett, is the biggest flirt in the county as I'm sure you've seen already and my little sister, Careen, is as sweet as our mother who couldn't be here this morning. You'll get to meet her tonight at the ball. What do you say to exploring the upstairs? You can tell me all about your friends!" Suellen beamed after mentioning Hermione's friends, which she translated into wanted to know more about Ron. She complied.

"Alright then, lead the way."

Suellen started to guide Hermione upwards then asked, "Where did you get that lovely dress? It's very beautiful!" Hermione grinned genuinely knowing that Molly did an amazing job on all her dresses and gowns.

"Oh, I have a brilliant seamstress back home who really outdid herself on all my dresses and gowns. She wanted to send me off to America with the best and I believe she accomplished just that. This is one of my favorites!" Hermione answered truthfully and Suellen appeared a bit jealous. Figuring that changing the conversation at this point would be a good idea, she looked around as they continued up the staircase. It was from there that she noticed Rhett at the bottom, looking devastatingly handsome and leaning forward on the railing with a drink in hand. She knew instantly that this was the image she saw in her cauldron that fateful day of the first ritual. Hermione had decided on a new topic.

"Miss O'Hara, could you tell me about that man staring from the bottom of the stairs? He seems very intense." She figured she could probably come across some valuable information about Rhett through ladies gossip.

Suellen glanced at the man in question and replied, "Well, I'm not certain, but I could easily find out for you. There are sure to be some ladies here that know about him." She paused debating about something then asked, "What can you tell me about Mr. Weasley?" Hermione looked at her seeing a very interested girl and decided to help Ron out.

"Well, I've known him and Mr. Potter for many years now. We all attended a very exclusive school in the north of Scotland which accepted both boys and girls. We became good friends and after we left, the three of us decided to travel and have all sorts of adventures. Ronald is a very good man, loyal and brave, and very much like a brother. So is Harry. They've been the best friends I could ever ask for and love them both dearly." She smiled wistfully, remembering all of the things they've been through together, even time travel. Suellen had a look of awe about her.

"He sounds like a great man. Do you think he would like to talk to me?" Hermione smiled thinking that this was going to be easy. Ron was so going to owe her.

"I do believe so as I caught him staring at you earlier. I could always nudge him your way if you wish," Hermione said conspiratorially, making it sound like it would be great fun to plot something with her new acquaintance.

"Oh, yes, if you believe he would be interested," Suellen said calmly, but Hermione could tell she was really excited about the idea.

"Just leave that to me. Now let's go exploring!"

The two girls wandered around the second floor of Twelve Oaks, peaking into different rooms, even the ones where the girls would be napping later on. Hermione still couldn't get over that concept, but she could always use that time to sneak away and find the library. As Hermione was appreciating an ornamentally framed landscape in the corridor, she and Suellen overheard an interesting conversation from a nearby room with an opened door.

"Cathleen, you haven't gotten to any of the good gossip yet."

Hermione could tell that the girl speaking was Scarlett. She immediately looked over at Suellen who was frowning at the possibility of running into her older sister. The other girl with Scarlett, Cathleen, asked, "Well, did you hear about the man who's here? Rhett Butler?" Hermione's ears perked up.

"Who?" Scarlet answered.

Cathleen continued, "He's not received. He was turned out of West Point and then took a girl out buggy riding in the late afternoon without a chaperone. They came back late and he refused to marry her. The girl was ruined."

Hermione heard a gasp from Scarlett. "Well, I don't think I'll be getting anywhere near this Mr. Butler." There was a pause before she asked Cathleen, "Are you ready to go back downstairs? I'm curious about those three visitors from England, especially the dark haired one. Did you see his eyes? They were even more green than mine! And he has the most unusual scar on his forehead."

Hermione could tell the conversation was ending so she nudged Suellen into an empty room next door before they were caught eavesdropping. Suellen got the hint and moved quickly enough for both of them to make it out of sight. They then heard Scarlett and Cathleen talking about their dresses for the ball as they were walking away towards the staircase.

Once their voices were gone, Hermione turned back to Suellen and asked, "Should I be warning Harry about her?" Suellen sighed.

"Scarlett is this force of nature. If she sees something she wants, she'll go after it with all her might. Lately, she's been all dreamy eyed over Ashley Wilkes, and I think she flirts will all the boys in the county to try and get his attention and make him jealous. I heard from his sister, India, earlier that Ashley will soon be marrying Melanie Hamilton, their cousin. Scarlett is going to be really upset and she may turn to your friend for attention." Hermione nodded.

"Thank you for the insight. Let's go back downstairs as I'm sure the barbeque must be starting soon, right?"

Suellen agreed and both ladies made their way to entry hall where Hermione would seek out Harry and Ron.

While Hermione was off with Suellen, Harry and Ron were being escorted around the estate by Gerald O'Hara, who was in his element presenting his two new friends to everyone he knew. Their host introduced them to many of the "bucks" of the county, as he called them, including the Tarleton twins. Ron took an immediate liking to the red heads as they vaguely reminded him of his own twin brothers.

Harry was polite to everyone he met, but he was also observant, taking in all of the environment he could to get a better idea of how to act in his new world. He had seen Rhett wandering about, but mostly staying to himself. Harry got the idea that he was somewhat of a black sheep as no one he spoke to so far had so much as mentioned him. He wondered how he'd ended up here in the first place.

Soon, it was time for the barbeque and everyone congregated to where the food had been meticulously placed. The boys watched everyone move through the buffet and when it was their turn, followed suit. Ron, of course, was starving, but even he made sure to follow along with social protocol. By the time they took a seat at one of the many tables set up for diners, they saw Hermione and Suellen enter the line. Once they also had their food, the girls approached the table and as they saw other men doing, stood up and assisted the girls into their seats. They sat back down and the quartet began to eat.

During the meal, Harry looked up to see Scarlett surrounded by what he learned earlier were all her beaux, including the Tarleton twins. He also saw Charles Hamilton, another man they met earlier, trying to cozy up to her and she seemed, at least superficially, to appreciate his attention. He observed her trying to discreetly watch Ashley Wilkes and Charles' sister, Melanie, together and her face turned sour. Harry had met Ashley briefly on his parade with Gerald and learned that he would soon be marrying Melanie. This thought made him happy, knowing that his soulmate couldn't take her infatuation with the blond gentleman too far. He didn't know what she saw in him as he seemed to have a flat personality, but he only just got here and didn't know either of them. Harry decided that he would just keep an eye on the situation.

For Ron, he was having an incredible time. The food was excellent and he got to sit next to Suellen who kept shyly smiling at him between bites. With real effort, he was able to stick to the table manners Hermione had drilled into his skull at Hogwarts and managed to resist the urge to stuff his face. He could tell she was proud of him by the way she smiled.

Ron decided at that moment he could really get used to this life.

Hermione enjoyed the barbeque, which was excellent, and was soaking up the beautiful April day when she noticed Rhett staring at her from a nearby table. Deciding to be cheeky, she raised an eyebrow at him in response and he started to smirk. She smiled genuinely in response and then continued with her meal. Once they had finished dessert, she was informed by Suellen that it was time for all the girls to go take their naps while the men took their brandy and cigars in the dining room. Hermione looked over at Harry and Ron who nodded that they would be okay. She then left with all the other women to rest, or in her case, wait until everyone was asleep and sneak off to the library. A couple of charms later and she'd have complete privacy.

Being a witch certainly had it's advantages.

Scarlett was determined to find time to speak with Ashley. So far he had been elusive, but she knew her best time to catch him would be while all the ladies were napping. She couldn't understand why they all had to do that while the men could stay up and talk, but she figured it was a way to get rid of them all for a while. No one else seemed to complain so no one listened to her.

Once she was sure everyone else was asleep, Scarlett quietly attempted to dress when she heard someone else trying to get her attention. She turned around to find Miss Granger looking to do the same thing.

"Do you think you could help me while I help you? I can't sleep and I want to find the library," she asked and Scarlett thought it was a good idea that way she could locate Ashley sooner.

"Alright, but let's be quick as I need to find someone." The other woman nodded and then they each swiftly assisted the other with their dresses. Scarlett noticed that Miss Granger wasn't wearing a corset, but when she was dressed, it looked as if she was. Curious as to what kind of dress could do that, she made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"Thank you, Miss O'Hara. Could you point me in the right direction?" Since Scarlett was already heading that way she agreed. The two then set off to complete their respective missions.

In the dining room, Harry and Ron got a front row seat to the heated debate going on amongst the county's best gentlemen. Gerald was particularly animated and the Tarleton twins were more than happy to keep interjecting their thoughts to help stir up the group.

"We all know that the Yankees can't fight and we can!" Gerald stated forcefully, which garnered a lot of approval from the room. Stuart Tarleton started to belittle the bravery of northern men while Charles Hamilton exaggerated about how one southerner could beat "twenty Yankees". The conversation continued with the agreement that gentlemen could fight better than 'rabble' , whatever that was, until Gerald asked Ashley what he thought of it all.

"I hope that we can leave the Union in peace, but if war breaks out, I'll fight. I will follow Georgia into battle to defend our homes and our way of life."

Harry knew that this wasn't what everyone else was expecting and after being questioned, Ashley answered, "War causes nothing but misery and when it's all over, no one remembers what it was all about."

Riled up, the men start shouting and it's Gerald that calms them down. Turning to Rhett, he asks, "Well, you've been up north, Mr. Butler, surely you agree with us?"

Harry observed the aloof man who had, up until then, been calmly smoking a cigar and listening to the foolishness being spread about the room. If he could only show these men about the horrors he'd seen in another war, they'd think twice about their arrogant stance. Since he couldn't, he kept his silence.

"Well, gentlemen, I think it takes more than rhetoric to win a war."

Charles wasn't pleased with this comment and made it known. Rhett didn't take offense to his attitude and began to state his reasons as to why the north was better prepared for war. Of course this didn't go over well with the masses and Charles decided to exert what he must have saw as superiority over Hermione's soulmate. The young fool got right up into Rhett's face to call him out.

"I've heard, Mr. Butler, that you were not only turned out of West Point, but that you are no longer received in Charleston, not even with your own family."

Rhett stood there for a moment, examining Charles as if he were simply a bug that perhaps he should squash, when he suddenly backed down.

"I do apologize for all my obvious shortcomings." Rhett then turned to Ashley and stated that he'd like to wander around and let the rest of the men continue with their "dreams of victory". Harry then watched him leave and wished he could join him. Ron looked at Harry worriedly and he just shook his head. After Ashley calmed Charles down, and probably saved his life in the process, he told the group he'd show Rhett around as he was, still after all, a guest.

"Well, then," Gerald said, "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. What are your thoughts about the war seeing as you're both visitors?" Harry almost wanted to curse the man for putting him on the spot, but he wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. He certainly wouldn't back down from something as uncomfortable as an unwanted question.

"I suppose with our traveling we haven't been paying too much attention to your political issues. I can't give you a valid answer without knowing all of the facts. Could you fill us in on what has been happening? Since we're here, we should know what we've gotten ourselves into, yes?" Harry looked around the room and all the faces lit up. He looked to Ron who gave him a small shrug. They were about to get a crash course in American politics from the southern perspective whether they wanted it or not.

As the men were berating Rhett Butler, Scarlett and Hermione had been inching down the stairs and eavesdropping on the conversation. Hermione had been in full agreement with her soulmate and was starting to get angry on his behalf. If these men even knew what the horrors of war were, they wouldn't act so trivially about it. In four years, the south would be decimated and they would spend years rebuilding. So many young men would be dead and all because they were too arrogant to think of ways to compromise. They reminded her way too much of the purebloods she left behind, fools who also happened to be on the losing side, too.

At least there weren't any dark lords she knew of lurking about this time.

As Rhett left the dining room, Scarlett and Hermione ducked behind a curtain, hiding them from view. They then watched Ashley leave and Scarlett took that as her cue to chase after him. Hermione shook her head knowing that this wouldn't end well for her accomplice. She then calmly sought out the library that Scarlett had briefly managed to describe to her before she took off.

Once she descended stairs, Hermione strode towards the hallway where Scarlett had just ducked down to see her and Ashley step into a room at the end. The door closed and Hermione was finally alone. Turning to the first set of double doors on the left, she opened one and quietly slipped inside where she could finally remove her wand from a hidden pocket in her skirt. Hermione had made sure to include this little extra with Molly as she still needed a place to store her wand. With all the fabric she had to wear now, it was a simple thing to do.

With wand in hand, Hermione started throwing up some simple charms to lock the door and silence the room to the outside. She also added in an anti-muggle charm to keep people away until she was ready to leave. Knowing that she would now remain uninterrupted, she began to relax for the first time in months.

The Gryffindor was giddy as she looked over all the books neatly placed on the shelves and discovered some interesting titles. When she saw a copy of Sense and Sensibility, she immediately grabbed it and saw that it was a first edition and signed by Jane Austen. She squealed in delight and continued to browse eagerly, wanting to find even more hidden treasures. As she was trying to reach a book above her, she became frustrated due to the bulk of her dress.

"I feel like I'm at a bloody costume party! I can't believe I'm stuck wearing this bleeding death trap and my hair makes me look like a poodle!" Hermione felt a bit better at getting to vent inside a silenced room. She then began to talk to herself as she tended to do when stressed.

"Calm down, Hermione. You're here, this is your life now. Think of Harry and Ron."

Thinking of her boys helped her to focus and just as she was about to start looking at a new set of shelves, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her war reflexes instantly kicked in so she spun around quickly and pointed her wand at the intruder's throat. After a moment she realized she was actually face to face with Rhett! He looked at her humorously and stepped back a bit with his hands up in surrender.

"Has the war started?" he asked with a smirk. "Or are they just giving out sticks to pretty ladies?"

Still in fighting mode and momentarily not interested in his sad attempt at flirting, Hermione rapidly silenced him and then also put him in a body bind. With shock in his eyes, Rhett fell to the floor, unable to move. Realizing that he was now a captive audience, Hermione decided to give him some important truths. Hopefully, she thought, he'll listen as considering the sad state of affairs of the south, she felt that he would be a valuable ally. She took a seat in a nearby slipper chair.

"Hello, Mr. Butler. I'm sure you have a million questions, but I don't have to time to answer them all right now. I didn't anticipate this particular scenario, but you've forced my hand a bit. What I'm about to tell you will be quite shocking, but I assure you I speak the truth. I'm a witch and you, sir, are a wizard. If you think you can be calm, I will release you, otherwise you can listen just as well where you are. Blink one for yes, two for no." Hermione wasn't going to sugarcoat this discussion as she didn't have the time to hold his hand. There were some things he needed to know before he took off today to who knows where. She noticed that he deliberately blinked once so she immediately canceled the spells. He then promptly stood up and stared at her in shock.

"So you're a witch and you claim I'm a wizard. I can't do what you just did. Are you sure you have the right man?" Rhett asked, confusion covering his handsome face.

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure. Oh, and by the way, my name is Hermione Granger and I'm from the future," she answered truthfully. He started to laugh.

"The future? Why would anyone come here from the future if that was even possible? That's ridiculous," he scoffed. Hermione smirked and opened her trusty beaded bag. After rifling for a few moments with her arm extended clearly past the point of reality, she pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet from yesterday. She promptly handed it to him and he took it, cautiously. He carefully scanned the front page and then stared in awe at the moving photos.

"If you haven't noticed, take a look at the date. That was yesterday's paper, from my perspective, and I had just graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Because my test scores were so high, I was recently dubbed the 'Brightest Witch in 1000 Years'," Hermione stated and Rhett's face turned white.

"Hogwarts? I've heard that word before. I barely remember, but my father had a letter written from someone that went there. I saw it in his study before he chased me out. That is a school?" He looked to Hermione searchingly and she nodded.

"Best school of magic in the UK. All witches and wizards born there are invited to attend starting at age 11. Harry, Ron, and I were all sorted into the same house and became the best of friends. There is more to our story, but we all came here together for a reason. Before I get into that, I can tell you that you are a wizard and that your father blocked your magic as a teenager. If you allow me, I can check to see if I can remove the block and allow you access to your magic. I could also teach you everything you need to catch up. You see, I'm the best candidate for the job due to being an insufferable know-it-all," Hermione smirked, remembering Snape's moniker for her since third year.

Rhett kept shaking his head in denial. "My father is a wizard and he blocked my magic. Why?" He turned to Hermione for answers she obviously didn't have.

"I don't know, I just know that he did and that I can probably undo it. I also don't know anything about magical families in America, but I can tell you he is a pureblood and that your mother is a muggle. You are a half-blood, like my friend Harry."

"Why are you here? What was so important that you three left your life in 2009 to come here, almost 150 years in the past?" Rhett asked curiously.

Hermione knew this would be the tricky part of the tale so she just decided to get it over with. "Well, in the library at Hogwarts, I found a book which contained a very specific ritual. We had just been through a war of our own and thankfully we won." She gazed at Rhett who was obviously interested, so she continued, "I was curious to learn how love was so powerful a force that it helped bring down the darkest wizard we had ever known. In this old, dusty book, the ritual outlined how one could go about finding their soulmate and after discussing it with Harry and Ron, we all decided we needed peace so finding our soulmates became our priority. What the ritual detailed was that your soulmate could exist in the past and it just so happened all three of ours are here, today." Hermione watched Rhett's expressions as she narrated her tale and he seemed a bit uncomfortable, as if he had already figured it out.

She continued on, "Well the ritual has two parts. The first is to allow a person to see who your soulmate is and the second part connects you with them, which in our case involved time travel. We each performed the ritual and following our results, prepared for our journey, knowing that there was no way back. This was a one way trip for us and for good or ill, we are here to stay."

Rhett looked into her eyes and she could tell that he was starting accept what she said as truth. He replied, "Well, I did recognize that there was something different about you. The moment I saw you in the doorway, I was intrigued. I watched you all day as I couldn't take my eyes off you. I can imagine you saw me in your ritual, is that right?" He smirked.

"You assume correctly. I saw you as an image in my cauldron and actually I saw you as I did today when walking up the stairs. You were at the bottom, leaning on the railing, and looking up at me with a drink in your hand. With a potion, I was able to get your name, the details about your wizarding status, and where and when you were, which was here today. Harry and Ron have soulmates who are sisters, one who seems very interested and the other who looks like trouble." Hermione realized that she still needed to speak to Harry about her earlier conversation with Suellen.

"I should imagine that would be a Miss Scarlett O'Hara. Am I right?" It was obvious that Rhett had noticed the beautiful, but overly flirtatious girl as well today. She nodded.

"I hope your friend has a lot of patience as he's going to need it with her. I overheard a bit of gossip that she's quite smitten with Mr. Wilkes, but he's already set to marry a Miss Melanie Hamilton. I can't imagine that will go over well," he said and she agreed.

"She decided to sneak off to find Mr. Wilkes, most likely to confess her love, while the rest of the girls were napping. I chose to find the library as I can't understand the concept of ladies napping in the afternoon while the men are off discussing the real issues. This society is so damn backwards it's going to drive me barmy!" she raged and Rhett looked at her appreciatively.

"I take it things are much different where you're from?" Rhett asked sincerely and she smiled.

"Oh, yes. Much different, but I won't bore you with the details just now when there are more important things to discuss and I have a feeling we won't have much time." Hemione knew they were very close to war being declared and that would mean Rhett would be off blockade running. She sighed.

"I know how all of this posturing will end and I can't change it. Beyond what we've already done to get here, Harry, Ron and I need to be very careful. I told you all this since you are my soulmate and deserve the truth plus we need an ally. What you do with that, only you know. I won't hold you to anything you don't wish to have. Before today, you had your own life and ideas of how to live it and I won't be the one to push you. Now that we've met, the pull I had to come here is gone. There won't be another for me that will fit quite as well, but we have the free will to choose. Regardless, I'm stuck here for life so you can have as much time as you need to decide for yourself." Hermione was truly scared of what Rhett might actually decide, especially considering everything she had to do to get here, but she remained stoic. She looked into Rhett's eyes and saw nothing but respect.

"You are a great lady, Hermione Granger from the future. I appreciate your words and will consider them seriously. I've never thought myself to be a marrying man, but for you I may reconsider." He gave her a toothy grin and she laughed.

"Marriage! Who said anything about that? In the future people date to get to know each other and then they may form a committed relationship to see how well they get along long-term. Eventually, the man may propose marriage, but women have been known to do that too, and then they get married. Unfortunately, more than half of all marriages end in divorce so many people never even try and just live together. I'd settle for now on the just getting to know you stage." She giggled at his shocked expression.

"I take it that this idea appeals to you?" she asked teasingly.

Rhett replied rakishly, "I think I'd like to see this future of yours if the social constraints aren't so rigid. It sounds like my kind of place." He grinned.

"Well, I could show you someday as I am a witch, you recall." Hermione then stood up from the chair, her skirts flaring outward. "Well, Captain Butler, I believe I will go find my friends as they must be wondering about me by now. We will be staying at Tara for the time being under the hospitality of Mr. O'Hara. I don't know what our long-term plans are yet, but I'm going to try and encourage the boys that we should move somewhere like Atlanta where we could purchase a house. I'd like to set down some kind of roots so I can unpack and get some research done."

"Captain Butler? Research?" Rhett asked confusedly.

"Well, you are planning on being a blockade runner, aren't you? I was able to find some historical references to you and that is all I will say for now. In regards to research, I've got a project in mind that's quite personal, but perhaps I will share it with you once I have some answers." She then turned and canceled all the spells she placed on the room, but before she could leave, she stepped up to Rhett and gave him a small kiss to his cheek.

"Stay safe," she whispered and then turned and left both the room and Rhett behind. He had his own plans to execute and so did she. Hermione had amazingly accomplished more with him in one day than she ever imagined. She knew instinctively that he'd be back. He was too curious and despite what she told him about not forcing a man into a relationship, he was definitely interested. She couldn't wait to see him again in a more casual setting, such as hopefully in her own home. A place where she could truly be herself in a world where she needed to don a mask.

Hermione knew for certain that when at home, she'd just be wearing jeans and tees and the dresses would be saved for the public. She figured Harry and Ron would be all over that idea, too. She couldn't wait for the three of them to have their own sanctuary where they could bring their past to life. With some wards and a few charms, no one would ever know.

A/N: This was a really long chapter since I couldn't stop writing until I got through the initial meeting of Rhett and Hermione. I decided to place the Trio at Hogwarts staring in 2001 to coincide with the movie franchise rather than the books. I thought giving them the extra years would allow for a greater dichotomy between time periods. It will allow me to dig into some more current ideas considering how technology has exploded. In my story, they started Hogwarts in 2001, went on the run in 2007, and finished school from September 2008 to July 2009. Up next, Rhett's POV and the Scarlett/Ashley conversation. Stay tuned!

Thanks again to all who continue to support this story!