Tempus Magia

Part One

Chapter 10: The Last Step

Hermione Granger made a grave error during the final battle that resulted in Remus's death. Working as an unspeakable she spends two years working on a spell using powder from time turners to go back to Remus's greatest hour of need. What if Remus's greatest time of need wasn't in *this* war?

"Okay," Ginny announced to the assembled room. "So let's go over this one more time everyone. Hermione goes back to save Remus with a spell courtesy of Tinky. The Ministry will be notified of her travel as soon as she leaves via the International Time Alert department."

Ginny looked at Ron, who picked up where she left off. "Once Hermione goes through time, the Ministry will arrive at her home and search it to find evidence of a struggle. Draco and I went to her flat and set several charms with Lucius's wand to automatically collapse and create chaos once Hermione departs."

Tinky stood on her small tower of approved reading material. Narcissa had even given her a book to keep. "Then it is Tinky's part! Tinky will move all of the papers into Master Lucius's secret room!"

Draco smiled, "And since we already used his wand to imperio himself and cast a Lumos in her bedroom, they'll find his magical signature in her house and search our home. Ruddy git is still sleeping in his room with his whore-"

"At which time," Narcissa sternly cut Draco's rant off, "He will be arrested for the unauthorized time travel, illegal possession of dark materials, and abduction of a ministry employee. Let's be honest he's done most of those things multiple times in the past two decades."

"And then?" asked Tinky.

Ginny sighed. "Then we wait. I'm going to plant the idea of the spell in her head. See what I can come up with. If she worked overnight the Ministry is going to give her off today and possibly tomorrow as well. I'll try and convince her to grab a bite to eat with me and I'll sneak the topic of the spell in. As long as she knows the spell we can assume that she will use it."

"Agreed," Narcissa said as she stood and dusted off her immaculate emerald lined robes. "It is almost nine and I believe we all have long days ahead of us. Tinky, you packed lunch for everyone."

Tinky disappeared with a pop knocking her stack of books over. She returned moments later with eggs and cheese nestled in between the folds of a buttery croissant, the warm smell of coffee wafting through the room.

"Thank you Tinky," Ginny smiled at the small elf who nodded nervously, unused to praise and not entirely sure what to do with it.

"It's delicious. Thanks, Tin-Tin." Ron said as he gathered last of his things of the table. Tink gushed under his praise and Ginny had a feeling that Tinky had a crush on Ron. Given that the coffees and breakfast were both exactly how Ron liked his breakfast, she had a feeling she wasn't too far off.

Ginny and Ron left after they arranged a time and place and reiterated their secret codes to be used in the coming days.

Ron had a flat in muggle London off of the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny knew that Harry would Floo her in the morning and assume she was the Burrow, so the two locked Ron's Floo and warded his door.

It was cruel and she knew it would cause Harry to worry but she needed him to stay out of her business until she could find her way around the Aurors Unbreakable Vow. Ginny held onto Ron's arm as he apparated her into his flat.

She hated going side-along but he was the only one who could bypass their wards. Ron opened the Floo and the wards for family and the two passed out on the couch. When Harry popped by twenty minutes later the worried lines on his face softened when he saw his wife and his best mate cuddled up on the sofa. Smiling, he took off his glasses and joined them.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Harry pouted. "I missed you."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Harry, it's not like I'm going clubbing. I'm going out for dinner with Hermione at the Leaky. Stop worrying so much."

When Ginny woke up she was boiling hot from being snuggled between the human furnace she married and the human furnace she called her brother. Annoyed she pushed both of them off of the couch when she heard an owl pecking at the window. Her boys were grumbling while she responded to Hermione assuring her that, yes she always had time for her and of course she would love to go for dinner at the Leaky.

"Yeah, but I didn't see you the whole night last night and most of today."

Ginny kissed Harry's cheek. "I love you dear, but Hermione rarely has time to see me and she's finally putting her life back together. It's important for us all to be there. Remember what the mind Healer said?"

Harry grumbled to himself. "I know, I just don't know why Ron and I weren't invited. We're her friends too!"

"Well unless you start growing a uterus, you aren't invited. This is a girl's only dinner."

Harry flipped his wand through his fingers restlessly. "I just… Ginny, do you ever get that feeling? The feeling that something really bad is about to happen?"

Ginny laughed with her back to Harry, trying to hide her tension. There were more ways this could go wrong than right. She knew that they all knew that. Not sending Hermione back was destroying her and if the books on werewolf mates they read last night were true, Hermione sanity would not last the year.

"Yes, Harry. I get that feeling every time you eat a double cheese pizza and run for the bathroom. I swear we don't have charms enough to get rid of that smell."

Harry chuckled tensely from behind her. He stood and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love you Gin, you know that right?"

Ginny turned around to face her husband. "Harry-"

"I'm not stupid. I know something is going on and that I obviously can't know about it for some reason, which means it's illegal. I trust you though, Ginny. You just… promise me-"

Ginny leaned up and pecked his cheek. This was not going the way she wanted. "Breathe Harry. It's all in your head. You barely slept last night. How about you take a quick nap and when I get home we can make up for our missed private time last night."

Harry brightened. Boys were easily distracted by two things.

Sex and Quidditch.

"Don't make it an all nighter?"

Ginny scoffed. "With Hermione? She doesn't swing that way, my love. At least I don't-"

Harry groaned and collapsed on their bed. "Hermione is like my sister. Why would you put that image in my head?"

Ginny chuckled and grabbed her purse. "Bye love, I'll see you later and by that, I mean much much more of you."

She winked and sashayed out of the room, appreciating the cursing as she left. He was going to be so riled up when she got home.

Hermione sat quietly at a table for two in the back of the Leaky Cauldron. She had already ordered whatever Hannah was serving that night and was waiting for Ginny. Hermione had taken the time to go over her appearance. What if it was the last time she saw Ginny?

The Project was going to be ready within the next two days and Hermione, being the practical woman she was, didn't want to leave any loose ends. She was glad she was able to fix the rift between her and the Weasleys. She still had to speak with Ron but she was glad his family didn't think she hated them.

"Hermione?" Ginny stalked overdrawing the appreciative eyes of most of the male population in the pub. Hermione always felt like earth next to the Sun, when she went out with Ginny. Ginny was striking and beautiful, whereas Hermione was plain, bookish, and boring. "You look stunning. Is that the shirt I got you for Christmas?"

"Yes and…" Hermione looked her over properly. "Is that the earings we bought in that little boutique in…. Where was it again?"

Ginny hugged Hermione and laughed sliding into the seat next to her. "I have no idea. We were so royally pissed that one time. I still can't believe I woke up wearing a giant dildo hat."

The two burst out laughing. Ginny's hen night was nothing short of extraordinary. They barely remembered anything after three or four in the morning. Poor Harry, who was supposed to be partying, had spent the night worrying about his fiance. They were fine, obviously, but it was sweet. They also woke up passed out drunk the next day in Luna Lovegood's house.

"Oh god, did we leave it Luna's house?"

Ginny leaned back thoughtfully in her chair, "Merlin saggy underpants, I think we did."

The two burst into giggles just as Hannah walked over with dinner and drinks. "It's on the house, you two. It's nice to see you both."

Before either Witch had a chance to protest, Hannah hurried off to refill someone's drink on the other side of the pub. They chatted for a while about their lives. Little inconsequential things, like new wallpaper or books they read and massive things like the Keeper on Ginny's team being fired for sleeping with the Assistant Coach and Hermione's assault.

"That bitch. I really hope they were both fired."

Hermione took a deep sip of her drink. "No, just Shauna was fired and she's barred from working at the Ministry ever again. Saul filed several motions to start the process of having an assault case filed with the Auror office. I don't have to ever file it, but it's good to know that it's there."

"What about Fauna?"

"Suspension until further notice. Saul thinks she is going to just resign and save herself the hassle. I feel horrible to have caused such a big commotion. I'm not looking forward to going back tomorrow."

Ginny scoffed angrily. "Hermione, you did nothing wrong. The Ministry should be more on top of inter-office bullying. I know Dad never says anything, but he's been bullied by other Ministry employees for years. He just lets it slide off of him but he shouldn't and neither should you."

Hermione smiled and Ginny. She loved her friend dearly and she was so glad she had the witch in her pocket. She never wanted to find herself on the other side of Ginny's wand. She was the youngest of six boys. She pinched liked the devil and hexed like Morgana on her monthly.

"I know. It's odd being able to talk about anything that goes on at work. I wish I could share the good stuff and not just the bad stuff that happens at lunch in the breakroom."

"Yeah," Ginny said distractedly. "I uh… I actually heard something recently. I was going to ask you about it. But… well, I thought it was stupid and-"

Hermione put down her drink.

"No question is foolish, the only fool is the one who is foolish enough not to ask questions."

Ginny lips lifted in a smile, "Who said that?"

"Professor Lupin. I doubled back to ask him a question once and I heard him say it to Ron. He was embarrassed about having a question in class. He was really nice about it after though. I mean it was really nice of him to tutor Ron in the first place."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Of course you knew, the Professor's deepest darkest secret of the third year."

"Ronald forgets that I made his study timetable. I knew he was in private tutoring with Professor Lupin. If we're being honest, I used to sit outside the classroom and listen. Professor Lupin is… I mean was a genius. I wish wizards had been kinder to him." Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, me too."

They raised their drinks, "To Remus and Tonks Lupin."

"Hey Mione, someone gave me this parchment of spells that are supposed to make your broom impervious to tampering. It's in Roman Runes that I couldn't make out and my game is next Sunday. I know you're super busy, but is there any chance at all that you can take a look at it?"

Hermione scanned over the document quickly, her throat running dry as she saw the last spell that had nothing to do with the first ones on broom care. "Er… Ginny, how about I take this home and look it over? I'll owl you the list tomorrow and I'll draw a diagram of the wand movements?"

Ginny nodded and thanked Hermione. Hermione carefully slipped the paper in her pocket. If this was what she thought it was… she could change everything. She could save Remus and keep the timeline. She wouldn't have to worry about someone else dying in Remus's place, or….

Hermione smiled with determination and snapped back to the conversation about Ginny's annoying neighbor that was on a quest to shag every man and woman in the UK and make sure the entire neighborhood heard it.

"... I mean I don't need to bloody hear it, Hermione! Harry, of course, thinks the bloke has impressive stamina."

"Well, if he's bedding that many people no wonder he has impressive stamina."

Ginny waggled her eyebrows mischievously, it was like looking the female version of Fred and George. "Want me to introduce you, Hermione?"

Hermione felt a pang in her chest. "I think I'm fine for now. Getting on my feet and all…"

An image of gold irises and sandy hair filled her mind and heart and Hermione tried to ignore the implications.

"I'm knackered. Wanna hit the hay?" Hermione nodded at Ginny standing up and grabbing her purse.

"I have to be at work at one tomorrow. Don't want to be too tired." Hermione stooped over the table leaving a generous tip for Hannah on the table.

"Or hungover," said Ginny while she dropped her own tip. "So when are you going to talk to Ron?"

"I talk to him," Hermione said defensively. Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fine, I talk to him in passing. I'm not there yet."

"Hermione it's been over two years. Get there."

Hermione shrugged. "I'll try okay?"

They walked together to the apparition point talking about work and promising they would not let it go so long between dinner dates. Ginny hugged Hermione tightly as they walked under the large purple sign that was designated for outgoing apparition. "Good night Hermione. Love you."

"Love you too, Gin."

Hermione apparated directly into her bedroom. Shucking off her footwear, she stood in front of her open closet smiling down at the parchment in her hand. It fit into all of her boxes and brought everything together.

She had a way. She could do this.