Author's Note: Hello all! I usually place my notes at the end of every chapter but since this is the end of my story, I decided it would be best to place it at the beginning. I started posting this story at the beginning of August, and here we are, slightly over two months later, as it is now complete. This story initially started as a one-shot, before I decided that it had the potential to become a full-length story. I'm a firm believer in the Harry/Hermione pairing, and only wish that JK Rowling had followed through with it. However, she did not, which is completely fine, and that is why we have FanFiction.
I want to say "thank you" to everyone that has read and reviewed my story…it means a lot! Halfway through writing this story, I thought that this was going to be my final foray into the world of FanFiction, but I have another story that I'm formulating in my head right now, so my time on this site isn't over yet. I had originally planned for the finale to be presented in two parts, but I found a way to condense it down to just one. Please feel free to review this story for one final time before you depart from it, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the finale. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 21: Down the River
The sound of their shoes slammed against the asphalt they ran upon, their hearts hammering because of its imprisonment within their bodies. Stitches pierced their sides, like a sword drawing blood, draining them of what little energy they had left. Although the air was cold, droplets of sweat streamed down their faces like that of runners finishing a marathon. Thunder roared into the dark night, its booming sounds hovering over Godric's Hollow, though the rain was absent from this wild nocturnal escapade.
With Hermione's hand was clasped within Harry's, they darted past the graveyard next to the small steeple, not even thinking of looking back, for their thoughts were dispersed over a never-ending spectrum of fear and revulsion.
'Tabby is dead, Tabby is dead, Tabby is dead,' Harry thought to himself, over and over like a dark hymn, as although he did not know the house-elf extremely well, he did grow fond of him over the two times he had met him. There was something about Tabby, Harry remembered, that sparked small bubbles of excitement against the base of his stomach, somewhat akin to what Harry felt for Dobby. A cheerfulness of sorts stretched itself over Harry seeing Tabby in The Corvus Canteen, and now, he was dead.
Harry looked over at Hermione, her eyes red with near tears, while her bushy hair was flying behind her, like it was its own creature, from their sprint they were currently enduring and from the increasing howling wind. He squeezed her hand, trying not only to reassure her that everything was going to be alright, but he was also trying to reassure himself. Something was coming though; a voice inside of Harry whispered to him that something was definitely coming for them that very night.
The couple chased past the war memorial, again without a second glance, as they then entered the main part of the village. Not a soul was out and about, for it seemed that Godric's Hollow was an abandoned parish, eagerly waiting for Harry and Hermione to be left for dead, so that it could allow itself to be overrun by its own ruins.
They darted in between Talbert's Treasurers and Crovus, the white bricks of the two buildings flanking both of their sides. Minding to step over the puddle of water that was gathered in the middle of the dim alleyway, Harry and Hermione went over to the painting of the woman and the raven where Harry rapped his wand three times against it and said in a harsh and quick whisper, "Potter, party of two." Just like the times before, the woman gave them a slight nod while the black raven flew off of her right shoulder and out of the picture. After the woman disappeared, a door formed, in which Harry and Hermione entered through hastily.
The pair hurriedly walked down the stairs and entered into the deserted The Corvus Canteen, where their eyes fell upon a repugnant sight: Tabby's headless body was displayed upside down, plastered against one wall, his blood having spilled out of his dead corpse as it was lying in a pool on the floor just below him. Harry and Hermione stared at this scene in horror, wondering just how diabolical Rainer Tallis was on his quest for ultimate power.
Seeing all that he could stomach, Harry pulled Hermione away, across the empty eatery, and out through the red door. However, before they could walk up the final set of stairs that would lead them directly into the heart of Twrill's Center, Hermione stopped, making Harry do the same.
"What," he asked, turning his head to his right to look at her.
"Harry, keep your voice down," Hermione told him quietly, giving him a hard stare.
"But what are we stopping for," he questioned, making sure to speak softly.
"Harry, I can't imagine that Rainer wouldn't have some sort of security waiting for us up there," Hermione told him, nodding her head towards the top of the stairs. "We need to be careful."
Harry nodded his head as they both took hold of their wands, as they cautiously sneaked up the steps. Sure enough, Hermione had been right for there were three bulky men that were waiting for them near the stone bridge that stood over the waterway, connecting the two sides of Twrill's Center together.
Harry pulled Hermione back down the steps before he said, "We have to move fast if we're going to get past them. You stun one and I'll stun the other."
"What about the third man," she asked.
"We'll take him on together," Harry answered firmly. "Are you ready?"
"Do you think there are more people hiding from us," Hermione questioned.
"Maybe, but we need to get to Caleb," Harry replied. "Who knows what's happening to him right now."
Hermione visibly shuddered before she sucked in a deep breath, before letting it out.
"Just, please Hermione, please be safe," Harry said, looking at her.
"You know I can't make any promises, Harry," she responded, "we don't know how many people are waiting for us. But I'll do my best and you have to, too."
Harry nodded his head wordlessly at her before they slowly crept back up the stairs. Harry aimed his wand at one of the men while out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione do the same.
"On the count of three then," Harry started in a whisper, "one…two…three."
"STUPEFY," they yelled together. Two jets of red light soared out of their wands, both hitting two different men who crumbled down in a heap.
At once, the final man left standing whipped around and shot off a streak of white light towards them.
"PROTEGO," Harry and Hermione yelled together in unison, effectively blocking them from any harm.
"Come on," Harry said, motioning for Hermione to follow him.
The stepped out into the open space, as the man fired off two jets of yellow light at them. Harry and Hermione dived out of the way, before Hermione flung around, and shot off a jet of purple light over at the man. He deflected it, before he took off, running over the overpass away from them.
Harry pursued the man, running past the bodies of the two stunned men, not hearing Hermione's calls to stop him. The wind whipping over his face as he ran over the bridge, Harry aimed his wand and yelled, "STUPEFY!" His jet of red light flew over the man's shoulder and shattered one of the front windows of Zwoo's Tectum, the animal shop, where a small explosion was heard inside.
The man turned around and shot a jet of blue light at Harry, who ducked underneath it, before he yelled, "INCARCEROUS!" A thick black rope flew over towards the man, however, he waved his wand and in the next instant, the black rope turned into a murderous serpent and was racing back towards Harry, its fangs barred.
Harry froze at this sight until a voice behind him yelled, "CONFRINGO!" The serpent was blasted into smithereens as Hermione then directed her wand at the man and shouted, "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"
He moved out of the way before he slashed his wand through the air, making a large knife suddenly materialize and fly directly over at Harry, its metal glinting under a streak of lightning that lit up the black sky that was followed by a roll of loud thunder.
"Harry, move," Hermione screamed. He did as he was told, though not fast enough for the knife scraped his cheek, as Harry instantly felt a warm tickle race down his face and onto his neck.
"AVIS," Harry heard Hermione yell next to him, as a flock of blue canaries shot over toward the man like bullets being unleashed from its barrel. The man tried to wave the birds away by use of his flailing arms, as the canaries started pecking away at the man's face. However, just then, the ground underneath Harry and Hermione exploded.
Harry seemed to lose all hearing in his right ear while he felt his body fly through the air; he barely caught sight of Hermione next to him. Not a second later, the two teens splashed into the river, the cool waters rising up over their heads, sinking them into its depths like their pockets were full of heavy stones.
Shaking his head within the pressure of the water around him, Harry looked around him and saw that Hermione was coming to, as she looked over at him, as if she was making sure he was alive, before she rose upwards. Harry copied her movements, his face breaking the surface of the water.
When he did so, he heard Hermione yell, "DENSAUGEO!" Harry looked over and saw that a woman's teeth grow at a terrifying rate, as he deduced that the woman was the cause of the explosion which flung him and Hermione into the river.
"STUPEFY," both Harry and Hermione bellowed, sending two jets of red light that slammed into the woman, sending her backwards, crashing into one of the front windows of Malvolia's Caravansary.
Harry and Hermione struggled to climb up over the river's banks, their drenched clothes weighing them down. After they successfully did so, before either teen could plot their next move, a streak of silver light brushed Hermione's shoulder, making her cry out in pain. Harry turned his head around and a saw that a jet of orange light was flying directly at him.
"Hermione, duck!"
She did as she was told, as the orange light flew over the heads, and until it impacted Malvolia's Caravansary across the river, setting the entire building aflame.
"EXPULSO," Harry screamed at the man, who had since gotten rid of Hermione's birds, but he moved out of the way, as Harry's spell blasted a large hole into the side wall of Cloak and Dagger's Bookshop, sending small bits of rock and debris flying into the air.
However, before anyone else could exchange spell fire, several HOOT's were heard, as Harry, Hermione, and the man all looked over to see at least a dozen owls fly out of the smashed open window of Zwoo's Tectum.
Harry and the man turned their attention back on one another as they shot two jets of light at one another. Their spells ricocheted off of each other, as Harry's spell blasted another hole in Cloak and Dagger's Bookshop, while the man's spell hit a nearby owl, killing it instantly.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Harry tackled Hermione down to the ground roughly, as a jet of green light soared over their fallen bodies.
Harry watched in horror as the man raised his wand again, prepared to strike the entanglement that was Harry and Hermione before a black raven suddenly materialized out of thin air. The raven then transformed into the tall man Harry had seen outside of the living room window of Potter's Cottage over the past several weeks, as he pointed his wand at Harry and Hermione's attacker and shot a jet of light blue light at him, in which the man was blasted violently backwards into Cloak and Dagger's Bookshop.
"BOMBARDA MAXIMA," the tall man said with constrained ferocity, as the bookstore was blasted apart, blocks of concrete and a cascade of falling books fell atop of the man, crushing him to death.
The air was suddenly painstakingly still as the tall man then turned around to face Harry and Hermione, who were both breathing heavily, his face a mask conceiving no emotion, while his eyes seemed bored with the night's transgressions.
"Rainer Tallis requests your presence in Phosphenes," the tall man said, eyeing both of them with mounting dislike, "and he would like to see you both alive". The tall man then gestured forward, letting Harry and Hermione stand to their feet for them to lead the way to the handsome manor.
With Malvolia's Caravansary burning in bright flames behind them, Harry, Hermione, and the tall man made their way past the line of stores of Twrill's Center, over the opposite stone bridge they had crossed earlier than evening when sneaking into the meeting. The three then progressed up the set of spiral stairs before arriving on a large balcony, before Harry and Hermione walked in through the open doors of the mansion.
The pair paced down the hallway lined with paintings of exotic-like magical creatures, before they walked through another set of open doors, leading the way into the large hall where the meeting had been held just hours previously.
This time, however, instead of fifty people situated around the large, polished brown table, only Rainer Tallis was there, waiting for them to grace him with their presence. Harry saw that he was still dressed in his black suit and black bow tie.
"Quite a show, I must say, to both of you," Rainer said in a deep voice that bounced around the large hall, "I was watching from one of my windows." The tall man walked away from Harry and Hermione to stand behind Rainer; Harry noticed that neither man took his or Hermione's wands away from them.
"Where's Caleb," Harry asked, ignoring the praise he and Hermione was given.
"In the woods, waiting for us," Rainer answered easily. "I would take you there right now but I believe there are matters we must discuss before we venture out there."
"Why do we need to go into the woods," Hermione asked, a bruise coloring her cheek while scrapes lined her neck, looking at Rainer with pure loathing.
"I'll explain everything in due time," he replied, "but for now, I want to explain some things to you. Of course, any questions that you have for me, I'll make sure to answer them to the best of my ability. And I should tell you that if you even so much as to think about attacking the two us, let it be known that Caleb will never see another sunrise again. We know where he is and you do not."
"Why are you acting like this to us," Harry questioned, generally confused and with good reason. "We heard you at your meeting…y-you-,"
"Want me dead," Hermione finished, making Harry look over at her, his bright, green eyes full of hurt.
In turn, Rainer's yellow eyes seemed to gleam wickedly, before he answered in a quiet voice, "By the end of the night, the two of you will be no more. It's true what I said at my meeting the three of you permeated, I am going to kill you Hermione Granger, and I will then kill you Harry Potter."
Rainer read the two teens their death sentences' calmly, as if he was talking about the night's weather.
Harry heard Hermione's breath hitch beside him.
"Is it too much to ask that you spare Caleb," Harry spat out bitterly, hatred surging through him like the harsh winds blowing in the midst of a vast cyclone.
"Yes, I can see why you would ask about that young man though I think the two of you don't know his secret," Rainer replied.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, knowing that Rainer was on the verge of divulging who Caleb really was.
"We'll come back to him at a more opportune time. To start, I think it is appropriate to tell you two how I am able to see into the future."
"We know how you do it," Harry interrupted, "you use a time-turner that you stole from the Ministry of Magic."
Rainer gave Harry a cold look before he responded, "Mind you musings, Potter, for let's not forget who destroyed most of the time-turners in the Department of Mysteries, shall we? Think about what I created! Think about the possibilities we could each have to see into our own futures!"
"You're treating it as a weapon…using it for nothing other than for your own personal gain," Harry stated loudly.
"Perhaps, but that is what people do with power of their own, is it not? I want to ask you something, Potter. Back when Voldemort returned, wouldn't you have liked to know if you were going to make it out of the war alive? Wouldn't that have given you some hope, some restoration to your mind, as you and your silly little friends journeyed over much of Great Britain vying for him to meet his downfall? Think of all the lives you could have saved…think about how different your future would be right now."
Harry would be lying to himself if he thought that Rainer didn't make a good point.
"Harry would see the future differently than you already have," Hermione shot out, rescuing Harry from having to answer Rainer's questions.
"Of course he would, Miss Granger, as we all different people, both inside and out. But that does not mean my questions are rendered invalid. We all have choices to make, I just happen to know the outcome of choices I do not make."
"You mean murder," Harry said over to Rainer acidly.
"Precisely…precisely," Rainer responded, nodding his head with a look of anarchy over his face. "But, back to my original point, the reason that I was able to transform the time-turner to allow me to see into the future was because of the man standing behind me."
Harry and Hermione shifted their eyes away from Rainer to look at the tall man that was standing behind him, silently watching them…digesting every word that was being spoken.
"Who is he," Hermione asked, as this mysterious man had been infecting Harry's mind over the past couple of weeks, repeatedly seeing him just outside of the perimeter of Potter's Cottage.
Rainer turned around and requested, "Why don't you explain yourself to them?"
The tall man stepped forward and looked over the table at Harry and Hermione with a blank expression on his face.
"My name is Bogdan Roul, and I am the direct blood-descendant of the first wizard Seer, Norman Rendell," the tall man said to them, finally introducing himself. He spoke in a raspy voice, as if he hadn't used his vocal chords in decades.
"Are you a Seer too," Hermione asked, as if she couldn't stop herself from harvesting more bits of knowledge.
Bogdan looked at her with silence before he said, "No, I am not a Seer, though because my ancestor's blood runs through my veins, I have…unique abilities in which I am able to appropriate in my animagus form, which you know now is a black raven."
Harry digested what Bogdan had said, as he then asked, "So is the myth of the woman and the raven true then?"
"Yes, it is true," Bogdan replied.
"But why are you working with him," Harry asked, nodding his head off towards Rainer who was watching their conversation unfold from nearby, his face hidden in shadows, while his yellow eyes sparkled brightly.
"You have something that I desire," Bogdan answered.
Harry looked over at Hermione to see her look back at him with confusion etched upon her face. Harry, himself, was quite puzzled as well, as he did not know what Bodgan wanted.
"What is it," Harry finally inquired.
"On the outskirts of Potter's Cottage, a small dwelling sits just within the woods behind your property. That is one of the homes of my dead ancestors," Bogdan replied.
Shock resounded through Harry like a coil twisting in the hollowness that he felt in his stomach, as not long ago, he and Hermione had found the very home Bogdan was describing to them, thinking it was nothing more than a small outing that Harry's parents may or may not have known about. Yet, the truth of the matter was that it was tied to the history of Godric's Hollow…the history of Twrill's Center…the history of the woman and the raven.
"I can see it in your eyes that you know what I'm talking about," Bogdan assessed, inclining his head towards the duo.
"What do you want with that home," Harry asked.
"It is the last piece of property I have in conjunction with my ancestors," Bogdan replied simply. "It is something that belongs to me."
"Why didn't you come for it before," Harry started, "before my parents and I moved in?"
"I was…disposed for a long period of time and did not have the strength for it," Bogdan answered in a grave voice.
"What do you mean by disposed," Hermione inquired.
Bogdan seemed to critically think about if he wanted to share this piece of news with the two before he said, "I was in a duel where I was nearly killed. Rainer helped me regain my strength over time."
"What kind of duel were you in," Harry nearly demanded, as the truth about so many pressing questions he had were finally coming to light.
"It was a decade before the revival of Twrill's Center took place. Twrill's Center was nothing but a collection of nine small homes, one for each one of my ancestor's children, yet the tenth home that belonged to my ancestor along with his wife whom he married a short time before they had their offspring, was missing. I didn't think of searching in the woods beyond because I didn't think any home would dwell amongst the trees.
"I was a young man, then, and whispers came about of my condition, that of which my animagus form can assist a few fortunate souls to show them their future. A foolish man came to me, demanding me to help him to see his future, and when I did not, he and I dueled. But being the young man that I was, I was ill-prepared and he got the better of me. He decided to leave me for dead, making me wallow in the timing of which death would soon come for me, to take my soul to whatever it is that comes after we breathe our last.
"However, not even hours after I was struck down, Rainer appeared and took me away from magical Britain where I stayed in a small community just on the outskirts of Gothenburg in Sweden where he nursed me back to health. While I was recovering, Rainer came back to Twrill's Center and revitalized the area, housing it not only for himself, but for me as well, so that when I came back, I could locate the home of my ancestor."
"But all of the other homes were destroyed," Hermione clarified, "except the one that you haven't found yet."
"I know of that but I can say that I didn't have any interest in those homes," Bogdan said, "for none of my ancestor's children were Seers themselves. They meant nothing to me."
However, with everything Bogdan told them, something still confused Harry.
"You said that your animagus form can help someone see the future? How is that possible," Harry questioned.
Bogdan looked over at Rainer who slanted his head slightly, before Bogdan turned back around to face Harry and Hermione.
"Although I am not a Seer myself, the blood of one runs through my very veins. In my animagus form, one of my feathers can be transposed within the time-turner itself by a spell, that allows the wearer of the device to travel forward in time," Bogdan told them. "Of course, as you heard Rainer say earlier before, the wearer of the time-turner has a short amount of availability to see into the future."
"But that day I saw you in St. Mungo's," Harry started, "your feathers were all over the fourth-floor ward. If your feathers are as valuable as you say they are, wouldn't you try to take more care of them?"
"I cannot help the fact that I am still suffering from the duel I was in many years ago," Bogdan responded, "I am dying a slow death and I have been for quite some time. Rainer's treatment of my injuries was only temporary. Indeed, I shall be dead before the year is through."
Harry's heart seemed to turn into a cold glacier at the sound of his words, seeing how Harry, himself, accepted his death at the hands of Voldemort just a couple of months ago, though Harry knew he had something and people to live for, while Bogdan treated death as more of an honorary passage, one in which he seemed to be more than ready to accept, as if it was long overdue.
"So all you wanted was to see the home of your ancestor," Hermione asked, her voice masquerading one of stark disbelief.
"Quite," Bogdan replied, "but I have also agreed to help Rainer in his mission for knowing his future as he stalled my imminent death many years prior."
"This then leads me to ask you some questions of my own," Rainer inserted suddenly, walking to take Bogdan's place at the table across from Harry and Hermione, and staring evilly over at them with his yellow eyes. "I suspect that Potter's Cottage was under wards that made it invisible to witches and wizards, is that correct?"
Harry looked over at Hermione quickly and saw in her eyes no reason to lie to him. He turned back to glance at Rainer as he replied, "Mr. Weasley, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, set up wards over Potter's Cottage after we returned from Australia."
"That is exactly what I thought," Rainer replied with a slight edge to his voice. "Well, I suppose you two bought yourself just a few more weeks to live then…nothing more and nothing less."
"What kind of wards did you set up over Twrill's Center that makes anyone unable to apparate inside the village," Harry asked, seeing that Rainer had fallen silent.
"Why I'm sure Miss Granger will be able to answer that for you, couldn't you," he said, looking over at Hermione, raising his eyebrows in the process.
"It's because you worked as an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries," she deduced, "and you were able to get a Ministry appeal to erect wards over Twrill's Center due to the fact that Voldemort had returned and started another war and the Ministry was nearly overrun trying to bring him and his Death Eaters down. Because the Ministry was full of activity, you must've tweaked their verdict so that no one would be able to apparate into Twrill's Center directly but you left it open for people to apparate out of Twrill's Center so that just in case the Ministry came here, after verifying any records they have of this place, you could make a quick escape."
"It is no wonder then that you become the future Minister of Magic, Miss Granger. I must applaud you for your expert reasoning skills," Rainer said, though even as he was complimenting Hermione, his voice was cold. In turn, Hermione didn't blush at his fraudulent display of admiration but instead she glared over at him. "I guess you leave little to the imagination of why you are such a threat to me in the future."
Rainer's yellow eyes shimmered over at Hermione, sending a spook tracking through Harry, as he sensed a dreading sense of danger that was looming ever closer to the pair of them.
"If Potter's Cottage is hidden from both Muggles and witches and wizards, how were you able to find it by sending the note to us," Harry asked, explicitly leaving out Tabby's severed head, as he was still repulsed by the mere sight of it.
"I did not find where Potter's Cottage is…an owl I borrowed from Zwoo's Tectum did. You see, magical wards are predisposed against those of witches, wizards, and Muggles, however they do not discriminate against magical creatures. It was foolish of me that I hadn't thought of that before, I digress, but I have been away, as I have just arrived in Twrill's Center not even three nights ago," Rainer replied. "Now, I want to take the two of you into the woods where you will be reunited with your friend Caleb, and then I will kill you all," he continued, as Harry noticed Rainer stressed the word 'friend' when mentioning Caleb's name.
"If you're going to kill us, what's the point of bringing us into the woods? Why not just kill us here," Harry asked sourly.
"Because, I want the both of you to see into your futures…a future in which you will cease to exist. I want you to feel the pain in knowing what you will miss out later in what life has planned for you two. I want you to suffer, just like I did when I saw my own future," Rainer answered, his voice as deep and malevolent as if the devil himself had spoken. "Also, I know you don't know the truth about who Caleb really is, yet I do.
"You see, it was because of Caleb that I knew you three were at the meeting. No, he isn't working for me," Rainer explained, seeing the looks on both Harry and Hermione's faces, "but I have seen Caleb before, and I remember his bright, hazel eyes. It was something either you overlooked when you performed human transfiguration on yourselves to attend my meeting, but I think young Caleb is quite proud of his bright, hazel eyes, considering what I know of him. It is because of his eyes that I was able to capture him after my meeting had ended. I have to say that I'm surprised that neither of you did not ask how Caleb knew so much about my meetings in the first place."
Harry and Hermione glanced at one another again, as that very question floated within their minds, but after being delivered so much information this night, they hadn't thought to ask it.
"Well, from the looks you are giving each other, I can tell you what I know. It was quite simple really…all I did was have Bogdan place the innkeeper of Malvolia's Caravansary under the Imperius Curse. What a foolish woman she is," Rainer clarified to them. "But yes, Caleb was also foolish enough to play right into my plans; interesting character he is."
"What do you know," Hermione asked, her voice quiet, as they were teetering on the edge of figuring out the mystery surrounding who Caleb really is.
"In due time, in due time, but first, it is time for all of us to go into the woods," Rainer commented as if he was about to attend a party, making his way around the grand, polished brown table. He walked past Harry and Hermione, who were made to follow him by that of Bogdan's brandished wand, as the party walked out of the double open doors of the grand hall, past the paintings of the exotic animals that lined the hallway, through the foyer, in which Harry saw another bout of white fur on the tiled floor, and out of the doors of Phosphenes.
They walked down the spiral staircase but instead of crossing back over the stone bridge, Rainer turned to his immediate right as Harry saw the vastness of the dark woods displayed in front of them. Rainer took out his wand and said with distinct clarity, "LUMOS," as his wand tip was instantly ignited, a bright light against the black night, as they started to make their way towards the trees.
As another rumble of thunder was heard above off in the distance, the four walked along the slippery banks of the river on their left, its dark waters like that of streams of madness threatening to drown those that dared to walk so near to its edge. The trees on their right reflected that of dementors, hovering on the brink of no other reason to exist besides crushing the souls of its victims.
On and on the party of four walked in quietness, the water rippling in small waves in the breezy wind, acting to Harry as secretive caveats for what has yet to come, while the trees bristled in the darkness, with only Rainer's ignited wand-tip being the sole source of light for the himself, Harry, Hermione, and Bogdan. As the thunder rumbled overhead, Harry noticed that it was distinctly less pronounced than before.
Hermione stepped on a twig, snapping it cleanly in half, as its crack echoed around them, its sound vibrating through Harry.
After some time, from the tip of Rainer's wand, Harry saw that the river curved around a corner, with a mass of rock jutting out part of the way over the water. The current seemed to become strong around this corner as the stream, though not seeming to be that deep, charged forward faster than it did before.
It was here that Rainer had stopped walking, making Harry, Hermione, and Bogdan stop as well.
"In case you're wondering, you're friend is over there," Rainer said, nodding his head over at a thin tree, again stressing the word 'friend.'
Harry and Hermione looked over and were terrified to see that Caleb's face had a deep gash that ran over his forehead, masking one side of his face completely in red blood. He was bound against the thin tree, with barbed wire wrapped against his chest and stomach as his shirt was ripped in a number of places as his head lolled over onto his left shoulder, his eyes closed. He seemed very, very weak.
"Let him go," Harry demanded at once, making to step towards him.
However, in the next instant, Harry was blasted backwards, as he roughly fell on his back onto the forest floor. He looked up to see Rainer's wand trained over at him, just as Hermione hurried over to help Harry up.
"Are you alright," she whispered.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry softly replied back.
"Let's be clear about something here," Rainer started, his eyes flashing a dangerous shade of yellow, "you two will not dictate the terms of what is about to take place. Is that understood?"
When Harry and Hermione didn't respond, Rainer raised his wand and said, "EXPELLIARMUS!" Instantly, both Harry and Hermione's wands flew into his outstretched hand before he stuffed it into one of the pockets on the inside of his black suit jacket.
"Now," Rainer said in a calmer manner, "like I told you back in my mansion, I am going to show you both of your futures." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a time-turner. Harry noted that it looked just like the one Hermione had back in third-year.
Rainer walked over to Harry who stilled, as Rainer placed the time-turner around his neck. Rainer then turned to Bogdan and said, "If you please."
Harry looked over and saw Bogdan close his eyes before his form shrunk down, just as black feathers started sprouting all over his skin. In the next instant, a raven had appeared as it flew over and situated itself on Rainer's shoulders, with Bogdan's human clothes lying in a wasteful pile next Hermione's feet.
Rainer pointed his wand at the raven and gave it a sight wave, as a single black feather parted ways with the bird's body. Rainer grasped the feather in his wand-free hand as he stared over at Harry evilly.
If Harry knew that he, Hermione, and Caleb would be alive come sunrise, Harry would've been somewhat excited to see what his future is like. But, with his and Hermione's wands confiscated, while Caleb seemed to be near the point of no return, Harry didn't know how the three of them were going to make it out of their current predicament alive, especially given the fact that Rainer had already said he would kill the three of them, with his main target being Hermione, someone who Harry would not be able to part with.
"You should be thankful, Potter, that I'm not going to murder you without giving you a chance to see your future," Rainer said, still staring at him. "I fancy seeing myself as being rather merciful to you and to Miss Granger, don't you think?"
"You're nothing more than a murderer," Harry spat out at him.
Silence fell between them before Rainer commented softly, "I can't say that I'm sorry you feel that way, Potter, but remember, we have the free will to choose our destinies…nothing is predetermined for us. Although Miss Granger stops me from taking control of the Ministry of Magic in the current future, it can be altered and it will with her death, in which your death will soon follow, and I will finish off with Caleb's. Caleb is interesting, wouldn't you two agree," Rainer asked, now addressing both Harry and Hermione.
"You still haven't told us what you know about him," Hermione stated.
Rainer glared over at Hermione while seeming to digest her words. "Well, seeing as Potter here will know soon enough, I'll tell you this: back in April, when I first attempted to travel into the future, the time-turner malfunctioned for a reason I do not know. Caleb was brought back with me, though he escaped before I could come to. A funny thing, time, as it's about to be something that you, Potter, and you, Miss Granger, will soon run out of."
Their minds both buzzing at what Rainer had just told them, Harry looked over at Hermione and saw that she was looking back at Caleb. Harry did the same, and wondered how did Caleb come from the future?
Without another word, Rainer placed the black feather against the small time-turner that was currently resting against Harry's shirt. Brandishing his wand at the black feather and time-turner, Rainer murmured, "IRE VADE."
As a burning flash of yellow light started to surround Harry, he saw that an owl suddenly appeared out of the darkness of the trees, as it flew directly towards Bogdan's animagus-raven form. The two birds clashed in midair, as Rainer dropped his wand in the ensuing melee. Harry briefly saw Hermione pick up Rainer's fallen wand, point it at Caleb and yell, "RELASHIO!" A fiery jet of purple sparks flew over at the barbed wire, which then relinquished its hold on the frail teen. However, horror rushed through Harry as suddenly, Rainer transformed into a large white tiger, as it charged at Hermione, giving a mighty roar and snarling viciously. Harry was hopeless to do anything, for at that moment, the yellow light burned against his skin, as he passed out from the pain.
Harry opened his eyes and saw a strange sight before him: he seemed to be back in Potter's Cottage, looking upon himself and Hermione, much older than they were supposed to be, sitting down at a dining room table, while, what looked like two teenagers, were sitting with them. The girl was a spitting image of a younger Hermione, while the boy looked a lot like Caleb, with a messy pile of untamable brown hair sitting atop of his head, and bright, hazel eyes.
"How do you two feel about returning to Hogwarts tomorrow," the older Harry asked, looking over at the two teens, "starting your fifth-year now."
The teen boy rolled his bright, hazel eyes while the teenage girl's bright, green eyes said, "I can't wait to go back! I've been meaning to ask Professor Longbottom if the bite from the Venomous Tentacula always kills the person that was bitten by it. Didn't the wizard Derwent Shimpling eat an entire Venomous Tentacula and survive? I believe he did, and that must mean that healers are able to-,"
"Cassie, why are on earth are you talking about N.E.W.T.-level work? We're only going to be fifth-years! We still have to worry about O.W.L.s," the teenage boy said in annoyance.
"Excuse me, Caleb," Cassie huffed in clear exasperation, "but I wasn't aware that my interest in my own studies had anything to do with you."
"Well, just for your information, it does," Caleb shot back, "I mean, you need to loosen up a bit. You're always so uptight and worried about achieving the highest marks in school and about being the best, it's exhausting just to keep up with you! I know you're my twin sister and all, but you need to give your strange taste of trying to know about everything a rest."
"Caleb," both the older versions of Harry and Hermione scolded.
"No, it's alright mum and dad," Cassie said, seeming to be unaffected by Caleb's words, "it's pretty clear that Caleb has taken too many shots to the head during his Quidditch games to even try and follow the study schedule I draw up for him every year near finals time."
"What a lie! You've never drawn up a study schedule for me," Caleb retorted.
"I have too! Honestly, if it wasn't for your need to impress Mikayla Lovegood at every single Quidditch game or during every class we have with the Ravenclaws, you would be doing a lot better in school!"
"Cass," Caleb warned in a low voice, glowering at her before looking over at the older versions of Harry and Hermione with a guilty look on his face. "I'm sure mum, being the Minister of Magic, and dad, being the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, is both busy enough than to sit here, listening to your wild, made-up fantasies about me and Mentally-Unbalanced Lovegood."
Just as the older versions of Harry and Hermione had opened their mouths, both of their eyes full of anger at their son's words, the burning yellow light surrounded Harry again, as he closed his eyes, trying to will the pain to subside. Harry felt his skin blaze as if he was thrown into an inferno, while his body screamed for this sudden torment to end. As the heat steadily rose to become unbearable, Harry fell unconscious.
He opened his eyes, hearing an ear-splitting roar, a shout of 'PROTEGO,' a whimpering cry, and a loud thud.
Harry realized he was lying on his back on the forest floor, a mess of twigs and leaves underneath him. In a daze, he sat up, his eyes trying to readjust back to the nighttime hours, as he looked around and saw chaos: the raven was motionless feet from him, its head twisted at an odd angle, while its feathers were scattered about over the ground while a white tiger lie on its side, tuffs of white fur missing from its back and neck, as Harry heard the animal whine out in pain.
Harry thought about what he just saw in the form of his family in the future. He was with Hermione, and they presumably had twins together: a boy named Caleb, and a girl named Cassie. To Harry, it was perfect. Nothing needed to be altered and nothing need to be changed, for his family of four that still resided in Potter's Cottage in the future was all he ever wanted...Harry couldn't wait to have it.
"Harry, Harry, are you okay," came the worried voice of Hermione from nearby. Not a second later, her face came into view in front of him, as he saw that her brows were pulled together, her hair a wild mess, and besides a couple of scrapes on her cheek, she looked unhurt.
"Hermione," Harry breathed out, pulling her into a fierce hug, holding her tightly against him. She hugged him back, wrapping her arms around him, as they awkwardly sat on the forest floor, clinging to one another.
When they pulled away, Hermione handed Harry his wand as he asked, "What happened?"
"Well, I think you saw the owl that suddenly attacked the raven, right," Hermione asked.
Harry nodded his head and asked, "Why did that owl do that though?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "I don't know for sure, but I think I read in a book before that some owls attack other birds if they feel threatened."
"So then, is Bogdan dead," Harry asked, looking over at the unmoving bird.
"Yes," Hermione answered, "I didn't see much of it, but I'm sure he's dead."
Harry's eyes moved from the dead bird over to the still whimpering white tiger. "And what about Rainer?"
"He's injured…I hit him with a spell," she explained quickly, also looking over at the transformed tiger. "We should bring him to the Ministry of Magic, where I'm sure he'll get sent to Azkaban Prison."
"I should've known, Hermione, about Rainer," Harry said, shaking his head in disbelief, "I saw the white fur many times before."
"Harry, there was no way you could've known that Rainer was an animagi," Hermione scolded, "you can't blame yourself for that."
Suddenly, Harry looked up at Hermione, alarm blaring within his irises, remembering what he had seen in his future, as he asked, "Caleb…what about Caleb?"
A sad look crossed over Hermione's face, as tears started pooling in her eyes.
"He didn't make it, Harry," Hermione said, three tears streaming down her face, "he was already dead by the time I was able to get to him."
Shock…guilt…shame…shock…guilt…shame…shock…guilt…shame. That was all Harry could feel at that very moment. His future son, no, his and Hermione's future son…was dead. Harry's future was literally ripped from him without prejudice. Since Caleb was from the future, what did that mean for him when he was due to be born?
Harry felt the need to tell Hermione about Caleb, as maybe she would know what happened to people who came from the future only to die in the past.
"Hermione, I have something to tell you…it's about Caleb," Harry started in a pained voice.
However, before he could say anything further, a ferocious snarl was heard from nearby. Harry's eyes widened, as did Hermione's, before they both looked over at the white tiger, picking itself up from the forest floor.
Harry and Hermione rushed to their feet just as the white tiger turned around and faced them, its bright yellow eyes trained on its prey. Harry and Hermione's breaths mingled together in the still air of the woods, both of their hearts hammering within their chests. A spike of fear shot through Harry as he remembered that Hermione was to be the vessel for Rainer's ferocity. At this thought, he moved in front of Hermione, shielding her from an impending doom.
With an ear-splitting roar, the white tiger charged at the pair, while both Harry and Hermione shot a flurry of curses at it.
With immense speed and skill, the white tiger avoided each hex and curse Harry and Hermione unleashed, before it jumped at the pair.
"DUCK," Harry yelled out, grabbing a handful of Hermione's t-shirt and dragging her towards the ground.
The white tiger's body leaped over Harry and Hermione's crouched figures. The beast landed softly on its paws, before it turned back around and charged for a second time.
As the animal rose into the air again, Hermione pointed her wand and conjured a massive net. The white tiger was unable to maneuver away from it in mid-air, as the roaring cat jumped directly into it, effectively trapped.
Breathing heavily, Harry lowered his wand and looked down at the cat. He sighed in mild relief, believing that his and Hermione's forthcoming danger was now over.
He went over to Hermione and wrapped her in his arms again, as she tucked into his chest.
"It's over, Hermione, it's over," Harry whispered against her hair, before kissing the top of her head.
They both stood there, in the middle of the black forest, hanging onto one another, unwilling to let go, all the while the white tiger glared up at them, as if daring Harry or Hermione to finish it off for good.
After several silenced minutes passed by, Harry looked over and saw Caleb's dead body lying feet away.
"Hermione…Caleb," Harry managed to choke out.
Harry released Hermione from his hold and left her standing over the tiger as he went over to Caleb. He bent over his future son and saw that his eyes were closed, breathing no more. Harry mentally berated himself over not knowing that Caleb was his and Hermione's son…how could have he been so clueless? The signs were there, signaling to both Harry and Hermione that he was their son from the future, yet they didn't know.
Suddenly, Caleb's face started to turn an ashen gray. Slowly but surely, Harry watched in shock as Caleb's body slowly turned to ash, becoming no more, as it sunk into the ground, erasing any physical evidence that a teenager named Caleb ever existed in this time era in the woods of Twrill's Center.
A rapid movement behind Harry altered him that something was wrong. He turned his head and saw that the great, white tiger leaped up into the air, with the net still hanging over him, as it swung its mighty paw at Hermione. She didn't have time to react as the tiger's claws slashed her chest before ripping into her face.
"HERMIONE!"
Harry could only yell as her mangled shirt fell onto the ground, while thick streams of blood flew into the air. She fell backwards, her eyes closed, and splashed into the river behind her.
Harry's mind was on nothing more than to save Hermione. Pointing his wand at the white tiger, Harry bellowed out, "STUPEFY!" A jet of red light hit the tiger as it fell over onto its side, with a final whimper.
Running with all of his speed past the fallen tiger, Harry jumped into the river, finding that it was ankle-deep, as he sprinted over to Hermione's body which was floating face-down in the river's waters.
He quickly turned her over, and instantly, his hands and arms were covered in her blood.
"Hermione, Hermione, can you hear me," Harry quickly asked, as terror surged through him. He looked down upon her and saw that her left cheek was completely missing, while parts of her nose were as well. She had claws marks that raced up her exposed chest to her neck, as her wounds resembled waterfalls of blood. Worst of all, Harry realized that Hermione wasn't breathing.
He picked her up in his arms and apparated away, not knowing whether Hermione would live or die.
The next couple of days passed by for Harry in a mere blur. He ate only when he had to…he spoke only when spoken to…he thought only when it was about Hermione. Healer Jones told Harry that Hermione's chances of survival were slim yet Harry refused to give up hope that she would be alright, even though a voice deep inside his head told him that Hermione would not last, and that any second, she would take her final breath.
Rainer Tallis was a man no more, as directly after Harry apparated to St. Mungo's and left Hermione in the hands of the healers, he went back to Twrill's Center and brought Rainer with him to the Ministry where he had sent an owl to Mr. Weasley to meet him in the atrium as soon as possible to deal with an emergency. Not even a day later, Rainer was sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss.
Harry should have felt immense relief that Rainer was no longer a threat to Hermione, yet seeing Hermione lying in a hospital bed, her face and chest heavily bandaged, he could not bring himself to breathe normally.
Harry swore to himself that he would keep Hermione safe no matter what confronted them. He needed her to be safe from any harm. Yet, he could not do it…he could not keep her safe. No matter how many times he rebuked himself, it never seemed to be enough…in fact, nothing else seemed to matter to Harry then; the only thing that mattered was for Hermione to wake up.
One day, Ron visited him, by way of his dad telling him that Hermione had been seriously injured. He didn't ask for what happened to Hermione, and quite frankly, Harry wasn't up to tell him what happened that fateful night. He sat by Hermione's bed, and just stared at her, this being the second time she was seriously injured over the past month, ever since the Battle of Hogwarts had concluded.
For their part, Harry noted that neither Mrs. Weasley nor Ginny visited St. Mungo's, yet Harry didn't find it in himself to really care what they did or what they thought. His sole purpose was to be there when Hermione woke up…she would wake up, Harry told himself over and over again…she couldn't die, could she?
The door opened to his room while Harry sat in a chair beside Hermione's bed.
"How's she doing, Harry," Mr. Weasley's voice came from behind him.
Harry shrugged his shoulders as he replied quietly without taking his eyes off of Hermione's form, "The same, maybe a bit better, but not much, according to Healer Jones."
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Mr. Weasley wave his wand and conjure a chair for himself next to Harry before he sat down with a heavy sigh.
"This got way out of hand much too fast," Mr. Weasley noted quietly, as if not to disturb Hermione's slumber. "I reckon you found out about Caleb," he asked, turning sideways to glance at Harry.
"Yeah, I found out about him, but I don't think Hermione did," he commented, "though I'm sure she would've figured it out before long."
"I was shocked myself when he came to me, telling me he was from the future," Mr. Weasley revealed, "I didn't believe him at first."
"What did he say to you to make you believe him, then," Harry questioned softly, the hurt still burning in his chest over Caleb's death.
"It wasn't anything he said, but it was what I saw in him."
When Mr. Weasley didn't elaborate, Harry turned to look at him as he asked, "What did you see in him?"
At this, a small smile appeared on Mr. Weasley's face as he answered simply, "You and Hermione." He paused for a short minute before he continued, "I saw your bravery in him, when he jumped at the chance to stay in Twrill's Center as a sort of spy for me to find out about what went on in that place, and I also saw some of your obsessiveness in him as well, mainly concerning Rainer. But, I also could see Hermione's intellect shine through him, as he pieced together the mystery of Twrill's Center as well as seeing her determination and focus in him too."
"Do you know how he came back to the present? All Rainer said was that his time-turner he used to see into the future malfunctioned and Caleb was brought back," Harry said.
"I don't know," Mr. Weasley responded, shaking his head from side to side slightly. "Rainer's time-turner to see into the future is the first of its kind, and hopefully will be the last, as well. It's cruel, though, how little time you got to spend with him, even if he wasn't supposed to exist in this era."
"Do you know what happens to people that…d-die in the past when they are from the future," Harry asked, not knowing if he wanted to hear the answer.
Mr. Weasley fell silent at his question, as Harry guessed his reply wouldn't be anything good.
"I'm not sure, Harry, as I haven't studied time-travel all that much. But, if I'm to be honest with you, I don't think it's anything good. I'm sorry."
With another heavy sigh, Mr. Weasley patted Harry's shoulder twice before he stood to his feet, and left Harry and Hermione alone once again.
A hollowness stretched itself inside of Harry, thinking about Caleb's death and what repercussions it would have on his future…on his and Hermione's future. Staring over at Hermione's motionless form, a wave of depression washed over him, as he laid his head upon Hermione's bed and wept.
The following day, Harry was holding one of Hermione's hands in both of his, tracing small circles against it, while staring up at her still heavily-bandaged face.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry pleaded softly over to her, "please wake up. Please wake up…I need you with me."
When she didn't respond, he sighed, and lay his head back down upon her bed. Although Harry could've gone home to sleep in much more comfortable accommodations, he was unwilling to leave Hermione's side, no matter how long it took for her to wake up, if she wakes up, the small voice inside Harry's head added distastefully.
Suddenly, Harry felt a gentle touch move through his messy hair. He stilled, not knowing if this was a dream he was having or whether it was a mirage of sorts, due to his lack of sleep over the past several days.
Slowly, Harry lifted his head as he still felt the gentle touch move through his hair; it felt too good to part with.
His bright, green eyes then met the warm, brown ones of an awoken Hermione, her hand caressing his wild hair. They smiled at one another, as a tidal wave of elation crashed over him, nearly leaving him completely winded.
"Harry," she breathed out.
"Hermione," was his only response.
The pair continued to gaze at one another in silence, no words spoken between them, for no words were needed at that moment. Recovery would come in time, Harry thought to himself, but for now, all Harry wanted to do was to stare at Hermione, capturing her image at this specific point in time, a time in which he had never been more relieved in his life, a time in which he had never been happier in his life, a time with Hermione.
EPILGOUE
Harry softly shut the door behind him, as he traveled down the staircase and walked into the living room. He looked up at the green Christmas tree that was situated in one corner of the room, layered with multi-colored lights that were flashing merrily, with a pile of presents under it, while a thin layer of frost covered the front windows. Green and silver holly was slung around the roaring fireplace in which five brightly-colored stockings hung from.
Harry then spotted a mane of bushy hair seated on one of the couches in front of the fire, her knees curled under her, wearing a gray sweater, with a steaming mug of hot chocolate between her hands.
He walked around the couch and sat next to her, grabbing his own mug of hot chocolate in his hands and taking a small sip of it.
"I love those girls to death, but I can't say that I don't like it when they go to sleep," Harry said quietly, his gaze trailing over to the brightly-colored Christmas tree again.
"Harry, you can't honestly think that Ella and Fay are sleeping right now, do you? It's Christmas Eve! Besides, they've seen what's under the tree…I can't believe how many things you got for the two of them this year," Hermione scolded, though Harry could see mirth in her eyes.
Harry shrugged his shoulders as he said, "Well, Ella's heading off to Hogwarts next year, and Fay will be going two years later. Our kids are growing up too fast, Hermione. I don't even know where the time went."
Hermione smiled over at him as he held out his arm for her, gesturing for her to snuggle against him on this cold night in Godric's Hollow, in which she easily complied.
"I don't know where the time went, Harry, but even though Ella and Fay are getting older, we still have this one on the way," Hermione coaxed to him, patting her growing stomach softly.
"And how is my third baby girl doing in there," Harry questioned, bending his head down to speak to Harry and Hermione's unborn child.
"She sure is kicking a lot more than Ella or Fay ever did," Hermione responded.
Harry smiled at this comment before he said, "I can't wait to meet her. I can't believe it really…three kids running around Potter's Cottage?"
"Too much for Harry Potter to handle," Hermione asked.
"Actually, it's not enough," he responded in which Hermione gave him a pointed look.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying," she questioned.
"Well what do you think I'm saying, Hermione?"
"Don't be silly, Harry. We both know what you implied," she responded, to which Harry smirked over at her.
"I dunno, four kids running around Potter's Cottage sound better than three, but that's just my opinion," Harry remarked, pulling Hermione tighter into his side.
"It's not something to think about right now. I mean, we only have one more month before this one's due," Hermione commented back, rubbing her stomach. "But what do you think, Harry, about adding one more girl to a house that's already full of them?"
Harry looked over at Hermione before he pulled in and kissed her forehead. "I wouldn't give it up for anything. Besides, when you think about it, we already did meet a son of ours from a different timeline, back a long time ago."
At his words, both Harry and Hermione looked over to the fireplace where they looked at each one in turn: one for Harry, the next for Hermione, the following one for Ella, another one for Fay, with the final stocking bearing the names of Caleb and Cassie.
Harry briefly remembered how happy he and Hermione were when they found out they were having twins, a boy and girl, shortly after they married one another. It was a depressing blow, however, when Hermione miscarried, losing both children along the way. Many tears were shed from both Harry and Hermione, after the loss of both Caleb and Cassie, children of theirs they would never have the opportunity to raise themselves.
It was during this time that both Harry and Hermione nearly fell apart, both dealing with their sadness by burying themselves in their work: Harry worked extended hours in the Department of Mysteries, while Hermione diverted her heartache into initiating laws concerning the welfare of house-elves in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. They spoke minimally to each other for nearly four months, until the Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, signed into law the House-Elf Beneficial Act of 2005, which required better living and working conditions for all house-elves in magical Britain, along with enabling the creatures extended periods of vacations if the house-elves chose to take one.
Harry and Hermione made up soon afterwards, deciding it would be best to move on from the loss of Caleb and Cassie, and try to start their futures together. Ella came along a year later, while Fay came two years after.
Now, sitting with Hermione snuggled up into his side, with his two daughters supposedly sleeping upstairs, with another baby girl on the way, Harry couldn't be any happier. This is what he always wanted, a family to love and cherish and it almost seemed too good to be true that he finally had it. With the warmth of the fire protecting them on this cold winter night, Harry kissed Hermione's forehead again, while his mind started to churn over ideas on exactly how he would persuade Hermione to have a go at another child. What Harry didn't know was that Hermione didn't need any cajoling, for the Potter family soon housed seven people, six of them being girls.
"I love you, Harry," Hermione said, looking up at him.
Just as the snow started falling outside the windows of Potter's Cottage, Harry looked straight into Hermione's warm, brown eyes and replied, "I love you too, Hermione."
The End
A WizardWriting Story