DISCLAIMER: Ah me, I do not own Harry Potter
READ! I ask you only this, upon reading this chapter, please don't kill me. I value my life, really I do. Remember that there is another chapter thingy after this AND two other stories to go along with it. Sorry for taking such a long time with the updates. I just got a new computer and I'm still switching everything over which isn't fun at all. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me throughout the course of this. You guys are absolutely amazing!
DEDICATION: This chapter goes to Ashley whose penname is so freaking long I can't type it for the play-do and scarf. I LOVE IT! And to AMistressMalfoy who is simply amazing! Thanka to Curse Weaver for staying on my arse to update.
Chapter 50: Save the World
September 21, 1981
Hermione curled up on a chair with a good book, a throw across her lap. She had pulled the chair close to the fire so that she could get a little bit of its warmth.
It wasn't exceptionally cold outside, but it had been raining all day long and so there was a chill in the air. Since it was a Wednesday night, she had nothing better to do after work than to rest, which she was doing.
Her mind drifted, though, even as her eyes ran over the words on the page before her. After her and Sirius' discussion on Harry's birthday, she had gave him some random date to appease him.
October something or other…of next year.
He had readily agreed, merely pleased that she had finally picked a date. He had not argued the fact that she had chosen a date far away. In fact, he seemed even more pleased at that…something she was sure she should have been somewhat offended by.
The random Death Eaters attacks had not slowed and there were more and more deaths. Millicent Bagnold, the Minster of Magic, was now considering exposing the magical world to the muggle world for their safety, something none of the magical community really agreed with.
She sighed as she realized that she wouldn't be able to enjoy the book with everything going on in her mind. In all truth, she was quite worried.
She had passed by Lucius the other day in Diagon Alley. He had glanced over at her with a warning look on his face, advising her of something bad that was about to happen.
Yet she still hadn't figured out what he had been warning her about.
She glanced up at the clock standing in the corner and rubbed her eyes. Sirius should be home soon. He had went over to see Harry after work. Hermione had begged off on the fact that she was tired.
Lauri was about to bust. She was in her third trimester and wobbling dangerously as she walked. She complained that she couldn't see her feet and had even worn two different shoes once because she hadn't been able to see her feet when she had dressed.
Of course, Remus had supported a couple of bruises after that incident and when asked, muttered something about 'laughing' and 'evil pregnant women.'
The front door opened with a droning creak, a dire sound to her ears. She glanced over the top of the chair to see a sopping wet Sirius walk in, his face downcast so that his wet hair was shading his face.
"Sirius?"
He looked up, then, and she could see that he had been crying. She rushed over to him, her hands cupping his face. "Sirius? What's wrong, baby?"
"Frank and Alice…," he choked out, "they found them…"
Hermione bit back the tears. She knew what had happened, but she had to pretend that she didn't. "And? Who found them, Sirius? What happened?"
"It was Bellatrix….she tortured them…they're at St. Mungo's." He sniffled and fell into her embrace. "They're not going to recover, Hermione. They're out of their minds."
Hermione rubbed his back soothingly as he openly cried, her own tears coursing down her cheeks. It was starting…
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October 28, 1981
The sun was high in the sky as Hermione Granger walked down the corridor of Hogwarts, her head full of thoughts as she headed towards the Headmaster's office. So much was going through her mind at the moment, she just needed to talk to Albus.
Luckily for her, he was sitting behind his desk, his hands folded before him, seemingly waiting for her arrival. Fawkes, too, was watching as she walked through the door.
"Hello Hermione," he said with a sad note in his normally happy-go-lucky voice.
"Hello," she replied, her voice catching slightly.
He motioned towards the single empty chair in front of his desk and she took it, smiling at him as she did so. Fawkes flew from his perch and settled on the arm of the chair, occasionally rubbing his brightly feathered head on her shoulder.
"I need guidance," she said finally. Then, she laughed. "Actually, I just need a confidant. I need a priest. I need a confessional. I need…," she ran a hand through her hair, "I don't know anymore."
"How about just an old man who will listen openly without judging," he suggested.
Hermione smiled gratefully as she slumped in her chair. She let out an audible sigh as she allowed her fingers to drift over Fawkes' feathers, causing the phoenix to shift closer. "That sounds good."
"Well then, tell this old man what's bothering you."
As Hermione launched into her story, both of her time and this one, Albus merely set there and listened, nodding his head occasionally. He did not stop her to ask her to repeat something, nor did he question her on her choices.
He merely listened to what she had to say- both good and bad.
When she was done, she had tears in her eyes. He was gazing at her kindly, his hands folded before him. "Lemon drop?"
Hermione laughed.
She had been expecting something out of him, though she wasn't sure what. She hadn't, though, been expecting an offer of the muggle sweet he preferred.
"You know what, I think I will have one," she said as she took the wrapped candy from his hand with a smile. She popped it in her mouth and smiled, a calming sensation sweeping throughout her body.
He grinned at her knowingly as he rose from the desk. "Lemon drops are calming, don't you think?" he asked with a wicked glint in his eye.
"Actually, I think you've laced them with something," she replied. "A calming potion would be my first guess."
He tsked as he wagged a finger at her. "You always were exceptionally bright when it came to potions." He strolled around the room leisurely. "Now that we both have gathered our wits, perhaps you would like my opinion."
"Yes."
He stopped and turned towards her. "Do what you think is right."
She blinked once…twice… "That's it?"
He shrugged. "That's all you need to know. At the end of the day, if you do what's right, then you'll be pleased and it can't possibly be wrong. Hermione, you've always known what lay before you and now you must make your decision."
She grimaced and stood as well. "But what if I don't know whether I'm doing the right thing or not?"
His blue eyes sparkled from behind his half moon spectacles. "Tell me, does it feel right to you in your heart? Does it make sense?"
She gave him a small nod. "Then it is the right thing to do."
Hermione allowed herself to drift over towards his bookshelves, her eyes roaming over the contents. She stopped, though, when her brown eyes landed on a gold object.
She picked it up in her hands and turned it over slowly, studying it. She looked within its depths and her eyes caught a flash of red inside the gold liquid. Something hit her then and she understood.
She looked back at Dumbledore to see him nodding slowly with a smile on his face. "I told you once that each Verus Fatum had a certain trademark that identified the owner."
Hermione looked back down at it. "You said that the user was satisfied with their life. Do you think they would ever choose to use it?"
"I'm afraid that I cannot answer that," he answered grimly. "They may choose the alternative if they learn what could have been…what may still be. It all comes back to you in the end, though."
She gripped the Verus Fatum in her hand and looked back at him, her features set. "I know what I have to do."
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October 31, 1981
On the morning of Halloween, Hermione made her way out of her and Sirius' house and took a short walk, her mind filled with so many thoughts that she felt like she was suffocating from them all.
She lifted her face towards the early morning rain. She judged that it would probably end soon. The light shower would be moving on south before long.
She placed a water repelling charm on herself, the same one she had once used on Harry's glasses during a Quidditch game, and continued on her walk. She walked down the long driveway, gazing sombrely at the trees.
The rain had died twenty minutes later, just as Hermione had returned to the house. She shrugged off her dry jacket and scarf, hanging them both by the door.
Sirius entered the entry hall, then, smiling at her as he took her in his arms. "Hey there beautiful," he said as he kissed her, "happy Halloween."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and grinned. "Happy Halloween." She kissed his lips. "I love you, you know that right?"
He chuckled softly and swung her around. "Of course I know that. I love you too." He paused and looked down at her. "What's wrong with you today?"
She smiled despite her downcast mood. "Nothing. Guess it's just the weather." She kissed him again. "I'm going to go see Lily for a bit."
"I, unfortunately, have some errands to run today," he said evasively. "However, I will see you later tonight and we can have a real celebration."
She smiled at him though her heart was breaking inside of her chest. "That'll be nice." She swatted his bum. "Now get on with you, I have some stuff to do before I go over to Lily's and I don't need you around distracting me."
He saluted her as he grabbed up his coat and his motorcycle helmet. "Yes ma'am," he said as he headed out of the door, chuckling the whole way.
She watched sadly as he rode away until he was out of sight. Then, she turned and headed up the stairs. She had a letter to write and a message to record.
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Hermione arrived at Godric's Hollow shortly after two. Lily seemed to be in a frenzy as her and James tidied up the house. They were throwing things this way and that while Harry merely watched them from his playpen.
She knocked on one of the doors. "Hello?"
Lily and James both jumped and spun around to look at her. "Hermione," Lily said with a hand to her chest, "you startled me."
Hermione gave her an apologetic smile as she said, "Sorry." She walked into the room and picked up Harry. "So, why are you guys cleaning?"
"We're not cleaning," James replied with a bemused expression. "We've misplaced some…er…things and we're looking for them."
Hermione grinned. "Well, you two sure do look tired."
Lily groaned and flopped down on the couch. "Harry was a bit uneasy last night. He stayed awake and cried, keeping us awake as well. I don't know what's gotten into him."
Hermione turned and looked into the bright green orbs and smiled reassuringly. "It'll be okay," she whispered to him, "I'll make it okay."
"What did you say?" James asked.
Hermione looked back at them. "Hey, why don't you two take a night off for yourselves and let me watch Harry. You two can go out and have a good time."
Lily and James both shared an uneasy glance. They still had trust issues with leaving their child with someone. They were afraid that they'd miss something important in his life.
"Oh come on you two, I'm giving you a chance to go out, get drunk and party a bit, something all new parents should be happy to do, and you're actually thinking about refusing."
They still looked ready to argue with her but it was the owl that arrived that made their decision for them. As soon as they read the letter, they were rushing about.
Lauri had gone into labour.
Hermione watched as they packed an overnight back just in case and told her where she could find all the necessary items- diapers, baby powder, pacifier, etc.
As soon as the door shut behind them, Hermione looked down at Harry who was gazing at her steadily. "I promise you, Harry, that you will have your parents there to raise you."
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It was getting close to eight thirty that evening when he finally showed up. She heard the rustling outside and stiffened in the rocking chair beside of Harry's crib on the second floor. He was sitting there silently as well, listening and waiting.
She heard the door open and shut beneath her and stood slowly. She moved to stand between the door and the crib, her back to Harry.
He was coming up the stairs now. His footsteps slow and thunderous in the silent house. She could just imagine him as he walked up the stairs, his red eyes moving along the pictures hanging on the walls.
She watched the doorknob as it slowly turned, the whole act threatening in itself, but she would not move. She would not show weakness and even as she fought down her fears, the door opened.
He was there.
He seemed momentarily shocked to be faced with her instead of one of the Potters, but he quickly covered it. He grinned slowly, his red eyes roaming over her.
"Hermione," he hissed in a silky purr, "what a pleasure to see you here."
"I, for one, cannot say the same," she replied in a deadly tone, her hands clenching by her side. She inclined her head. "Hello Voldemort."
"I must admit that I am surprised to find you here, on tonight of all nights." He gazed at her appraisingly. "However, you do not seem surprised to see me."
"Because I'm not." Her eyes remained locked on him. She would not let her guard drop for one minute around him. "I've known for a long time that you would strike tonight."
"I would ask you how but you probably wouldn't tell me." He brought his wand up but instead of using it, he merely rolled it between his fingers. "Tell me, did you know that you have a traitor among you."
She nodded. "Peter Pettigrew."
He was quite shocked now. "But I understood that you were the one to suggest him as the Secret Keeper," he stated in a bemused voice.
"That's because I knew that was the only way I could get you here," she replied. "If anyone else would have been the Secret Keeper, you never would have been told of the location and I would never have been able to destroy you."
He laughed at her as flicked his wand slightly, sending off a small ray of sparks. "You amuse me so much, Hermione. I know that we would be great together. Imagine our power together, the strength we could rule with."
"The only strength you rule with is fear," she bit out harshly, "and that is no rule at all."
His red eyes narrowed on her. "Sweet and innocent Hermione, so much power wasted on such a naïve soul. This world is not as forgiving as you make it out to be."
She shrugged. "Maybe not, but I know that this world is far better than any you could ever offer."
His glare intensified and he gripped his wand. Suddenly, he paused. "Where is your wand?"
"I don't have it," she replied nonchalantly.
"Did you think you could take me without a wand?"
"I don't need a wand," was her only answer, "not tonight."
He growled low in his throat and took one threatening step towards her. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling it towards him and observing it. "You don't wear my presents, Hermione. Pity, I took so much time to pick them out."
She stared at him. "You sent those?"
"Yes, but I had to use Wormtail to give them to you." He smirked. "I thought for sure that you'd love them far more than those pity gifts that that poor excuse for a pureblood gave to you. I guarantee you, mine were far more expensive and rare."
Hermione bristled at the slight on Sirius. "His gifts meant much more to me because they were given out of love, not out of some twisted and sick plan that you were nurturing."
He let go of her wrist and placed that hand on his chest. "I'm hurt, Hermione, that you would think I had an ulterior motive."
"Oh I don't think nothing, I know that you did. You think you have spies, well so do I."
He stared at her and gave a small wave. "Enough of this, I just want the child. I'm sure that you are guarding him."
"That's right."
"Well, why don't you just move out of the way so that I can kill him and be on my way."
She stood up straight. "No."
He was speechless for a minute and she was sure that he had never been directly refused over an order before. "Excuse me?" he growled.
"No," she repeated slowly as if he was a child. "You will have to kill me first."
"Move."
She took a step back and placed a hand on the crib, repeating more firmly, "No."
His red eyes flashed dangerously. "You do not have to die this night, Hermione. Just move!"
She smiled deprecatingly. "Actually, I do but you wouldn't understand. I am not moving, Voldemort, so if you want Harry, you're going to have to kill me first."
He seemed to take a moment to consider his options before nodding. "Very well."
He raised his wand and made the first of many mistakes he would make in his life. As Hermione's lifeless body hit the floor in front of the crib and Voldemort stepped forward to do the same to Harry, history itself was changed.
Ten minutes later when the first Auror arrived on the scene, all they would find within the charred remains of the house besides the unharmed infant who only seemed to have an odd lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead would be a letter addressed to Lily Evans and a black musical box with Sirius' name on it.
The wizarding world would remember the day that a baby, Harry James Potter, defeated one of the greatest wizards of all time and how Hermione Granger had died to protect him.
They would remember her name and whisper it as the years went by, not knowing that in Braxshire, a small infant with the same name and genes was growing up and would become best friends with Harry Potter, but that is another story.
A/N: Remember, you need me alive to get the sequel... I lub ya guys...Does sucking up make you not want to kill me?
