Title:Ultima ratio
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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Last Chapter: Ultima Ratio
Her eyelids fluttered as consciousness came back to Hermione. She groaned softly but didn't dare to open her eyes. The moment her mind woke, memories forcefully rushed back to her.
Darkness. Fear. A green light.
Hermione pressed her eyes tightly shut. Definitely, she had been unable to dodge that green light. She inhaled deeply, very conscious of the process of her lungs inflating with air. It should have been lost to her. Still, her chest rose and fell with her breathing. No pain. She had been hit square in the chest. Shouldn't there be pain?
The green light, it had hit her.
There should be no pain, no breathing, no thoughts anymore….
…nothing…
Fear flashed through Hermione so forcefully, her head swirled from it and her pulse thundered in her ears. What had happened to her? Slowly, fearfully, Hermione cracked her eyes open. Bright white light blinded her. Shouldn't it be dark? Surely night had already fallen. Her eyes watered from the white light and Hermione shakily got up into a sitting position. She had to blink a few times and rubbed her eyes. They still burned but finally she could make things out. She sat in the middle of a white, seemingly endless, plane. Hermione turned her head. The whiteness extended as far as she could see. The sky was white, too. Or was that the ceiling? She couldn't tell. The air was stale and all sounds were strangely muffled.
Where was she?
Slowly Hermione tried to stand up. Her body felt strangely light. No tiredness weighted her down. She looked down at herself, checking for injuries. In confusion she noticed that she was wearing a tight black t-shirt and black jeans but no shoes nor socks. Those clothes weren't forties compatible and she hadn't been wearing them but had been clad in her usual Hogwarts' uniform. How odd. As Hermione ran her hands over the new clothes, she noticed that her silvery right hand was gone. In its stead was her normal one, made of flesh and bone. Hermione furrowed her brow. This was odd. Upon further inspections she realized that the Invisibility Cloak and the Gaunts' Ring were gone. Frantically Hermione turned around herself and searched the floor. Neither the ring nor the Invisibility Cloak was anywhere to be seen. Slowly her fuzzy mind picked up speed and Hermione tensed as she remembered the reason that green curse had hit her.
Tom.
He had been right in the process of making a Horcrux. And then… Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and her hand flew to her face. Tom had hurled the Killing Curse at Carter. And she had… That curse had hit her… Hermione's eyes snapped open. The endless white plane was still there. The eerie silence was deafening. What was going on here? Her fear spiralled up even further. She needed to get away from here. Fast! Not hesitating anymore, Hermione pictured that clearing in the Forbidden Forest then she twirled on the spot.
Nothing happened.
The white plane still surrounded her. Anxiously, Hermione called her magic. However hard she tried, though, nothing answered. Her magic was gone and finally Hermione fell into a panic.
Where was she?
There was nothing here. Just this endless white plane and strange sky. She was alone. Hermione's breathing quickened and she started to tremble helplessly. She took a few tentative steps. But where should she go? Wherever she turned there was just whiteness. Nothing else. It was just her here, no-one else. Nothing. What was this?
"Tom?"
Hermione's strangled voice was lost in the endlessness of the white plane and her call remained to be unanswered. She took in deep shaky breaths. Her head swirled and she started to hyperventilate as the truth formulated in her mind. There was no denying: The killing curse had hit her. Then… was she…? W- was she… ?
A sound coming from near-by stopped that disturbing thought from fully taking form in her mind. The sound was soft and muffled at first. The more Hermione listened, though, the clearer it got. It was a thumping sound like something was flailing and struggling. It sounded so pitiful, like some kind of creature was in pain and helplessly tried to escape. Somehow, though, those flapping sounds made Hermione's hair stand on end and she shuddered in displeasure. She couldn't help but feel like she was hearing in on something indecent. Something furtive. Her eyes searched for the source of this twisted sound. She spun on her spot and it wasn't long and she spotted a bundle lying on the white floor some distance away from her. She was quite sure it hadn't been there just moments before.
Clearly, those thumping and whimpering noises came from that bundle. Something lay there, carelessly wrapped in rags. Slowly and tentatively, Hermione inched closer to that small heap. Strangely as she got nearer inexplicable fear began to twist up her stomach. Why was she afraid of that thing?
Finally Hermione stood before the bundle. She swallowed down disgust as she stared at the thing. It distantly resembled a small child but it was grotesquely deformed. Arms were too long and thin, the torso was out of proportion and the face was bizarrely distorted. It gave the creature a disturbing, haunted appearance. It lay on its side and probably hadn't noticed Hermione's presence but continued to flail weakly. Looking at the thing made chills darting down Hermione's spine and she shuddered with revulsion. She was surprised how much fear coursed through her.
Why was she so afraid of this small thing?
It made her feel ashamed of herself. Whatever it was, it seemed to be wounded. Its skin looked rough and raw while it lay there curled up helplessly on the floor. It still struggled and flapped frailly, whimpering pitiably. Hermione took another reluctant step towards it. Disgust churned up her stomach but she crouched down in front of that thing. It still hadn't noticed her presence but continued to whimper and struggle. It was clearly injured and seemed to be in need of help.
Still, Hermione couldn't help but feel nauseated just by looking at it. That thing was disgusting and she really didn't want to touch it. Hermione was unsure of what to do. As she stared at the creature, a new wave of irrational fear welled up in her. She wanted to leave the twisted creature as it was unbearable to remain in its presence. Just as she made to get up, the thing again whimpered painfully and Hermione felt horrible for not helping.
Reluctantly, she extended a trembling hand towards the thing. She wanted nothing more than to run away but she wasn't going to do it. Whatever that thing was, she was not going to abandon it. It was hurt and needed her help. The tips of Hermione's fingers touched the raw looking skin and she shuddered. It felt so cold. But now that she touched it, the creature had stopped to struggle and whimper.
"I always knew you are the braver one of us."
Hermione yelped in surprise as she heard a voice. She jumped up from the ground and spun around. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she instantly recognized the speaker. Her mouth opened slightly but she was unable to say a word.
"What? Not happy to see me?" Harry Potter smiled at her mischievously.
His incredibly green eyes wandered over her. They were glistening with laughter, just like they had used to before everything had gone bad. Hermione still stood there, riveted to the spot. She was unable to do more than stare at Harry in shock. He was smiling at her affectionately. It was really him. How?
Tears were starting to run down Hermione's cheeks then she broke from her stupor and ran over to him. She practically flew into his waiting arms and clung to him for dear life.
"Harry!" she cried as she held to him tightly.
The tears still flowed from her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. This was impossible. Hermione could feel his arms. As if he were really here. As if he wasn't…
… dead.
Very slowly Hermione raised her head and looked up at Harry's face. She found him still smiling at her softly. But he was dead. Did that mean…?
"Am I dead?" Hermione asked him in a shaky voice.
The smile on his face widened and he shook his head. "No, Hermione, I believe you are not."
She looked up at him in confusion and asked, "W- where are we?"
"I was hoping you could tell me," Harry answered as he wiped the tears from her face.
Hermione frowned. Why should she know? Harry released her and she took another look around. Suddenly the white plane was gone. They were now in what seemed to be a room. Pale yellow wallpapers were on the walls while on one side of the room was a huge window and a glass door. Outside Hermione spotted a terrace, a garden with grass and beyond that a hedge. There even stood an old swing on the small patch of grass. Warm sunrays shone into the room.
It was familiar.
Hermione somehow knew that soft sofa standing in front of the window. She also knew that class cabinet standing at one side of the room. And the dining table with the three chairs around, that was awfully familiar, too. Hermione looked back at Harry and her voice broke as she said,
"I'm home."
Harry smiled at her and said in a gentle voice, "Of course."
He walked over to the sofa and sat down. Hermione wiped a solitary tear away that had been trickling down her cheek. Her eyes still wandered over the beloved room. She had never expected to see it whole again. She didn't question as to how she could be here, she was just incredibly happy to see it again. It was the living-room of her parents' house.
Hermione slowly walked over to Harry and sat down beside him on the dark green sofa. It was a horribly ugly sofa, Hermione thought with a smile on her face. And it was wonderfully comfortable. She had always loved it. She closed her eyes and breathed in. It even smelled like she remembered it. Suddenly the tears streamed down her face and then sobs shook her body.
She was home.
"How is that possible?" she asked between the sobs. "It burned down. It's gone."
"Yes," came Harry's calm reply. "It's gone. Although you might also argue that it hasn't even been built yet."
Hermione frowned in confusion. "How can you be here anyway? You- you've not been born yet. How… how can you be… dead?"
Harry smiled at her and said amused, "You know, after you die time suddenly stops to be of any importance. Here, it has no meaning. I am exactly where I need to be."
Hermione stared at him, not really able to take all in. Harry was sitting on the sofa and leaned comfortably against the backrest while he still smiled at her. Suddenly there was the whimpering sound again. Hermione's eyes searched the room until she found that horrible creature lying not far away from the sofa. It looked even more disgustingly out of place lying in her parents' living room. Hermione shuddered as she watched it. Obviously Harry had followed her gaze and soothed her,
"Don't worry about it."
Hermione looked back at him. This got stranger and stranger.
"W- what happened to me?" she asked weakly. "What is this place? "
He shrugged lightly before he said, "Who knows really?"
She furrowed her brow, panic swirling through her whole body. "I- I should be dead. It was the Killing curse. It hit me." Desperately Hermione stared up at Harry and gestured at her chest. "Right here."
Harry chuckled merrily and winked at her. "The unblockable curse. It's gotten quite the joke. Didn't kill me as a baby and now it didn't manage to kill you either."
Hermione stared at him, bewildered. As she so looked at him she noticed that the scar on his forehead was gone. Hermione shook her head. Her mind was being slowed down by confusion and fear.
"How?" Hermione whispered shakily. "The Killing curse definitely hit me."
"I don't really know. I can only guess," answered Harry lightly. "But considering everything, it actually would have been a surprise if that curse had managed to kill you."
Hermione furrowed her brow. "What do you…?"
Harry grinned and teased lightly, "Dear old Hermione, you always need an answer to everything, hm?"
Hermione looked at him helplessly. Nothing made sense. As her thoughts danced around Tom's Killing Curse, she suddenly remembered another green light. Back then it hadn't flown towards her. No, it had left her wand. Hermione quickly averted her eyes from Harry. How could she have forgotten? It was her fault. Everything, everything was her fault.
"I am so sorry, Harry," she whispered in a grave tone.
"What are you sorry about?" Harry asked curiously.
"It was my fault," she said in a hollow voice. "My fault that Ron died. And that you died."
Her eyes wandered reluctantly back at him. Then Hermione opened her mouth and, while staring into those deep green eyes, spoke the horrible truth,
"I killed you."
For the first time she could see anger on Harry's face. Fearfully she shied away from him, knowing that he would surely blame her now. He had every right to do so. She deserved to be hated for what she had done. Hermione stiffened as Harry grabbed her shoulders and forcefully turned her around so that she fully faced him. Timidly she looked up into his angered eyes. Then Harry said in a furious tone,
"Don't you ever blame yourself, Hermione. Don't you ever think that you are responsible for our deaths."
Hermione's eyes widened as she heard him say that. He didn't blame her?
"But… it was my fault," she breathed in a weak voice. "Imade mistakes. Iwas not strong enough. And then you died."
She still looked into his eyes though she didn't want to face them. He should be blaming her. Why didn't he blame her? She broke down again and cried.
"I didn't mean to do it. I didn't mean to kill you," Hermione sobbed, begging for forgiveness.
Harry pulled her over to him and wrapped his arms around her. He held her gently as he insisted,
"You didn't kill me."
Hermione still cried. She surely deserved to be despised for the things she had done.
"I couldn't stop Bellatrix. And then she murdered Ron," she sniffed tearfully. "I hurled the Killing Curse at you."
"Oh, Hermione, Hermione," Harry crooned to her while his hand rubbed over her back. "You are not responsible for everything that goes wrong in the world. Ron knew what he was getting into. He was a strong wizard. And it was Bellatrix who cast that curse at him, not you."
Hermione still sobbed. "Then what about you? That time, it really was me. Because I cast the Killing curse."
Harry ended the embrace and Hermione shuddered. Finally he had seen her guilt, hadn't he? She mustered up all her courage and looked at him. There was a serious expression on his face and Hermione bit her lip.
Then Harry spoke, his voice serious, "As you hurled that curse at my body, I was already dead. You certainly didn't kill me, Hermione. You don't have to feel guilty about it. It should be me feeling guilty."
Her head swirled. What was he going on about? Staring in confusion up at Harry, Hermione managed to ask,
"Why?"
Harry smiled at her sadly as he answered in a grave voice, "It was my job to stop Him. But I couldn't do it. I underestimated him; I made mistakes."
Harry looked at her and she thought there was something akin to pride in his green eyes.
"But you, Hermione," he continued and that proud smile on his face brightened. "You succeeded. You stopped him in the end. You have no idea how very grateful I am. If you hadn't cast the Killing curse at my body, Voldemort would have continued to possess me and would have used my body to bring about his dark realm."
'You stopped Him. You stopped Him.You stopped Him'
Harry's words flew around Hermione's head. Harry was grateful that she had stopped him? Voldemort? Guilt. Harsh brutal guilt burned up in Hermione and made her feel sick. She had done no such thing! She had stopped no-one. Hermione trembled heavily. Harry shouldn't be grateful. He should feel nothing but disgust for her. Because she had betrayed his trust. Right after Harry had died she had gone and befriended the enemy. She had started to like him. She had kissed him. She had… Hermione looked down at her hands in her lap. She didn't dare to look into Harry's eyes as she whispered fearfully,
"Harry. I am a horrible person. Do you even know what I have done?"
There was a short pause, but then came Harry's calm answer,
"Yes."
Hermione inhaled sharply. More tears welled up in her and rolled down her cheeks. Her voice quivered with fear as she said, "I'm sure you despise me now… hate me."
Harry's soft voice answered her, "No, Hermione. Never."
Fearfully, she raised her head and her eyes hesitantly wandered to his. Hermione expected Harry to rage at her but he just sat there and smiled at her.
"But… look what I have done." Hermione felt terribly sick while she stared into those soft green eyes. "I betrayed you. I betrayed everyone."
More tears were running down her cheeks as she confessed in a shaky voice,
"I betrayed Ron."
Hermione wiped the tears away, hiding her face behind her hands. She stiffened as she felt Harry's arms around her. He was holding her protectively while he whispered in her ear,
"Don't say that. You did not betray us."
New tears ran from her eyes and Hermione sobbed, "Yes, I did. He killed so many people, Harry. He's the reason you had to go through so much pain. He murdered your parents. And what do I do? I start to like him."
Harry embraced her even tighter then he said, "You love him."
New sobs shook her body but she managed to say, "Yes."
Harry ended the embrace and Hermione was sure that he would abandon her now. He was surely disgusted by her. What she had done was unforgivable. Hermione didn't want to see the hate in Harry's green eyes and averted her gaze. Tugging at a strand of her curly hair, he teased lightly,
"Why do you look so sad? Love is always a good thing, isn't it?"
Hermione stared up at him and stammered, "You… you… Why are you not angry with me?"
"Why should I be?" Harry asked, clearly amused by her puzzlement.
"Because he's Voldemort," Hermione said forcefully and winced at how terrible it sounded.
Harry waved her remark away with a hand and said as if it was no issue, "Yes, he is."
Hermione stared up at him. She was unable to understand why he was so acceptant about the whole thing. He should be raging at her, cursing her. So she opened her mouth to tell him the horrible, painful truth,
"He's evil, Harry."
Another smile formed on Harry's face. It was the last thing Hermione had expected to see.
"I was one of his Horcruxes, Hermione. Do you know what that means? I had a part of him in my mind. So, I know him quite well." Harry leaned towards her a little bit as if he wanted to tell her a big secret then he whispered amusedly, "No-one is completely good or completely evil."
"What?" Hermione couldn't say more.
"Don't get me wrong." Harry leaned comfortable back on the sofa and scanned her, his eyes sparkling softly. "Lord Voldemort was a very dangerous man. He was a murderer and had to be stopped."
He laid a hand on Hermione's forearm as he continued in his kind voice, "Lord Voldemort was very sick. He had a lot of issues and was unable to deal with them. Then he created those Horcruxes and mauled his already rather mutilated soul even further. However much he tried to fight it, though, he was still human."
Hermione shook her head. How could Harry remain so calm? She had done the worst thing possible. Maybe Harry was right and Tom wasn't completely evil but still that didn't make him a nice person. There was a horribly dark side in him. Didn't this whole thing prove his evilness anyway? Tom had been in the process of creating a Horcrux as Hermione had stopped him. And then she had got hit with his Killing curse.
"We both know that he is a dark wizard, Harry." Hermione said in a dead tone. "And he hasn't changed one bit since I've met him. How can you say that I'm not betraying you and everything we have fought for?"
There was an amused twinkle in his eyes as Harry said, "I don't think he is as dark as you now make him out to be. I know you, Hermione. And I know that you wouldn't have fallen in love with him if you hadn't seen some hope in him. Something good."
Hermione bit her tongue as she looked at Harry's still smiling face. Why did he keep defending Tom? Harry was the last person she had ever expected to take Tom's side.
"I'm not sure," Hermione whispered faintly. "There is so much darkness in him. Tom is capable of doing terrible and cruel things. We have seen it, Harry." She looked pleadingly at him. "We have seen what he can do. Still, I can't stay away from him. I really tried."
Harry was smiling at her. Why was he smiling? She didn't deserve his kindness. Hermione flinched as she could feel a warm hand on her shoulder.
"You think that there is no trace of goodness in him and that it is wrong for you to like him but you should trust your feelings in this," Harry's gentle voice soothed her. "You always think too much, Hermione."
Hermione stared at him. She couldn't believe it. Did Harry really forgive her everything? She had to make sure.
"Are you sure you want to forgive me? Forgive my betrayal?"
Harry just shook his head in exasperation then he told her, "There is nothing to forgive."
Hermione could see honesty shining in his eyes. She breathed in deeply. Suddenly she heard the whimpering noise again and her eyes fell on that strange bundle. This grotesque thing, it still lay there on the floor. It whimpered and winced so pitiably. But even though it looked so helpless, Hermione felt disgusted by the thing.
"What is that?"
"Hmm, I thought you would have been able to guess it by now." Harry tilted his head to one side. "Obviously not. Let me give you a hint then: It always follows me around wherever I go. And though it doesn't belong to me, it is a part of me."
Hermione furrowed her brow at him. What could that be? It didn't take her long. Her eyes widened in shock as she remembered what Harry had told her. He had said that Voldemort had been a part of his mind. Her eyes flew back to that pitiable creature lying on the floor. It couldn't be…
"That is Tom?" Hermione stuttered weakly.
"No, don't worry," came Harry's reply. "That thing is what remained of Lord Voldemort after he died."
Her eyes flew back at Harry and Hermione whimpered shrilly, "But they are the same."
"Not yet, no." Sadness shone in his Harry's eyes as they wandered over the whimpering creature. "That thing shows us what happens if we start to cut our souls into pieces. It's all that is left of Voldemort."
Hermione's eyes darted back at that thing lying on the floor. She felt suddenly sick as she looked at its red and raw skin and heard its painful whimpering noises. She tried to get up to hurry over to that thing… Tom… but a warm hand on her forearm stopped her. Her gaze shot back at Harry.
"You can't help him," he told her in compassionate tone. "It's too late."
Hermione stiffened as she heard him say that. He seemed to be very sure about it. Was it really too late? She couldn't believe it. She didn't want Tom to have to suffer like this. Harry's hand stroked reassuringly over her arm as he said in a soft voice,
"It was his own decision."
Hermione's eyes shot from Harry's deep green eyes to the thing lying on the floor and then back at Harry.
"But… if that really is Tom…" she whispered, her voice shaking with fear.
Harry shook his head while he smiled at her sadly, "I told you, it's not him. That thing is the last bit that remained of Lord Voldemort's soul after he had dismembered it beyond recognition."
Hermione furrowed her brow. Then she said slowly, "So, that happens when someone creates a Horcrux?"
Harry looked back at the whimpering heap on the floor. "I'm not sure. At least that is what happened to Tom Riddle after he decided to become immortal."
He looked at Hermione's scared face and a smile appeared on his face.
"You don't need to be so sad, Hermione," Harry told her in a soothing tone. "You stopped Tom from creating his first Horcrux, didn't you? That's the reason why you are here. So nothing's lost."
There was a mischievous glint in Harry's green eyes, as he suggested, "All you have to do is to stop him the next five times, too, and then everything should be all right."
Hermione watched perplexedly as Harry started to chuckle softly. She frowned at him and said, "You make it sound like it's so easy."
There was a big smile on his face as he answered her, "You shouldn't worry so much, Hermione. You are going to get grey hair from all your worrying. And while I do want to see you with grey hair someday, that is still years and years in the future."
Then Harry was serious again and he leaned a little towards her. "I know it's not easy. But I also know how strong you are. You really don't have to be so afraid of everything."
Hermione felt like drowning as she stared into Harry's brilliant green eyes. She could see so much affection in them, so much love. She again felt guilty. First it had been her stupidity that had cost her friends' lives and then she had started to like the very person that was responsible for their deaths. Now Harry forgave her everything and he even wanted her to be happy again.
Hermione blinked at him while she bit her lip nervously and asked fearfully, "You are really not angry with me?"
"Oh, come on, Hermione," Harry said and there was again a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "I told you, didn't I? You didn't do anything that could have made me angry."
Hermione scanned him anxiously but she couldn't find anything but honesty on his face. Still doubt ate at her. If she really wasn't guilty then why had the Elder Magic attacked her and sent her back in time. Why was she stranded in the wrong time period if she hadn't done anything to deserve it?
"Why have I been hurled back in time, Harry?" Hermione asked timidly.
"Ah, don't tell me that you think it is some kind of punishment," Harry exclaimed.
Hermione just continued to stare at him with huge eyes. Harry sighed softly then he laid a hand comfortingly on her arm before he said,
"The Elder Wand's magic never tried to hurt you. I even think it's meant to protect you."
Hermione broke eye contact with him and stared down at her hands. Then she whispered in a dull voice,
"I don't want to be protected by that dark magic."
There was a pause but then Harry replied in a quiet tone, "It's not dark."
Hermione stared at Harry. The Elder Wand had brought nothing but sorrow to the people wielding it. After all, Ignotus Peverell had been a Dark Wizard. Of course his creation could only be evil and dark. All too well, Hermione remembered her meeting with Grindelwald. He had told her everything about Peverell and his evil-doings.
"The Elder Magic is dark," Hermione insisted. "Peverell was a dark wizard and he created the Elder Wand. He was evil and so is the Elder Magic."
Harry smiled at her and told her kindly, "Don't judge him so harshly, Hermione."
"How can I not? He was evil," Hermione exclaimed in desperation. "He killed his own brothers just to get his hands on the cloak and the Resurrection Stone. Then he went and invented all sorts of dark curses."
She bit her lip hard before she continued, "I met Grindelwald, you know? He told me all about Peverell. He said Ignotus Peverell was the one who created Dark Magic. He started it all. How did Grindelwald call it…? Peverell created the original form of magic."
Hermione stared up at Harry with scared wide eyes. "If Dark Magic is the origin of it all, if that's the natural state of magic, then everything is rotten from the start. The Elder Magic is dark and I… I'm lost in it… I'm dark and evil."
"I would have expected more from you, Hermione," Harry teased and gingerly poked the tip of her nose with his index finger. "When we went to school together, I don't recall you ever believing anything without re-checking the information with other sources."
Hermione knitted her brow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Harry beamed down at her and said, "Grindelwald told you a lot of things. Some were true and others… others were not."
"N- not true?" she stuttered weakly.
He shook his head. "There was more to Ignotus Peverell. Behind the names and the facts, there always is a whole story."
Harry reached out for Hermione and lovingly wiped a strand of her curly hair out of her face.
"We are all haunted by our ghosts," he told her pensively. "Sometimes they afflict us with fear or anger… regret. Sorrow or grief. We all have them: Things that just won't leave us in peace. Things that keep tormenting our souls. Ignotus Peverell had his own ghosts and so does Gellert Grindelwald. Tom Riddle certainly has them as well. Albus Dumbledore. You. Me. Everyone."
Hermione bit her lip painfully hard as she looked up at Harry's kind face. Then she mumbled confused, "I- I don't understand…"
Harry threw her a reassuring smile. Then he reached for her hand and held it in his own as he told her gently, "Ignotus Peverell was indeed a very gifted wizard. Sadly, during his time Peverell was misunderstood. Wizards didn't want to accept him or his findings. Novelties often evoke fear. Peverell saw the rejection and he grew bitter over it. All his anger and hurt drove him to use his magic in ways that in turn again caused nothing but hate and suffering. That was the point in time when people started to call his way of magic, Dark Magic."
Hermione blinked as she took in all the information. Then she hesitantly asked, "But- but Peverell did create a new form of magic, didn't he? That's what Grindelwald told me. Peverell split magic in two. One force was the normal form of magic. And- and the other one, the new one, that was Dark Magic, wasn't it?"
Harry shook his head at her and explained softly, "Peverell certainly was a very powerful wizard but he did not split magic nor did he create any new form of magic. Magic has always been there. It did not need any creating. It is one force."
Hermione looked hat him with confused eyes. "Peverell set magic free. That's how Grindelwald called it."
"Hm," Harry mused lightly. "That is a nice way of putting it."
"I don't get it. What is Peverell's way of magic then?" Hermione shook her head. Desperation was in her voice as she asked, "What is the Elder Magic inside me? Is it evil? Dark?"
"That is completely up to you," Harry told her reassuringly. "Peverell decided to use his magic the way he did out of hate and resentment. Gellert Grindelwald was driven by greed for power and a narcissistic belief that he alone knew the way that leads to salvation. Tom Riddle's life has never been easy from the start. Before he met you, Hermione, he didn't have much more than hate and a sadistic need to prove himself. All those wizards could be called dark, but it certainly wasn't their magic that turned them this way."
Hermione looked at Harry with wide eyes. "Harry, I don't ge-"
"Don't you see it, Hermione? The truth?" Harry cut over her. "Dark Magic does not exist."
She couldn't help but stare at him in disbelief. Finally she managed to choke weakly,
"What?"
Harry's incredibly green eyes scanned her. "There always will be people who misuse their power and bring misery to others. I don't know if you should call them evil but their way of using their power is certainly destructive. If those people are wizards, then they may be called dark. But their magic itself? It's nothing but a tool."
He smiled at her as he continued to speak, "So, you see, the Elder Wand's magic is neither evil nor did it want to punish you by hurling you back in time. Today, it even saved you."
Hermione gulped as she thought back to Tom's Killing Curse that had hit her squarely in the chest.
"You think the Elder Magic protected me against the Killing Curse?"
"Yes." Harry grinned at her. "Maybe the bond you share with Tom helped along the way."
"What?" Hermione squeaked. "You know about that, too?"
Harry chuckled in amusement as he scanned the panic on her face. "Yes. I know what Tom's done. He has bound your magic to him. I know you are not the Elder Wand but if you were, then Tom would be its master."
Hermione still furrowed her brow at him. Then she asked unconvincedly, "And you think that… bond somehow saved me from his Killing Curse?"
"Hmm, I suppose so," Harry replied pensively. "I'm not sure how, though. Maybe the connection between you two is so strong that it can't even be broken by death. Or Tom's magic can't hurt you anymore, because it is partly your own magic. I really don't know. Then again, you are one of the Hallows now. And you had the other two with you as Tom's curse hit you. Actually I thought it was a rumour, but maybe the Master of Death really can't die."
A soft chuckle left Harry's mouth before he added amusedly, "But maybe the explanation is simpler. After all, for the Killing Curse to really work, you have to mean it. Without the desire to kill, the curse would inflict nothing more than a nosebleed."
Hermione blinked at Harry stupidly. Then she asked shakily, "So, either I'm Master of all three Hallows, or Tom simply didn't want to kill me. Is that it?"
Harry shrugged lightly. "I guess it's one of those things you just have to accept." As an afterthought he added, "Rather funny, isn't it? How you are now bound to Tom."
Hermione stared at Harry. The frown on her face turned into a scowl and she said bitingly, "Funny? I don't see how that's funny."
Harry just looked at her interestedly, a smile hovering around his mouth. Looking at her best friend, Hermione groaned softly and buried her face in her hands.
"I don't know what to do, Harry," she whispered shakily. "Tom lied to me, deceived me and manipulated me. And now look at me, he completely controls me. What shall I do?" She peered at him through her fingers. "I need to return to my time period and preserve the timeline. Still, I don't want to because I have nothing there anymore. But I can't stay in the past either because Tom literally owns me. What if he turns into Voldemort? Then he'll use me for his evil deeds."
Hermione lowered her hands and stared at Harry desperately. "I do love Tom and I don't want to leave him. But even if the Elder Magic inside of me is not dark… not evil… I'm afraid that sooner or later Tom will use that power he has over me. He will use the bond between us and force me to hurt people …kill them even. I- I wouldn't be able to live with that. I… just don't know what to do."
While he had listened to her, Harry had laid a reassuring hand on Hermione's arm. Now he gazed at her and told her gravely, "I know it's not easy for you, Hermione. Tom has the potential of causing a lot of evil and that is not going away just because he has you by his side. But by the looks of it, you already made your decision, didn't you?"
Hermione looked at Harry, insecurity in her eyes. Yes. She already had decided what to do, hadn't she? That was the reason she had not used the Hallows but had instead apparated back to Tom and had found him in the Forbidden Forest.
So Hermione nodded shakily. "I- I want to stay with Tom. But… I'm scared…"
"I know." Harry squeezed her arm comfortingly. "Tom is dangerous and he has a lot of power over you through that bond."
Hermione nodded weakly and Harry slid a bit closer to her on the sofa. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and said pensively, "I remember as I've been in Diagon Alley for the first time. I had just turned eleven and was about to go to Hogwarts. Of course I needed a wand. Do you know what Ollivander told me as I wanted to buy a wand from him?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Harry sent her a soft smile and continued, "He told me that it's the wand that chooses the wizard. Not the other way around."
Hermione's eyes widened and she inquired, a little hopefully "W- what are you trying to say? That I'm not forced to obey Tom? It's my… choice?"
Harry tightened his arm around her, pulled her into his side and supplied cryptically, "Maybe you have replaced the Elder Wand, but you are certainly not just a piece of wood. You have a heart and a mind of your own."
Hermione looked at Harry, trying to comprehend what he had just told her. After a moment of silence she asked hesitantly,
"Why do you think the Elder Magic sent me back in time?"
Harry replied gently, "That, I don't know. Maybe the Elder Wand's magic just wanted to protect you from any more grief in your own timeline. Or it might have felt you were needed back in the past."
Harry's vibrant green eyes wandered to that crying bundle that still lay on the floor.
"The Last Resort of Kings and Common Men… You know, Hermione, that doesn't always have to mean war."
Hermione's gaze followed his and eyed the miserable creature on the floor. "Yes, you might be right."
She continued to look at the bundle, whimpering so pitiable, and she swore to herself that she would prevent that from happening again. She would prevent Tom from ever becoming this thing. Maybe that was her last resort …or Tom's. Her thoughts were interrupted by Harry's kind voice,
"It is time."
Hermione unfixed her gaze from the crying creature on the floor and looked back at Harry. He was still sitting beside her and Hermione felt so warm and protected as she looked into his emerald green eyes. Only slowly his words registered to her.
"Time for what?" she asked him hesitantly, somehow dreading the answer.
Harry just smiled at her affectionately. "For you to go back."
Hermione's eyes widened. Go back? She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to lose Harry again. She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him desperately as she sobbed,
"Don't leave me again."
She felt his arms around her which only made her cry even harder.
"Everything's going to be alright," Harry crooned to her. "But you can't just stay here, Hermione. There are people who would miss you very much. I'm sure Tom would."
Hermione still trembled but her sobbing died down. Then slowly, very slowly, she raised her head and looked up at Harry's face. He smiled at her reassuringly as he caressed her cheek gently. Hermione leaned into his touch while she stared in his startlingly green eyes. He was right. She should go back. A small smile appeared on her face as she looked at Harry, her best friend, her brother.
"I love you."
Harry's smile even widened.
"And I love you, Hermione. But now you have to go."
Hermione felt a tear trickling down her cheek as she looked at him and nodded.
.
.
.
White soft warmth engulfed her completely. Harry disappeared just like the sitting room of her parents' house. Hermione was floating in this warm softness. She felt so light. As if she didn't have a body to weight her down. It was so nice, being wrapped in this whiteness.
Then she remembered. Yes. She needed to go back. Hermione remembered her body and she drew in a deep breath of air.
.
.
.
She gasped and choked as she tried to breathe again. The world welcomed her back. And it did so with pain. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as she struggled for air. Her chest hurt. It burned like fire with every breath she took. There was the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. Her whole body felt so heavy and hurt all over. Her breathing was shallow and painful but Hermione was glad to be able to breathe at all. Slowly, things were starting to make sense. She had a body. It might hurt but that also meant that she could feel again. She could breathe.
She was alive.
Next she realized that she was lying somewhere. Hermione felt incredibly weak but she opened her eyes anyway. She was instantly met by wide, scared grey eyes. Then a fearful voice spoke to her,
"Hermione?"
She blinked slowly, trying to concentrate. It was difficult as she was so tired but then a figure swam into focus before her. Hermione recognized Tom. He was crouched down beside her. One hand was extended towards her but he didn't touch her. It looked as if he were too scared to touch her. As if he expected her to suddenly disappear should he touch her.
A smile stole on Hermione's face as she looked up at Tom. He seemed to be so incredibly scared. She had never seen him like this before. His grey eyes were fixed on her and she could see the panic and fear in them. She wanted to tell him that he didn't need to be so scared. That everything was okay. But she still felt so weak and tired. So, the only thing she could croak out was,
"… Tom…"
There was something flickering in his eyes as he heard her voice. It looked as if until now Tom hadn't really believed that she was here. Now he hastily wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up a little, pressing her against his chest. Hermione felt how his body shook. He pulled her so tightly against him as if he intended to never let her go again. Her arms felt like lead but she still raised them and slid them around him. No words left her as Hermione held to him just as tightly as he held to her. She didn't intend to ever let Tom go either.
The End
.
{{{{{{{{+}}}}}}}}
Author's note: Oh, no. It's really over. The final chapter of Ultima Ratio. I didn't think I would ever finish this story. Now it's really done. I'm kinda glad but also sad. Gosh, it was a long way, eh? I'm getting all teary eyed because it really is over.
I hope you could a little bit enjoy the ending I chose. Somehow, after having spent so much time on the story, I didn't want to let it end on a sad note. Though, I did wonder for some time whether I should really post this last chapter at all. Or let it all end with the one before. But way back, as I just started this story, I already had this last chapter in mind. I kinda didn't want to abandon it.
I know there are still a lot of unanswered questions: What happens to the time line? What about the bond between Tom and Hermione? Will Tom still turn evil and become Voldemort? And of course: Will Legifer finally manage to turn Hermione into a real lady? XD
So, yes, I know, the ending I chose is an open one. But at the very least there's still the hope left that Tom and Hermione can work it out.
For all those of you who want a sequel: I do have lots of ideas how to answer the above questions and maybe I might write a sequel sometime. But after just having finished this story, I really don't know if or when that is going to happen. In the meantime, you are very much welcome to join me in my other story 'Please, save me' which (of course) is another Tomione. Now that UR is finished I'll update it more. At least I have my fingers crossed ;)
On a different note: I don't know if you guys are nerds like me ;) If so, you've probably heard of that experiment those scientist from CERN did recently. In that experiment they measured the velocity of neutrinos. If they really measured it correctly (which is still widely discussed), those particles were faster than the light. Accordingly this would prove Einstein to be wrong. And tada... timetravel back into the past is suddenly possible. I don't know about you but I already packed my suitcase. Tom, here I come XD
Anyway, it has been a pleasure sharing my story with you. I very much enjoyed your input. Your reviews and comments were very much appreciated. I can't thank you enough. It meant a lot to know that you followed the story and even liked it.
You guys are the best!
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