A/N: this is going to be the first of three books showing where along the course of the Harry Potter book franchise I believe there could be some changes made which would lead to Harry and Hermione ending up together. There will be some major changes and some not as major, one of the most important for this chapter is Hermione's family.

Book 1 is going to be changes to the books, book 2 will be their new lives after the war, and book 3 will be their lives as parents.

Also, I am not counting 'the cursed child' as cannon.

Disclaimer: as much as I would love to, I do not own the characters I am writing about, please do go read the actual books because even though I don't always agree with them they are still amazing.

Prisoner of Azkaban:

'Harry, wake up'

'I saw my dad.'

'What...?'

'He sent the Dementors away... I saw him. Across the lake...'

Hermione gave a quick look of confusion towards Ron but he looked just as baffaled as she was so she turned back to Harry

'Listen, Harry. They've captured Sirius. Any minute the Dementors are going to perform the Kiss.'

'The Kiss...?'

'It's what Dementors do to those they want to destroy. They clamp their jaws over the victim's mouth and... suck out his soul.'

'You mean, they're going to kill Sirius?'

'No. It's worse. Much worse. You go on living. But you have no memory. No sense of self. You're just a shall. An empty shell...'

The doors then burst open and Dumbledore entered.

'Headmaster! You've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!'

'It's true, sir. Sirius is innocent –'

'It's Scabbers who did it!'

'Scabbers...?'

'My rat, sir. Only he's not really. Well, he was a rat. You see, he used to be my brother Percy's'

'The point is... we know the truth. Please, sir, you must believe us.'

'I do, Miss Granger. But I'm sorry to say the word of three thirteen- year-old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen.'

The bell then started ringing for Midnight.

'Mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And, when meddled with... dangerous. Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen. And you would, I feel, do well to return before this last chime. If not... well, the consequences are really too ghastly to discuss. Three turns should do it, I think. If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared tonight.

Dumbledore then gave Harry and Hermione each a stick of chocolate, then starts to go... but stops just before closing the doors.

'By the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin... Good luck.

'What in bloody hell was all that about?'

Hermione didn't reply, instead looped the pendant's long chain around Harry's neck as well as her own.

'Sorry, Ron. But seeing as you can't walk...'

The bells kept on chiming as Harry and Ron exchanged and confused glance.

Time then started spinning backwards around Harry and Hermione, until it all just stopped.

'What just happened? Where's Ron?'

Hermione ignores the question, looks at the clock on the wall.

'Seven-thirty. Where were we at seven-thirty?'

'Huh? Dunno... going to Hagrid's?'

'Come on! We can't be seen!' Hermione said as she grabbed Harry's arm, and slammed through the door.

Harry and Hermione come to a sudden halt at the end of the bridge.

'Hermione! Will you please tell me what it is we're doing?!'

She held up a hand, silencing him. Annoyed, Harry followed her gaze and blinked in disbelief at what was happening across the ground ... he sees himself, along with Hermione and Ron, about to confront Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle near the monoliths.

'But that... that's... us. This is not... normal.'

'This is a Time-Turner, Harry.' Hermione said pulling out the necklace 'McGonagall gave it to me first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year.'

'You mean, we've gone back in time?'

'Yes. Dumbledore wanted us to return to this moment. Clearly something happened he wants us to change.'

A smack sound was then heard. They turn, see Malfoy land on the seat of his pants and rubbed his kisser.

'Good punch.'

'Thanks. Hurry! Malfoy's coming! Hermione pulls Harry under the bridge.

Seconds later, footsteps clamour over their heads.

'Not a word of this to anyone, understood! I'll get that jumped-up Mudblood one of these days. Mark my words...'

'Look. Buckbeak's still alive.'

'Of course! Remember what Dumbledore said. If we succeed, more than one innocent life could be spared.'

'Buckbeak? But... how will saving Buckbeak help Sirius?'

'We'll see.'

While Buckbeak feasts on a ferret, Harry and Hermione ducked behind a pile of pumpkins. Peering into the hut.

Harry looks toward the slope, sees Fudge and the others approaching in a CLOUD of CROWS.

'Here they come. I better hurry.'

'No! Fudge has to see Buckbeak before we steal him. Otherwise, he'll think Hagrid set him free!'

Harry nods, then looks toward the hut. Inside, Hagrid is handing Scabbers to Ron.

'That's Pettigrew'

As he starts to rise, Hermione grabs him.

'No, Harry! You can't!'

'Hermione, that's the man who betrayed my parents! You don't expect me to just sit here...'

'Yes! You Must! (pointing inside) Harry, you're in Hagrid's hut right now. If you go bursting inside, you'll think you've gone mad. Awful things can happen when wizards meddle with time. We can't be seen.'

Hermione turns, watches Fudge and the others drawing closer. She frowns, glances into the hut.

'Fudge is coming and... we're not leaving... why aren't we leaving?'

Just then... on the ground beside her... Hermione noticed a jagged star shaped stone. Instantly, she grabs it, rises, and hurls it through the open window. The sound of a glass jar is heard within the hut.

'Are you mad?'

Hermione ignores him, swiftly whistling a second stone through the window and - CONK! - off the back of Harry's head.

'That hurt.'

'Sorry.'

Crows begin to drop atop the roof. Fudge's party arrives, RAPS on the door.

'C'mon. Any minute now we're going to be coming out the back door.'

Quickly, Hermione and Harry dash into the trees directly behind... just in time to see themselves - along with Ron - exit the back door and slip behind the pumpkin pile where, only seconds before, they were hiding. As Fudge appears at the window and picks his nose as before, Hermione ponders the back of her own head.

'Is that really what my hair looks like from the back?'

'Shhh! Also, it doesn't look that bad does it'.

Hermione sees herself turn. Ducking, she accidentally stirs the branches, then peeks out and sees herself staring curiously at the branches. Next, she hears her own voice:

'Nothing, I just thought I saw...Never mind.'

Harry and Hermione watch themselves start up the slope. The coast clear, they slip out of the trees.

'Now, Harry!'

'It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall be executed this day at sundown...'

As Harry approaches, Buckbeak studies him curiously. Harry bows. Buckbeak returns Harry's nod. As Harry takes Buckbeak's chain... a flint-eyed crow pecks his hand.

'Get away!'

'Harry waves the crow away, yanks hard on Buckbeak's chain.

'The Committee's appointed executioner shall dispatch the condemned by means of beheading...'

'C'mon, Buckbeak. Come on...'

Buckbeak refuses to move.

'As witnessed below.' You sign here, Hagrid. Very well, gentlemen. Let's step outside, shall we...'

'Excuse me, Minister. I believe I must sign as well...'

Harry PULLS at the chain, straining mightily... when Hermione pops up, bows quickly, and dangles a dead ferret before Buckbeak.

HERMIONE

'Here, Beaky... Come and get the nice dead ferret... yum yum...' Harry looks at her as if she's mad, but it's... working. As Buckbeak trots after, the crows scatter.

Harry and Hermione lead Buckbeak away when the back door suddenly opens. They freeze... caught... Fudge's eyes drifting their way, when - as before – Dumbledore raises his hand and directs the attention of the others away from Buckbeak.

'Professor Dippet had those blackberries planted when he was Headmaster...'

Harry and Hermione shoo Buckbeak along, disappear into the forest... just as Dumbledore concludes his reverie.

'Let's get this over with, shall we?

Harry and Hermione - their view unobstructed by the low stand of trees this time - watch the Executioner approach the pumpkin patch... and stop. Quickly, the confusion in his masked eyes turns to anger.

'But... where is it? I just saw the beast not moments ago - Hagrid?'

'Beaky...'

Hearing Hagrid's husky voice, Buckbeak strains at his tether, whimpers eerily. Hermione tosses him another ferret.

'How extraordinary!'

'Come now, Dumbledore. Someone's obviously released him.'

'Professor, I swear! I didn't!'

'I'm quite sure the Minister isn't suggesting that you had anything to do with it, Hagrid. How could you? You've been with us all along.'

'We should search the grounds –'

'Search the skies if you must, Minister. In the meantime, I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea, Hagrid. Or... a large brandy. (to the Executioner) It seems your services will no longer be required.'

The Executioner lifts his blade and - with a brutal fury - plunges it into the flesh of a PUMPKIN with a SICKENING CHOP!

The CROWS SCATTER to the skies.

Harry and Hermione race through the trees as Buckbeak lopes easily behind.

'Now what?'

'We save Sirius.

'And we do that... how?'

'No idea.'

'Look. It's Lupin.' As the Whomping Willow begins to thrash, its violence oddly muted at this distance, Lupin takes a stick, pokes a knot on the trunk. Instantly, the Willow calms.

'Wait until Fred and George hear about that one.'

'Here comes Snape.' As Lupin disappears into the gap at the base of the tree, Snape makes his way down the slope.

'And now we wait.'

'Now we wait.'

Harry snaps off a piece of chocolate, hands it to Hermione.

'Hermione...'

'Yes?'

'what is lifelike for you outside of school?'

'well I live in a very nice house in Hampstead, both my parents are dentists and they are both very religious, which is why they hate the idea of me being at Hogwarts they think that me being a witch means I am somehow in contact with the devil. My mum isn't that bad she has accepted my life, but my dad is horrific he has this perfect idealism where I get married off to one of his old school friends children, every time that I go home I am worried that he going to try and perform an exorcism'

'Hermione that's dreadful why haven't you ever said anything'.

'Well you have all your problems with your Aunt and Uncle, and Ron has his huge loving family, I just never saw the point of bringing it up'

'Hermione you should have said something you don't deserve to live like that'

'what about you your Aunt and Uncle beat you and treat you like a slave'

'I know but this is how I have grown up; your parents have just sprung this on you from basically nowhere'

'yeah I guess'

'Hermione. Before. Down by the lake. When I was with Sirius... I did see someone... that someone made the Dementors go away...'

'With a Patronus. I heard Snape telling Dumbledore when we were taken to the hospital. According to him, only a powerful wizard could have conjured it.'

'It was my Dad; it was my Dad who conjured the Patronus.'

'But, Harry, your Dad's...'

'Dead. I know. I'm just telling, you what I saw.'

Hermione nods, not wanting to press Harry further, then glances beyond the trees, toward the Whomping Willow.

'Here we come.'

'You see Sirius talking to me? He's asking me to come live with him.'

'Really?'

Harry nods,

'When we free him, I'll never have to go back to the Dursley's. I'm going to tell him I'd like to live someplace in the country. I think he'd like that, after all those years in Azkaban. Who knows maybe you could come and live with us too if you have had enough of your parents?'

Hermione smiled and glanced toward the Willow.

'It's happened. Lupin's transformed.'

'Which means Pettigrew is slipping safely into the night. While we just stand here…!'

'OWWWWWWWW!'

'What are you doing?'

'Saving your life.'

Harry looks back to the tall grass. The werewolf is frozen. As before, it begins to approach Harry again. OWWWWWWWW! This time, Harry doesn't stop her.

'Thanks. But we must move.'

'Why?'

'Because that werewolf you just called is running right this way.'

They exchanged a glance and... ran.

Harry and Hermione dash for the lives, swing behind a huge tree. The werewolf appears. Pauses. As it approaches the tree, Harry and Hermione silently sidestep in the opposite direction, until the werewolf... disappears.

'Buckbeak. We've got to find him.' the werewolf appears, fifteen feet past, waiting. As Harry and Hermione stepped out, they freeze. The werewolf poises itself, preparing to pounce, when... SKREEEK! The trees shake with the fury of a hurricane and Buckbeak charges into the clearing, screening Harry and Hermione. The werewolf snarls angrily and makes a charge. With lightning-fast reflexes, Buckbeak's claws slash the air... only inches from the werewolf's face. The werewolf stops, eyes glittering with rage, then... howls. Turning, it vanishes into the forest.

'Poor Professor Lupin is having a really tough night...Dementors.'

'Let's go.'

At the lake

'This is horrible...'

'Don't worry. My Dad will come...Right there... you'll see... he'll come... any minute... he'll conjure the Patronus.'

'No one's coming, Harry...'

'HE WILL! He will come!'

'No one's coming! You're dying, both of you... and no one's coming!

He draws his wand.

'HARRY, NO!'

'EXPECTO PATRONUM!'

Flying on Buckbeak

'You were right, Hermione. It wasn't my dad I saw earlier. It was... me. I saw myself conjuring the Patronus before. I knew I could do it this time, because... because I'd already done it. Does that make sense?

'No. But I don't like this!'

Sirius paces within a SMALL CELL, a man condemned. Spying Harry and Hermione, he stops. Stunned to see them.

'Out of the way!'

'Alohomora!'

Sirius tests the IRON DOOR. Still locked.

'Didn't really expect that to work.'

Wand flashing, Hermione tries spell after spell.

'Dunamis! Liberare! Annihilare! Emancipare! No. No. No. No.'

'You might try –'

'Quiet! I'm trying to think.'

She resumes pacing, MUTTERING furiously. Then... stops. Turns.

'BOMBARDA!'

KA-BOOM! The CELL DOOR ROCKETS to the sky.

'That'll do.'

You truly are your father's son, Harry! 'I'll be forever grateful for this. To both of you.'

'I want to go with you.'

'One day perhaps. For some time... life will be too... unpredictable. Besides, you're meant to be here. But promise me something, Harry.'

'Anything.'

Trust yourself. No matter the challenges you face - and I fear they will be many - you'll be surprised how many times you can find the answers... (tapping his heart) ...here.

'We have to go.'

'By the way, when in doubt, I always find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin... Good luck. Well?'

'He's free - Sirius. We... we did it.'

Did what? With a twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore swings open the door. As Harry and Hermione enter.'

'How'd you two get over there? I was just talking to you... over there.'

'What d'you think, Harry? Too much for him - everything that's happened tonight?'

'Afraid so. Always been a bit of the nervous type, Ron has.'

Ron stares at them, confounded. Slowly, they... grin.

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