"What we need, is more time."

Hermione and Harry were currently in the Hospital Wing. They had just learned shortly before the truth about the betrayal of Harry's family. Sirius Black, the man believed to have betrayed the Potters to Lord Voldemort and killed Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles was actually innocent, these crimes having been committed by Pettigrew himself. Pettigrew had been their Secret-Keeper, he had been the one to murder twelve people before faking his own death and framing Sirius. And Sirius had escaped Azkaban to protect Harry.

Sirius Black was his godfather. Harry had a family. Hermione knew that having a family was Harry's deepest desire. He had one confessed about what he had seen in the Mirror of Erised. Hermione had barely slept that night, realising just how much her actions at five-years-old at hurt Harry. She had known it had, of course, but she hadn't realised to what extend until he had told her about the Mirror of Erised. When she apologised again for what had happened, Harry had simply shrugged it off.

But now, Harry had a family. Hermione knew that she would do her best to help Harry keep it.

However, things quickly turned bad after they left the Shrieking Shack. Professor Lupin had forgotten to take his Wolfsbane Potion and turned into a wild werewolf. Harry, Hermione and Ron were saved just in time by Sirius who had transformed into his dog Animagus form known as Padfoot and pushed the werewolf away. In the confusion, Peter Pettigrew had escaped.

Wanting to protect his godfather, Hermione had seen Harry run in the direction where the Animagus had disappeared and quickly followed him. When they found Sirius, he was holding his head and moaning in pain. Dementors had found them and were slowly draining them of their happiness. Harry had told her to use the Patronus Charm but as she had never used it before, it didn't take long for her to lose consciousness. The last thing she saw was Harry falling to his knees.

Hermione and Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing and tried to tell what they had learned to Minister Fudge, Professors Dumbledore and Snape but only Dumbledore seemed to believe in them. Hermione was disheartened to heard that the Headmaster did not have the power to overrule the actions of the Minister which brought them to their current situation.

"What we need," said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Harry to Hermione, "is more time."

Harry didn't get Dumbledore's secret message but Hermione certainly did. "OH!" she said, her eyes becoming very round.

Speaking very lowly and clearly, the Headmaster spoke up. "Now, pay attention. Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law, you know what is at stake… You. Must. Not. Be. Seen." he said before turning on his heel and walking toward the door. Looking back, he said "I am going to lock you in. It is..." he consulted his watch, "five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

"Hermione? What is he talking about?" said Harry, her friend looking at her with confusion.

Hermione however wasn't listening. She pulled a strange necklace from her robes and said "Come here, quickly!"

"What are you doing?" he asked when she put the necklace around both their necks. Hermione didn't answer as she turned the small sparkling hourglass of the necklace three times. Hermione saw the familiar sight ghost like figures moving around them, two of them being themselves. It was like watching a movie in reserve and in accelerated speed. She knew that it must have been very confusing to Harry.

"Hermione, please! What is going on?" he pleaded. Hermione took Harry's hand and dragged him in a broom cupboard. The action made her blush and saw that Harry did as well but she ignored it as it wasn't the time to think about that.

"We travelled back in time, Harry." she finally answered.

"What!?" said Harry, shocked. "How is it possible?"

"Shh..." she interrupted. "Someone is coming." After realising that the footsteps were from their past selves, they let them walk away before she continued. "This necklace allows people to travel a few hours back in time. That's how I have been attending all of my classes this year."

"Thats... brilliant. But where did you get that thing?"

"That necklace is known as a Time-Turner. Professor McGonagall gave it to me at the beginning of the year and was told not to tell anyone about it." explained Hermione.

"So, we are back in time, and we can save more than one live. That's what Dumbledore said. But who?" asked Harry.

"Well, the first one would be Sirius..."

"Obviously."

"Obviously, but the second one..."

"Buckbeak!" said Harry suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore told us that Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's Office which is on the Seventh Floor! He even told us which window it was! We can save Buckbeak then fly to the window, save Sirius and let Sirius fly away on Buckbeak's back!"

"Yes!" said Hermione. "That's brilliant!"

"I do have my moments." said a chuckling Harry.

"I know that, you prat. However, our time is limited so we better move, now!" she said before opening the door of the cupboard. Hermione led Harry toward Hagrid's hut, taking a wider path so that the time travelling duo would be less visible from the castle. Hermione and Harry entered the forest near Hagrid's hut and stayed hidden, looking through the window at what was happening inside.

"Hermione... Pettigrew is there!" said Harry, suddenly realising the fact. "We could get him now and..."

"No, Harry!" said Hermione. "Something I figured out this year is that we can't change the timeline!"

"What? But how are we supposed to save Buckbeak? We saw him die!"

"If you remember, we didn't. Trees, bushes and giant pumpkins were hiding Buckbeak from our view! Buckbeak could easily have been far away at that point and the executioner might just have use his axe to cut a pumpkin in two!"

"So, everything that happened will happen?" said Harry.

"Yes."

Harry thought about it for a moment before his eyes grew wide. "I think you are right... I think I saw myself before we ended up in the Hospital Wing!"

"WHAT!?" she shouted before putting a hand over her mouth. Her shout had been heard from the inside of Hagrid's hut. Hagrid took a look outside, looking for students but noticed three wizards walking toward his hut. "We are coming out." she whispered. And indeed, Hermione and Harry saw their younger selves and Ron exiting Hagrid's hut and discretely running back toward the castle. Meanwhile, the trio of adults arrived at Hagrid's and knocked on the door.

"What did you mean you saw yourself?" asked Hermione quietly.

"Around the lake, when the Dementors were attacking us. Just before I fainted, I saw a corporal Stag Patronus being launched from the other side by someone who looked like me! At the time I barely had time to think that my Dad had somehow returned before fainting but now I think it was me! Buckbeak and Sirius' lives aren't the only ones we need to save, so are ours!" he said.

Hermione looked at Harry incredulously. She wanted to tell him that it didn't make any sense but the problem was that it did. It did make sense and she was slowly believing that Harry had been the one to cast the Patronus. "Alright, we better get starting then." she said.

Hermione and Harry managed to save Buckbeak rather quickly and were amused when they saw the executioner, Macnair, 'execute' one of Hagrid's giant pumpkins. Hermione led the hippogriff and her best friend toward a spot where they could see the Whomping Willow rather easily and sat down under one of the trees.

Resting while waiting for their counterparts to exit the secret passageway under the Whomping Willow allowed Hermione to reflect about the past three years since she and Harry had met again. She remembered how cold he had been toward her before he nearly sacrificed his life to save hers on Halloween. She remembered being present on his bedside every day for three weeks, wondering if his 'last words', him calling her a friend had been real. Her biggest fear at the time was for him to turn back on his words and regret trying to save her. Fears found themselves to be unfounded when Harry woke up and not only was friendly toward her, but reassured her that he did consider her a friend again.

Even after everything that had happened that year, that one had turned out to be one of the happiest in her life. Now only did she have her first and best friend back, she also had a new one in Ron Weasley. Together, the three friends had quickly been nicknamed the "Golden Trio" by their fellow Gryffindors. Hermione had also witnessed her feelings toward Harry change near the end of the year.

Second year had been worse, although her friendships with Harry and Ron were only strengthened. The school quickly fell under the fear of the Heir of Slytherin and its monster when students were starting to get petrified. When it was revealed that Harry was a Parselmouth, he had been quickly shunned by everyone else, thinking that he was the Heir of Slytherin. It seemed that only Hermione and Ron believed otherwise.

Tragedy had struck when Hermione became one of the victims of the Heir. She had heard Harry complain yet again that he was hearing the voice when it clicked in her mind. Harry was a Parselmouth, so he would be the only one able to hear the monster if it was a snake! It made sense after all, snakes were the symbol of Salazar Slytherin. Hermione had run toward the library and found a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. In the book, she found a page about the Basilisk and understood that it was Slytherin's monster. Hermione had exited the library at the same time as Penelope Clearwater, sixth-year Ravenclaw prefect and girlfriend of Percy Weasley. As Penelope was a prefect, Hermione believed that Penelope should be told about her findings so that she could tell the staff. When Penelope had heard about her theory, she had quickly accepted it and conjured a mirror so that they could check if the monster was around the corner before walking there. It was a good thing she did as the first time the first corridor they checked was the corridor where the Basilisk was currently present. Hermione and Penelope had been petrified instantly.

Hermione had woken up with a scream in the middle of the night in the Hospital Wing. She had immediately started blabbing about how she knew what the monster was but Madam Pomfrey had quickly reassured her, telling her that Harry had killed it when he rescued Ginny Weasley from the Chamber of Secrets mere hours before. As the school was currently holding a feast, Hermione had run toward the Great Hall. She had been spotted nearly immediately by Neville who had quickly told Harry and Ron. She remembered Harry's reaction to seeing her alive and well. His grin could have lit up the whole room. His reaction had made her heart beat a lot faster as she ran toward her two friends. Harry had also raised up and ran toward her and both of them met in the middle of the Great Hall and found each other in the other's arms. Hermione remembered how happy and safe she felt in Harry's arms.

Third year hadn't been as bad but hers and Harry's friendship at taken a hit on Christmas Day. During the month's priors, Hermione and Harry were slowly getting closer to each other, something Hermione hadn't minded at all. At that point, Hermione had realised that she liked Harry more than just a friend. She just hadn't known to what extent. On Christmas Day, Harry had received a brand new Firebolt broomstick. The Firebolt was the best broomstick on the market and was also the most expensive one. The fact that the broomstick had been sent by an anonymous person had alerted Hermione. And this is when she made a big mistake.

Hermione had gone straight to Professor McGonagall who proceeded to confiscate the broomstick until it was cleared of any harmful charms and hexes. Ron had been outraged at what Hermione had done and had stormed away. Hermione had ignored Ron's reaction. What she was looking for was Harry's. And she had been heartbroken by the look of betrayal in Harry's eyes. Harry hadn't shouted like Ron; he actually hadn't even reacted. Harry had just raised up and walked away. Hermione had gone back to her dorm and cried. She knew that there was a high possibility that she was sacrificing her friendship with Harry with her actions but it was a risk she had been willing to take. She preferred to have Harry angry and mad at her than dead on the Quidditch Pitch. Harry hadn't talked to her for the rest of the Holidays. His actions were a lot similar to how he had acted when they had both arrived to Hogwarts. Hermione had spent a very lonely Christmas Day and following week and a half.

The first time Harry had talked to Hermione after the Firebolt incident was on the last day before classes resumed. Harry had asked Hermione to talk alone and he had asked her why she had gone to Professor McGonagall without even talking to Harry first. Hermione had shyly answered, saying that she feared that he wouldn't accept her fears and that if she had still done after that, she knew that there would be no chances ever to reconciliate. Harry had answered back, saying that he would have gone to McGonagall himself had she told him his fears. Actually, Harry had even thought about it before flying the broom for the first time. What had hurt Harry was that Hermione had gone behind his back. Hermione had then said that she was ready to sacrifice her friendship if it meant that Harry was alive.

Hermione had been expecting Harry to leave after their talk. What she hadn't expected was for Harry to take her in his arms and give her a strong hug. She was relieved when he told her that he wasn't mad at her, he just wanted her not to go behind his back and to talk to him first. Hermione had cried in relief in Harry's chest, happy that she hadn't lost his friendship again.

Hermione was glad to still be friends with Harry. She glanced toward her friend, wanting to give him a smile but she noticed how sad he looked.

"Harry?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm sorry." he said suddenly.

"W-What?" said the now confused Hermione.

"I'm sorry, for how I treated you during the Christmas Holidays."

So that's what it was about. Hermione rolled her eyes. "And what exactly Is there to apologise for?"

"For how I treated you." he said, finally looking at her. Hermione was surprised to see a tear roll out of his eye.

"Oh, Harry." she said, taking him in her arms. His head fell on his shoulder. "You have nothing to apologise for because you did nothing wrong." she said.

"But..."

"No, Harry!" she said. "The only thing you did was that you didn't talk to me. You didn't exactly avoid me nor did you ever insult me or anything. You were always polite in the few words you exchanged."

"But it wasn't..."

"...right?" finished Hermione. Harry nodded. "Harry, you were hurt by my actions. It's normal that you didn't want to talk to me right away and needed time to calm down before you did. You have nothing to apologise for because you didn't do anything wrong." she said. Harry nodded again and muttered "Thanks."

It was while holding Harry in her arms and seeing the concern he had for her feelings that made Hermione realise something. She knew that she lived Harry as more than a friend. But she had never realised to what extent. Now she knew. Hermione Granger was completely in love with Harry Potter. The revelation made her gasp quietly but since her mouth was near one of Harry's ears, Harry heard her.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"Nothing." she said quickly, giving her a timid but reassuring smile. Harry smile back before sitting back alongside her.

Hermione wondered if Harry felt the same way toward her. At times, Hermione had certaintly felt like Harry liked her more than a friend but she wasn't sure. Harry wasn't an emotional person so it wouldn't be easy to tell. She also knew that Harry hadn't had great examples of love when he was raised at the Dursleys and feared that if he did had feelings for her, he might not realise what they meant until it was too late. If he didn't however... after their history, she would settle on being friends if that's what he wanted, even if it hurt her. She wanted him to be happy and would try her hardest to be sure that it would be what would happen in his future.

"Here we come!" whispered Harry. As she and Harry got to their feet, Hermione took another glance at Harry. This time, he was slightly smirking, looking happy. When his eyes glanced at her, Hermione couldn't help but blush while looking away. She barely saw Harry's smirk transform into a smile before he said "We should go toward the lake so that I can use the Patronus Charm."

"Yes." nodded Hermione, still pink in the face. "Let's go."

Hermione, Harry and Buckbeak walked toward the lake and where they waited for their counterparts to show up. They felt the coldness and sensations of dread and unhappiness broadcasted by the Dementors as they converged around Sirius. They witnessed themselves trying to conjure Patroni but failed. Sirius fainted first, followed by the younger Hermione who did as Harry was falling on his knees.

"When are you going to do it?" asked Hermione with worry.

"Not yet..." he said.

"Harry, you do realise that you can't change the timeline? You don't have to wait for a specific moment to do it! The moment you will, it will be the exact same time as our first go-around!"

"Oh yeah..." he said before he ran toward the edge of the lake. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he shouted. A giant white stag burst out of Harry's wand and galloped toward the Dementors at the same time as other Harry fainted. Waves of lights were pouring out of the stag and pushing Dementors away from Sirius and their two counterparts.

Hermione felt the warm of the Patronus and the happiness that came with it. Looking at Harry, she couldn't help but feel like he looked good, handsome even, with his wand pointed toward the other side of the lake where a brilliant white stag was galloping around, pushing Dementors away. Hermione was tempted to just go and kiss him right then and there.

Oh, did she hope that Harry felt the same way toward her!...

"And I can tell you that I felt that way indeed!" grinned Harry.

"I had my suspicions when I saw you smiling at me under the tree." answered Hermione.

"I had noticed how you were looking at me and, while I didn't understand what it meant, I knew I liked it when you were looking at me like that." said Harry before he turned toward their daughter. "Just like Hermione, at that point, I was in love with her. A year before when Hermione was petrified was when I realised that my feelings for her were different than Ron or really anyone else. I knew I liked Hermione more than a normal best-friend but I didn't understand what it meant."

"Bloody Dursleys..." muttered Hermione.

"Language Mum!" shouted Rose before she started giggling. Harry burst out laughing. A bewildered Hermione sat there in silence, looking at her family.

"That's the first time I'm being told off for my language by my daughter..." she said.

"It was time for the tables to turn." grinned Harry. "Just like her mother, she is." he said, looking admirably at Rose.

"Fine, I'm sorry for my language." said Hermione, trying to sound angry but failing to do so. "So, 'Dad'," she said. "When did you realise that you were in love with me?"

"That would be sometime in November 1994. My name had just been drawn from the Goblet of Fire and..."