A/N: I'll post this as the continuation of The Obscure Oath to The Past, so you don't have to follow another fanfiction if you are already following this.

An Unexpected Jump Into The Past – Chapter 01: The New Minister

Ernie's Dearth was a shock to the magical society. Him being The Butcher was something beyond that. It was an unprecedented political fiasco. Even the Daily Prophet was projecting it with harsh criticism.

"That's just bullocks!" said Ron as he threw his paper into fire.

"Language, Ron!" said Hermione pointing at Hugo and Rose with her head.

They were having a family breakfast at Hogsmeade. Hugo and Rose were beaming with happy smiles. Perhaps they thought their parents were going back together. They could be right as far as Hermione knew. She would not mind it, nor would Ron. His silly smiles at her made that clear.

"They are being unfair," said Ron.

"No, they are being smart," said Hermione. "Draco is distancing his administration from Ernie's. So am I."

"Yes, you're pulling a Dumbledore," said Rose.

"A what?" asked Ron.

"A Dumbledore. That's what everyone says at school," said Rose. "They say Mum is taking up Transfiguration to follow Albus Dumbledore's steps out of the political sphere. That's strange, because Dumbledore got even more influential after he remained in Hogwarts. He became The Chief Warlock."

"But Mum is already The Chief Warlock," said Hugo.

"No, Hugo. Mum is the Chairwoman. She actually runs the Wizengamot. We don't have a Chief Warlock right now. A Chief Warlock is actually a glorified secretary."

"Not exactly, dear," said Hermione, correcting her daughter's error. "The Chief Warlock can suspend the Wizengamot. Also they can veto certain rulings. While the Chairperson holds most of the power within Wizengamot, The Chief Warlock can have them removed. That's why he or she is the one who presides over the Wizengamot."

Rose smiled brightly and nodded.

"You seem to be happy, Rose," said Hermione.

"I'm having a wonderful breakfast with my parents."

Hermione could not help smiling. Ron smiled, too. It was a happy family after all.

"Can I join you happy lot?" said an elderly man. It was Remus.

"Uncle Remus!" cried Hugo and Rose simultaneously.

Remus sat next to Ron and smiled at the children who were more than happy to see him.

"I heard a future colleague was nearby."

"Glad to see you around, Remus," said Hermione.

"The same is true with me," said Remus.

"So, you're going to teach Defense Against Dark Arts again," said Ron, "How did McGonagall get to you?"

"It was your brother who got to me," said Lupin. "He's going back to the shop now that his second child is on the way."

"Free and George together once more," said a new voice behind Hermione. "Horrors that await the wizard world!"

"Hey, Harry," said Ron. He pulled a chair for Harry and he sat next to Hermione. She could see Rose pout a bit before covering it up with a semi-genuine smile.

"Remus, can you watch the kids for a while," said Harry. "Hermione, Ron and I need to talk about work stuff."

Ron's smile faded away. Harry was trying to keep his face happy, but Hermione could feel the concern in his voice.

"Of course," said Remus.

Harry took Hermione and Ron to a corner and cast a few privacy spells.

"I have bad news," he said.

"Has Ernie come back to life?" asked Ron.

"No, but someone else might have," said Harry nervously. "This morning the Head of Department of Mysteries pooped by. Their wards have detected that an animagus was in the Minister's office last week when Ernie was trying to use the time-turner. The said animagus happened to be a rat."

"Holly Crap!" said Ron.

"My thoughts exactly!" said Harry. "I mean Peter has already done it once. I don't know why we thought his hand would kill him?"

"That means he was involved in Ernie's scheme," said Hermione.

There never could be peace for them.

"We have to catch him," said Harry. "That means we all have to go for him."

"Alright," said Hermione. "Just let us leave Hugo and Rose with Minerva."

Hermione went back to their table to find Remus alone and confused.

"Where are Rose and Hugo?" she asked.

"They were right here two seconds ago," said Remus anxiously. "They didn't move or anything. They just disappeared."

"Oh, no," said Hermione.

She ran for Harry and Ron and told them about Hugo and Rose. They searched the whole place but there was no trace of them.

"Hold on," said Remus. "Harry, Ron, Hermione, come here. Look outside."

He pointed at a window. The people outside were panicking. People were frantically looking for something.

"I don't think Hugo and Rose were the only ones to disappear," said Harry.

Hermione was on the verge of tears. She had just gotten back Rose and Hugo. She stormed out and asked people what had happened. Witch after witch told her that their child was gone. Hermione could feel her chest tighten. Fear was taking over her mind. Hugo and Rose were gone. Hermione cried their names over and over again until she passed out.

When she woke up she was on a bed in the Hogwarts infirmary.

"Madam Pomfrey?" she moaned.

"Yes, dear," replied Poppy Pomfrey with her kind and fragile voice.

"Where are Hugo and Rose?" asked Hermione and then burst into tears.

Harry and Ron were standing nearby. They both had pained expressions.

"Why?" asked Hermione.

"We think Ernie won," said Ron depressingly. "Our world is fading away. There are reports from all over the world. Children are disappearing. It started from London but it's going worldwide. There is no other explanation."

The shock in Ron's voice made Hermione stop crying.

"So it's over?" she asked.

"Newer buildings are beginning to fade away Hermione," said Harry. "The fabric of our reality was torn upon before Ernie died. The unspeakables say it will be over in days if not hours. It happens faster as time passes."

Hermione stared at them in horror. The world was ending and they were doing nothing.

"We must find Pettigrew!"

She jumped out of her bed and ran to the door. Harry and Ron stopped her.

"Wait! There is nothing we can do," said Harry. "And Pettigrew has already turned himself over. They are bringing him here."

"Hogwarts is rather old," said Madam Pomfrey. "It will be one of the last places to go."

"We will be gone before that happens," said Hermione. "Have any adults disappeared?"

"No. As of now things that are less than ten years old have disappeared. That includes both magical and non magical items."

"We found you some older clothes," said Harry shyly. "Yours might disappear any minute."

"Mine did," said Ron and his ears became red. "They'll just turn into a mist of gas, so hurry up."

Hermione quickly changed her clothes and followed them to Minerva's office.

"Ah, Hermione dear," said Molly Weasley who was standing by her desk. She walked to Hermione and hugged her. They both sobbed for a minute until they both calmed down.

"It's nice to see you again, Miss Riddle," said Professor Snape's familiar voice. Hermione had not noticed him before.

"Good afternoon, Professor," said Hermione hoarsely.

Snape looked at her grimly.

"Pettigrew has been brought here," said Professor McGonagall behind her desk. "They are bringing him to my office as we speak."

They all sat in deafening silence, waiting for the prisoner to arrive. When they brought him in he looked unusually calm.

"Hello, Severus," he said softly. His voice was less squeaky than Harry remembered. He was standing straight and had lost quite a bit of weight. His eyes were tried. His skin was too pale and dirty.

"You have b aged well," said Hermione.

"Thank you, Hermione."

"I should have let Remus and Sirius kill you," said Harry.

"But then who would have saved you from the Malfoy manor, Harry?" said Peter calmly.

"Tell us how we can stop it," said Ron. "Come on!"

"I can do no such thing," said Peter, unmoved by Ron's anger. "The moment that time-turner started spinning, it was over. I was there to see it happen."

"How could you help them do it, Wormtail," said Remus who had entered with the Aurors.

"Quite easily, Moony. There is nothing for me in this world the way it is now," said Wormtail. "I knew it would come to this point. I have known for years."

"Mr. Pettigrew, how would destroying the world help you?" asked Professor McGonagall.

Peter smiled. "I am not destroying the world as you might think. I simply helped Mr. McMillan to correct a few historical mistakes. He will do his best to make sure Lord Voldemort knows has a child this time. And the return of the Dark Lord shall be different. I promise you."

"I didn't know you were brave enough to say his name," said Harry.

"Harry, I was his closest ally after Bellatrix. I knew things no one knew. I had access to missions no one would find out about until years later. This one was such a mission. But I understand, I'm pretty good at looking feeble. That's what the Dark Lord liked about me."

"I always knew there was more to you than it seemed," said Snape.

"You are a pretty good Legilimens, Severus, but I'm better," said Pettigrew with a smile. "How do you think I could sneak into Weasley's Burrow and stay as long as I did without anyone suspecting me. I would have lived a long comfortable life if Sirius had not come after me."

Remus and Harry gritted their teeth.

"Is there a way we can send a message back, Wormtail," said Snape. "If you tell us, I might reconsider putting you under Cruciatus until my last breath."

"I look forward to our painful sessions then," said Pettigrew with an unnerving smile.

"So there is nothing we can do?" said Hermione desperately. "We just wait until we fall into the abyss?"

"The life you had will go away as if it never existed," replied Pettigrew sagely. "But why don't you see it as an opportunity to have a very different life.'

"Well … Fuck you, Wormtail," said Hermione with a bitter smile and then she burst into tears. She covered her face and turned away.

Peter Pettigrew just stood there with no particular expression on his face other than curiosity. He walked to a wall and leaned his back to it.

The House Elves brought some dinner. No one was in the mood to eat. Even Peter was decent enough to sit aside with a quiet smile and refrain from eating. Snape would eye him from time to time, but McGonagall would cough softly and speak about something to distract him.

When all you can do is wait, time is stretched out and minutes feel like hours.

"You know what I'm going to miss?" said Remus suddenly, breaking the seemingly unbreakable silence. "I will miss waking up next to Tonks every morning. I will also miss Teddy and his lovely wife who is always so shy around us."

"I will miss my children, my friends and that horrible Espresso Machine that Ron and I have," said Hermione with a fond smile.

"Once I used it and my drink tasted like peas," said Ron. "It wasn't so bad. I will miss those happy accidents."

"I will miss people who I love," said Harry.

"Which includes half of the witches in London," said Snape.

Harry laughed hard. So did others, except Pettigrew who watched them silently. For a moment it seemed there was some regret in his eyes. He gave Remus a sad smile.

"You will have Tonks again, my friend. I have asked Ernie to make sure the Dark Lord spares you and Sirius. I owed you two that much."

"Well, thank you very much, Peter," said Remus. "But I don't think I want to be spared."

"You and Tonks would have died in the battle of Hogwarts if I had not put Mulciber under The Imperius Curse," said Pettigrew calmly. "So would poor Lavender Brown. It is unfortunate that she died anyway in this timeline."

Remus froze in his place. Thinking back about it, he now could recall Mulciber knocking him down before Dalahov's killing curse could hit him. The same had happened for Tonks.

"It seems there is some decency left in you," said Snape.

"Sometimes things don't go the way you expect them to, Severus. If the Dark Lord had listened to me that night and had spared Lily and James this would not have happened. He made sure to listen to me more often."

"I would have died," said Harry.

"You might have," said Pettigrew. "Then again I was against taking any action that could make the prophecy come true. I even told him to let you all go, but Voldemort insisted that you were too big of a threat to be left by. Even if he tried to kill only you, I'm sure it would have gone as horribly as it did."

"I don't feel well," said Molly.

Suddenly she disappeared. Everyone stared at the seat Molly had sat on Minutes ago.

"No," said Ron. "MUM!"

"The end is near," said Pettigrew. "Random disappearance has already begun. We have less than minutes."

"Avada Kedavra!" cried Snape. No one had even seen him point his wand at the Death Eater.

A green light filled the office and Pettigrew lay dead on the ground.

"He was enjoying it too much," said Snape darkly. "I have potions that can kill us swiftly. We do not need to suffer unnecessarily."

He did not wait for others to respond and left Minerva's fireplace through the fireplace. After ten minutes they realized that he was not going to come back.

"I think Severus …"

And with that Professor McGonagall was gone too. The aurors left saying that they hoped to say goodbye to their families before disappearing forever. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and she knew what she had to do.

"Ron, would you mind if I kiss Harry?" she asked.

"Wha… No," said Ron. He smiled and kissed Hermione.

"But not before you kiss me for one last time.'

Hermione smiled, too, and then she kissed Harry. A kiss that never ended.

A/N: How did you like this chapter? What do you think happens next?