They made their way briskly back to the infirmary with Mrs Norris bringing up the rear.

Madam Pomfrey looked so tired it was distressing for Iris. Daphne took charge and explained briefly what had happened in the Great Hall to Susan and the nurse. Whether they thought they were hallucinating and just went along with it or were so desperate for freedom they were willing to attempt a suicide mission, Iris didn't have the time to find out.

Within a minute people were lined up behind the mirror. Iris turned to them all, 'If this doesn't work then get the Hell out of here. There must be somewhere on this planet that is still civilised,'

Severus gave her the most desolate look she had ever seen as he looked behind her at the mirror, 'We're going through with you, Miss Black,' he said in a determined voice, 'There is nothing left here for any of us.'

Iris felt her heart sink at this. She shook herself and took a deep breath, 'Ok. Positive thinking everyone. Who wants to go first?' Iris asked them.

Hermione stepped forward, 'I'll go first. I'd rather just get all this over with, one way or the other,' she said bitterly.

Iris gulped, 'Ok. If this works then you'll see some familiar faces. First, some of them may seem a lot younger to you. It's going to be very freaky for everyone.'

She took both of Hermione's hands and felt the familiar magic flare-up. It was very similar to her Hermione's. The alter Hermione looked up curiously, 'Your magic is very strong. It's not like her's,' she said to Iris as they moved closer to the mirror.

Iris looked at her and decided to be honest, 'It will be to you especially. Hermione and I in my world, we're very close. My magic recognises yours too.'

Hermione's eyes then showed clarity, 'You and her?' she whispered.

Iris nodded, 'We'll tell you all about it when we get back. Keep it to yourself, though. We're being discreet.'

Hermione nodded dumbly. To think a couple of hours ago she could barely bring herself to breathe.

With amazement she watched Iris disappear into the mirror backwards and pull her in with her. She watched her hands and arms glow with white magic as she eased inside the mirror. Her brain scrambled for a moment as she saw a mass of colours and strange sounds hit her eardrums. Within a moment she felt her body pulled and stretched as she then found herself in a quiet cell staring at what looked like a young and stunned Sirius Black.

She watched Iris lift her head to berate what appeared to be an actual, real Angel with golden eyes and big white wings.

'Gabriel. Albus. We all got it wrong. It's actually a portal to an alternate universe behind that mirror. No illusions. No Astral plane. I'm making the best of a bad situation and bringing through who is left of their resistance. It's bad there. Really bad. Riddle won in their world. It's an absolute shit show. They were literally on death row getting tortured daily. I couldn't leave them there. Oh, Albus. I've found us another Filch and Severus. And a new Mrs Norris and an extra Madam Pomfrey. You know how she keeps complaining about her workload. She needs help. I know you were upset that Filch left to teach at the college so that's one less problem to worry about.'

Hermione looked up in amazement. Sirius and Bella were both staring at her with mouths wide open.

'Hermione?' Sirius whispered as he peered at her.

'Oh. I got to kill Malfoy and Barty again. That was good. I'll get the others. Gabriel, Susan needs immediate attention from you and then we need to take her to a hospital immediately. She's in a really bad way. She needs St Munoges,' Iris informed them as she went back into the mirror.

Hermione turned, and on seeing Albus, actually fainted in sheer relief at the sight of her young headmaster. Finally, an actual, competent leader.

It was several hours later that she woke up in a warm comfortable bed.

'You're safe, Hermione. You're at Greengrass Manor,' came a very familiar voice.

'Ron?!' she exclaimed.

She opened her eyes to see Ron, Harry and Iris peering at her a little anxiously.

'Harry,' she stated in shock.

'How are you?' Iris asked her gently, 'We got everyone through. Lavenders here. Seamus too. We thought it best to keep you three together till you get familiarised. Susan is at the hospital. Luna is with the other Luna and the Lovegoods. We thought it was for the best. Luna can explain things better to her other self than we can and vice versa.'

Hermione didn't think she had any tears left in her after all she had endured. The floodgates opened then.

'I'm ok,' she sobbed. 'Thank you for getting me out of that Hell.'

Harry and Ron were looking at this Hermione with sympathy. She looked so unwell.

'Well, my view is you can never have too many Hermione's running about,' Iris said softly.

There was a knock at the door and Ginny poked her head around.

'Hi,' she said shyly, 'I heard your voice. Just seeing if you wanted a tea or anything?'

Hermione looked at Ginny in amazement, 'Oh, Ginny. I know you're not her but you are her in a way. You have no idea how good it is to see all of you.'

'Um. Are you up to meeting your alternate?' Harry asked her gently.

Hermione nodded cautiously. This was beyond surreal.

'Come in, other Hermione,' Ron called out.

The Hermione that had been rescued looked with interest at her twin who returned the same interest. She certainly looked healthier than she did. There was a toughness to her though. She assumed it hadn't been much better here. The Hermione standing looked down at the emaciated version of herself and her face crumbled.

'Oh, Merlin. This is what they would do to me if Riddle gets his way,' she said before clapping her hand over her mouth, 'I'm so sorry.'

'It's ok. I know I've looked better,' Hermione said to her curiously.

Hermione stood looking at her, 'I'll bring the books in, pronto. I think that will be the best remedy for you,' she dashed off.

Hermione on the bed gave a small smile. She looked at her alter friends.

'There is much to discuss I think,' she said to them, 'We know things you lot don't.'

Iris looked at her in concern, 'Later. Alright. We'll swap the knowledge then. You need time to heal. All of you do.'

Hermione gazed up at this Ron for a long moment as their eyes met properly. He stared back at her with his jaw slack.

She then blushed, 'Hello, other Ron,' she gave him a shy smile.

The tips of Ron's ears went a bright red as he gave her a small smile back, 'Hi, other Hermione.'

Harry gave Ron a subtle grin as Ginny nudged him to stop.

The other Hermione came running in with a big stack of books, 'Here. These are some of my favourites.'

The Hermione on the bed perked up instantly. She opened the top one and put her face inside it to smell it, 'Mm. That's divine. I feel better already. Those animals wouldn't let me have my books.'

Hermione looked angry on her behalf, 'Those bastards!' she seethed.

'Hermione!' Harry said in shock, 'You hardly ever swear.'

'Well, this is important. How low can they sink?'

Hermione in the bed picked up Hogwarts. A History, 'My childhood favourite,' she said simply.

'Mine too,' the Hermione standing told her, 'Please. Have them. Sleep with them if you need to. Get better.'

'Thank you, other Hermione.'

'Your welcome, other Hermione. I won't shorten my name by the way.'

'Absolutely. The number of people who try to call me Mione is outrageous. I detest it.'

'I know. One extra syllable. It's not difficult. You'll be pleased to know this lot are well trained by the way.'

The other Hermione breathed in relief as the others grinned widely.

Ron looked between both Hermione's with a mildly confused look.

'You two are so much alike,' Ron observed.

The Hermione in the bed lay back and looked at her alter, 'I can feel all of your magic. It's only Iris's that feels different. In our world, her magic felt like theirs. Warped. Your magic, Ron. It feels much the same as my Ron's did. Stronger though.'

At this statement, her face crumbled again.

Ginny sat down at her side and put her arm around her, 'Let it out poppet. I can't imagine what you've gone through.'

Hermione took the invitation and sobbed into her shoulder, 'You even smell like Ginny,' she whispered to Ginny.

Harry stepped back with a pondering look, 'What happened in their world. That could so easily happen here,' he stated simply.

Iris nodded, 'I only saw a small part of it. It is so different there. Something big must have changed. Most of their magic felt vile, even Pansy and Milicent were..., I didn't recognise them. My version of me didn't have this,' Iris waved the ring.

Harry frowned, 'Hermione,' they both turned to him. He addressed Hermione in the bed, 'The Deathly Hallows. What do you know about them in your world?'

Iris frowned, 'We can talk about all this later. Let's not push this.'

Harry put his hands up in an apologetic manner, 'Sorry, I know this is a lot to deal with.'

Hermione wiped her eyes, 'It's ok, Riddle has the elder wand. Albus was poisoned by Quirrell and he stole it from him. Riddle took the cloak from Harry when we were caught,' Hermione paled a little at that memory, 'Dumbledore tried to find the ring but that appears to have been lost. The Iris in our world couldn't do what your Iris can do. Um. Riddle raised Iris from when she was little. I don't know if that is why you are both so different. You feel so different to her. Like it's incredible just how much.'

Ron looked over at Iris, 'How bad was the other version of Iris?' he asked the new Hermione curiously.

Hermione visibly cringed, 'Too soon, Ok, Ron,' she whispered.

Iris nodded sadly. This Hermione was very vulnerable, 'I get it. Truly. I saw her Ron. She made my skin crawl in the way Malfoy did.'

Ron's eyes widened in shock.

'Um. I'll talk to Death about if it's possible to take you all to Equilibrium,' Iris said, 'It would make you feel better. I don't know how it works though. You guys being from a different dimension may block it. Even he might not know. Gabriel will be here later to check on you. He's a brilliant Healer. I'm going to see the others. Daphne and Astoria are panicked by the state of their other selves. Fabio, he's our hairdresser, has been called in for an emergency appointment. We can book you in with him if you like. He's brilliant with hair. He works miracles. Daphne is actually in tears with the shock of seeing herself like that. It was the split ends that tipped her over the edge. Lavender's with them too. I'll give them the Black beauty spell. That will cheer them up a bit. Do you want to help us, Hermione?' she said to a thoughtful, standing Hermione who, caught up in the moment, wrapped her arms tightly around her girlfriend as her counterpart watched in disbelief.

The two of them gazed at each other silently as Iris ran her fingers down the side of Hermione's face, her eyes flashing golden as they smiled warmly to each other before breaking apart and waving nonchalantly to the others before they left. They both left the room as the others watched them silently.

'Don't tell me it's all just in my head ever again, Ginny,' Ron said in a perplexed voice, 'There is definitely something going on there. Neither Hermione nor Iris hugs you like that.'

Ginny had a slight twitch to her mouth, 'They are just very close, very good friends, Ron.'

Ron snorted, 'Yeah. Right. And I'm a pumpkin head.'

Hermione snorted, 'Pumpkinhead,' she repeated. She smiled at Ron, 'Your other self always knew how to make me laugh too. Merlin, he could be infuriating sometimes. The silly arguments we had over the years were so ridiculous. I wish we hadn't wasted so much time,' Hermione started to cry again as the others looked at her with varying expressions, 'Sorry. I was never normally like this. I just. Being here. Being safe. Even if it's just for a little while is more than I ever dared hope for.'

Harry looked stricken. Iris had filled him in on the disturbing future that would happen if they couldn't stop Riddle. He looked over at Ron and Ginny.

'The Resurrection Stone. That is the one major difference. Riddle delayed his plans because of it in this world.'

'Why?' Hermione asked curiously.

'Um. Iris in this world is on speaking terms with Satan. Her aunt Bella is dating Lucifer. Iris opened the portal to Hell up and actually, truly unleashed actual real Hell on the camps in South America. Every Demon and Devil, every Hound and every Dark Angel came out for a night of fun at the Nazis and Death Eaters expense. The Light Angels and Auror's were there too. They did a lot of healing with the help of the Order. It frightened them enough to delay their plans for a few years.'

Hermione gaped, 'Satan?' she whispered.

Ron nodded, 'The Death Eaters and Nazis invaded Britain. Riddle killed her mum and almost killed her dad and then tried to possess her. He's a bloody idiot if you ask me. For revenge she let Death himself possess her for a week. It put Iris in a sort of coma for a year but it was worth it. We all fought alongside him,' Ron added proudly. He had come to terms with that week. After hearing what would have happened and seeing a broken Hermione had given him a newfound justification to that week that had emblazoned itself clearly on his mind.

Ron continued, 'He took over after she took care of Malfoy and Pettigrew herself and opened up the portal to Hell again. That was brilliant. Their faces when the Devils came out of the smoke was unforgettable. She used the silver snakes to take Malfoy apart from the inside. Really gruesome.'

Ginny grimaced. She could still hear the cracking of Pettigrew's legs. She gave Hermione a comforting hug, 'Well, we'll show you the memories in the Black Pensieve to give you an idea of the scale of what happened. The Queen herself gave Iris a licence to kill all the traitors who had infiltrated the Government and Monarchy. She gave us all the order to execute every traitor to Britain,' Hermione's eyebrows went into her hairline, 'It was the week literally from Hell. Needless to say, we are Death Eater and Nazi free now. Well, except for the time-travelling ones. The Muggles also know all about us now. It has worked out better than anyone could have hoped. The enemy of my enemy and all that. It brought us all closer. The Muggles go to Quidditch games now. They really like the Holyhead Harpies. They're playing to sell-out crowds now.'

Hermione blinked at this information from Ginny. She opened her mouth and then closed it.

'Yeah. Things do sound like they went somewhat differently in our world,' Ron said as Hermione sat stunned.

'Bellatrix is dating Lucifer?' she gasped.

'Why does everyone fixate on that part?' Harry wondered aloud.

The new arrival Seamus knocked on the door gently as they invited him in.

They spent the next few hours filling in the newbies on everything that had been happening as the newbies began to feel that little fire build again inside them. They thought it had been extinguished forever. There was still hope here. Hermione could work with that. Seamus had a slight smile on his face. His counterpart was still here too. Neville was alive. He looked at Ron and Harry. Ginny. Faces he never thought he would see again. Like Hermione, he felt the tiny spark again of rebellion.