It was a few hours later that the group emerged from the pensieve with a newfound understanding of this Iris.

'The silver snakes protected us,' young Astoria had said excitedly, 'You looked so tough with it hanging around your neck Daphne.'

'Marcus Flint got caught. Lucius Malfoy was decimated. Did you see that at Kings Cross when those Death Eaters were flung in the portal!.' Lavender squealed.

'Oh, that was fantastic,' young Daphne declared, 'That's twice now I've seen Malfoy scum get fucked up. I see what you mean, Iris. I could watch you do that daily.'

Iris preened at the compliments.

The thin Hermione had watched this version of herself in the Black Pensieve. She had watched herself with her own silver snake being protected. A mountain troll attack. That was how she had made friends with Ron and Harry in her own universe. This Iris had been the first through the portal. She saw Nott broken.

The Ministry battle here was so much different to their own battle. She had seen this world's ferocious Bella fighting Death Eaters with all she had in her. Watched as this worlds Harry stood side by side with Iris and how he somehow managed to turn Riddle's possession against him using Lily's protection. She had gazed at an older and very much alive Draco in fascination. Daphne. Luna. Ginny. A Neville she barely recognised. Ron. She had watched with fear as they were surrounded by hundreds of the sinister corrupt Ministry workers and Death Eaters. She had watched with intent eyes as Iris's eyes turned blood red and unleashed Hell itself.

She had watched Cornelius Fudge ripped apart. Hermione knew Iris had allowed Death himself to possess her. To lead the rebellion against the Nazi and Death Eater infiltration of Britain. The strain on her body and magic had cost her almost a year of her life. This Iris was not anything like the Iris she had known. This Iris was a true Gryffindor personified.

Hermione showed them the Burrow in this world. Her heart had leapt at the sight of all of the Weasley's very much alive here. All flaming red hair and aggression fighting alongside Iris. She closed her eyes. And she felt anger.

They had all emerged from the Pensieve and the mood in the room was fresher somehow. The new arrivals looked at this Iris with a lot less caution than they had.

The emaciated Hermione looked helplessly at Iris, 'Why wasn't it like that in our world? Why didn't we get you instead of her? It isn't fair!' she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Iris's face fell, 'None of this is fair. It hasn't been a walk in the park for us either. What you have all gone through is very much on the cards for us if we can't stop this. You don't think I'm not worried every minute of the day about the people I love?' she said to the other Hermione quietly, 'Why do you think we're fighting against them so hard? We are using everything we can get our hands on to fight this. I mean, you've seen the memories. I had to open Hell up to just get that filth out of our country. One country. What about the rest of the world? What is happening now, right now, right this minute, turns my stomach. Have you any idea what we've gone through? What we're having to put ourselves through to get to that bastard's Horcruxes? They killed my mum, Hermione. Don't think this is any easier for us. We're trying to make the best of it but we're all scared of the future. Why do you think I believed I was in an illusion of my own worst fears when I was in your world for so long? Seeing you all like that was...,' Iris bit her lip and gulped back a sob.

The Hermione Iris barely recognised looked at this Iris with the sudden clarity of understanding the situation.

Both Hermione's felt a little awkward for their assumptions earlier. Iris had simply been convinced what she was witnessing was her worst nightmare.

'The power to vanquish the Dark Lord. It's love,' the new Hermione whispered, 'Dumbledore always said it was but I couldn't quite believe it. That's the difference here. The ring is love. Everything it does is to protect those you care for. That's why it works so well for you.'

'Well, yes. Lily's protection of Harry was old magic. The Peverell ring is old magic. Rebirth. Resurrection. It opens up the tunnel between worlds. Gabriel has a theory that this ring has absorbed the power of the other universes rings to protect itself from Riddle's further abuses. Death told me to only use this to protect others from evil,' Iris said to a Hermione who had finally worked it out.

This thin Hermione in front of her was confusing for Iris. Her magic reached out for her and merged in a similar way as it did with her own Hermione. The way this Hermione looked at her made her feel so desolate though.

Iris stiffened as her eyes went blank for a moment. The others in the room watched this with uncertainty. She tilted her head as if listening to something. They watched a small smile cross her face as her eyes returned to normal.

They all looked at her strangely.

'Death said it will be safe for you to go to visit Equilibrium. That you have each earnt your place in it. He said it would be wise for each of you to go. You need to start healing.'

'What does that mean?' Lavender said, 'Earnt our place?'

'Did you all fight against Riddle?' The healthy-looking Hermione asked.

'We all tried if that's what you mean. We helped Harry as much as we could but how do you fight against a Wizard that destructive?' young Daphne said in curiosity.

'You made your choice,' Hermione said to them as her eyes flashed, 'Even though it was hopeless in your world. You still stood against him.'

Iris pondered this, 'In the Great Hall in their world, not one of those I threw into the portal to Hell was rejected.'

The new arrivals stared at her, 'That fire portal went to actual Hell?!' Seamus stuttered.

Iris nodded, 'It will only let those who truly deserved it in.'

'They are all in Hell now?' Lavender clarified.

Iris nodded, 'I think so anyway. I didn't have time to meet your version of Satan. It felt the same though.'

'Actual Hell. As in Demons and Devils?' younger Daphne clarified.

'Yes. The ring lets me visit. I met Lucifer when I was little. He's been a big help to us. I visit occasionally. It's very hot there. I can't take you there for a tour. It blocks people who shouldn't be there. There can't be any mistakes.'

The new arrivals had to sit down promptly, 'So that's where you sent them,' Lavender said in wonder, 'Good. They deserve it.'

'Well. You know the saying. He who laughs last, laughs loudest,' Iris said to them all, 'It's called justice.'

'Did your counterpart go through it?' healthy Hermione said with interest.

Iris shook her head, 'No. I thought about that. Her body did. But I had killed her before that. I don't know what the decision of the veil would be regarding her,' Iris had been told the events of her counterpart's history, 'She never had any choice. Riddle would have warped and poisoned her from the moment he set eyes on her. Driven her insane from childhood. She would have been separated from her Horcrux blood. She may have been given the option to reincarnate in those circumstances. There have been similar cases where a person's memory is wiped and their souls start over. The veil considers other factors.'

The two Hermione's glanced at each other.

'So. Does any of you fancy a trip?' Iris asked them.

The thin Hermione glanced at the others who looked a little anxious, 'I'll go first. I always like to expand my knowledge.'

Iris smiled at her Hermione, 'Some things never change.'

The veil doorway to Equilibrium opened up as the new arrivals jumped back and stared at it, 'I know it's odd for you but you need to hold my hand and do not let go for any reason as you won't be able to get back. I act as an anchor,' Iris told the nervous-looking girl.

Thin Hermione pulled her shoulders back and abruptly pushed out her hand.

'That's it. A true Gryffindor to the end,' Iris said in a soft voice.

'Are you sure your ok doing this, Iris?' Lavender asked.

'Very. I love taking people through for their first look. Seeing their faces is something that never gets old,' Iris told them.

'You'll love it there,' Daphne said to her in a comforting voice, 'It puts it all in perspective. It really does. It will be night time there but the magic still feels the same as in the day.'

The healthy Hermione gave her counterpart a reassuring grin as Iris took her bony hand.

The thin Hermione gave a jolt as the magic flared up between them sending waves through them as she glanced at her counterpart who had a raised eyebrow.

'Is the magic always like that with you two?' she asked Iris who blushed a little and nodded.

'Ok. Understanding a bit more about you both,' the thin girl said in a bemused fashion.

Looking around Iris waved goodbye to the group, 'Hermione. Why don't you put on Austin? It's the last of the new films for a while. Hollywood is currently in lockdown. Bugger this all. Is nothing sacred?!'

Whatever this version of Hermoine was expecting nothing could quite have prepared her for the reality of it. The stars flickered and glittered for endless miles as they took a slow walkthrough. Iris took her to the edge as they looked down. Hermione was very quiet as she took it all in.

'This is the bridge then?'

'Yes. Gabriel has never known it to happen before. Neither has Lucifer. They always used the Astral plane before to travel to Earth.'

They came to the other end as Hermione stared at the portal to Hell for a long time.

'It's all real,' she stated simply as her eyes darted around the portal.

Iris took her to the portal to Equilibrium.

'Ready?' Iris asked.

This Hermione nodded and seemed to stare at Iris for the longest time, 'Our Iris could have been like you if not for Riddle,' she said in a strained voice.

Iris sighed, 'Riddle can only corrupt. The damage he has done to so many lives is limitless.'

With a deep breath, Hermione and Iris pushed through the veil into limbo and made their way out.

Hermione was in wonder. Her logical mind drank it all in. The music. The sounds and smells. The white magic rippling through her. Iris took her to her favourite place. The waterfall.

'I used to come here a lot when I was little. It calmed me down. Made me realise how small I was. How big all this was around me. It keeps me humble. I'm just one cog in all of this. I like to sit here sometimes. Draco loves it here. So does my Hermione.'

Hermione turned around at the mention of her counterparts name, 'Why her?' she asked with interest.

Iris smiled. She liked talking about Hermione. They were still keeping things low key so she was limited who she could discuss this with.

'She accepted me from the start. Most people only saw Riddle when they looked at me. She just saw me. I think it helped she grew up in the Muggle world. She hadn't been exposed to the fear for as long. We were friends first. I'll show you some memories. I like that she is so opinionated. She doesn't take any nonsense. She is very sweet sometimes. Loyal. Brave. I trust her with my life,' Iris said with a small smile.

Hermione smiled, 'And Fleur Delacour?' she teased. Equilibrium was humming through her. She hadn't felt this alive in years.

Iris blushed beet red, 'Hermione told you about that, did she?' she asked quietly.

Hermione smiled, 'Of course she told me. It isn't something that gets forgotten. She said you two were like magnets. It helped us bond. It made me smile.'

Iris gave a wry look, 'She's never going to let me live that one down, is she?'

Hermione shook her head, 'I know I wouldn't,' she laughed. It was so much like her Hermione's laugh that Iris stilled for a moment.

'Fleur was an awakening. I defy anyone to not question themselves with Fleur in the same room. She answered a lot of questions I had about myself,' Iris said honestly.

'Touche. I thought the Fleur in our world was very arrogant, but yes. There is no denying her ethereal good looks.'

'Fleur is a sweetheart when you get to know her properly,' Iris said warmly, 'But, she isn't Hermione.'

This Hermione looked at Iris swiftly then, 'Is she the one, then?'

Iris blushed at this, 'I hope so. I want her to be. If we survive this war then we want to go the distance.'

'What if it all goes to Hell like it did in my world?' Hermione asked her seriously.

Iris glanced at her, 'If it ever got as bad as your world I'd burn it all down rather than let Riddle get his hands on this Earth. He knows it too. His recent actions scream it. He's resorting to butchering the timeline. He's desperate. Frightened. He knows we're getting closer to ending him.'

And didn't that send a frosty chill down Hermione's back? She already knew enough about this Iris to know every word she spoke was sincere. Her eyes went to the Peverell ring. This Iris had the power to do what she promised. The fact that Voldemort himself was terrified made Hermione's head spin.

'How about you?' Iris changed the morose subject, 'How are you finding it here?'

'Hermione is wonderful. The Grangers too. It is so nice to have civil conversations about normal things. Like white goods and the supermarket. I've missed that so much.'

Iris smirked, 'It always amazes me that the daughter of two dentists can be so hardcore.'

Hermione grinned, 'I can't believe the ultimate Pureblood princess of the Wizarding World is dating a Muggleborn in this world.'

Iris had a thoughtful look on her face, 'The Pureblood ideology is twisted. I've studied it for years. It cannot be sustained. Salazar told me himself he got it wrong. Genetics are more important than magic. It's why we're in this mess. The Gaunt family saga should be taught at Hogwarts. Mental instability is rife within Pureblood circles. It's Hermione who is taking the risk of being with me. We're honest with each other. She knows everything. No secrets. I see a therapist. I have moments where all this does get to me, but I know how to handle it now. I think. I've told her if I do lose my mind to move on.'

Hermione gasped at this, 'She'd stick with you.'

Iris turned to her then and shook her head, 'I love her too much to condemn her to that fate.'

Hermione couldn't think of anything to say to that. She sat quietly then and watched the waterfall.

'It's beautiful here.'

Iris nodded, 'It's my second home.'

They sat there for some time as they both absorbed the white magic.

'What do you think of your version of Ron here?' Hermione asked her a little too casually as the breeze brushed through them.

'Ron's great. We've been friends since we were little. He was a little bit distant with me at first. So was his dad, but you know. I get it. Having Riddle's granddaughter sat at your kitchen table would make a lot of people edgy. Over time that changed. I mean, his eating habits are deplorable and he can be a bit of a bitch sometimes,' Hermione gave a smile. 'But, he is one of those people you can always rely on.'

'What's he like? How was he growing up?' Hermione sounded curious.

'He was a bit insecure when we were younger. He would lash out sometimes if he felt someone was putting him down and he was a bit jealous of Harry's fame when we were little. But, what with Riddle coming back and all the stuff happening in the world it made him grow up. I think with the battle he proved to himself he has the right stuff. He never once left Harry's side that whole week. They've been friends since they were both tiny. They're like Fred and George now. Inseparable. He fought against Death Eaters, Nazis. Protected people. He knows now what he's truly made of. He has self-respect. It goes a long way.'

The Hermione next to her took all of this in, 'My Ron never got the chance to truly prove himself. He fought well at the Burrow to give Harry and me time to get away but he was brought down in the end. Seeing him die in front of me was more painful than I could have imagined. It's a cliche I know but a part of me died with him.'

'Is it difficult seeing another Ron here?' Iris asked, 'We thought it best to give you some time to get used to this world. It clearly makes you emotional seeing these versions of them here so they are giving you space and keeping away for now.'

Hermione gasped, 'Oh. No. Not at all. They don't need to do that. It's nice of them to consider me but it's the opposite really. It makes me feel better seeing them. I feel stronger.'

Iris smiled, 'Good. I'll let them know. Neville and Draco want to visit too. So does Parvati. We wanted to give you all some time to adjust before we bombarded you all. Although young Astoria needs to be made aware that this Draco is already spoken for,' Iris grinned.

Hermione looked curious, 'What's this Draco like?'

'You saw him in the memories. He's a fighter. He gets on very well with Hermione. They study together a lot. He's very smart. He was a big help in the Room of Requirement when we were training. He picks up spells very quickly and helped the others learn them. He's very close to Daphne in this world. He gets on well with Neville. He's alright with the others. They don't hang out for fun. They are very different people but the end goal is the same. They trust each other. That's what's important. Not playing exploding chess together.'

Hermione mused on this, 'Choices. This Earth gave people a choice to fight against Riddle.'

'Yeah. Draco saw a way to escape from Riddle and his father and he grabbed it with both hands. He goes by the name Black now. His mother and he both changed their surnames as fast as they could when they left Lucius. Gabriel told me to trust them. He knew Draco was vulnerable.'

'Do you think I'll ever see them again?' Hermione asked Iris quietly.

Iris looked up at the night sky that stretched on into infinity, 'Considering the number of so-called impossible things I've witnessed happen in my life, I can genuinely say it's a possibility. They all still exist. They are just somewhere else. We call our friends and family in Equilibrium as being just over the hill. It helps us.'

It was that which cheered Hermione up the most.

'There is a planet here called Origin that deals with all those sorts of things. I would imagine dimensional travel could be a lot easier than on Earth. Apparition is easy peasy here compared to Earth. Rowena and Salazar have studied the magic of the ring. They have discovered a lot. I reckon, in time, they will find a way to reach out to the others.'

It was with a much lighter heart that Hermione returned with Iris to the tunnel.

'You may find when we go back through you will find some physical improvements. I know Gabriel healed you but people find they feel a lot better, in general, coming back. I'm not sure what the different dimension effects will be,' Iris told her.

Hermione looked intrigued as they eased back through the veil. Iris became startled as she watched this Hermione morph quickly into her Hermione.

'Blimey! That worked brilliantly,' Iris exclaimed.

This Hermione looked as amazed as Iris as she patted herself down. She lifted her sleeve and saw the smooth skin unmarked by scars.

She couldn't speak as Iris pulled her further along the star-filled tunnel and through the swirls of magic back to the others.

Seamus was the first up in astonishment as his eyes swivelled between the two Hermione's.

'Groovy, baby,' he said with a grin.

'Extreme makeover,' Lavender said in a hushed, reverent whisper. She jostled the two younger Greengrass sisters out the way and grabbed onto Iris.

'Me next,' she said in a tone that did not invite argument.

Iris gave a wry grin. It would be a while until she would see Austin.