May 2nd, 2001 was not a good day for Hermione Granger. She woke up this morning and was reminded, that three years ago today, the Battle of Hogwarts took place. Now, most of the wizards and witches were rejoicing that this day marked the Dark Lord's death. However, the day was a painful reminder to the families and friends, of those that were lost, on how that their loved ones were still gone. Hermione, even though she was happy that Voldemort was gone, was a part of the latter group. As she got ready to go to her job at the ministry, she remembered those that were lost. Tonks, Remus, Fred, and many others who were lost during the war were on Ganger's mind as she left her flat that morning. She thought about Fred's death the most. In Hermione's mind, she always felt like she could have prevented his death. She always thought she had the chance to push him out of the way, but she didn't do it. She felt extremely guilty, even though she knew that it wasn't her fault. Hermione always kept this to herself, though, and never told anyone about it.

Since her mind was so preoccupied this morning, she forgot to wake Ron and tell him goodbye. This day was also a reminder that it had been three years and Ron still did not have a job. Hermione tried very hard to not let this bother her, though. She understood that Ron needed time. Well, she tried to understand. Hermione was able to move on the best she could after the war. She went back to Hogwarts for her seventh year, and after that, she started working for the Ministry. She could understand why Harry and Ron didn't go back to Hogwarts. She understood why they spent that year off exploring, and trying to figure out who they were and how to live a normal life. What Hermione couldn't wrap her head around was why Ron didn't try to find work like Harry did after the year was over. She prayed that he would wake up one day and find work. She prayed that he would wake up and finally be ready to end the engagement period and get married. However, Hermione knew that, for now, she needed to try and understand Ron.

Hermione's day did not get any better. She was told by Jackson, who also worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, that rights for house elves were not that important, that she was wasting her time on it, and that she only got this job because of her so-called "status in society." On any normal day, this wouldn't have bothered Hermione. She would have rolled her eyes and walked away. However, today was not the day for Jackson to bring that up. Hermione stood there just glaring at Jackson. She wanted to shout that her "status in society" was only there because she had to fight in a war when she should have been out being a normal teenager. She wanted to scream at the man about how so many house-elves died at the Battle of Hogwarts so he could be standing where he was today. She wanted to cry because she remembered Dobby and the sacrifices that he had made for her, her friends, and the entire wizarding world. However, Hermione said none of those things to Jackson. She was too mad to speak, so she just glared at him until he got the hint and just walked away.

It also didn't help Hermione's day when Harry came by to tell her that they still could not find her parents. Her parents had left Australia shortly after the Battle of Hogwarts was through. Hermione found it painfully ironic that they disappeared right when everything was safe and their memories could be restored. While Harry was there, he did ask her to identify a potion he had brought with him.

"Do you know what this is?" Harry asked and handed her the old, blue potion. Hermione took it and looked at it to see that it had a label on it. It read "Mutante Erroribus." Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. Harry had one of the strongest potions in the world, and he didn't know what it was. Hermione concluding that he must not have seen the label.

"Harry, it has a label on it."

"I know that Hermione! I just don't know what it is!"

"Alright! You don't have to yell."

"Sorry, Hermione."

"It's ok. Harry, do you really not know what this is?" Hermione asked just to make sure he really didn't know what it was.

"Should I?"

"Yes, Harry, you should. It's one of the strongest potions in the world!" Hermione said and stood with the potion in her hands. She looked down at it with disbelief that she was actually holding it.

"Well, what does it do, why haven't heard of it before now, and why are some many former Death Eaters and Voldemort sympathizers after it?" Harry agitatedly asked. Hermione gasped. She knew, if the Death Eaters got a hold of this potion, all of the fighting would have gone to waste. That all of the people who died would have died in vain.

"Harry, this potion allows the drinker to go back in time and fix their greatest mistake. It leads them to their mistake and makes them fix it. The drinker loses all free will and the potion controls them and fixes the mistake. Once the mistake is fixed, the drinker is freed, and they go on living their new life from that point. They don't get to return to present day. It is a guaranteed second chance at life. If any Death Eaters get their hands on this, they could go back and prevent Voldemort from dying, or they could go back and kill you when they had the chance," Hermione explained.

"Then why are there not a whole bunch a Death Eaters brewing this potion? Why are they all after this one vial" Harry asked while pointing at the blue potion.

"It's because this vial shouldn't even exist. Harry, the main ingredient of Mutante Erroribus is Neomaconia nitida. It's a moss that is only found in some parts of Ontario, Canada. If that doesn't make it hard to make already, then here is something that makes it impossible. The Ministry banned the potion in 1850. If that still isn't enough, Neomaconia nitida went extinct in 1864. Mutante Erroribus can't be brewed anymore. It is impossible to replace the moss, and the potion still work. Harry, you have the last vial of Mutante Erroribus ever. That's why all the Death Eaters want it," Hermione said. It was silent for a moment as Harry processed all the information Hermione just said.

"Hermione, they told me I have to find a place to hide it," Harry finally said.

"Where are you thinking of putting it?"

"I have no idea," Harry said as he sat down and put his head in his hands. Hermione slowly sat down and looked at her best friend. She had hoped that after the war had ended that they would get to live normal lives and that Harry could finally be happy without having to worry about the Dark Lord ever coming back.

"Well here we are three years later and the same stuff keeps happening," Hermione bitterly thought. Harry finally looked up at her.

"Hermione, you have to keep it," Harry said. Hermione was shocked.

"Harry! I-"

"I need time to think of how to destroy it or hide it. I just need some time, and the first place Death Eaters are going to come looking is me," Harry said standing up. Hermione knew that Death Eaters would be coming after her as well, but she saw this pleading look in his eyes. A plead for time. Hermione sighed.

"Fine," Hermione said. Harry smiled and went around her desk to give Hermione a hug.

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said as he hugged her.

"You know I would do anything for you," Hermione said as they pulled away, which was true. Hermione would do anything for her best friends, even if it meant she had to give up her happiness for the sake of her friend's.

Harry stuck around for a little bit more after that. He and Hermione just talked about a few things. Hermione talked about how terrible her day had been going, and Harry talked about his newest adventures as being an Auror. It was if for a second they were normal adults, and the pressure of having to save the wizarding world was not just thrust back onto their shoulders. When Harry finally said good-bye and left, Hermione discovered that she had to work through her lunch break to be able to get all of her work done. If that wasn't enough, Ron started owling her over and over again. Each time, asking her a different question. Now, Hermione knows that this shouldn't have bothered her. It was something so small and insignificant, and Ron didn't know she wasn't having a good day. However, it still did bother her. It irked Hermione because it reminded her that Ron still did not have a job, and it made her jealous. It made her jealous because he got to stay home today and grieve, while she had to go and work. The silver lining was that Ron was asking where things like "Where's the champagne?" and "Where's the vase that we use to hold flowers?" This, in Hermione's mind, meant that Ron was planning something special for her; which she needed at the moment. She needed to get rid of all the stress, pressure, sorrow, and just plain negativity she had been feeling all day.

So, now, Hermione walked home from work, finding that she would rather walk than apparate. She always loved doing things the muggle way, and she figured that's what she needed after the terrible day she had. All she needed to do now was get home and see what Ron had planned for her. She thought of all the different things Ron might have planned. It was very rare for Ron to do some huge romantic gesture. It just what he was like. However, when he did, it was very touching and thoughtful. He would make sure every little thing was perfect. Hermione loved these moments between Ron and herself. It reminded her of why she fell in love with him in the first place. As she now climbed up the stairs to the flat she shared with Ron, she was trying to decide if she should tell him about the potion or not. The logical side of Hermione told her that this is an urgent matter that needed to be discussed right away. However, another part of her didn't want to give up her potentially romantic night with Ron. Hermione, having just arrived outside of the flat, stood there staring at the door. To Hermione, it felt like the potion was now burning a hole in the pocket of her pants, where she had safely tucked it away, while she contemplated her decision. Hermione finally decided to listen to her logical side and tell Ron about the potion. There would probably be several other romantic things Ron would plan. She just needed to give up this one. As Hermione unlocked the door of her flat, a strange feeling of dread and warning came over her. She passed it off as her being nervous to tell Ron about the potion. As Hermione opened the door to her flat, she swallowed her nervousness and prepared to tell Ron. However, when she opened the door and stepped in, the sight shocked her.

Hermione dropped her bag in disbelief. In this moment, Hermione completely forgot about the potion and was reminded of how she always had known, in the back of her mind, that she and Ron would never work out. She stared at Ron and this mysterious, blonde woman. They stared back at her with the look of a deer that was caught in headlights. They were sitting at the dining room table together. There was a bottle of champagne, a home cooked meal, and vase with flowers in the middle of the table. Some many things were rushing through Hermione's mind. Some many questions she wanted to ask. So many things she wanted to say. So many things she wanted to scream. However, Hermione could only say only one thing.

"Why?" she asked simply. She had no energy to cry. She felt empty. Ron turned towards the blonde woman, and then stood and turned back towards Hermione.

"You're supposed to get home at seven," Ron stated.

"I get home at six every day," Hermione said finding it sad that Ron knew so little about their day to day life. The life they have had for three years.

"Why?" Hermione asked again. Ron still didn't answer.

"Why?" Hermione asked with a bit more anger. Ron stood there in fear. He still didn't answer.

"Were you somehow too lonely? Am I not enough for you anymore? Do you not love me anymore? Do you not know?" Hermione said as she shut the door and took one step closer to Ron with every question she asked. Ron stared at her with tears in his eyes. Hermione scoffed. He was the one cheating and he had the nerve to cry.

"I am giving you answers, Ron! Answer me!" Hermione yelled as she started to cry, and the emptiness inside her was now filled with sorrow and anger.

"'Mione, I'm so-"

"Don't 'Mione' me. I want answers Ronald Weasley!"

"I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!" Ron screamed as he to started to cry. Hermione didn't know what to say. She had given that as an example of an answer, but it hurt. It hurt to hear him say those words after ten years of depending on each other.

"Are you happy, now?" Ron asked", I gave you an answer."

All Hermione could do was look down at the ground and give a simple nod in response. The blonde woman stood and walked over to Ron's side.

"I'm so sorry," the woman began to say", If I had known..."

Hermione looked up and was about to say something to the woman, but she noticed something. One of the sleeves on the woman's long sleeved, black dress had rolled up, and it revealed a very shocking symbol: a dark mark. Hermione stared at Ron as she reached into her pocket and grabbed both her wand and the potion.

"What have you done?" Hermione said before Harry's Patronus ran into the room.

"Hermione! They know! They know you have it! Run! Hide it!" Harry's voice rang out before the Stag Patronus disappeared.

"Hermione what's going-"

"STUPEFY!"

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

Ron was launched across the room and knocked out by the blonde woman, and Hermione sent the woman's wand sailing shortly after. Hermione kept the potion in one hand, and her wand pointing at the woman in her other hand.

"Make a move for your wand and you'll regret it," Hermione threatened. The woman just laughed.

"What?" Hermione asked confused. She had the upper hand here, not her.

"Don't you see? It's too late! More people are on the way, and I doubt you can take on ten of us all on your own! Your little savior friend is probably dead by now, and you and ginger over there will die soon! So it doesn't matter what you do now, or what you do to me! It's too late! We already won!" the woman said while letting out a maniacal laugh. She laughed as Hermione struggled to think of what to do next. She could hear the sound of people rushing up the stairs, so she needed to think fast. It was too late to flee. She couldn't throw the potion down. They could easily use a spell to put the bottle back together and put the liquid back in it. Hermione heard the Death Eaters getting even closer, and she felt the dread of knowing that the golden trio had finally lost. Then, suddenly, Hermione remembered the one thing she could do. Hermione used her teeth to take the cork out of the bottle. She could go back to earlier today and tell Harry that they needed to find a place right then and there to hide the Mutante Erroribus.

"What are you doing?!" the woman screeched.

"Fixing this," Hermione said as she then proceeded to drink the blue liquid in one gulp. Hermione dropped the vial to the ground and heard it smash. Everything in her felt like it was twisting around, and all she could see was the tears in her eyes and her life rewinding before her. As she neared the part where Harry entered her office, she braced herself for everything to stop. However, Hermione simply passed by the part when Harry entered her office.

"NO!" Hermione screamed.

"This isn't supposed to happen. It was supposed to stop back there," she thought. Everything was moving at top notch speed now. As the past three years flew by, Hermione could feel herself shrinking and changing. The pain became too unbearable and she blacked out. In a few simple moments, Hermione felt and saw nothing. In this time, she tried to recollect herself. However, that was sadly interrupted.

"HERMIONE, WATCH OUT!"

Hermione saw a spell come flying towards her. She deflected it and sent another one sailing towards the Death Eater that sent it her way. Hermione didn't know how she did that, but quickly realized that is was because the potion was now controlling her every action. Hermione looked around and saw where she was: The Battle of Hogwarts. She was now standing with Harry, Ron, Fred, and Percy, dueling two masked Death Eaters. She was in her eighteen-year-old body again and confused as to why she was there. Hermione had thought her greatest mistake was letting Harry give the potion to her instead of making him find a place to hide it right then and there. What was she doing back at the Battle of Hogwarts? She felt the potion casting spell after spell for her, and Hermione felt extreme anxiety as to not being able to control her own body. Suddenly, one of the hoods on the Death Eaters slipped, and it was revealed to be the new Minister of Magic, Thicknesse.

"Hello, Minister! Did I mention I'm resigning?" said Percy as he sent a curse his way causing Thicknesse to claw at his robes in discomfort. This is when Hermione realized what was about to happen. She was going to witness Fred's death all over again, and this time she didn't even have the option of saving him. Hermione just knew the potion wouldn't let her.

"You joking, Perce!" Fred yelled as the other Death Eater collapsed to the ground. Hermione felt like she was going to puke from all the dread and anxiety, and she would have if the potion was not controlling her. Everything seemed to move slowly now because she knew the next few words would be his last.

"You actually are joking Perce! I don't think I've heard you joke since you were-"

Suddenly, the potion made Hermione run straight into Fred, and she pushed him out of the way just as the explosion happened; which caused them to go flying off in the same direction together. She screamed as they fell to the ground. Hermione rolled a couple of feet away. Once she stopped rolling, Hermione quickly stood up and felt the potion let go of her. She had free will again.

"Hermione, are you ok?" she heard Harry call out to her. Hermione ran back over to her friends.

"Yes!" she yelled as she ran up to Harry, Ron, and Percy. She saw that Fred was not there and looked around. Dread rose within her when she couldn't see Fred. Hermione began to cry. She couldn't handle having to sit by and watch him die again, especially since she did try to save him this time. Then, she saw something rise from the rubble. Hermione's tears of sorrow turned into tears of joy when Fred came running up to them. As he reached them, Percy engulfed Fred in a hug.

"Woah there Perce," Fred winced but still returned the hug", I am bruised."

Percy let go of his brother and turned to Hermione.

"You saved him," Percy said.

"I...What?" Hermione said as her mind seemed to be catching up with her and she tried to process all that was happening. The potion kept making her move forward and didn't let her stop and accept what was happening. Now that she had free will again, Hermione was trying to recollect herself.

"You saved him," Percy repeated as he gestured to where Fred stood before she pushed him. It was now covered with gigantic pieces of the castle. Fred glanced over at where he once stood then back at Hermione.

"Wow, Granger, quick thinking there. Thank you," Fred said in his usual joking tone, but Hermione could tell that there was some gratitude and shock lingering beneath it all. Hermione didn't have time to reply as more spells shot past their heads.

"Get down!" Harry yelled, and Hermione felt herself be pulled to the floor by Harry and Ron. Now, Hermione tried her best to focus on the task at hand, but all she could think of was that she was back at the Battle of Hogwarts and that not saving Fred Weasley was somehow her biggest mistake in life.