A/N: The pace of this story is much slower than the first installment. The beginning focuses on Hermione and Harry's relationship and trauma recovery. This is AU and diverges from HBP. Reading Hermione Granger and the Wounds of Time isn't completely necessary, there's enough summary through the initial chapters, but some things might not make complete sense without that background.

Chapter 1: Reverberations

April 2, 1998 | 12 Grimmauld Place

Books covered the aged table in the dining room. Pages flipped on their own accord as a quill made neat, tiny notes on an ink-stained parchment. Hermione checked the progress of her spell to summarize ingredients of all potions related to memory. Satisfied it was still annotating relevant information, she focused her attention back on her advanced transfiguration theory text. Her studies commandeered most of the long table.

Harry walked into the room and noted the familiar piles of books and parchment. He cleared a small corner for himself, setting down his coffee and unrolling the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. They were still working on repairing and cleaning 12 Grimmauld Place to make it liveable. More liveable. It had served them well when they had been on the run, but now, they were truant students, legally of age to do magic, technically still Hogwarts age for another three months. He and Hermione were still awkwardly trying to work out what was normal life. Skimming the headlines, he looked up at his girlfriend. Their approaches to finding normalcy were radically different. She insisted on taking her N.E.W.T. exams before considering the ministry's offer for employment. Offers, to be more precise. On the other hand, he had jumped at the chance to join the Auror's office immediately to assist in rounding up Death Eaters and Voldemort supporters.

Sensing his focus on her, Hermione let out a small sigh. "Did you decide on your partner?" she asked, not looking up.

"Tonks," he said simply.

"I see," she replied knowingly.

"It wasn't a simple decision, Hermione. I'm a rookie and she's one of the most senior Aurors in the department now," he justified his indecisiveness. Partner assignments had been shuffled around for weeks as the new head of the office, Henry Williamson, tried to rebuild the organization. "I've already gotten a special dispensation to be there without a single N.E.W.T. to show for it."

"I would think being the Chosen One was the only N.E.W.T. needed," she said with a smirk, finally looking up. Knowing it would get a rise out of him. She watched the momentary offense transform to realization that she was teasing him. "Tonks picked you a week ago."

He stood and walked over to her side of the table. Purposely sitting on top of the book she had just been reading, he cupped her chin with his hand, leaned in, and kissed her. He pulled back, surprised to see she still had a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"Snape is coming over today," she said, laughing outright when he stood straight.

"You really know how to ruin a moment," he said and returned to his seat, smoothing out the paper. "How long will he be here?"

"A few hours. He's helping me study for my potions practical today and Professor McGonagall is coming Sunday for a final transfiguration lesson," she explained, returning to her text. "He'll be gone before you get home."

Harry grunted in acknowledgment.

"We could invite him to stay for dinner," she said and let the silence hang longer than necessary. Looking up again, she saw he was clearly trying to figure out if she was still giving him a hard time or not. "Honestly, Harry. He saved my life."

"You saved your life," Harry countered. He might have more respect for the actions of his former professor knowing the entire story but it still hadn't made up for the years of bullying he endured.

The pair continued in silence for several minutes.

Trying to read the article summarizing upcoming trials, Harry's mind dwelt on the actions Hermione took at the end of the war. Thoughts he had kept to himself for weeks that were starting to overwhelm him. He had to reread the same sentence ten times before giving up. Letting the paper fall flat to the table he watched her again. They both had trauma left unprocessed. It had been barely a month since Voldemort was defeated. The wizarding community was still investigating the damage done to the ministry, Hogwarts was still rebuilding. The scars that could be seen were dark and ugly. Harry knew the scars they couldn't see were worse. The pair had danced around the emotional fallout expertly. He was ready to be done avoiding the questions. "Hermione," he started and wasn't surprised when she acknowledged him without giving him her full attention. In fact he had been counting on it. "When did you realize I was a Horcrux?"

She visibly tensed but didn't betray any additional reaction to his question. "Um. I don't know exactly," she said, hoping he wouldn't push.

"Hermione," he said quietly.

Finally looking up, she leaned back in her chair. Sensing he was determined to have the conversation, she studied him. "I didn't really know until we were…"

"Dead?"

"In limbo," she corrected.

He didn't press further on that experience. It was an entirely different conversation for a different day. "You suspected. When?"

Hermione rubbed her face, trying to physically push the memories and fear back. "At the Burrow. Before the wedding," she admitted. "I was studying Secrets of the Darkest Arts at night when everyone else was asleep."

"If you knew-"

"- suspected."

"If you suspected I was a Horcrux, why did you risk your life with the Umbra? At Azkaban. Why didn't you just take the locket and let the part of Voldemort's soul that was in me, protect me?"

"Because I didn't know."

It wasn't an adequate answer. For either of them.

"Maybe I didn't want to believe it. Even if my suspicions were true, there was no safe way to test my theory. I watched a dementor ignore you while you were wearing the necklace, but what if one Horcrux wasn't enough? I couldn't risk you in order to correct my mistake," she explained, tears welling in her eyes, refusing to fall.

He suddenly felt guilty pushing her. Standing, he made his way around the table again. Taking her hands, he pulled her to her feet and into a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

She hugged him tight, then pushed back to look in his eyes. "I wasn't at my most rational state when we were working to save Albus. I'm not proud of that and I know I made several errors in judgment."

"You could have confided in me," he said, smoothing her hair back.

"Well, that would have required me to be honest with myself," she told him simply. Further explanation was stopped abruptly by the doorbell.

"Gerty has got it, Master Hermione!" The house elf yelled enthusiastically.

Hermione took a step back from Harry. Wiped her eyes. She looked at the clock. It was far too early for the visitor to be Snape.

"Master Albus!" Gerty's cry of excitement echoed through the halls.

"Albus?" Hermione asked aloud.

Dumbledore appeared in the threshold of the dining area, trying to keep up with the house elf's babbling.

"...and I talked to Kreacher last week to make sure he still wanted to stay at Hogwarts and Gerty was so happy he did so Gerty could stay here with Master Hemione. She's not very good at cleaning spells."

Hermione's ears turned red and she stepped forward to welcome her friend. "Albus. What brings you into the city? Can we get you some tea?"

"Gerty will get it!" Gerty yelled excitedly and ran to the kitchen.

"Come sit," Hermione started, noted the piles of books. With a wave of her wand, they were stacked neatly in mid air, shuttled out of the dining room, and into a nearby study. "I can clean…" she said under her breath and stumbled slightly when her weight was over her bad hip as she swiveled at the same time. She hoped no one else noticed but saw the look of concern on both Albus' and Harry's faces. Trying to wave it off, she motioned to the table.

"Yes, well it's not a topic that would have been a priority is it?" Dumbledore offered a supportive hand as she sat, helping her recover from her fleeting weakness. "I'm sorry to intrude. And at such an early hour. I'm on my way to the ministry."

"Draco's hearing starts today," Harry said, looking down at the Daily Prophet.

"Yes. None of these hearings are simple, but he is still considered a Hogwarts student. Expediting his case is in everyone's interest. Kingsley is firm on ensuring each accused is given an opportunity for full consideration of extenuating circumstances," Dumbledore explained diplomatically. "He doesn't want to repeat a rush to judgment like Sirius's treatment."

Hermione accepted a tea cup from Gerty, casting a look of sympathy at Harry. While the house elf made the rounds, Hermione turned and looked intently at Albus. "I'm an extenuating circumstance." It was a simple statement with implications that were anything but simple.

"To put a point on it. There is audio evidence that he used the cruciatus curse against you. Multiple times. It's unnecessary to call you as a witness. He's also admitted to his crime and appears quite repentant."

"What are you asking, Albus?" Hermione said with an edge, setting her cup down.

Harry still wasn't used to his girlfriend's familiarity with the headmaster. Looking quickly between the two, there didn't seem to be any discomfort from Dumbledore with her forthrightness.

"His most serious crimes were committed against you. He's even submitted to legilimency to confirm this. As Harry knows, his entire family has been instrumental in not just finding Death Eaters but providing evidence crucial for their conviction. This cooperation is worthy of leniency, which Lucius and Narcissa have not asked for… at least not for themselves. They have advocated at length for their son."

She looked from Albus to her boyfriend. Harry had used the imperius curse on the Gringotts goblin. Should he be held accountable for that crime? The context did make a difference.

Harry cleared his throat, shifting under her scrutiny. "You know how I feel about Malfoy. He didn't fall under Voldemort's influence innocently. His actions were not coerced in the room of requirement when we were looking for the Horcrux. We all have choices and he made his. But I don't have any right to weigh in on this issue," he explained, deciding not to admit that he listened to the entire encounter preserved from the bugged radio when he was helping Tonks categorize evidence for the upcoming trials.

"We all did things we're not proud of this past year… took actions that were the lesser of two evils, but still not entirely right," she reasoned out loud.

"Motive matters," Dumbledore countered. "Harry is right, Mister Malfoy may have thought he was joining Voldemort's cause with eyes wide open, I think we can all agree Voldemort's thrall could be powerful. Especially for an impressionable young man."

Harry stood and gave an apologetic look. "I need to go. We've got a lead on Dolohov," he explained, grabbing his rucksack. "I have the two-way mirror and the texting parchment if you need to talk later. I'll be home for dinner."

She grabbed his hand as he walked past her and pulled him down. To his surprise, given the company, she gave him a kiss. "I'll tell Snape you're sorry you missed him."

Harry grunted and left.

"Severus is coming today to help me with my potions practical," she explained. The change of subject was short lived. Thinking of Snape, she was transported back to the stifling hot room where Draco used the cruciatus curse on her. Voldemort looming over her while Snape shuffled through her memories. The walls seemed to close in around her.

"Hermione?" Albus asked, sensing the shift.

With three steady breaths, she shook off the fear. "That day. In that room. With Draco, Snape, and Voldemort… what Draco did was the least of the violations. Do we hold Snape accountable? His motives, as you say, were for the right reasons but the greater offense. Yet, I can forgive him for invading my mind. Draco, the Malfoys, have lost nearly everything. Nearly everything that matters to them, anyway. Who am I to tear their family apart and make them lose the last thing they have?"

"One could argue that they did that themselves. They didn't have to choose this path. Don't minimize your suffering."

"I have work to do, I know. There's a lot that happened to me that I haven't dealt with, but I don't see how punishing Draco with Azkaban will help me. Or him," she admitted. "Tell the Wizengamot, I don't want Draco sent to prison for what he did to me. If there are other crimes or alternative punishments they think are fair, that's up to them."

"A noble decision," he told her.

"I won't have to go to the hearing?"

"No, a signed statement should be sufficient," he explained and produced a document for her to fill in and sign. Once the task was done, Dumbledore sealed the signature as a witness, rolled it up and secured it within his robes.

They sat in companionable silence for a moment. Hermione felt her mind drifting to topics she still didn't want to think about too deeply. "How's Ron?" she asked, hoping the change in subject was natural.

If Dumbledore sensed the subterfuge, he was kind enough to not call her out. "He's been very helpful in our efforts to rebuild the school. I don't know for certain, I think there's a budding relationship between Mister Weasley and Miss Lovegood," he said conspiratorially. "And it looks like it will be Gryffindor against Ravenclaw for the house cup. Miss Weasley has led the team well despite the unpleasant circumstances. As you can imagine, Slytherin house has been in a bit of a free fall. There are good people there that don't deserve to be under suspicion. Horace proved that. We're doing what we can to rebuild the community as much as we are the physical castle."

Hermione listened. She understood Ron's desire to return. For a time, she feared she would regret her decision not to do the same. After everything she had been through, pretending her life wasn't irreparably changed wasn't going to work. "I've appreciated your accommodations for my situation."

He nodded. In truth he had been a bit surprised by her choices. Not returning to school but wanting to take her exams. Living with Harry despite the return of her parents to London, their memories repaired. Not turning down offers of employment from the ministry but not accepting any either. He could understand her need to recover, yet the worry nagged at him daily. "Minerva, Filius, and Snape all insisted on their participation in your preparations. They're all very invested in your success. Fiona is as well, I might add."

"She's been very patient."

"Hermione, are you okay?"

His question caught her off guard. She realized he knew her too well to brush off his concerns. "Honestly, I don't know. Everyone is moving on, putting their lives back together. Even Harry, he's been able to jump right back into chasing dark wizards. I feel stuck. In time. How's that for irony? I keep thinking about what Tom stole from me. I can't just fall back into something that doesn't exist for me anymore."

"There's no playbook for recovery, especially from everything you've been through. Taking your time to figure out what you need is a wise course. No one will begrudge you for that."

"Tell that to my parents," she said wryly. "They're hurt and confused. I don't blame them." She paused, and flashed a look of regret. "They think I went back to Hogwarts," she finally admitted.

"I see. Why don't you let me make that situation a bit more tenable?"

Hermione shook her head, "I couldn't ask you to do that. It's my mess."

"Technically, it's our mess and I think I can help. Let me."

"Okay, thanks," she said, genuinely grateful for the offer.

"Why don't I visit with them after the hearings?" he asked, standing.

"Thank you. If you have time after, you're welcome to come for dinner. I'm sure Gerty would be thrilled to make shepherd's pie for you."

"That is my favorite. I'll send an owl," he told her and headed for the exit.

~~/~~

Dumbledore's attention was divided as the business of the Wizengamot was read into the record. He knew Hermione was strong; however, what she had been through in one very long year would have broken most witches or wizards. It would be unusual if she wasn't affected. He knew closing herself off so completely was also not healthy. His thoughts were interrupted when Draco entered the courtroom. His parents entered behind him, their heads bowed with shame, avoiding eye contact with everyone. Narcissa squeezed her boy's shoulder on her way to her seat.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice reverberated off the marble. "You've been charged with using an unforgivable curse multiple times on one Hermione Jean Granger, kidnapping the same Hermione Jean Granger, and conspiracy to overthrow the ministry. You and your family's change of allegiance during the final battle, coupled with your continued cooperation in apprehending fugitive Death Eaters and co-conspirators has resulted in immunity on the final count. You're here today to answer for your crimes against Miss Granger. The providence of the audio evidence of these crimes has been verified independently and by the defendant himself. Additionally you have voluntarily admitted to the use of the unforgivable curse and kidnapping Miss Granger knowing the criminal Voldemort had malicious intentions. Any other day, this would appear to be an open and shut case; however, I understand Albus Dumbledore is here to make a statement on your behalf. After which time, I suspect our jobs will be much more difficult in rendering a just verdict."

All three Malfoy's heads raised in surprise.

Albus cleared his throat and offered Draco a sympathetic smile. "Thank you minister, chief warlocks. First there are of course extenuating circumstances. Although we cannot neglect Mister Malfoy's choices to carry out the wishes of Tom Riddle and not seek aid, he had a real fear for the life of his parents. Most importantly, the victim, Hermione Granger has submitted a statement, witnessed by me, attesting to her desire that any punishment be considered should exclude prison," he said, pulling out her statement, allowing the clerk to summon it for the record. "I met personally with Miss Granger this morning. I cannot understate the trauma she experienced during her assault, but she is of the opinion that a sentence of any length in Azkaban would be counter productive to her healing and to the rehabilitation of Mister Malfoy."

Kingsley looked from Draco to Albus. "While I do have sympathy for a wizard so young carrying with him the weight of judgement resulting from the use of a forgivable curse, it is exactly because he is so young I do not believe the charges can be dismissed entirely. Albus, do you have a recommendation regarding possible remediation?"

"I do, allow him to return to Hogwarts to repeat his sixth and complete his seventh year. He will be under my supervision and be provided with structure and training needed for reentry into the wizarding community."

Draco craned his head to look at his parents. They seemed relieved at the recommendation. He appeared conflicted.

"And what of Hermione? She deserves some type of reparations," Kingsley commented.

Dumbledore wasn't prepared for the question. "She has given no indication of desiring reparations. My impression was that she would defer to the decision of this court."

"I'd like to talk to her," Draco said quietly.

Everyone's attention turned toward him. "What's that?" Kingsley asked.

Draco cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. "I'd like to talk to her. To apologize."

"A noble sentiment, but it may be unwelcomed," the minister replied tersely. "Albus, pass along Mister Malfoy's request and coordinate with my office if the request is accepted. It is the recommendation to this court that Mister Malfoy be re-enrolled to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry beginning the fall term under the supervision of the Headmaster and to remit a monetary fine to Miss Hermione Granger in the amount of 5,000 galleons. This court also requests quarterly progress reports during his tenure at Hogwarts. All in favor?"

Every wizard raised their hand.

"Draco, we don't often get a second chance. Especially in the aftermath of such disastrous choices. Make better choices."

"Yes, sir," Draco agreed.

"We stand in recess," Kingsley closed the meeting.

Dumbledore approached the Malfoys who were gathering in a corner.

"Thank you, Albus," Narcissa said, wiping away a tear.

"We're all more than our worst mistakes. Some have to work harder than others to overcome those mistakes," he said, not unkindly, but pointedly. "Let's meet next week Draco and discuss your plans for the summer? In the meantime, I will talk to Hermione and let you know."

He nodded. "Tell her I'm sorry. By that time... before that school year started… I thought I didn't have a choice. It's not an excuse, just… tell her I'm sorry."

Dumbledore nodded, "I'll tell her. The best thing you can do now is prove to yourself that Voldemort was wrong about you. All of you," he finished, looking at each Malfoy.

The shattered family converged on each other and left the hall. Dumbledore stood in contemplation as he watched the rest of the room clear out, and was surprised to see Fiona standing in the entrance. The look of concern on her face stopped his pleasantries. "What's happened?"

"I swear on Merlin's tomb, I have no idea," she said gravely, and led him through the department of mysteries. "I've been tracing all the changes to the present because of… well you not dying, to make sure there wasn't some change unaccounted for," she explained. They reached an elaborate door. The handle appeared to be phasing in and out of existence. Fiona took out her wand and waved it in complex motions, casting a nonverbal spell.

The security of the chamber behind the door was clearly some of the highest in the department. Before she opened the door, she looked at her friend. "Albus. This room has been especially enchanted to shield anyone in it from changes to the timeline. We've created an artificial event horizon similar to a wormhole. We store all our tempus scriptums and semitas in the boundaries of this room. Until this moment, only an Unspeakable and the Minister for Magic have been allowed to know of its existence."

"I understand," he said seriously.

With a final wave of her wand, the door seemed to transform into a perpetual waterfall. "It can be disorienting the first time you cross over. Take my hand so you don't get stuck."

He did as instructed and followed her lead. For a moment, time seemed to stop. His mind wandered to memories of his childhood long forgotten, now suddenly as vivid as if they just happened. Sitting on a riverbank with Ariana. The cool spring breeze passing over him, washing him with the sweet smell of lilacs. A butterfly flitted around him, finally landing on his hand. Looking down, he felt a tug on his hand. A physical reminder he was supposed to be moving forward… somewhere. Some time. Forcing his feet to move, he stumbled out into the chamber. A fog was settling on his mind. He grasped at the memories uncovered but they slipped away like a dream.

"Alright?" Fiona asked.

"I think so," he answered and surveyed the room. Books filled shelves which appeared to be positioned behind a haze created by the event horizon, each one rocking to its own rhythm. The tomes that appeared to be the oldest would occasionally sway and return to rest. He joined her at a podium at the end of the shelves where a book was secured with chains. Even through the hazy boundary, he could see the bindings were the only thing keeping the book from flying off the podium. Pages were being added at such a rapid pace he worried it would reach capacity any minute. Then suddenly, it expanded outward in size to accommodate the binding needed.

Fiona waved her wand at the book. A timeline erupted from its pages. A complex set of lines and details of events floated in the air around them in the center of the chamber. He followed the knots and branching paths as they seemed to terminated into a single point. The day he didn't die. "All of these changes are because of me?"

"Well, they're connected somehow to you," she said, calling his attention to a small branch. "I've been tracing all the changes to make sure nothing is unaccounted for or that we're not headed for a potential catastrophic change in our future. This one," she said pointing to an obscure event, "appears to have nothing to do with you, but the Tempus Semita is certain it's connected. The change happened after Hermione saved you so that makes sense. However, I think it was initiated within the past month."

"That's not possible," he said, trying to comprehend the ramifications if it was possible. "What was the change?"

"Broderick Bode, a fellow Unspeakable, disappeared from Saint Mungo's in December of 1995 without a trace."

"He wasn't supposed to disappear?"

She waved her wand, expanding the details of the event. "He was supposed to die in 1996. Murdered by devil's snare in his hospital bed. The weird thing is that there are no other changes we've detected from this anomaly. He just disappeared for no reason and never turned up again."

"How can I help?" he wondered.

"It's complicated," Fiona said, the conflict raging within her rising to the surface. "We need Hermione."

~~/~~

"It's important to keep in mind that for the potion's section, you can't assume you will be limited to making a potion that can be completed in the time allotted. They may present you with an incomplete potion for you to finish, or request you start a complex potion to tempt the student to take shortcuts to finish in time," Snape explained as he closed his lecture. Hermione had taken over a spare bedroom and transformed it into a potions lab and stock room. It served as a temporary classroom for Snape. "They may also present you with a completed potion mixture and ask you to identify the components. My point, don't assume you can guess what tasks they will ask of you due to time limits. Be prepared for anything."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said. She felt more confident than she did that morning. She watched him pack up his bag and decided it was time to talk to him about her side project. "Professor Snape, I wonder if I could run something past you. If you have a bit more time?"

"Miss Granger, you are the most prepared student I've had. There is such a thing as being over prepared," he started.

"Not about my exams. I've been working on my own potion," she said, pulling out her notes.

"Oh?" he was unable to hide his curiosity.

"It won't come as a surprise to you that I've been thinking long and hard about a protection against memory manipulation. I've read all the theory, and I understand that altering memory requires spells due to the surgical nature of the magic. A potion can't be expected to target specific memories. Those potions that have been used to enhance or degrade memories target the processes which convert short term memories to long term...not specific memories. Still, no one has successfully brewed a potion that protects long term memory," she explained quickly. Trying to convey to Snape that she had done her homework so she could get to the important points.

"It has been tried by several potions masters, including myself. A protection against the obliviate spell or Legilimens' manipulation has had a high demand and a great need," he said, picking up her notes and reading. "Or due to changes to the timeline…"

"When the past changes, you retain your old memories for a split second. If those memories could be protected, in theory, you'd retain both memories," she explained. "I think the reason past memory protection potions have failed is because the ingredients chosen aren't able to get into the brain, they can't pass the blood brain barrier."

"It would require very potent properties to offer such a protection," he agreed. "And I will admit, the theory has been entirely focused on the property conveyed to those ends, not the effect on physiology per se."

"Right, so I've cataloged all the potion ingredients that are used in other memory-related potions-the Forgetfulness Potion, Wit-Sharpening Potion, Oblivious Unction-to see if there was any overlap. I also looked at protection potions. I thought the simplest solution was to start with a protection potion against the forgetfulness potion. Then I realized, the forgetfulness potion's effects are mostly attributed to the Lethe water, isn't it?"

"Correct. The other components stabilize the effects and ensure a person's entire mind isn't wiped clean," he said.

"So couldn't the answer be Mnemosyne water?" she asked.

"I'm sure you understand the Lethe River of Greek Mythology is not an actual river in Hades. What makes you think the Mnemosyne River is a real river?" he asked skeptically.

"The three fates existed didn't they? They just turned out to be witches. Where does the Lethe water come from?" she asked. "Isn't it possible there's a parallel river there? A river with waters which could preserve memories? A river that was written into Greek Mythology to try to explain the magic it possessed?"

He stood straight. It had, in fact, not occurred to him. He couldn't speak for others working on potion-making theory. "The Lethe River's location is a closely guarded secret for obvious reasons. I can confirm; however, that it is an underground river. I'm sure those who guard it have looked for such a river you describe. Still, I can't say for certain that the caverns have been fully explored or mapped."

She looked at him expectantly.

"Miss Granger. You have exams in two weeks. Are you suggesting I take you on a field trip to locate a river that might only exist in mythology?"

"How about this weekend?" she asked, determined that 'no' was not an answer.