Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I've tried a new track and tried to put in a big for the Harry Potter franchise so far my offer of $200 and a pack of Burgar King coupons hasn't been accepted. So for now I still don't own anything here that you recognise.

Still don't have any beta'ing done so please have patience and understanding but any reviews you'd like to leave I'll be grateful for.

I'd also like to say thank you to everyone that's read it so far, the numbers I've seen are mind-boggling so just thanks even if you've just taken a curious look and decided its not for you.

Edited 18/01/2022: Error pointed out by Bernardus. Thanks for pointing it out.

"Fine, first of all, I think we can both agree that this isn't the optimal outcome right," Harry said gesturing to their surroundings. "We have the most powerful wizard alive, boosted by dark rituals and years of research, against my 17-year-old self with none of that no real plan"

Hearing that she had to grimace, it didn't sound good or even possible. But, she had followed Harry this far and believed that if anyone could pull off the impossible it was him.

"Now we can both agree that the reason I found myself in that position is due to the poor planning of Dumbledore. Now, that's not to accuse him of anything malicious before you get all defensive. But to leave a child in an abusive situation in order for me to be Voldemort's 'equal', and then tell me the power he knows not is love. It's almost comical in its ineptitude." Harry chuckled to himself for a moment. "He didn't even train me, and when he eventually got around to doing anything it was just a series of storytimes, I'm sure you can see why I'd be… dissatisfied by my treatment" He finished with a slight tilt of his head, waiting for an answer.

"I mean, yes that isn't great but I'm sure that isn't what he intended. He died before he could continue his lessons" She tried knowing how weak her response sounded. "If he had more time then he would have been able to train you in as much magic as necessary"

"Really? He had years to start but he didn't and let's not forget that once he was cursed he planned to die so he knew he didn't have long left and instead of passing on anything important he left us to trapeze across the entire country" By this time Harry's voice had gained a certain heat to it. "You know exactly what I mean. Let's just move on. What I'm trying to say is that this doesn't need to happen. Some associates and I have put together a loose plan, which if we can pull off should mean we can resolve things easier. It does involve going a bit further back in time than today"

"So is that where I come in then" Hermione mused already moving on from the brief disagreement.

"Yep," he replied with a slight pop. "Due to a slight restriction, I'm going to be under I need someone who can keep me in line and can help improvise on the go while keeping us on track. Now there's only so much I can explain without getting your agreement to help, but you need to think about this because if you do agree to come with me then there's no coming back here" The solemnity with which he spoke was almost unnerving.

Taking a moment to think Hermione ran the facts over in her mind. There was a chance to do some good, no matter how far back they go knowing what's to come would make everything so much easier. But could she trust this person, it seemed to be her Harry. If it was then she knew she had to go with him, she could never leave him. "Let's go" she responded resolutely.

With that, Harry took a step towards her and gently placed a hand on either side of her head. "Close your eyes" he whispered slowly bringing his forehead to meet hers. Breath catching she nodded as she closed her eyes. Briefly, there was a flash of light behind her eyelids and then a sensation of falling.

Once it had stopped it felt like she was sitting down, then she felt Harry remove his hands from her head. "Okay you can open them now" Opening her eyes she found herself in a rather large wood-panelled office. In the middle of which was a rather large oak desk, with an intricately carved armchair, which she appeared to be sitting in front. Harry was stood off to the side beside a simple office chair identical to the one she now found herself in. "I'm just going to let them know that we're here" Moving over to a discreet door off to the side of the room he gave it a short sharp knock before returning to sit back beside her.

"Ahh, you're finally here" Came a gravelly, cold voice from behind the door. As the door slowly opened an odd pressure built up in the room and she felt her blood run cold as a figure entered the room. Clothed in a hooded robe that was so dark it seemed to absorb light the figure slid into the room and seemed to tower over them. It seemed like all the air was being sucked out of the room and she couldn't breathe.

"That's enough" came the voice of Harry from beside her. He calmly placed a hand on hers and just as quickly the pressure disappeared.

"My apologies, we don't get many of you're kind around here. I tend to forget the effect I can have on people." The man said as he continued his journey across the room. "Harry here is unaffected due to his quite unusual status. But you should be quite alright now." By now he had reached behind his desk. There they removed their robe revealing a rather tall Mediterranean man with strong features and curly shoulder-length hair. "Got to make the right first impression you know" he joked winking at her.

"Now I don't know how much our mutual friend here has told you about what we have planned and who I am," he said with a wink to Harry as he took a seat.

"Erm not much, though I think I've worked out some stuff out for myself"

"Well then why don't you tell me what you know and I can see about filling in the rest for you"

Glancing quickly to the side to look at Harry, who seemed happy to just sit back and let them talk, she cleared her throat before continuing.

"Well first off, I think I'm correct in saying that you're Thanatos the personification of death."

"Excellent" he responded leaning towards her with a wide smile. "But my friends call me Tony"