Chapter 5: Lost lives

October 1975

Lord Voldemort P.O.V

The entire universe seemed to have shifted. It wasn't noticeable to most people, but when had Lord Voldemort ever been most people? Never. A few days ago, it was as if something went wrong, twisted the universe the wrong way. No, it was as if someone tried to do something that wasn't acceptable by the natural order of the universe.

Admittedly, it was difficult to narrow it down from there, because there were many things that could cause that reaction. Making horcruxes (at least the first one), time travel (the first time someone went back in time), changing the future ( or rather having knowledge of the future that the person shouldn't actually have. This, for some reason did not include seers, no one knew why. But Lord Voldemort had theorised that it's possibly because the seers were born that way, or maybe it was because regardless of what a seer did, they would reach the same destination, meaning the future they saw would occur, despite any changes they try to make. Hmmm… now that Lord Voldemort had the resources, Lord Voldemort should test these theories out… or experiment with seers.), dark magic (whenever a neutral… or light wizard uses dark magic) or claiming a deathly hallow (when Dumbledore claimed it, it caused enough of a shift that it covered up Tom's first step to become Lord Voldemort. Which ended well for everyone, except Dumbledore had the Elder Wand!).

Obviously, some of these events left the person vulnerable (Lord Voldemort is not vulnerable, let's say - sensitive… actually, never mind. They're both equally bad! Lord Voldemort will understandably not be telling anyone about this, and if anyone finds out…) to changes in the natural order. Quite helpfully, Lord Voldemort, despite anyone's thoughts on this, knew that and appreciated it. After all, Lord Voldemort could use this to his own advantage!

(It was very pleasant, because some people – we're not referring to Dumbledore at all, why would we? – encouraged the use of time turners or performed activities such as claiming a deathly hallow. Clearly, Lord Voldemort was not jealous of Dumbledore, why would Lord Voldemort be jealous? There was nothing to be jealous of. Dumbledore was a senile, old, sentimental headmaster, and it wasn't like said Headmaster has the profession Lord Voldemort wanted, or that he has a deathly hallow, and the Elder Wand at that, or that he has the public's love and attention… okay, maybe Lord Voldemort was a little jealous!)

Back to the point, Lord Voldemort went through the rest of the possibilities in his head, and there were surprisingly quite a few, but Lord Voldemort was a genius mastermind and they has some advantages. So, Lord Voldemort came to the conclusion that someone had either time traveled or they had knowledge of the future, or they were changing the future! Maybe it was a mix of the three, a much more plausible theory!

Now, that Lord Voldemort had deduced the cause, there was a need to celebrate. And of course, Lord Voldemort knew that there was a tiny village in the outskirts of Russia that no one will miss. Lord Voldemort would enjoy this!

10 May 1998

Ginny P.O.V

"Harry Potter is dead! Bow down to your new leader!"

Ginny Weasley jerked up, eyes snapping open. Blearily, she rubbed her eyes, allowing it to adjust to her surroundings. They had been in this underground 'bunker', as Hermione called it, for more than a week now. It had been a week since they had lost, hadn't it? A week since Harry had died and they had run, fled Hogwarts desperately. She's still didn't know where most of her family was.

Fred and George had died – Fred in the battle and George holding the line, so others could escape. (She suspected that George didn't have the will to live after Fred died, which is why he held the line.) Charlie had returned from Romania for the battle, but he had taken Percy and apparated somewhere else, as everyone started to flee. (She didn't know what happened to them, for no one had seen them since.) Bill had lost it for a bit, after Fleur died. It seemed that triggered the werewolf gene in him and he transformed the last full moon, by his words at least. (He'd found them two days ago, with new scars all over his face. But he had food, and supplies, so no one had commented if his eyes were glazed over and broken, or if he snapped at people for no reason other than their existence. And if he decided, he would be the only person to venture out for supplies, then no one would stop him.) Dad was missing, at least that was the official record. (She suspected he was dead or gravely injured, because otherwise mum wouldn't be crying all the time and fussing over them.) Ron and Mum were here, in this bunker, with a lot of the DA and Order. (Not that it helped much, because Ron was still in shock, his best friend was dead thanks to a madman and so was a lot of his family. At least they were missing, if not dead.) Luna and Hermione were here as well, thank Merlin for that. (At least, she had some friends left with her.)

Surprisingly, everyone had put Hermione in charge. And she was doing very well, rationing the food and water, ensuring that everyone had a place to sleep, all injuries were taken care of, everything. (But she wasn't taking care of herself, was she?) And if Hermione could work herself to exhaustion, planning and taking care of everyone, being the leader, then she needed help. So, Ginny and Luna had stepped up – Luna taking care of most people and injuries, when Bill brought in people. And Ginny took care of rations and morales of the citizens, so that Hermione could research and plan.

Ginny stumbled into the makeshift dining room, unsurprised to find Hermione already there. Hermione who looked dead on her feet and was still immersed in books, to find what, Ginny didn't know.

"Had a good night of sleep?" Hermione asked, looking at Ginny and smiling slightly. (It wasn't her usual smile, and it would never be her usual smile. She probably wouldn't smile properly ever again, just like almost everyone else.) Outwardly, she rolled her eyes.

"What do you think, oh esteemed one?" Hermione's smile was now a bit more genuine and she gestured for Ginny to sit. "Found anything interesting or helpful?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What do you think, my poor subject?" And Ginny laughed softly, for it was only at odd times of the night that they had some semblance of normalcy. (But nothing would ever be normal again, would it?) "I did find something interesting, but not helpful. It's a spell that –"

Hermione stopped when they heard the footsteps on the stairs. Not many people in the bunker could walk that softly, so they were ready for an attack. They had plans in case of a breach or attack, which hadn't been implemented yet. But that wouldn't make much of a difference, because everyone would follow Hermione without question. There were three sets of footsteps now, nearing the kitchen.

Ginny raised her wand as the person walked into the doorway and the dim lights highlighted his tired and scarred face. She didn't even hesitate, before lunging at him. And pulling him into a hug.

"Careful, Gin. Don't want to destroy these vegetables!" Bill exclaimed softly, even as he shifted to hug her back. "Well, don't you want to see what gifts I brought you?"

"Gifts?" Ginny asked, curious despite herself. She tried to peek around her much taller brother, to no avail.

"Well, it is your birthday, isn't it? You just turned 17, Gin. I would hope that you know your birthday, at least!" Bill said, his eyes lighting up mischievously, at her expression, no doubt. He moved out of the way, finally. "Happy Birthday, Ginny!"

They had a second's warning before she launched herself at them. Bill had managed to find Charlie and Percy. How, she didn't know. Nor did she care! Her family was there, most of them, and that's all that mattered to her.

After what felt like ages, she stepped back and looked at them. Charlie had a nasty gash across his face, and Percy had his arm in a bandage, but they looked relatively fine. Oh, mum was going to be so pleased to have more people to fuss over, especially two more of her sons! This was the best birthday present ever, and she told Bill so gleefully.

"I hope you don't consider us as gifts to be given away, Ginny. Because we aren't objects to be passed from person to person." Charlie said, grinning at her, which pulled at his scar painfully, based on his wince. "Besides," he added nonchalantly, "Bill is the only one who can gift us!"

Ginny gasped in mock-outrage. "How dare you say that to the birthday girl?" Not that she had remembered it was her birthday until then. "Bill, tell them they're wrong!"

When she didn't get any response, she turned back to Bill and saw that he and Hermione were discussing something else. Ah, yes! The supposedly interesting spell that Hermione found. "Say, Hermy. What's the spell you found?"

Hermione and Bill shared an uncomfortable glance, before Hermione spoke. "Turns out, it's a spell that sends objects back in time. Not people or living things, but objects. It will seem completely natural and if it's meant to be helpful, then the person or people who read it will believe whatever is written to be the truth."

"It's a spell to send stuff back in time?" Ginny asked, thinking of the possibilities. "Why don't we use it?"

Bill scoffed, not at her in particular, but in general. "No one can know about this spell. Ginny, we have one chance to live, we can't sabotage that, in any way. Because if Voldemort gets his hands on this spell, then just imagine what will happen!"

So, Ginny's birthday has been changed in this to 10 May. And they have found a particularly dangerous spell. And Voldemort is just enjoying life and treating himself!

Anyways, see you soon!