April 19th, 1998

"We gotta talk."

Hermione looked up, startled. Bill didn't even give her time to argue, instead moving to help her up. She let him guide her back to the room she'd spent three days healing in. He placed her gently down on the bed and stood there, frowning at her. "What is it? I was kind of busy."

"What do you know about healing bonds?" he wondered. She thought about it before answering.

"I know one was created because we're like family and you reached me first. I know your magic will support me the entire time I'm healing if it's able. I know you can feel the pain I'm in, too."

"Yeah, you're right. Do you also know that I can feel your magic?"

She shrugged. "Yeah. And?"

"And…" he sighed and sat in the chair next to her bed. "Hermione, your magic isn't… it's different."

"Different?" she frowned at him in concern. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"No, it's not that. Look, you know I'm a curse breaker. I don't just deal with old families' heirlooms and shit. I also handled cursed people sometimes. It means that I got very familiar with what a normal person's core looks and feels like. Yours… is different."

"How?"

"It's bigger. It's stronger and… shit, Hermione. Have you ever heard of a Light Lady?"

Hermione frowned and bit the inside of her cheek as she shook her head. Bill was nervous, she could tell, and it was making her nervous.

"Fuck. Okay, so… a Light Lady is the opposite of a Dark Lord. Good, light, kind, brings people together, but also tough and dangerous. Your core looks… for one, it's far too big. Your magic pulses on the inside. It's not supposed to be like that. It's supposed to be the size of a pea and still. Your magic grows. And without seeing it, I never would've figured it out. You bring people together. You teach them to protect themselves, you treat everyone fairly. I'm sorry, Hermione, I truly am, but you're a Light Lady."

"That makes no sense," she denied.

"We haven't seen one in… Merlin, a very long time. Since before Dumbledore. People think he's supposed to be the Light Lord meant to face You-Know-Who, or that Harry is, but they're wrong. Dumbledore was the Light Lord matched with Grindlewald, and Harry is just a kid with really shitty luck. You, Hermione…"

"You're not saying I'm meant to face him?"

Bill ran his fingers through his long hair. "I've only brought it up to Fleur, and neither of us are going to say anything to anyone else, but yes, you would typically be expected to fight him. I'm bringing this up because it's important that you know, and I wanted to tell you before anyone else realized that you are not obligated to do anything, okay?"

"Bill-,"

"You've told me just how ridiculous you think it is that everyone expects Harry to fight him, yes?"

"...yes."

"The same goes for you."

"So… what do we do?" she wondered. He shrugged.

"Nothing. Just keep it to ourselves and hope no one notices."

"Shit. Okay," she nodded, her mind reeling. He offered her a smile and moved to help her up, but before he could, she stopped him. "You've worked with Bertie Croaker before, right?"

Bill raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Do you think- I mean to say, is he still a safe person?"

"He never involved himself in the war," Bill told her. "But he isn't bigoted if that's what you're asking."

"Can you get me in touch with him?" she wondered. He looked at her oddly but nodded slowly.

"If you give me whatever letter you want to send him, I'll get it to him."

"Perfect. Thank you."

Bill nodded, patted her shoulder, and left the room. She breathed out in relief - she hadn't known how to get in contact with Bertie, but Bill reminding her that he was a curse breaker was exactly what she needed.

She sat down at the desk, wincing hard in pain. She picked up a quill and began writing.

Mr. Croaker

I hope this letter reaches you well. I don't have much time, so I'll get to the point.

I'm aware you're the head of the DOM. And I do offer my apologies for what happened a few years ago down there. It seems rude to ask for a favor after all that, but I need your help.

I have a cracked Time Turner. I know it'll break, but I was hoping you could use the Sands of Time to send me somewhere specific.

I don't intend to use this to change the past, but rather to help me end this war for good. I've done reading on the Sands, and it seems possible, but I don't want to do it without help from someone that understands them better than I do.

I'd appreciate a swift response.

Well wishes,

Hermione Granger

She folded the letter up, sealed it, and took it to Bill - something that was rather difficult, considering the pain she was in and the damage to her body.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

April 20th, 1998

It was early morning, and Hermione and Bill seemed to be the only ones up - something far from unusual. That morning, however, was different. Bill had been in Hermione's room giving her potions to her and doing another session of healing her arm.

She'd been told that it was cursed, and Bill was working tirelessly to remove the curse so it would be able to be healed. She appreciated it, but she could see how it drained him, so she only let him spend a half hour a day doing it.

That day, they were interrupted by a twinge on the wards. Bill straightened, and the two made their way downstairs carefully - despite his protests that she should stay in bed, she came with to help.

By the time they got to the door, they heard a knock on it. Confused, Bill opened it with his wand pointed at the person. He didn't drop it when he saw who it was. "When we first met, why did you hire me?"

"Top of your class! Besides, I'd seen you curse your brother when you were ten. If you can curse that well, surely you can curse break even better!"

Bill let out a small laugh and opened the door wider. "Hermione, this is Bertie Croaker. Bertie, Hermione Granger."

"Yes, just the woman I was looking for!" Bertie exclaimed, smiling brightly at her.

Carefully, Bill helped Hermione over to the couch with Bertie following them. When they sat, Hermione frowned. "You're here for me?"

"Because of your letter, of course! Brilliant idea. I'd hire you if I could. When did you want to go to?" he wondered.

"What do you mean?" Bill looked between them, confused.

"Bill, can I speak with him alone?" she wondered with a frown. He frowned back at her, but he got up and left them alone. Once he was gone, she leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "I want to go back to before James Potter graduated. 1976. I want to… find the Death Eaters that don't want to be there and make sure they're on our side. I don't know if it'll work, but we need some sort of advantage. I know Bill said you stay out of this, but they're controlling the ministry and soon, they'll have access to everything in the DOM and that seems…"

"Incredibly dangerous," he agreed. "I can help you with this. We'll have to make something to help you return. I don't currently have any Sand Holders, so I will need you to make the devices while you're there. You will need to understand the risk of being stuck there to live out the twenty years."

"I understand," she promised.

"When you get there, you will come to me," he instructed. "Tell me everything. Are you comfortable using Veritaserum?"

"If it helps me do this, yes," she nodded.

He reached into his pockets and tossed her the potion. "You will have me test it and then use it yourself. From there, you will plan. Understand?"

"Yes. And- look, if I'm going back in time, I'm not using my name. I need a new one. I don't want to risk anything."

"I was hoping you'd mention that," he smiled, winking at her. He was like a less threatening Dumbledore, but also, more dangerous. She trusted him, she knew that much. "You will be Anabella Cait Carter."

Hermione blinked. "How did you come up with that so fast?"

"The past is set in stone," he answered vaguely. "Now! Give me the time turner. This will be fast."

She handed it over and watched him tap the time turner open. He lifted a sand in the air with an empty hand and used his wand to close it back up. He tossed it over, and she fumbled to catch it before it could hit the ground and break open. She quickly tucked it back in her beaded bag, which she always had on her. Looking back up, she saw Bertie grinning.

"I'll see you in a bit, Bell."

And then it hit her.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

September 10th, 1976

Someone was screaming.

Who it was, she wasn't sure. She wasn't sure of anything in that moment. The pain was overwhelming, and she felt it digging into her magic. After an eternity had passed, she blinked her eyes open, gasping for air that she hadn't realized she wasn't getting.

As her breathing calmed and her eyes cleared, she realized that she had been screaming, and it was likely because she'd fallen on a table and deeply irritated her injuries from the torture she'd recieved so recently.

Disregarding the pain she was in, she carefully sat up and looked around. She was still in Shell Cottage, but it looked different - which was why she'd fallen on and then off a table. It was dark, only the light peeking through the curtains lighting up the room. She used the table she'd fallen off of to help her to her feet and saw the thick layer of dust she'd disturbed.

Relieved that no one was there, she held her wand tightly in her hand and disapparated. She landed again outside the ministry and, upon not being immediately taken away by Snatchers, she walked inside.

It was very obviously not 1998 anymore, if for no other reason than that everyone was dressed differently. No one paid her much mind, so she slipped her way down the halls. She still remembered where the DOM was, and considering how easy it was to break into it in '98, she had complete faith she'd be able to do so again.

Except, it wasn't as easy.

When her hand touched the doorknob that would lead her to the DOM, magic flushed over it and froze her there, almost like a stunning spell. She was stuck like that until, nearly five minutes later, two redheaded Aurors showed up.

She'd seen those faces before. They were all over the Burrow, pictures placed lovingly by Molly. The woman would tell stories about her brothers, Fabian and Gideon, when she'd had just a bit too much gin. A story that she'd heard at least three times was of when the brothers were set to die - April 1st, 1977, Fred and George's birthday. Staring at the men before her, all she could think of was their deaths and how it had likely shaped the woman that she'd known.

"Well, she doesn't look lost to me," one said to the other. "Not a file clerk that got turned around, are ya?"

"No," she laughed in surprise. "I'm not."

"Well, Pip, you're definitely not authorized to go in there. We barely are," the other one told her with a sigh. "I'd love to say we can let you go, but these wards don't just alert us."

"We'll have to take you to the office and you can wait there, Miss…?"

"I'd rather not," she said, glancing between them and her frozen hands. She wondered if she'd have enough time between them releasing her and them securing her to stun them. She figured probably not. She looked back at them as their eyebrows rose and they exchanged a glance.

"That wasn't really a request. You're going to have to come with us."

"Hm? No, not- I wasn't arguing going with you, I was saying I'm not going to give you my name. I get the confusion."

The one on the right blinked at her, but the one on the left laughed and grinned. "Can't argue that, can we, Gid?"

"Actually- actually we have to."

"I'll go with you," she nodded. "No fighting."

"Well, let's get going and get this over with before we miss Moody's briefings," the one on the right - Gideon, she understood - said.

They carefully released the spell holding her and put her in a bind. She walked through the ministry with them, looking around to see what had changed. It didn't look like much. The staff had diversified to some small extent and there were owls where they'd had enchanted paper airplanes in the future, but otherwise, everything was the same that she could see.

The twins took her into an office and sat her down, binding her to the chair. They sat across from her and rose matching eyebrows.

"So," Fabian said. "The DOM. Why?"

"Why won't you give us your name?" Gideon wondered. "You know we can check your wand."

She hadn't considered that, and she kicked herself for it. "Yes."

"So?"

"Have I done anything illegal?" she wondered, looking between them. "I didn't even walk in, I just grabbed the door handle."

"Trust us, it isn't fun being the ones on shift to babysit the DOM," Fabian laughed. "But someone's got to."

"If you won't talk to us, we have someone you'll answer," Gideon promised. The threat hung in the air, but she wasn't very worried. Moody didn't scare her, and they were the most revered Order members behind James and Lily Potter. They wouldn't bring anyone dark in.

The door opened and all of them looked up to see a short man with curly, grey hair step inside with a dark look on his face. He took them in for a moment before he laughed- nearly giggled. "Oh, I can't resist a dramatic moment."

"Bertie," she breathed out in relief.

The twins exchanged a glance, but it was Bertie that spoke. "The answer is yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, you've done something illegal," he explained. "Trespassing on government property. But the real question is, how did you get here?"

"I think it would be best if we spoke privately," she said, looking at the twins.

"Anything you tell me here will stay between the three of us until I decide otherwise," he promised her. "And the first thing you should tell me is how you got here."

Hermione leaned back in her chair and sighed. She could Obliviate the twins later if she had to, she supposed. "You sent me here, sir. Do you know what a time turner is yet?"

Bertie's eyes lit up excitedly. "Oh, brilliant. I did, did I? Would you be willing to submit yourself to Veritaserum for this?"

"Actually, I'd request it," she told him. "I have some in that bag there, as well as the time turner that sent me here. You'll see there's a crack in it that allowed it to be opened. I'd also request the Veritaserum be tested before it's used on me - I need you to know I'm telling the truth."

Gideon was searching her bag before she'd finished speaking. He had to Accio the two items out, his arm getting lost in the magically expanded bag. He handed them over to Bertie, who tested the potion with his wand and looked at the time turner in wonder.

Fabian took the potion back. "How much should I give her?"

"Half," Bertie replied. He watched Hermione drink it down and nodded. "What is your name?"

"Hermione Jean Granger, but I was told I'm to be called Anabella Cait Carter," she answered, the words falling out unrestrained as the potion did its work.

"By whom?"

"By you, sir."

"When?"

"April 20th, 1998," she grimaced, watching the twins' eyes widen. Bertie, however, looked nearly giddy.

He nodded and sat down. "Did you travel back in time?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Hermione grimaced as she spoke. "There's a war going. It- it was getting worse, and we were losing. I was tortured a few days ago for hours by Bellatrix Lestrange and Corbin Yaxley and I- I can't- I can't keep going like this. I can't hide, I can't give up, I can't bloody well join the winning side even if I wanted to. The only option I saw was to come back in time. Not to change things, but to set some things up to ensure our win in the future. I wrote to you and you agreed to help me. You gave me the name and told me to come to you, so that's what I was doing. In my time- two years ago, my friends and I broke into the DOM to try and save- save my friend's godfather from being tortured. I assumed security would be about the same now as it was then, or more relaxed."

"This is insane," Fabian breathed, looking at her in wonder. "Are you okay?"

"No."

Bertie shot him a look. "She's still under the effects of the potion. It would do well to be careful what you ask her."

"You were tortured recently and are already out of the hospital?" Gideon wondered, looking slightly concerned.

"I never went to the hospital," she corrected. "Bill took care of me as best as he could. We hold a healing bond. If I went to St. Mungo's I'd be taken to Malfoy Manor again, tortured, and killed."

"Jesus fuck," he breathed. "You sure that potion works, Croaker?"

"Certain of it. Miss Carter, what were your plans?" Bertie wondered.

"I want to find Death Eaters that don't want to be in the position they're in and have them help me. Some will be in place to turn on him when I need them to if all goes well. Others may come back to the future with me if I can manage it. I don't know. All I know is that I need to do everything I can to save- to change things without changing the past."

"The past being… now," Gideon said, watching her nod. "Jesus."

"I think it's wearing off," she told them in warning. "Anything else?"

"Nope!" Bertie exclaimed, waving his wand at her. She felt the effects of the potion disappear and breathed out in relief. It was uncomfortable, her secrets being so close to coming out.

"What now?" she wondered.

"Now we set up everything you need," Bertie told her. "If I sent you here, you need to be here."

She breathed out in relief. "Thank you, Bertie. I know I'll need to go to Hogwarts at the very least."

"Maybe we can plan while we get her some medical attention," Fabian requested, gaining a surprised look from Bertie. "What? I'm the DADA professor this year. If she needs help in the castle, I can help her. I'm going to stay involved, so Gid will as well."

"I suppose we should have you looked over," Bertie agreed. He waved his wand again, releasing the spell that bound her. She jumped when Fabian tried to help her up.

"Hey, it's okay, Pip," he promised. "But you're shaking like mad, and I'm worried you'll fall if you don't have help."

"My friend Bill," she said, accepting his help. He helped her out of the room, Bertie leading them to the ministry's infirmary. "Is Molly's son."

Fabian nearly stopped in surprise, but just looked at her with wide eyes. "My nephew?"

"I was best friends with her two youngests as well as James Potter's son, Harry. We were fighting the war together. Your family… truly, they were what got me through as much as I've been through."

"Please sit," the mediwitch that took them to a private room said. Fabian helped her sit, and she winced at the look on the mediwtich's face as she took her scans. "Oh, Circe, child, who did this to you?"

"We're handling it," Gideon answered so she didn't have to. "These injuries are a few days old. Will you be able to help her?"

"With the torture, yes," the mediwitch - whose badge said Mary Ross - said. "The scar… it's been too long, and unless I had the blade that caused it, it's unlikely I could help, especially without an experienced curse breaker."

"What scar?" Fabian frowned.

Hesitantly, she lifted her sleeve to show the 'mudblood' scar on her arm. She could see everyone except Bertie pale at the sight. Even then, she could see him tense at it. "I know it's impossible to heal. I had an experienced curse breaker heal it. He did his best."

"You'll have to take long-term potions," Ross said with a sigh. "You have Longis Crutiau."

"Fucking hell," Gideon cursed.

"Aside from that, I see a lot of old injuries that healed wrong. I can set some of those, but most of them are too old to fix. You'll have to work on pain management if they're causing you pain."

"What kind of injuries?" Fabian questioned.

"Mostly sprains and breaks," she answered calmly. "Miss…?"

"Carter," Bertie answered before she could give the woman the wrong name. "Anabella Carter."

"Miss Carter, your parents are where?"

"They're gone," she told Ross shortly. "And the cause of those old injuries is gone as well, so don't worry about it. I just need the potion and I'll be fine."

Ross shook her head. "You need physical therapy, Anabella."

"No, thank you."

"Give the witch the potion, please," Bertie requested, seeing the stubborn gleam in her eyes. "We'll take care of her from there."

Ross left the room with a frown, so Hermione - no, Anabella, she reminded herself - looked to Bertie. "I need to transfer in at sixth year. I think I still look young enough to do that without a glamour."

"You do," he agreed. "You will need to be taken in by a family, but I have an idea about that. We will tell them who you are and where you're from."

"I don't think that's a good idea," she disagreed.

"I trust them. Other than that, we will need to plan together. You will have an internship in the DOM as a cover to work with me. You will, of course, work as an intern as well."

Anabella thought back to what he'd said before she left- he wished he could hire her. She thought maybe he had hired her. "Okay."

"I guess someone should tell Dumbledore there'll be a transfer student," Fabian sighed. "I'll make up a fake file from Beauxbatons. What scores do you typically get?"

"I'm top of my class," she admitted. "If it's possible, I'd like to take arithmancy and ancient runes. Now that Bill's shown me how to combine the two for curse breaking, I want to brush up on them and try and teach myself more."

"I can do that, Pip."

Bertie looked around and clapped his hands together. "Well! Let's get working."

OoOoOoOoOoOo