Pour Liberte
Chapter ThreeBy: Travelling Philosopher
Hermione sighed, thinking about what she'd just said. We'll go.
Dumbledore said, "When would you like to leave?"
She gave a start. It was all well and good deciding to go rescue your best friend… Actually doing it was another matter entirely.
"Uh… How long can we think about it…?" Ron said.
"As long as you like. After all, if you are successful, then this conversation would never have taken place."
"Wouldn't that create a paradox?" Hermione said. "I mean, if we save him, then right now never would've happened, meaning that we never would've gone back to save him…"
Dumbledore shrugged. "I'm afraid that it is a question for which I have no answer."
Ron frowned. "So, uh, technically we can just wait until we grow up, and then save him?"
"Not at all," Dumbledore said gravely. "I remind you, the time limit is twelve years."
Hermione said, "Right, but he only disappeared 11 ½ years ago. So we can go back up to six months before it happened." She thought it should have been obvious.
Ron was silent. There was a pause…
"We'll go today. This afternoon." Hermione said decisively.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore smiled. He opened a drawer on the side of his desk and pulled out a keyring, on which was attached a small chain. On the end of the chain was a miniscule bag, small enough for a doll.
Ron and Hermione stared. Dumbledore set the keychain bag on the desk in front of them.
"This bag holds everything that you could possibly need for the journey." Dumbledore patted it. "Let's see, it contains, ah… 600 Galleons, 3000 pounds in Muggle currency, complete Muggle identification, two Firebolts – those will be handy but keep them secret, they won't have been invented yet – gift certificates to several Muggle clothing stores in which I believe you will find the styles quite amusing… and a two letters from myself. Here," He pulled the sheets of parchment from the bag and handed one to each of them. They were identical:
The bearer of this note works on my behalf and under my direction. Show him the same courtesies that you would me.
Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Hermione nodded. She was suddenly feeling very businesslike.
"What are we supposed to do?" Ron said suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore said amiably.
"Well, ah…" he looked frustrated, "All we know is that he disappeared in a time slot of a few minutes. How are we supposed to save him if You-Know-Who shows up? And even if we do, won't he just keep trying until he finally gets Harry?"
Dumbledore frowned. "That is a question that I only wish I had the answer to. I think your best chances – " he grabbed a quill, took Ron's letter, flipped it over, and began scribbling something down – "lies in contacting this person. He will still have been staying there at the time, unless my memory has failed me." He slid the paper back across the desk to Ron. Hermione leaned over to read it:
14 Willow Blvd,
off of Hogsmeade, Scotland
"Who – ?" said Hermione.
"I daresay you'll recognize him," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind gold-rimmed glasses. "After you have done that, I think you may find it useful to come to Hogwarts and speak to me."
"What?" Ron stared at him.
"I will be most surprised to see you of course, but it will turn out all right." He smiled.
"But – " Hermione's eyes lit up as she came to a sudden realization. "You can see everything that happens, right? So you already know what's going to happen!"
"Yeah!" Ron said.
"Not exactly, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. He tapped the tips of his fingers together and peered at them over the top of his hands. "I know that if you do succeed, things will be exactly as they were before. But so many things could occur… the pattern of time is like breaking of glass. One crack spreads into two, and two into five, until there are thousands and thousands of unique lines that you could follow. It is very hazy. But remember this – " he looked them both in the eye. "You can succeed. Whatever may happen, know that it is not impossible."
Hermione said nothing. She didn't know what they were getting themselves into, but it was sure to be hard. If she didn't go, however, Hermione knew that she would never be able to forgive herself. And Harry would remain dead or lost or whatever he is.
"Now." She said. "I'm ready to go now." She took a deep breath and looked over at Ron. His face was pale, and he appeared to be steeling himself. He nodded.
Dumbledore sighed and again opened the small black box. He pulled out the golden pocket watch – what was it called, Hermione thought, the Pour Liberty? – and handed it to Ron.
"Put it around your necks," he instructed. Ron slipped on and then motioned to her. Hermione scooted her chair closer to his so that they were facing each other, and then pulled the rather lengthy chain over her own head as well. On the end of the chain, the intricate watch lay in Ron's hand, ticking away mockingly. Ron handled it as though it might shatter in a moment's notice.
"Be thinking of the year you want to go to," Dumbledore said, "and repeat after me: tempus mien."
"Tempus mien," Hermione said clearly.
Ron, scooping up the keychain-bag and his sheet of parchment, said, "Tempus mien."
"Again. Keep repeating it," Dumbledore said.
"Tempus mien, tempus mien, tempus mien," Hermione said, concentrating hard.
Almost immediately, the room began to spin. Colors blurred together to form blackness. She was no longer aware of anything except for the presence of Ron, to her left, and the Pour Liberte, suspended somewhere in front of her. Everything was spinning; the whole world was spinning. She felt herself being tugged backwards all at once. The passage of time rushed by her ears, but it was more of a feeling than a sight or sound.
Then her mind went blank.
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A/N: This one was a bit shorter, I know. Next chapter will be up soon, and it will be in Ron's POV (Yay! I love Ron!) Until then, I leave you to wonder… where will they wake up? Who will they meet there? What will happen??
Disclaimer: blah blah blah, I don't own anything in this story but the plot… yadayadayada…
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