Changing Times

A/N: Okay, FanFiction.Net has been sort of down, which I am sure most of you guys have noticed. Even though I (actually!) had the chapter ready, I couldn't post it... isn't that like, irony or something?
Well, anyhow, I hope you will enjoy this piece, as it is the SECOND LAST people! Wow! Now, I had this whole thing worked out, but then what happens? I mess everything up! The final chapter is not going to be exactly as I planned, though I will try to stick to my original idea, which you will soon (?) find out about. Now, some of you will be disappointed, some of you will hopefully be happy, and maybe I'll even make people be happy, if you're really good and review this... :D

Okay, I will warn you. This is probably not as bad as it sounds but... okay here goes: I will write Spider-Man fanfiction. - Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad, but seriously, I loved it! If you didn't, then don't go grr-y on my or anything... - I am trying very hard not to go all "AYAYAYAYAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPIDER-MAN *ROCKED* BABY, IT ROCKED!!! I LOVE TOBEY MAGUIRE, I CAN PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME, (believe me, I've had some pretty creative suggestions..) AHHHHHHH!!! - Oh, and by the way, since when was there a "-" between Spider and Man?" or something like that, so I'm just going to say this: if you haven't seen it, then don't waste any more time on my stupid fic, just GO, GO, GO!!! --- Phew, I'm cool now. God, I'm so discrete am I not? :)
Oh, and by the way, if you thought that was stupid or childish or some other crap, then you DO NOT want to hear my take on Star Wars: AOTC!

What goes for my reviewers, I can just say, well... I truly, deeply love you. There! That wasn't so bad, was it? :) The stupid crisis on Fanfiction.Net has kept me from reviewing a lot of stories, including some of yours, and I just have to say, that the stories I've read by you have all been brilliant! Don't think I'm only saying this to make you review or anything, (though I surely wouldn't mind... *wink*) but there was *no* exception! Anyway, thank you to:

Amy Potter = Ah, well, the end is near.. and maybe shocking..? All hope seems out.. And I'm sorry that I couldn't get this chapter out before, but FF.Net was being stupid. :)
Usotsuki = Yeah, I know, but I had to make something drastic happen.. the story isn't about Lily n James you know.. :) And they've known each other so long, so it's kinda like the 2756th date, if you know what I mean.. :)
E. C. R. Potter = Yeah, as I said before, i had the whole thing planned out for this story, but it went crazy behind my back! And all hope seems to be out for Harry and Hermione, doesn't it..?
Lady Knight of Kennan = Thanks! Cool. :)

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Chapter 17 = Dumbledore's Office

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Later that day, Lily, Ron, James, and myself, were all really tensed. We were going to meet Dumbledore. He was going to answer questions, and he was going to send Ron and me back into our respective times.

Of course, that was not the only reason Lily and James were tensed.. Sirius and Remus had made sure to spread the word as much as possible. Even Wormtail had occasionally seen an opportunity to make himself a bit more popular than zero, and now, everyone from Filch to the Ravenclaws knew about Lily and James' little.. heh.. get-together. So, naturally, Lily and James were sort of uh, freaked, about meeting the headmaster face to faces.

Ten minutes before heading up to Dumbledore, the four of us met in the common room.

"Okay.." said James nervously.

"This is it..." finished Ron. Those two had made some sort of a bond between them, partly because Ron was the only one who could talk to James without laughing, joking, and mainly just making fun about the unfortunate situation.

Lily and I were standing pretty stiffly, each of us had good reason to. Lily was just plainly freaked out, while I was lost in deep thought. I was really never going to see Harry ever again. I had failed. All I had managed to do was cause trouble. And I hated the fact that when I returned to my own time, I wouldn't be able to share my pain with anyone. Except Ron, of course. If he could remember. What if I couldn't remember? "Oh jeez.." I whispered in frustration.

And there was another thing bothering me. I was going away from all of this! I would never ever see James or Lily or Peter (God forbid) or Remus or Sirius.. wait, I would see those two, 'cause they were still around in my time. But they would be older, and I could never ever tell them anything, so they would never know that it was, in fact, me who was me! Or what if Dumbledore was really planning to make them - us - forget everything? Oh, I would miss them so much!

Just in that moment, the three guys walked into the common room. Before I could stop myself, I rushed over them, and embraced all of them on the same time in a big hug. "Oh, you guys.." I said on the verge of tears.

Remus, Sirius and Peter all stared at me, and I awkwardly let them go. But once I got to see their faces I let out a sob. "Oh, you guys!" I said once more. Before I could hug them again, however, Ron quickly pulled me away from them.

"I think it's time for us to go, don't you?" he said, with a comforting smile. He led me out of the common room holding onto my shoulders. When we reached Sirius and the others, Ron quickly cleared his throat. "Well, goodbye," he said, and shook their hands.

Remus looked at him quizzically. "Where are you going?"

Uh.." Ron said, "Just out for a walk." They looked at him weirdly. "A long walk," he added.

Just as he was about to turn around, he stopped. "Oh you guys!" he suddenly said, and hugged them tightly. When he let go, he cleared his throat and calmed himself, straightening his robe. "So, see you later?" he quickly exited the common room, and Lily, James and I followed him, taking a last glance at the three very confused boys.

...

We made our way down the hallway, through the secret passage, ("Password?" "BubblePop With Crop n' Top") up the stairs and finally stopped, only an only piece of wood standing between us and our destiny. Finally, we knocked on the door, and awaited an answer.

Nothing could be heard from the other side. I was starting to wonder if maybe Dumbledore had forgot? Maybe we came too early? Or too late perhaps? Lily slowly reached up to knock a second time, when we heard something.

"Come on in," said Dumbledore's voice. We slowly entered the small room, and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, his hands resting on the wings of his chair. I looked around at the room, and realized that I had actually never been in the Headmaster's quarters before.

Curiously, I scanned it for anything out of the ordinary. Well, let's just say that there was nothing *of* the ordinary in here.. even his books were strange and most of the titles did I not have knowledge of. And without bragging, that says a lot. I made a mental note to ask Dumbledore about maybe borrowing a few of the books.. Like the big red book with the golden and silvery flames burning on the back. 'Flaming Facts About Veelas And Their Line Of Arts'.. uh, or maybe not? There was also a white and green book, by the name 'The Basilisk - The Myth, The Truth, And The Good Will Of The Snake'. Seemed more like a fairytale then a useful boom to me, but nonetheless interesting. I tore my eyes off the books, and started examining the rest of the room. I only registered a big bowl of water, and a big cage hosting a.. a real phoenix? "Wow.." I breathed. That was when Dumbledore spoke, and I quickly drew my attention back to him.

"I see that you are right on time," he noted, with a hint of satisfaction in him voice. "That is good. We have got a lot to do. Firstly-"

"I'm sorry sir," I cut in. "I would just like to know if, after this, we will be able to remember any of this?"

"If you would let me finish miss Granger," Dumbledore said, though he did not sound mad, "I would tell you." He paused, and then continued. "Yes, if everything goes as planned, all four of you, and myself, will keep our memories intact. Though what concerns your friends, I can't let them know, unfortunately," he sighed. "I am going to send Hermione and Ron back to their respective times, and then James and Lily will get their answers. Well, as much as possible, anyway. And," he examined the two young pupils closely, "There is another matter I would like to speak with you about." James and Lily looked absolutely terrified. "But we will get back to that."

Dumbledore took a long break, and sighed. "Hermione," he started, looking directly into my eyes. I got a little scared at his directness, but nodded whatsoever. He sighed one more time, before slowly speaking, choosing each word with care. "I have been contemplating on whether or not to tell you this, but I think it is time that you find out. As you may have read, I have ways of communicating with myself older and younger, meaning that I can talk to my older self." I nodded again. I read that in 'Hogwarts: A History'. "It seems I haven't changed over the ages. In all times, I have done something which you may think is horrible, but you will understand. I have..." he seemed to be taking a short break, looking for the words. What was so hard for him to say? "I have been sabotaging all your plans to save Harry."

Oh, *that* was the hard part!

I looked at him, unable to speak. He had what? He had stopped me from saving Harry? Why? How? Why?

Dumbledore seemed to read my mind. "I knew it was going to change things, and I was worried about the consequences of your actions. I couldn't let you stop Harry from killing Voldemort, because then he would still be alive, and maybe we would all be dead. I know you must hate me right now, but until I could find a way to stop Voldemort without Harry having to get involved, I couldn't let you interfere."

"What, but- but you could just tell yourself - your older self - that Voldemort was going to show up in the dungeons, and then you could just be there to stop him, and-" I was at a loss for words. Surely Dumbledore must have thought of that?

Dumbledore just smiled. "Sometimes in life, we have to learn what is most important. I know, and when you are older, you will find out too."

I looked at him, hundreds of questions floating through my head, but not one of them got out.

"Uh sir," James slowly said. "I did not understand much of what you just said, but it seems to me like you have had the chance to save many people's lives, and yet you didn't?"

Dumbledore smiled again. "There is a time for everything, James Potter, there is a time for everything." He looked back at me and Ron. "Now, let's send you two back. I have to discuss a matter with Lily and James, and then my work is done."

"Uh.. goodbye," Lily said timidly. I smiled sadly at her, knowing that this would be the last time I would see her alive.

"Goodbye," I heard myself say, my voice cracking ever so slightly. I hugged her closely, and Ron did the same. I turned towards James.

"Uh, see you later?" he asked, trying to ease the tension. He wasn't. As I looked into the face of James Potter, and saw so much of Harry in there, a sob escaped my mouth, and I embraced him, too.

"Bye, James Potter," I whispered into his ear. We parted, and James and Ron shook hands. Very macho-like. The sight of them trying to act cool gave me some of my mood back.

However, as Dumbledore stood up and moved towards us, raising his wand, my temper heightened dangerously.

"Sir," I finally blurted, unable to get a hold of myself. "You know you can save Harry, and I would have succeeded, and I don't understand, and what happens next, and can't take all this!!" I breathed heavily and looked up into his eyes.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "You worry too much."

I could not believe he was saying this to me! How could he??

He held out his wand, and as we were slowly lifted from the ground, he said his final words before we left.

"Put on your biggest smile, miss Granger."

What??

I was going crazy, I could tell. I missed Harry like crazy, and now I truly realized how terribly I had failed. Harry was gone. I was going home again, without Harry. This was not how it was supposed to turn out. All hope was lost now.

~ ~ ~
As Ron and Hermione began their journey through time, Dumbledore turned towards Lily and James, who was staring madly at the spot where the two others had just stood.
"And now," Dumbledore said, "I have something important to discuss with you two."
And he smiled. He knew what they thought he was going to talk to them about, give them moral lessons about.
But that was not exactly the matter of the conversation to follow.
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Ay, ay, ay, all hope really seems to be lost now.. Harry is dead, and Hermione failed. She is going back now. Back to normal life. And Harry is gone forever now, because of Dumbledore. How will this drama of lost love turn out now? What will happen to Hermione? And what did Dumbledore have to talk to James and Lily about, if not the incident...?

Stay tuned for the final chapter, coming up...