Crankywonderjoe: Obviously, you can't take a joke. You can believe what ship you want to believe, but I will tell you that I am not sure that Harry and Hermione get together for sure. It's just a logical assumption on my part. So I cannot give you reasons that it will be Harry and Hermione that get together. The only person who knows that is JK Rowling herself. Thanks for your review.

J: To me, the way I update this story is frequent. ^_^ I've got school and all the other stuff (which I am thrilled you understand). I try to write whenever I can, though. And your comments are flattering! Thanks!

Archforge: Wow, thanks so much! I love writing actions scenes (noticed, have you?) And I'm glad you could imagine what went on in the last chapter, like you were there yourself, because I can do the same thing!

Malu: A huge fan? Honestly? Well, that very well made my day! Thanks very much!

Malones2007: I'm glad you like it! And thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind if I'm stuck ^_^

Amora: I agree. Fudge needs to die… lets form a band of Hinkypunks and Grindylows, shall we? And we can bowl down the Ministry, and when we find him… *blink*… anyways, thanks for your review!

E.C.R Potter: You'll have to wait s'more to review. There may be another cliffhanger coming up *wink*.

DragonBlond: Indeedy, the plot thickens! But I MUST stop you on one thing… I don't think there will be a sequel for this fic. Sorry. But I'm writing a story that comes in a series, if it makes you happy. Just please… no wombats.

Eliza: Er… your welcome *realizes that she's been saying nothing but 'thank yous' for all the author notes and not one 'your welcome'* Boy, that was different. Anyways, here's the next chapter and please do not kill yourself over suspense. And please do not let me kill you with suspense… oh, and please don't die of suspense… *sigh* whatever...

…~'*'~…

JUNE 21, 2003 – WHEN HARRY POTTER LIVES AGAIN! (And we all thought he was hibernating…)

…~'*'~…

Hermione moaned. Every part of her body ached. She kept her eyes squeezed shut and her arms at her side, not daring to move from her comfortable bed and soft covers. But before she could settle back down, she felt something cold being pressed against her lips. A substance being poured into her mouth. She swallowed obediently, spluttering a little.

She felt someone touch her forehead. Then a muffled cry. Was someone crying?

"How is she doing?" said a voice from the far right of her.

Another sob, followed by the sound of a door closing. Hermione didn't know where she was. The voices were unfamiliar; they sounded uninviting and cold. And the cries were disturbing her. Before she could debate the consequences, Hermione opened her eyes.

She was in the infirmary in Dryconderoga. Her arms were bandaged and her legs felt like led; she started to panic, because before long, she realized she couldn't move them.

"Argh! W-what's going-"

A pair of hands seized her shoulders and forced her back into the pillows of her hospital bed. Hermione started to cry.

"Hermione! For heaven's sake, it's me!" cried a voice franticly.

Hermione opened her eyes and saw the short and plump Mrs. Weasley, her hands fastened tightly on her shoulders, her face blotchy and her fly-away hair in complete disarray. Hermione stopped fighting at once.

"Y-you! What happened… how did I-" she gasped and she almost felt the colour drain from her face in one big rush, "Where's Ron? Sirius? I don't know what happened to them, and…" she paused, "Where's Harry?"

Mrs. Weasley's grip on her shoulders softened, but didn't let go. The urgency in her face faded and was replaced by utter misery. It was then when Hermione's stomach dissolved and her mouth went dry when it dawned on her; something horrible happened when she was away.

Without thinking, Hermione threw her covers back and attempted to swing her legs out of the bed. But she found that she still couldn't move them.

"What's going on!" cried Hermione, tears falling freely from her eyes now, "What h-happened to me?"

   The Matron heard the shouts and came skidding into the Infirmary from her office. Wand out, she hurried to Hermione's bed.

   "Your legs are just healing! It's a spell to stop them from moving! Please – sit still!" she shrieked, "Abaricus!"

   Hermione's legs sprang to life. The feeling returned in them. She hurriedly swung her feet off her bed, tears blinding her vision, and fell to the ground in a heap. Mrs. Weasley screamed.

'I must get up!' Hermione thought, 'Where's Ron? What happened to Sirius? They'll be calling in the Dementors any moment now. They'll kill him for sure!'

She scrambled to her feet, clutching her bed franticly, fending off Mrs. Weasley and the Matron from leading her back.

"Keep away… from m-me! I need to find – where's Sirius? I… I don't know-"

Hermione stumbled to the end of the bed next to hers. She could see the next two occupied beds properly now. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her knees buckle beneath her weight.

It was Ron and Sirius in each bed, both with a white sheet draped over their pale, ailing bodies. Their eyes with closed. They didn't move… there was no look of liveliness in their faces.

Hermione felt like getting sick.

"They're not-" she started, looking at the Matron.

   The Matron frowned – Mrs. Weasley burst into tears – and miserably glanced at the two people in the beds. The look in her face told Hermione that she looked after them long enough.

   Then the Matron nodded. Yes, they were dead.

   Silence. Hermione stood there, not moving a muscle, not daring to believe what she saw. It was above her ability to dwell on how much one simple movement could introduce someone to such indescribable sorrow. How it can define ones fears and make the horrors of their life worsen. And deflate their heart in one considerable blow. It was like Hermione herself had died… just like they did.

   She bowed her head, tears running down her cheeks onto her night gown.

   "No… It c-can't-" she sniffed unintelligently, "T-they can't p-possibly be…" She trailed off, voice cracking.

More silence. Then, "The boy who did this – Harry Potter – has been sent to the dungeons under the school. He's waiting for a sentence of life imprisonment in Azkaban, where he can't harm any others, "said the Matron quietly, "These two are to be sent to Hogwarts first thing tomorrow, dear. There's nothing left to do with them." She paused. "The Tournament ha been canceled. Everyone is being sent home. You… you're to be leaving Dryconderoga tomorrow as well, with your friends," she paused, "Won't that bring a little relief?"

Hermione brought her hands to her face, turning away from Ron and Sirius. She dared not look at them again. She couldn't handle it. The sickening feeling in her stomach was rising in her throat.

   "Harry and Ron w-were my friends. Without them… I'm n-nothing." She couldn't handle it. The pressure was rising in her chest. She felt like he was going to explode with tears.

   The images of Ron flashed through her mind. When she met him on the first train ride to Hogwarts; a tall, gangling, freckled boy with a very bothersome attitude had snubbed her in their first meeting, but was as much as a friend anyone could as for. And Harry… he was dark and silent. Raven-black hair that always fell into his bright green eyes… green eyes that made the world around her dissolve when she'd glance at him. And his scar… it was such a wonderful scar. He loved Sirius like a replacement Father, whom she'd remembered had cared for his friend's son so much. He was a brilliant man. But she was to never see them again.

   It was then when Hermione realized… she wished she had meet Ron and Sirius's fate. She was better off dead.

   There was nothing left.

   Hermione screamed… frustrated, she spun on her heels to Mrs. Weasley and the Matron… face read and blotchy, a pained look in her eyes, she screamed all she could.

   "I'M NOTHING WITHOUT THEM! THEY'VE CHANGED MY LIFE AND I… I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE TO SEE THEIR D-DEATH!" she was sobbing uncontrollably now, "I SAW THEM! I SAW THEM LYING ON THE GROUND, AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALIVE! I WAS STUPID… I-I FEARED FOR MY OWN LIFE! MINE! I WAS SELFISH," she had to say in now. There was no backing out, "AND NOW, I WISH I WAS D-DEAD!"

   When she finished, Mrs. Weasley had a hand over her mouth. The Matron look stunned. But Hermione didn't wait for explanations. She didn't care that she hadn't yet mastered the use of her legs just yet. She couldn't stay there in the Infirmary. With great effort, she stumbled forwards, towards the Infirmary door, stumbling on her night gown, tears still falling freely from her red and squinting eyes. The Matron's arms tried and failed to seize her arms – Hermione collapsed on the door and fell to the floor was the door flung open with her weight.

   Even now she didn't stop. Every part of her was aching; both her knees were bleeding and a large bruise was growing on her check where the door struck her.

   "I-I can't s-s-stay here… I mustn't," she mumbled, trying to turn over to her hands and knees, "F-find… Harry-"

   She heard the slam of a door overhead. She looked up. The Weasley family was approaching her – Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Bill, Charlie and the twins. They spotted her. Ginny screamed something; Fred and George started running towards her.

   "N-no! I mustn't s-stay," gasped Hermione. She collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.

   Strong hands lifted her up; the twins were bringing her back into the Infirmary. They were going to bring her back to the dead bodies of Ron and Sirius.

   She started twisting madly. She felt another pair of hands seize her wrists, holding her down. Hermione started screaming, wishing that with this, they'd let her go. She didn't want to go back… not to be healed.

   Hermione had finally pulled hard enough. She felt the grips of the Weasley twins leave her. She was falling. Then someone else was screaming, joining the fray of voices.

   "HERMIONE! STOP! NOOOOOOOOOO!"

   That was it.

   The voices had gone all at once.

Ginny wasn't screaming.

The twins weren't groping for her flailing arms.

But Hermione's head felt like it was about to explode. For a moment, she felt like the Cruciatus curse was set on her again. She squeezed her eyes shut to numb the pain rising in her chest… with was flowing through her entire body. Light flashed by her closed eyes. She opened her mouth, about to yell in pain. But as soon as it started, it stopped… all at once.

She was comfortable again. She was standing on something hard… then the thought came to her. I'm in the Infirmary again. How did I get here? She found her leg and gave it a great pinch and winced in pain shortly after.

Soon, the silence was starting to unnerve her. She decided to open her eyes a slit and saw a dense black, then opened them all the way. It was like she hadn't opened her eyes at all. Ginny, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie… they had all gone. The Infirmary door had disappeared. It was all black.

Hermione opened her mouth to yell something, but froze.

There was a noise coming from somewhere. Hermione whirled around, staring blankly around the darkened area, her face paling with fear. The noise started growing louder. Was it… music? Hermione listened harder. It was loud and muffled slightly, but becoming clearer as it drew nearer; it made Hermione look franticly around, breathing hard… her heart was beating very fast now. Then Hermione found that it wasn't music and it wasn't noise… someone was talking.

"W-who's there?" Hermione shouted at the darkness, voice trembling.

Behind her came an answer. It was a deep, clear voice that was very near.

"Hermione Granger. You've arrived at last."

Hermione gasped and jumped. She spun around and saw exactly what was behind her.

An antique-looking carved table appeared there. Light cascaded onto it from somewhere above like an invisible skylight. And sitting at the table were two witches and a wizard. It was the wizard who was speaking.

"It is Hermione Granger, is it not?" said the man. Hermione's immediate impression was someone like Dumbledore. His face was bright but serious and a large, purple hat that resembled the Sorting Hat, only without the patches and face, was sitting atop his short, brown hair. He was wearing an ancient cloak, the kind Hermione saw wizards wearing the textbooks of A History of Magic. And on the breast of it was an ancient emblem of the Gryffindor house.

He gestured to an empty chair at the other end of the table, across from him.

"Please sit and our gathering can begin," he said quietly.

Hermione shuffled to the chair, eyes still on the wizard, her face pale, but didn't sit.

"W-where am I?" She asked the wised wizard with a quivering voice.

One of the witches leaned forwards over the table. She had a plump, round face that looked cheery and she wore ancient robes like the wizard did… only she was wearing the Hufflepuff shield upon them. Hermione stared at her.

"You are in the past, Hermione, when Hogwarts was newly built and the students within the walls are few," she told her with quite a serious face, "You've been sent here for a very important matter that will affect your life," she paused, letting these words sink in, "Our time is short… your time is short as well. We haven't long here, Hermione. You must listen."

Hermione hesitated. Had she really gone back in time? If she had, how did she do it? There wasn't a time turner nearby… she didn't know any other method of time travel. The last thing she remembered was… she was falling.

"Please sit, Miss. Granger, we haven't long," pressed the wizard.

Hermione sighed unevenly. There was nothing for it. She nodded and sat in the vacant chair. The witch who spoke to her smiled warmly.

"Thank you."

"Miss. Granger," the other witch spoke now. She peered closely at Hermione over her spectacles, just like Professor McGonagall would do. There was a Ravenclaw emblem on the front of her robes. Hermione, slightly curious about this, tried to listen, "We understand your and a great number of other people's lives are being threatened. Just days ago, you have been unsuspectingly thrown into the hands of evil with no defense to speak of-"

Hermione couldn't help herself.

"How do you know this? Who are you?"

"Please, Miss. Granger, there is not much time!" said the witch hastily, "This moment with you is limited and the world's existence is at hand! This is certainly not something to-"

"If I may," interrupted the wizard loudly. The witch went silent at once, "I daresay you'd not like the idea of the world ending without any notification on your part, Miss. Granger."

Hermione gulped and leaned back in her chair to indicate she would stay silent. The plump witch started this time.

"Hermione, dear, your past is endangered. Your presence is being threatened at this very moment, and if you don't do something, the life existence as you know it will vanish. We understand this… Hogwarts has been threatened with horrors for centuries. But I assume you know all about that," she smiled kindly, "There will be a chance for you to change the future, dear. There is hope and your future can be corrected."

Hermione stared the rough surface of the table, thinking. She felt like she knew these people so well… but she hadn't met them in her life. Had she?

"Do you mean the things that are happening? In the castle?" she asked, looking up.

"Yes. We're speaking of the horrific times you and your friends are facing at this very moment," said the wizard, his eyes glinting in the light, "You've been through much, Miss. Granger. You've witnessed a terrible thing and your friends are vanishing before you. Two are dead. One is better off claimed diseased," his eyes flashed momentarily. "It is he who caused you this pain, is it?"

Hermione's lips went thin and resentment was coursing through her. She shook her head slightly.

"He hasn't caused me pain. I-I wasn't there when he… killed those people. He almost spared me. I just… I don't know," said Hermione softly, choking on her words slightly, "He wasn't the same. He'd never k-kill someone… certainly not his best friends."

The corner of the wizard's lips twitched. He leant towards the table, folding his hands before him on its surface. "Who is this boy you speak of? You have not mentioned his name."

It was like he wanted to hear something he already knew. Like he wanted to hear it for pleasure; it was an impression only Dumbledore had given her before. Hermione frowned at him.

"H-Harry Potter. He was the one who killed those people," she said so quietly she wasn't sure they had heard her.

He beamed at her.

"The mind is a curious thing, Miss. Granger," he told her, "It instructs us what to do, controls our every movement. Makes us believe things that are false. It is our mind's functions that make a mind so dangerous, so vulnerable… so open for visitors. But what if you had no control? No use of your mind?"

Hermione didn't know what he was getting at. But she couldn't resist answering.

"It'd be a terrible thing," she told him slowly, "Loosing your mind would be… loosing your body."

He smiled even wider. The plump witch to the left of her chuckled merrily as if nothing could thrill her more than just listening.

"Exactly," said the wizard, looking pleased, "Loosing your body. That's exactly right. With that in mind, what do you think Harry would be capable of if he lost control of his body, his every movement and his mind?"

Hermione felt like she was screwing up her brain in concentration. There was something in that they were telling her. It wasn't a moral… it was somehow connected to the things that were happening. He had said it so meaningfully.

Her mind flickered back to the night where she meat Pettigrew. She ran to find Dumbledore; Harry found her; and it all started from there. He wasn't acting at all normal. His eyes, his sneer, his touch… it was unfamiliar. He had done so many horrible things that night, and all the time, Hermione treated him like a different person.

Then it clicked.

Hermione's mouth fell open.

The look of sudden astonishment on Hermione's face made the plump witch giggle with excitement once more. The wizard nodded.

"You understand right, Miss. Granger. I knew you'd understand eventually," he told her.

Hermione was at a loss for words. Questions blossomed in her head and her mouth gaped wordlessly. She was blank for a moment, and she was suddenly aware that the wizard and witches were watching her attentively. She mumbled unintelligently at first.

"What… I-I don't understand," she said, "Harry's mind was… being controlled? He wasn't possessed, was he? Who could have done it?"

"Can you think of no one?" said the witch, peering closely at her over her spectacles, "Can you think of such a person who's desire is so deep that they'd go to any lengths… to hurt Harry Potter in any way possible?"

Hermione stared at her in contemplation. Her first thought was Peddigrew. She was reminded of the third task and the graveyard… he was a Death Eater, and what's more, he had stolen her necklace, attacked Malfoy and had probably been watching her and Harry all year. But then… she was reminded of the white face in her dream. The man with the red eyes and the skin pulled so tightly over his face she could see the outlines of his skull…

"Do you mean… You-Know-Who?" she said, eyes wide and face pale.

The witch with the glasses made a noise of disgust as she threw her hands up in the air. The wizard silenced her with a strict look.

"Yes. He's been watching you, Hermione. You and Mr. Potter," he told her, looking somber, "You'll find out why soon enough, but right now… please learn something from this," he sighed, "It's Voldemort, Miss. Granger. Lord Voldemort. Fear of the name only increases the fear itself."

Hermione remembered Dumbledore had said that last line to Harry once… he told her about it. She didn't stay on that fact for long, because the plump-faced witch pulled out a wand from her robe. Hermione watched in awe as she made a sort of complicated wiggle and said something Hermione couldn't understand. Then something appeared in front of her. Hermione's stomach gave a funny jolt.

It was the book Wormtail gave her… James Potter's book.

"A friend gave this to you, Hermione," said the witch. She waved her wand again and the book slid all the way to a spot on the table directly in front of Hermione, "A friend you met in the corridor nights ago. He gave it to you for a reason, and if you open it, you'll find out what it is."

She gestured to the book suggestively.

Hermione watched the book in front of her with frightened eyes. The name on the front looked especially tempting now. She had to open it. If it could help Harry…

Hermione reached up and carefully laid a hand on its cover. She slid her fingers to the spine, hesitated, and then pulled it open. She sat there, stunned, staring at what was inside.

There were no letters. No paper of any kind. Red velvet lined the cover and where the pages should have been was a soft, red scarf, surrounded by dried rose pedals and cloves of leaves. And on the scarf… was a necklace. An almost exact replica of the Hermione necklace Wormtail stole, but instead of an emerald pendant, there was a ruby one.

Hermione took the necklace in her hands wordlessly.

"Peter Pettigrew, the good lad, took from you a burden, Hermione. Do you recall the saying 'one who lives by first impressions dies with the wrong impression'?" Hermione shook her head, "Well, keep it in mind… Harry gave you an exact look-alike necklace to that one but with a major difference you cannot visually see."

"B-but," stuttered Hermione, not looking up from the necklace, "I can see the difference just fine. There's a different stone in this one. The one I had-"

"There is another difference, Hermione," interrupted the witch, "There is a very eminent difference that will mean the alteration of life and death of you and your friends. It is this necklace that is the key."

She waved her wand yet again and Hermione felt the necklace being pulled from her fingers. As though an invisible person was sliding the necklace around her neck, Hermione heard a snap as the little fastener magically clicked closed and it hung loosely from her neck. Hermione raised her hand and took the pendant protectively.

"Miss. Granger, please stand," said the strict witch on the other side of her. She looked slightly happier.

Hermione stood, nervous for what was to happen next.

"You can change your future, Hermione. This is your chance to make things right. You'll have your friends back… Mr. Weasley will be with you to fly back to Hogwarts… Mr. Black will journey the country freely, and… Harry will be with you again. Just bear in mind the things were told you," said the wizard, a look of satisfaction on his shadowed face. He watched her for a moment, smiling. "Someone's looking out for you, Miss. Granger. He's waiting for you. You must free him."

Hermione squinted at him… as much as she wanted to work out what he said, she noticed that his and the witches faces were fading. The table and chairs was starting to dissolve.

"Wha- wait! You've never answered my question!" cried Hermione urgently, "Who are you?"

Through the haze, they were watching Hermione, beaming. Even the witch with the glasses. It was the plump witch who answered-

"Just a memory, dear. A memory within the walls of Hogwarts. Good luck."

They dissolved with a whirlwind of black haze. Hermione clamped her eyes shut. She felt like she was being hurled down a drainpipe. She was being transported somewhere. Everything was black, then…

Her feet landed on solid ground. Eyes still shut, Hermione stood mutely for a moment, wondering where she could be. The infirmary. But there were no voices… no sounds of the Weasleys. Had she really gone back through time?
            Hermione opened her eyes and found she was at the end of a corridor in Dryconderoga. It was night. Doors leading to classroom lined the dimly-lit corridor. With a startling shiver, Hermione realized that this was the corridor she found Marindernia the day of the first task.

What was so important about bringing her here? Hermione reached up and touched her necklace as if asking for security. Her eyes squinted down the corridor, which looked particularly eerie. But there, at the end of the row of closed doors, stood an open one. Light was pouring through the opening.

   Her stomach gave a funny jolt. She felt a maddening urge to go to that door.

   Hermione would give anything she owned to have her wand back. If she really traveled back in time, would there be the same rules as in the time turner? If there was, she couldn't run to her dorm and fetch it – someone would see her and panic. But there wasn't a time turner and there was really now time to get it. Whatever she was looking for was nearby.

   She knew what she had to do. Bent back and being as quiet as possible, Hermione crept along the wall, listening for any faint sound, any footsteps or voices.

   She slowed down when she came nearer to the door – there were shadows inside, great, long shadows that floated across the door and part of the wall Hermione could see. But, surprisingly, fright did not dim Hermione's determined thoughts. She clenched her fists, narrowed her eyes and poked her head inside the room.

   The room was the way she last remembered it, only there was a lit lantern sitting on one of the desks. But, as she expected, Harry was standing in the middle of the room, wand out… and pointing at a terrified Ron and baffled Sirius. Hermione's heart leapt. They were lying on the ground, limbs snapped to their sides as if invisible cords bound them. They weren't sure what to do… all they could see was Harry. But they were alive.

   Hermione carefully bent down. Slowly and very quietly, she walked inside the room, her narrowed eyes on Harry as she went.

   "So if you're not Harry, who the hell are you?" Sirius barked angrily. He looked furious enough to get on his feet and curse his own godson, if he wasn't bound. "And what do you want with us?"

   Harry laughed cruelly. He waved his finger from side to side in a taunting way, a cruel and twisted sneer on his lips. He looked more like Voldemort than ever.

   "I don't think it wise to tell you when you're near death, Old Man. You'll find out when you're soul belongs to me," he told them cruelly, "It'll be amusing to complete this mission… Harry Potter will have nothing left."

   "How can you do this?" Ron roared angrily, looking equally furious as Sirius, "Just for revenge? And what do you mean by Harry having nothing left?"

   Hermione crouched next to a table and stood, looking between two stacks of books, waiting, biting her lip, thinking… 'They'll be OK, I'm going back to Hogwarts them. They'll be OK, I'm going back to Hogwarts with them…'

   "I mean, Weasley, that Harry will have his greatest fear stare him in the face. His fear of fear will come to life," Harry hissed, "His fear of loosing the ones he loves… don't ask me what he sees in you three."

   A pause. Hermione heard Ron whine slightly.

   "What do you mean, 'three'? There's only two of us. Have you any ability to count?" shot Sirius.

   But Ron had understood. He understood the moment Harry had said it.

   "Not Hermione," he muttered softly, "Harry loves her. They… they l-love each other."

   Hermione frowned, inwardly sobbing hysterically. She kept repeating words in her head – 'They'll be OK, I'm going back to Hogwarts with them. And Harry will be fine… I love him'.

   "It's a clever strategy, isn't it? I haven't considered this for years, even though I have used this method before," he looked at Sirius, eyes glinting maliciously, "Years ago, when you were put to die in Azkaban, Black. Peter Pettigrew sent you there for life."

   He watched Sirius for a moment. It was as though he was trying to tell him something and his look would reveal what he meant. It was very odd, and Hermione didn't know what to make of it. Before she could dwell on this though any longer, Harry had taken his eyes off Sirius and started talking again.

"If I cannot kill Harry physically, I'll kill him emotionally. It'll make him suffer longer… until he dies. Which will not be long," he said softly, "He'll discover the three people be truly loves are dead… and he'll die himself. Piece by piece, fragment by fragment… until his soul dissolves."

   Ron was beside himself. Hermione could see that his face was as red as a cherry.

   "Y-you're mad! You're bloody mad! Why-what did Harry ever do to you?"

   Harry's face darkened. He circled around their forms, a grimace on his lips. He was thinking something… but what?

   "Potter has caused me grief," he hissed angrily, "More grief than you can ever imagine. For years… I've been alone, fighting for my life. Potter's been ruling this magical world of mine… I owned the world once. It was more than I could ask for," his face twisted furiously, his wand hand trembling slightly. "And he ruined it… years of my life, gone. Potter, the magical boy with the scar, conquered the Greatest Wizard of all time… Potter, the parentless boy with boundless lives. I'll be grateful when he feels my pain… the pain I've felt."

   His face was working feverishly. He roared in anger and without any effort, upturned one of the desks with one hand… Hermione jumped and clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming at the sound of the enormous bang. Harry raised his hands again, about to move to another desk, but stopped himself. He leaned on it instead, breathing heavily.

   Silence. Hermione waited with bated breath…

   Sirius spoke.

   "Harry was a child when he received that mark on his forehead… he could not hold a wand, could barely walk. He watched his Mother die before him. He did not watch his father die... they were separated. Harry reflected the spell put upon him without any effort… he had no recollection that it would harm the Dark Lord. But even now he is pleased that he did such a remarkable thing. Yes, he lives in grief at this very moment… he's seen so many die. But he and the rest of the world know that the Dark Lord got what was coming to him the night Harry's parents died."

   Harry's heavy breathing stopped. He seemed to be listening carefully now.

   Sirius continued, his voice raised. "The Dark Lord deserves every sort of punishment set upon him, as he has taken the lives of so many. Lily and James Potter, Bertha Jortkins, Cedric Diggory… they were innocent souls! And if you do not understand this any more than I do, you've lost you're touch…" he paused, "…Tom Riddle."

   That had done it.

   Ron looked horrified.

   Sirius looked satisfied.

   Harry remained still. Hermione bit her lip and clenched her fists… she could almost see the anger building inside him, the steam coming off him. His wand tightened in his hand.

   "You've found me out," he said quietly, "But no matter-" He slowly turned around, wand out, his face pale and full of triumph. "I'll just kill you now… like I've killed for years."

   A small gasp escaped Hermione. She got on her feet, getting ready to leap up… he aimed his wand… Ron and Sirius's faces twisted in horror…

Harry's booming voice shattered all of Ron and Sirius's hopes for survival-

"Avada Kedav-"

Hermione's head was spinning. She had to do it. Now!
            "STOP!"

Harry froze. He looked around behind him – a girl came around a table, frowning. She came to a halt before him, not looking at all pleased. He noticed his victims were gaping in astonishment at the girl. He lowered his wand and smiled.

"Granger, I presume," he said, a new kind of greasiness added to his voice, "I am to kill you later. What brings you here?"

Hermione didn't look at Ron or Sirius. She couldn't have distractions… she recalled what the witch told her. 'Hermione, dear, your past is endangered. Your presence is being threatened at this very moment, and if you don't do something, the life existence as you know it will vanish. We understand this… Hogwarts has been threatened with horrors for centuries…there will be a chance for you to change the future, dear. There is hope and your future can be corrected."

"I'm here to stop you from killing innocent lives," she told him quietly. She was surprised with herself… venom dripped from every word she spoke with a bitterness she never knew she had. "You'll kill them, then you'll kill me… you're plan isn't so clever after all."

Harry watched her for a moment. He looked odd. Was that alarm in his eyes? Was he really so startled by her sudden appearance? Hermione weighed her chances – she was wandless, standing in front of a very capable enemy with a very strong sense of revenge. Two unhelpful people were at their feet, bound and most likely wandless as well.

Harry's cruel laugh interrupted her thoughts.

"You silly Mudblood. What makes you, a little girl with no significant powers, stop the most powerful wizard in the world?" he hissed at her. He took a few steps towards her. "My plan will work. You and your friends will die."

Hermione didn't reply. The wise wizard's voice echoed through her mind-

'We're speaking of the horrific times you and your friends are facing at this very moment. You've been through much, Miss. Granger. You've witnessed a terrible thing and your friends are vanishing before you. Two are dead. One is better off claimed diseased. It is he who caused you this pain, is it?'

"You're not Harry. You are most unlike Harry in every way. He does not kill, nor will he ever. Therefore… he will not be accused," Hermione told Harry coldly, "But he will live with a burden, there's no doubt about that. But I will not agree to hating him… he will not cause me pain for something he does not do."

Something trembled in Harry's eyes… he was anxious. He wanted her to leave… but Hermione had no intention to. If the wizard and witches she spoke to held any kind of knowledge, she had to fight this out.

Harry kept advancing. Hermione shook her head slightly.

"Harry was right to say that you are foul," she said quietly. Her head was pointed down, her eyes looking at his pale face. "Do you even realize that you've tried to get Harry to fear your name for years… only to find he hasn't done so even after the deaths?"

He stopped. He looked curious. Hermione was reminded of Harry.

"What do you mean, you foolish girl?" he snapped at her, raising his wand and jabbing her in the side with it.

'The mind is a curious thing, Miss. Granger. It instructs us what to do, controls our every movement. Makes us believe things that are false. It is our mind's functions that make a mind so dangerous, so vulnerable… so open for visitors. But what if you had no control? No use of your mind?'

"Harry pretends you don't even exist. He goes about his business unharmed… he does not think of you. He thinks of the victims you have killed… Cedric Diggory was his friend. He once had loving parents until you murdered them," Hermione's voice was started to rise. Ron and Sirius were watching with amazement. "In the graveyard, with your Death Eaters in the Third Task of the Tournament… he was more concerned for Cedric's life than his own! He has been taunted with death ever since his first year!"

   Harry stared at her. He looked almost confused,

   "And what do you think you're getting at?"

   Hermione's lips curled into a grimace.

"His anger has been building up for years… do you have any idea what lengths he'd go to get revenge?"

At that moment, at that very second Hermione was watching him, Harry's eyes flashed. He reminded her of Pettigrew, the night she encountered her… the night he gave her the book... the book with her necklace in it.

'Peter Pettigrew, the good lad, took from you a burden, Hermione. Harry gave you an exact look-alike necklace to that one but with a major difference you cannot visually see…There is a very eminent difference that will mean the alteration of life and death of you and your friends. It is this necklace that is the key.'

Hermione reached up… and laid a hand on her neck.

Harry's wand left her side and the pain vanished. He looked at her incredulously. "You foolish Mudblood! Do you think I'm really frightened by your words?" he laughed, a cold, high laugh... a very familiar laugh Hermione had heard before. "I know neither pain nor fear and you cannot possible instill it in me!"

"Really? Then I reckon the fear you demonstrated in the maze was unintentional? You were not frightened of the Potter's ghosts or the connection of your and Harry's wands?" said Hermione lightly. Harry's eyes widened a glimmer of red flickering past them. But he didn't deny.

The corner of Harry's mouth trembled a little before attempting to sneer. He raised his wand, and directed it over his shoulder… at Ron and Sirius. Hermione balled her fists.

"I don't need to listen to you. You're too late… they're dead," he said.

Hermione thought fast… she unknowingly reached up and took her necklace as if to comfort herself. It was a habit she still had from her other necklace. She got the distinct feeling that it was over… she couldn't help… perhaps there was a miracle. Certainly those witches she met would appear and stop Harry. But no… Harry's deep, cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Avada Kedavra!"

There was a burst of green light. Hermione's stomach dissolved... 'Oh no… please no. This can't happen. Help me…'

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

   The light was too bright… she brought her hands to her face and blindly felt her way forwards. She heard Ron yelling, Sirius shouting… but was it from pain? She didn't know.

   CRACK!

   Hermione fell to the floor, landing painfully on her elbow. Her face grazed something… it struck her shoulder hard… but she felt strangely relieved. There were no voices… no shouting, no sounds of pain… no green light.

   For a moment Hermione thought she went unconscious. Her head was swimming… she felt dizzy. Or maybe she slipped back in the past with those witches and the wizard. As much as she'd like to believe this, Hermione couldn't understand how it could happen.

   But Harry's voice shattered her thoughts.

   "WHAT? IT CAN'T BE!"

   Hermione's eyes flew open. She gasped and sat up.

Harry was standing in the same spot… his wand was outstretched and a look of astonishment was on his pale face, for what was in front of him made Hermione's heart stop.

Ron and Sirius were still alive… they were standing. But this and something else mystified Hermione… they were surrounded by a glimmering wall. It was like a transparent bubble, only it stretched from the two walls and the ground, protecting Ron and Sirius in a corner. It was some sort of force field.

   Harry was beside himself.

   "WHAT IS THIS MAGIC?" he shouted, turning around to Hermione, dark eyes darting all over the room in a panic.

   His eyes fell on a spot on the floor next to Hermione… a terrible hiss escaped him.

   "What is that?" he shouted.

   Hermione looked next to her and saw her necklace, the chain broken… whatever had struck her neck must have taken it off. She hurriedly threw herself forwards and gathered it up before Harry took it. She didn't know why he'd want it… it was strange how she wanted him to stay away…

   "Where did you-" started Harry. His face was starting to turn purple… he gripped his wand tighter. Ron and Sirius watched through the barrier. "How did you…"

   Hermione looked at her hand, where her necklace stretched across her palm, broken in two. Then she looked up at Harry… she couldn't understand. Was it this necklace that Harry was angry over? Then what was the importance of the witch giving it to her before sending her here?  Suddenly, it became clear to her… she was suddenly brought to something the witch had told her-

 '…It is this necklace that is the key.'

The necklace – Hermione's necklace – was the answer… it was going to get her, Ron and Sirius out of there. Somehow, one way or another, she finally realized that this necklace was different than that of the one Harry originally gave her… even as she looked, she saw the difference. The red stone glimmered at her teasingly, as if making her believe, even though there was no light near her…

"Is this what you want? You want this necklace and you'd kill lives to get it?" she said quietly, closing her fist around the pendant. Something in his eyes told him that she was wrong. Then… "Or you don't want this necklace. It frightens you."

His eyes gleamed. She fought the urge to smile…

"A wizard and two witches gave this to me. They said it was the key to let me and my friends live… I was afraid that they were telling rubbish, winding me up." She got to her feet and outstretched her hand. Harry took one, great step backwards. This time, Hermione never fought the urge to smile.

 "You know, if I never changed the future, you would have killed my friends and I would die soon after. Harry would die slowly and painfully. But I've changed the past, and I'll do the same to the future," she said, "You see, I'm not afraid of you. Not now, after Harry had taught me not to. So I can do what ever I want."

Harry's mouth open and closed several times. "You haven't the strength, nor do you know what that necklace can do."

Hermione took another step forwards and Harry stepped back again, this time almost tripping on the desk he upturned earlier.

"I know that it can stop you and your pathetic rule. That's all I need to know," she let go of the necklace and let the pendant drop, but she still gripped the chains… it swung freely from her hand, glimmering. "If this necklace can stop my friends from dieing, it can certainly kill you."

'You can change your future, Hermione. This is your chance to make things right. You'll have your friends back… Mr. Weasley will be with you to fly back to Hogwarts… Mr. Black will journey the country freely, and… Harry will be with you again. Just bear in mind the things were told you... someone's looking out for you, Miss. Granger. He's waiting for you. You must free him.'

One look of Harry's horrified face told her that she had to do it.

"This is where I alter the future and save the past," she said.

Then she did what she thought would work. Concentrating hard, she shut her eyes… 'I'm finished here… please rid this man of this world and bring me back to the present.'

It happened so fast after that. Behind her closed eyes, red light flashed past her eyelids… she heard Harry screaming – Voldemort shrieking in pain. She was whirling very fast… her eyes were blaring… her mind was spinning. She realized that this was very familiar.

And it all stopped. She was aware that her hand was still holding the necklace… it was cutting her skin with the grip she had on it. Now screaming, no light, no sound of any kind… she opened her eyes.

She was back. At the table in front of her sat the wizard and the witches, the book still sitting where Hermione had left it. They were smiling at her…

"You're very clever for your age, Miss. Granger," said the wizard, "Those were some very quick tactics you used in the classroom."

It took a moment for Hermione to retrace her steps. Had she gone back in time again?

"Yes, but… how did you know?"

"We were watching, dear," said the plump witch, "Every moment of it. I must say, it was quite a show! And you really did use your mind well, dear, you must be so proud of yourself."

Hermione gaped for a moment, speechless. What had just happened?
            "We possess powers strong enough to see into the future, Miss. Granger," said the strict witch. She was smiling. "We needed to be precise that you understood what we told you earlier."
            Hermione nodded, but still didn't understand how they did it. She realized that she still didn't know who these people were...

"But… you must be very powerful to see into the future, it's almost impossible! What I mean to say is… why, er, how can you-" she broke off. In all the books she read, seeing into the future alone – witnessing absolutely everything – was nearly impossible; only the strongest magical beings could perform such magic, and the only people who could do it died centuries ago…

   "We are the only people who can do such magic, Miss. Granger. In your past, in our present and future, we have existed to build and assemble Hogwarts in its beauty today. We constructed the houses, the lessons, the students…"

   Hermione finally understood, but the night was so full of unbelievable surprises that she merely nodded.

   "I don't need to hint at it, Hermione," said the plump witch more seriously, "I am Helga Hufflepuff of the Hufflepuff house. This," she motioned to the witch across from her, who smiled, "is Rowena Ravenclaw-"

   "And I am Godric Gryffindor," said the wizard fondly, "Founder of your house, Gryffindor. And I do hope you forgive Salazar for not joining us. After all, you were to rid his last remaining descendant of Slytherin from his past… you cannot blame him for being a tad, er… aggravated."

   They waited for her to say something, but she couldn't.

   "And now that we have introduced ourselves, we must leave," said Rowena Ravenclaw, "But I daresay if you have some unanswered questions, our dear friend Albus Dumbledore will not hesitate to assist you," she sighed and smiled, "Doesn't miss a thing, the old man."

   But Hermione didn't want them to leave. She had just somehow gotten rid of Voldemort on her own… but what about Ron and Sirius? What about Harry?

   "Your dear friends will be waiting for you when you return to the castle," stated Helga Hufflepuff as if she knew exactly what she was thinking, "And Harry… well, Harry has and always will be by your side."

   It was just what she wanted to hear. Hermione felt a slight tugging on the corners of her lips as she finally smiled, this time convincingly… a single tear leaked from her eyes and grazed lightly down her cheek.

   "And take this book," said Rowena, motioning to James Potter's book. Hermione took it and held it tightly to her chest. "I would think Harry would like a glimpse of it. You can keep the necklace inside it."

   Hermione whipped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffed and said in a muffled voice, "How can I ever thank you?"

   Godric simply laughed, his jolly cheeks turning red in his happiness.

   "Just promise us that you'll remain by Harry's side and always forgive and forget, even if the unbelievable forces you to believe. Goodbye, Hermione."

   The room dissolved in a wave of black colour… the three house founders vanished. Hermione clutched the necklace and the book protectively to her, shutting her eyes and waiting for the whirlwind of shadows to end. She was going back… back to the present.

…~'*'~…

A/N: Well, I'm very near the end, and I've hit about 300 reviews! Gosh, I love you people. You're just great!

Enough with the sentimentalism… I may sound cheery, but apart from this very moment, I feel like I've been trampled by a cart-full of Hippogriffs. Ever had a cold and a fever all at once? Well, I don't recommend it. So right now, all I'm gonna say is that this story is nearly finished and do not count on a sequel. I'm writing another story, but I haven't even put a dent in it. More on that in the next chapter…