Hey everyone! Welcome to the third installment of A Final Chance! This is a long chapter, I just kept on going back and adding more things, sorry not sorry. Now, for those who have been asking about Hermione, you'll get your answers here. No spoilers, but I will leave some notes at the end of the chapter if anyone wants to read those.

I do not own Harry Potter and friends, hence why I'm writing fanfic here. Enjoy!

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CHAPTER THREE: MEETING OLD FRIENDS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Harry immediately found Hermione when he entered the bookstore. It wasn't hard to miss that bushy hair after all. She was browsing the books in the history section, and Harry remembered when they had met the first time she had mentioned reading about him in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. Walking closer, he could see her already holding Modern Magical History.

'You like history?' he asked her when he was standing next to her.

'I find history interesting, yes. Especially magical history because I know nothing about it. I've been wondering how it compares to Muggle history.'

'Well I don't know too much about it either, but I do know that the Dark wizard Grindleward was somehow involved with World War II.'

'Yes I've read something about that too. But what I'm really interested in today is the last wizarding war, it only ended around ten years ago, did you know that?'

Harry smiled stiffly. This was going to be interesting, he had to handle this well or else things wouldn't go as well as he was hoping for. Before he could say anything though Hermione kept talking.

'I read that the Dark lord at the time was defeated by a baby boy of all people! I just don't understand how a baby could defeat one of the Darkest wizards in history.'

'Well, technically it wasn't him,' Harry said, glancing around the shop. No one was near them thankfully. 'It was his mother really.'

Hermione frowned. 'That's not what the books say, and how would you know anyway?'

'Because my mum sacrificed her soul so I could live that's why,' Harry said softly. 'That baby boy you're talking about was me.'

'You're Harry Potter?' Hermione said, eyes wide.

'Yes, but please keep your voice down, I don't want to be mobbed again.'

'Mobbed?' Hermione asked with a frown.

'Yeah, look, why don't we go and get some lunch together and talk?'

Hermione checked her watch. She still had a couple of hours before she was due to meet her parents outside the Leaky Cauldron on the muggle side, and it would be great to start a new school with at least one friend, so…

'Yeah, alright then. Do you know somewhere we can get lunch in the Alley?'

'Yeah, there's this tea place just down the street a little, I got breakfast there this morning an it was delicious.'

'You've been here since breakfast? How come?' Hermione asked as she put her book back on the shelf (for now) and followed Harry out of the bookstore.

'I had more shopping I wanted to get done, the trunk my aunt gave me is pretty old and ragged so I wanted to get a new one along with some other things. Can you believe they want us to use quills? Actual quills? I got a pack when I did my initial shopping but they're so hard to hold, my writing looks like chicken scratch. So I got myself a set of fountain pens. They have the same kind of effect but are much easier to hold.'

'But the school list specifically said quills, won't you get in trouble?'

'If the teachers say anything I'll tell them what I just told you, and I'll use quills during tests if they insist, but at least for my own notes and homework I'll be using the fountain pens I got.'

Hermione frowned, and was about to reply, when she suddenly froze. Harry looked around to see what had shocked her, but he saw nothing. Frowning, he turned back to Hermione, and that was when he noticed the whole room was frozen. Glancing outside, he saw that everyone in the Alley was frozen too. Before he could start to panic, he felt a warm hand settle on his shoulder.

'We meet again Harry.'

'Rainbow?' asked Harry.

'Of course.' Rainbow replied with a smile.

'But, I mean, what are you doing here? Not that it's not great to see you, but I didn't think we'd see each other again.'

'Usually yes, that is the case, but this is a special circumstance.'

'What is?' frowned Harry. 'And why is everyone frozen?'

'Time has graciously used their powers to allow us a moment to talk.'

'Talk about what?'

'Hermione.'

'What about her?'

'While it's great that you've managed to meet her again so quickly and seem to be founding a friendship here, there is one small problem.'

'What's that?'

'Well, while you look like an eleven year old, mentally, you're really seventeen, and Hermione actually is eleven. The Great Beings in charge thought this could present problems, but then a solution presented itself in an unexpected way.'

'What solution, and what way?' Harry asked suspiciously.

'Well, it appears that after your death Before, one Ronald Weasley decided to claim credit for everything. Hermione here tried to stop him, somehow fighting through the potions she had been unknowingly been given by the Weasley family, same as you. We think the soul bond was trying to protect itself and managed to break through for a moment. Anyway, he tried to bring her back to his way of thinking but forcing more potions into her, but she fought back, and he got angry, and well, Hermione died not long after you did. It being her first Death, she should have just been sent back with no memories to continue on with her Destiny, which could still happen without you around, though it would be harder for her to make the changes alone without your aid. But the opportunity was too good for the Great Beings to pass up, so she was given a choice.'

'What choice? What did you people coerce her into?'

'We didn't coerce into anything. It had to be her choice. She could go back to the timeline she had just left with no memories of the incident and continue working towards her Destiny, or she could come back in time like you, with her memories intact.'

'And?' Harry asked, barely daring to hope.

'And what did you think I was going to choose Harry James Potter?' Came a playful growl from across the table.

Harry turned away from Rainbow and felt his face break out into a huge grin.

'Hermione?' He asked. 'Is that really you?'

'Of course it is,' Hermione beamed. 'Like I would leave you behind if given the choice. Hi again Rainbow.'

'Hello Hermione. I really I could give you more time to get used to your new old life, but Time cannot hold the Present for much longer. I must go. I hope I don't see you two again for a very long time.' Rainbow winked at them as she faded away.

Before the two time travelers could say anything else, Time restarted around them.

'This is weird,' Hermione murmured as she looked around.

'The while time freezing thing?'

'No, not that, thought also that, but this whole thing. It feels like I was just seventeen and being accosted and then murdered by Ron, but now here I am, in this younger body, in a tea shop? Where are we Harry?'

Harry laughed. Hermione didn't change, no matter where or even when they were.

'Well, long story short, I arrived here again this morning back in my room at the Dursleys', decided to come to Diagon today to get some more school supplies and other things to make my life easier this time around, and then I saw you, well your younger self, going into the bookstore, and I just couldn't resist meeting you, again, Merlin that sounds confusing doesn't it?'

'A little,' Hermione laughed, 'But it also makes sense. So, what are we doing here?'

'Well, we were in the bookstore, and you were getting some extra books to read,'

'Oh, right. I think I was getting some history books, right?'

'Yeah, and you were talking about I'm in them.'

'Oh my god, you're right! Oh that must have been embarrassing for us both.'

'You have no idea. Anyway, I suggested we come here for some lunch and talk some more, and now here we are.'

At that moment they were interrupted by the waitress appearing with their orders.

'Here you are dears, enjoy.' She said, glancing at Harry who was flattening his hair over his forehead.

'Thank you,' they both said as the waitress wandered off again.

'So what did I order?' asked Hermione.

'Shepard's pie,' Harry said as he swapped their plates around. 'I had the chicken pot pie.'

'Yum, thanks. So, what do we do now?'

'Well, I guess we eat lunch, and then there's this store I want to take you to. After that, I don't know.'

The two time travelers ate their lunch together in peaceful silence, and when finished Harry paid for both of their meals and they left the tea shop and headed for Wiseacre's.

Harry convinced Hermione to let him pay for a new trunk for her, and she eventually caved and let him when shown the library and other expansions. She also allowed Harry to pay for a bookbag like his own, but drew the line when it came to the fountain pens and things, those she could and would get for herself.

They left the wizarding gear store and headed again for Flourish and Blotts where, instead of the history books her younger self had gotten, Hermione this time ended up with some extra potions books, a couple more for transfiguration and charms, and a book of beauty tips for the young witch. This last one was because this time around she wanted to get along better with her dorm mates, as well as try to tame her bushy hair.

Harry ended up leaving with the same potions as Hermione, along with a few extras that would also tie in with Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures come third year. He had also grabbed a couple of books about basic healing and house and garden charms.

After their new books were stowed away in their new bookbags, Harry took Hermione to the Magical Menagerie where she was once again chosen by Crookshanks, this time three years earlier than the last timeline. Harry had reasoned with her that it wasn't right to leave Crookshanks alone there for another three years, and that she could borrow Hedwig anytime she wanted to send letters to her parents.

'Oh, hang on, before you go, I think we've got time to go to Gringotts.' Harry said.

'Gringotts? Why do we have to go there?' Hermione asked with a frown.

'Just call it a hunch,' Harry said with a grin. 'Come on, let's go.'

Hermione shook her head but followed Harry into the bank. Instead of lining up with the others who were waiting, Harry was greeted by a goblin by name.

'Back again Mr Potter?' he said, quietly enough that Harry wasn't stared at by everyone in the bank.

'I am, but this time I bought a friend. Griphook, this is Hermione Jean Granger. Hermione, this is Griphook.'

'Pleased to meet you sir.' Hermione said with a small bow of her head. She remembered Griphook from Before.

'Hermione here was interested in the family test that I did earlier, do you have time to do this with her now by any chance?'

'I do indeed. Please follow me you two.'

Harry and Hermione followed Griphook back to his office.

'Family test?' Hermione whispered frantically to Harry. 'What are you talking about Harry Potter?'

'Trust me 'Mione,' Harry whispered back. 'You never know what these tests will show up.'

They entered the office and Griphook had Hermione cut her hand and together all three watched as her family tree appeared ont he parchment. Her mother's name appeared but no others, because the test couldn't track Muggles further than the parent, but suprisingly her father's went back for generations.

'It seems Miss Granger,' Griphook said, 'That you, like Mister Potter here, are descended from an old magical family through a forgotten squib relative. In your case, that would be the Dagworth-Grangers.'

Hermione sat there in shock. She wasn't a muggleborn? 'What does this mean?' She whispered, as Harry took her hand.

'It means that you can claim the vaults left by the last known member of the family, though as of now you'll only be able to access the trust vault, but upon your seventeenth birthday you will be bale to access the main vault and claim the title of Lady Dagworth-Granger.'

'Lady?' Hermione breathed. 'Oh Merlin, I wasn't expecting this.'

Griphook frowned at a muggleborn using the term 'Merlin' before even attending Hogwarts, but shook it off. What humans did didn't really concern him unless it was pertaining to the bank.

'Do the Dagworth-Granger accounts currently have a manager?' Harry asked.

'As of right now, no they do not.' Griphook answered.

'Would you be willing to be my account manager then?' Hermione askes, straightening in her chair. She had to be professional right now.

'I would be,' Griphook said calmly, though inside he was celebrating. A promotion to the Potter/Slytherin/Black account manager was one thing, but now he was wanted to be the manager of a long forgotten line on top of that? Today was a good day for the goblin. 'Please sign here.'

He gave Hermione some paperwork similar to what Harry had been given earlier.

'Very well. Do you wish to visit your trust vault today Miss Granger?'

'I can do that? Then yes please, I'd love to, if you have the time that is.'

'I do indeed. Come along then.'

Hermione indicated for Harry to follow them and the three headed to the carts and descended into the bank. Harry noted they didn't go as far as the Slytherin vault he had visited earlier, they ended up around the same level as the Potter trust vault.

Griphook opened the vault for them and stood back to allow Hermione to enter.

Hermione's eyes were wide as she took in the vast piles of gold, silver, and bronze coins, and the bookshelf at the back, which was of course where she headed first. She frowned when she realised she couldn't access all the books, only those on one shelf. A note stuck to the side of the shelf informed her that the books were age blocked, and that as a first year she could only access those appropriate for her age and magical core level. She shrugged and began to peruse the titles.

Harry meanwhile had found a chest similar to the one that had held his Slytherin ring. He showed it to Hermione and they called Griphook in to check that it was safe.

'It is indeed safe. Miss Granger, if you place this ring on your finger you will be formally acknowledged as the Heiress of the Dagworth-Grangers.'

Hermione looked at Harry who nodded for her to accept. He showed her his Slytherin ring and explained it to her. With a nod to herself, Hermione took the ring and placed it on her right ring finger. The large signet ring glowed before resizing to fit her, then changed once again to a more feminine look. Harry talked her through making the ring invisible until called for, and Hermione packed the books she could take off the shelf into her new bag. They left the vault and rode back to the surface with Griphook where they said their farewells and left the bank.

Checking her watch, Hermione realised it was almost time to meet her mother on the Muggle side of the Leaky. Harry had to reassure her repeatedly that he would be fine until it was time to catch the train to Hogwarts in a few days.

He didn't tell her about his tent because he didn't want her to worry, he wasn't planning on staying at Private Drive that night. He was going to return, reorganise his things into his new trunk, and once the Dursleys were all asleep, he was going to leave Private Drive for good. He wasn't quite sure yet where he was going to go, all he knew was that it had to be a forested area so that he could hide his tent and so Hedwig could hunt.

After saying goodbye, Harry headed back into the Alley. There were a few more things he wanted to check out before heading, for lack of a better word, home. He gazed around the Alley, searching for people he knew but was yet to meet this time around. A flash of platinum blonde hair drew his eye, and. with a smirk, he had decided on his next conquest of the day.

Harry followed Draco Malfoy into the quidditch supply shop and quickly deduced where the younger boy was headed. He took a different route through the maze of quidditch gear and ended up in front of the Nimbus 2000 display about half a minute before his target did.

'Nice broom, isn't it?' he asked the blonde after they'd been gazing at the Nimbus in silence for a few moments.

'The best,' breathed Draco. 'It's the fastest broom ever made. I wish my parents would buy one for me, but they said there's no point of a new broom this year because first years can't even join the quidditch team.'

'That's not fair,' Harry agreed, turning to look at the boy. 'Hey, didn't we meet the other day in the robe shop?'

Draco turned and looked at the other boy. Yes, he had met this boy before. 'You were shopping with that oaf Hagrid, right?'

'That's right.' Harry said with a frown. Before he could say more though Draco continued.

'So, where is he now?'

'Not here. I came by myself today.'

'Nice. Father is doing some business down Knockturn. Is that a bookbag?' Draco asked, pointing to Harry's dragonhide bag.

'It is, I got it at Wiseacre's Wizarding Supplies. It has expansion and lightweight charms on it, I figured it would be really helpful for classes at Hogwarts, and it's getting a good test today, check out all these books and things it's holding.'

Harry offered the bag to Draco, who took it and, after viewing what it held, exclaimed at how light it was.

'There's got to be a dozen books in here!' He said excitedly. 'Plus a trunk and all this paper and, hang on, what are these?'

'Hmm? Oh, those are fountain pens,' Harry explained as he took his bag back and held out a pen for Draco to inspect more closely. 'They work sort of like quills, but instead of constantly dipping the nib into a well of ink, you use this dropper to fill the ink cartridge and then you can write until you need to refill it, usually around a week if you're using it constantly I've been told.'

'A week?' Draco exclaimed. 'Seriously? That's great! But can you use those at Hogwarts? The list said quills.'

'I've got quills at home too in case the teachers insist on it, but honestly, these are so much more comfortable to hold, and my writing looks so much better with them. And they're going to last a lot longer than quills, I managed to snap several already just practicing with them.'

'I take you're not a pureblood then,' Draco mused as he handed back the pen.

'Nope. I'm a half blood, but raised by muggles. Damn, I just realised I haven't introduced myself, sorry about that. Didn't mean to be rude. Harry Potter, nice to meet you.'

Draco shook Harry's hand automatically, but his eyes were wide in shock. This skinny little kid was the Boy-Who-Lived? Seriously?

'Oh, please don't get all weird on me now,' Harry groaned. 'I only just found out about the wizarding world when Hagrid told me, and I only really started believing him when he brought me here the first time, and you'd think that would be enough of a shock but then I find out I'm also famous here, and for something I don't even remember or was responsible for!'

'What do you mean you weren't responsible?' Draco asked.

'Well, you see,' he started, thinking quickly in order to cover up that little slip, hand rubbing the back of his neck. 'After Hagrid returned me home to my muggle family after my first shopping trip, my aunt gave me an old trunk that had been stored up in the attic to use for my Hogwarts things. It was pretty battered and banged up, but inside the lining I found an old diary, turns out my mum wrote it, and inside she details this one-use only ritual which a mother can use to protect a child from certain death.'

'I've never heard of such a ritual,' Draco said. 'It seriously worked?'

'Well, I'm standing here aren't I?' Harry said with a sad smile. 'The thing is, this ritual is one-use only because it involves the mother sacrificing her soul for her child.'

Draco gasped. Souls were extremely precious to a witch or wizard, they were the foundation of their beliefs of resurrection and rebirth.

'Your mother sacrificed her soul?' He breathed.

'She did,' Harry said quietly. 'This scar,' he moved his hair away to bare his scar for Draco to see. 'It's actually a rune mark that was needed for the ritual to work. It translates to Sowilo, this is the Younger Futhark form of it, and it means Sun. There's an Anglo-Saxon poem attributed to this rune, roughly translated it reads 'the sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers when they journey away over the fishes' bath, until the courser of the deep bears them to land.' I'm not really sure what that has to do with the ritual my mum did, she wrote down the poem in the journal, but not much more. All I know is that she sacrificed her whole self so that I could survive that night, and I did, so it must have worked.'

'Wow,' said Draco softly. 'That's an amazing sacrifice, your mum must have been quite the witch.'

'Yeah.' Harry agreed, then, clearing his throat, he asked if Draco wanted to go check out the fountain pens.

Draco, recognising Harry's not so subtle change of subject, quickly agreed. Not only did he want to be this boy's friend, but he really did want to get some of those fountain pens for himself, as well as one of those amazing book bags.

The two boys left the quidditch shop chatting about what they thought they could expect from Hogwarts once they finally arrived there in a few days.

'Back again I see?' The owner of the wizarding gear shop laughed as Harry blushed and nodded. 'And you've bought me another customer I see. Welcome young man, what can I help you find today?'

'Harry here was showing me his fountain pens and book bag,' Draco said. 'I'd like to get some for myself too.'

'Of course, first let's choose you a bag, that way you can put your purchases straight into it.'

Draco ended up leaving the store with a book bag made from the emerald hide of a Common Welsh Green with silver clasps (Harry had to hide his grin, he knew Draco had chosen that one because he wanted to be in Slytherin) and, after a short tutorial on filling the cartridges, an assortment of fountain pens and inks, and a few of the notebooks Harry also recommended for note taking.

The two boys promised to meet up on the train, then Draco saw his father and waved goodbye.

Harry was feeling good, not only had Hermione returned to him, but it seemed he had made friends with Draco. Hopefully this time around he could help turn the boy from the Dark and, if not entirely towards the Light, at least towards the Grey.

HPHPHPHPHP

And there you go, another chapter done and dusted. Now for those author notes I promised earlier.

I had a few messages regarding people's concerns over Harry being seventeen in mind and Hermione only being eleven, and yeah it was skeeving me out too, but I had a plan, and you just saw it unfold. Now Hermione is also seventeen in mind, and they're both in their younger bodies.

Now before anyone starts talking about concerns about them being in a relationship so young, just stop. that's ew. No. Not happening here in my fic. The endgame is of course Harmonie, but not for ages. Eleven year olds should not be thinking about that kind of stuff. So while they're seventeen in mind, they're only eleven in body, and do not have those kind of urges. Honestly I don't know when they'll take that next step in their relationship, they know they're each other's soulmates, so there's no need to rush.

For now I'm just having fun writing this, I don't know if I'll be covering each year like the books did or if I'll just highlight certain times until they get older, we'll have to wait and see. But wait, I hear you saying. Don't you have a plan?Um, no, not really. Sorry. I just saw the prompt and was like oh yeah that looks like it could be fun, let's see where this goes :D so yeah, I don't guarantee anything, I kind of know what's happening in the moment, not much further...

I hope you're enjoying my story so far, and yes, I have started the next chapter, hooray! I'm trying not to let anymore plots into my head, but I can promise nothing. Sorry. Ciao!