Chapter 1: The Sound of Death
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Hermione held her breath as Voldemort's bright green curse hurtled towards her best friend and his feeble red spell attempted to retaliate.
This is not going to end well! She thought, her heart thundering in her chest- she could see Harry growing weaker and weaker. She had to intervene- buy Harry some time or something!
They had already lost so many people; Remus and Tonks, Fred, Lavender, Neville, Seamus, Colin… they were just the ones Hermione knew of, as the rest of the Weasley Clan had not been spotted in what seemed like an eternity in the ever growing grave sight that was once a school.
Hermione spied Harry's light as it began to dim, wither and fade. The green was winning. Evil was winning.
We're doomed. Hermione thought.
With a final burst of strength, Voldemort blasted Harry backwards-
"HARRY NO!"
-and the black haired boy's green eyes shut.
"NO!" screamed Hermione. "HARRY!"
She bolted towards his limp figure, throwing herself at his side, sobbing into his chest.
"Foolish girl." The Dark Lord's cold voice sounded. "Avada Kedavra." He said lazily.
Hermione didn't even look up to have to know she was about to die.
A screech of a phoenix filled the air.
Hermione just embraced the slight jolt before a blinding white light found her.
At least her last moments were spent looking at her best friend, whether he be gone or alive.
—
Hermione's chocolate brown eyes opened to a silvery whimsical room, faintly glowing. She gazed around, confused at first, before she recognised where she was.
"This looks an awful lot like Kings Cross Station." She mused aloud.
Her voice echoes spookily around her. Hermione shivered.
She glanced up, hearing footsteps, when the face she saw made her heart stop.
"Harry?" She whispered tenitavely.
"Hermione?" Came an awed reply.
Nothing more needed to be said as the pair reunited with a powerful hug, both crying.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione! You got killed and it's all my fault." Harry sobbed.
"No, it wasn't!" Hermione told him firmly, "You knew that we were always in this together, you knew that. I'm happy the last face I saw was you, and not that vile Mouldy-Wart."
"Mouldy-Wart." Harry let out a wet laugh, "Wish I had called him that before I died."
Hermione chuckled softly, only to be interrupted by a cough.
The pair spun around to come face to face with a man in dark, wavy robes, a stubble and faded black hair.
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." He said. Both of those who had been addressed looked at this unfamiliar man curiously. "I know you are wondering who I am. Some may call me Fate, others may say Destiny, but I am most commonly addressed as The Grim Reaper, or as I prefer, Reaper." Reaper said.
"Why are we here?" Harry asked, "This is the place between life and death…" Harry whispered. "Have you come to take us with you?"
Much to both of their confusion, Reaper let out a deep laugh. "You're not coming with me, you're going back."
"Again?" Harry gasped, "I've already gone back once, though, and I'm not going anywhere without Mione-"
"No, not back to the battlefield." Reaper sighed. "Hermione, help me out here, you're the brightest witch of your age, after all."
"Not going back to the battlefield… so we must be…" Hermione gasped at the realisation. She turned to Harry with wide eyes. "We're going to be sent back in time."
"Well, yes." Reaper said, as Harry and Hermione both gaped, "But actually no."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, brow furrowed.
"Have you ever heard of the Sound of Death?" The Grim Reaper smirked.
"Yes." Hermione immediately replied. "Where someone is given a second chance by you- the Reaper- based on their actions, choices, heart and the last sound they heard. Instead of coming back to life, they will be reborn into the past- most often before they are even born in their current timeline, effectively changing the course of reality."
"I'm impressed." Reaper said, clapping slowly, "Couldn't have put it better myself. So yes, you will both have second chances. Harry, am I correct in saying the last sound you heard was Hermione."
"Yes, Reaper." Harry replied, standing a little taller.
"Then that is all good. You will both be born into the same time line." The Grim Reaper allowed them to grin and smile, "And Hermione, you heard Fawkes, the phoenix, correct?"
"Correct." The witch confirmed.
"Then the rebirth will go smoothly. Your fate seems to keep on meeting in all worlds." The Reaper mused with a soft laugh and a shake of his head. "Tell me when you're ready to go and I'll send you away. Be careful of your actions and change reality for the better; many lives depend on it. I know I take them and all but… eh, what the heck, I'm only allowed to send a ghost back every once in a while and you will not believe the amount of moaning myrtles I have here!" The reaper shuddered.
Hermione and Harry shared a quick glance before nodding.
"We're ready." They spoke in unison.
"Alrighty! I'll say something now that will help you find each other; you'll pretty much look the same apart from some slight details- Harry, your full name will change, but Hermione, you will keep your first name. Oh and FYI- I can't legally send you back to be born in the same year, so Harry, you get a head start!" Reaper grinned, patting him on the back.
"That's so unfair!" Hermione complained, "I've always been able to play the older card on Harry- now what?" Harry stifled a laugh at this.
"You can play the 'I'm Wiser and Smarter than most of the population ever to exist according to The Grim Reaper' card." Reaper said with a wink.
Hermione shook her head with a sad smile and hugged Harry goodbye one last time.
"See you on the other side, Mione!" Harry smiled.
"See you on the other side, Harry!" Hermione replied.
Death clapped his hands and Hermione and Harry were both gone; disappeared from that place, immediately changing reality.
—
September 15th, 1958
Orion Black was nervously pacing the floor of 12 Grimmauld Place just outside his sleeping quarters, chewing his bottom lip.
His wife was in labour with his first child; a son! An heir to be Head of House, an heir!
To say he was thrilled to be having a son was an understatement; Orion and his brother-in-law Cygnus had always debated who would get an heir first and he had won!
Cygnus and his wife, Druella, had three daughters, the eldest being Andromeda and the youngest being Narcissa.
Now, he was anxiously awaiting his own bundle of joy (a son!) to come and meet him in the hallway.
Wally seemed to be in labour for what seemed like days, when-
"Congratulations, it's a boy!" The healer announced, and Orion raced into the room.
He already knew the gender of his child, but seeing him only made reality more clear. He was a father!
Orion made his way over to Walburga, their child firmly wrapped up in a blue blanket.
"He's very handsome." Orion complemented, stroking his son's wavy black hair. "You did brilliantly." Orion complemented his wife, giving her a kiss on the head.
"I know." Was Walburga's curt reply, "Have you told the healers his name yet?" She questioned her husband.
"No- I shall do so now." Orion smiled.
He walked over to the Healers and gave the name of his newborn son.
"Hydrus Draco Black." Orion said proudly.
—
March 10th, 1960
Hope and Lyall Lupin were staring with glee at their newborn son, Remus John Lupin, and couldn't be happier. They had wanted a surprise for his gender and so had picked out two names, the boy's of which was Remus.
"I can't wait to take him home." Hope smiled tiredly, rocking little Remus back and forth.
"Neither can I. We're all going to be so happy together. I know it." Lyall grinned down at his wife, taking Remus into his arms and smiling even more.
"I know it as well- AARGH." Hope's face withered in pain.
"Honey?" Lyall said, immediately concerned. "What's the matter?"
"Medi-witch." Was all Hope could say.
Lyall nodded thrice, and with Remus still in his arms, called for the Medi-Witch.
Within seconds, one arrived.
"Mrs. Lupin, I need you to breathe ok, deep breaths in and out." The healer instructed.
"What's going on? Is she going to be alright?" Lyall asked.
"Yes, she's going to be just fine. She just needs to breath for now; I'm sure it won't be any longer than five minutes." The Medi-Witch informed him.
"Five minutes? Whatever for?" Lyall queried, now confused as ever.
The Medi-Witch suddenly looked alert. "Were you planning on a home birth by any chance?" She questioned.
"Yes, and I've been doing regular spells to make sure this little one," Lyall said, bouncing Remus in his arms, "Was ok."
"Ah, I see." The medi-witch bit her bottom lip. "Well, the thing is, the home spells can't exactly detect-"
"AARGH!" Hope's scream interrupted the healers words.
Lyall barely had enough time to process what was happening, as a couple more healers came by. He looked at them all in confusion and concern for his wife's wellbeing, when a baby's crying caught his attention.
On impulse, he looked down to check on Remus, but alas, his son was silent.
Only then did he look up to see a smiling Medi-Witch holding a pink bundle in her arms.
"Congratulations," she said, "she's a girl, and they're twins!"
At that moment, Lyall thought as though he could just burst with happiness- and also shock.
"Did you have a girl's name you both liked?" The healer asked.
"Yes," Hope beamed, " Hermione. Hermione Jean Lupin."
"And her twin brother, Remus John Lupin."
—
October 18th, 1961
Hydrus Draco Black was a little boy with scruffy, wavy black hair, big green eyes and freckles on his face. He had a cute little nose and ears that often went bright red when he was cold.
Hydrus had an uncanny resemblance to a Potter, which they would have been concerned about had they not been related by blood to them.
The thing that set Hydrus apart from Potters was his wavy hair that he insisted on not being long despite his parents' obvious liking for length. Instead, he would (in the best way a toddler could) brush it over to the side. Potters also tended to have little to no freckles; Hydrus had quite a lot.
On that day, Hydrus Black was standing by his little brother, Sirius and waiting for his baby brother to come home.
After Sirius' birth, his Mother and Father had decided it would be best for their children to be born at St Mungo's- Sirius somehow managed to lock the room's door with accidental magic.
Whilst Hydrus had been quite well behaved, he got along well with his younger brother; the two were really quite inseparable to the point of their father theories that had known each other in a past life…
The three-year-old would always take care of his little brother and try and stand up to their Mother if the younger boy got in trouble.
Their mother, Hydrus had noticed, was very strict in deed, and from the day he had learnt to walk, she was bossing him around, getting him to do things.
This is like the Dursleys all over again… Hydrus observed. Luckily, he was quite trained in the basics, much to his Mother's pleasure, but the whole 'Purebloods are superior thing'... that was where it was going wrong.
Whilst he was locked in the cupboard at the Dursleys house, sometimes he wished he still had his cupboard to retreat to when things got really bad.
The Dursleys hit him sometimes, yes, and they starved him, but the Dursleys were muggles; they didn't have magic.
Walburga Black, on the other hand, did. And Hell, did she like to use it.
Hydrus was certain she had invented a number of punishment curses just for him and Sirius; Zepliso- the whipping hex, Ventradus- the winding curse, Errialdo Kadunk- the curse that limits breathing. She also often used Stupefy on him to knock him off balance when she didn't want him around.
Hydrus had actually broken bones a couple of times, but had used 'accidental magic' to fix them. In reality, Hydrus channeled his wandless magic and healed himself purposely.
"Hy?" Sirius asked from beside his big brother.
"Yes Siri?" Hydrus said, waiting for his reply. For a three year old, Hydrus could of course speak well, something his Mother was actually proud of…
"When… broth- uh- come?" Sirius questioned, tugging on a lock of hair in thought.
"Any minute now- wait actually right now!" Hydrus exclaimed, pointing to the floo's green fire.
Out stepped Father and Mother, a green bundle in their hands.
"Boys, meet your little brother, Regulus Arcturus Black." Father smiled.
Mother wordlessly walked to her room and presumably collapsed on the bed: that, or did some dark magic.
"Hello, Regulus." Hydrus smiled, patting the baby's wispy black hair.
"Hi, Reggie." Sirius said, doing the same as his big brother.
Hydrus smiled, watching little Sirius interact with the baby.
It was then, at that moment, that Hydrus knew he would protect his brothers even if it cost him his life; they were the most important thing to him and he wouldn't let anyone- Mother or not- harm them without harming him first.
The youngest Black brothers would be protected by Hydrus.
They wouldn't have to suffer firsthand this time.
—
April 2nd, 1963
A little girl with frizzy light brown hair was running- or toddling- around the house after her twin brother, searching for Easter Eggs.
To get to places they couldn't reach, Hermione would climb on Remus' shoulders and peek up onto the surfaces, looking to see where that pesky bunny had hidden things.
"There's one over there!" Remus exclaimed, dragging his sister by the hand towards the door. Sure enough, on the mat was a giant Easter egg.
"Woah." Hermione breathed, "I've never seen an egg that big before!" In this life, she mused.
"Me neither." Agreed Remus.
"Wait- Remy- whose is it?" Hermione asked, brow furrowed.
"Well, I'm the oldest, so I think that..." Remus said, but trailed off at the sight of his younger twin's quivering lip. He sighed. "Share?"
"Yay!" Hermione giggled and jumped up and down, hugging her brother. "Best twin ever!"
"I know." Remus laughed. For three year olds, both Remus and Hermione were very mature; seemed as though they would be in all lives.
"Remus, Hermione! Come here!" Their mum's voice called out.
Remus scooped up the giant chocolate egg in his arms, whilst Hermione called back "Coming, Mummy!"
They both skipped into the kitchen to see their mother and bounced around her feet like a pair of lambs.
Their mother gave them each a slice of a Chocolate cake that Mrs. Weasley would have been jealous of, before releasing them into the garden.
Seeing Remus so carefree made Hermione happy. Then, her heart sank. He'll become a werewolf in this house. She thought.
She looked to their bedroom window from the garden; one of them was going to move out next week and it was previously going to be her… but then she noticed something. Something that she could change.
She could stop Remus from becoming a werewolf… if she became one herself. And the first step to doing that would be…
"Remus." Hermione said, pulling on his sleeve, "Can I keep our room and you move out please?" She asked.
"Why?" Remus asked.
"The other room has no windows and I get scared if I don't know what's going on." Hermione said. "And I also like to look out at the moon." She finished fondly, through her eyes sparkled with tears.
"Alright." Remus said after a while, "I like the dark, anyway. Just make sure not to paint our current room pink." He begged.
"Not a chance." Hermione giggled.
After that, the pair proceeded to play tag, racing up and down the garden until they came to the brink of the woods. The twins froze, took one look at each other, nodded, and raced in, laughing loudly.
Suddenly, a broken twig sounded. Something was nearby. Hermione grabbed Remus's shirt collar to stop him from moving and he immediately saw the scared look on her face.
They looked around, and Hermione took a nervous step forward. She couldn't see anything.
Then…
"Meow." Said a kitten.
A kitten with scruffy orange fur and a squished nose. A kitten that resembled a pig with hair. A kitten that looked impossibly like…
"Crookshanks!" Hermione exclaimed, and the kitten raced into her arms, purring loudly. Hermione sobbed into his fur. "I can't believe it's you."
"Er… Hermione?" Remus asked, taking a nervous step towards her, "Do you know this cat?"
Hermione froze. Uh oh… she picked Crookshanks up and slowly turned around to face her brother.
"I-I had a dream. I th-think it may have been prophetic. I've been having a lot lately and I can't quite tell whether they're real or not or when they'll come true. I've had nightmares and… some dreams." She said quietly. "Please don't hate me."
Remus remained silent with wide eyes. "I couldn't hate you and that's awesome! But just out of interest, where does that cat come in?"
"Right! Remus, Crookshanks. Crookshanks, Remus. This is my familiar, a half kneazle who looks like an adorable pig with hair." Hermione smiled, stroking the kitten happily.
"He's so so so cute!" Remus exclaimed, fawning over the little cat.
"Shall we go back now?" Hermione asked. Remus nodded.
When the twins made it back inside the house, Crookshanks was immediately loved by both their Mum and Dad and was automatically the family pet- though Remus and Hermione both knew who he really belonged to.
—
January 25th 1964
A six year old Hydrus was sitting cross legged on his bed, drawing an owl on a piece of paper. He planned on giving it to Regulus, after his youngest brother had accidentally fallen out of a tree.
He was finishing the fine details of the bird's wings when an ear splitting scream caught his attention.
As soon as he heard it, Hydrus leapt to his feet and raced into Sirius' room, where the five year old was having a crucio thrown at him.
"STOP IT!" Hydrus screamed, "Why are you doing this?" He asked his mother, his voice strained.
"DO NOT TALK TO ME WHILST I AM BUSY YOUNG MAN! Your brother has been misbehaving, I'm teaching him a lesson!" Walburga spat as Sirius sobbed harder.
"WELL STOP!" Hydrus screeched.
"Pardon?" Walburga asked, her eyes wide and frightful, whilst still keeping a steady hand
"I said stop it. Can't you see? You're hurting him!" Hydrus said.
"Boy, I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but your brother will never learn to behave well if-" Walburga was cut off yet again.
"I SAID STOP!" Hydrus' eyes were burning with green fire. "Take me instead, let Sirius go." He said bravely.
"Gladly. You should NEVER speak back to your mother." She redirected her curse at Hydrus, who sank to the floor in pain.
"Run… Siri… Get… Dad." Was what Hydrus managed to wheeze out, as Sirius ran from the room in fear.
Walburga increased the intensity of her curse, redirecting it to Hydrus' heart.
"Why are you wasting all your training? I thought I brought you up to be well behaved, but I guess not!" The crazed woman screamed wildly, "No amount of torture could ever fix the damage you've done! You're stupid, arrogant, good-for-nothing! I should… I should kill you right here and now, say it was an accident, blame it on your brother." His mother laughed again.
She then threw three slicing hexes at his forehead.
"AAARGH! Leave…" Hydrus rose to his feet under the curse using all his energy, "Sirius…" the tips of his fingers sparked with bright blue magic, "ALONE!" He directed it at his Mother and she flew into a wall and died immediately.
As the magic left his body, Hydrus collapsed to the ground, his breathing shallow. The last thing he heard was his Father opening the door loudly before everything went black.
—
Later that day, Hydrus awoke in St Mungos, his head throbbing and his whole body aching. The six year old's muscles twitched and he whimpered, tears forming in his eyes.
He had killed before, but as Harry Potter, not Hydrus Black, a young child. People would wonder how Walburga had died. Blame Accidental Magic. Hydrus told himself.
Hydrus spotted his Father talking to the Healer.
"Father?" Hydrus whimpered, hating how pathetic and weak he was sounding.
Orion's head snapped round and he rushed to his son's side, tears fresh in his brown eyes. "Hello, son." He greeted, stroking Hydrus' wavy black hair.
Play it dumb, Hydrus. Hydrus told himself. "W-what happened?"
"You did some accidental magic and it drained you." Orion told him softly.
"Where's Mother?" Hydrus asked, then suddenly his eyes grew wide. "SIRIUS! Father, you have to save Sirius! She's gonna kill him; she's gonna kill me." The boy sobbed.
"Your mother c-can't hurt you anymore." Orion whispered, "The blast from your magic threw her back against a wall; she hit her head and died."
"Died?" Hydrus whispered hollowly, still playing it dumb, "I k-killed her?" He asked, shaking.
"No, you didn't kill her; she killed herself. She was the one who threatened your lives. I'm so so sorry I didn't stop her sooner." Father told him, trying not to cry himself. "I should have stopped her; save your soul from any more damage… but I didn't. That's my biggest regret."
"Where are my brothers?" Hydrus asked, letting his head drop down onto the pillow.
"They're with Dorea, Charlus and James Potter, your Aunt, Uncle and Cousin." Orion informed him. Hydrus's eyes grew the size of saucers.
"Can I meet them? I didn't know I had a male cousin." Hydrus blinked, trying not to squeal at the fact he was still related to his Dad- no, Cousin. That would take some getting used to.
"They'll be here soon, I'll just floo them now to tell them you're awake. Ok?" Father asked.
"Ok." Hydrus replied. Orion kissed his temple.
"You're such a brave boy." His father said. "So, so brave. I wouldn't be surprised if you're a Gryffindor." He mused.
Hydrus simply shook his head, "I know I'll be in Slytherin." He shrugged.
"Oh? And why's that?" His Father asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Because my ambition is the reason I'm brave." Hydrus said simply.
"What's your ambition?" Orion questioned, now curious at his son's motives.
"To protect Sirius and Regulus no matter what." Hydrus replied.
Orion nodded once, tears gathering in his eyes. "Then you'll be the bravest Slytherin there is. You have a bit over every house in you, son. You're brave like a Gryffindor, ambitious like a Slytherin, loyal like a Hufflepuff and wise like a Ravenclaw. But no matter where you end up in those many years, just know that I'll love you."
"Love you to, Father." Hydrus smiled. It was the first time they had ever told each other that; Walburga's evil ways had prevented Orion from being himself. Then, Hydrus became apparent to something on his forehead.
"How did I get that, Father?" Hydrus asked.
"Your mother threw three slicing hexes at your forehead." Orion said.
"Oh." Hydrus said dumbly.
"Don't worry, it looks like a lightning bolt. Other kids will be jealous." His father laughed.
Hydrus stifled a laugh; there really was no escaping the scar, was there?
Never, he could hear Hermione's voice in his head. Speaking of the bushy haired brunette, where was she?
Hopefully, she'll find me one day, wherever she may be. Hydrus thought, watching as Orion called into the floo.
Five seconds later, Sirius came hurtling at his brother at full speed, sobbing into his arms.
"You're alive." Was what Sirius had said. "Thank you for saving me."
"Sirius," Hydrus said softly, returning his brother's hug, "You and Reg are my ambitions. I would defeat the Dark Lord a thousand times to save you again."
Sirius cried even harder at this. "I'm so glad you aren't dead."
"I'm glad you're not dead as well." Hydrus replied, feeling his memories as Harry tumble back in. Watching Sirius fall through the veil was probably the worst moment of his life.
"Hy?" Regulus asked, coming up from behind Sirius.
"Reggie." Hydrus choked out, opening his arms as all three brothers reunited. "Thank god you're ok too."
Regulus had a little toy in his hand.
"What's that, Reg?" Hydrus asked the boy.
"James gave it to me. It's called a teddy bear. I don't know what it does, but I like it." Regulus said proudly, presenting a bear with round spectacles and a lightning bolt scar.
"That looks like me!" Hydrus laughed, tapping on his glasses and motioning to his scar.
"I can't call him Hydrus, can I, Hy? What shall I call him?" Regulus asked, looking worried about the silliest of things.
"I have the perfect name for that." Hydrus stated, grinning wildly.
"What name?" Sirius and Regulus beamed.
"Harry." Hydrus told them.
The two younger Black brothers exchanged a look before yelling about the adventures Harry would get up to. Hydrus was tempted to give the bear Harry Potter's old backstory, but came up with a better solution for his backstory.
I'll tell them on a Halloween night at Hogwarts; I'll tell them what happened as a Horror Story one day!
—
January 26th 1964
Hermione had an issue of the Daily prophet in her hands; she was browsing through it, disappointed at an attack of Voldemort she could not prevent. But that was when something else caught her attention.
WALBURGA BLACK DEAD; SON'S ACCIDENTAL MAGIC TO BLAME! Page 6 for more information
Son's accidental- Hermione's heart stopped. No- Sirius didn't kill his mother last timeline, neither did Regulus… what was going on?
She swiftly turned to page 6 and her heart stopped as she read the words Hydrus Black. Hydrus. Harry. Hydrus. Harry was Hydrus. Hydrus was Harry. He had already changed the timeline somewhat dramatically by doing this. But thank god Hermione knew where her Best Friend was.
March 8th, 1965
Hermione sat in her bedroom at midnight two days before her birthday, looking at the full moon. Off somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. It was tonight, and she knew it. She would be bitten by a werewolf tonight. Remus wouldn't have to suffer ever again because of tonight.
At hearing the howl, she tiptoed down the stairs and grabbed her father's wand from the coat pocket. Maybe, just maybe, she could stop them both from turning. She ran back up the stairs on the balls of her feet, keeping the wand close to her chest.
Outside her window, she could hear a scratching sound, claws scraping on the bricks; Greyback was climbing up the walls. Hermione readied herself, aiming the wand towards the window.
With a crack, the glass gave way and a snarling beast made its way inside, lunging for hur. Silently, she dodged, her heart hammering against her rib cage.
She aimed the wand at the Werewolf. "Stupefy!" She yelled.
Greyback whimpered as he was thrown backwards into Hermione's wardrobe. He swiftly recovered, growling and snarling, ready to pounce and attempt attack her once more, Hermione had a spell on the tip of her tongue when all of a sudden-
"Hermione?" Remus's voice sounded at the door, he walked in and looked at her, not noticing the beast in the corner.
Greyback leapt at his twin sister and on impulse, he threw himself in the way.
"REMUS NO!" Hermione yelled. "Stupefy! Bombarda!" She short spell after spell at Greyback and the wolf scampered away.
Hermione dropped to Remus's side, the boy's right arm covered in blood.
"No!" Hermione sobbed, "No, no, no, no, no!"
"Hermione." Remus's voice sounded, he forced out a small smile. "Go. I don't want to hurt you. I-I know I'll turn so, go before you become one as well. I'll never forgive myself if you do. Don't make my sacrifice be worth nothing." He told her before the moonlight shone through the window.
"Remus." Hermione was choking on her tears.
"Go, Mione. I'll be alright." He said quietly, although Hermione could clearly see the fear in his eyes.
Hermione gave him one last hug before sobbing and running down the hall to their parents' room.
"MUMMY! DADDY!" She sobbed loudly, immediately waking her parents. "R-R-Remus! A Werewolf- he- he attacked Remus! Bit him! It should have been me! Remus saved me! It should have been me!" She wailed.
"What do you mean? A WEREWOLF- GOD! REMUS!" Lyall screamed, bolting up from the room whilst Hope sat frozen in shock.
Hermione fell to her knees, still blaming herself for what happened to her brother. A plan so perfected gone horribly wrong. Why did he always have to play the hero?
Hermione cried herself to sleep, hearing Remus' screams as he transformed.
Why do you have to always play the Hero, Remus?
—
The next day, Hermione felt as though she was to blame. She hated herself for that, she hated that she had caused him to be bitten. She hated that she couldn't prevent what was destined to happen.
She needed a friend to talk to. That was when an idea came to her head.
"Crookshanks, come here." Hermione said softly, beckoning her familiar over. The half kneazle mewed, hopping up to her lap. "I know your not an owl or anything, Crooks, but I need you to go and find the three Black brothers. You have a collar. They'll know where to come and return you. Can you do that for me."
Crookshanks nodded. Intelligent little creature. Hermione thought, stroking his fur, "Thank you, Crookshanks; you're the best familiar a girl could ever ask for."
Crookshanks purred before bounding away, heading towards the town. "Be safe, Crookshanks." Hermione whispered.
—
March 10th, 1965
"Happy Birthday, Remus!" Hermione squealed, leaping onto her brother with a fierce hug.
"Happy Birthday, Hermione!" Remus beamed, hugging her with just as much force. After talking about it for two hours the night before, Hermione had managed to convince Remus he was not a monster, and it was a cool thing, and he was still the twin brother she knew and loved.
"This is your present!" Hermione squealed, holding out a box for her brother.
Remus took it gratefully and opened up the box. Inside was an anklet with dark blue thread and a golden crescent moonstone attached to it. Remus looked at her and blinked.
"Sorry if it offended you or you don't like it because it's a moon and you transform under a full moon- I kinda got it before I knew that was going to happen and I-"
"Hermione," Remus cut her off with a laugh, "I love it, thank you." He gave her a hug which she gratefully returned. "Here."
Remus handed his sister a box as well, and when Hermione opened it, she was shocked.
On a dark blue thread was a moonstone pendant. "Woah." Hermione breathed.
Remus grinned, "See, Mione, we both know each other so well that we accidentally complete each other's set. Her brother giggled.
Hermione had happy tears in her eyes as she hugged him tightly. "Love you, Remus."
"Love you to, Hermione." Remus returned. "Twins forever?"
"Twins forever."
—
To say Hydrus Black was surprised to see a fluffy orange pig half kneazle on his family's doorstep was an understatement. Hydrus' breath got caught in his throat as the cat meowed straight at him before weaving around his legs.
"Crookshanks?" Hydrus breathed, bending down and stroking him.
Crookshanks mewed in turn before pawing at his own collar. Hydrus froze. This was it. Who was Hermione with?
Closing his eyes tightly, he tapped the tag of the half kneazle. He opened one eye, then the other and laughed with glee when he saw what was written on the collar.
Crookshanks here belongs to Hermione Lupin. If lost please return to me via floo at Lupin Lodge. Thank you!
Hydrus let out a hearty laugh and turned the tag over.
Hi Harry, it's my birthday on the 10th! I have a twin! Yay!
Hydrus shook his head, amused; of course Hermione would purposely send Crookshanks to find him! He swiftly figured out how she knew who he was before scooping the cat up in his arms.
"Father!" Hydrus called.
"Yes, son?" Orion called back in question
"I'm just going to return this lost cat to its owner." Hydrus said.
"Alright; do you know the owner?" Orion asked.
"Yes." Hydrus replied.
"You can stay as long as you like then." Orion laughed.
"Thank you!" Hydrus said swiftly, before grabbing a handful of floo powder.
I'm half tempted to call out Diagonelly! Hydrus laughed in his head.
"Lupin Lodge!"
—
When Hermione heard the Floo go off, she and Remus froze. Then, much to the boy's confusion, Hermione rushed into the living room- where the Floo was- and stared face to face with the stranger.
You're really here, Hermione thought. Harry had changed a little from how she had remembered him; he had freckles and a lot of wavy hair on the top of his head with cut sides. He still had the scar on his forehead and a pair of round spectacles hang from his robe pocket.
"Hydrus?" Hermione asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Mione?" Hydrus returned.
That was all they needed. Hydrus put Crookshanks onto the floor before racing over and drawing Hermione into a long deserved hug.
They were saying how much they missed each other when Remus's cough interrupted them.
"Care to explain, twin dearest?" He asked, tapping his foot.
Hydrus and Hermione glanced at each other quickly before they both began.
"We met at Honeydukes a while back when you were buying chocolates; Hydrus'/ my Mother had just died and I/ she was just offering my/ her condolences." They both stifled laughs at saying the exact same lie.
"Then, we continued to write a bit and have been pen pals ever since." Hermione told Remus.
"You know the snowy white owl with black speckle?" Hydrus asked Remus, who shook his head in turn, "Oh, I'm surprised. Well, anyway, that's my bird, she's called Hedwig." Hydrus smiled.
"No offence or anything- but why are you here?" Remus asked the older boy, moving to stand next to his sister.
"Oh, right. Crookshanks here decided to pay me a visit." Hydrus laughed. "Oh, and Happy birthday, Remus, Hermione."
"Thank you." The twins chorused.
Hydrus then proceeded to pull out two chocolate frogs and handed them one each.
"Prey to Salazar you don't have any duplicates of cards; Godric Gryffindor is becoming increasingly common, shame really." Hydrus laughed a little.
"Wait a minute Hydrus-" Hermione began, not quite believing what she had just heard, "Did you say Salazar, as in Slytherin?"
Hydrus stifled a giggle, "Yeah, I mean, us Blacks tend to end up there and I'm pretty ambitious about something; and that thing causes me to be brave. Didn't think about that one, did you now, Mione?"
Hermione gaped at him. "Never in a million years did I think you'd want to be a Slytherin. Especially after Malfo- you said you like to be brave like a lion?" The Lupin girl attempted to save, glancing warily over at Remus, who seemed oblivious to her slip up.
"Keep in touch anyway, yeah?" Hydrus asked, Hermione nodded, "I'll send you a letter via Hedwig later. Don't forget, you can come by Grimmauld anytime." He waved goodbye to the pair of them with a smile. "Bye, guys."
"Bye!" The twins chorused, waving goodbye.
"He seemed nice. How come you didn't tell me you were friends with him?" Remus asked, fiending hurt.
"Sorry, Remus. I just thought that you'd think because he's a Black he'd be a supporter of you-know-who…" Hermione trailed off.
"Come on, Mione! You know me better than that! I'd never judge a book by its cover- not its contents page for that matter. It's what's written on the pages that counts."
"But that's just the thing- written on Hydrus Black's pages are more things than you could have ever imagined. Same with mine." She murmured quietly.
"What do you mean?" Remus asked, tilting his head to the side.
Hermione sighed. "You remember when I found Crookshanks in the woods?" She asked her brother.
He nodded once.
"There's no easy way of putting this but- those dreams I've been having, they're prophetic. I-I think I'm a seer." Hermione winced her own lie, but Remus mistook it for nervousness. It was the only way to explain things to her brother.
"Does Hydrus know?" Remus whispered quietly.
Hermione shook her head, "No, but he's been through a lot himself. I'm pretty sure he's some kind of seer as well. He gets flashes sometimes whereas I get dreams. I'm kind of the lucky one, I guess." She laughed softly.
She looked up from behind her bushy hair to meet Remus's eyes.
To her surprise, he engulfed her in a hug. "That's why you wanted to switch rooms wasn't it? So you could get bitten instead. I stopped your sacrifice." Remus told her.
"Y-yes." Hermione said, choking on tears, "I'd do anything to protect you and I failed. I should have blasted Greyback out the window whilst I still had the chance."
"Greyback?" Remus questioned.
"Yes, Fenrir Greyback: the name of the Wolf that caused you to change. My biggest regret is not getting rid of him faster." Hermione murmured.
"Oh Hermione," Remus soothed. "Don't blame yourself, you can't change the future." Remus told her.
"But that's just the thing." Hermione whispered, "I think I'm destined to change the future."
—
A.N/ That's the first chapter done of this story! Yay! Please review and feel free to check out my other story in progress, Jamie, about if Harry had an older brother called (surprise surprise) Jamie!
Thanks for taking your time to read this!
-Narglez