Chapter 74: Save the World

October, 1995

Harry was just leaving the library when he spied Hermione coming towards him from the other direction. She hugged her books in her arms, her gaze far away and preoccupied as she walked briskly down the hall.

He felt himself perk up. He hadn't seen her much since their first and only Hogwarts quest, since he'd been somewhat preoccupied in trying to sort out his cursed closet, not to mention those even more cursed love potions.

She stopped and gave him a fleeting smile. "Hi Harry," she said. "I'm headed off to study for a bit. Want to join me?"

He was just about to say yes when he felt a tug in his chest. It was the call to adventure.

"Actually," he said slowly. "I've got a quest I've been having trouble with...and I think I just figured out how to solve it."

"What?" asked Hermione, frowning. "I don't feel any Hogwarts quests."

"I think it's a Weasley quest, actually. Interested in joining me?"

She shook her head. "Sorry, I have a lot of homework to catch up on. Let me know how it goes?"

Harry watched her leave, her brown curls bouncing behind her, then headed up a few flights of stairs and stopped in front of an ancient, oak doorway.

Tapping on a few stones, he unlocked the door and peered inside.

###

Thirty four minutes later…

Harry cleaned the balrog blood off his clothes, then stepped into the room it was guarding.

Rain pelted hard outside, and Harry was staring at the glittery gold paint along the walls of the ballroom.

This was the room he always got stuck in. He'd tried every cipher he could think of, but he could make no sense of the symbols. He'd spent hours in this room, all of them wasted in getting nowhere.

It was only today that he realised he hadn't really looked up.

Harry flew up to the ceiling, examining every section of boring grey until he found the flecks of gold paint, the little symbols providing the last key.

He felt somewhat stupid. He really needed to get his glasses checked.

After decrypting the symbols, he was able to find a golden button. He pushed it, and a secret compartment in the wall opened up.

The compartment held a small sequence of symbols, and something vaguely resembling a handprint scanner.

Flipping through a small notebook, Harry translated the runes and symbols. Woman, five, student, snake symbol, fingerprint.

Harry contemplated this for a moment.

Female 5th year student who is Slytherin? Do I need to abduct Daphne Greengrass for this quest, perhaps?

Suddenly, the answer hit him like a bolt of lightning.

"Wait a second!" He pulled a textbook from his bag, his mother's 5th year potions textbook. Dumbledore had told him to carry it everywhere, so maybe, just maybe…

He opened it up to a section about snakes and pressed it against the handprint. When nothing happened, he said in Parseltongue. "Open up, damn it."

A door opened in the wall, and Harry stared at it. Then, cautiously, he entered.

###

The room was dark, save from a small light at the very end. Harry cast Lumos on his wand, walking carefully through the echoing chambers.

"Harry…" said a voice.

He stopped short, listening to the echoes, keenly aware of the intense darkness around him. He was beginning to wonder if maybe this wasn't a Weasley quest, after all.

Suddenly, the lights flicked on, and he saw…

A mirror, and inside it sat Dumbledore. He was playing a card game, humming to himself.

"You're too early," he said, setting down a spade. "Go back."

"Umm…" It took Harry a moment to find his voice. "Excuse me?"

"I don't have anything to tell you today," the Great Wizard said. "And you certainly don't have anything to tell me. Well, unless you have any pertinent information from Luna Lovegood, or any more Weasley inventions. In which case, continue."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I…no, I guess I don't?"

"Very well then," he said. "Good day, Harry. Come back soon, and hopefully in a better mood than last time. I'm still a bit put out at you for that."

"Hang on," said Harry, suddenly remembering why he was here. "We're working together on something...aren't we? And I've been here before…"

Dumbledore ignored him, continuing to play solitaire.

The memory of their first meeting flooded him, Dumbledore's voice echoing in his ears.

Time is going to test the world before its final destruction. You will have to prepare to fight three enemies. They will be more powerful than you, more intelligent, and will always be one step ahead. If they win, then the world will end. If you and Hermione win, then it might be saved.

The time has come to begin in earnest to put our plans into motion. We will need to assemble our team, to gather spells and ancient artefacts. I will study and interpret the prophecies, guiding you on the right path. For the next few months, you will live a double life, guarding these plans in utmost secrecy. If we fail to keep our plans from the enemy, there will be nothing we can do to stop the end of the world.

Time is fighting against us, but life and magic are fighting with us. It will be a very close battle. However, if you do as I say, you might just save the world.

He could remember their meetings up until now, as well, including the disastrous last meeting with Dumbledore.

His fists tightened at the memory. "No," said Dumbledore. "We cannot do anything to save them. That is not our mission."

"They're Hogwarts students! How are we just...going to let them…"

Dumbledore's face looked immeasurably sad. "If we interfere, the enemy will know we are reading the prophecies. Don't you see? We must be invisible until the final moment. If I could save them, you know I would-"

The rest of the memory was a blur of anger and accusations. By the time it was over, Harry had stormed out of the room.

Harry let out a breath, and unclenched his fists. He hated to admit it, but Dumbledore was right. This was an extinction event. He couldn't save everyone.

"I…apologise," said Harry. "I was upset, but my reaction was uncalled for."

Dumbledore contemplated the cards under his half moon glasses. "I don't blame you for feeling upset. When I first heard the prophecies, I cannot describe the bitterness I felt." His gaze rose to meet Harry's eyes. "I do not understand why things have to be this way any more than you do, Harry. But we have no choice except to soldier on, and save the people we can."

Harry looked absently around the room. "I remember you told me that since you are not technically living, you cannot cast spells or teach me interdicted information."

"That is correct."

"However, I was wondering if you might know where I can find useful spells...maybe a magical database of some kind?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

###

Harry's boots strode noiselessly across the floor of the Artefact Archives. Dumbledore had told him the Line of Merlin gave him unrestricted access to any part of the Ministry, but he was surprised at how easy it was to slip past the security. All it took was an invisibility spell and a quieting charm. Harry knew it wouldn't be that easy for much longer.

Dumbledore had taught him a simple sorting spell, and Harry used that to help him comb through the messy archives. Above all, he was looking for any mind magic-especially related to obliviation-as well as disguise spells. The better they could hide their magic and knowledge, the more of it they could use in the final fight. He also wasn't super impressed with the current memory security system in place in Dumbledore's room, so he wanted to update it…

While sifting through the parchments, he came across a scroll about something called the "Ring of Truth." After examining it for a couple seconds, a cold sweat broke out over his body.

So...this was the sort of power he was up against.

There was no way he'd find any mind magic in this room that could protect them from this. Perhaps if he had a decade to work on it, he could invent something. But they only had one year, for some absurd reason. And this was only one of the artefacts his enemies would be using. What were the chances they had another Ancient weapon he couldn't defend against or block?

A sullen indignation entered his mind then. If only Dumbledore would let him examine the prophecies himself, maybe he could get a better idea of what they were up against, instead of getting everything second hand through an interpreter. He knew Dumbledore was doing it because the prophecies forbade him from reading them, but it still rankled.

Perhaps it wouldn't bother him as much if Dumbledore's decisions made any sense. If the world was really ending, Harry should be calling in all political and magical powers to face this crisis. At the very least, he should have a few competent adults working on his team. It shouldn't just be him and a talking mirror.

Not to mention the fact that he was only given a few months to prepare every single spell, enchantment or potion he might need to prevent an apocalypse, no pressure or anything…

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

One problem at a time.

He collected all the information he could find, made copies, and then left for Hogwarts.

###

A few weeks later…

Harry stumbled into the room, after he'd finally figured out the combination. Of course it was his mother's potion's book, why hadn't he…

In the room, which was empty of everything except a mirror, he saw Dumbledore and the Weasleys playing Exploding Snap.

"A right wiz at this game, this one," said Fred, or maybe George.

"Agreed," said his twin, wiping his forehead. "We haven't beat him even once."

"Fred? George? Dumbledore?"

The twins leapt to their feet. "At your service!" they said, bowing.

The memories of meetings past came crashing into his mind again, and his eyes went wide.

"But...but...I just saw you two before Christmas! How'd you end up in the mirror?"

"Err...wibbly wobbly timey wimey!" said Fred.

"We used this," said George, holding up a bright blue time turner. "It was supposed to give us six extra weeks in the interdimensional plane, but it looks like it'll be a bit longer."

"Not that we're complaining about the company," said Fred, elbowing Dumbledore, who had retreated to a comfortable stool, mulling over their game.

"Anyway, since we're technically still alive, that gives us an advantage," said George. "We can teach you interdicted spells. And there's a couple you need to start practising right away, such as the memory hiding spell you commissioned...err, will commission in a few weeks."

"O-okay," said Harry.

"Also, you're going to be quite busy over the next month or so. Better come up with some excuse for your girlfriend."

Harry's cheeks burned. "Oh come on, not you too! Hermione is not my girlfriend!"

"Did we say Hermione?" They looked at each other. "We were totally thinking of your closet, but-"

Harry looked up at the ceiling.

"Can we stop goofing off and start saving the world already?"

"Sure thing, after this game," said Fred. "George, it's your turn."

###

A few days later…

After finally solving the quest, Harry could hardly believe he was about to see the result...

"Fred? George? Dumbledore?"

"What did I tell you? That's two knuts, Fred."

Fred sighed, handing his twin some coins.

"Yes, we're working together on a secret project, yada yada. Now, to business. Did you bring what we asked for? Pretty please?"

Harry, without realising why, snapped his fingers.

Several vials of foul smelling liquid appeared in his hands.

"Harry, I see you've procured some spider venom. Excellent! We've brainstormed a way to distribute it into your skin and clothing, in case you are encased in spider web. It'll dissolve it, and free you to move."

His head was still reeling, but he had the strange sense that he'd been here before…

The twins waited a moment, and then Harry blinked and shook his head. "Never gets easier. Okay, can you explain the procedure in more detail, please?"

They did so, and once they'd finished, Harry said, "It might work better if we concentrated the venom in multiple capsules along my joints."

"Gotcha! Will do. Or, rather, you're going to have to do it. We can't work magic in the veil."

They discussed for a bit longer, suggesting different tools to help Harry and Hermione in the final fight, and asking Harry to look for more materials.

"Don't forget to practice your transfiguration," they said. "That's extremely important. We can't have anyone detecting these materials on you. Come back in two weeks."

"But before you go, repeat these code words, Harry. We need them in muscle memory." The twins paused. "Please."

"Please."

"Pretty please."

"Pretty please." A pause. "Are you messing with me?"

They grinned. "Always. Now, go out there and try not to destroy the world!"

###

Sometime later…

Harry entered the dark, scary room, his heart pounding with excitement. It was nice to have a distraction from all the chaotic, stupid emotions turning his brain into a dumpster fire...

An empty mirror stood in front of him.

The mirror was suspended in the air, it's edge gleaming with burnished gold. He stared at its tranquil surface, mesmerised, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

The face of Dumbledore appeared before him.

"Harry," he said, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. "End of the world. No time to waste. Did you find the phoenix tears?"

His hand found its way to his pouch, producing a vial of clear liquid.

"What...is this for?" he asked, then remembered. "Oh right, the Necklace of Eternity."

Dumbledore nodded, his piercing eyes bright blue. "Are you prepared to cast the enchantment?"

Harry reached into his pocket again, and drew out two necklaces.

"An orange cat," said Dumbledore, raising a brow. "Curious."

"Well, you said it could be any sort of necklace. This seemed...most pertinent. I had to take away her memory of the gift, after all…"

"Very well, my boy," he said gently. "Lay the necklaces out on the table."

Harry did so, and followed Dumbledore's instructions as he guided him through the enchantment. He could probably have done it on his own, but it was important that he get this right…

"I, Harry James Potter Evans Verres, promise to protect and defend Hermione Jean Granger, with the full force of my life and magic, and to this end imbue these amulets with a portion of my power…"

The memory of her eyes shining as he slipped the gift around her neck, snowflakes melting in her hair and against her cheeks, faded into nothingness.

The necklaces shone like they had been struck by lightning, then settled into a luminescent shimmer.

"Do you think it will be strong enough?" asked Harry, turning to Dumbledore. "It's not like a memory of a hug or...wedding or…"

"It is enough, Harry," said Dumbledore. "You'll need to place the necklace in a safe place, until it is needed. I suggest hiding it in your pouch or your pocket."

Harry sighed, slipping it into his pouch. The twins warned him not to put anything else into his pocket without their express permission.

"I'm extremely concerned we aren't doing enough to protect her, Dumbledore. You said they will try to attack her mind, as they will mine. I need to prepare something, anything to protect her in case the worst happens."

There was a significant pause, then Harry continued. "I want to make her a Horcrux."

Dumbledore shook his head. "My boy, there is a price to using dark magic…"

"Excuse me, but did you see what happened over Christmas? Things are getting worse by the hour, and we're still scrambling to interpret these damn prophecies. Transfigurations and mind magic can only take us so far, we need real power, or they're going to blow us out of the water! I know you did research into Immortality, you must have hid your notebooks somewhere-"

From within the mirror, Dumbledore produced a book. With mute surprise, Harry took it.

"Is...this the research?" asked Harry.

"No, it is the Horcrux. Voldemort created it for her. I suppose the one who died to create it, wouldn't mind using it for this purpose."

Harry placed the Horcrux on the table, studying it carefully. Maybe he could transfigure it into Hermione's skin, or beef it up with a few transport spells, so it would leap to her defence…

There were a lot of things to consider, and barely enough time to do it, but he was getting a bit annoyed at Dumbledore's sad puppy routine.

"Tell me something," said Harry. "Do you actually have a reason to hate dark magic, aside from the fact someone somewhere labelled it 'bad juju'? If it can save the world, I don't see why we shouldn't make use of any and all magical means, even if they are quote unquote 'dark.'"

He smiled faintly, his gaze far away. "Ahh yes, the classic argument of a consequentialist. In principle, I agree with you, but we are not dealing with mere atoms and molecules, or unfeeling cause and effect. The universe and time itself have a certain preference for action that conforms to the natural order, and that order is corrupted by dark curses. The more you commit yourself to the light-both through intention and in action-the more likely you are to succeed in saving the world."

"Are you trying to tell me that the universe is inherently deontological?"

"Well, perhaps a bit more inclined towards virtue ethics, but yes, it is."

"So, in that case, you're saying…" said Harry slowly. "That the universe expects me to be the best version of me that I can be, working hard to achieve a moral goal, so that I can make the right choices when the time comes?"

"That is an adequate summary of Aristotle's ethical system, yes."

Harry's eyes wanted to roll into the back of his head. The Wizarding world had the teachings of Aristotle so ingrained they couldn't seem to even entertain another way to think.

Then again...he'd seen enough to know that perhaps he shouldn't dismiss Dumbledore's ideas out of hand.

"By chance, does your strong conviction about virtue ethics have anything to do with a specific prophecy or two?"

"Somewhat. Merlin also believed strongly that moral strength was the only way we could save the world from the corruption of the Ancients. It's threaded throughout his writings, what survives of them. And Merlin was the one who saved the world from being destroyed in the first apocalypse, thousands of years ago."

Harry sighed, looking at the Horcrux on the table.

"Very well, I'll do my best to avoid dark magic," said Harry. "Now, tell me everything you know about the Horcrux and how we can modify it to protect Hermione."

###

Harry had known this day would come. It was only a matter of time.

"The eye of Vance...they're going to have Mad Eye Moody's artefact too?"

The twins nodded sullenly.

"Our hiding spells might be strong enough to block it partially, but-"

"Against the eye and the ring?" Harry scoffed. "Fat chance. Our enemy will practically have enough power to predict fate! They'll know what we're planning to do before we do it!"

As his heart began to beat wildly, Harry's mind replayed the image of a battle, arcs of power flying through the air, Hermione falling to the ground, eyes unseeing.

He couldn't fail. That wasn't an option.

"Hermione's transfigurations into her skin might escape notice," said Fred. "Since she is in a state of constant transfiguration. And hiding the venom capsules inside your pores might-"

Harry responded in a rapid fire. "There's no way any strong transfiguration that can survive being buried under our skin won't be noticed by our enemies the second they see it. And any spell that's too weak, won't be useful at all. And let's not forget that I can't have any contact with you, or Dumbledore, or anyone else for several months, which means any plans we make will be obsolete by the time we have to use them."

Fred and George frowned. "Well...we could-"

"No, you can't," Harry sighed. "It just...won't work without someone else on the outside to help us. But every person we involve is a liability, and we've had so many close calls already…"

Harry slowly realised.

"Actually...I think I know exactly who we need."

###

Harry penned the letter that afternoon, the twins helping him set it into his magical pocket. They would biometrically lock it to only reveal itself when certain conditions were met. It was up to him to make the letter convincing, without revealing too much too quickly.

Dear Remus,

Greetings. What was the last thing Dumbledore said to you? Please write it below.

Upon successful completion of the password, new words would appear on the page.

Everything Dumbledore told you is true. I have left for you several memories, which you can use to find more evidence hidden in the castle. I hope this will convince you to help us in our quest. The end of the world is coming, and we're doing everything we can to stop it.

The only way we can do that, is if the work we're doing stays absolutely secret.

And for that, we need your help. Harry will need to be convinced that his mind is his own. He must not suspect that someone has influenced it, or all of our carefully laid plans could fall apart. This will have grave consequences not just for him, but for the world.

He will also need your help in maintaining and releasing the transfigurations, when the time is right. Harry and Hermione will need to use them in the coming battle. Furthermore-and this is of crucial importance-you must watch the signs and make sure nothing radically changes the plans laid out by prophecy. You will know more about what those plans are once you enter the secret room in the castle.

And finally-you must go into hiding until the end begins. I'm sorry to do this to you, Remus. You have been a good friend to both of us, and now you have a great burden. We are taking a risk in trusting you, but I'm willing to bet that you are on our side. Please, please help us.

Signed,

Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter

###

Harry was just leaving the charmed room with Hermione. They'd found a deck of ordinary playing cards and a banner that said "Congratulations!"

Hermione sighed loudly. "Well, that Weasley quest was a waste of time," she said. "Again. Come on, let's go get dinner."

"You go on ahead," said Harry. "I think I forgot something."

Harry went back into the room, and stood face to face with Dumbledore.

"Hello Harry," he said mildly. "Back so soon?"

"I…had the feeling you needed me."

They stood in silence, while Dumbledore regarded him over half moon glasses.

"Do you remember our meetings?" he asked.

"Somewhat." Harry shrugged. "I remember enough to know you aren't my enemy, and enough to know this probably isn't going to end well. For me, anyway."

Dumbledore sighed, long and heavy. The years showed on his face. "Yes, well…I've been trying to work the prophecies in your favour, but the odds are stacked against you. I do wish we had more time."

Harry nodded, feeling strangely empty. "Thanks for trying, anyway. So…how often did I meet you in this room?"

"It was probably about fifty times. I lost count. At the beginning you were belligerent, didn't want to be involved with me. But eventually you came around and started helping."

"Huh. If I couldn't remember this place, why did I keep coming back?"

"Simple," said Dumbledore. "I used a little time magic, a wonderful little trick the Weasleys invented. It's where you cast a jinx on a target backwards in time, and they keep falling into the jinx until the day it's broken. That's the same day you cast it."

"Wait…"

"So you cast a jinx on yourself," said Dumbledore. "To come and visit me every once or twice a month or so. It would also be triggered by any new information you received related to key words. Every time you left the room, the memory of our meetings would be locked behind an enchantment, and the rest would be obliviated. Every time you felt compelled to return, and entered the room under the right conditions, you'd receive your memories again."

"That's brilliant," said Harry.

"It is," said Dumbledore. "The idea was yours, originally. Many of our best plans were." He sighed heavily. "Well, the time has come. You must break the jinx, and then cast it."

Harry raised his wand, and cast the spells as Dumbledore instructed.

"So…what happens now?" asked Harry, lowering his wand.

"You'll need to erase all of your memories of our plans, permanently. You'll find something to help you with that in your enchanted pocket. Before you do that, there is a letter you must read, and enact those instructions carefully."

Harry nodded, feeling strangely comfortable with this bizarre situation. But also, a little sad, that this time of preparation had finally come to an end.

"Will I ever see you again?" Harry asked.

"Hmm," he said. "Only time will tell. Though I feel I must thank you, Harry. I never had an apprentice before, and I'm glad to have had the chance to teach you. No matter what the outcome is, know that you have done well, and I am proud of your hard work."

Dumbledore bowed, and Harry felt his heart in his throat.

"Do you mind, Harry, doing me one last favour?"

He nodded.

"Could you instruct the castle to move my mirror to the basement? I believe that is where I need to be."

###

Harry remembered being blind and bound, only this time, it felt like he was standing outside himself. He could see-in his mind's eye-all the magical spells and transfigurations his enemy had missed at their capture. It wasn't all his plans, or even the best of them-but it could have been enough.

He saw the moment the acromantula venom released and destroyed the spider's web. It wasn't enough on its own to free him, so a magical alicorn knife had been hidden on his person, disguised as a mole on his ring finger.

He watched the de-transfiguration fail, the half-formed knife thudding to the ground as he stumbled away. If he had the knife, he might have cut his legs free, saving him several seconds. He might have had just enough time to awaken Hermione and run to safety.

Harry watched as he placed himself between Draco and Hermione, attempting one last time to plead for his life.

He watched as the green light enveloped his body.

###

Harry returned to the misty plane with Dumbledore.

"So…" said Harry. "That's how it happened."

Dumbledore nodded.

"You're here, for some reason. Are we both dead then?"

"Well," said Dumbledore. "That depends on how you define death. I predict that very soon, my spirit will completely lose its connection to the physical plane. At that point, I will be truly outside of time, and unable to return to it."

Harry looked down at his hands, feeling so bitterly helpless.

"Did...Hermione survive?" he asked.

"She did, yes," he said. "She is still beneath the veil of time."

Harry stared at the misty plane around him, wondering if anything about this brief afterlife was real.

Three hours left...

"Can I see her?" he asked. "The real Hermione, not a memory."

Dumbledore nodded, and took Harry's hand.

###

Hermione listened to the Patronus' story with a strange sense of confusion.

Harry had been living a double life, working with Dumbledore and his team to stop the end of the world.

In order to keep it a secret, he'd been locking away his memories each time, then permanently sealing them before the battle in the graveyard.

Harry had stolen items, snuck into buildings, tortured himself, laboured and sweated and poured over prophecies with wizards trapped beyond the veil-while at the same time attending classes, experimenting with magic and getting blown up, going on Hogwarts' quests and defending the Hogwarts castle against foreign armies.

It seemed too much to bear, even for the Boy-Who-Lived.

She stared down at his prone form, her mind stuttering a bit as she realised that it had been too much...

"That is all I have to tell you about the past. You may ask questions, if you like."

"Why wasn't I told anything before?" she said, her voice sounding strange in her ears. "I could have helped him."

"The prophecies warned against it. If you had helped them, you would have been much more likely to suffer the same fate you did in the previous timeline."

"And what fate was that?"

The Patronus did not answer at first.

"Your mind was lost until the end of time."

Hermione closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"You still haven't explained to me why you won't save him. He didn't make any sort of ritual sacrifice, no bargains with interdimensional gods. I, on the other hand, did. So why am I alive, and he is dead?"

"Interdimensional...gods? I do not understand."

"There was a girl," said Hermione quietly. "She asked me to save her. I thought I'd just imagined it, but then I destroyed a thousand dementors. And if I can do that with only a portion of her strength, then I know she can bring back one boy from the dead."

"A girl?" The angel wings fluttered softly as the Patronus considered this. After a long moment of silence, she continued. "I do not think you understand. Hermione, the ritual that killed Harry is known as Aveda Kedavra."

"What? The killing curse?"

"Yes. That curse is a dark ritual. It makes a permanent sacrifice of a human life, in exchange for power, if one casts it properly. Harry gave his life to fuel the ritual to break time and heal it, and now his soul is part of its binding. Even if I could bring his body back to health, the soul has been lost. He would have no life in him."

Hermione felt a cold sweat wash over her.

"That…makes no sense. Souls are eternal by nature, you can't just eat them."

"Perhaps. Harry's spirit may exist somewhere, but it is outside of magic and time. I am sorry, Hermione. We really did everything we could do to save him."

Hermione felt a lead weight pressing against her chest, squeezing her heart. She was finding it hard to breathe.

"The killing curse is horrible," said Valencia, anger in her voice. "Every time it is cast, it wounds the Earth and weakens the Source of Magic, hastening its destruction. But when you become the Master of Magic, I know you will abolish the Killing Curse."

Hermione blinked. "I...will?"

"Yes. You will do a great number of wonderful things. Under your reign, the great power of the source that was once used to spread evil, will be used for good. You can save the world not just once, but for all time, and stop the cycle of destruction that began centuries ago."

Valencia's voice sounded like a smooth bell, ringing confidence into every word. Hermione could see her leading armies into battle with that voice.

It fell on Hermione's ears with a discordant twang.

"I think," said the Patronus. "You must have some questions about how this will come to pass, yes?"

Hermione thought for a moment. Valencia's wings shuffled as she gazed down at her with gentleness and fondness. She felt a strange stirring in her heart. "What am I...supposed to do first?"

"It is a difficult task, but your first step would be to attempt to open the Source of Magic. In modern terms, you might call this...hacking into the source code?" The angel paused. "When the Ancients left, Merlin locked the Source of Magic, placed it into a kind of safe mode. This was to protect humanity, but it crippled magic, along with scientific inquiry. You see, magic is meant to work in tandem with the laws of physics, and for our understanding of both to grow together.

"Instead, wizarding kind has grown up with a stagnant system, with magical laws that are so outdated they are destroying the Source itself. In the rare chance that a human does change a law—for it can be done, though only once in a lifetime-it is usually in a way that only adds to the chaos. Over time, this led to a separation between the worlds of magic and science, and a decline in magical power. Eventually, the Source will be unable to handle the strain, and magic will be lost entirely."

"Okay," said Hermione wearily. "How do I do that? Become the administrator?"

"I do not know."

"Umm…what?"

"The discovery is part of the quest. You need to figure out how to access the system, and this will convince it to allow you in as a conquering hero."

Hermione did not speak for several seconds, and when she did, her voice was dangerously soft. "Let me get this straight. I can't save Harry, because of stupid, archaic rules that should have been rewritten centuries ago. And now you're telling me that the only way to fix them is to go on some godforsaken Hogwarts quest?" She banged her fist on the ground. "Haven't I done enough? Suffered enough? Just tell me how to fix everything!"

"I do not know. I do not have access to that information."

"Oh yeah? Well, then what's the bloody point of you!" Hermione's voice broke. "How—how dare you treat me like this! You put me and Harry through those quests, did all that work to prepare us for that ritual—and then you still let him die! Why don't you go save the Source of Magic then!"

Hermione sobbed, and she couldn't stop. Everything was wrong, and nothing would ever be right again. Valencia knelt beside Hermione, wrapped her arms around her. "Hermione, I am so sorry," she said, the warmth of her wings embracing her.

"I loved him," sobbed Hermione. "And even if I live forever, I'll never see him again."

Valencia's warmth held her until her tears slowed.

"Though I do not know the answers," Valencia said. "I think that Harry might."

She nodded towards his body. Confused, Hermione stared at him for a few seconds until she noticed the white corner of a letter peeking out of his pocket.

Crawling over, she carefully pulled the letter out and stared at it. She opened it, scarcely able to breathe.

Hi Hermione,

I finally updated the parser. It's keyed to respond to your voice and presence, which means you can retrieve any item you ask for.

If you are reading this letter, it means things didn't exactly work out well for me. Not gonna lie, that sucks, but it's not exactly surprising. At some point, I became aware of the fact that time would only allow one of us to survive. Of course I was going to try to save both of us and I wasn't going to back down without a fight, but if it came down to a choice between you and me...well, now you know what I chose.

At any rate, you've got other concerns now. I'll do what I can to help prepare you for what's going to happen, based on the prophecies we've interpreted so far.

The world is dying. There's lot of reasons, but the simple explanation is that the misuse of magic is poisoning the Earth. We're living on borrowed time, and we only have two options. Destroy the Source of Magic, or completely transform it.

There are prophecies about the one destined to do this, and there are many that suggest it will be you. If you take on this challenge, you will face a lot of difficulties. I'm going to give you all the information I have about how to unlock the Source of Magic, and every item I have that might help. Just reach into my pocket and ask for 'Project Salvation.'

If you don't have enough time, then I have instructions on how to destroy the Source of Magic. This will destroy all the souls who have been saved on the Source of Magic, so this should only be done as a last resort. Needless to say, it will also make magic almost impossible. Still, if you have no other choice, reach into my pocket and ask for 'Project Last Resort.'

At this point, you should have discovered your Patronus. They will help guide you through your choice. You won't be able to communicate for long (at least, not until you update that rule), but while they can speak, they will use their great power to help you. I wish I could be there with you, and that I could do more for you, but it's comforting to know you won't be alone.

You won't have much time to make your decision. Trust your intuition. Ever since I've met you, you've continually surprised me by how accurate your judgements are. Even when they're not strictly logical, they're usually right. Don't doubt yourself–I'm sure that even the end of the world couldn't cloud the judgement of the brightest witch of her age.

Oh, and one last thing. When you have time after saving the world, search my pocket for 'Gifts for Hermione.' I don't know how useful or important they'll be to you–but I'd like you to have them, all the same.

Take care, my dearest friend. I hope to see you again one day.

Harry James Potter Evans Verres

Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped them away while reaching into Harry's pocket. "Gifts for Hermione."

Into her hand appeared two orange cat necklaces.

She gasped, an electric warmth touching her skin. It felt like Harry was there with her, holding her hand. She shivered, clutching the necklace close to her heart. The warmth embraced her.

She didn't want to let go. Valencia approached from behind, silently reminding her of her presence.

"What…are they?" asked Hermione.

"Those are Necklaces of Eternity," said the Patronus, with a touch of reverence. "They contain a portion of Harry's magic, which will forever exist to protect you. If he were living, they would bind you together."

She closed her eyes and let the feeling of his presence wash over her. Oh, Harry…

Hermione wanted to break down and sob all over again. But she could feel the angel behind her growing restless.

"I'm sorry, but you must decide soon. The fate of the world depends on it."

Right. Save the source or destroy it.

"How long do I have?"

"You must complete the first step before dawn."

With a leaden nod, she reached back into Harry's pocket.

Time to see what she was in for.

###

This whole time, there'd been a part of her that hadn't really believed Harry was gone.

This was a world where magic existed. There was no reason for a goodbye to be forever. Even if it was the slimmest chance, she hoped she might see Harry again.

These letters slowly obliterated that option.

In order to save the Source of Magic, Hermione would have to embark on a long quest that could take decades, even centuries. Progress would be slow. Several normal lifespans might pass until Hermione would be able to gain full control of the Source of Magic.

In the meantime, every wizard that died would have a copy of their spirit saved in the Source of Magic. Harry had mentioned this in his letter, when he revealed the location of the Source.

But when Hermione told Valencia, she shook her head. "Those that die of a dark curse are not saved. We must destroy everything we know of them."

It hit her like a rock slamming into her chest.

Going back to reading the letters about Project Salvation, she felt a heavy anxiety descend upon her. Not only had she lost Harry, but by the end of her mission, everyone she knew would be dead. She could recreate them again–maybe. That might take another few centuries.

She would have to leave behind her whole entire life to complete this quest. There would be no time for a family, nor to build a life of any kind. From the moment she began the quest to the moment it ended, she would need to dedicate herself to saving the world.

She would be very lonely.

Hermione knew these weren't reasons not to accept the mission. Even if she hated every second, the only other alternative was everyone dying. Or magic ceasing to exist, which wasn't much better.

She reread the information several times. She asked Valencia a million questions, which she patiently answered. Finally, Hermione just sat there, staring at Harry.

Come on, get it together. You know what you have to do.

The incantation to begin the quest, which she had memorised by now, sat on the tip of her tongue.

The decision felt like it carried so much weight that she couldn't bear it. It felt like trying to intentionally fall off a cliff, or to deliberately burn herself.

And besides, there was the feeling she couldn't shake that Harry was still here, somehow. Maybe there was a third option, and if she could only figure it out, maybe she could save him…

You know this is just your grief talking. Harry is gone.

Her hands tightened around the necklace.

Is there really nothing magic can do?

No. Magic already took him away. Are you really going to let the world die because of your inability to accept reality?

Her hands were shaking. She bit her lip.

You are. You actually are.

But is this reality? The graveyard wasn't real, this warehouse and Patronus might not be either…

Her hands seemed as if they weren't her own. She felt oddly weightless.

Merlin, I'm dissociating. Am I in shock?

The angel put a hand on her shoulder. Hermione took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

You can do this.

"Hermione?"

Come on. You know what to say. Harry would want you to.

But no matter what she told herself, there was nothing more terrifying in the world than those words.

"I can't…I need more time."

There was silence for a long moment.

"One hour and thirty minutes. That is all the time we have." Another pause. "Is there…anything else I can do to assist you?"

Hermione stared at the ground.

"Once I accept the quest, I won't be able to return to Earth for some time."

"That is correct."

Her eyes turned to the bodies around her.

"Can you help me with the burial?"

###

It was strange for Harry to watch his own funeral.

He did so from a distance, and found himself barely able to concentrate on the proceedings. His eyes were only for Hermione. He studied her hands as she gently prepared him for burial, her lips as she spoke a few words of remembrance. She used magic to preserve his body, then lay a white sheet over him. Protecting him until someone found him. When the sheet covered his face, and he saw how her face went ashen, he would have given anything for it not to be like this.

"This must be hard for you," said someone beside him.

Harry turned around, and saw himself, a little older and with a dark scar across his cheek.

He turned back. "I don't know which is worse. Dying with no afterlife at all, or living through such a brief one. The end is the same, I suppose." A pause. "Where is Dumbledore?"

"He's indisposed at the moment."

"I see. So I'm stuck with the annoying git who got us into this mess?"

"The one and the same. At least you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that you won't have to suffer for long."

Harry sighed. "That's alright. We should talk. It wouldn't be right to leave unresolved issues with myself."

The man nodded. "We can't stay much longer. Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Well…there is one thing I'd like to see, if you're up for a trip."

###

Harry saw two great rocks converging. There was no air in space, so no sound when they collided, yet Harry still heard it. A giant crack heralded their joining, bouncing off each other to create something new, mysterious and wonderful. Whirls of colour from the nebula shown in a halo around the brilliant pinpoint of light.

It was the birth of a star. The potential for a new solar system, and for life.

This was how we began.

Harry was crying. It was so beautiful and real.

Something he had always hoped to see with his own eyes.

He turned to the man who stood beside him, who was wiping away his own tears. It was strange, but Harry didn't feel quite so angry at him anymore. He wondered what had changed. Perhaps it had something to do with dying, that tended to put things in perspective.

"Just wondering, and not to sound rude," asked Harry. "How are you still here? I thought…well…I thought you used up your six hours long ago."

The man shrugged, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Time is a bit forgiving beyond the veil. Even if we can't interact with the environment, we can visit whomever we like while we're here, whenever we choose on the timeline. From my perspective, I just left your eleven year old self in the castle at Hogwarts."

"Huh," said Harry, turning back to the beautiful new star. "There's so much more to learn about this universe than I'll ever be able to know."

The man nodded slowly, and they were silent for a time.

"I wonder," said Harry. "If we really do just…cease to exist. Or if there's something more out there, beyond time. I mean," He pointed to the star. "If the universe and everything in it can be drawn forth from nothing, then isn't it possible that you and I can one day find our way back from nothingness?"

The man didn't respond, staring intently at the nebula. His other self's silence made Harry restless.

"Well? What do you think?" he asked.

"I think," said the man carefully. "That we never quite studied enough theology or philosophy to answer that question definitively. But it's something I've thought about too."

Harry tried to think of something else to say to his other self, but found there was nothing he wanted to talk about. Harry didn't need to know anything that he didn't already know. Both of them were dead, and they'd failed. What more was there to say?

"Thank you," said the man.

"What?" asked Harry. "Why?"

"You saved her," said the man. "You risked your own life to protect her, and you have no idea how comforting it is to know there's a version of her that might one day see this star."

Harry stared ahead, not feeling a response come to him.

He did all of this for her.

It should make him furious at the man's selfishness, his arrogance. But somehow, Harry felt like he understood.

After all, Harry wished he could say he'd died to save the world, like a mythological hero. In a sense it was true...but not exactly. The world was beautiful, and he loved it, but it was an abstract love.

He thought of everything he'd sacrificed for this final quest. He'd let himself become stupid and useless, watching everyone succeed and himself fail. He gave up immortality, fame, and success. He erased his memory hundreds of times, spent countless hours in that little room studying, endlessly training and labouring, only to throw all his best protection spells, charms and artefacts he had in Hermione's direction. It was like he'd known, somehow, that he wouldn't live to see the future he'd built.

He wished he could say he did it to save the world, but he wasn't Superman and he wasn't a hero. He was just a flawed, more intelligent than average human boy who was trying to be good.

If he was being honest, he would never have had the strength or the willpower to go through all of it, if not for Hermione. He did it all to save her.

"Will she…be happy?" asked Harry.

The man stared up at the nebula, it's crimson light bathing him.

"I think it depends, but…we did all we could. The rest is up to her. And now, I think my hour is almost up." He placed a hand on Harry's head, a half smile suddenly on his lips. "You really do have the messiest hair."

The man disappeared, leaving Harry alone with the stars.

###

Harry Potter

The Original Timeline

Their world was dying.

He knelt beside Hermione's bed, running his fingers through her soft, brown hair. She did not react to his touch, her eyes closed.

Outside, the sun burned hot, growing imperceptibly brighter as the minutes passed.

"You know," he said softly. "I used to daydream about all the things I would say to you, once I brought you back. For a long time, I did not even let it occur to me that I would fail. Not after all the doctors said it couldn't be done. Not after even your own parents gave up on you. I decided that I was going to be faithful. I would never give up hope."

Tears spilled onto the pillow, but he smiled and wiped them away.

"I wonder what you would say if you could see me now. If you would smile, and tell me I'd done well. Or if you would yell at me, upbraid me for all the idiotic things I'd done. As silly as it sounds, my biggest regret right now is that I'll never get to know."

Harry sighed, rested his head against the bed, near her shoulder.

"You know, the boy asked me a question about the afterlife, and I couldn't give him a response. I'm terrified that these are truly my last moments of consciousness, but at the same time I'm…happy. That it's finally over. But it would have been a betrayal of my younger self to tell him that."

Her eyelids fluttered open, but she did not see him. The sun behind him got much brighter, its glare filling the room.

"I think," he said. "If I could have that conversation again, this is what I would say."

"I have found two things to be true. One, is that humans are a bit too big for the skin they're in. All that intelligence, dreams, and hopes for the future…all that capacity for learning, growth, and ability…are wasted by the constraints of time. Which makes me suspect that humanity's mortality is the greatest tragedy in the universe, or that humans are something more than what they seem."

"The second," he said. "Is that all things fade. But in the end, when all your choices have been made, and you go to join the stars, love alone remains. So hold tight to the ones you love…until your final breath."

He pressed his face into her neck, as his star exploded, and the world ceased to exist in time.

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