I know I know, multiple WIPS is a bad idea, but I can't tell my muse where to take me. She is always a fan of surprises. I can't promise when I will update but I will promise not to abandoned any of more fics completely.
Hermione sat up in her room debating her options with herself. Her parents were downstairs, her mother making their afternoon tea while her father sang an old Ramones song to her. Somehow the clueless peace they lived was feeding to her agitation. All the happy noises floating up the stairs only serving to remind her how separate their lives truly were now. She never thought she would be in a position like this one, never thought she would entertain the idea of abandoning Harry when he needed her the most. Are you truly abandoning him if this gives him a better life, so many a better life. You will still be fighting the good fight. It all felt too much as though she was trying to convince herself,it made her uneasy.
She could either obliviate her parents when they called her down for tea and catch the night bus to the Burrow, meeting up with Harry and Ron as planned or she could gamble it all on a long shot. She never was one for a gamble, always preferring to have everything planned out. Back up option upon back up plan until it was guaranteed to work in the end. This had to be the most illogical thing she had ever done. Her head started to feel a buzz and her blood rushed through her veins so fast she could feel it clearly. Something about this plan made her heart race and something glow inside her. Making her feel warmth and comfort. It was absolutely absurd.
Either way there would be no looking back. If she went through with the obliviation there was no chance of a reversal, she couldn't even pretend just to comfort herself. However if she did this they would never know who she was, that they should have a daughter, not even a hollow feeling that something was missing. The obliviation would at least leave that behind, a strong feeling they wouldn't quite be able to put their finger on. Just like that niggling doubt of whether you locked the house when you left for the market.
Steeling her resolve Hermione stood from her bed and walked to her mirror in the corner of her room. She looked absolutely ridiculous in the clothes she purchased at a second hand downtown. The hot pants where a glaring shade of neon pink. At least the Sex Pistols t-shirt is familiar. She had taken it from her mom's closet while she was away at work. She made sure to go through old albums to find things as authentic as she could, not some modern interpretation of the 1970s style. Grabbing her new cross body brown leather bag from the bed she prepared to apparate.
She took one final look around before pulling the device out from the collar of her shirt. She had been working on this problem for a while now, almost two years to be exact. Dumbledore refused to accept the return of her time-turner at the end of third year, stating in only his typical riddles that there might come a day when she would need it more than the ministry. She truly did miss him, they had the same driving need for an abundance of contingency plans. It shouldn't have taken so long to rework the charms really but she couldn't just ask anyone for help. The magic was considered dark after all and even if she was willing to wander any road necessary to achieving their victory the same couldn't be said of anyone. Sirius black would have been the only Order member she felt comfortable approaching about the subject however she didn't even think of the plan until after his death. Seeing how much his fall through the veil impacted not only Harry but Lupin made her think of it in the first place. She hoped to offer some comfort to them with the possibility of making everything right again. The longer she thought on it the more she realised their morals would get in the way.
Slicing open her palm with her wand she wrapped her hand fully around the turner. It needed to be liberally coated in her sacrifice, insured she was prepared to give up everything, everyone, just to use it's services. Not unlike the magic that makes a wand choose it's wizard the turner had to know she was worthy of it's help. Stilling her heart under controls and her hands she clasped the device between her two hands using only her index finger and thumb. Carefully counting out twenty turns of the dial she closed her eyes upon finish and waited for the vertigo to subside.
Hermione opened her eyes and checked her surroundings to ensure she only traveled through time and not to an unknown location. It was a risk she had no choice but to take. It wasn't as if she could waltz into the ministry before she left and ask an unspeakable what the chances where of remaining in the same spot throughout her little trek through time. Breathing a sigh of relief Hermione raced across the street as fast as she could manage without drawing unwanted attention to herself. Without making eye contact with any of the patrons she made her way to the back and through the entrance to Diagon Alley. It was almost uncomfortable how little had changed here throughout the twenty years that would pass between now and when she had left everything in her life behind. The only difference truly was the awful fashion everyone seemed to be sporting. It was like being in a bizarre dream where the Minister declared everyone must dress in costume regalia for a day.
Get it together Granger. Now is definitely not the time for your time travelling whiplash. Attempting to stand with an air of indifference and belonging she started her trip up the alley. First stop was Gringotts Bank. She had converted all her muggle currency and emptied her vault before the start of her sixth year. The distrust for the ministry was already setting in, all the signs of Voldemort working to take over there for anyone with half a brain to see. She might have plenty of galleons on her but it wouldn't do to continue carrying so much on her person, undetectable extension charm or not, it would only take one character with morals as low as Mondungus to lose it all.
"Excuse me sir, I need to open a new account. Preferably not on too high of a level. I'm aware as a new account it's not typical but it is quite a lot of money you see." Goblins always have her the chills. It just seems so unnatural to go from the muggle world to looking one of the creatures in the face. There was no way she could be anything other than perfectly polite to them, it didn't take much to get on their bad side. That being said this perticular goblin didn't look impressed with her manners, if anything her looked positively bored when he finally lifted his eyes from his ledger. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as her racked her from head to toe with an assessing eye, clearly doubting the sum total of her funds once seeing her muggle attire.
Sounding loath to speak with her he only uttered one word with a raised brow, "Name?"
"Oh right, Hermione Granger. I'm not sure what forms will need to be filled out but if you would be kind enough to collect them I can get started."
Rolling his eyes at her with a look of contempt he continued in his same tone of voice, "There will be no papers. Simply hand me your wand girl and it will all be sorted."
He stood from his stool once her wand was in hand and motioned for her to follow. Once inside a cart he put on a sneer worthy of Molfoy before descending far faster than was customary. She didn't get down as far as she would have liked however if she was being honest with herself it was deeper than she expected. At least it requires the goblins magical signature instead of a simple old key. Taking a step instead she pulled her bag to her front and reached in to her shoulder. It took long enough for her to start blushing of embarrassment before she felt the velvet bag under her fingers. Pulling out the small coin purse she turned to see the goblin raising an unimpressed brow, clearly scolding himself for bringing so far below the ground floor.
Feeling her own smirk slip in place she put on her most innocent tone of voice, the one she always used when talking to her dad or Mr. Weasley, "Is it customary for you to organize the money in the vault for me or will I be expected to divide and count it myself?"
"I'm sure I will be able to handle it in short order Ms. Granger." That droll tone was exactly what she was hoping for. Knowing that setting the goblin up but unable to help herself after being slighted so many times Hermione upended the velvet bag. Coin after coin fell from the bag. The extension charm working perfectly.
"Perfect. Just take me to the ground floor and owl me with the total when you're done. I'm not sure where I'm going to land yet but the owl will find me I'm confident." Smiling sweetly she exited to vault and got back into the cart. Now step two. Find a new home for yourself before you start your massive mental break.