The rest of that day passed without much incident, although Hermione suspected Fred was giving her a wide berth. The evening sun was rippling down at her through the leaves of the Burrow's old oak tree as she lounged carelessly below them. After a clever little transfiguration spell which turned a leaf into a leaf-embroidered blanket, Ginny and Hermione had installed themselves under the tree after lunch and had thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon of lazing about before dinner.

"So, are you going to tell me or do I have to whack out my legilimency skills?" Ginny asked, rolling onto her front to get a better look at her friend.

"Firstly, you're a horrible legilimens. Secondly, what?"

"You and Fred this morning," she pressed, prodding Hermione gently in the shoulder.

"What about it? He brought me tea," Hermione answered, shielding her eyes.

Ginny hummed in thought. "What happened to you guys?"

"What do you mean?"

"You two were very buddy-buddy last summer."

"We're friends," Hermione responded, hoping the light would hide the darkening redness in her cheeks. "That's what friends do."

"Right."

Ginny eyed her friend suspiciously but didn't press any further. With the war over and Hermione's emotional state to tend to, there would be plenty of time for that later. "You guys are still good though, right?"

"Yeah, we're friends, Gin," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes and sitting up.

"Excellent," Ginny smiled, nodding to something behind Hermione.

She twisted around to see, shielding her eyes from the brightness of the sun with her hand. Emerging from the house were two identical Weasleys, albeit one sans an ear. Ginny studied her friend as they approached, trying to gauge any reactions she might have. Hermione, fully aware of this, kept her smile friendly and tried not to let any feelings show, positive or otherwise. Nevertheless she thought, Fred must have got over the morning's conversation if he had been avoiding her.

"Good even, my dear, sweet sister—," began George.

"—and her dazzling, delightful companion," Fred finished as they both topped their approach off with a bow.

"Hello Fred, George," Hermione chuckled as Ginny rolled her eyes and stretched out her legs.

"Hermione, if we may—we were wondering about the interest you showed this morning in helping us with some products," George began, fluttering his eyelashes at her with all the grace of a cabaret star.

The witch considered them for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Have a seat."

The twins flashed her identical grins and folded their legs underneath them on the grass in front of the blanket.

From the Burrow's kitchen window, Mrs Weasley chuckled at her sons' antics. "They're like two overgrown page boys at their queen's feet."

Arthur chortled and came to watch from behind his wife, looping his arms around her. Molly smiled and kissed his cheek tenderly before returning her gaze to her chattering brood.

"Do you think it'll work?" she asked into the stillness of the early summer air.

"Fred's quest?"

Molly hummed.

"You know," her husband replied quietly with a smile, "I think it just might."

The couple enjoyed the moment and the closeness for a minute or so before there came a faint crackling of firewood and a distant voice.

"Molly? Arthur? Are you home?"

"We're home," Molly called, bustling into the living room to see who it was. "Minerva? Are you alright?"

Professor McGonagall's head looked back at her from the fireplace with a mixed look of discomfort and concern.

"It's variable, Molly. Can I come through?"

"Of course," her friend responded, moving back at once to give her space.

Moments later, Minerva McGonagall was stood on the cosy living room carpet and Arthur had disappeared to make tea at his wife's instruction.

"How are you?" Molly asked as the two embraced.

"I'm fine. Potential time and reality, not so much."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Molly inquired, taken somewhat aback.

Minerva pulled a face of harrowed confusion at her friend and didn't answer.

"Is Miss Granger here?"

"In the garden with Fred, George and Ginny. Would you like to join her or have her join us?"

"I think here would be good; this is something of confusing, sensitive matter. Thanks, Arthur," she said, taking the cup he offered her as his wife went to find their houseguest with a nod.

"How's she been?" asked the professor gently, while seating herself on the Weasleys' old leather sofa. Arthur took his time perching on the arm of a chair before he answered.

"Hermione? Well," he sighed. "About as good as you can imagine. None of this is easy, obviously."

Minerva nodded and took a sip as Molly returned, Hermione in her wake.

"Professor!" she exclaimed, a large grin spreading over her face. "What a surprise!"

Her old teacher smiled fondly and indicated for her to take the comfy-looking armchair opposite. "Hello again, Hermione; please, call me Minerva now—you're no longer at school so I believe we can dispense with the formality. It's good to see you again, and looking so well. My condolences," she added, kindly.

Hermione smiled hesitantly before moving on quickly, mostly so that she didn't start crying.

"You wanted to see me specifically, Professor—sorry, Minerva?"

"I did," she responded briskly, setting down her cup. "I assume," she started, reaching into her robes, "That you will recognise this."

The professor withdrew her hand from her inner pocket and placed something carefully on the coffee table between them. The object glittered feebly from where it sat, mangled and scratched. Even so, it made Hermione gasp. Mrs Weasley started, as though to check if she was alright, but Arthur took her hand to stop her. This seemed to be for them, and only them, to discuss.

It was Hermione that broke the silence. "That's a time turner."

Her voice had changed; it was awed and a little tremulous. Whatever Professor McGonagall had come to say, it couldn't bode well.

"Correct. More accurately, it was a time turner. It's completely useless now, of course," her teacher confirmed. "I'd assume, given your reaction, that you did not know that any of these particular artifacts remained functional after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries."

Hermione shook her head. "I saw them fall into their time loop. The Unspeakables who cleared up the scene said that they could never be used again."

"And they were right," Minerva nodded. "However, there must have been one unaccounted for in private hands: it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that given the size of the country and the number of time turners that had been available, at least one slipped through the net."

"Like this one?"

"Indeed," the professor agreed, a grave note edging into her voice.

"So why is it here? How did you get it?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Well," Minerva sighed, not entirely sure of herself. "You were the last person known to have used one, so I thought you were as good a place to start as any. You were one of the few who could have used it, you see," she elaborated, trying to get it all to make sense. "It was found at the Battle of Hogwarts."

To anyone sticking with this story, thank you! I really appreciate people taking the time out of their day to read my stories, so if you're enjoying this one please do leave a review or check out one of my other fics! My roommate gave me the idea for the rest of this storyline and I hope I do it justice, although I may have to update the story description... I promise it'll work out!

Stay tuned and stay safe!

Amelia x