"The Battle of Hogwarts?"

It was Molly who had gasped this time, and Arthur rushed to stand and place an arm firmly around her shoulders. Minerva looked up kindly, fully aware that Molly must be going through quite a cycle of emotions. The recovery from that day hadn't been easy, especially for Fred. Still, he'd pulled through; they all had.

"Yes," she answered tenderly.

"Where?" Hermione managed to force out. Looking back at her, the old professor saw that she'd gone completely white.

"Are you alright, Hermione?"

The girl nodded determinedly. "Yes, thank you, Professor. Where was it found?"

Minerva took a breath. "In the seventh floor corridor, by the staircase."

Absolute silence fell over the room.

"Are you trying to say that someone travelled back to save someone? Something like that?"

Minerva nodded at Arthur, who had broken the stillness quite suddenly.

"That's one theory. We assume that whatever was changed was changed, and we are living in the altered timeline; there might be a way to work out what happened but because we're presumably in the new timeline we can't even know what kind of thing it would have been. There's another theory that something or someone to do with Voldemort was on the seventh floor at some point during the battle; the possibilities really are endless."

"There isn't a spell that can tell when it last went to? Like a time version of prior incantato?" Hermione asked. The colour seemed to be filtering back into her cheeks now with something to focus on, and the professor smiled to see her back and puzzling as she had at Hogwarts.

Nonetheless, she shook her head slowly. "Not that we can tell. We've always tended to have known uses for the ones loaned out, or the witches or wizards who used the turners were of such standing that they were never questioned. There just hasn't been a need. Either way, whatever was done was done. While it's unsettling not knowing what could have been different, there's not a lot we can do now—it's been a year.

"Well, presumably before it was destroyed they achieved their goal, right?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"Everything now can only really be conjecture without further proof, but at a guess? I'd say yes, they probably did."

"Professor, may I—may I borrow this? I want to see what happened, if I can."

Minerva studied the girl intently for a few moments before she answered.

"I should say so, if you think you can get to the bottom of all this," she replied slowly, watching a smile paint itself across Hermione's face at her words.

"Oh! Thank you, Minerva! I won't let you down!"

The professor chuckled and handed the time turner over carefully.

"I'm sure you won't."

"I'm going to run some preliminary tests, but I'll come to Hogwarts as soon as I know anything," Hermione promised, almost halfway out the door already.

"I look forward to it," Minerva agreed, inclining her head and smiling at her eagerness.

There was a quiet until Hermione was in the garden and far away—already planning her tests—upon which Molly turned to her friend.

"That is a real time turner?"

"It is."

"Then why aren't the Unspeakables or some other Ministry division looking into this?"

"They dismissed it and sent it back. As I said, what is done is done. Knowing Hermione is taking on the challenge it presents is a great comfort to me, but whatever it was can't be changed."

"So you've sent her on a fool's errand?"

"No, no. I really am concerned, but not especially for what the time turner has done. I'm more concerned for what it has yet to do."

"What do you mean? That old thing is broken and twisted, there'll be no use from it now."

"No, I know. It's more what she'll find. Whatever she uncovers could have been our lives now, for better or for worse. It needs uncovering, which is why I've given it to the most capable witch I know, but still; I can't promise the answers it gives us will be the ones we'll want."

"At least in choosing her you've given her something to do, something to keep her mind off."

"I thought so too. I just hope that whatever she finds is helpful, and not a hindrance to her recovery."

"If there's any risk of that then I'm not a fan of this little project, Minerva."

"I know, but she's now our best hope of any answers at all. And," Minerva added, one foot in the fireplace, "Try taking it away from her now!"

Molly made an indignant kind of sound as the professor vanished in a puff of green fire and smoke.

On being released from the shade of the house, Hermione bounded straight for the twins.

"Hello again, lovely!" they chorused.

"Hi, boys. I have a favour to ask. A big favour."

Fred and George looked at each other. Hermione had a manic air to her and a massive smile on her face which, over the years, they'd come to associate with things like homework or creating timetables. Curious.

"Well then. Fire away, love," George declared, swinging his legs around to face her properly while his lazier twin just laid down to view her upside-down.

"I've been given something of a project by Professor McGonagall and I might need to use your workroom for some tests, would that be alright? I'll still help you with your products and your business but I really want to get somewhere with this one."

"Of course, love. Any help we can offer is yours, too. Don't you think, Forge?"

"I do, Gred," George nodded seriously. "So, what's the project?"

"If you don't mind, I'll tell you later. I'm going to go upstairs for a while and try some things out, but would it be alright if I came by your flat for dinner? I'll bring it!"

"How could we possibly say no to an evening of scintillating company and free food?" exclaimed Fred, sitting up properly now.

"Excellent," she grinned. "I'll see you tonight!"

"You are so telling Mum she's not in for dinner," George muttered under his breath as they watched her almost skip away.

"Why me?" Fred demanded with a whine.

"You're the one who's going to get the girl!" George replied, cuffing his brother over the head.

"Yeah, right," Fred scoffed. "I think that's sailed, mate."

"Oh, brother. Never say never," George responded, waggling his eyebrows.

Fred scowled at him and flopped back onto the grass.

Hello hello again!

Thanks for reading and as usual, do feel free to leave a review or check out some of my other work!

Stay tuned and stay safe!

Amelia x