Happily Ever After

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Summary: Hermione goes back in time to kill Tom Riddle and, eventually, succeeds, saving the world in the process. Or does she?
Slightly AU – Once again, Hermione time-traveling that far without a time turner? Don't think so…
PG-13 – Mild violence, probable swearing, possible mild sexual situations
Spoilers – No clue. Probably should be read after book 5 though.

0. The Confession

(start)

I remember it as clearly as though it'd happened yesterday and, considering the way things have been going it very well might have.

Happened yesterday, that is.

Harry was dying.

It was a curse.

Voldemort's flourish I suppose.

We'd all wondered why there hadn't been much activity from him in a while.

Worried at what that might mean.

Never ever guessed it would be anything like this.

One prick of a thorn, like Sleeping Beauty.

Only Harry would never wake up, in which case it was more like Humpty Dumpty.

All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Harry together again.

Neither could the wizards and witches at St. Mungos.

So Harry was dying.

He could barely breathe at the end.

Had just enough energy to whisper a few words to me—

The only way…

—and hand me a roll of parchment.

That's what started it all, although nobody remembers but me.

"It all", that is.

That parchment.

He said it was the only way.

Dumbledore's signature was on the parchment saying it was a last resort.

Last resort, do you see?

The last thing Harry said to me was…

Use it.

That was his dying wish, do you understand?

I couldn't let the wizarding world fall to Voldemort.

Couldn't let him enslave all the muggleborns.

I had to use it.

Dumbledore even approved it.

How was I to know that…

that…

(silence)

end notes: had to. I can finish this one along with AIR because it's the same ideologically. Well it's not but it's related enough and different enough. The OCs in AIR won't exist here. Tom will be a lot meaner. The approach to time travel theory is a bit different. Might be a bit confusing… but in a good way? ANYWAY

Reviews are always loved and appreciated. Especially articulately negative ones ).