AN: I am a horrible person who has not updated in weeks. I am soooooooooooooo sorry! :( I was away on vacation and when I came back I was just too lazy to type this up on my computer despite that I finished writing this chapter in my notebook last week. Please forgive me!

Cookies for all? :D

Anyways, here's the latest chapter. The next chapter will probably be the last one, unless I write an epilogue. But I already have another Harry Potter story in the works. I've already written most of it. I'll start posting it when school starts. That way I'll have a new story on the way and not have to strain myself during school! :)

Chapter 6

The four youths made their way to Dumbledore's office. They were all uncharacteristically silent. Harry couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment well up inside of him. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'You knew this would happen eventually. Stop acting like you had the stuffing knocked out of you.' Harry's noble side told him. Harry's selfish voice countered by saying, 'Who cares? Voldemort isn't even here. Tell Dumbledore you won't change time. This is what you always wanted. You have your family. Voldemort isn't your priority.'

This ongoing battle raged inside Harry's head. When they reached the gargoyle Hermione gave the password. They stepped on the golden staircase and slowly swivelled upwards. When they reached the door, the three of them looked at Harry expectantly. Harry gave a half-hearted knock.

"Enter." The door swung open and the four of them stepped inside. Dumbledore beamed when he saw them. "Welcome! I trust you had a satisfactory Christmas?" They all nodded. "Good." Dumbledore opened a drawer at the bottom on his desk and pulled out an orb that was similar to the crystal balls they used in Divinations. The only differences were that it was the size of a tennis ball and a golden light pulsated from it. A low thudding noise also emitted from it. It sounded like the thrumming of a heartbeat.

Dumbledore placed it on a purple cushion. "This is the orb of Khronos." Hermione let an audible gasp and her eyes widened. Dumbledore smiled and gestured at Hermione "Would you care to explain Miss Granger?"

"I heard those were extremely rare!"

"I recently procured one." Dumbledore replied.

"The orb of Khronos has the ability to control time with no consequences. Once activated, one may choose what events to control or change. The person must choose wisely because once changed, there is no going back."

Ron interrupted Hermione. "What's the difference between that and a time turner?"

Hermione scowled. "Weren't you listening Ron?"

"Yes I was, but the only thing that I understood is that it can change time and be only used once. Time turners can be used as many times as you want."

Hermione sighed. "Time turners when used, you basically exist at two or more different times. For example, if I use a time turner now and go back five hours I exist now and five hours in the past. With the orb of Khronos you completely bypass that rule. Only one "you" exists. That's why when using the orb of Khronos you have to be absolutely certain that you want to change it. If you stumble upon another orb of Khronos then, lucky you! But they are really hard to find."

They all looked at Harry who was uncharacteristically silent. Harry seemed mesmerized by the orb. There was something oddly hypnotic about it.

"Harry?" Neville interrupted Harry's train of thought.

Harry looked at Dumbledore. "How long do I have?"

"As long as you want. But be sure not to activate it until you are ready."

"How do I do that?" Harry enquired.

"You just tap your wand against it. But be sure to be holding it while doing so."

Harry swallowed and picked it up in his hand. It wasn't really heavy at all. The light glowed more brightly the moment he touched it.

Dumbledore added one last word of advice. "Take your time Harry. I can imagine that this should be one of the hardest things to do in your young life. You do not rush these things."

Harry sat alone in the room of requirement. Harry had managed to shake of his friends. He had told them he wanted some solitude. The room of requirement had taken the appearance of a small library with comfy armchairs and a roaring fire. Harry kept looking at the orb. Did it make him a bad person because he didn't want to change time? The orb was comforting. It felt warm, like it had been sitting in the sun too long. Harry clutched it tightly in his hands.

Harry's stomach growled. He glanced at the Grandfather clock which sat in the corner of the room. It was almost 2 in the morning. He had forgone supper choosing to sit by himself.

Harry decided on sneaking into the kitchens for a late night snack before getting a few hours of sleep. Classes did start today after all. Harry reluctantly left his sanctuary and headed for the kitchens. The delighted house-elves made him a sandwich with some crisps. Harry thanked them all and headed to bed.

When he reached the Common Room he saw that Hermione had waited for him. She sat in the armchair which was directly in front of the dying fire. She had been dozing but the moment the portrait had opened her eyes snapped open and she looked alert.

She had that look in her eyes indicating that she wanted to talk. Harry didn't want to deal with this now.

"Harry..." she said softly. He ignored her and made his way towards the dormitory. Hermione ran after him and grasped his hand. Harry tried to shake it off but her grip was like a vice.

"I don't want to deal with this now Hermione." Harry muttered. Hermione ignored him and led them to couch.

"Sit." She ordered. Harry glared at her but obeyed. He resolutely refused to stare at her. Harry chose to stare at the glowing logs which flickered feebly. They just sat there holding hands. Finally after a minute or two Hermione spoke.

"Harry, what you're feeling is only natural. This doesn't make you a bad person." Harry felt annoyed. Once again Hermione had somehow managed to get inside his head.

Harry snapped."So it's natural for me to let everybody die for my sake? At least here nobody is putting their life on the line."

"Harry, I know you'll do the right thing." Hermione said softly. She kissed his forehead and his eyes closed at her touch. "Get some sleep. We have to be up early tomorrow." And she left him. Harry listened to her footsteps fade away.

His eyes were growing heavy and he knew Hermione was right. He was so tired. Harry stumbled his way to bed and fell asleep on top of the covers fully clothed.
Before he knew it, it was time to get up. The sunlight and his roommates making noise were the first signs that it was morning.

Neville shook him awake. "Get up Harry, or we'll be late for classes." Ron and Neville waited for him while he got ready.

Breakfast was a subdued affair. Nobody said anything as the boys rapidly shovelled food in their mouths. Harry got an owl from home. He didn't open it but hastily shoved it in his jeans pocket as they rushed to class.

Harry's mind wandered during classes. When McGonagall asked him a question, Hermione nudged him in the ribs and he asked her to repeat it. She wasn't pleased. All day he managed to give his friends the slip. However, towards the end of the day Hermione finally managed to corner him. She frowned.

"Seriously. This brooding martyr complex doesn't become you Harry."

"Leave me alone..." Harry looked around trying to find an escape.

Hermione reached out and grasped his hand. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself! The Harry I know is not like this!"

"I'm not the Harry you know." He growled. A gas lamp nearby exploded.

"Merlin! With that temper you are exactly the same the same Harry I know! Stop this pity party!" she screeched.

Harry glared at her; his eyes flashing, hoping to scare her off. Several lamps exploded. The portraits lining the Hallways ran for cover. In the past when he would throw one of his tantrums, Hermione would delicately walk on egg shells until he calmed down. However this time Hermione stared defiantly back at him.

"I told you last night that you will make the right choice. I will stand by you. I promised you that during the horcrux hunt." Hermione placed his hand near her heart.

Harry's voice dropped to almost a whisper. He confided in her his secret fear. "I just don't want to forget all this. What if I don't remember all this time I spent with them?"

Hermione softened. "You can never forget what's in your heart Harry and you know that these memories will forever last."
Her thumb brushed away a tear which managed to escape from his eye. Harry pulled her into a close embrace. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and rubbed his back comfortingly.

"Harry? I'll be there by your side when you decide when and what path to take." Harry pulled back and looked at Hermione intently.

"I've already decided. Let's do it now." Harry said woodenly. Hermione looked at him once as thought appraising his quick decision but then she nodded once.

They made their way to the Forbidden Forest in silence. Harry kept a firm grip on her hand. They walked towards the middle of the forest. Harry tried to place his surroundings.
Finally Harry spoke, "I think it was more or less around here." he muttered.

"What was here Harry?" Hermione whispered.

"The place where I died and was sent back in time."

Hermione shot Harry a frightened look. Harry pulled out the orb. The pulsing light began to flicker faster and the thrumming beat became louder.

"Ready?" Hermione whispered.
"One last thing." Harry said looking directly at Hermione.
Hermione looked puzzlingly at him and Harry pulled into a fierce kiss that lifted her off the ground. Before Hermione could respond the kiss was over.

"See you at the other end Hermione." Harry called out and tapped his wand once against the orb.

The orb burst. The golden light which had been flickering within erupted and the entire grounds were draped with the magical light. The light enveloped Harry and lifted him of the ground.

"HARRY!" Hermione screamed.

The light lifted him higher and higher. Hermione watched in shock as the light carried Harry further away and the light began to grow smaller in the distance. All of a sudden it exploded.

"NO!" She screamed.

Tears cascading down her cheeks and she was shaking like a leaf. Then she felt the earth rumble and saw everything around her begin to melt. Trees, shrubs, the lake, the castle. Hermione felt herself shrinking and she glanced down. She herself was melting. Hermione gasped. A crater had opened and all the melted objects began to rush into the darkness of that hole. She had almost finished melting.

Hermione's last though. 'I hope this works!'

Harry felt like he was flying only without a broomstick. The speed he was going had nothing on his Firebolt. The light exploded and Harry felt himself catapult towards the ground.

'This is it. I'm a goner.' Harry thought and shut his eyes.

A silver mist that shrouded the ground acted like mattress and helped cushion his fall. The mist had a rather dense consistency. It looked like fog but yet he could see right through it. Harry stood up, his knees shaking from the flight. The fog slowly dissolved and a pinkish red sun peaked beneath the clouds. He took in his surroundings and found himself in a rather immaculate garden. It was one that Aunt Petunia would have loved to claim as her own. Quite an exotic array of flowers were clustered in specific areas. There was a beautiful fountain sparkling in the distance. Beautiful trees full in bloom. Harry wandered off and smelled one of the flowers. It had such an intoxicating seductive scent.

In the center of this amazing garden was a large sundial. Harry went over to take a closer look. Upon inspection he realized that this was no ordinary sundial. Instead of numbers it showed his name, age, height and other basic stats. At the top of the sundial where the number 12 should have been there was a question.

"What would you like to change?"

Harry didn't know how to work it. After trying a vast array of spells nothing happened. Harry grew extremely frustrated.

"Damn it! I just want to be the Boy-Who-Lived AGAIN!" Harry exclaimed angrily.

The moment he spoke, the words magically appeared. The gnomon raised itself. Harry hesitantly touched it. It sank slightly into the face of the sundial. Harry grasped and pulled down on it. The gnomon split in two. A dark pit opened up and pebbles and debris from the sundial fell in. Harry held onto the gnomon for dear life but his palms had grown sweaty and he began to slip. He couldn't hold on anymore. The gnomon cracked and broke off.

Harry fell into the darkness yelling for someone to help him. His robes whipping around him. Harry clutched on to his wand prepared to perform a cushioning charm or something. The air whistled in his ears and he felt himself grow dizzy. Somewhere between all this Harry passed out. He continued to fall into the darkness.

He hit the ground with a large thump. However at the rate which he had been falling, he landed rather lightly. He gasped out loud. He was on his back. His glasses askew. He could feel the earth beneath him and he could get the familiar small of the Forbidden Forrest.

"Is he dead? You! Check him!" Harry heard the familiar hiss of Voldemort's voice.

Harry gripped his wand tightly to his chest ready to curse whoever came near him. This time he was ready. Voldemort would not get him off guard like last time.

He would fight for all those who died for him in this bloody war. He would fight for his parents who gave their lives for him on that faithful night. He would fight for his siblings whom never got a chance at life because of Voldemort. He would fight for his friends who stuck by him. And he would especially fight for himself. He was not ready to die, yet. He had many plans. And several of them involved his bushy haired female friend as she was the only one in his life who never stopped believing in him regardless of what happened.