Disclaimer: All characters, settings and themes recognised in the Harry Potter series belong to J.K Rowling.

Oh wow. :D I couldn't believe the number of 'favourite story's I got and people who subscribed for alerts for only the first chapter. :o Thank you guys for reading and supporting! Reviews make me feel loved. ;)

~ Mae

This chapter is dedicated to literature-angel, as a 'starting a new grade' gift. 3

Chapter 2

The unforgettable feeling of squeezing through invisible tubes did nothing to comfort her. In fact, the feeling of claustrophobia only added to her fear. When she opened her eyes, she was inside 12 Grimmauld Place. She had never been more thankful for the exceptions Professor Dumbledore had made to the Anti-Apparition wards in this house, so that she, Ron and Harry could always Apparate here in case of trouble.

The familiar screeching of Walburga Black filled the air ("Mudblood! Dirtying the great House of Black! Filth!"), but Hermione ignored it, already running before she had even fully materialized in the hallway.

"Ron! Harry! Where are you?" She ducked frantically in and out of rooms, looking for her two best friends. However, the house seemed abandoned, and panic overtook her.

"Hermione!" Out of nowhere, Ron came running to her, and wrapped his arms around her. After a few moments, another pair did the same. "We thought you were dead for sure! What happened?"

Hermione allowed relief to overcome her, and in that moment of clarity, the torrent of tears she had been holding in came out.

"Oh, Hermione," she heard Harry say, "I'm sorry."

"It's my fault," Hermione sobbed, "It's all my fault. He wouldn't have died if I'd just stayed with him like I should have."

"Hermione," Ron said gently, sensitivity in his voice that she had never heard before, "he would have wanted you to do what he had asked. You did it, and you succeeded, so you've made him proud, haven't you?"

Hermione only shook her head, tears flying. "No, I should have stayed with him. I needed him to live, dammit! He promised! He promised he'd live!"

"He does live," Harry murmured, "in your heart."

They stood for the next few minutes, Ron and Harry both with their arms around Hermione, whispering comforting words to her. Hermione took the time to let it all out, and when she was done, she felt like she had been wrung dry.

"I killed Bellatrix," she said hollowly. "She killed Draco, so I killed her."

"Good on you, Hermione," Harry said softly. "You've avenged Draco. You don't need to punish yourself for what happened." He was worried she wouldn't be able to live without Draco. Ever since they had gotten together, he had watched as she lit up when he was around, and sunk into near-depression when he was not. But she still had them, and he hoped for all their sakes that they were enough.

"What do we do now?" Ron asked. "We can't stay in here forever. Whoever betrayed us probably knows where Headquarters is."

Hermione shook her head. "Even if they do know, they can't reveal the location, because only the Secret Keeper can. Dumbledore is the only Secret Keeper. The Fidelius will hold." She tried to sound normal, like her normal know-it-all self, pushing all thoughts of what had happened into the back of her mind so they could figure out what happened next. The only way to survive was to live in the here and now.

Both Harry and Ron slumped in relief. "Good." She didn't know if that was directed towards her comment about the Fidelius or her sudden change in demeanour, but she let it go.

"Shall I make us some tea?" she asked. "You two can go sit in the sitting room."

They nodded wearily. "Sure, that'd be great, Hermione."

Shaking her head, she headed to the kitchen. She knew if it was anyone else, they'd be offering to make tea for her, after everything she had gone through. The normality of it all distracted and comforted her.

Setting about making tea, she could only find teabags. She eyed them for a moment distastefully, before putting the kettle on and shrugging. It would do for now.

Using magic to speed the kettle up, Hermione waved her wand, and made the tea the way she knew her best friends liked it. Putting two sugars in her own, she directed the cups onto a tray and brought it out.

"Thanks, 'Mione," Harry said gratefully, taking his and sipping on it. Ron murmured his own thanks in agreement.

They sat on the sofa silently, sipping their tea and thinking.

"Who do you think betrayed us?" asked Ron, breaking the silence. Both Hermione and Harry shrugged.

"I'd like to think that no one at our wedding would do something like that," Hermione muttered, "but now that that notion has gone out the window, I guess it could have been anyone there."

"It wasn't any of the Weasleys," said Harry firmly. "I'd trust all of them with my own life." Ron nodded fervently.

"I bet it was Snape, the slimy greaseball," he growled. "He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. I always knew he was a good for nothing Death Eater!"

"It couldn't have been Severus," Hermione said, as firmly as Harry had been. "I'd trust him with my life, and he loves Draco too much, even if he doesn't show it." She had spent a lot of time with her fiancé's godfather ever since she and Ron and Harry had been forced to hide out in Headquarters the summer before their seventh year.

They both found that brewing potions for the medical stores of the Order was a very good way of calming down after explosive meetings and that it was also a good activity for those who could not sleep for nightmares. Hermione had tentatively built a friendship with the man, and Draco had been very pleased about that. None of her other friends had been as thrilled, but they had accepted it.

"Well then," Ron continued, not trying to hide his anger, "maybe Luna's father. I always said there was something fishy about him. He's gone nutters." He drained his cup and banged it onto the table forcefully. Both Hermione and Harry winced.

"It'll do us no good to try and find the traitor," Hermione said calmly, logic taking over. "What's done is done. We just have to wait for the other Order members to come, and then we'll find out what to do then."

Ron turned pale. "Suppose no one comes back?"

"Don't think like that," Harry hissed. "They're all going to come back fine."

Ron didn't look reassured at all. "Just say-"

"Shut up, Ron," Hermione snapped. Ron's mouth shut with an audible crack.

There was another silence, before Hermione suddenly sat up, stiff and her eyes wide.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry asked anxiously, watching as she went slightly pale.

"I- I've got to go somewhere," Hermione stammered, and she ran for the stairs.

"Hermione! Wait, we'll-"

"Don't follow me!"

They stopped and stared at each other, watching her disappear up the stairs. They trusted her, but they were worried. That wasn't anything like the normal Hermione.

Hermione strode quickly up another flight of stairs. She had just remembered something Professor Dumbledore had told her on one of his visits from Hogwarts to Headquarters earlier in the year. The memory was brought to the front of her mind.

"Hermione, I'd like to talk to you," Professor Dumbledore said gravely, his eyes without the slightest hint of a twinkle. Hermione had been curled up in Draco's lap in the sitting room with Ron, Harry and Ginny, sipping hot chocolate in front of the fire and laughing. The noise had abruptly stopped when the Headmaster had approached her. "If you'll follow me to a place where we will not be overheard?"

Hermione and Draco exchanged a look.

"Surely we should be allowed to hear what you-" Draco began, but was cut off by the older man.

"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy, that this is a private matter for Miss. Granger's ears alone."

Draco fell silent.

"It's ok," Hermione murmured, "I'll be back soon, yeah?"

Her fiancé of one day reluctantly let her to her feet, giving her a peck on the cheek. "Ok."

Hermione followed the Headmaster up the first flight of stairs in 12 Grimmauld Place, and then up the second. She had rarely ventured to the third story of the building, this being the floor where Buckbeak was kept. Actually, no one really came here, except to feed the Hippogriff. Her curiosity was piqued.

"Sir, what is this about?" she asked cautiously. The old man stopped abruptly in front of Buckbeak's room.

"You will find out soon enough, Miss. Granger. Please, follow me."

He opened the door, where Buckbeak seemed to be resting. When he saw his visitors, his eyes narrowed and he stood up.

Dumbledore bowed deeply, keeping his eyes on the Hippogriff. After a few seconds, the creature returned the greeting.

"Over here, Hermione. Stay close to me."

The hair on the back of her neck stood up at being watched so closely by such a dangerous being, but she followed Professor Dumbledore anyway. They made their way to the corner of the room the Hippogriff had seemed to be guarding, and taking his wand out, Dumbledore pointed it at the wall and murmured, "Jellybeans."

Hermione jumped when part of the wall seemed to fall away, to reveal a door about as high as she was.

"Wha-?"

"Soon, Miss. Granger," Dumbledore said impatiently. He stepped through the door, beckoned for Hermione to do the same, and then tapped his wand to it so the door closed and melted back into the wall. He then turned to Hermione, and conjured two seats. "Take a seat, please, Miss. Granger."

Hermione nervously seated herself. "May I know why you have taken me here now, Professor?"

Dumbledore, surprisingly for all his foreboding disposition, let out a small chuckle. "You may." He observed her over the rim of his glasses. "I have an important task for you, which you and you alone must carry out."

"Of course, sir," Hermione said, sitting straighter. "What is it?"

"I think there is a traitor in the Order," Dumbledore said, sighing. "I do not know who it is, but I have my suspicions."

Hermione looked horrified. "A traitor? But why?"

"Alas, that is the thousand Galleon question," Dumbledore said tiredly. He ran a hand over his face.

"What does this have to do with me?" Hermione sounded even more nervous.

"As I said, there is a task you must perform. I am to understand that you will soon become the newest Mrs. Malfoy?"

Hermione flushed. "Yes, sir. Draco and I decided that we should marry quickly, because of the war."

Dumbledore nodded. "A wise decision. However, I have fear that the traitor will lead the Death Eaters to either engage the Order in battle at your wedding or when we move Harry and the rest of the Order to Hogwarts, to prepare for the Final Battle. I hope it will be at the latter time, but we must be prepared for all possible outcomes.

"Therefore, I must reveal this knowledge to you."

He gestured to a table in the corner she had not noticed before now. It had a small Potions vial, and a notebook on it. "When the time comes that the Death Eaters decide to attack us, you must come here, to this room as soon as you can. The potion and notebook will be here for your use, and you must make use of them. Do not attempt to come in here before that time, for they will not appear. I cannot tell you what they do now, only that they will help you get rid of Voldemort, for they will only work in dire circumstances and will kill the user if used in a situation not so life-threatening. Suffice it to say that they will help you do what you need to do. The notebook contains all instructions concerning the potion and what is required of you."

Through his explanation, Hermione had not said a word, only listening solemnly. Now she looked up. "So I am to use it without preparation for what it will do to me?" She hated entering anything blind. It was part of the reason she always researched everything she did so thoroughly.

Dumbledore nodded. "That is correct."

Hermione sighed. "Ok. Is there anything else you wish to tell me, sir?"

"Nothing else, Miss. Granger. I trust that what has happened here will not leave this room?"

Hermione looked reluctant. "Not even to Draco?"

"Not even to Draco."

Although she didn't like it, she had to agree. "You have my word, Professor."

Dumbledore smiled. "Remember the password I used. And do not come here with anyone. You must be alone when you come, do you understand?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

"Very good. You may leave now, Hermione."

And Hermione left the room, and headed back to the sitting room, with much to think about. She was more than a little worried that her wedding would be ruined.

She had let her guard down. She knew there had been the chance that the Death Eaters would crash her wedding, but she had been so sure they would confront the Order at Hogwarts. Oh, how wrong she was. Professor Moody's message of constant vigilance seemed to have not been permanently hammered into her head, and she hoped it wasn't too late.

Presently, she was standing in front of Buckbeak's room. She entered it slowly, cautiously, and was surprised when she saw no beast in there. However, she didn't have time to think of the implications of that. She had to do what Dumbledore had asked her to do.

Taking out her wand, she ran to the corner of the room Dumbledore had led her to in a time that seemed so long ago and muttered, "Jellybeans."

The wall crumbled away and the wooden door was revealed. She practically flung it open, eager for her chance to rid the world of her husband's indirect killer. She raced to the table with the potions and the notebook, and flipped it open. A little scrap of parchment fell out. It looked like it had been ripped from a textbook. Hermione picked it up, frowning.

Convertimini Tempus

This potion, created by Potions Master Antoine Maunier (1765-1842), is a time-travel potion. The name is loosely translated to 'Turn the time' in Latin, and is one of the most difficult potions to brew. The Ministry of Magic banned its use in 1942, 100 years after Maunier's death.

Convertimini Tempus is a potion based on intent of the user. It was created to be used as a means to go back in time to change the future. According to users of the potion, multiple wars and notable murders have been prevented with the use of this potion, but these claims are not verifiable, for obvious reasons.

The potion can only be used in dire situations, when the user feels the most as if they must go back and change something. If consumed otherwise, it will result in a fatal poisoning.

The first recorded use of this potion

This was where the piece of parchment stopped. Hermione guessed that the rest was not important. She took the notebook and opened it to the first page with writing.

Hermione,

As you have guessed by now, you must travel through time. I say this next part with great emphasis – you must go alone. This has already happened in my past, and if you interfere with what has already happened, it could lead to a situation in which we are in a more dangerous position than we are already in.

I do not say this to put pressure on you. I only wish to impress on you the importance of you going alone. You must go alone.

When you arrive there, you will give my past counterpart the documents in the envelope that should have appeared to you by now.

Hermione's eyes automatically raised themselves from the words on the parchment to scan the desk, and she saw the large envelope mentioned. She went back to perusing the letter.

Do not worry that what you do in the past will affect the future – only do what your instincts tell you. You will not change the past in that aspect, I am sure of it.

Your task is to go back to the time period in which the 17 year old Tom Riddle resides. By this time, he has already made multiple Horcruxes. The ones he made after his graduation have already been destroyed, and aside from the part of the soul that lives in his body, there is one other that we have not identified. This one, by my calculations, must have been made in either his Sixth or Seventh Year. It is your job to find out what this is, by enrolling as a Seventh Year student at the school. It is up to you how you extract this information from him, but remember – not all wars are solved with violence.

I know for a fact that you will not destroy the Horcrux by the time you return to our time, but it will help immensely to know what it is. It will save us countless months, or years, groping in the dark.

The potion was made with Tom's 7th Year in mind, so you need not do anything to take you there aside from taking the potion and speaking the incantation. It is Convertimini Tempus (the same as the potion). Emphasis on the 'ver' and 'mi' of the first word, and 'pus' of the second. You are a brilliant witch, and I'm sure you will get it the first time.

I know you have already had multiple experiences with a Time Turner, and I trust that you know all the laws and the consequences if you do not follow them.

Make us proud. Many lives are counting on you. Ones that are already lost will not be returned, but you can save the ones that have as of this moment been preserved.

APWBD

With suddenly shaking and fearful hands, Hermione let the letter drop to the ground. She had to go back in time – to the time of a megalomaniac who was intent on killing all people like her. How on Earth was she supposed to do this? Why had this job been giving to her of all people?

Well, she was no use moaning. 'Many lives are counting on you' the letter had said. Harry's life, Ron's life, the Weasleys' lives, the lives of countless and nameless faces. And somewhere, Draco was watching her and urging her to help bring the Wizarding World back to peace. If she wasn't ready to do it for the others, she was for Draco.

With determination filling her, she took the potion vial and examined it in her hand. It was clear, and was filled with a thick, gooey liquid that was the exact shade of tropical seas. She had a feeling that the taste wouldn't be as pleasant as the colour, but after all, potions weren't made for their taste, anyway, were they?

She reached for the thick envelope on the table, and then raised the lip of the vial to her mouth and tipped it back. The texture was very peculiar. It seemed to linger in her mouth, feeling weightless and oddly as if it was floating in her mouth. She swallowed it down with effort, the taste of bogey flavoured Bertie Bott's beans filling her mouth. With difficulty, she managed to stop spluttering enough to say clearly, "Convertimini Tempus."

Author's Note:

So, I guess Google Translate wasn't my best option, but I used it anyway, because unfortunately I'm not a Latin expert. Convertimini Tempus loosely means 'turn back time' or 'turn the time'.

To reviewers:

Thank you guys for the kind reviews! I was a bit hesitant to post my story at first (I have heaps of these types of fics sitting in my computer, collecting dust xD), but it's worth it to know you guys are liking it. Also, just so you guys know, if you have any suggestions for anything you'd like to happen in the coming chapters, feel free to leave them in reviews or to PM me! I'd love to hear your suggestions. 3