Hermione was in a state of shock. Yes, they were undoubtedly living in the darkest of times. But going back decades! Think of all the lives that would be unborn. They had no idea the extent of damage they would cause.
Kingsley put his hand over hers. "I know you may have reservations, Hermione. And we understand the implications of what we are trying to do. But there's simply no other alternative. Voldemort is too powerful. Ministries around the world have fallen. The resistance is decimated. It may take decades… even a century to rebuild forces strong enough to fight again. Humanity will not survive for that long."
"So how do we fit in? How can we help?" Ginny asked with a fierce determination.
"My prototype can only send one person back. We plan on sending them back five years before the end of the First Wizarding War. In order to prevent this person from perishing before they could defeat Voldemort, we would need someone who was not yet born during this time. This person would of course also need intimate knowledge on the Dark Lord's weaknesses in order to defeat him. Well…" Croaker hesitated, "we were hoping this person would be you, Miss Granger."
Hermione looked up in surprise. "Isn't there anyone a bit more qualified?"
"Most of our Aurors are dead or in Azkaban. And the ones left are in no position to fight or are not young enough. But most importantly, you hunted his horcruxes. You know how to defeat him, Hermione. All you need is the time to do so," Kingsley said quietly, placing a warm hand over hers.
"You're right. Ron and Harry are dead. It has to be me."
Hermione saw tears beginning to well up in Ginny's eyes, and she quickly bowed her head to let her crimson hair cover her face.
They fell into silence, as Hermione contemplated this momentous decision.
"I would first need to find an ally," she spoke up after some time, "I need someone with the resources and influence to help me craft a new identity to blend into that time. I would probably have to tell them about being a time traveler, so that they would help me. It should be fine, since we're ignoring all Time Laws now."
Ginny broke into a weak smile and Kingsley gave a dry chuckle.
"Yes," Kingsley agreed, "and that ally would have to be Dumbledore."
"Right, there's no one better to trust. But where would I go to find Dumbledore in 1976? We can't go to Hogwarts now. It's been completely infiltrated." Hermione pondered.
"I believe the Potter Manor may be appropriate. The Potters were members of the Order, and the Manor was destroyed after the First Wizarding War. So the area will be abandoned now." Croaker quickly asserted.
Kingsley nodded. "Yes, that sounds ideal."
"So when should I leave?" Hermione asked.
"Time is of the essence, Miss Granger." Croaker replied, pulling out a silver hourglass on a thin chain,"You should leave as soon as you can gather your things."
Hermione was packing her books, clothes, and other supplies into her enchanted beaded bag. She hesitated, holding an album in her hand. The pictures of all the people she will never see again. She knew she shouldn't take it; it would raise some dangerous questions about her identity. Ginny walked over from the kitchen table. She took the album from Hermione's hands and placed it in her bag. "You can just be careful," she reassured gently.
Hermione looked up at her and they embraced. "I'll miss you, Ginny," she choked, holding back sobs. "I'll miss you too," Ginny whispered, as her tears fell freely.
When the girls stepped back outside, they found the two wizards examining something in Croaker's hand.
"Oh, have you finished packing, Hermione?" Kingsley asked. She nodded. "Come look at Saul's Time Turner. It's a bit different than the ones you've seen before."
Hermione reached for the shimmering silver object.
"The Time Turner was forged in platinum and filled with finely ground diamonds," Croaker explained. "Spinning the hourglass once will turn back time by a year instead of an hour. As a prototype, it's not quite accurate enough to discern the month, day, or hour."
She passed back the Time Turner. "It's amazing, Mr. Croaker. Thank you for giving us the chance to make things right."
He nodded brusquely, avoiding Hermione's gaze.
"Now," Kingsley said with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, "if you're ready, I can apparate you and Saul to Potter Manor."
"I'm ready," she quietly declared.
Ginny ran to give her one last hug. "Good luck, Hermione. I know you can do it."
"Thanks, Ginny. Stay safe." Ginny stepped back, and Hermione joined hands with Kingsley and Croaker.
She watched Ginny wave at them, until everything went black. She felt Kingsley's arm twisting away from her, as she gripped on tighter, keeping her eyes shut. She was being pressed hard from all directions, unable to breathe. The squeezing suddenly stopped, and they were forced to a standstill.
They had landed in a perfectly manicured garden, behind an imposing manor made of black marble. She blinked in confusion. The Potter Manor was supposed to have been in ruins… Did Kingsley make a mistake? Before she could gather her wits, she saw someone emerge from her periphery.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Kingsley fell with a flash of blinding green light. Hermione snapped her head back and saw a woman with thick, shining black hair, pointing her wand with a terrifyingly familiar sneer on her thin lips.
"Hello, my little Mudblood," she snarled.