AN:

Disclaimer one: Unless you've been under a rock since the 1990's you know that J.K. Rowling (aka she whom will not be named) owns Harry potter and all the little fun, characters that go with him.

Last Disclaimer: If you see anything borrowed from you, and you wish to have the credit, shoot us a review and we'll credit you in the next authors note!

AN

Fox walked out onto the stage with a somber expression on her face. She was dressed in a black dress with a slit up to there. And said I am sorry to inform you that it is a new year and for those of you a year older already all I have to say is.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

Streamers fell from the ceiling and fox caught a top hat and cane from wolf off stage and began a dance a ragtime set similar to something from "Chicago".

Soon after the tapping started there were cricket noises coming from the audience and her dance slowed then stopped.

Putting her hand over her eyes she tried to see out into the audience and saw one man drooling and cat callingand all the other seats empty.

She plopped her hat back onto her head and sulked of stage.

Then wolf came of the other side of the stage in a bathrobe and a mug of coffee, he walked to center stage and said, "Hope you all had a great holiday season and now that fox has gotten that out of her system on with the show!"

Chapter 7

The Story

Harry and the Grangers had moved into the sitting room. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the sofa and Dan and Emma were sitting in two comfortable chairs facing the two youngsters. Their was an awkward moment of silence with furtive glances to the others in the room as if no one knew quite what to say.

Finally Dan broke the silence, He looked at Harry and said, "So what was that in the backyard?"

Harry glanced at Hermione and said, "We were just practicing….."

Dan broke in, "Please don't insult my intelligence by saying you were practicing for school." He said heatedly.

Harry smiled a warm and genuine smile. "Wouldn't dream of it Dan."

Dan's eyebrows shot to his hairline.

"I was going to say we were practicing a mixture of magical and physical combat training. Most often utilized by a few Asian wizards in the Late 11th century."

The shocked expressions on Dan and Emma's faces would have been comical at most any other time. But at this time both Harry and Hermione felt it would show a severe lack of judgment to even hint at levity.

It was Emma who responded first, "Why would two children need to know something so dangerous?"

Harry looked Emma and said with a lift of one eyebrow, "Would you prefer the long or short answer to your question?"

Emma thought for a moment, then said, "I would like the short version please but reserve the right to ask for the log version later."

Harry Nodded and said, "Ok, the short version it is. Hermione and I have come back in time to prevent the death of everyone we care about in a war that will consume roughly 80% of the world's population."

Dan and Emma sat there dumfounded for a moment. Then after glancing at each other Dan said to Harry, "I think we need the longer version now rather then later."

Hermione nodded silently and conjured a book and a cauldron and with a look at Harry with some sympathy a tea set for the coffee table in front of them.

"I'm going to get the Skelegrow potion to brewing right over here because Harry needs to take it as soon as possible. And mom that's our favorite peppermint tea with a little zip thrown in to help keep everyone alert since its getting so late I figured the bisquits would help tied us over till we can have a late dinner."

Hermione stood and walked the cauldron and book over to a sturdier table and she asked Harry for his trunk for the ingredients she would need.

She'd be in the room during the telling of the story within ear shot and eye sight and could come over the moment the potion was to a point where she could leave it.

Harry's trunk appeared near Hermione with a small pop. Something poked its head over the top slightly startling Hermione and her parents. Emma pointed and shouted "What's that?"

Having never seen a House elf before she took the offensive at Dobby's appearance but settled when Hermione responded to the thing in a calm and loving voice.

Hermione said, "You startled me Dobby, no stop hitting yourself its ok"

Dobby stopped then the bashing of his head against the side of the trunk his eyes lolling slightly and gave Hermione a drunken smile.

"Dobby is being very sorry for scarring everyone, Dobby only meant to help Mister Harry Potter and his Grangy." Dobby said shaking of the beating he had given himself.

Hermione rattled off potions ingredients as Harry proceeded to explain Dobby to Dan and Emma, Dobby who had by this time poofed a small piece of parchment and a quill and was jotting down things.

After an explanation of house elves Harry launched into his story.

He glossed over his life leading up to Hogwarts, than he touched on the events of first and second year, which the Grangers found interesting hearing from another perspective other than Hermione's.

He then began to tell them off his adventures during his third, fourth and fifth year with an occasional kibitz from Hermione.

By this time it was time for dinner and Hermione had gotten the potion to the point where all was left to waiting and returned to join the group.

Harry asked Emma if it was alright if Dobby made dinner for them that night. She was unsure at first but after a moments thought relented as she realized she did not want to miss any of the story Harry and now Hermione were telling.

As Dobby made his bows and thanks to all for allowing him be of service, he rather joyfully scampered to the kitchen. After Harry watched him go he turned back to Dan and Emma and proceeded to start his explanation of sixth year.

"Which brings us to the summer of sixth year" ,Harry said after taking a sip of tea.

"I arrived at the Dursleys in a depression that seemed to be slowly consuming me. After the orders threats the Dursleys seemed content to ignore my existence to the point where I was neither addressed nor fed. It wasn't that they were starving me mind you I just simply wasn't eating and they could have cared less anyway."

Harry continued but averted his eyes as the concern on the elder Grangers faces were interrupting his train of thought.

"After a couple of days the only times I got out of bed other than to take a trip to the loo for a drink of water or to use the facilities was to write an extremely short note to Remus so the order wouldn't bother me or the Dursleys."

Harry once again returned his gaze to the Grangers feeling able to look at them directly without their concern straying his thoughts. He wanted this to be an honest recounting of events even though some upcoming details would be hard for them to take.

Harry went on, "All I ever wrote was, I'm fine Dursleys behaving ,then signed it." An odd look came over Harry's face as he continued.

"This all went on for another three weeks, Hermione will have to fill what happened in the fourth week because by that point I was so weak I passed out." Harry said turning to Hermione.

Looking into Harry's eye's Hermione gave his hand a gentle squeeze and turned to help the tale along.

"I recovered rather quickly from the curse that hit me in the ministry and I was only on a medical potion for another two or three days after returning home. By the third week I was writing everyday and was getting extremely worried. For as Harry stated he wasn't writing anyone but Remus and he did forget to mention he wasn't even opening other mail. I was starting to worry about him but was also on edge because the three of us were arguing about weather or not I would be returning to Hogwarts the following year. When I pointed out that in September in the wizarding world I would legally be an adult", she turned to her father blushing, "Well lets just say you didn't take it very well dad."

Dan Granger arched an eyebrow at his daughter and said, "I should say not!"

"About four weeks into our summer holidays Hedwig showed up with a letter one night. I quickly let her in the window and took the letter from her. The letter contained only one word in a messy scrawl that was barley legibal as Harry's writing.

Help!" Hermione said simply.

"I was a little upset but I finally convinced you two to take me to Little Whining to find Harry. When we got to the house Mr. Dursley was rather rude to me and I'm afraid you lost your temper daddy. To make a long story short we got into the house and found Harry in Horrible shape. He was malnourished and passed out on the floor of his room which had the smell off someone being neglected. We gathered Harry and his belongings and brought him back here to nurse him back to some form of health."

At this point Emma interrupted, "Wouldn't that Order of the Pheonix that you mentioned that was guarding his house have come and tried to take him back or at least stopped us when we left with him?" Her mother asked with some concern.

"One would think that but Remus Lupin was on guard that day and he had no intention of stopping us. Because of the fact that Dumbledore had specifically told him not too remove Harry from the Dursleys house he couldn't, but as far as he was concerned that left a loop hole for us. As a point of fact it was Remus who had written the note and not Harry. Shortly after we arrived with Harry, Remus showed up with Maddam Bones the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and I quickly filled her in on Harry's life at the Dursleys and the condition in which we found Harry. I begged for her help when they showed up to take him away because I knew at least one member of the order had to know Harry's condition."

"That mad eye moody fellow?" Dan asked out of curiosity not meaning to interrupt. "That fellow with the magical eye that can see through things?"

Hermione nodded in response and said, "Yes, and if he knew then Professor Dumbledore most definitely knew! It turned out that Dumbledore himself came to get Harry. He arrived while Madam Bones was examining Harry who was still not responsive. The two of them had a huge argument over what was best for Harry that became so heated I was afraid spells would start flying. But before it could escalate to that point Dumbledore relented on the condition that only Auror's already in the Order would guard our home while Harry was there was recovering. And that he himself would be the one to put up the wards protecting this house. What followed was the most peaceful and normal summer that Harry had ever had."

She frowned at her father, "You even got him interested in whacking little white balls into holes. Some time around Harry's birthday we started dating. And later in the year, by the time the Yule Holidays rolled around Harry asked the both of you for your blessing in asking me to marry him."

Dan and Emma both looked stunned and this time Hermione did giggle. Dan frowned and said, "Just how old are you two supposedly?"

"Well" ,Harry said slowly, "Hermione was almost thirty five but I had just turned 59"

Harry said looking down as if inspecting his lap.

Dan said, "That doesn't make any sense unless……."his voice trailed off and he began to give Harry a very dark look.

"DAD!" ,Hermione said low but very firmly, so much so that Dan couldn't help but look over at his little girl.

What he saw shocked him more than anything he had seen or heard so far this day. Sitting where his thirteen year old daughter had been sitting telling him, up until this point what he had believed to be the wildest fabrication he thought a child could ever make up, was a full grown woman defending the man she loved. It wasn't that Hermione had changed in appearance in the slightest: it was her posture, her tone, the look on her face and the look in her eyes. It was something her had seen only once before when Emma had defended him to her father after he had refused to resign from the service. His little girl like this shook him to his core and the only thing he could think to say was, "Please continue?"

Shortly thereafter Dobby served dinner in the dining room. And they all agreed to put the story on hold until the end of the meal. For the first time since Hermione had been able to string words together to form sentences the Grangers ate in silence

After dinner Harry and Hermione picked up the story where they had left it. They told of sixth year. Harry's special classes with Dumbledore; Learning of Tom Riddle's past; learning of the creation of and what a Horcruxe was, they also gave a few details of how they're relationship developed over the year before Harry proposed. Harry's proposal, and then how Dumbledore had died during an attack on the castle at the end of the year.

They talked of how the two of them figured out how Tom Riddle had hidden his Horcruxe's in different places in the world where he had traveled. They talked of finishing their seventh year; they talked of the many victories of Voldemort, they told of the deaths of their many friends, the birth and loss of their child, and the day they lost the two of them. Finally when it came to the telling of the day Harry lost Hermione all they would say was she was captured tortured and killed with no details no matter how they were pressed. And all that Harry would say about the Death Eater that had captured and tortured Hermione was that Harry had captured the man and avenged her death.

Harry gave a overview of the many battles fought till he finally defeated Voldemort. He glossed over the awards and ceremonies and jobs offered him and told of the discovery of the ritual Voldemort had performed and what it was doing to the planet.

"And so" ,Harry said many hours later, "to sum up, we had defeated Tom but lost the war. Or at least the victory was hollow. The price had been too high and was mounting and their was nothing we could do to stop it. The choices were watch every sentient race descend into extinction or time travel. So I came back."

He looked at Hermione taking her hand in his "Hermione's return was a happy accident, we haven't really thought about it or how it happened or researched it but to be completely honest I really don't think I care I'm just glad she is here."

Dan and Emma had neutral expressions on their faces and then Dan asked the first question. As Emma refilled each of their cups with the new tea that Hermione had conjured a few seconds previous Dan asked, "Well is there anyway you can prove it?"

Harry smiled and said, "As a matter a fact there is." He produced a piece of parchment and placed it on the coffee table and waved a hand over it and said loudly, "Ageis!"

"The spell I just cast on this parchment has turned it into a magical device that will reveal anyone's true age once the right component is added."

"Which is?" Dan asked.

"One drop of blood" Harry said as he conjured a small knife, which he then used to prick his finger. Holding his finger over the parchment he allowed one drop to fall onto the page.

Scrolling red letters began to appear on the page as the drop was absorbed. Harry picked up the parchment and Handed it to Dan and Emma it read:

Harry James Potter Head of houses Gryffindor, Potter, and Black.

Titles Lord, Baron, Duke.

Born July 31st 1980

Physical age 12

Magical age 64

Dan looked up from the parchment puzzled, " I thought you said you had just turned 59 when you came back?"

"What do you mean? I had just turned 59." Harry asked equally puzzled

"This says your 64!" he said poking the parchment.

Hermione said, "Let me see that"

She studied it for a moment then said,

"One drop of blood" and used the conjured small knife, to then prick her finger. Holding her finger over the parchment she allowed one drop to fall onto the page.

Scrolling red letters began to appear on the page as the drop was absorbed. Hermione starred at the parchment and as she did she worried her bottom lip. It read:

Hermione Jane Granger Mistress of houses Gryffindor, Potter, and Black.

Titles Lady, Baroness, Duchess.

Born September 19 1979

Physical age 13

Magical age 41

Her eye's suddenly flew open wide and her eye brows nearly disappeared. She turned to Harry, as she absently handed the parchment to her parents, and cried loudly, "Time turners!"

"The time turners we used in Asia to help us master Chuan style Tia Chi!" She said excitedly.

Harry looked thoughtful a moment then said, "Makes sense we relived enough time to age us that much."

Hermione however was undeterred and in full lecture mode began to explain Time Turners and all they had to offer the magical community.

Smiling Emma turned to Harry and asked, "She never grew out of that did she?

Harry snorted shook his head no and said, "But she did learn to control it."

Hermione distracted by the comments stopped her lecture and playfully punched Harry in his good arm and said, "I Believe Mr. Potter its time for your Skelegrow! ,she said looking at her watch.

Harry Pulled a face and asked playfully, "Always have to have the last word don't you?"

"Of course!, "she said standing to get the potion with mirth in her voice. "I'm a woman aren't I?"

Dan and Emma sat starring at the parchment having watched the interaction between Harry and Hermione and seen Hermione saunter off to get the potion. Their attention quickly changing as the little to and fro finished.

They weren't sure what to say Hermione had Titles yet she wasn't married to Harry in this life yet. Harry was older than both of them magically and that confounded them most of all.

Harry recognizing the looks on the elder Grangers faces excused himself to hermione's side mumbling something about Skelegrow and taking his medicine.

Emma raised her eyes and let go of her edge of the parchment to eye her daughter and Harry. Hermione was humming to herself as she poured a ladle full of some whitish thick steaming liquid into a goblet she had conjured out of thin air as Harry stood starring at the concoction with a defeated look on his face.

Could this really all be true Emma thought to herself, could she have missed her chance to help her little girl grow up?

Despite the fact that she appeared to be merely a 13yr old girl she had the mental capacity of a middle aged woman? Emma thought to herself.

She reached out and grasped Dan's hand in her's then turned to him with unshed tears. In a hushed tone Emma said "Darling its out of our hands she is all grown up, all we can do now is support them both."

Dan whispered back, " I know but I don't have to like it. I didn't think I would have to face losing her like this for several more years." He turned and looked at Emma.

"Do you still think we made the right choice when we let her become part of the magical world. Emma looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "Yes, from what they told us that war against Tom Riddle and his followers spilled over into our world. And he and his followers took great pleasure in killing of non-magical people like us by the thousands. I also believe that they would have had a way to know that Hermione was magical even if we didn't let her go to Hogwarts. Which means that would have made us an even bigger target. Not the mention it would have made Hermione deny a big part of who she is. You saw how much she changed last year, she finally started coming out of her shell and she even made two very good friends that we now know stuck with her through hick and thin." Glancing in Harry and Hermione's direction she continued, "And she even found love." She looked back at Dan, "What about you how do you feel about it?

Dan looked thoughtful and said, "I agree with you on everything you said on an intellectual level. But a big part of me wants to write the whole thing of as a bad idea, pack the four of us up leave the country and disappear."

"The four of us go, even Harry huh?" Emma asked with a half smile.

Dan nodded as he looked at his and Emma's intertwined hands. "As much as I want to fight that more than anything else, I know he is now a very important part of her life.

Even without the time travel that poor kids been through hell. And despite my reservations I know that Hermione would never give her love away easily he would have to be truly deserving of her love." He sighed as he looked back down at their hands.

"I Just feel as if she doesn't need me anymore." Dan said in almost a whisper.

A hand touched his shoulder and he looked up to see Hermione standing in front of him. "That's not true daddy I'll always need you, I just need you in a different way now!" Then she threw her arms around his neck in a patented Hermione hug.

Dan said , "I know petite âme its just a lot to take in all at once and so much will have to change because of it."

They talked for a few more hours before retiring for the night.

To Dan's eternal relief without even being asked Hermione and Harry went to their separate bedrooms. While he was beginning to accept things he was not quite ready to deal with that aspect of his new found reality.

As he and Emma were settling in for the night he asked, "What do you Honestly think about all this?"

Emma scooted closer to him and laid her head on his chest and began talking.

"A part of me wants to be strong for Hermione and believes it to be true because she would never deceive us in such a horrible way. But the part of me that has watched over her, watched her take her first step, read her first book….."

The tears began to well up and fall from her eyes streaming down her cheeks as she continued. "….Hear her say her first word and dropped her of for her first day of school. This part of me is wanting this all to be a horrible nightmare and to wake up in the morning and she's still only 13 and has never had to go through dying, losing a child, war and all those other horrible things, that she'll still run to us when she has a nightmares.

Dan just held her not knowing what to say. As his own tears began to fall the two of them held each other and softly cried themselves to sleep.

They cried for Hermione's loss of innocence, the sacrifice of her childhood and they cried for Harry for all the things he had lost and endured to save an uncaring world. Finally their sorrow disappated and a new emotion took hold just ad sleep claimed them, determination.

Subconsciously the two eldest grangers made a decision based on that determination, they would support Harry and Hermione come what may, and make sure that the two youths still took the time to live their lives to the fullest everyday.

AN Thanks for all the wonderful reviews sry about the slow down on the last two chapters but it was necessary. Now that we told the whole story to some one we will only have to say "Harry told his tale with the help of Hermione" so you won't have to sit through that again. There will be more action in a few chapters we promise.

We have read a lot of time travel fics while the majority are very well written I cannot recall any story dealing with this particular aspect, namely a parents true to life reaction to Hermione and Harry's trials. Hope you liked it, review please!

FoxNWolf