AN: My GAWD! You guys must hate me for not updating. I'm aware that's it's been a while, but I would like to announce that I am back from my hiatus. Please forgive me? Pretty please? To make sure that you do, I've written this chapter… I hope you like it! Please review! xx

Chapter Six

Salazar Slytherin paced outside the heavy wooden door impatiently. "Are you finished now?" He whined at the door, which was met with a resounding "NO!" He sighed and, running a hand through his hair, made his way down to the dining hall, leaving Rowena and the strange Eleanor look alike to their womanly things.

Such odd creatures, women were, he mused. Salazar couldn't help but smile as he thought of his own Eleanor, so beautiful and kind, yet so much of mystery to him. She was always worried about what others would think of her – especially if they were to judge her appearance. He shook his head – to him, she was perfect.

As he though those words, she launched herself upon him as he entered the dining hall – quite small, as it only had to cater for very few. He smiled as she pecked him on the lips. "How is Hermione doing?" She asked. "Does she look like me, yet?"

He rolled his eyes at her little joke. "I wouldn't know; they're still locked up in there, obviously it was a lot harder than we thought…"

"Ah," She said as they sat at a table. "Of course, it hasn't really been attempted before. I do hope she succeeds!"

Salazar nodded as he conjured his lunch. "Such a brave girl… Gryffindor would love her." He drawled, taking a mouthful of stew.

Eleanor became sullen. "I wonder what it is that drives these young ones? Do they not have homes to go to? Or loves of their own? What cause do they have to help us?" She pondered out loud, pushing her spoon around in her own stew.

Salazar thought back to what Hermione had made her promise. He frowned. It was all because of him and something he did in the future. Something terrible. "I wish I knew. I really do."

~ Silver Time ~

Hermione looked at herself in the floating mirror. She was shocked. Blonde curls now fell where there was once brunette and she looked, very much so, like Eleanor. "Merlin's Beard…" She muttered, touching them tenderly. She felt like crying.

"You really do look like Eleanor…" Rowena Ravenclaw admitted, shocked herself.

Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's really scary…" She said. "I suppose we had better find the others." She said slowly, almost not wanting to stop looking at this new version of herself.

Rowena put a hand on her arm. "I don't know why you're doing this, Hermione, but I have to ask… are you sure you want to do this?" As soon as the words left her mouth Rowena regretted them. Tears spilled from Hermione's eyes, streaking down her face.

"Oh, I don't know!" She sobbed, falling into Rowena's open arms, her strength failing. "I-I know I have to… I really do… but it's so hard. There's so many things wrong with this… I'm trying to stop something terrible from happening, I really am!" She cried, as Rowena rubbed her back. "And then I can't stop thinking about Draco – what will he think? Is he alright? Is he still alive?" She was shaking with sobs of pain. "But there's just no other way…"

Rowena comforted her, hugging her tightly and briefly wondered who this 'Draco' person was. Surely this wasn't the only way. Surely they could find something else. Anything else! "It's okay Hermione, you don't have to go through with this." She said.

Hermione pulled away quickly. "Of course I do!" She said strongly, smearing away the tears with a shaking hand. "If I want the world to be safe, this has to be the way." She sniffled and cleared her throat, standing tall and fierce. "I cannot back out now, and I will not. It is my duty. I shouldn't be crying like a snivelling little girl… I have to get through this."

Rowena stared at Hermione. "You have to be one of the bravest witches I know, and you are such a strong woman, Hermione. I cannot imagine what you are going through." She said solemnly.

Hermione cleared her throat once more and nodded at Rowena's words. "Thank you… And I'm sorry about getting so emotional." She said with a small laugh.

It was amazing, Rowena mused as she led her companion down the halls. It was amazing that this young woman could rein in her emotions so quickly and move on to do her so-called 'duty'. The next few days would be a real test for Hermione and her friends, Rowena could tell. But she vowed not to rest until she had sourced every possible other way to fix this, and save this girl from a fate she definitely did not deserve.

As the two of them wandered through the halls, they were joined by Ginny and Luna, their shocked reactions landing heavily in Hermione's heart. They each took one of her hands, squeezing it strongly. They knew this would not be an easy sacrifice for Hermione, yet despite their protests, she really was a determined witch.

Meanwhile in the future…

Lord Voldemort sat heavily on his throne at Malfoy Manor, his breathing laboured. He was furious. He was becoming weaker by the day. His magic was slipping, and he couldn't figure out why. He sunk his sharp finger nails into his temples, attempting to relieve the mysterious throbbing in his head. "It must be the witches! The filthy mudblood and her blood traitor friends!" He spat.

"Is there anything I can do for you, My Lord?" Bellatrix Le'Strange grovelled at his feet. "When I find those little wretches –"

Voldemort interrupted her mid-sentence. "No, I will kill them myself, just as I killed their pathetic little saviour, Potter." He spat in disgust. "Wormtail! Bring me the Malfoy boy!" He ordered.

"Y-yes, Master!" Wormtail stuttered, twitching in his place. He scurried off, much like the rat he had been for years.

Moments later, Wormtail returned empty handed, his skin pale and his eyes wide with fear. "M-master?"

"Where is he?"

"The boy is… He's g-gone!" He exclaimed, preparing himself for the torture that was no doubt coming his way…