Disclaimer: Since I am not JK Rowling, I do NOT own Harry Potter! I am just having some fun with the wonderful characters and world that she created, not for money or anything except for fun and experience.
In the weeks following Hermione's return from Australia, Hermione was barely functioning. Harry, Andi and Kreacher brought Hermione her meals, made sure that she ate and bathed, but it was extremely difficult to watch as Hermione barely interacted with the world. It was exactly how she had acted in the immediate aftermath of the Battle, after Ron had died. Harry spent as much time as he could with Hermione, trying to get her to at least interact with him. Any time he wasn't with Hermione, he was spending researching more and more in depth the ritual he had discovered in his ancestor's book. Harry, after learning of Hermione's parents, had nearly fully committed to performing the ritual and sending himself back to the start of his fourth year at Hogwarts, to stop the war from ever happening. The only thing that was holding Harry back from going back in time was Teddy.
His godson was the long bright spot in Harry's life at the moment. The baby had quickly broken through the mental and emotional barriers that Harry had created after the Battle. Harry wanted to take care of Teddy and make sure he grew up knowing he was loved, unlike Harry's childhood. But it was difficult for Harry to ensure that Teddy would grow up in a normal childhood-type of way, like Dumbledore had hoped, and failed to provide for Harry. The Prophet was constantly trying to reach him for an interview, while the slowly rebuilding Ministry, led by the three ICW representatives, was also asking for Harry's help, even after Harry had said he had no inkling of going into politics or the Ministry.
Harry had gotten condolence letters from the Weasleys, Neville and Luna after they had had heard about the fate of Hermione's parents. Mrs. Weasley had insisted, in print and in person, that Hermione and Harry leave the dreary and dark Grimmauld Place and move back to the Burrow. But both Harry and Hermione refused as Andi and Teddy had fully moved into Grimmauld Place and there was no room for Andi and Teddy at the Burrow. Harry also noticed the growing tension between Mrs. Weasley and Andromeda Tonks, and when Harry asked Andromeda what was going on, all she said was that Mrs. Weasley was realizing that there was another woman in Harry's life, rather than it be solely her like it had been in the past.
Harry hadn't realized that Mrs. Weasley had been partially replaced by Andromeda Tonks until Andi had pointed it out. And it rankled Harry the way that Mrs. Weasley was treating Andi, like she was stealing Harry away. Harry would always be grateful to the Weasleys for the kindness they had shown both Harry and Hermione but Andi and Teddy were just as much of Harry's family as the Weasleys were.
Harry jumped in surprise when Hermione sat down next to him while he read more into the time travel ritual that his ancestor, Arthur, had created.
"Hermione! You're up!" Harry exclaimed. "Are you all right? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"
"I am fine Harry," Hermione said with a clipped tone. "Is that the time travel ritual you found?"
Harry nodded.
"Hand it over," Hermione ordered.
"But Hermione, you can't read the book remember, and I can't tell you the ingredients or directions for it," Harry said. "The magic of my family protects it from being shared."
"Just write it down then and I will look over it," Hermione said.
"Hermione, why are you doing this? You were so against this only a month ago," Harry said.
"Things have changed Harry," Hermione said shortly. "We have a chance to change things for the better, and we are obligated to at least try."
Harry wet his lips, a nervous tick of his, much like running a hand through his hair. "Hermione, are you sure you should be thinking about this? This isn't a knee-jerk reaction to what happened to your…"
"That isn't it Harry," Hermione interrupted. "At least not all of it, I suppose. But we could save so many people if this were to work."
Harry nodded and began writing down a second list of ingredients that were needed for the ritual, the ingredients that Harry didn't recognize from Potions or his textbooks. After scribbling down the list he pushed it over to Hermione and then dug through his notes and found the other list of ingredients that he had written down over a month ago.
"What are these?" Hermione asked, picking up the two lists.
"They are the two lists of ingredients that are listed in the ritual," Harry said. "The first list is the ingredients that I don't recognize from Potions or other books, and second list is of the ingredients that I do recognize."
Harry read through the two lists. "Many of these ingredients are really rare; freely given unicorn blood, phoenix feather, a dozen dragon heartstrings, one each from a different breed. They won't be easy to find or obtain."
"I figured but that's probably why people haven't done this sort of thing before," Harry said. "The materials and cost of getting them limits things. But Hermione, are you sure we want to do this? To be honest, things are better now, I mean, having Teddy and Andi in my life has been a Godsend. It's like I have been given a second chance with a real family."
Hermione set the two lists down on the desk and looked at Harry. Harry was slightly frightened at the dead look in Hermione's eyes; they were almost exactly like they had been right after the Battle, and Ron's death. "Harry, I am happy for you, I really am but you can still have all this, and Sirius and Remus," Hermione said.
"And Ron too," Harry added. Hermione nodded, emotion flickering deep in her brown eyes.
"Yes, Ron too," Hermione admitted. "Please Harry, there is nobody here for me. My parents are dead, because of my decision to send them away."
"Hermione, no you can't think like that," Harry argued. "Your parents' deaths were not your fault. You sent them away to protect them, they would have most likely been killed by Death Eaters last year or worse. What happened to your parents, Hermione, was a terrible accident, and most certainly not your fault. Never think like that, please Hermione."
Hermione shook her head but looked back up at Harry with flat eyes. "I will try Harry," she said. "It was my decision to send them away and I didn't even get to say goodbye. I would do anything to see my parents and Ron just one more time."
"Ok Hermione, I will try and get all the instructions written down so that you can look them over, and then you can decide if you truly want to go through with this," Harry said. "But you also need to make an effort to spend more time with Teddy. He needs a mother figure in his life."
"What about Andi?" Hermione asked. "She's been raising him ever since Remus and Tonks died. She's certainly young enough to be Teddy's mother figure."
"I suppose but still, you are just thinking about all the people we've both lost," Harry said. "What about the people we still have in our lives too? Like I said before, with Teddy, Andi now in my life, and you and the Weasleys, I don't know if I want to go back."
"But what about Sirius, Remus, Cedric, Ron? Don't you want to see them again?" Hermione asked with a slightly accusatory tone.
"Yes I do but I also know that I will see them again in time," Harry said. When he saw Hermione's confused expression, Harry continued, "Hermione, when I went into the Forest to face Voldemort, I fully expected to die there. And I suppose that I did die."
"I don't understand Harry," Hermione said.
"We are getting off track," Harry said. "Anyway, you remember the Snitch that Dumbledore left me in his Will?" Hermione nodded, not knowing where Harry was going. "Well inside the Snitch was the Resurrection Stone, the Stone that could recall the dead to the living."
"Harry, no magic can bring back the dead," Hermione said.
"Right, I didn't mean it brought them back to life but they were more than ghosts but less than actually being alive, if that makes any sense? I know why Cadmus Peverell was driven mad by the Stone's magic, the ability to bring back your loved ones but they not truly be able to interact with the world and you is torture. Anyway, while I was walking through the Forest, I used the Stone to bring back my parents, Sirius and Remus. They were with me all the way until Voldemort with another Killing Curse. They, my loved ones, will never truly leave me as long as I remember them, and that I would see them again in time. That gave me the strength to go through with Dumbledore's foolhardy and risky plan, to get rid of the Horcrux in my scar."
Hermione's face flashed with anger at the mention of Dumbledore and his plan.
"So Hermione, I know that I will see my parents, Sirius, Remus and yes Ron too again," Harry said. "While I would love to see them sooner rather than later, and certainly having them alive would be even better but I am certainly not in any hurry to see them if it means my death."
Hermione's face fell into sadness. "But you got to say goodbye to them, I didn't," she said. "Do you still have the Stone? Do you think it would bring my parents back, at least so I could say goodbye and that I am sorry?"
Now it was Harry's turn to have his face fell. "No Hermione, I don't have the Stone," he admitted. "I left it in the Forest somewhere. And I don't know if the Stone's magic would work on your parents since they didn't have magic themselves."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears and Harry quickly pulled her into a hug as the tears began to fall.
"I am so sorry Hermione," Harry whispered. "I wish I could do more."
"It is all right Harry," she said thickly. "Something like that should be hidden away, for the good of everyone."
"Hermione, I want you to promise me that you won't go looking for the Stone," Harry said. "I know what it is like to obsess over something like this, it isn't worth it. Please don't dwell on a dream that can't come true, and forget to live your life."
"I promise Harry," Hermione whispered, knowing that Harry was right. They both recalled Harry's experience with the Mirror of Erised back in their first year, and the Veil of Death in the Department of Mysteries.
"Hermione, why don't you go freshen up and I'll make us some dinner," Harry said.
"Actually Harry, do you mind if we go out to eat?" Hermione asked.
"Go out?" Harry squeaked.
"Not like that!" Hermione snapped with a blush. "I want to get out of here and forget the magical world and magic, at least for one night."
"Of course," Harry said quickly. "What did you have in mind?"
"I don't know," Hermione said. "Why don't we just go to the Leaky Cauldron and then walk around London."
"Sounds good to me," Harry said. "When do you want to leave?"
"About an hour."
Harry nodded. "I'll just clean all this up and then get washed up," he said. Hermione gave him a brief hug and then left the room to get changed.
"Are you ready to go Harry?"
Harry looked up from his letter to see Hermione standing in the doorway, looking quite nervous and quite pretty, wearing a pair of dark jeans and a cream sweater. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail that accentuated her face and neck.
"Harry?" Hermione asked again, seeing Harry staring at her blankly.
Harry blinked. "Oh I'm sorry Hermione," he said. "I kind of spaced out there. What were you saying?"
"I was wondering if you were ready to go?" Hermione asked after shaking her head.
"Right, of course," Harry chuckled. "Yes, I am ready."
Harry stood from his seat and stretched his arms above his head. Hermione quickly looked away as Harry's shirt had risen up and revealed his stomach. 'Quidditch and training really did wonders for him,' Hermione thought. 'I wonder what Ron's body looked…'
Harry looked over at Hermione who had gone suddenly silent. "Hermione, are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, of course I am," she said, quickly wiping her eyes. "Shall we go?"
"Lead the way," Harry said, not saying anything about Hermione's odd behavior.
Hermione nodded and watched as Harry grabbed a leather jacket from the table. "What's that?" she asked as Harry pulled the jacket on.
"Oh, this?" Harry asked. "It was actually Sirius', he had it made after he had graduated from Hogwarts and gotten his bike." Harry turned to show Hermione the back of the jacket. Emblazoned across the back in gold letters was 'The Marauders' with a shield beneath it that had a picture of a stag, a wolf, a fox and a Grim on it.
"Sirius told me that he replaced the rat's picture after he betrayed everyone," Harry said. "And put in my mum's Animagus form instead."
"Your mother was an Animagus? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know until a few weeks ago," Harry said. "I found a letter from Sirius in his room and it explained some thing. Anyway, shall we go?"
Hermione nodded and looped her arm through Harry's and the pair stepped out of Grimmauld Place and began walking toward the Leaky Cauldron, chatting about random things though both could feel an underlying level of tension between them.
"So where to from here Hermione?" Harry asked when they reached Charing Cross Road.
"I don't rightly know, let's just keep walking," Hermione answered. "I am sure that we will find something. I am really enjoying myself, just acting like a normal teenager for once, no one trying to kill us, treating us like the scum of the earth."
"It is nice," Harry agreed.
"Oh let's try here Harry," Hermione said, pulling him over to a small French café on the corner of A400 and Bear Street, just south of the Leicester Square Underground Station. Harry shook his head as he let Hermione pull him into the café.
They found seats at a window table and a waitress came by to take their orders. As they waited, Harry watched as Hermione acted very differently than he had ever seen her act, she was acting like a young woman on a…
"Hermione?" Harry asked quickly.
"Yes Harry?"
"This isn't a date, right?"
Hermione's face quickly went pale and her hands began to shake on the table. "Why do you ask Harry?" she whispered.
"Well, I have never seen you act this way," Harry said.
"Act what way Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry paused, knowing instinctively what all men knew. "Well Hermione, you brought me out here tonight, held my hand or arm all night and picked out a place that is giving me a Madam Puddifoot's feel to it," he said.
Hermione froze and quickly glanced around the café, where there were several couples enjoying the food, the atmosphere and each other's company. "Oh my," he whispered, her hand darting to cover her mouth. "I didn't realize that you might take this that way," she said. "I just wanted us to act like a normal pair of people, to get out into the world rather than hiding away in the house, looking back on regrets that we might have. Harry, I am not ready to date anyone, let alone you," she rambled.
Harry frowned. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"I mean that I was just about to start a relationship with Ronald and…" she trailed off as Harry noticed her gaze seemed to search blindly for a spot above his head. "It's nothing against you Harry, you are my best friend and I do love you but not like that, and for some reason, I feel like it would be betraying Ronald if I started a relationship with you or anyone so soon after…what happened."
Harry nodded slowly as the waitress came by to deliver their orders; Harry had ordered a sandwich while Hermione began picking at her salad. "I suppose I can understand that Hermione," Harry said. "But you know Ron wouldn't want you to be alone for the rest of your life."
"I know Harry but it's hard," Hermione said, slowly stirring her espresso. "When he were younger, and I had told my parents that my two best friends were boys, they teased me that I had also found my future husband."
Harry choked at Hermione's admission. "Sorry Hermione," he said, mopping up his spilled tea.
"Oh it is ok Harry," Hermione said. "I did the same thing when my parents first said that. I mean, I was only twelve, and I certainly didn't think about dating and getting married then. But it got stuck in my head, and I started looking at you and Ronald differently after our first year. And then in third year, with the Hogsmeade visits, hearing stories from the older Gryffindor girls about their dates in the village, and my parents' comment came back."
"And with Ron able to go to the village, you…" Harry said.
"Yes, I started to treat those visits as practice dates," Hermione admitted with a bright blush. "I didn't tell you or Ronald because I knew that you both would start acting differently around me, and I was frightened that you might not want to be friends with me any longer."
Harry opened his mouth but didn't say anything as he realized that Hermione was probably right. Honestly, he had always known that Hermione was right. He had no experience with girls growing up, Dudley saw to that, and he too had been afraid that if he acted differently around Hermione, she wouldn't want to be his friend anymore.
"And Ron just grew on me over the years," Hermione said. "Sure we had our fights, and sometimes he would just make me so angry but then he would just do or say something that would make me so happy, and I would see the man he would become."
Harry gave Hermione a sad smile and patted her hand. "Ron had his faults, that's for sure," he said. "But he was the best mate a guy could have asked for."
"Harry?"
"Yes Hermione?" Harry asked, setting down his tea.
"I want to try that ritual," she said, staring Harry right in the eyes.
Harry met her determined gaze with one of his own. "Hermione, didn't we discuss this already? We can't live in the past."
"I know Harry but there is just something telling me that we need to go through with the ritual," Hermione said. "I can't explain it but we need to do this. Think about it, with our knowledge, we could end the war in a matter of weeks and change the world for the better."
"Hermione," Harry sighed. "There's no guarantee that we would even succeed in getting back there, let alone change things. And if we did manage to go back, who knows might happen? We could make things worse."
"Things are worse than ever Harry," Hermione snapped. "While you've been hiding in Grimmauld Place, I've been talking with the other survivors and there are rumors that the Ministry is going to begin cracking down even more on Dark magic, in order to make sure the war doesn't happen again."
"But that's a good thing Hermione, no one wants another war," Harry said.
"That may be true Harry but the Ministry has a very narrow view when it comes to Dark magic," Hermione said. "They want to confiscate any family magic or any magic that they deem too powerful for others to have and any spells that not all witches and wizards can cast."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked, his voice very soft and worried.
"The Ministry is trying to restrict what people can lean," Hermione answered. "They don't want anyone to be able to challenge the Ministry's power. And remember how they supposedly don't want people to have spells that not everyone can perform, that includes the Patronus Charm."
"What!" Harry barked. The remaining couples and staff looked over at their table. "Sorry," he apologized, and the Muggles turned back to their meals or work. "Why would the Ministry do that? The Patronus isn't Dark!"
"No but not a lot of people can produce a Patronus," Hermione said. "Those who can are few and far between, and they are usually very powerful witches and wizards. The Ministry wants no one to be truly strong so they can rule easily and not have to worry about anyone raising up to challenge them."
"That's…"
Hermione nodded. "It's an overreaction Harry," she said. "Many governments do the same after a war, tightening their grip on society to keep their citizens in check. The Americans and Russians did such a thing after the Second World War. The Ministry is afraid, and this is what fearful governments do."
"How do you know all this Hermione? I am sure that the Ministry would be quite keen to keep such a thing quiet," Harry said.
"I have my sources," Hermione answered. "And I trust them. They wouldn't lie to me, especially about this."
"Hermione, I still don't like this," Harry said. "What about Teddy and Andi, and the other Weasleys, we can't just abandon them."
"We wouldn't be abandoning them Harry," Hermione argued. "We would be saving those who they had lost. Think about it, Teddy would have both his parents back, Andi would have her daughter and husband back, the Weasleys would have both Fred and Ron back, even Ginny too."
Harry winced at the blanket reminder that his sort of ex-girlfriend was still struggling just to hold a fork, let alone her wand after what Bellatrix Lestrange had done to her.
"I am sorry Harry but we can fix all this," Hermione pleaded. "Please Harry, we can do this and fix everything."
Harry looked away from Hermione's pleading face. Harry knew for a face that he would cave if he looked into Hermione's wide brown eyes. "Hermione, I'm sorry, I just can't," he said. Harry winced when he heard Hermione sniff and rise from her seat.
"Ok Harry, if that is your decision," Hermione said. "I will see you later then."
Harry looked up in time to see Hermione's retreating back leave the café, and then noticed the other patrons watching him with a majority of them wearing angry looks. Harry sighed and stood up, pulling out a wad of pounds from his pocket threw them down on the table and quickly followed Hermione's path out of the café. Once outside Harry quickly realized that Hermione had already Disapparated. He slowly walked around the corner of the café into a dark alley and with a sharp POP, he vanished.
"Hermione?" Harry called through the closed door of Hermione's room at Grimmauld Place. "Are you up yet? I made you breakfast."
But there was no answer. Harry sighed and returned to the kitchen where Andi was feeding a babbling Teddy. The sight of the food splattered Teddy laughing and smiling brought a warm smile to Harry's face.
"Hermione not up yet?" Andi asked as Harry sat down at the table. A full plate appeared in front of Harry with a soft pop.
"Thank you Winky," Harry said. The female elf had come to Grimmauld Place several weeks ago, looking for work, and Harry had hired her on to help Kreacher as the older elf was getting worn down from working for Harry and the Tonks. "I suppose not, it's not like Hermione to sleep in. She's usually up before I am."
"Mister Harry Potter, Miss Granger is not here," Winky said as she picked up several plates from the kitchen table.
"What?" Harry shouted. "Where is she?"
"I do not know Master Harry Potter sir," Winky said, cringing back from Harry's shout. "She did not come home last night."
Harry's face went as white as his porridge before leaping from his chair and sprinting out of the kitchen. Andromeda heard Harry race upstairs and with a crash, burst into Hermione's room.
Harry stared, almost blindly, at the empty and barren room. Without conscious thought, Harry swept through the room taking in the empty dresser and closet. Then he spotted something on the pillow, a letter. He snatched it up and ripped open the envelope.
Dear Harry,
I am sorry to leave you like this but I need too. Our discussion was the final straw I suppose. Please believe me that this is not your fault, in fact I should be thanking you. I have been so wrapped up in the past since my parents passed that I had forgotten to truly live. I was holding you back from living your life and being surrounded by all the memories of Grimmauld Place was not helping.
So I've left. Please do not come looking for me, I need to be away from the magical world right now, and unfortunately that means you as well. I will write often after I get settled. Good-bye Harry, I know that we will see each other again.
Love,
Hermione
"Winky!" Harry shouted. The House-Elf appeared with a sharp pop.
"Yes Mister Harry Potter?" Winky asked.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Andromeda asked appearing in the doorway, carrying a squirming Teddy.
"Hermione's gone!" Harry said, trying to keep his voice as level as possible with Teddy in the room. "She left a letter and ran off."
"Let me see the letter," Andromeda said. She handed Teddy to Harry and quickly read the letter.
"Winky, I need you to find Hermione!" Harry ordered.
"Wait Harry! Think about this," Andi said before Winky could disappear. "Hermione is obviously upset about something and wants to be alone for the moment. If you send Winky after her, all you will be doing is pushing her farther away."
"But she could be in trouble!" Harry said. "I have already lost so much. I can't lose Hermione too."
"Harry please calm down," Andi pleaded, taking Teddy back from a frantic Harry. "You are scaring Teddy, and me."
Harry immediately stopped pacing and sank down onto Hermione's bed. "What should I do then Andi? She's my best friend," Harry said. "I have lost so much already, I don't think I can go on without her."
"You love her don't you Harry?" Andi asked.
"Of course I do, she's my best friend," Harry said.
"I know she is Harry but that's not what I asked," Andi said with a soft, motherly smile.
Harry sighed and looked down at his hands. "I honestly don't know Andi, I mean I have no idea what it means to love or be in love. You know how I was raised; the Dursleys did certainly not love me. I know my parents, Sirius and Remus loved me, and the Weasleys say I am a member of the family."
"Harry, in my opinion, I do know that you love Hermione, more than as just a best friend," Andi said.
"So like a sister then, right?"
"Perhaps Harry, but I believe it is more than that," Andi said. "You grew up alone without any siblings, so how would you know the difference between sibling love and romantic love? Did you care for Ronald the same way as you do for Hermione?"
Harry opened his mouth to answer with an immediate 'yes' but his head caught up with him. His mouth closed and he thought hard about what Andi had asked. Did he really care for Hermione the same way as he had cared for Ron? Ron was his best mate, his brother that he never had. Now Hermione, she was…Hermione, there was nothing more that Harry could say about her. She was his rock; she had been his best friend and closest confidante ever since they had become friends. She had always been there for him, always watching out for him, even when he didn't realize or think he needed it.
"I don't know what exactly I feel for Hermione," Harry said. "I love Hermione, that much is true. How I love her is another matter. I once told Ron that I loved Hermione like a sister, and I believed that. Ron loved Hermione too, and she loved him. How can I try anything with Hermione when she is still in love with Ron? And now she wants to go back…" Harry stopped, he didn't want to continue and reveal what he had found in his ancestor's book.
"Go back Harry? Go back where?" Andi asked. Harry looked at the woman, silently asking for her to drop the line of questions but Andi was a Black by blood. "Harry Potter, what did you mean by go back?"
Harry cringed as Andi's stare was very Hermione-like and he quickly caved. "I found a ritual in one of my ancestor's books that could send two people back in time up to ten years," he said, waiting for Andi's stern look. "She wants to use it to send her and I back to our third or fourth year at Hogwarts to stop the war from ever happening."
Andromeda didn't know what to say. She knew that Time Turners could only send a person a full twenty-four hours at most, and nothing she had ever read about could send someone back anymore than that, let alone ten years. "Harry, are you serious?" she asked.
"No, that was my godfather," Harry joked but it fell flat. "Sorry, couldn't resist. But yes, I did find a ritual that could send Hermione and I back but I don't want too."
"Why?"
"Because of you and Teddy," Harry said. "You two have become my family, just as much as Hermione, or the Weasleys are. I don't want to lose that, not when I have already lost so much."
Andi's eyes misted up with tears at Harry's confession. "Oh Harry dear," she said, standing up and hugging Harry with Teddy in her other arm. "You don't know how much that means to me. You and Teddy are the only family I have left. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray for Nymphadora and Edward to come back to me. But I've accepted that they are gone, and nothing I can do will bring them back."
"That's just the thing Andi, if this ritual were to work, they would still be alive," Harry said. "I could save Remus, Tonks, Fred, Ron, Sirius and even Dumbledore."
"If it were to work Harry, and there is a chance that it won't then what?" Andi asked.
"The book inferred that the performers would be drained of their magic and probably die if it didn't work," Harry answered.
Andi nodded. "Magic always has a price," she said. "But Harry, why would Hermione want to risk such a thing? You told me that she used a Time Turned in your third year, she has to know the risks about time travel."
"She does Andi but I don't think she cares anymore," Harry said. "She's lost so much and now she has an idea of a way to bring everyone back. And when she latches onto an idea, she will not let go."
"Harry, I understand and sympathize for Hermione, losing her parents but I don't think she is thinking clearly about this," Andi said. "Terrible things happen to those who meddle with time."
"I know but she won't listen to me," Harry said. "And to be honest, if it wasn't for you and Teddy, and the Weasleys, I would be looking hard at the ritual. I didn't have a family until you, Teddy and the Weasleys while Hermione had a loving family all her life, and after the war, it has been torn away from her. She is going to do anything to get her family back."
"Harry, you need to stop her," Andi said. "The Ministry will not look kindly upon anyone trying to mess with time. There are three things that the Ministry has deemed forbidden to research and tamper with: time, a person's soul and the dead. And with the Ministry scrambling to regain power, you can be sure that they will come down hard on anyone tampering with time, a soul or the dead, all of which could apply here."
Harry nodded, and turned to Winky. "Find Hermione, Winky," he ordered. "And bring her back here. I don't care if you have to Stun her or what, just bring her back before she gets hurt or gets found out by the Ministry."
"Yes Mister Harry Potter," Winky said before vanishing with a pop.
Harry sagged back onto Hermione's bed. "She is going to hex me so badly when she gets back," he muttered, his face covered by his hands.
"Most likely but it is for her own good," Andi said. "She is not thinking clearly right now."
Harry nodded, though he still felt anxious about the reception that he would receive when Hermione arrived.
However Harry's wait would take sometime. Winky failed to return to Grimmauld Place for nearly a week, until one early afternoon did she pop back into the Grimmauld Place sitting room with a bound and Stunned Hermione, all trussed up like a Christmas goose.
"Winky has returned Master Harry Potter," the elf answered.
"Well done Winky, but did you really have to Stun and bind her?" Harry asked. "She is not going to be happy when she wakes up."
"I is sorry Master Harry Potter but Miss Granger was very smart and difficult to find," Winky answered. "She put up wards against House Elves to block Winky, and was very rarely asleep. It made Miss Granger very difficult to bring home."
"Winky, can you please take Hermione up to her bedroom and release her?" Harry asked. "Oh, and reinforce the Anti-Apparition Wards around the house as well. I am sure that once Hermione wakes up, she will not be happy and try to leave again, once she has stopped hexing me."
"Yes Master Harry Potter," Winky said. She and Hermione vanished with a soft pop. Harry sighed and turned back to the fire that was burning merrily in the hearth. He knew that he was going to have a ringing pair of ears and probably much more when Hermione awoke.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Harry winced hearing Hermione bellow his full name.
'Here we go,' Harry thought as he heard Hermione come thundering down the stairs.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking Harry James Potter!" Hermione shouted as she burst into the sitting room. "Sending Winky to kidnap me! I told you that I needed to be alone, that I didn't want to see you for a while."
"Yes Hermione you did," Harry admitted. "But the problem is I know you Hermione, you were going to try and find a way to re-create the ritual by yourself. You said the Ministry was cracking down on people who might be strong enough to challenge them, and both of us fit that criteria perfectly. We are war heroes, and possibly the strongest witch and wizard around, and both more popular than the Ministry. And now you want to meddle with time, if the Ministry were to catch wind of your plans, what do you think they'll do?"
"I don't care Harry!" Hermione screamed. "Why should I care? My parents are dead! Ron is dead! And you have a chance of getting them all back and save everyone else, but you are too much of a coward to do this!"
Harry winced at Hermione's claim of cowardice. But her claim did have a grain of truth to it. "You are right Hermione," he admitted. "I am being a coward."
Hermione paused mid-breath at Harry's admission.
"The truth is I am terrified of this ritual," he said, looking up at his best friend. "What if we were to try the ritual and it failed, what then? We would be dead, and nothing would have changed. I have already lost so much Hermione; my parents, Sirius, Remus, Ron, I can't lose anyone else, you, Andi, Teddy, anyone. I am afraid of dying too; I don't want to die again. I have already walked to my death once before, I don't have the courage to do so again."
Hermione couldn't believe what Harry was saying. "Harry," she said. "You don't honestly believe that we will fail if we try the ritual, do you?"
"I don't know for sure," Harry said. "You are brilliant Hermione, no one can deny that. But this is on a totally different scale than Polyjuice Potion. If one little thing goes wrong, then we could all die and leave Teddy, Andi and the Weasleys all alone. I can't do that Hermione, no matter how much I want Ron, Sirius, Remus and the others back."
"Harry, do you trust me?" Hermione asked, kneeling at Harry's feet.
"How can you say that? Of course I trust you Hermione, I trust you more than anyone," Harry said.
"Then trust me now," she pleaded. "Trust me when I say that I can do this. I can perform this ritual properly and we can save everyone. But I will need your help."
"Hermione, you can't do this," Harry said. "If you do, you could get caught by the Ministry and who knows what might happen?"
"I don't care Harry," Hermione said. "What can the Ministry do to me that is worse than what Bellatrix did, or how empty I feel right now?"
"That's because you won't let anyone in," Harry said. "Ever since you returned from Australia, you've been pulling farther and farther away from me, the Weasleys and the others. You are not alone, Hermione, don't keep pushing us away. We want to help you."
Hermione glared at Harry, rage burning in her eyes, but then that rage drained away rapidly, leaving Hermione swaying in place before she began to collapse with her eyes rolling back into her head. Harry surged forward, catching Hermione just before she hit the floor. Up close, Harry could see how exhausted Hermione was; dark rings under eyes, her cheeks were pale and drawn, and her hair hung limp atop her head.
"Mister Harry Potter?" Winky asked, peaking her head around the corner of the couch.
"It's ok Winky," Harry said. "Hermione is just exhausted, and needs rest. I will take her up to her room." The House Elf nodded and popped away. Harry gathered Hermione up in his arms and carried her upstairs to her room. He could tell that she wasn't eating enough by how light she felt. Harry tucked Hermione in, casting a simple Alert Charm over the bed to inform him when she would wake up. Straightening the quilt, Harry looked down at Hermione with a small frown.
"Please Hermione, come back to me," Harry whispered. "You, Andi and Teddy are the closest thing I have to family." He leaned over the bed and kissed Hermione on the forehead. "Sleep well Hermione," Harry whispered before leaving the bedroom.
A/N: Well there you have it, the newest installment of A Chance? A Hope. I know it has been sometime since I last updated this tale, work has eaten up my free time and I wanted to get more of a buffer with pre-written chapters and posted ones. Please let me know what you all think of the chapter. I hope that it has lived up to the wait, I hope to upload quicker and more frequently in the future but I can't promise anything since work comes first.
Til next time,
SlyNinjaKnight