A/N: Sorry I missed a week. I moved and had a project to complete. Poka, thanks for the faithful reviews and thoughtful processing of this fic. Things will be a bit dicey for a few chapters here and Hermione's about to do whatever it takes to save Harry and her future.

Chapter 13: A Nightmare

Wednesday, July 16, 1980 | Godric's Hollow

James cradled his coffee between his hands. It had been a long night for everyone. Lily spent most of it worrying about the baby. It wasn't until he had Madam Pomfrey check her over that either one relaxed. Remus and Dumbledore had spent the same time standing guard over the house. It seemed excessive. If Voldemort was really gone, where was the threat? He knew many from the Order had been working to understand what exactly had happened in Diagon Alley. By all accounts Voldemort was gone. That seemed like a cause for celebration, not hyper vigilance. The mysterious girl would not agree. James was pretty sure he understood why. And why he should trust her judgment over others. Walking out into the backyard he spotted Remus, his wand out, looking into the tree line. "Something out there?"

Remus made no move to indicate surprise at the sound of his voice. James had learned long ago that his friend had heightened senses, even when it wasn't a full moon. "No. Just watching," he answered and turned toward the house.

"Where's Professor Dumbledore?"

"He went to the ministry. Trying to sort out what's going on."

"Out there or in here?" James asked, motioning to the spare room.

"Both. I think."

"Where's Sirius?"

At that, Remus shook his head. "Where do you think?"

"That bloody git. He doesn't know who she is," James breathed out.

Pulling up some chairs around a firepit, Remus lit it and sat. "And you do?"

James lowered himself in his own chair, studied his friend. "She knows what you are. She knows Harry's name. She calls Dumbledore by his first name. She knew Peter was a problem a year ago. She's not from here. Not from this time."

Remus didn't object. "I didn't know that first bit."

"When we met her, she knew you couldn't sneak around the castle grounds, get through the whomping willow passage because it wasn't the full moon. She even knew we were the marauders. She's from the future. And Sirius is in there getting attached to her like he isn't as old as her parents. She's going to be friends, maybe more than friends, with his godson. Merlin, she said she was engaged. Is she my future daughter-in-law?" James let all his thoughts out at once. She had his family's invisibility cloak. The same one he had that very moment. There were two in the house. All night, he tried to find a different conclusion. There wasn't one.

"Best not to think about it. Time travel will give you a headache. Sirius knows. He's got to. He's just a softy."

"Likes to be the knight in shiny armor, more like."

Clicking his tongue, Remus shook his head. "She's no damsel in distress. She blocked a killing curse. Took a venom-imbued blade and survived."

"Bested Voldemort a few times and destroyed an umbra," Albus said from the patio door.

"A what?" James asked, he'd never heard the word. The look of surprise on Remus' face told James it was a big deal.

"Technically, she's ten months old right now," Dumbledore added, causing James' face to redden. The headmaster had been there long enough to hear his rambling.

"Well that should put a damper on Sirius. What did Mad-Eye have to say?" James changed the subject before it all got even weirder.

"He recovered the memories of several who were in a position to see Voldemort cast the spell. There were two. It appears the first was blocked. Something different happened the second time. It rebounded and destroyed his body." Dumbledore said, choosing his words carefully.

"That. Doesn't make any sense," Remus said. "Why would the curse destroy his body? That's not how it works. Quite the opposite actually."

The two younger wizards looked to Dumbledore for answers. They were used to him appearing to know more but being resistant to sharing all the information. There was a reason Voldemort would have reacted differently to the killing curse. There was a reason and Dumbledore knew, or had a theory. "I need to talk to Hermione. I'll explain when I can. Just because Voldemort isn't an immediate threat, doesn't mean the threat is over. Or he's the only one."

More cryptic words. Ordinarily James wouldn't be bothered by it. His family was targeted and attacked. It wasn't a hypothetical for him. "You mean Lily is still at risk."

Silence lingered between the trio. Remus was perceptive enough to understand a challenge was made even if it was cloaked in an observation. His friend stood stiffly and stared Dumbledore down. James was grateful for the backup. Dumbledore appeared to be struggling to find the right words. This was concerning all on its own. "Mister Potter. Your family is at risk. As is Hermione's family. We've protected them and your home with every resource we can spare. Voldemort disappearing the way he did, wasn't meant to happen. At least not when it did. This is a very precarious situation. Give us a day or two to get it sorted out."

It was a wholly unsatisfying answer. James was sure it was the only one he'd get in that moment.

~~/~~

Tom gripped her chin, forcing her head toward the horror on display. "You'll watch this," he hissed in her ear.

Hermione tried to pull away. The magical bindings were unyielding. His grip too strong. "Please. Let him go. I'll do whatever you want," she pleaded, saw Dumbledore forced down onto his knees. The executioner was already in position with his giant ax.

"Oh, you'll do whatever I want regardless of what happens here," he hissed and then stepped out to the center of the stage. The colosseum was filled with followers in green robes. "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," he said with a sneer. "You've been found guilty of treason against the new imperial wizarding order. You've been sentenced to death by beheading. To be carried out immediately. There will be no last words. You've said enough."

Dumbledore didn't struggle. He couldn't. Enchantments, bindings, and potions were all keeping him from being a threat. It was proof of how much Tom feared the wizard. Hermione kept her eyes locked on Albus. He raised her. Taught her magic. Protected her. Hands were on her again, her brain barely registered Tom's touch. She wouldn't look away. She wouldn't abandon him. The ax came up off the ground, it arched high over the hulking wizard's head. The swish as it sliced through the air was the only thing she could hear. Even with all the shouts and cheers. She didn't close her eyes until the impossibly sharp blade hit its mark.

Someone shouted. A familiar voice. Not part of a crowd. "She's burning up. I was just about to warm her blankets and noticed she was sweating. She's not making any sense."

Nothing was making sense. Sirius. It was Sirius. "Sirius?" Hermione asked weakly. "You're not dead. How?" She had memories of being told he fell through the veil in front of Harry after Bellatrix killed him. She had memories of her heart breaking for Harry and for the loss of a friend. Grief was a heat. Albus was dead. Sirius was dead. She was just dreaming of them both. Or hallucinating. Forcing her eyes to open a crack, pain exploded in her head.

Her question had the wizard standing straight, a flash of confusion passed, and he shook his head. "I'm not dead. I'm not going anywhere," Sirius told her, took her hand, then sought out the matron. "What's wrong with her?"

Dumbledore pushed through the room, checking the medical chart Poppy was consulting. The matron looked grim. "Infection. A magical one."

"What do we do?" Sirius asked.

Nothing, Hermione thought. Do nothing. Whatever was happening to her was allowing her to see both men. Healthy and alive. She didn't want it to end.

"Under normal circumstances, I'd say a chilling spell. This is just masking her other underlying issues. Her cells are still very much starved. I don't want to use anything that would linger. But this fever could damage her mind," the matron was talking to herself. Everyone was waiting for a decision.

"Don't…" she tried to protest. Her body was revolting. No one was listening to her.

"Let's do it the old fashion way. There's a bath? Fill it with water and ice," Poppy finally decided.

Movement to implement was immediate. People she hadn't seen were leaving the small room. She heard Albus barking orders, a panic in his voice she had heard a few times. In both lifetimes. Sirius hadn't moved from her side. She let herself tune out everything else. "You can't leave Harry," she whispered. Something in the back of her mind told her she had some power to make that happen.

He smoothed her hair back, "I'm not going anywhere," he repeated his promise.

Memories of summers at 12 Grimmauld Place played like a movie. Seeing Harry bond with his godfather, understanding for the first time he felt like he was part of a family. Talking to Sirius at night about a book she was reading long after everyone else had gone to bed. The images morphed and faded to nights by the fireplace with Albus. Discussing magical theory. And then it was Tom. Pretending they were having civilized conversation after torturing her with curses. It was too much. A chill rolled over her, leaving a sticky heat in its wake.

"In here! Sirius, bring her in here," Remus shouted from an adjacent room.

The ghost of her friend moved, scooped her up into his arms. Hermione gathered up a handful of his shirt, she buried her head in his chest. Maybe if she didn't let him go he wouldn't leave Harry. She had that power. Somehow she knew that. They were moving. She didn't know where. She didn't care until it felt like he was putting her down. "No."

"Shh. This is going to help," he whispered in her ear, feeling her tense.

"Don't go."

He was stepping over something. She heard several people objecting to his actions. And then a sudden burst of cold hit her. The shock momentarily cleared the fog from her brain. It didn't make the situation she found herself in make sense seeing it. She was in a pool-sized basin in the middle of a living room. It was filled with water and ice. Holding her tightly was a young Sirius Black. She tried to understand.

"I'm not going anywhere," he told her again, shifted to let the healer place a cooling cloth on Hermione's forehead.

Albus consulted the triage parchment. "Her temperature is coming down."

"We don't want it to go too far. Let's give it two minutes," Poppy said.

Hermione relaxed, not because she understood what was happening, but because she trusted those around her. Feeling Sirius shiver, guilt washed over her. She tried to push away to let him out of the ice bath. He tightened his hold. "You're cold," she protested, embarrassed by her actions. "I didn't understand."

"You're not cold enough yet. We're giving it two minutes," he explained, repeating the matron's order. "You've got an infection. We're going to fix you up."

Closing her eyes, she knew it was more than an infection. They had to consider that the duplicate memories were a problem, wearing her down. Maybe they weren't a problem alone. A war was raging inside her from multiple fronts.

"Bring the blankets out here," Poppy instructed someone. "Let's keep her close to the ice bath until we know it's not needed again. It looks better, Mister Black, to the couch."

Sirius stood without effort. He held her over the water to let someone else dry them with a charm and then she felt herself being lowered onto a couch. Finally releasing her hold on Sirius, she felt the tension leave her muscles. Rolling her head, she sought out Albus.

The headmaster was quick to respond to her unspoken request. Pulling up a chair to be closer to eye level, he waited for her to continue.

"I need to get rid of these extra memories."

"Okay. We can work on that today."

Hoping that simply removing the memory would ensure she'd never witness his execution again, she had to consider that the memory of her recalling the event could be a problem. Being forced to deal with it frustrated her. Tom was out there. The remainder of Voldemort was unaccounted for. Her efforts should be spent finding out how time had changed and coming up with a plan to bring Tom back to her present. Waiting for her body to recover was burning through precious time. Fortunately, there was an option to make up that lost time. Her hand moved to find the mokeskin pouch. It felt light. "Where's my wand?"

"It's in the enchanted bag. It's protected. Your other wand is in your pocket."

"I need to go to the ministry," she declared, checking for the ring that would allow her to apparate directly into the time chamber. It was safely in place on her right ring finger.

"Fiona has put new protocols in place to monitor the situation. Mad Eye is gathering the intelligence we need. There's nothing to be done right now."

There was. She needed to consult the tempus semita. She needed to see if it was recording changes that resulted from her actions. There was no precedent to know if it worked in reverse like that. She'd apparate to the event horizon when she could stand. Movement next to her reminded her she wasn't alone with Albus. All the rules had changed, and she no longer cared if anyone else heard. "I have a tempus semita. It needs to be copied inside the Department of Mysteries chamber. And then we need to see if time has been corrected or if it's still broken. We might be able to figure out what Tom's next move is or where what's left of Voldemort went."

Dumbledore shifted uncomfortably at her willingness to speak so openly about the topic. "Under the circumstances, I think we can make time to ensure your temperature has stabilized."

"If she has a way to know where this Tom is, we need to know," James spoke up. His concern for his family spurring him on.

Hermione saw the couple in the corner. His arm was wrapped protectively around Lily's shoulders. "I don't know if I do. There's a chance."

"What do you mean, what's left of Voldemort?" Sirius asked.

Silence fell on everyone. Hermione and Albus' eyes were locked. Each one clearly had a response. Neither was sure if it should be shared. The matron picked up on the tension and decided to end it. "This can all wait. Miss Granger, if you tried to even stand right now, it would most certainly go spectacularly wrong. You either need to eat or I need to give you an infusion. The stress on your organs is too extreme. I wouldn't allow you to travel to the bedroom, much less the ministry. If you need to talk to someone, they can come here."

Remus cleared his throat, having stayed quiet throughout the entire episode. "Moody wants hourly patrols around the property. He'll be expecting a report soon. Sirius, come with me."

Sirius stood reluctantly. He swallowed whatever protest that appeared to be brewing within him, took out his wand and headed for the back exit with Remus.

"I can make some lunch. Is there something specific?" Lily asked, looking from the healer to the patient.

Hermione shook her head, let the two witches plan a meal that might be both tolerated and filled with the sugars and carbs needed. She wasn't sure she'd be able to eat much, but would try. It was a priority for her to get up on her feet again. When James left with Lily to help, the matron made herself scarce, leaving her alone with Dumbledore.

"You're scaring me," he finally said.

She knew what he meant. He wasn't scared for her condition. Concerned, not scared. It was her lack of concern over the law. "We should be scared. Tom has destroyed the future. I'm not sure it can be put back to how it was."

"Can you show me?" he asked with some hesitation.

"Any particular horror you'd care to see?" she asked with an edge.

"Maybe just some lowlights." His wand was up and looking at her for permission to use legilimency.

Hermione took a moment to sort out her conflicting memories. There was a singular memory she could show him. It seemed too cruel to make him witness his execution followed by her own public torture she was made to endure. As much as she wanted to get his attention, it wasn't worth traumatizing him. Finally nodding, she felt him on the edges, waiting for her to show him.

Smoke burned her eyes. Hermione dropped to the floor, hoping to see and breathe better. Crawling to her bedroom door, she saw the smoke was pouring in through the cracks. The house wasn't just on fire. She had felt the explosion rock her bed, jolting her awake. She could jump out her window, but then she might not find her parents. Or worse, they might run to her room, risking their lives only to find her gone and trapping themselves. She needed to see what was in the hallway. See if she could get to the stairs. Hermione had no idea what time it was. If it was early enough, her parents could be downstairs still or in their bedroom. Testing the door knob, it wasn't hot. Pulling it open, more smoke rolled in. She pulled her shirt up over her nose and mouth, desperately trying to avoid inhaling the noxious air. Crouching low, she made her way to the landing that would give her a view of the downstairs. With shock, she saw a dark figure with a silver mask covering his face. Something was in his hand. Maybe a weapon. She couldn't tell. Her mind was too preoccupied processing the sight at his feet. Her mom and dad were lying lifeless at the base of the stairs. It couldn't be real. Her hand covered her mouth. He hadn't seen her yet. She couldn't move though. Then she heard a large pop behind her. It startled her so much, she fell over trying to find the source. There was someone else there. Whatever happened to her parents was about to happen to her. She was certain of it. A white-haired man with a long beard was standing in the hallway. He brought his hand up, Hermione waited for the blow. It never came. The newcomer cleared the smoke and at the same time, the masked figure who was now running up the stairs was thrown backwards. The older wizard bent down next to the terrified Hermione. All she could see was the concern in his eyes. She didn't know him. She sensed he was there to help. "My mum and dad. They're hurt," she said, pointing to the lower level.

"I know. I'm sorry. I should have come sooner. You're not hurt?"

Why would he have come at all, she wondered. She didn't understand what was happening. In a blink she was standing with him in front of a large castle. The bearded man was there, looking at her. Waiting for an answer to his question. "I'm not hurt. What's happening? Where are my parents?" she could feel the panic rising up inside her.

He motioned her to a covered bridge. "I'll explain everything. We need to get inside. The people who did this. They'll be looking for you. It's not safe out here."

Hermione followed him a few steps because she wanted answers and didn't know what else to do. The realization that her parents were gone forever was welling up in her. The fear made her freeze on the spot.

The man turned around when he sensed she wasn't following. He knelt down in front of her. "I know you're scared and confused. My name is Albus. I'll explain everything once we're safely inside."

He held out his hand. She wanted to go home. Logically, she knew that was never going to be an option again. It didn't make any sense. If he had answers, she'd get them. And then… what? She didn't know. She was only eleven years old. Even if he told her who killed her parents and where she could find them, what would she do? She didn't take his hand. She ran her hands through her hair, wiped the tears and soot from her face with her sleeves, and stood as straight as she could. She walked forward, passed the man who was still kneeling. Stepping onto the bridge he wanted her to cross, she slowed her pace. Not sure where they were going when they crossed it.

The memory stopped there. She pulled her mind away from the day that Hermione learned about magic, the Death Eaters, and an evil wizard named Tom Gaunt who was to blame for the chaos in the country and the fear that ruled the day. She needed Albus to know just how terrible life was with the clone in complete control over the wizarding world. She didn't have many personal memories of the havoc, muggles didn't understand what was happening completely when her parents were murdered. Then her life was cloistered away from it all in the secret sanctuary. Until it wasn't. Until Tom found her.

"It's a pity you don't know why any of this is happening to you," Tom said.

His voice made her stomach flip. She let Albus feel her total exhaustion. Several weeks of torture after the public execution of the headmaster, her savior, she was ready for it to end.

With a flick of his wand, she felt the levitation charm release her. She wasn't ready. Her bare feet hit the cold stone ground and she pitched forward. He caught her before her head could collide with the unforgiving floor. Tom clicked his tongue. "Easy there. I've got you," he told her, smoothed her hair back from her face. She let him lead her to a nearby chair.

"Does the why even matter?" she asked.

"Of course it matters!" he snapped at her. "I won. I beat you and you don't even know it. The entire wizarding world has bent knee to me and it doesn't even fucking matter. Crucio!"

It was enough. He didn't need to see the rest of that awful day. If Snape hadn't helped her escape that week, well, it was a mercy she hadn't discovered what else he had planned for her. The final thing Albus needed to see was the total destruction of the future. She had only the vision. It would be enough, she was certain. She might even be able to transfer the urgency of the seers gift. She let him watch the colosseum. The throng of followers willing to follow every terrible order. She showed him the vision the prophecy provided and the vision Tom put in her mind. When it was over, she sat back. Looked at her old friend. It was more than one person should have to process all at once. "Stopping Tom is all that matters now," she finally told him, exhausted from the effort.

Albus took off his half moon spectacles and rubbed his eyes. "None of that was supposed to happen?"

"No. He got a time turner and came back here. He killed Harry and changed it all. I don't know how saving the Harry before he was born has affected the events. As long as Tom is in this time, the more damage he'll do to your future."

"That's enough. Miss Granger needs to try and eat and then get some sleep," the matron returned, carrying a tray of food.

A groan left Hermione's throat. Her stomach was still unsettled.

"Just… try some crackers and honey," Poppy said sympathetically. "If that stays down, we'll try some bread."

Dumbledore stood to give the two room. He updated her medical chart to ensure her temperature was still stable. It was the first time he had to really study the data. "You've suffered some serious injuries since we last saw you."

It took her several seconds to work through the events. Her hand covered the sleeve of her shirt covering the white fire scars, felt the tightness on her back from the ior rune. They were inflamed. They saved her life. Again. "The clone. He's been a problem in the future too." Not wanting to say too much in front of the healer, she left it at that. If he needed to know about her theory on her modified shield spell, she'd elaborate. Putting a piece of cracker in her mouth, she let it sit on her tongue, afraid of what would happen when it made it to her stomach. Despite the queasiness, her body responded to the needed nutrients. Her mind knew the sooner she regained her strength, the sooner she could track down Tom and bring him back to her present. Swallowing, she willed her constitution to allow it. Hermione took another bite and leaned her head back.

~~/~~

"Well?" Sirius said after nearly fifteen minutes of silence.

Remus was scanning the tree line behind the cottage. He turned, confusion evident. "Well what?"

"Let's have it. You think I have feelings for Hermione and you want to lecture me about it."

"Do you have feelings for her?" he asked, sounding reasonable.

Sirius wagged his finger at his friend. "Of course I do and so do you. She's clearly important to Harry in the future. There's a connection there. You can't deny it."

"I just met her."

The hurt in the statement was clear. It could have been the guilt he felt over not telling Remus about their discovery that made him interpret the words in such a way. "That's what this is about. You're upset we never told you about meeting her. Moony. Something about her… James and I knew it was important to keep it a secret. Professor Dumbledore lied to the entire Order about her. Had her hidden away. She knew things she shouldn't know. At the time we could never have guessed she was from the future. It just… felt important," Sirius finished quietly, contrite.

"This isn't about not being included in your idea of rule breaking. Sirius, for once think about the implications of what's happening," Remus said, not unkindly. "This girl. She's here from the future and is breaking some of our most serious laws. Albus Dumbledore is going along with it all."

"She saved Lily's life."

Remus looked at his friend with a mix of sympathy and sadness. "Maybe she wasn't supposed to."

"How could you say such a thing?" Sirius asked, his voice rising.

Remus stepped closer. He knew James was struggling with the brush with death the day before. He didn't want his friend to overhear the conversation. "I'm not saying I'm not thankful for the intervention. I'm just saying there might be consequences for Hermione's actions. And I think you need to get used to the idea that there are things you can't protect her from. Wherever she's from." Guilt rose up within Remus as he saw the fight leave his friend's body. He only wanted to protect him. He lost so much, his entire family in fact when they disowned him. And now Peter most likely. Stepping up to his friend, Remus put his hand on his shoulder. "The best case scenario is that she returns to her time as soon as she's able to. It's best not to get too attached. For now. It sounds like she's fond of you in the future though."

Sirius shook his head. "She thought I was dead. It doesn't bode well for me does it?"

"I think… I think all the rules have changed," Remus comforted Sirius. "It seems she's devised a way to block the killing curse."

"Merlin. Can you believe it? How are they going to explain that one?"

Remus had an idea. He didn't think Lily was going to like the answer. Or what it might mean to Harry in the future. "According to Mad Eye, people think it was Lily's doing. Once the wizarding world stops celebrating You-Know-Who's demise, they'll start asking questions."

Finishing their patrol around the property, it was a lot for both men to process. There was no doubt that their world changed the day before. What that meant was uncertain. "Have you heard from Peter?"

The erumpent in the room made its appearance. Remus shook his head. "The fact he hasn't tried to come here is telling. He wouldn't know it's under a fidelius charm. And we would have been alerted if he tried to find us."

Sirius stopped Remus at the back door, a pained expression on his face. "You think he'd really set up James and Lily?"

"I don't want to. I don't know what else to think. Once we're sure it's safe here. I think we go find him and find out."

The door opened, ending the conversation. James studied his two friends. "What's going on out here?"

"Nothing. We just finished our sweep," Sirius explained. "All clear. Voldy isn't here."

James stepped aside. "Well. Professor Dumbledore seems certain he's not entirely gone. Come inside. We made food. Moody is on his way here."

Exchanging glances, the three friends understood the Head Auror wouldn't be stopping by for brunch. "Is Moody going to meet our visitor?" Sirius was apprehensive about the idea.

"I think that's still under discussion at the moment," James explained, motioned to the closed door of the spare room. A pop nearby announced the arrival by apparition. Wands were out, ready to defend the house if it was an attack and not the planned arrival of Mad Eye.

~~/~~

Tom hurled an explosive charm at the far wall. Death Eaters who followed him to the hideout scattered. No one really understood what happened. No one except Tom. The destruction of Voldemort's body hadn't happened when it was supposed in the past, but it appeared to happen how. Somehow Harry was shielded from Voldemort's killing curse. The dark wizard of this time was without a body, roaming the earth, unable to cross over the veil to death. Somewhere in the part of Tom's mind that was still rational knew he should find where he went. Anger flared. If only he hadn't been too shortsighted to reject the memories that would have told him exactly where to go. Movement had Tom turning, ready for an attack.

Lucius was approaching. He put his hands up. A look of fear and confusion was mixed with skepticism. "My lord. The Dark Lord said we should trust you as if you were him." The skepticism was given words.

"I am him!" he shouted. He no longer cared about subtlety. His plan was thwarted. Again. And he didn't have the time tuner any longer. He should have given the information to Voldemort and then returned with the device. No. He had been so confident in the power of two of him, one with the knowledge of the future would crush any opposition. There was nothing left for him in the future. He was better off staying in the past. Another grave mistake letting the time turner return without him. Feet shuffled at the outburst. Looking passed Lucius, he saw Bellatrix. His eyes narrowed. He didn't know if she had a time turner yet or not. She stood straighter when she sensed his focus on her. Her precious Voldemort was dead. Did she recognize that wizard in him?

"There are people who were at the battle that claim Lord Voldemort is gone," Malfoy pressed forward undeterred.

It was clear the blonde didn't believe Tom when he claimed to be their leader. That couldn't be blamed. He wasn't acting particularly like Voldemort. Taking a steadying breath, Tom put a concerned look on his face. "He's not gone. I made sure there was powerful magic protecting him. He might be confused though. I need you all out looking for him."

Most of the Death Eaters perked up at the thought the reports were wrong and the possibility to have something to do. Lucius held up his hand to stop anyone from moving. "We can't go out right now. The Aurors know we're weakened without the Dark Lord. They'll be rounding us up. We're also hearing that people who were under Voldemort's control have been released from his imperius curse. The best defense anyone here has is to claim we were tricked. Not running about, continuing on as we were."

The essence of Voldemort within him, both the horcrux and the memories stirred within Tom. It knew it was what the Death Eaters had done to survive. He'd even changed time to make sure the most useful weren't thrown in Azkaban. It was the choice that had been the best at the time. It wasn't if he was going to be successful establishing his own reign. Tom needed time to think. That made him laugh aloud. He came to the past to change everything. He knew he'd have to take Voldemort out himself. Eventually. It just happened before he had time to grow his own loyal followers. Squaring his shoulders, he scanned the group waiting to see who would gain the upper hand. The known zealot of pureblood superiority or the newcomer who earned complete confidence from Voldemort. "We cannot afford to lose the ground you've all worked to gain. Lord Voldemort is not gone. We cannot let the ministry dismantle his progress before he's able to find his way back from their interference. I am not ready to completely explain myself. I am the man you follow and more. I will prove it to everyone who needs proof. Personally. Anyone here. Anyone out there who doubts can ask me anything only Lord Voldemort would know and I will answer. Spread the word. This is not over. We're just getting started."