I have had an incredibly rough two weeks. I never planned on abandoning this story. I know could have filled this chapter out with a little more explanation, but it's a balancing act I'm not always good at.
Hermione:
She packed the last of her new Grecian-style clothes in the morning. Her mum would love to see them! Hermione was going to dearly miss the place. But it was time to move and face the Red Witch on her terms.
Soraya had plates of fruit and muffins on the table for them. Hermione was the first to arrive. Soraya poured some water for her.
"You four were up late last night," she said. "I understand you also paid a visit to our potion master and our clothing store."
"There is not much that happens here that you don't know about," Hermione said.
"Not really," she said with a smile.
McGonagall came in next.
"I have forgotten how much sleep young bodies need," she groaned.
"Why do you think no one is awake in your first transfiguration classes of the day?" Hermione said with a smile.
"That is why the younger years are taught first thing in the morning in my class. History of magic is taught first thing for the older students along with the other classes where the teenage students are less likely to get hurt if they doze off."
"Interesting," Hermione said.
Harry and Ron appeared yawning.
"I haven't crammed that hard in ages," Ron said.
"That was a lot to take in," Harry said.
"Nonetheless, you three did excellent," McGonagall said. "I am very confident in the plan we came up with."
"Stop giving me compliments, it feels weird," Ron said.
"You deserve them," she said.
"Still feels weird," he muttered.
"Should we go over it one last time?" Hermione asked.
"I'd prefer not to give the plan more air," McGonagall said. "We do not know when she listens in. We all know what to do. It is all about action next."
"I agree," Harry said.
"I think we've gone over it death already," Ron said.
"Okay," Hermione said.
A bell rang. Soraya left to answer it.
Hermione addressed the three of them.
"Whatever happens—"
McGonagall put a hand on hers.
"We're in this together," she said.
"Absolutely," Ron said.
"All the way to the end," Harry said.
Anat appeared holding a brown cloth bag.
"I see you four have reached an understanding," she said.
"The best," Hermione said.
"One built on trust," McGonagall added.
Anat pulled blue raincoats out of the bag and passed them out.
"These are portkeys," she said. "Put them on and you will be transported to the Knife Edge Bridge. Simply follow the path through the waterfall and you will end up at the entrance to the town under Niagara Falls."
The four of them put them on.
"Thank you for everything, Anat," McGonagall said.
"Thank you for the clothes, Soraya," Hermione said.
"And the great food," Ron said.
"And showing us a world of magic, I had never known about," Harry said.
"You are welcome to visit again in a few years. I think you understand now why we have to restrict visitors."
"I want to make the wizarding world more like Alexandria," Hermione said.
"I wish you the best of luck," Anat said. "It has been a pleasure to help you."
Their raincoats started to glow. Anat waved as they were transported away.
…
Hermione was wet the second they hit the hard ground.
"Wow," Ron said.
She looked up. The falls were truly magnificent. Hermione could barely see the sky over the height of them. Water gushed forward in white waves.
"Are we ready?" Harry asked.
"Let's get closer to the waterfall first," McGonagall said.
It was early still, so they didn't see anyone on the path. Even with the raincoat, Hermione was thoroughly drenched by the time they reached where it looked like where the path ended.
McGonagall pulled out a potion flask and added the necessary ingredient to it. She took a swig and handed it to Harry. He took a drink and then passed it to Ron.
"Let's keep moving, Hermione first," she said.
Hermione kept walking as water doused her. The water was coming down so hard it almost felt like she was swimming with her arms while her feet were on the ground. She was gasping for air by the time the water stopped hitting her.
The only like she saw was coming from fluorescent the occasional mushroom on the ground and the ceiling.
A giggling voice filled the cave.
"Ready?"
Hermione turned and faced herself. Did she really sound like that?
Hermione nodded to Ron/Harry/McGonagall
The four of them looking like Hermione in both clothing (using fabric mimicking magic) and bodily appearance followed the sound of the voice. It led off the path into a narrow passageway. The girly voice grew louder. After a few minutes of walking, they entered a clearing covered in massive glowing mushrooms. The red witch was dressed in her usual red garb with a bandage over her eyes.
"Rematch," she said delightedly
"Are you ready for us?" they said in unison as rehearsed.
"Clever," she said. "But the TRUE Hermione has to defeat me to escape the curse."
"But that doesn't mean don't get to weaken you first."
Someone hit her with the sectumsempra spell. She started to bleed through her robes.
"So, we're playing dirty now," the witch said with a squeal. "You four have been paying attention!"
The witch aimed a spell that turned someone's feet into eagle claws. She was trying to identify McGonagall. This was something they had anticipated. One of them fired the de-transfiguration spell. Another aimed a spell at the ceiling. The witch redirected the rocks while another "Hermione," aimed a spell at the ground. Hermione, herself healed cuts on one of them while aiming a lightning bolt at the witch. On healed the injured Hermione while the other two kept dueling.
After an hour, this was the longest duel Hermione had ever been in. The red witch was starting to run out of steam. Yet she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. McGonagall had warned her to try to pace herself. She took a millisecond to recall the last conversation she had alone with Pronomus.
"This magic is ancient and powerful," he said. "You have to commit one hundred percent for it to work."
"I know," Hermione said.
"It may not even work, and if it does, you may not be able to draw from it again."
Hermione aimed another spell and then thought of the parents who raised her. Every skinned knee they kissed. Every birthday candle blown out. Every bedtime story told. The sight of her parents on the train platform when she came back.
"In the names of Mother Earth," she said mentally. "I summon the power to go back in time."
The world started spinning. Her school year of time traveling made the chance of this working stronger. She felt magic coursing through her veins. She thought of the moment she wanted to see just before they entered the cavern and the Red Witch was waiting for them.
"Reducto," she shouted before the witch could react to her presence. As she was not human, the was a chance the killing curse wouldn't work properly. The debris scattered and swirled around her.
"You can keep going back," she whispered. "Save your parents. Save Harry's. Save your grandfather."
Hermione thought of McGonagall's anguished screams. A tear leaked down her cheek.
"No," she said.
She thought of all the happy times with Harry, Ron, and focusing hard, the first smile McGonagall gave her.
"In the name of Minerva, I summon the power to return to the present."
An image of a young woman with unruly hair appeared.
"I'm so proud of you," she said. "Take care of Mum."
The world stopped spinning and was on her back.
"We did it!" Ron shouted delightedly.
McGonagall, looking like young McGonagall was by her side. She felt incredibly weak.
"Your daughter, my mum," Hermione said desperately. "She said she was proud of me and to take care of you."
Tears fell from McGonagall's eyes. "I love you."
Harry and Ron appeared at themselves. The four of them stayed together in silence.
They had finally won.