"A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."
Jean de La Fontaine
III
As the day came to an end, Hermione met up with Harry at the lively Leaky Cauldron. She navigated through the crowded pub, filled with the aroma of butterbeer and roasted meat, accompanied by the sound of laughter and conversation. Eventually, she spotted Harry sitting at a corner table, wearing worn-out auror robes that hinted at a long day of work. A smile lit up his face as he saw her and he waved her over.
"Hey, Mione, you made it!" he greeted warmly, pulling out a chair for her. "How was your first day as an Unspeakable? Did you uncover any secrets of the universe?"
With a glow of enthusiasm, his friend sat down. "It was incredible! I had the opportunity to work with an ancient and intricate artifact... I learned so much in just one day!"
Harry grinned, glad to see her so excited. "That's fantastic. You've always had a passion for learning. I have no doubt you'll excel as an Unspeakable."
They ordered drinks and food, continuing to discuss their respective jobs. Harry shared details about an upcoming raid on Malfoy Manor scheduled for the next day. Lucius Malfoy, a former Death Eater, was about to be released from prison on parole, and it was crucial for the Aurors to ensure the manor was free from any dark objects or curses.
Contrary to his expectations, Hermione defended the Malfoys. "You know, Draco isn't pleased about his father's release. He's been working to rebuild his life and reputation, distancing himself from his family's dark past."
Raising an eyebrow, Harry playfully teased her. "Really? Are you sure you're not saying that because you have a soft spot for him?"
Blushing, Hermione protested. "That's not true! I'm just being fair. Draco has changed. He's not the same person he was in school. He deserves a chance to prove himself."
Realizing he had touched on a sensitive topic, Harry decided to change the subject. He asked about Ron, and Hermione's face lit up as she shared the latest news.
"Ron is having the time of his life. He and Genevieve are still on their honeymoon and having a blast. Although," Harry added with a wink, "Ron sent me a letter a month ago saying the same thing. I think he's just using it as an excuse to avoid work!"
Both laughed, reminiscing about Ron's antics. They discussed their other friends, families, and future plans, enjoying each other's company.
Still, as the night progressed, Hermione felt a twinge of sadness. She glanced at her wrist, where a silver bracelet glittered in the dim light. It was a cherished family heirloom passed down from her grandmother to her mother, and then to her. Her mother Hélène had given it to her as a symbol of their bond and a reminder of their love. A tightness gripped her chest as she questioned her past choices.
Noticing her expression, Harry gently inquired, "Are you okay? You seem a bit sad. Is it because of Ron?"
Shaking her head and forcing a smile, Hermione replied, "No, it's not that. I'm genuinely happy for Ron. He and Genevieve are perfect for each other. I'm glad he found his true love."
Though he nodded, Harry remained unconvinced. He knew Hermione still harbored feelings for Ron, even if she didn't admit it. He wanted to offer comfort but struggled to find the right words.
Deciding to change the topic, the witch recounted an unusual incident from the previous day. "You know, something strange happened yesterday. Ginny and I were walking in Diagon Alley when we encountered a seer. She stopped me and claimed that a malevolent presence was in my life and that I should be cautious. Her words were so cryptic that they left me feeling uneasy."
Frowning, Harry's curiosity was piqued. "A malevolent presence? What did she mean? Did she provide any clues?"
Uncertain, Hermione shrugged. "No, she didn't. The seer merely stated that it had been with me for a long time and that it would soon reveal itself."
Harry snorted, expressing his skepticism. "Mione, you can't seriously believe that, can you? You're the most logical person I know. Don't let some seer's mumbo-jumbo get to you. It's probably just a scam or a prank. You know how unreliable seers can be."
Smiling, the witch felt a bit foolish. "You're right. It's likely nothing. I shouldn't let it bother me. It's just that... it sounded so ominous and personal. It made me wonder if there's something I'm missing or something I need to do."
Reassuringly, Harry shook his head. "You don't need to worry about anything. You're doing great. You have a fantastic job, many friends, and a bright future. Whatever this malevolent presence is, I'm confident you can handle it. After all, you're the brightest witch of our age."
"Thank you. You're such a good friend. You always know how to make me feel better," Hermione expressed her gratitude and hugged him.
Returning the hug, Harry felt a warm sense of connection. "Anytime. You're my best friend, too. I'll always be here for you."
After breaking the hug, they exchanged smiles. Hermione glanced at her watch, realizing it was getting late. She decided it was time to head home and get some rest.
"Well, it's been a lovely evening," she said, rising from her seat. "But I think I should go. I have a busy day ahead, and I need some sleep."
Understanding, Harry nodded. "Of course. I get it. You have a big day tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your work as an Unspeakable."
He stood up as well and walked with her towards the exit. Giving her a friendly kiss on the cheek, he bid her farewell. "Good night, take care and stay safe."
With a smile and a wave, Hermione said her goodbyes to Harry. Leaving the Leaky Cauldron, she experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Love remained a mystery to her, and she wondered if she would ever find it. She also pondered if fate had a cruel plan for her, one that required her to let go of all those she loved.
Exhausted from a long and frustrating day, Hermione longed for a moment of tranquility and relaxation. As she arrived at her apartment, she held onto the hope of finding her beloved cat, Crookshanks, waiting for her on the couch. Yet, upon opening the door, she was greeted by a comical sight that instantly brought laughter bubbling out of her.
To her amusement, Crookshanks had managed to get his head stuck in a tuna can and was now frantically racing around the apartment, blindly colliding with furniture and walls. With a smile on her face, Hermione swiftly used her wand to free him from the can.
"You silly cat, what have you done?" she chuckled, scooping him up in her arms. The softness of his fur and the comforting purr that resonated through him brought a sense of warmth to her heart. "You're lucky I love you, you crazy furball."
Crookshanks responded by licking her cheek, bathing her in a wave of affection. In that moment, Hermione realized that it had been far too long since she had laughed so freely, and the darkness that had plagued her thoughts seemed to fade away.
Opting to skip cooking dinner, the witch settled for a simple treat of biscuits and a cup of black tea with a splash of milk. As she sat in front of the television, engrossed in a muggle sitcom, she savored the light-hearted humor and the carefree tales. With each bite and each laugh, she felt herself unwind and relax.
After a refreshing shower, cleansing herself of the grime and sweat from the previous day, Hermione slipped into her pajamas and climbed into bed. Crookshanks, who had faithfully followed her to the bedroom, nestled beside her, seeking comfort and closeness. As she gently stroked his fur, she whispered, "Good night, Crooks. Thank you for bringing laughter into my day. You truly are the best cat in the world." With those words, she closed her eyes and peacefully drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, the muggleborn was abruptly awakened by a shrill voice that pierced through the tranquility of her bedroom. "Hermione Granger, this is Regina Rowle. I need you to come to the Department of Mysteries immediately. There is an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention. Waste no time and ask no questions. Just come."
As the loud voice echoed in her ears, a bright blue light materialized above her bed. It was a hawk patronus, a message sent by Regina Rowle, the head of the Department of Mysteries. Panic surged through her as she wondered what could be so urgent.
Hurriedly, she threw on her clothes, skipping breakfast. Grabbing her wand, beaded handbag, and coat, she locked her apartment door behind her, hoping that Crookshanks would behave while she was away.
Apparating to the Ministry of Magic, Hermione made her way to the Department of Mysteries, anticipating Rowle's presence in her office. Yet, to her surprise, Regina was nowhere to be found. A pang of anxiety gripped her as she wondered where she was supposed to go.
Upon entering the Time Room, the witch noticed Elderberry and Carrow engrossed in their work. They meticulously engraved runes onto the gears of a time-turner, following the instructions she had prepared the day before. Lost in their tasks, they remained oblivious to Hermione's arrival.
Clearing her throat, she caught their attention. "Hello, Elton and Flora. Have you seen Rowle? She sent me a patronus instructing me to come here urgently."
Elderberry, the senior Unspeakable, regarded Hermione with a serious expression. "Regina left a message for you before she departed. She mentioned heading to the conference room at the Auror's office, as she had an appointment there."
A jolt of curiosity surged through the witch as she tried to make sense of Elton's words. "Why would she go there? What does she want to show me?"
The senior Unspeakable shook his head, his worry evident. "I do not know the specifics. Regina didn't provide me with any details. She only mentioned that it pertained to the Malfoys."
Hermione left the Time Room, and headed to the nearest lift. She pressed the button and waited for the doors to close. The conference room was a large and austere chamber, located in the basement of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It served as a place for obtaining testimonies from convicts and suspects, using various methods of interrogation and verification. The room featured a large table, several chairs, a fireplace, and a one-way mirror that allowed observers to watch without being seen.
The witch had previously testified against Death Eaters in the conference room, those who had been captured after the Battle of Hogwarts. The memory of their faces, the ones who tortured her, killed her friends, and sought to destroy the world, haunted her. As she told the truth and witnessed their sentencing to Azkaban, she experienced a mix of fear, anger, and satisfaction.
Now, Hermione found herself wondering why she had been summoned there. She reached the basement and stepped out of the lift. Walking along the dimly lit corridor, she made her way to the door of the conference room. A knock on the door was followed by a voice instructing her to enter.
Much to her astonishment, the witch stepped into the room and found herself face-to-face with an intense scene. There stood Harry Potter, her closest friend, his wand aimed directly at Draco Malfoy, her long-standing rival from their school days. Malfoy was firmly held in place by a binding spell, confined to a chair. The air crackled with a mix of anger and fear as they exchanged heated shouts, their eyes brimming with emotions.
Regina Rowle, Hermione's boss, stood next to the table, holding a warded box in her hand. She attempted to restrain Potter from attacking Malfoy and maintained a calm and serious demeanor. The room was filled with noise, voices, and arguments.
"Harry, stop it!" Hermione exclaimed, trying to intervene. However, her friend continued to shout, accusing Draco of being a Death Eater and attempting to revive Voldemort.
"Potter, shut up! You know nothing!" Malfoy retorted, his voice disheveled.
"Rowle, let me go! I have to stop him! He's dangerous! He poses a threat to the world!" Harry insisted.
"Thank goodness you're here!" Regina exclaimed, relieved to see Hermione. "I need your help. I have something to show you, something unbelievable."
Feeling overwhelmed, Hermione reached her breaking point. She raised her wand and cast a silencing spell on both wizards. "Silencio!" she screamed.
The room fell silent, bringing a wave of relief to Hermione. She observed Harry and Draco mouthing words, but no sound escaped their lips. The witch felt a sense of sympathy for them and turned her attention to Rowle, who wore a grateful and curious expression. "Regina, what is happening?" she inquired.
The middle aged Unspeakable nodded and gestured towards the warded box in her hand. "This is what the aurors discovered yesterday at Malfoy Manor during a routine inspection as part of Lucius Malfoy's parole conditions. They only found this: a peculiar object that Potter believes to be a time-turner."
She opened the box and presented it to Hermione, clarifying that she did not believe it to be a conventional time-turner. The trainee examined the artifact using her wand and confirmed her suspicions.
Indeed, it was a time-turner, but unlike any she had seen or used before. Its material was silver instead of gold, its sand black rather than white. It also possessed a different shape and size, as well as a distinct mechanism and purpose.
Hermione experienced a whirlwind of emotions as she gazed upon the device before her. It bore a striking resemblance to the prototypes created by Hero of Alexandria, drawing inspiration from the works of the renowned Archimedes. If her suspicions were correct, this was no ordinary time-turner; it had the ability to traverse between dimensions.
Excitement filled her voice as she shared her findings with Regina. "This is a dimensional time-turner," she explained, delving into the intricacies of its operation and the potential consequences. "It possesses two modes: normal and reverse. In normal mode, it functions like a typical time-turner. Yet, it also features a switch that activates the reverse mode. This mode has the power to alter the past, changing the course of history and creating an entirely new reality, erasing the current timeline. But it's never been tested for being too volatile."
Having finished her explanation, Hermione turned her attention to the stunned expressions of Regina, Harry, and Draco. Their faces displayed a mix of shock, disbelief, and curiosity, causing a sense of dread to well up within her. She pondered what might unfold next.
Just as Hermione was about to speak again, a sudden pain shot through her wrist. Glancing down, she noticed her silver bracelet. To her astonishment, it began to glow and sear her skin. Its appearance underwent a transformation, revealing a hidden inscription.
As the witch read the words, her heart skipped a beat. "Your past is not over. Your destiny is not fulfilled. Your time is not up, it's flowing like a tide."
A surge of fear coursed through Hermione as she contemplated the meaning behind those haunting words. She looked up and locked eyes with the peculiar time-turner that was floating in thin air, as if supported by some invisible force. It spun and whirred, emitting a brilliant light and resonating with a deafening noise.
Across the room, Harry and Draco's expressions shifted from amazement to horror, mirroring the emotions Hermione herself experienced. Regina's voice sounded beside her, filled with both warning and remorse. "Do not touch the time-turner. It's dangerous!"
Yet, it was too late. Hypnotized by its allure, the younger witch reached out and made contact with the time-turner. A sudden surge of electricity coursed through her, accompanied by an overwhelming darkness. She felt herself falling, fading away into nothingness. Sight and sound vanished. In her final moments of consciousness, Hermione's mind echoed with the foreboding words of the seer that had haunted her since the previous day: "Your past is not over."