Prompt: "I can't do this on my own."

After Neville had quieted down, Hermione placed the almost-asleep boy in his crib and shuffled out of the room. She didn't want him to see his mother's corpse, but she had to get to Frank. He'd been Crucioed for a few seconds and was likely in both physical and mental pain—not to mention the emotional pain he was going through.

She entered the living room and walked over to Frank, who was still clutching onto Alice's body like his life depended on it. His face was blank, his eyes almost dead, and when Hermione knelt in front of him, he didn't even react to her presence.

It was like seeing an older Frank Longbottom in St Mungo's all over again.

Hermione let out a shaky breath and murmured, "Frank, can you hear me?"

No response.

"My name is Hermione Granger. I'm… I was supposed to help you," she explained. "I'm sorry for what you're going through, but your son, Neville, needs you."

Again, no response. Frank's face remained as blank as a canvas.

Hermione sighed and got to her feet. Frank didn't seem like he was going to move any time soon, so it was up to her to do something about this. But what could she do?

As if Fate had heard Hermione's thoughts, Augusta Longbottom arrived in the living room with a loud crack. She took one look at Frank and Alice and screamed. Dropping her handbag onto the floor, Augusta ran towards Frank and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Merlin, oh, Merlin, oh, Merlin! Frank, are you alright? Alice—wha—oh, Merlin! She's—oh, Merlin! No…"

Frank still didn't respond. He sat there, his arms wrapped tightly around Alice, while Augusta clutched them both to her chest, tears streaming down her face.

Augusta looked up and met Hermione's gaze. She shot to her feet and whipped out her wand. "Who are you? What are you doing here? How did you get through the wards?"

Hermione raised her hands and kept them in Augusta's line of sight. "My name is Hermione Granger. I'm a Muggleborn," she said, remembering how fearful people were in this time. "It's not important how I got here; what's more important is that Bellatrix just Crucioed your son."

Augusta gasped and whirled back to face Frank. Falling onto her knees, she grabbed his shoulder and shook him hard. "Frank, can you hear me? Look at me, son. Frank! What's wrong with him?"

"He's not responding," Hermione explained, her heart breaking all over again for the Longbottoms. "We need to get him to St Mungo's. He needs medical attention as soon as possible."

Augusta nodded, but her eyes were blurred with tears.

"Mrs Longbottom…" Hermione started to say, but Augusta interrupted her.

"I can't do this on my own. Not again…" Augusta's shoulders were slumped and her usually-perfect posture was nowhere to be seen. She murmured to herself, "I'm not strong enough for this."

"You are." Hermione placed her hand on Augusta's shoulder. "Your son and grandson need you to be strong. I'm here and I'll help you out as much as I can."

Augusta looked up, grief evident in her eyes. "But why? Why would you do this for us? You don't even know us."

"I'm… You won't believe me, but I'm a friend of your grandson. I'm from the future."

"Lies!" Augusta barked, swishing her wand.

Hermione placed her hand on her heart. "I swear on my magic that I'm telling you the truth."

She flipped her hand over and cast a wandless and silent Bluebell Flames. When the flames appeared, hovering over her palm, Hermione said, "See? I'm telling you the truth."

"You… Oh, Merlin, this is too much for me to take," Augusta muttered, rubbing her hand over her face. Glancing at Frank, who still hadn't moved, she whispered brokenly, "I don't know what to do…"

"I know you're strong enough to handle this," Hermione said solemnly. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "If I may… I could help out with Neville for the time being. You could focus on helping Frank with… everything."

"You'd do that for us?" Augusta frowned and then shook her head. "No, I can't just hand over my grandson to someone I know nothing about. Yes, you said that you're from the future, but that doesn't mean I can trust you with Neville."

"What would you like to do then?"

Augusta stared at her for a few moments before she asked, "Do you have anywhere else to go?"

Hermione shook her head. "I just arrived here, and I only know of a couple people that I could trust, but they're… let's say 'unavailable' at the moment."

Augusta frowned but nodded her head. "Very well. You will stay with us, but remember that I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Hermione said. She pulled out her wand and gestured at Frank. "May I help bring him to St Mungo's? I'm a certified Healer in my time, and we recently developed a cure for the Cruciatus. If we hurry, the damage to his nerves might not be as strong as intended."

Augusta's brow furrowed, but she didn't ask any questions. After a few tries, Hermione Levitated Frank away from Alice and towards the Floo. Augusta tossed in some Floo powder and called out, "St Mungo's!"

Herding a grown man, who seemed to have been Petrified, into a fireplace was no easy feat. After a few tries, Hermione simply wrapped her arm around Frank and draped his arm over her shoulders before hauling him into the green fire.

The image of a crying Augusta on her knees beside Alice's body was seared into Hermione's brain as they disappeared from view.