"Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her,

Alone, shall come fufillment to our dreams."

- Wallace Stevens

Chapter One

Hermione was exhausted.

The world was exhausted.

And seemingly no matter how far she felt the Order got, he got farther. The Order was in shambles and whether or not they wanted to admit it, everyone knew it. Their numbers had dwindled to practically nothing from what they first started out as and they were now more refugees than freedom fighters.

But hope prevails.

It has to. At least that what she was telling herself, telling Harry.

What remained of the main Order had taken shelter in a building that had already been blown up years ago in battle with a charm covering it to make it look like it was still blown apart; not that it made much of a difference on the inside. Hermione's room was more or less a dank basement that constantly made her nose run and her feet and hands cold. Harry had a bed that was 6 feet from hers which he always laid in, facing the wall, when they weren't out on missions.

The war had not been kind to Harry in the years that followed them from school. He was now on the verge of being 18 and no end was in sight. Everyday, more and more of Harry seemed to slip away and it broke her heart more than anything. It didn't seem fair that as Harry got weaker, he got stronger. His numbers got stronger. It made her so angry. How could people join his cause? How could they kill innocent people?

Not that Hermione was innocent in the killing aspect…

She had lost count of how many Death Eaters have been on the receiving end of her Avada's. Harry refused to kill, but in this war, she knew there was no choice. Their numbers were too powerful. They had to be extinguished and although she still believed in Harry, she couldn't keep waiting for him to win the war for all of them. Their lives had to go. They didn't talk about it, but they didn't need to. Hermione wouldn't change her mind and at this point, her wand was etched with Dark Magic.

She didn't like how easy the words came to her lips now, but nothing was easy in this world. The words now effortlessly flowed from her lips as soon as she saw a Death Eater, no hesitation in saying the most Forbidden Curse, and it didn't bother her in the slightest.

And that's where the war found her now. 19, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror as she scrubbed blood from her face and fingernails, her hair, once bouncy and full of life, hung like dull straw around her face. Her eyes had a permanent circle of purple underneath them and she looked underweight, like they all did. Her brown eyes, once alive and bright, now looked like the color of brown, dead leaves that have been under snow that melted. Rotted and soggy.

Tonight's mission was a failure in the sense that the war still raged on, but Hermione knew the Death Eaters were now had 13 less people on their team while they only lost one. She felt a pang of guilt not even knowing the boy's name that was killed tonight, but she knew it was better not to get attached to anybody. The only attachments she had were to people she had known since childhood. And none of them looked at her the same anymore. Hermione was now the master assassin of the Order and she held the title more proudly than anyone would have liked. War has no time for niceties.

"Hermione?" she heard a soft voice from the outside of the bathroom, followed by a light knock on the door," Do you want to talk about it?"

She sighed at her reflection and opened the door to see Molly Weasley looking at her. The once plump, lively woman now was looking just as emancipated as she did and had a haunting look in her eyes that never left.

Losing almost all of your kids will do that to you I suppose… Hermione thought to herself.

"Do I ever?" Hermione smirked," I'm fine."

"Okay, dear", Molly nodded and walked away. Hermione knew she was only asking because she felt she had to, but everyone knew Hermione did not talk about her kills. She didn't need to. It was what it was. She turned to walk down the opposite way from Molly, towards the stairs that led to her shared basement room. She knew Harry would be in bed before even looking. Blood was still caked in his hair, and he hadn't shaved in weeks. She wasn't sure how long it had been since he had even showered.

"Harry, you need to go wash up", Hermione said to him and was met with silence.

Hermione sighed and waved her waved," Scourgify."

Harry said nothing but at least he appeared clean. Sighing, she turned and left the room, heading to the one person she knew she could talk to openly.

"Is he still not talking?" Draco asked.

Hermione shook her head as she passed the cigarette back to him so he could take a puff.

"He never talks", Hermione stated," Not since Ron and Ginny passed."

"That was a bad day for everybody", Draco muttered," Not just him."

It was their bloodiest battle to date. Everyone, on both sides, thought it was going to be the last battle. The battle to end the war, but of course it raged on as it always does. That was the battle that made Draco come groveling to the Order after watching his mother day at the hand of his own side. She didn't kill Ginny Weasley when she had the perfect shot. She had a clear opening and she hesitated, and everyone with a heart and soul knew why. How could a mother kill a child? Draco later told Hermione that Narcissa had only killed when she had needed to avoid being suspicious, but never a child. And the Death Eaters saw that and didn't hesitate to kill both Ginny and Narcissa. Their bodies were later found holding each other.

"I know, I know", Hermione sighed," But you know how much pressure he's under. He is supposed to be the Savior. The Boy Who Lived who is supposed to kill him. And yet here we are all. Not even surviving. Just not dead."

Draco nodded and then they settled into comfortable silence, both sharing cigarettes until the pack ran out. She never had to pretend around Draco, and she appreciated that about him. He had seen horrific, unspeakable things. Had done them too. He didn't judge her like she knew other Order members did. He knew what had to be done and didn't hesitate to use his own Avada's like they were Kleenex to toss away. Hermione would never admit this, but sometimes in her darkest moments, she felt like it was just Draco and her that would stop the war just by killing every Death Eater until none remained.

"Something has to happen, Granger", Draco muttered, breaking the long silence between them," We can't keep going like this. You know we are on the trajectory to lose, right?"

"Don't say that", Hermione hissed quietly," Don't say those words."

"You're only mad because you know I'm right", she saw him turn to look at her. His blonde, white hair was now chopped into different lengths to keep the hair out of his eyes, and like her, dark circles surrounded his gray eyes that now looked like the color of ash, just as dull. You could tell how exhausted everyone's souls were just by looking at their eyes. Every single pair that met hers was dull and lifeless.

"Something has to change", he insisted," We can't keep doing what we're doing. It's not working! If it worked, we'd be done. Everyday he get's stronger, everyday there are more and more Death Eaters. Fighting each other like this isn't working, Granger. We need to change the game."

"What do you suppose we do, Draco?" Hermione laughed crazily," Tell me a new way to fight, to fucking win, and I'll do it."

Draco said nothing, just looked at her with misery on his face. She knew what he meant. She knew he was right. But what was there to do? They've done everything they could think of. Infiltrating, fighting, double agents, bombs, even guns… What else was there at this point besides just killing each other? Draco still said nothing.

"Exactly", Hermione frowned at him," Don't say shit like that unless you have an idea."

Draco got up from their shared bench and stalked inside, not looking back at her.

"Where are you going?" Hermione scowled at his retreating back.

"To figure out a new way to stop this shit!" he yelled back and slammed the door behind him.

"Granger", Draco rapped on her door. She groaned in her bed and looked over at Harry's lifeless form that hadn't left his covers in the week they'd been back at their pathetic excuse of Head Quarters. She looked at her watch that showed it was 2:07AM.

"Go away", she moaned and covered her eyes with her arm.

"Granger, now", Draco hissed through the door," It's H-D, now."

Hermione immediately threw her covers off of her and pulled her boots on, wrapping her hair up in a knot. She opened the door and eye Draco suspiciously," This better be H-D worthy."

"It is", he smirked," Dress warm and protected. We're meeting someone."

"Who?" Hermione pressed.

"Can't say", he shook his head," It will jeopardize everything. But I need you to be prepared."

"What am I preparing for?" Hermione asked with confusion," Are we fighting?"

She holstered her wand at her thigh and buttoned up her jacket, wrapping a scarf around her neck.

"I can't say", Draco told her, eyeing Harry's lifeless lump suspiciously," But you might not come back."

Hermione stared at him with wide eyes. Every time she stepped out of this house she risked not coming back, but something in his voice made it seem like more of a reality than any other time. She nodded solemnly and followed him out, glancing one more time at Harry before shutting the door behind her. If he heard them, he didn't make it known. They opened the front door of the fallen apart building and walked to the edge of the charm filter.

"Wands at the ready", Draco muttered and pulled his out, same as Hermione, gripping it firmly.

"I have your back and you have mine", Hermione grasped his hand quickly and gripped it firmly.

"Always", he nodded, stepping through the charm, letting go of each other's hands. Nothing romantic had ever happened between the two of them, even though Order members suspected it. She knew that some people judged her for that too, thinking she was sleeping with their old enemy, but truthfully, she never looked at him like that or him her. Their comradery came from a place of understanding and not judging each other for anything they did to get through their miserable days.

The roads were quiet. Not even animals or bugs came around her anymore. Death Eaters didn't either, but one couldn't be too safe. Their heads were on a constant swivel as Draco led them to wherever they were going. Not a single word passed between them, but it didn't need to be. They always had each other's backs out here.

They walked until the sun started to come over the horizon, its rays highlighting the rubble that still remained around them. Abandoned cars littered the streets and houses were abandoned. Bones piled high from where bodies were once burned, now collecting dust and homing rats. Hermione didn't even care. She just wordlessly followed Draco to where they were going on autopilot, constantly keeping an eye on her surroundings. Draco had said this mission was H-D worthy and she knew he didn't throw their code word around carelessly.

Draco had been MIA in the past week after their conversation where he told her something had to change. She knew he wasn't mad at her, but she did find it odd that she hadn't seen him hovering around the corridors for secret information or sneaking cigarettes out in the backyard.

"We're here", he whispered and turned left to a house that was half burned down. Towns melted into towns in the world's new reality. London was the only city still standing somewhat unscathed, but it was overrun by Death Eaters at this point. Muggles and Half-Borns alike were slaughtered years ago, no lives being spared. Hermione didn't think she would see an apocalypse in her lifetime, but her she was, not even in her 20's. How fortunate…

"Is something in there?" Hermione whispered back, eyeing the house suspiciously. They hadn't seen a sign of any people around them, but one could never, ever be too cautious.

"Not something", Draco smirked," Someone. I promise you it's safe."

Hermione followed him, still on edge. Who could they be meeting out here? Everyone they both know was back at Head Quarters. They stepped through what was left of the doorframe, the house sagging from their weight.

"Who could live here?" Hermione muttered.

"It's just a meeting place", Draco sighed," We have to go down to the basement."

She didn't know how Draco knew the layout of the house but trusted him regardless. Maybe this is where he was all week...

House shopping, she smirked to herself.

They descended farther into the house, passing by what little trinkets survived the burning of this probably once beautiful house. Hermione lingered at the photo. It was of the family that lived her she assumed. A dad, a mother, and their two small children. They were smiling and wherever they were now, she hoped they were still smiling like that.

"Don't linger", Draco hissed," Time is of the essence."

Hermione eyed the picture one last time and followed him through this once family's home. They got to a door that was charred black from ash and Draco tapped lightly. The door swung open, Draco and Hermione pulled in, the door shutting behind them.

"Hey!" Hermione yelled out and immediately grabbed her wand. The room was dark, cold, and wet, and all she could see was a person hiding underneath a cloak.

"Miss Granger…", a voice spoke out. A voice that Hermione knew all too well, tears already pricking at her eyes," You better lower your wand if I am to give you a hug."

Professor Minerva McGonagall lowered her hood and gave her most prized student a warm smile.

"Professor", Hermione's voice broke as she ran to the old woman and fell into her arms, both of them fall to the ground as they clutched onto each other. She hadn't seen her House Head since the battle of Hogwarts when they promised to stay in contact. Guilt wracked Hermione's body as she realized she hadn't thought about her professor much since then, not bothering to stay in contact and only now, being held in her arms, did she realize how much she missed her.

The battles, the wounds, the deaths, all were catching up to her as she let herself feel comfortable in the warm hug she was now enveloped in, McGonagall letting Hermione cry out all that she needed to.

"I've missed you so much", Hermione gasped between sobs," I am so relieved you're alive."

"As am I dear", McGonagall stroked the back of Hermione's hair.

Hermione's tears started to slow down, and she felt Draco press a hand into her back," I am sorry to cut this reunion short, but there is urgent business we need to discuss and there's a lot to get through in not a lot of time."

Hermione released McGonagall and looked up at Draco," What is even going on? Why are we here?" Turning to her professor," What are you doing here? How did you two even find each other?"

"Who's to say we ever lost contact?" Draco smugly grinned at her," I have my own secrets that I still like to keep to myself."

"Clearly", Hermione muttered," Why are we here?"

"Because something has to change Hermione", Draco kneeled down in front of her," And today it is."

"Not this again", Hermione rolled her eyes and pushed him away from her, so he landed on his behind. She stood over him," There is nothing else we can do at this point besides kill them before they kill us."

"Someone who deals in only death and no options…", McGonagall pondered aloud," Sounds like a Death Eater."

Hermione's heart stopped as she turned to her professor, her eyes wide. Had she really just said that to her? Is that how she saw her? A Death Eater? How could she say something like to her? Hermione did what was necessary! Death was necessary in this fucked up world. Everyone knew that.

"I am not a Death Eater", Hermione hissed, her eyes narrowing at her teacher's statement.

"Then hear Mister Malfoy's plan", McGonagall smiled at her with kindness. Hermione huffed in response, her walls already starting to rebuild themselves.

"Fine", Hermione huffed," What is our new, miraculous tactic, Draco? What is the new plan that is going to win us this war?"

"We're going to kill Voldemort", Draco stated, as if it was the most obvious solution. Hermione actually started laughing at him.

"Kill Voldemort?" Hermione cackled," If only I had thought of that! If only anyone else would have thought of that? That is so revolutionary, Draco! You'll be heralded."

"Oh, excuse me", Draco held up his hand stopping Hermione," I'm sorry. We are going to kill Tom Riddle."

Hermione's scrunched her eyebrows in confusion as she stared at her crazy, white haired best friend," What do you mean we are going to kill Tom Riddle? They're one in the same."

"No, they most certainly are not Miss Granger", McGonagall rested a hand on her shoulder," They are quite different in every way."

"Tom Riddle is still a human in his time, he is still trying to divide his soul and learn how to make horcruxes. He has a following, but it's still small. He is just getting into power, and he can still be stopped. Voldemort… It's too late to stop him", Draco told her.

"You don't know that", Hermione hissed at him," Don't ever say that. There is always hope."

Draco scoffed sarcastically," Oh? Who is the hope? Harry Potter Boy-Wonder who can't even get out of his bed? We're dropping like flies, Hermione. It's too late. There aren't enough of us. And you know it."

Did she know it? In her darkest moments, when she would sit up in her bed, staring a hole into the back of Harry's comatose head, she knew it. But she would never admit it.

"How are we supposed to kill Tom Riddle then?" Hermione asked, ignoring Draco's statement. She would never admit that they had no choice out loud. Her Gryffindor pride couldn't let her.

"Voldemort had every Time Turner destroyed", Hermione reminded them," Probably for this exact reason."

"All but this one", McGonagall held a Time Turner in her hand, connected to a gold chain," Dumbledore left this behind and I have been keeping it safe. He left a note saying that I would know what to do with it when the time comes. And the time has come."

Hermione eyed the beautiful golden orb with the small hourglass with fascination. She was almost positive it was hers from her third year. She hadn't seen one in so long.

Holy shit, could we do this?

"We're going to do it", Hermione gingerly felt the cool gold in her fingers," We're going to go back and kill him, aren't we?

She heard Draco sigh behind her, and McGonagall frowned.

"It isn't going to be that easy, my dear", she told her," There is only enough power in this for one person."

"What?" Hermione asked with confusion," Since when do Time Turner's have a limit?"

"Since this is the last one", she told her," They feed off of each other and there isn't anymore to feed off of. We aren't even sure if there is enough power for the person to come back from a time frame."

"So, we are back at the start", Hermione huffed. What small bit of hope was quickly extinguished.

"No, we're not", Draco told her," We already knew that. The plan can still work, but there is a catch. There is really only one person capable of this. That can go back in time and won't be jeopardized by the people and families already there, who is strong enough to fight Tom Riddle, and clever enough to get close to him without him suspecting."

They both stared at her while his words started sinking in. He meant her. They all knew it.

"You want me to go back and kill Tom Riddle?" Hermione whispered to herself," Me? How? How am I, a Mudblood, going to get close to someone like Tom Riddle and his junior Death Eaters?"

"Don't call yourself that", Draco frowned at her," And because he won't know. How would he? No one knows your family there. You're the first witch in your family. I can't go because I look too much like my grandfather, Abraxas, and Professor McGonagall is already in the timeline, having graduated from Hogwarts already. You are the only chance we have with this. He won't recognize you."

Everything he was saying made sense and it scared her because she was starting to rationalize it in her head already.

"How am I supposed to pull this off though? Look at me!" Hermione gestured with her arms out," I'm a mess. I don't exactly reek of Pureblood privilege."

"We'll teach you. We'll come up with your new life, your new personality. A family to get attached to, how to get money. We will go over Dumbledore's writing entries that have Tom Riddle in them to prepare you, I'll teach you everything you need to know about him and where he's at in his life before you get there."

Hermione didn't say anything as she thought it over… Could she do this? Could she get close enough to kill Tom Riddle? She had to try.

"But just know", Draco interrupted her thoughts and gripped both of her shoulders in his hands," You might not be able to come back. Are you ultimately okay with being stuck there if that's the case?"

Hermione looked away from him and really thought about it. Would she be okay never seeing anyone at Head Quarters again? Never seeing Draco again or anyone in this timeline? Everything she knew would be gone, even her. Hermione Granger would be no more. She would have to live her new life. Is this really a life to hold onto though? Everything was dead around her, including herself.

"What do I have else to lose?" Hermione smiled grimly at him.

"I'll do it."

xoxo