"When you can't go back, you only have to worry about the best way forward."

Unknown

Hermione woke up slowly, the sunlight in her eyes. It had been so long since she had been awake like this. It was she who saw the dawn break, not the other way around. Anyway, everything was going to change from now on, or so she hoped. She observed the room she was in. She was certainly not in the cauldron, the room was brighter, bigger and cleaner. Minerva entered the room and saw that Hermione was awake.

"Good morning Miss Granger, did you sleep well?"

"It was fine, I didn't have too many nightmares. But please, can you be on first-name terms with me, you used to do it before and it's very distracting."

"Of course, Hermione. By the way, would you prefer me to call you Hermione or Helena?"

"Hermione's fine, I'm not used to Helena yet."

Hermione got up and went to the bathroom, before going to the kitchen and having breakfast. She was eating quietly when she saw Remus coming into the kitchen. He had already eaten and was ready to go out.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere, at least not yet. We need to think about what we're going to do."

"Destroying the horcruxes, killing Voldy, it's not very complicated" she wryly said.

"You know what I mean, the horcruxes, we know about them but we don't know where they are at this time. Voldy is not yet at the peak of his power, he won't be for another year and a half, two years."

"That's why we're going to destroy him before he tears more family apart than necessary."

"It's not that simple, Hermione."

"So what are we going to do? Wait for him to take over, wait for half the Order to be killed?"

"The order doesn't exist yet."

Hermione's eyes flashed, her anger visible, and Minerva stepped in to calm their discussion a little.

"From what you've told me, Albus had an important role in the fight against Voldemort. The founder told you that you must be united, that you must blend in. You have to go to Hogwarts."

The two travellers looked at each other, they knew very well that Hogwarts was the place with the most memories, full of happy and sad, horrible moments.

"It can't be done, it's beyond me" they said in unison.

"Think about it. Albus has not yet found a teacher to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Even if this place has been a monstrous battlefield for you, it is an undeniable opportunity. You can join the order as soon as it is created and make a place for yourself, working with a team. That would be for a year, two years at most."

"Remus can be a teacher, he already was, but me? I'm well past the age of going to Hogwarts. I'm twenty-two, almost twenty-three!"

"You could change your appearance with human transfiguration, making yourself a few years younger shouldn't be too difficult."

"I know more spells than all the seventh years put together! I have nothing left to learn there."

"I think Minerva is right, appearances are more important than anything else. You'll hardly get any options, you can skip the history of magic. We'll have a year to do our research on where the horcruxes are hidden, we can destroy the one at Hogwarts. How else do you want us to get in?"

Hermione seemed to think about Remus' proposal, even though she was not happy about it. Going to Hogwarts without Harry, without Ron, Neville, Luna and all the others. She would see them at every class, at the corner of every corridor. It would be unbearable.

"It's not like I have a choice, is it? But you do realise that you're going to have to teach yourself? James, Sirius, Lily, the traitor and everyone else I don't know. It'll be hard. We'll have to convince Dumbledore, create a plausible story about our arrival in the UK, find a place to transform..."

"We'll manage. Don't worry" Remus tried to convince himself.

"We have no choice anyway, we have to do it, for them."

Minerva had sent an owl to Dumbledore to tell him about a friend who knew a lot about Defence Against the Dark Arts, who could take on the job of teacher without any problems. The three friends were eagerly awaiting a response, which they hoped would be positive, for an interview. Hermione, with the help of several spells, had made herself look a few years younger, so that she appeared to be of Hogwarts age. They had invented a whole life for themselves, with the help of Minerva. They would be Spanish wizards, of British origin, to explain the lack of accent, who on the death of Hermione-Helena's parents had wished to return to the land of their birth.

For the moment, Remus and Hermione were standing in front of the entrance to Ollivander's shop. For safety's sake, especially for Remus' wand, they were going to change wands. Hermione was reluctant to do so, but Remus finally convinced her by assuring her that she would only use it in public. For their training, the witch could always use Harry's or her own.

They entered the shop, to a surprised Ollivander's, surprise that there were no first years in the shop. Remus explained that they both needed new wands, the others had broken in a fight. The explanation was a bit flimsy but the wizard didn't insist. Remus soon found a new wand, with a unicorn hair, like the previous one but with a mahogany wood instead of cypress. It was twenty-nine centimetres long and more rigid than his first wand. For Hermione, it was more complicated. She tried dozens of wands, but none worked. Ollivander even gave her his old wand, unbeknownst to him of course, but just like the previous ones, nothing happened. It was two hours after the first attempt that she finally found her wand.

"This is really strange."

Hermione remembered what Harry had told her when her wand had been chosen. The wand maker had kept saying the word 'strange' and had told her about the twin hearts. Hermione didn't know what to expect, but she didn't have a good feeling about it.

"This wand is one of the first wands I made, years ago. I didn't think I would ever sell it. It is made of yew wood. Its heart is extremely special, I have never sold one like it. It's a thestral hair inside. I think you know what that means. Your destiny is irrevocably linked to death. Very closely. I wish you great courage and strength, Miss Grace. I think you will need it. You will accomplish great things."

Hermione remained pensive, a thestral? She didn't even know they were in wands. They were such special animals. Hermione liked them, despite the fact that they reminded her that her friends were dead. The witch walked out of the shop, still in her thoughts. Her wand was very special, just like her situation, she thought. This wand had been waiting for her for many years, the woman with a destiny linked to death. What was going to happen next time? Meet Death like in the tale of the three brothers? Hermione laughed mockingly and shook her head at the absurd thoughts.

Remus and Minerva were sitting on the terrace of Florean Fortescue, talking about Hogwarts when Hermione joined them. She sat down and ordered a butterbeer, while she told her two friends about the strangeness of her wand.

"A thestral hair? That's really surprising, I've never heard anything like that."

"Neither have I, that's the problem. I have absolutely no idea what the characteristics of thestral hair in wands are. I'd done some research during the horcrux hunt with Harry and Ron on the properties of wands, particularly on hearts and different woods, but I've never heard of a heart like this. But that's not all. He can never have a single problem with Herm- Helena Grace, no that's too much to ask."

"What else is there?"asked Remus, letting out a small sigh as he passed.

"The wood Rem', the wood."

Remus didn't seem to immediately understand what Hermione meant, but the only other yew wood wand he knew of was the one...

"Can you believe it? A thestral hair and yew wood? The same wood as Voldy's wand!"

"I'll never get used to you calling him Voldy. This is ridiculous!"

"That's the point. Voldemort was taboo in our house. We've grown accustomed to calling him that. Since he's not satisfied with Tom Riddle, we're not going to satisfy him by calling him he-who-must-not-be-names or you-know-who, so Voldy's perfect.

"So you're English but you've always lived in Spain."

"That's right. My parents always loved Spain and when they got their transfer there, they took my sister and I with them. They hired a wizard to teach us and we stayed there. My sister married an American, hence Grace, who is not very Hispanic, and they had Helena, my niece."

"And how come you are her guardian?"

"My sister and her husband died when Helena was ten, and I've raised her ever since."

"And how did you meet Minerva?"

"Five years ago, Helena, thinking she was alone, did some magic by a lake and Minerva saw her. So she explained to her that you can't do magic like that, in plain sight. My niece then told me what happened and we talked a lot with Minerva and became friends. "

"Good, good. Do you think you can teach a whole class? I saw that your niece learned a lot from you, but it's very different to deal with one person and a whole class, it takes a lot of time to prepare your lessons."

"I know that, but I think I can do it. It's already mid-August, Professor, I think you need me, as I need you. But there's one thing I haven't told you, I have a special condition, I'm a werewolf."

"That's not a problem, Mr Lucas. I have a student who is one too, you will see, he is an exemplary student, with a slight penchant for pranks all the same."

Dumbledore smiled a mischievous smile, which Hermione would have hated, but which Remus appreciated.

"That means I have the job."

"That's right, Mister Lucas, or Professor Lucas from now on. I expect you on the thirtieth of August for the start of the new academic year."

"One last thing, I know it's unusual to enroll students in the middle of their school career, but would it be possible to get my niece into Hogwarts? She's never done a proper year but she's old enough to be in seventh year and I'd love her to socialise a bit."

"Very well, I'll send you the application by owl-post. Have a nice day."

Two weeks had passed since Remus and Dumbledore had spoken. On the thirtieth of August, as agreed, Remus and Minerva arrived at Hogwarts for the start of the new school year. Hermione had been given permission by Dumbledore to stay in the castle for the two days before the start of the new school year. She wouldn't have to take the Hogwarts Express and cross the Black Lake in a boat either, much to her relief. It would have brought back too many memories and although she wouldn't admit it, even under torture, Dumbledore had saved her a good while of horrible nightmares mixed with memories.

Officially, the two days were to be used to visit the castle and learn how to find their way around, but instead Hermione took advantage of the fresh air in the park and went for a walk by the Black Lake. She visited the thestral and met Hagrid there. She introduced herself and struggled not to think about the tragic death of her friend. She chatted with Hagrid for a while but left after an hour, and returned to her solitude. She wandered through the corridors of the castle. Every time she turned a corner, every time a staircase moved, she saw her friends laughing, running, just being happy. When innocence still hovered over their heads.

When she reached the Astronomy Tower, Hermione could not hold back her tears. For her, this tower was synonymous with all the moments she had spent with Harry, during their sixth year. Whenever something went wrong, they would go there and talk, cry. Neither of them judged the other, they were free. This year was a very dark year. The death of Sirius was still hanging over their heads. They talked a lot about what they would do when this whole war was over. Travelling the world, studying, jumping off that tower. Every day there was a new possibility. They had a darker period than the others, when they both had suicidal thoughts. First Harry and then Hermione, she saw her friend sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness and plunged with him. And so Remus found Hermione, at two o'clock in the morning, curled up in the corner of the Astronomy Tower, her cheeks streaming with tears.

"Hermione, Mione. Don't stand there, you'll catch a cold."

"Harry."

It was the only thing Hermione could say. Remus took her in his arms and carried her to his chambers. Dumbledore had given Hermione a dormitory for the two nights she would be without a house, but Remus had no idea where said dormitory was located. He gently laid Hermione on her bed and administered a dreamless sleep potion. He took his new wand, it was strange to have a new one after more than thirty years with the previous one, and turned his couch into a second bed, before sinking into a dreamless sleep.

Hermione was woken by the voices of Remus and Minerva, talking a little too loudly.

"I think you should warn her. It's bound to come as a shock to her when she sees them. They'll be twenty years younger. Their characters have probably changed a lot since she last saw them. All the students walking through the corridors, the first classes, all that will bring back good memories, but they're not just memories anymore. You saw how she was last night. At two o'clock in the morning, in a t-shirt in the astronomy tower. She was on the verge of hypothermia."

"Would you stop talking about her as if she wasn't there?"

"Hermione! Are you awake?"

"Of course I'm awake, Rem', otherwise I wouldn't be talking to you. What do you have to say to me? You can close the curtains, the sun's blinding me. "

Hermione realised what she had just said and that the sun couldn't be that bright in the morning, especially in Scotland. So she asked what time it was and nearly choked on the answer.

"Two o'clock? What on earth have you got me drinking?"

"A dreamless sleep potion."

"What was it? It can't be true."

"What is it now?"

"Did you really make me drink the dreamless sleep potion? I promised Ron I'd never drink it. We've seen too much of the damage it does. You take it once a week, then once a day, then once an hour. It's a horror, this stuff. It's not enough to erase everything. No matter what anyone says, it's a drug! You didn't just give me this, did you? I wouldn't have slept so much otherwise."

"I gave you a Muggle sleeping pill. I'm sorry, Hermione, but you should have seen yourself. I thought you were going to die of sadness and cold. That's what Minerva and I were talking about. Tomorrow you're going to see a lot of people we've known. But you should know that the ordeal has changed us a lot. Especially us marauders. James is still very arrogant, but much less so than in previous years. Lily is going to go out with him at the beginning of the year and he will calm down."

"Except with Snape."

"Yes, that's true. But it's Sirius I wanted to talk to you about. He's nothing like the man you knew. His years in Azkaban have changed him terribly. He's more cocky, but don't hold that against him. As for me, I wasn't very well during that period. My mother had just died and I let James and Sirius harass Snape. I was afraid I'd lose my friends if I went against them. You need to control yourself and not kill Peter every time you see him. Don't make that face Hermione, I know you, you'd be perfectly capable of it. The similarities with your friends will be striking. Alice looks a lot like Neville. Hannah looks a lot like Seamus, although you shouldn't see much of her, she's in Hufflepuff and James... He's the spitting image of Harry. They're really two carbon copies, physically at least. But don't confuse them. James isn't Harry."

"I know that, Rem' don't worry."

The afternoon had passed quickly enough, and so had the next day. Remus had prepared his lessons for the coming weeks and Hermione had gone for a walk in the Forbidden Forest and strolled through the shops in Hogsmeade. It was already eighteen o'clock and Hermione was starting to stress. She kept telling herself that there was no reason to be anxious, but she couldn't help it. She put on a black wizard's robe, without the Gryffindor crest and tie to adorn it. The last time she had worn a wizarding robe like this was at Dumbledore's funeral. Remus found his 'niece' sitting on his sofa, staring blankly.

"Hermione, we'll have to go. I know it's not easy for you, but it's not easy for me either. That's why we're going to face this together. You'll be under the flag after the first few years. Minerva will get you in right after their ceremony."

"Great, I'll get even more attention."

"I don't think so. If you'd gone in with them, all the students would have seen was you. Seriously, Hermione, you're two heads taller than them. Dumbledore will announce your arrival and you'll be safe after the ceremony."

Remus ended the discussion and took Hermione by the arm and the witch complied, with a few grunts all the same. They walked towards the main door and Remus turned to Hermione and gave her some recommendations.

"Don't forget Mione, don't attack Peter, don't confuse James with Harry. We'll be fine. Hogwarts is watching over us."

To illustrate his words, he took the necklace out of his wizard's robe and brought it close to Hermione's ring. As he did so, the jewels began to sparkle more brightly.

"If you have any doubts, look at me, but don't look back at the tables. You're staring at me or at Minerva. I'll go. Hagrid will be here soon with the first years.

Hermione waited alone in the corridor for a few minutes. She could hear the students coming into the Great Hall, as loudly as possible. When the volume dropped, the first years came in front of Hermione. Hagrid nodded to her and led the students past the Head Boy and Minerva. Innocence hovered over their heads and Hermione would have cried for it, it seemed like a long time ago. But no, she had not yet entered the Great Hall, she could not cry yet. She breathed in and out several times and the doors to the Great Hall opened before her.

Remus was sitting between Slughorn and Minerva, fortunately for him. She was calling the first years in one by one and Remus was trying to focus on the newcomers and not on the students sitting at the Gryffindor table. When the distribution was over, he saw Dumbledore stand up and speak.

"Dear students, no, it is not yet time to start the Back-to-School Banquet. There is one last person to be distributed. She has come all the way from Spain and will be finishing her schooling at Hogwarts. I would ask you to give her the warmest possible welcome."

The doors opened on Hermione. She walked with a purposeful step, not caring about the whispers in her path. A new student in the middle of the year was something totally unheard of and the students knew it. Her gaze fixed on the Slytherin table and she saw her old potions teacher in the middle of the others. He had changed, but all Hermione could see was his corpse. No, Mione, you mustn't think about that, no rotting corpses tonight. Her eyes flicked over to the Gryffindor table and she saw the marauders heckling happily while Lily, she recognised immediately, stared at her pensively. Don't cry, don't cry. She looked at Remus who gave her a look of encouragement. She clutched her rings and waited for Minerva to say her name. She put the hat on her head and waited for the verdict.

Helena Grace, or should I say Hermione Granger? Don't think too hard, I just know it. A former Gryffindor, isn't she? So, where shall I put you? You're very loyal to your loved ones and you love hard work, but you obviously don't have the patience or kindness that characterises Hufflepuff. You are very intelligent and wise, but not creative enough to enter Ravenclaw. You have great ambitions and extraordinary courage, you are as cunning as you are brave. But you are too impulsive to be sent to Slytherin. So I'll put you in:

GRYFFONDOR.

The students began to clap, and Hermione rushed to her table, sitting at the end, next to the first years, as far away as possible from the students she had met in her past. As soon as the meal was over, she rushed out of the room and headed for Remus' chambers.

The Gryffindor seventh years were discussing their holiday in their common room when Lily and Remus came to sit with them.

"Hell with the first years this time. They're supposed to be eleven, not five" Lily began.

"That was Lily, don't exaggerate"

"So did you talk to the new girl?"

"No, she hasn't set foot in the common room. Yet her stuff is in our dormitory, in the unoccupied bed. But a new student in seventh grade. What could have brought her here?"

"I don't know, but she doesn't look like she belongs here."

"Black! Why do you always have to be such a killjoy?

"I say that because she emanates dark magic from a mile away. Didn't you feel her aura?"

"I felt it too, Black, but she doesn't look evil. She's in Gryffindor after all."

"Don't be innocent Lily, just because you're in Gryffindor doesn't mean you can't be a Death Eater" Alice retorted, opening her mouth for the first time since the discussion.

Hermione walked into the common room at that very moment, attracting all eyes. She was about to head for her dormitory when a voice called out to her.

"Grace, come with us."

She recognised the voice, it sounded very similar to her son's, just slightly deeper. Hermione turned and walked over, forced to accept James Potter's request.

"Why didn't you come with us to the banquet?"

"I don't know you" she lied, "I wasn't going to mix with you like that, I don't even know you."

"Why don't you introduce yourself? We don't know you either" the traitor asked.

Hermione didn't look at him and replied in a nonchalant voice:

"Helena Grace, eighteen soon, witch, my blood type is A-, what more do you want to know?"

Pettigrew didn't know what to say and preferred to cower inwardly. James did not, and asked him another question.

"Blood status?"

"What do you care?"

Calm down Hermione, he married Lily, he's not anti-muggle, it's over.

"That's what wizards normally do, they give their blood status and wand composition."

"Half-blood, yew wood. Mr. Potter is satisfied? Why should I introduce myself in full when most of you haven't said hello to me? Politeness is the least I can do. On those, I'm going to bed."

Hermione stood up and made a Snape-like cloak movement before walking up the steps to her dormitory, leaving the seventh years stunned. They didn't know her and they didn't know if she was a Death Eater, but they were sure of one thing, she had a lot of nerve.

"Did you see her ring?"

"What ring?"

"Mary is right, her ring was really beautiful, almost magical."

"It's already late, shouldn't we go to bed? We've got school tomorrow."

"Right, Head Girl, right away, Head Girl" joked James and Sirius.

The seventh years climbed into their dormitory and fell asleep more or less quickly, each one immersed in their own thoughts.