Chapter 1: A New Beginning
The battle was over.
The Great Hall of Hogwarts, once filled with cheers of students and whispers of secrets, was now a sombre graveyard. Broken tables and shattered glass reflected the cold morning sunlight as the castle mourned its dead. Bodies of friends and foes alike lay beneath hastily conjured white sheets, their lifeless forms a stark reminder of the cost of victory.
Harry Potter sat on the edge of a toppled bench, his hands trembling as they gripped the Elder Wand. The infamous Deathstick. His scar ached faintly, though Voldemort was no more. The victory felt hollow.
"Harry," Hermione's soft voice cut through the silence. She knelt beside him, her hand resting on his. "You did it."
"We did it," Harry corrected, though his voice lacked conviction. He met her gaze, her warm brown eyes a balm to his frayed nerves. Her face was smudged with dirt, a gash on her cheek poorly healed in the chaos. She looked as exhausted as he felt.
The weight of everything threatened to crush him. The deaths of Fred, Lupin, Tonks—so many people he cared about. Could it have been prevented? Could he have done better?
Hermione seemed to read his mind. "You can't blame yourself for this."
Harry let out a bitter laugh. "Can't I? Every step of this war felt like walking blindfolded on a cliff's edge. We got lucky. So many didn't."
Hermione squeezed his hand. "And that's exactly why they fought. To give you the chance to stop him. You did, Harry. Voldemort is gone. We can rebuild."
Harry nodded faintly, though the words didn't comfort him. What was there left to rebuild? Even if the magical world could heal, he would never forget the faces of those he'd lost.
As the morning sun rose higher, casting long shadows across the ruins of the castle, Harry made a decision. He couldn't let these sacrifices be in vain. If there was even a chance to undo some of the damage, he would take it.
That night, long after the castle had quieted, Harry stood in Dumbledore's old office. The portraits on the walls were silent, their painted inhabitants watching him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
He had spent hours poring over Dumbledore's journals and old texts he found hidden in the office. The Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility—the Deathly Hallows together held untold power. There were legends of their ability to bridge the barriers of time.
Hermione entered quietly, her footsteps hesitant. "I thought I'd find you here," she said, glancing at the open books. Her eyes widened slightly as she realised what he was researching. "Harry, no."
Harry turned to her, his face resolute. "Hermione, I have to. If there's a way to go back, even just a few years, I could stop so much of this. Fred, Tonks, Lupin… Sirius… maybe even my parents. They could all live."
Tears welled in Hermione's eyes. "And what about us? Harry, if you go back, you might change everything. We might not even know each other. You can't predict what time travel will do."
Harry hesitated, her words cutting deep. The thought of a world where Hermione wasn't by his side was almost unbearable. She had been his constant, his anchor. But the alternative—a world without the devastating losses they'd suffered—was equally painful.
"I can't ignore this, Hermione," he said quietly. "If there's even a chance, I have to try."
Hermione stepped closer, her hand reaching for his. "Then I'm coming with you. If you're determined to risk it, I won't let you face it alone."
Harry opened his mouth to argue but stopped. He knew better. Hermione's stubbornness was legendary, and truthfully, he didn't want to do this without her.
"Alright," he agreed. "We'll do this together."
With her help, they spent the next few hours deciphering ancient incantations and piecing together the ritual. The Deathly Hallows hummed with latent energy as they prepared.
"Are you sure about this?" Hermione asked one last time, her voice trembling slightly.
Harry nodded. "I have to be."
As the spell reached its climax, the room filled with blinding light. Harry felt Hermione's hand tighten around his, and then everything disappeared.
When Harry opened his eyes, he was no longer in Dumbledore's office. Instead, he found himself in the Gryffindor common room, the fire crackling merrily in the hearth. Hermione stood beside him, her eyes wide with shock.
The room was as it had been years ago, untouched by war. A calendar on the wall caught Harry's eye.
It was September 1st, 1991.
Their first year at Hogwarts had just begun.
AN: This is my first story I have ever written so apologies if there is any error, and please give me feedback in the comments.
I will probably post the next few chapters in the coming week or atleast by next week. Enjoy :)