Chapter Text
Location Unknown
September 7, 1998
Hermione reread the letter that she had received while she was staying at one of the Order’s safehouses for the twentieth time.
Dear Louve,
Panthère, Aigle, and I have made an interesting discovery. One that might be able to help and change our current predicaments. I hope this letter finds you well and that you remain determined to fight for them.
I can make no promises that you will want to follow through with what we have discovered, but you are our last hope. You are the last light shining through all of this darkness. I know you have already sacrificed everything for us. However, hopefully, this will be the last mission we give you during this time.
If you would please meet us at the place where sweets are loved and often spoken of. Please do on the birthday of Chien. At the time when you and I would often have tea.
With love,
Chatte
P.S. I would absolutely adore if you brought some Lemon Tarts with you.
Hermione took a deep breath and folded the letter to put it back in her trusted beaded bag. She was nervous. They had lost so many. Harry, Ron, Neville, Tonks, Remus, Molly, Fleur, Fred… she couldn’t think about him right now. She needed to meet McGonagall, Moody, and Kingsley. It was her idea to use their patronus forms as a way of addressing each other. And the French translation was because McGonagall and she would often discuss their love for France when they would have tea before the world went to hell.
Sighing, she continued on her path through one of the many secret passages from Hogsmeade to the castle. McGonagall was smart in her letter. Using Sirius’s birthday and Dumbledore’s old office as a meeting place.
She, however, had some very strong feelings for her deceased Headmaster. Using children as pawns for the ‘greater good’. What an absolute load of horse shit.
Making her way through the castle under the invisibility cloak that once belonged to her brother in everything but blood, she managed to reach the entrance to the old Headmaster’s office.
Hermione removed the cloak and whispered, “Lemon Tarts”. The gargoyle made way for her to enter. Upon entering, Hermione looked up to see Professor McGonagall, Mad-Eye Moody, and Kingsley Shaklebolt all hovering over many books.
Professor McGonagall was the first to greet the young witch, “Hermione dear, I am so happy you decided to come. I know the castle brings back a lot of harsh memories for you.” Hermione gave her a soft, tight-lipped smile and sighed, “Thank you, Professor, but I could not help but feel some sense of hope for what you have discovered,” Hermione replied.
Hermione had always adored Professor McGonagall, and the feeling was quite mutual. While Molly Weasley was a constant motherly figure in Hermione’s life. Professor McGonagall was the first person to welcome her to the Wizarding World. She became a safe space for Hermione growing up with prejudices because of her blood or being bullied for being an “insufferable know-it-all,” as Snape so eloquently put it.
Hermione then looked over to Moody, who was watching her with some sort of hope and gratitude, which made her nervous.“Evening lass, I’m glad you still have some fight left in ya.” That did earn Hermione a quiet laugh, only because McGonagall scoffed at the Auror’s improper English.
Kingsley, who had become a great mentor to Hermione over the past few months, came over to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “Happy to see you again, Miss Granger. Please come sit and listen to what we have found. I understand you are probably overwhelmed and nervous, but there is no one else better suited for this mission. And please hold all questions until the end of Professor McGonagall’s explanation.” Hermione always found it quite humorous that Kingsley and McGonagall had fought together in two wars, and he still referred to her as Professor.
McGonagall nodded, reached around the desk to grab a rather large tome, and proceeded to hand it to Hermione. Hermione scanned over the text, which referred to a special spell ‘Fata Temporis,’ which Hermione knew translated to ‘Fate of Time.’ To say Hermione was intrigued and nervous was an understatement.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, which caused Hermione to look up, “I know this must be overwhelming, dear, but seeing as you have experience with alternating time, we thought you would be the best person for this feat. This particular spell is very different from the use of a time-turner, seeing as there will not be two of you, but your timeline will cease to exist at all. Fata Temporis will send you to a specific moment in time. A time that fate determines will have the most positive outcome.”
McGonagall sighed and sat down while she continued, "Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee what time you will be sent to. It could be 1937 before Tom Riddle became a student here at Hogwarts, or it could be 1994 before Peter Pettigrew made him into a ‘being’ again.”
She reached out and grasped the young witch’s hand, “Alastor, Kingley, and I have all agreed that you are the brightest witch since Rowena Ravenclaw, and you would succeed no matter what time you are sent to. I know this is asking everything of you, dear, and we would not ask if there were any other valuable possibilities. It saddens me to ask this of you.”
Hermione listened and nodded along while McGongall spoke. She understands that everyone in this room has lost so many people and that the Order is barely standing anymore. Ever since Harry fell, the Order not only lost their ‘Chosen One’, but a brother, friend, student, boyfriend, and their hope for the light to win. Hermione would do this for Harry.
Hermione smiled, “Professor, if you are telling me that there is the slightest chance that we could rewrite the past for a better future, then I owe it to everyone to try. We are living in constant fear and pain in this timeline. I will do it for Harry.” Professor McGonagall smiled at her, but it did not quite reach her eyes.
Kingsley was the one who spoke next in his low voice, “Miss Granger, I hope you understand that you will not be able to return to this timeline. No matter where you end up. Your parents will not have a daughter named Hermione. You will keep all of your memories of this timeline. The spell will also alter your age and appearance. Some scars could remain, and others might disappear, but that will be determined by fate.” Hermione knew that was a possibility, and while she would miss her parents terribly, she could not help but think about all of the children that have lost their parents to death at the hands of a noseless git.
All the while, she wrapped her hand around her left forearm, praying that the cursed slur would not follow her to whatever timeline or the awful purple one across her chest. Hopefully, fate would grant her that small win. But knowing that fate also graced the wizarding world with the snakeface fucker, she did not count on it.
Hermione nodded and ran her hands through her coarse curly hair, “I understand, Kingsley. I know what I am sacrificing, but Lily Potter sacrificed herself because of the love of her child. I would dishonour that memory if I chose to be selfish now.” At the mention of Lily Potter, the woman who has haunted the snakeface fucker, everyone in the room agreed. Her sacrifice and love have always been the true message for the Order of the Phoenix, that even in darkness, the greatest power is love.
The three adults nodded and shared looks with one another before Mad-Eye stepped forward and looked Hermione in the eye, “That takes a great deal of bravery, courage, and fight, lass. I am proud of ya. Since we do not know exactly when you will be arrivin’ we have each written detailed letters to our past selves in case you come across one of us. Only give these letters to us and no one else. Ya hear me?” Hermione nodded and took the three letters from the Auror.
Hermione, though ever the swot, “Seeing as we do know that I will appear sometime between 1926 and 1998. I will have to encounter Professor Dumbledore. And he will probably spew some shite about ‘the greater good’ or ‘bad things happen to witches who meddle with time,’ and I will not be able to lie to him. My occlumency is good, but he is the best Legilimens of all time!” Hermione spat. It was no secret that Hermione had a certain disdain for Albus Dumbledore, but he would be one of the biggest obstacles on this journey.
Professor McGonagall anticipated this reaction from the young witch. While Minevra also had respect for Albus, she could not help but agree with some of the opinions Miss Granger held for him.
Reaching into the desk, Minerva pulled out a fourth enclosed envelope and handed it to Hermione. “Hermione dear, I know you carry some ill feelings towards Albus, but I encourage you to look past your feelings towards him and try to speak to him calmly when you do encounter him. I know this will be hard, but I do have faith in my old friend to see that his way is not for the best.” Hermione reached out and grabbed the letter from her. For a second, Hermione thought she could just burn the thing when she is sent to… well, wherever the hell fate decides to send her, and no one would ever know. But she trusts McGonagall too much for that.
McGonagall continued. “This letter is from me to Albus, when you meet him. And I have faith that he will listen and help you. Please just try to remain calm when you meet with him and keep your composure.” Hermione nodded and put all four letters into her beaded bag. Earning a snort of amusement from Alastor, seeing the illegal extension charm on the bag.
Kingsley spoke, “Alright, seeing that we have discussed and you have agreed, it is time to start the spell.” Moody and McGonagall nodded and started to form a circle around Hermione.
“Remember lass, that fate will bring you there for a specific reason. You must stay focused on your mission and bring him down. Trust your instincts. We believe in you. Also, seeing as you are giving up this life for the lives of the world, please try to live a full life while you can.” Moody gruffed out that last part. He nodded and patted her back once. Probably the most affectionate the Auror has ever been in his life. Hermione thought it was endearing.
McGonagall wiped a stray tear that fell. She wrapped Hermione up in a tight embrace and whispered, “We will meet again soon, dear. I have had the privilege of teaching you and watching you grow up into a wonderful young woman. Take care of yourself, Hermione dear. Until we meet again soon.” McGonagall gave her one final squeeze and a kiss to the head. Hermione would miss her the most.
Kingsley approached her with a hand on her shoulder, “Hermione, you are doing the entire Wizarding World a service. We cannot thank you enough for this sacrifice. Be safe and never forget to turn to those who care for you.” Hermione smiled at Kingsley. He was truly a great man. He also might be one of the most handsome men with dark skin and bright brown eyes.
Hermione smiled at the three mentors in her life who believed in her so much to fix everything. “Thank you, all of you, for trusting me. And thank you for everything you have all done for me throughout this life. I hope fate somehow brings us together in some way again. I know how important this is, and I do not take it lightly. I swear to Merlin, though, if I end up as the twin sister of Draco Malfoy, I will be pissed.” That earned some laughs, even McGonagall, who was not a fan of the language, gave a slight chuckle.
Together, Mad-Eye, McGonagall, and Kinsley stepped in a circle around Hermione and began the spell. Kingsley spread salt in a circle, in which Hermione stepped into. In the middle of the circle, a small bowl of sand, representing Time. Next to it, a compass representing the journey of life, which is Fate. Their wands all glowed different shades of gold.
Hermione was too focused on all the thoughts circling her brain. She thought of Harry and how he might have the chance to grow up with his parents and possibly even siblings.
She thought of the Weasleys and how their family would be whole again. That thought did bring Hermione a twinge of sadness, thinking about Fred.
Sweet Fred, who harboured a crush on her throughout their Hogwarts years. She still remembers him running up to her and kissing her the night of the final battle. His declaration would always feel ingrained in her brain. “Hermione, I have loved you for as long as I have known you. Your swotiness, hair, and laugh are my favourite things on this planet. I know I have the absolute worst fucking timing of any man, but I needed you to know in case I never get to look into those eyes ever again.” Thinking about it just made her want to sob all over again.
She never did get to talk to Fred about the kiss or his confession. The sight of his body on the Great Hall floor felt like the Cruciatus curse all over again. The laughter and life were gone from those beautiful blue eyes. His once fiery red hair was now a dull scarlet colour. His smile, which was once filled with jokes and joy that brought goodness during dark days, was now blue and lifeless.
Blinking back tears, Hermione returned to the present. She would do this for everyone who lost someone. She would take down Tom git-face Riddle. And she would do it so happily.
Mad-Eye stepped forward, holding out a small dagger, “Ok lass, one last thing and you will be gone. Two drops of blood should do the trick.” Hermione grabbed the dagger and pricked her forefinger until a drop of blood fell onto the compass and then one onto the bowl of sand. “And remember lass, Constant Vigilance.” And with a wink from Mad-Eye, Hermione fell into the darkness.