Chapter 2: Neville's Letter
When they entered the Great Hall, they saw Hermione, five fifth year Ravenclaw girls, two second year Slytherin boys, two boys and three girls in seventh year Hufflepuff; and only a few first years from Gryffindor. All of them were seated at one long table in the middle of the Great Hall; the other tables had been put away due to the small number of students staying over for the holidays. Professor McGonagall was standing in front of the table, peering down at them with a stern face.
Uncomfortably aware that everyone was staring at him and Ron, Harry took a seat next to Hermione while Ron deliberately sat next to the Ravenclaws, away from them. Hermione looked at Harry, question in her eyes. Obviously, she had not known about Ron's feelings for her either, but Harry just shook his head to stop her from asking about what had happened between the boys.
"We have called you all together here," began Professor McGonagall, "because of thievery." There was an audible gasp throughout the students.
"What happened?" squealed a small boy in Gryffindor.
"One of my possessions has been taken right from my office. It is one of the most valuable and precious things here in Hogwarts - the Time Turner. The staff has been informed and they are now searching Hogwarts for it. I would like to ask if that person who stole the Time Turner would come forward and return it." When nobody moved, Professor McGonagall sighed. "I expected this. Therefore, has anyone seen anybody with a Time Turner?" Again, nobody moved or answered.
"Please, Professor," said Hermione, her hand shooting up. "How do you know that a student stole it and that you didn't simply misplace it?"
"Miss Granger, the Time Turner was kept in a drawer that was locked. When I returned to my office this morning, I saw that it was clearly forced open and the Time Turner was missing."
Everyone was silent. Who would want to steal the Time Turner? Thought Harry. Didn't they know the dangers of it? "Professor, what if a student who left for the holidays stole it?"
"We are quite aware that that is a possibility, but we felt that it would be necessary to question students here first, as they are the prime suspects." Everyone squirmed uneasily in his or her seats. "How many people know the dangers of a Time Turner and what could happen if it fell into the wrong hands? HISTORY COULD BE CHANGED! Everything that you know and love could be changed forever!" Professor McGonagall stated, a bit hysterical. Then she calmed down, "All of you will report to your common rooms and dormitories to search them for anything suspicious. Then, at dinner, you will inform me what you may have found. This will also give the thief some time to think things over and maybe confess to me and return the item in question. I promise you, whoever you are, that if you confess today, you won't get into as much trouble as you will when we find you out and trust me - we will."
Everyone was quiet as they left the Great Hall and went their separate ways to their common rooms. Ron ignored Hermione and Harry and set off to Gryffindor Tower by himself. Harry deliberately took Hermione's arm and held her back so they could talk. Once Ron was out of sight, Harry finally spoke, "Ron is really angry at us."
"Why?" asked Hermione in a worried voice.
"He said I knew he fancied you when actually I didn't - "
"Oh no," breathed Hermione, her expression sorrowful. "Harry, do you know what we did when we kissed? We broke the best friend code!"
"There can't be a code when I didn't know - "
"There is always a code! `You can't date the girl your best friend likes.'"
"What if I like her too?" Harry said quietly. They stopped walking abruptly.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione cried and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back awkwardly; he had not expected this sort of response from Hermione. He thought she'd say `you still can't date her' or something of the sort.
"Hermione," muttered Harry into her ear, deciding to be perfectly honest. "When I kissed you - there was this feeling inside of me that I'd never felt…it was…We were right. It wasn't there with Cho, or any other girl. This feeling of surety; I knew that I wanted to be with you and only you - I can't really explain it - but I knew it was right. Hermione, we've been best friends since we were eleven. I guess that I never really noticed my feelings for you before consciously . . . but I have always had them inside. It was so sudden . . . I don't know what to do…" he concluded, more confused then before he admitted everything.
"Harry, I felt it too," breathed Hermione. She backed away just far enough to look into his eyes. "I don't know, either. All of this is so unexpected. But I know I want to be with you, too. And then there's Ron . . ." she bit her lip. "I don't want anything to come between our friendship because of what's going on between me and you." Then she paused. "What exactly is there between me and you?"
"Something I can't quite identify but I know that it's good."
"Me too. It is good. I can feel it."
Together they walked back to Gryffindor Tower. Even though Harry was glad Hermione felt exactly what he felt when they kissed, he was still bemused. Why did he have these feelings for Hermione all of a sudden? What was going to happen between him, Ron, and their friendship? All of these questions popped up into his head, yet a bubbling mixture of happiness and dismay confirmed that he wanted to be with Hermione so much that it almost frightened him.
When they entered the common room, Ron was nowhere to be seen. "We have to talk to him," Hermione said to Harry. "Maybe he's up in the boys' dormitory. Let's go check." But when they got up there, Ron wasn't there, either. "Well, we should probably search for the Time Turner while we're up here," Hermione suggested.
They started combing through the room: under beds, in dressers, under pillows and sheets, but to no avail. "It definitely isn't here," said Harry as he sat down on top of Neville's bed. Then he remembered last night. "But, hang on, you know what's weird?"
"What?" asked Hermione, sitting down next to him.
"Neville wanted to ask me something last night, but then you and Ron stormed in and he never got the chance. But, when I turned around to ask him, he was gone, and I haven't seen him since. Do you know if he was staying for the holidays or not?"
"No, I think he was going to visit his Grandmother. But that still is strange, Harry. I'm getting a bad feeling about him disappearing and then McGonagall saying her Time Turner has gone missing - what's that?"
Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment from inside the cover of Harry's pillow. She scanned it quickly and then went stone white.
"What's the matter?" asked Harry worriedly.
"Look, Harry, look!" She thrust the piece of parchment at him. Harry read it carefully, feeling his heart drop into his shoes.
Dear Harry,
I did not get the chance to tell you what I wanted to last night, so instead I'm leaving you with this note. Do you
remember that evening by the lake when you told Ron and Hermione everything you knew about the prophecy?
Harry's stomach lurched unpleasantly.
I was there, sitting on one of those branches in the beech tree above you. I know that I was the other boy Voldemort wanted to kill but he chose you instead. I know that you would have rather him chosen me then you - that's why I stole Professor McGonagall's Time Turner. I'm going back sixteen years to make everything right. I have nothing to live for, Harry, and you do. You have everything to live for. Expect things to change soon.
- Neville
"Oh No, Neville…Hermione, do you know what this means?" asked Harry after he finished reading the letter. "Like Professor McGonagall said, everything is going to change! I have no idea how Neville is going to get Voldemort to try and kill himself when he was little, but if he does . . . well, I don't reckon that it will be good."
"We have to show this to McGonagall," said Hermione quickly. "To see if she can stop him before he does real damage!"
How can she going to stop him? He already left last night - that must be why he disappeared!"
"I don't know, Harry, but we have to show her!"
"Okay," said Harry slowly, trying to calm down. " Let's go tell her."
In a rush they left the boys' dormitories, and hurried through the corridors to Professor McGonagall's office where they hoped the professor would be waiting. Hermione didn't bother knocking. As luck would have it, McGonagall was sitting at her desk, grading some papers when they entered.
"Manners, Miss Granger, Mr Potter! Have you found something?"
"Professor," panted Hermione, "we know who stole the Time Turner."
"Who?"
"Neville Longbottom!"
"What!" Professor McGonagall stood up so fast she sent her cup of coffee spilling over her desk. Ignoring the spill, she gestured for them to sit down. "How do you know this?"
"He left this letter," said Harry, handing her it and sitting down on the edge of one of the seats in front of McGonagall's desk. Hermione did the same on his left. McGonagall read the note through twice, her eyes traveling back and forth at lightning speed, before she returned her attention to the two young Gryffindors. Her face reflected pain as she sat down slowly and bit her lip before addressing the pair..
"Potter, I believe you know what this can do."
"Yes," Harry said shakily.
"Please, Professor, elaborate," Hermione said quietly, "I don't really understand."
"Miss Granger, if Neville Longbottom succeeds in having Voldemort kill him as a baby instead of Harry, history will change itself. Harry will no longer bear the lightning-bolt scar he does today, nor will he have gone through everything he has in the past six years. He would, I believe, still have his parents, though that is not for certain…"
"Then why is it so bad? If Neville wants to do it - "
"Hermione," said Professor McGonagall interrupted sternly, "it's bad and we'll leave it at that." Harry could tell from Hermione's crestfallen face that she still didn't understand. "I'm afraid that there is nothing we can do. You may return to the common room now and I will inform everyone about the Time Turner."
"But, Professor, what are we going to do, sit here and wait for something to happen? Why can't we go back and stop him?" asked Harry.
"Potter, Neville has already caused enough damage. We don't want to further it."
"Isn't it worth trying - "
"It's too late. I'm sorry." The older woman sighed heavily, a single tear tracing down her cheek.
~*~
"Hermione," said Harry as he and Hermione walked back to Gryffindor Tower. "If anything happens . . . which I'm sure it's going to . . . I just want you to know . . ." he stopped walking, took her hands into his, and looked straight into her eyes. "I love you."
Hermione closed her eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek. "I love you too," she breathed as she embraced him. They clung to each other for a long time. When they finally let go, Hermione broke down.
"I hate this, Harry, I really do - why does everything have to be awful? Why can't I stop worrying for even one day? I wantto know that you'll be okay; that nothing's going to hurt or kill you?" she sobbed.
I want you not to worry today, Hermione." He gripped her hand tightly and his voice hardened with his determination and confidence. "Today, there is just us; no enemies or battles. Forget about everything else and live like there's no tomorrow."
"It's going to be hard."
"We can do it." Harry leaned forward and kissed her. And she knew that he meant it.