"Meddling With Time"
A/N: I OWN NONE OF THESE CHARAACTERS, JKR DOES.
HERE IS THE THIRD OFFERING. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT. LET ME KNOW
HOW YOU FEEL.
Chapter 1 Unbearable Sorrow
Harry Potter was physically and emotionally exhausted. He didn't have the strength to stand anymore, he collapsed to his knees. He was battered, bloody, and every square in of his body screamed with pain. However, considering what his condition could have been, he didn't think he was in that bad a shape.
For this was the day of the final battle, between Lord Voldemort and his supporters, and Harry Potter, his friends, and members of the Order of the Phoenix. There had been many casualties and injured, but the Order had overcome almost insurmountable odds and destroyed all of Lord Voldemort's followers. And Harry, with great courage and determination, had finally succeeded in destroying Voldemort.
Albus Dumbledore was the first to approach Harry.
"Harry, are you all right?" he inquired.
"Yes, Professor, just a few scrapes here and there. Nothing Madam Pomfrey can't handle," answered Harry with a weak smile.
More people were making their way over to Harry. Some, to make sure he was okay, others to thank and congratulate him on saving the Wizarding world from the clutches of the Dark Lord.
With everyone's attention on Harry, no one noticed the lone figure in the shadows behind them. Bellatrix Lestrange, one of Voldemort's most loyal followers, knew she didn't have much time left. She knew she was dying, but she wasn't going to let Potter get away with killing her master. She was trying to work herself around the crowd so she could have a clear path to Harry Potter. She was nearly there, but she could feel her strength fading quickly. Her vision was blurring. She tried to keep focused. She decided it was time, and fought to gain a standing position. Once she was up, without warning, she screamed,
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Everyone was caught unaware. Many had turned to see where the sound had come from. Even Harry looked up in surprise. They all saw the flash of green light flying through the air. But in her weakened state, Bellatrix's aim had been off. Instead of hitting Harry, the Killing curse hit Hermione square in the chest.
Everyone was in shock, frozen in place. Ron and Ginny were the first to react, and in unison, sent their own Killing curses towards Bellatrix. Both curses scored a direct hit. She was lifted off the ground and thrown twenty feet through the air. Then she slammed the ground hard. She never moved again.
Harry never saw any of that. His complete attention was on Hermione. She stood there for a moment, as if nothing was wrong, but then she slowly crumpled to the ground.
Before he knew what he was doing, Harry was up, sprinting towards Hermione, his pain and exhaustion forgotten. His soul was screaming at what he had just witnessed.
How could this happen? He had just destroyed Voldemort, he would finally be able to tell Hermione that he loved her. She wouldn't be in danger anymore.
He approached Hermione and knelt down beside her body. He gently brushed a lock of her bushy hair out of her face, it felt so soft. He just looked at her. The young woman that he loved more than anything in the world now lay in front of him, dead. She would never know how he felt about her. He slowly picked her up and held her in his arms, slowly rocking back and forth, his heart breaking.
Slowly, everyone came over and formed a circle around Harry and Hermione. He could hear several people crying, but something was keeping him from shedding a tear. He wanted to cry, to grieve for his love, but something wouldn't let him.
Professor Dumbledore made his way over to Harry and knelt down beside him. Harry didn't know he was there until Dumbledore gently put his hand on his shoulder. Harry looked at Dumbledore and saw the tears on the headmaster's face.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," he said with great emotion.
Harry looked at the professor and said, "Headmaster, there must be something we can do? A spell? A charm? Something? With all the magic in our world, there has to be something that can bring Hermione back."
Dumbledore answered sadly, "Harry, even with all the powerful magic we have, there is no magic that can bring back the dead. If there was I would have used it in an instant to return our Hermione to us."
He could see the unbearable pain in Harry's face. The headmaster stood up slowly and instructed everyone to make their way back to Hogwarts castle to have any injuries looked after in the infirmary.
Dumbledore knew Harry wanted some privacy with Hermione. The crowd slowly broke up and headed back to the castle. At last, except for the headmaster, Harry was finally alone.
Harry was at a complete loss as to what to do. He was helpless. The young woman he loved was now dead. His reason to live had been taken from him. How could he continue through life without his love? He could not bear this great pain inside him the rest of his life. It was too powerful, all consuming. He would never know her touch again; her voice, her comfort, her love, were now completely lost to him. He could not bear this. He wanted to die.
Dumbledore quietly walked over to Harry and softly said, "Harry, we need to get you and Hermione's bod…"
Harry screamed, "Don't say it! Please, don't say it! I can't bear to hear it!"
Dumbledore realized what he almost said and corrected himself.
"I'm sorry Harry. We need to get you and Miss Granger back to the castle. You need to go to the infirmary and be examined by Madam Pomfrey."
Harry agreed with the professor. He gently picked up Hermione and carried her toward the castle.
During their walk to the castle, all his memories of the past came flooding into his mind. Everything he and Hermione had been through together since they first met at Hogwarts. The first time on the Hogwart's Express, trying to keep the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort, fighting the basilisk, helping save Sirius and Buckbeak.
Harry's heart skipped a beat. Why hadn't he thought about it before? In their third year, in order for Hermione to take all of her classes, and to save Sirius' and Buckbeaks' lives, they had used a Time-Turner.
A Time-Turner was a small magical hourglass attached to a chain to wear around your neck. It would allow its user to go back in time.
Why couldn't he use a Time-Turner now to set things right? During the rest of the way to the castle Harry made his plans. He knew what he had to do. He was not going to go through life without Hermione.
Once they got back to the castle, they went straight to the infirmary. As they entered, a hush fell over everyone, their attention drawn to Hermione's body in Harry's arms. A number of people burst into tears, even Madam Pomfrey had tears streaming down her face.
It took several minutes to convince Harry to put Hermione down in one of the infirmary beds. Only when they swore they would not touch her, did he put her down in one of the beds.
Madam Pomfrey examined Harry, but only found minor cuts and bruises, no permanent damage. Amazing really, considering what he had been through. After giving him a potion to take care of his injuries, he was free to go.
Before leaving the infirmary he went over to Hermione. He stood there for several minutes. He gently picked up her cold hand and held it in his.
He spoke to her softly, "Hermione, I know you can't here me, but I'm going to take care of this. I will bring you back to me. I cannot go through life without you. I love you Hermione, and you will know this. I swear to you on my life that I will bring you back."
He bent down and softly kissed her on the cheek.
Harry left the infirmary and made his way to Dumbledore's office. After riding the stairs up, he knocked on the door.
He heard the headmaster say, "Come in."
After he entered the office, Professor Dumbledore asked, "I trust Madam Pomfrey took of any problems you may have had?"
Harry answered, "Yes, professor, she did a fine job. Sir, I need to talk to you. I think I have a plan to help Hermione."
Professor Dumbledore looked puzzled.
"Harry, exactly what do you mean? There is no magic that will bring back the dead," said the headmaster.
Harry explained, "Yes sir, there is no direct magic that will bring back the dead. My plan is to go back to that time, before Hermione was killed, and prevent it from happening."
With a concerned look on his face, the headmaster said, "Harry, are you suggesting using a Time-Turner?"
"Yes sir. If you remember, we used one in our third year to save Sirius and Buckbeak. I'm going to use one to save Hermione," said Harry.
Dumbledore looked at Harry thoughtfully and said, "I understand what you feel you must do, but I must remind you that meddling with time can be very dangerous. There are cases of horrible things happening to people who alter events in time. I do not condone what you plan to do, but I understand why you feel you need to do it. I cannot stop you from doing what you feel is right. All I can do is ask that you be careful. Do you know where to obtain a Time-Turner?"
"Hermione told me that Professor McGonagall has some in her office," said Harry.
'Alas, Minerva is at St. Mungo's recuperating from some minor injuries," said the headmaster.
"That's okay. I know where they are and how to get one," said Harry.
"Very well, Harry. Just remember, it is imperative that you not be seen. Also, when you complete your task, go wait in the Gryffindor common room. Keep your invisibility cloak on. You will know when you can remove it. Oh, and Harry, you may find two turns should be sufficient," said the headmaster.
Harry knew in his heart that Dumbledore wanted him to succeed. Before leaving, Harry looked at the headmaster and said,
"Sir, I know this is a serious undertaking. I do not enter it lightly. I am prepared to accept whatever consequences that may come my way for what I'm about to do. It is worth it to me to take that risk, if I can bring Hermione back to me. She owns my heart and soul, and without her, life is not worth living. "
When he finished, Harry turned and left the office. He didn't see the lone tear slide down the headmaster's ancient face.