The Finale…
Hermione sat uncomfortable in her chair as she tried to stay still and stop fidgeting. The heavy black clothes she wore were uncomfortable, especially as she had to cover her whole face as much as she could while she was here, and this made her head throb uncomfortably throughout the service. She slammed herself hard for not wanting to be there.
But then again attending your own funeral was never going to be easy.
The last two days had passed in a blur for her. The last memory she had was of stepping in front of Voldemorts spell and the green light filling her sight, and then when she finally came to she was in a hospital bed, being fussed over in hushed whispers as people gawked at her. It took her time to realize why they seemed so intensely interested in her, and then she realized why she was still alive. And what the other Hermione must have sacrificed in place of her.
She looked around the room at the weeping people, and wanted to run. These were faces she had always known, her favourite auntie weeping over her death. Friends and family had all come together to mourn her death.
And then her breathe was taken as she saw a person that previously had only ever been in pictures. Her father was holding her mothers hand as she cried into his chest. Hermione's heart threatened to give in at this, to shatter into a million pieces at what this world was showing her, but she still couldn't tear her eyes from him.
In all the pictures he had always been a grinning early twenties boy, naive and young, taken too early into his life. And here he was before her now, grown and mature, grieving over the loss of his child. She didn't know if she wanted to run to him for comfort or run from the church in tears. Her father, alive and kicking, was heartbroken.
`You shouldn't really be watching them' Harry's hushed voice floated into her head as he sat down next to her.
`Why not?' Hermione said feeling her heart breaking as she carried on staring at them.
`Because it won't end well' Harry said warningly.
`What could happen just by looking?' Hermione said snapping her eyes onto Harry.
`How did it go the last time you didn't listen to me?' Harry said, a steeliness was apparent in his voice as he looked determinedly away.
Hermione felt like she had been slapped round the face, and the only thing that stopped her from returning that slap to Harry was the fact that he was right. It had been her who had come back, against his wishes, and so it had been her fault they were now at Hermione's funeral.
She balled her hands together and looked downwards. There was nothing she could say, nothing she could do to escape the consequences of her actions. She had gone blundering into something without thinking things through, against all of Harry and Albus' wishes, and now the world were under this roof bearing the outcome.
Hermione still had no idea what had happened after she had been knocked out. Harry had briefly explained that the killing curse could only kill one person, so she had luckily lived. He had painfully explained how because Hermione had died protecting him, that he was left with a protection that meant Voldemort couldn't touch him, and his killing curse had rebounded back on him. The only part Hermione really understood was when he said that he had been protected by love.
Hermione stole a glance around the room and saw many people she couldn't recognize. Ron was with his large family, all upset and crying, while Remus was sitting down blank faced in pain besides a man twice the size of a normal human. Harry didn't look at any of these people and seemed to be determined to keep to himself, even though the whole room kept on shooting him nervous glances.
They were nearing the end of the funeral, the priest had spoken at length about what a loss the war had been for everyone. How God would take in all those millions of souls lost, and how the ones responsible would have to stand up for judgement. Her mother had read from the bible, and one or two others had said heartbreakingly beautiful words about her. She, this worlds Hermione, had been loved.
The cremation was about to begin and Hermione could feel her throat tightening and tears coming as the casket started to lower into the ground, ready for the bodies final act.
The room had gone stone silent, only the sounds of sobs echoing against nothing. But as the machine spurned into life, and the casket started making its way into the ground, Harry took her hand.
`I can't do this…I thought I could, but I can't' Harry whispered rapidly, silent tears strolling down his face, his voice breaking with sorrow as he stood up and pulled her after him.
He pulled her along the aisle, all faces turning now to look at what was happening, but Harry kept his face straight ahead unblinking till they got out.
`Harry…' the giant said as they walked past his aisle, his voice breaking up between sobs as he looked down from his height at Harry.
`Not now, Hagrid' Harry said, his voice without emotion and not even turning to look at the giant.
Hermione followed Harry as they tried to walk out of the church, she was wishing that no one would recognize her, and thrown even more confusion and heart break into the day, but by Harry almost running out she knew she couldn't guarantee it.
She could hear murmuring around the room, and from her peripheral vision see people were even standing up and craning their necks to get a better look at them as they ran from the funeral but as they reached the exit a man stepped in front of them to block there paths. And for the first time since the war, since so many lives had been lost, they were face to face with Ron.
`You said you'd protect her' Ron said standing in front of Harry.
`Ron…please…' Harry said, pleading laying in every syllable.
`No!' Ron shouted, his face reddening to match his blood shot eyes `you promised me that she'd be safe!'
`And I'm sorry' Harry said looking at his once best friend.
`No your not! You have her!' Ron said throwing Hermione a distasteful look which Hermione couldn't blame him for under these circumstances `I trusted you when you said she'd be safe, and I didn't even get to say goodbye!'
`If I could swap places with her, don't you think I would?' Harry said, anger in his voice as he looked down at his feet `don't you think I'd change things if I could?'
`You have a time machine!' Ron said disbelievingly, his voice shaking with anger.
`I can't change it' Harry said looking up at Ron `I cant cross my own time line…'
`You always have an excuse' Ron said shaking his head in anger at Harry `and the excuse is always because another person has died for you…'
Harry stood dumbstruck looking at Ron, completely lost for words. The room was silent and Hermione knew all eyes were now on them as they stood there facing each other for several long seconds.
Ron finally seemed to gather what he was doing, and with one last look of distaste moved out of the way. Harry carried on looking at Ron for a few seconds, before turning to face the exit and walking through.
Hermione ran after him, catching him effortlessly, and fell easily into step with him as they walked down the quiet street.
`Harry…' Hermione started.
`Please don't' Harry interrupted shaking his head `I don't have the strength left'
`But I'm here for you… when you want to talk' Hermione said slowly. Harry turned to her without breaking step and shot her a weak smile.
Hermione thought she could hear something and stopped to look around, but the street seemed empty.
`What is it?' Harry said looking at her with an eyebrow raised.
`Just thought I could hear something, that's all' Hermione said stepping up closer to him.
`Really?' Harry said scanning the quiet street interestedly.
`It's nothing' Hermione said shaking her head `it's just been a long day'
`We just found out you have magical powers, and you want me to believe hearing things is nothing?' Harry said sceptically.
`Harry!' a new voice bellowed from down the street breaking their concentration.
Hermione wheeled round to see who had called this, and saw an old man walking towards them. Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that this guy looked something like an old tired lion as he limped up closer to them, a fake smile on his face.
`Scrimgeour, your still minister?' Harry said, his voice sounded both amazed and mocking.
`Voted in by a landslide majority' the man said grinning.
`Well…' Harry said disbelievingly, before he shook his head and planted a smile on his face `good for you!'
`Thank you, Mr Potter' the man said genially as he inspected Harry `and may I say how pleased I am that you were once more around to help the Ministry'
`Help the Ministry?' Harry said throwing his head back in laughter `I beat Voldemort again!'
`I assure you my Government had plans' Scrimgeour said with a smile.
`Sure' Harry said looking at he man as if amazed by what he was saying `may I ask why you've left a funeral early to talk to me?'
`Official business, I'm sorry' he said, but his smile didn't look sorry at all `but what is this I hear about a time machine?'
`Oh' Harry said blinking in confusion, before adopting the voice of an adult speaking to a two year old `its for travelling through time'
`You have one?' Scrimgeour said frowning at Harry's lack of tact.
`Yeah' Harry said coldly.
`May I confirm that you know all the laws about time-travel' Scrimgeour said frowning even more `and more specifically Section 32 of the Temporal Declaration?'
`That time travel is illegal under any and all circumstances' Harry said brightly `of course I know it'
`Good good' Scrimgeour said, still frowning heavily.
`But I don't listen to it' Harry added as brightly as Hermione had ever heard him. She knew how much Harry loved being in trouble, and how this was exactly what he needed.
`Well, you must realize that since you have returned that that behaviour can't carry on?' Scrimgeour said determinedly. Hermione noticed that the mans eyes shot onto Harry's wand, only for a fraction of a second, but enough to tell her that he was ready for a fight.
`I will carry on…' Harry said stepping forward, face to face with the man. Harry may have been younger and slimmer, but somehow he seemed to fill more room than the Minister.
The man seemed to take a small step back, before regrouping and stepping back face to face with Harry, determined not to back down.
`Then you will be seeing Minister Aurors soon' Scrimgeour said menacingly.
`You do not want to threaten me…' Harry said, his voice low and sharp which made the hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stand on end. The voice seemed to belong to someone other than her Harry.
`I'm the minister of magic!' the man said confidently `and you're just some kid who got lucky!'
Harry shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.
`I use to be a man who had so much mercy, forgave nearly anything…and I wish that man was here right now…that I was him once again…' Harry said all this as he looked into the distance `but I'm not'
`What do you mean' Scrimgeour said confused.
Harry's eyes shone brightly for a second and Hermione thought she saw something…something…inhuman…behind them. But as quickly as it had sparkled it had disappeared.
`This is what I mean' Harry said angrily `I'm a completely different man now, different to what you remember, and even different to how I was a week ago…and if you think for one second even that you can try and bully me into anything then you are much mistaken'
`The law and society is on my side' he said forcefully.
`And so am I…' Harry said leaning in closer to the ministers face, his voice getting lower and more menacing `and because of that I'll give you the greatest bit of advice ever given throughout time…'
Scrimgeour seemed almost worried as he looked into Harry's eyes, and Hermione wondered if he had seen a glimpse of something.
`What is it?' he asked interestedly.
`Stay out of my way…' Harry said forcefully `now, in the future, and even in the past…because if our paths cross again, and during any of them your in my way…'
Harry leant in even closer and just stared into the mans eyes, who seemed to be struck dumb at Harry's behaviour.
`Just stay out of my way' Harry said slowly as he turned away and started to walk of down the road once more.
Hermione turned on her foot and chased after him, falling into step beside him. Hermione was breathing quickly, not because of the walking they were doing or her injuries, but because Harry had actually scared her just then, something he had never done before.
`Have you really changed?' she asked quietly.
`I guess so…' Harry said without looking at her.
Hermione didn't know what to say as she walked beside him. A week ago everything was different. Now the war had touched so many, and while she had survived she wasn't so sure Harry had. Not the same Harry he had been before it, anyway.
`What are you going to do?' Harry said as he stopped and turned to face her.
`Um…' Hermione said feeling her heart beating faster.
`I'm rich in this world…' Harry said seriously `really really rich…I can buy you a house and make it so you have money for your entire life…I even have a lot of sway over at Hogwarts and could arrange for you to be trained in magic?'
`Oh…' Hermione said slowly `and what about you?'
`Same old life' Harry said shrugging `travelling from one adventure to the next'
`And you don't…' Hermione said nervously `you don't want me to come?'
`Of course I do!' Harry said laughing.
`Then why offer that?' Hermione asked feeling herself calm.
`I didn't think…after everything…' Harry said running a hand through his hair as he looked at her smiling weakly `this life is difficult and dangerous'
`So what's different?' Hermione said laughing.
`This world will be harsher, more powerful' Harry said smiling at her.
`So you're lucky I'll be there to save you then!' Hermione said grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him forward. The air was getting chilly now and she wanted to get to wherever they were going.
`I guess time will prove if your right' Harry said chuckling slightly before he added `I hope you don't mind but I took the device from you while you were unconscious?'
`Its yours' Hermione said truthfully, feeling slightly abashed that she had just taken it before.
`Firstly, it's ours' Harry said turning to face her `and secondly, watch this'
Harry raised a set of keys from his pocked, the set of keys she had seen everyday for a year now, and pressed the button on the front.
Hermione's heart leapt as she heard her favourite noise in the world, the rumbling of an engine ripping through time and space. It was quieter than a normal car, and phased louder and the quieter, but with every second her adrenaline pumped more and more.
And then it appeared, the blue Ford Anglia she thought she'd never see again. Her home.
After doing the really embarrassing girl thing of squealing and hugging Harry which she was mortified about, she ran to the door and pulled it open and stepped in.
For days she had been stuck in another world, a world where she was dead and now friendless, but standing there, in the large open room of the Anglia, she couldn't help but feel at home.
She pulled of her hat, removed her glasses and scarf and took one long deep breathe. She felt alive again, fresh and finally happy once more.
`You like what you see?' Harry said stepping in after her and walking up to the pensieve, stroking it in the way he usually did as he reached it.
`I love it!' Hermione said joining him around the centre. She noticed that her chair was there in the right place and a crazy thought hit her `how did you get this back?'
`It was easy' Harry said, the silver fog shading his face magnificently `you just have to know where to look'
`But I thought you said the archway was locked now?' Hermione said, now daring to hope a little more `that we couldn't go back to my world?'
`We cant go back to your world…' Harry said stopping what he was doing and standing up properly to face her, sadness shadowing his features `remember that I couldn't use that device from your world to get back here because it would fracture the world…this world isn't any different, if we use that device this world will end…the archway is a doorway to the void, and I needed it…pulling yourself from nothing to something is easy, especially as you are technically something, its kinda like osmosis…but it cant work the other way around.
`So how did you get the Anglia back?' Hermione asked, her stomach falling slightly.
`This is the original' Harry said looking around the interior `I've known this car since I was twelve'
`Oh' Hermione said, her heart falling down slightly as hopes of seeing her mother was dashed. All she could do now was try and not think about what was lost, to save that for another day, but to concentrate on the future `so why did you have a car when you were twelve?'
`That's a long story' Harry said with a smile `and one day I may even show you'
`So you had the Anglia in my world because of this old thing?' Hermione teased.
This isn't just some old thing!' Harry said mock hurt `this car once saved me from being eaten by a bunch of oversized spiders!'
`How can a car do that?' Hermione asked curiously.
`I forgot to say… this one is a little different to the one in your world' Harry said smiling to himself as he looked down at the pensieve `it's…slightly…alive'
`How can something be slightly alive?' Hermione asked in genuine interest.
`It doesn't have a brain or organs or even a proper digestive system' Harry said grinning `but…it'll be more fun if you find out as we go along!'
`Your idea of more fun isn't the same as everyone else's!' Hermione said laughing as she lowered herself into her chair. She knew Harry was now on a roll, and that very soon they'd be going somewhere. It was Harry's way, that glint in his eye, that signalled when a new adventure was going to start.
`Your sense of fun is the same as mine' Harry teased `otherwise why else would you still be here with me?'
`Um…' Hermione said pretending to think hard about the answer `maybe it's the witty banter your so good at!'
Hermione laughed as Harry used both his hands to grab at his heart as if he was mortally wounded by her words, before rolling his eyes and standing back up to look down into the pensieve. Hermione noticed that his wand was now ready in his hand.
`So, where to?' Hermione asked, her heart pumping faster with adrenaline.
`A million places…we have a whole new world to explore' Harry said sighing, his eyes sparkling with excitement `I guess your going to have to see Hogwarts, meet the Weasleys, you gotta see some Quidditch, Sirius…oh and your probably gonna have to meet my parents some time'
`Your parents?' Hermione stuttered out, her heart beating faster for an entirely different reason now.
`Yeah, but don't worry' Harry said with a worried look `I've never met them either'
Hermione looked at Harry as he stared at the pensieve and could almost see the gears turning inside his head. Harry had the whole of time and space once more before him, with a world he hadn't even seen yet. She couldn't believe how hard a decision he had been faced with.
`Any ideas where to first?' Hermione asked after a few seconds of contemplation.
`Plenty' Harry said distractedly.
`And are you gonna choose one today?' Hermione teased.
`I got it!' Harry said spinning around in excitement and dropping to his knees before her.
Harry was now so close that he had both his hands on her legs, and Hermione felt her heart fluttering once more. It felt like an eternity had passes since they were last this close, within real touching distance of each other, and she wished that it would never end.
`This is something I've always wanted to see, but it was impossible in the other world' Harry said, his words dripping with anticipation as he removed his hands from her legs and stood up to walk over to the pensieve `maybe, if I'm super lucky, then maybe…'
`Are you going to share this with me?' Hermione asked eagerly.
`Nope' Harry said laughing as he pushed his wand up next to his forehead `it's a whole new world for you, so you'll have to wait to see it with your eyes!'
`A whole new world' Hermione said softly as she looked up at Harry from her chair. He was pulling the thoughts from his mind with a boyish grin that she had feared she'd never see again.
`And it's gonna be…' Harry said dropping the thoughts into the pensieve as he grinned at her, the twinkle going like crazy behind his deep green eyes.
`Fantastic'
*
The End…
-->