Hermione stared at her younger self through the bars of her cell. The fifth year was glaring at her mature counterpart with unconcealed contempt. "How can we be the same person, when you're willing to trap Harry in this fiction?"
"Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?" Hermione replied, dismissively.
"I don't! I could never do this to…"
"You didn't sit idle while they dragged Harry to his death! I can't, I won't let it happen again. If I have to make a deal with the devil to keep him safe, so be it," Hermione said, bitterly, looking away from the girl she'd been. There was a part of her that hated her younger self, she was still young and idealistic. A reminder of everything she'd lost by not following her heart. It felt somehow right to lock her in here and make her watch as she was rewarded for those years of suffering.
"So, you're ok throwing away all those lives? Letting our parents be murdered by that monster. So you can live in a fiction and play house with Harry?"
Hermione glared at her and scowled. "You can't possibly understand what I went through. How I suffered. You should be thanking me, because of me you won't have to."
"What about Daphne, what about her happiness?"
Hermione laughed. "Would you really have shared Harry with her, just to preserve her happiness?"
"I…" Hermione paused in thought, frowning.
Hermione nodded. "That's what I thought. We could never let Harry be with another woman. We're too insecure about our looks to ever let him take another woman to bed. Because we know he'd leave. Cho, Fleur, Tonks, Susan, Daphne, Lavender; they're all prettier than us. We both know it, no matter how much Harry tries to claim otherwise. He's a good man, but we've both seen how his eyes undress Daphne."
"Just because he looks, doesn't mean he'd cheat. You're creating even more fiction to justify this insanity to yourself," Hermione said as she approached the door of her cell. "Stop this, please. You're not helping Harry, you're hurting him. If he ever found out that our love for him helped destroy the world, he'd never forgive himself. You know that."
"If he found out, which he won't. Harry and I are going to live a life of blissful ignorance. Sheltered from a world that doesn't deserve him."
Hermione watched her older self disappear and dropped to the floor. She'd given up trying to escape for the moment. The cell was impervious to damage, no doubt because it was a mental construct rather than a physical cell.
Daphne slowly withdrew from Harry's mind and sighed, rubbing her temples. "Damn it…"
"My mind is a steel trap," Harry said smugly.
"The joints need oiling…" Daphne replied sarcastically.
"Still no luck?" Harry asked, turning serious.
"Unfortunately, no, whoever constructed that barrier was an expert in memory manipulation," Daphne replied.
"I think I'm close to a breakthrough with my Legilimency studies. I should be able to join you soon."
"Good, I want to see how the wall reacts to your direct intervention."
"Thanks for today. I'll book another appointment with your assistant for next week," Harry said, getting up. He paused near the door. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Not at the moment, Neville is working late grading papers at Hogwarts. Why?"
"Hermione took Zoey to see her parents. They're having dinner and then staying the night. I would like to cook dinner for you, as thanks for helping me."
"You and I alone… do you think that's a good idea? You're already sneaking around behind Hermione's back."
Harry paused and thought for a few seconds. "Yeah, maybe not. Another time?"
"Of course," Daphne agreed, she felt a tinge of regret as she watched him leave. She wanted to spend more time with Harry. She wasn't ready to confront the feelings that spending more time with Harry had inspired. She'd never regretted marrying Neville until now. She'd been perfectly satisfied with her life. Until Harry walked into her office asking for her help.
Daphne shook her head, letting her blond hair fan out around her. "No, this is stupid, you're not in love with Harry bloody Potter…"
Harry dumped his work shirt in the laundry basket and retrieved a sleeping shirt from the dresser drawers as Hermione entered their bedroom. "She's finally asleep, I had to read the Tale of Beedle and Bard to her three times before she finally drifted off."
"That's our daughter, just like her mother," Harry said, smiling.
"Thankfully she takes after me, otherwise we'd have to worry about her doing ridiculously dangerous things like playing Quidditch," Hermione said.
"Can't have that happen, can we?" Harry added with a grin.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous," She replied, Hermione walked over and kissed Harry on the cheek, looking into his eyes with worry. "Harry, you'd tell me if you felt there was something wrong with our relationship, right?
"Of course, have I done something to make you think I wouldn't?" Harry asked, turning around to embrace his wife.
"Some friends who work at St. Mungo's said you've been spending a lot of time in Daphne's area recently…"
"Oh, that," Harry replied quietly.
"Oh that?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"I've been getting some advice from Daphne about how to better regulate my thoughts. If I can't get rid of these nightmares, I can at least try to control them," Harry explained. He locked his thoughts behind a wall. Hermione was a skilled Legilimens, but Harry had plenty of practice with his Occlumency by now. He knew how to hide his thoughts from her when he really needed to.
After a few tense moments, Hermione nodded. "Ok, I'm sorry. I heard you spending time with Daphne and I immediately went to think the worst thing possible. You always say this relationship is built on trust, I need to remember that."
Harry kissed Hermione on the forehead, a move that stopped her seeing the guilt in his eyes. He hated lying to her, it was tearing him up inside, but he had to know what the hell was going on.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Daphne asked.
"As ready as I can be. I've been meditating, and reading. I don't think more time will make me feel more prepared. It's time to go."
"Ok," Daphne said, she focused and dove into Harry's mind.
Daphne landed on a now familiar island in front of the wall she'd been staring at for the last month. As she waited she didn't hear someone land softly behind her. "So this is it, huh?"
Daphne jumped and spun around, glaring at Harry. "Damn it, Potter."
Harry smirked. "Sorry."
"You're such a jerk sometimes," Daphne huffed, she walked away, feeling Harry's eyes roam her body, and shivering in delight. She'd never felt as sexy as she did around Harry. She shouldn't, she knew that, but she did, and somehow Daphne didn't care.
"I said I was sorry," Harry said again, walking past Daphne towards the wall. This time, it was Daphne who let her eyes roam Harry's body. He was still fit from years of playing Quidditch. He kept up his training routine, keeping himself lithe and powerful. She was sure he could pick her up in her arms and…
'What the hell are you doing, Greengrass?! Why are you thinking like that?! Stop!'
"Uh, Daphne?" Harry asked, turning around.
"Yes! What?!" Daphne snapped, having been broken out of her reverie.
"I um, was going to touch the wall, I figured you'd want to watch."
"Oh, yes, proceed."
Harry took a deep breath and reached out. The wall lashed out at them, first at Harry, grabbing him by the wrist, and Daphne by the throat. It dragged them towards the wall. Harry grabbed Daphne by the wrist and pulled her against him, as he grabbed the tentacle and yanked on it, ripping it free and tearing a hole in the surface.
Harry leapt forward and grabbed the tear with both hands, ripping it open further and creating a fissure which expanded along the entire length of the wall. Harry was knocked back by a rush of energy exploding out from the fissure, flooding the space and casting the pair out of Harry's head.
Daphne opened her eyes to find them back in her office. Harry sat, cradling his head in his hands. Daphne kneeled in front of him, gently brushing his wet hair back from his face. "Harry, are you ok?"
"Yeah, my head hurts…" Harry replied, adding. "The pain is going away, I'll be ok."
"Did you remember anything?"
"Yes…" Harry replied quietly. "I remember everything."
Hermione frowned when she touched down in the entry hall of Grimmauld Place. It was unusually quiet, she was used to hearing Harry preparing dinner and chatting away with Zoey. Hermione walked down the corridor into the kitchen, to find Harry and Daphne waiting for her.
"Hello, Hermione, please, have a seat," Harry said quietly.
"Harry, what's going on, where's Zoey?" Hermione asked worriedly, sitting down as directed.
"I sent her to stay with her grandparents, that was a nice touch, by the way, bringing my parents back from the dead. There was no way I'd fight against living in a world where my parents are alive."
"Harry, I don't…" Hermione began, casting a glance over at Daphne who looked baffled by Harry's statement.
"I know this is a fantasy, Hermione. We're not really married with a child, as much as the idea appeals to me. You've been helping Voldemort keep me trapped inside my head and stop me from casting him out. The only thing I don't know is why?"
"Harry, please… stop…" Hermione begged as tears welled in her eyes.
"I can't, Hermione, I wish I could. I wish I could stay in this fantasy with you and be happy," Harry said. "You know me too well, you know my weakness; a quiet life with a beautiful family, living happily alongside my parents and friends. I even got to be a famous Quidditch player… but I can't let Voldemort win, I won't."
Harry got up and moved around the table to sit in front of Hermione, gently stroking her face. "Why are you helping him? That's the part I don't understand. I need to know why?"
"Harry, I don't know what you're talking about…" Hermione protested weakly.
Harry closed his eyes and hung his head. "Hermione, enough. I know you're lying. All I want is the truth, please, if you love me you'll tell me the truth."
"I let you die! I did nothing while you were put to death! It's your mind but he's in control. He has the power to destroy you, I couldn't let that happen again…" Hermione explained pitifully.
"If I'm anything like future Harry I know he wouldn't have blamed you for what happened. I imagine he was probably glad that you were safe and far away from whatever was hurting him. I know I would have been. Nothing that happened was your fault, powerful people wanted me to shut up and I refused, because I'm a stubborn bastard…" Harry said, causing Hermione to smile a little.
"There is one big difference between him and me, I got over my fear of admitting my feelings for you. I love you, Hermione, and I always will. But not like this, I want us to have a real family together, safe from Voldemort. Let's do it together."
Harry held out his hand and Hermione nodded, tears running down her face. "Ok."
As Hermione grasped Harry's hand the room shattered and the three, along with the younger Hermione, found themselves back in the same corridor as before. Young Hermione pushed past her older self to embrace him. "Are you ok?"
Harry let out a long breath and buried his face in Hermione's hair. The combination of Hermione's shampoo and the smell of parchment proved very soothing. "I will be."
*SLAP*
Hermione flinched and spun around in Harry's arms to see the aftermath of Daphne slapping Hermione's older self. The younger one tried to rush to her aid, but a raised hand and Harry's arms stopped her. "No, it's ok, I deserved that…"
"I trusted you…" Daphne hissed.
"I know… I'm sorry…" Hermione muttered quietly.
Daphne scowled and stalked away from her angrily. "Let's go, Voldemort is waiting."
"Harry, there's something you need to know," Older Hermione said, drawing the three back to her. "Part of the ritual that protected you as a baby, involved your mom sacrificing part of her soul. That fragment has been embedded in your head, trapping Voldemort within your scar since that Halloween."
Harry's eyes widened. "My mum is in here with us?"
Hermione nodded. "I have a plan to cast Voldemort out, but I need her help. And she's in Voldemort's thrall. She has a barrier around herself that's stopping him from destroying her, but every moment the barrier is weakening a little more. We need to hurry."
"If you had a plan why didn't you stick to it? Instead of dragging all of us into your stupid little fantasy?" Daphne demanded acerbically.
"I…" Hermione began before Harry cut her off.
"Can we save it until after we've gotten Riddle out of my head? We don't have time for this."
Daphne wanted to protest but a look from the younger Hermione stayed her tongue. "Fine, but we will talk about this soon," She said looking pointedly at the older one.
"Yes," Hermione agreed reluctantly.
"Let's go," Harry said, clearly exasperated with them both.
The four, with younger Hermione sticking close to Harry's side, ascended the stairs. At the top they found the door to the Astronomy tower open. The group stopped and glanced among themselves.
Harry took a deep breath and frowned. "I guess we're expected. We shouldn't disappoint him."
Rushing up the stairs the four found themselves in the familiar surrounds of the Astronomy classroom. Out on the balcony stood Tom Riddle, standing beside a human sized crystal with Lily Potter inside, looking not a day twenty one. She sat in a meditative pose with her eyes closed. Hairline cracks crisscrossed the surface, indicative of Riddle's attempts to break in and kill Lily once and for all.
"Riddle!" Harry yelled, stomping his way towards the man who killed his parents.
"That is far enough, Potter," Voldemort hissed, brandishing his wand. "I've had quite enough of this farce, it began as an amusement, but I tire of it. I am not even interested in torturing your entourage. You have outrun fate long enough, it is time for you to die."
"Not today, you've been a plague on my life since I was a toddler, it's time for this to end," Harry said, pulling out his own wand.
As the three girls watched the exchange, the older Hermione grabbed her companions by the hands and dragged the two around the edge of the classroom towards the crystal.
Hermione pressed herself against the crystal and closed her eyes. "Missus Potter, my name is Hermione, I'm Harry's best friend, Voldemort is trying to kill your son. I have a plan to save him, but I need your help."
The crystal remained unmoved as Harry and Voldemort began lobing spells and insults at each other. "Please, I want to help Harry," Hermione begged with tears in her eyes.
The younger Hermione pressed herself against the crystal too and closed her eyes. "Missus Potter, my name is Hermione, I'm Harry's best friend. My older self is telling the truth, at least I hope she is. She has a plan for casting Voldemort out of Harry's head, but we need your help, please?"
The crystal remained unmoved, so Daphne stepped forward pressing her hand against the crystal. "Missus Potter, my name is Daphne Greengrass, my mother told me you knew each other. I came back in time to save Harry. This is the last step, but we need your help."
The crystal began melting in front of them leaving a puddle at their feet as Lily Potter opened her eyes and cast a warning glare in older Hermione's direction. "You betrayed my son's trust, you are on very thin ice with me young lady."
"I don't think you can call her a young lady when she looks ten years older than you," Daphne commented.
"Semantics, and beside the point, now, what is your plan?" Lily asked.
Hermione quickly explained her plan, her younger self frowned glancing at Daphne. "Harry isn't going to like this."
"Tough, he'll have to live with it, since we're saving his life," Daphne replied.
Lily smiled. "You two will make excellent wives for my son."
Daphne and Hermione's faces lit up bright red. "W-wives?? More than one?"
Lily nodded. "If I know Sirius as well as I think I do, Harry will need more than one wife to fulfil his magical obligations, but that's a conversation for another time. Are you two ready?"
"I was more ready two minutes ago…" Hermione muttered to herself, she glanced at Daphne who nodded. "Yes, let's go."
The two younger girls turned around and started casting spells at Voldemort from behind the pillars of the balcony, as Lily and Hermione ran around the edge of the classroom to stand behind Harry. His eyes widened seeing his mother in the flesh. "Mum??"
"We don't have time to talk right now, love, you need to listen very carefully to Hermione, follow her instructions and we can cast this bastard out of your head."
"Ok," Harry agreed.
"No! You will not succeed, you will die and I will rule! Avada Kedavra!!" Voldemort screamed pointing his wand at Lily.
"Expelliarmus!"
The spells hit the each other in mid air and combined creating a golden thread that connected the two wands. A ball of energy hung between them drawing on their magical cores. Or more specifically Harry's core being pulled in two directions. There was a war being raged for Harry's body and soul, but Harry had the support of the women who loved him the most.
Hermione and Lily placed their hands on Harry's back and poured their magic through him. Harry's grip on his wand tightened as magic flooded his body, the sphere between him and Voldemort violently expanded and started moving towards him. He screamed as he tried to back away, but the strand kept him rooted the the spot. He was unable to move as the sphere overtook him, expelling the wraith from Harry.
Once Riddle was gone the sphere exploded, casting everyone of of Harry's head.
In the real world, Harry jerked backwards in his chair and expelled the black mist from the scar, before slumping down unconscious on the table in front of him. Daphne and Hermione awakened as if they'd been slapped, looking around in confusion for a few seconds before realising that a ball of condensed hate was looming over them, looking for someone to possess.
'Daphne, you need to destroy that thing, now! Only a killing curse can destroy it!' Hermione barked at the blonde.
"Ok!" Daphne snapped back, drawing her wand. "Granger, get down!"
"Right!" Hermione said grabbing Harry and pulling him under the table with her.
"Stupid girl! He will never love you! You will never know love, or happiness! Your punishment for betraying pure blood values will be a life of MISERY!"
"The only misery I'm suffering is hearing you talk, Avada Kedavra!"
The immobile wraith was unable to avoid the green tinted curse, and colliding with it caused an explosion the knocked Daphne violently to the ground, knocking her unconscious. Hermione wanted to help but she was knocked back into the table, knocking her unconscious too.
Harry opened his eyes to find himself in a white void, he stood up and looked around. "Am I dead?"
"No love, you're just unconscious," Lily said appearing out of the mist.
"Mom… y-you're here…" Harry stuttered quietly, staring at his beautiful mother in awe. Emotion swelled in his chest as tears rolled down his face.
Lily rushed over and embraced her son, kissing his forehead. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this. Being trapped between life and death was agonizing, but worth it. Your father would be so proud of you, I know I am."
"I used to dream about hugging you, I was so lonely…" Harry whispered.
"I know, love, I'm so sorry we weren't there for you. If I had the time I would rip into Petunia for the way her and that fat bastard treated you."
"If you had time?" Harry asked.
"Casting Voldemort out of your head drained most of my remaining magic. I only have enough to say goodbye."
"Can you stay, at least for a little longer?" Harry asked earnestly.
Lily smiled and nodded. "I think I can manage that."
Daphne opened her eyes and immediately recognised where she was. She walked around the chairs and sat down opposite Hermione, glaring at the brunette. Hermione looked downcast and sad, meekly glancing at Daphne for a moment before speaking. "Daphne…"
"I trusted you! I thought, if anyone will help me save Harry it will be his best friend! And you betrayed him! Why the fuck did you do that?!!" Daphne said, exploding at the brunette.
Hermione bowed her head sadly. "Voldemort told me I could save Harry and I… I saw Harry lying against a wall, bleeding on the floor."
"You saw our fight against the fake Sirius Black?" Daphne asked.
Hermione nodded. "He was dying again, and I couldn't stop it… I broke… and… I wanted to be selfish for once. I'm always the good girl, studious and hardworking, Hermione always follows the rules. What did it get me? My best friend, my soulmate was murdered and I was trapped in a miserable marriage with a moron. I thought living a fantasy with this Harry might be preferable to that. It wasn't… spending every day lying to Harry was torture, I know that now. I'm sorry I betrayed you, Daphne, I hope one day you can forgive me."
Daphne ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. "I guess I understand how you feel. I know the idea of being married to Theodore Nott was enough to make me want to vomit. Living a fantasy life with Harry sounds pretty appealing. I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same in your shoes. But what you did hurt, and it made me realise that you'll never share him. No matter what Lily Potter thinks."
"I…"
Daphne shook her head. "You wouldn't even share him with me in a fantasy, you paired me off with Neville Longbottom, who is a decent man but not Harry. Though, Longbottom is infinitely preferable to Nott. At least Neville would treat me well, and the Longbottom money means I wouldn't have to give up the life I've become accustomed too."
"But he's not Harry…" Hermione repeated.
"No, he's not."
"Daphne, don't conflate me and Hermione in this timeline. We're different people, she will never suffer being married to a Weasley. It is a miserable, soul draining experience, it hurt me in ways I can't describe. Hermione still has an open mind and an open heart. She trusts Harry, I didn't, and you saw what happened. Don't give up hope, please?"
Daphne sat in thought for a couple of minutes before nodding. "Ok."
Hermione glanced down at her hands and sighed. "It looks like my time is up."
Daphne followed her gaze down to her now translucent hands. "Is this the end?"
"Yes, I expended all my magic banishing Voldemort. Magic was all that was sustaining me," Hermione looked up at Daphne and smiled. "Thank you, without you Harry would still be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Now he can live the rest of his life without carrying around that guilt."
"Thank you for your help," Daphne replied, tears running down her cheeks. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, goodbye."
Daphne watched Hermione fade away, she sat quietly for a while in her mind palace before speaking. "Goodbye, Hermione, I love you."