"Come on Hermione," A strained voice whispered to his friend lightly patting her shoulder. She didn't seem injured so he shook her lightly. "Hermione wake up!"

She mumbled something incoherently opening her eyes momentarily, only for her eyelids to fluttery shut shortly after. The blurry bright lights had hurt her eyes, and she was really tired.

"It's me Harry." He replied leaning closer, turning his head to cough as his throat was dry. He had woken up in the infirmary and promptly stumbled over to the infirmary sink and vomited into it. He brought back a mop bucket that he had spotted by the sink, in case he felt like puking again. After rinsing his mouth out at the sink, he noticed how eerily quiet it was and Madam Pomfrey was no were in sight. However, in the cot to the left Hermione's bushy hair was spotted and Ron's lanky leg stuck out half shielded by a privacy curtain. What had happened to them? He didn't remember being brought here and even more worryingly- he couldn't find his wand.

"-'Arry?" She quickly sat up startled as her adrenaline kicked in, resulting in smashing her head against Harry's in the process. Both of them clutched their heads in pain. "Sorry." Her hands then flew up to her mouth as she dry heaved rather violently, grateful to be passed an empty metal bucket as the contents of her stomach were suddenly expelled out of her mouth.

"Ughh…I'll be fine," Harry quietly grumbled rubbing the sore spot, thinking that Hermione's skull must be extra re-enforced that the average person in order to protect the massive amount of information in her brain. He gently rubbed her back until she stopped vomiting. "Feel better?"

"Yeah." Hermione nodded weakly her ribs were aching something fierce. She could see that they were in the infirmary and it was unnervingly quiet.

"Here, drink this." Harry handed Hermione a goblet of tap water. He placed the bucket off to the side and out of the way.

"Thanks." Hermione cleared her throat before sniffing the contents of the goblet before drinking the cooling liquid. Ever since the twins had gotten her so smashed by slipping Firewhiskey into her drinks through the course of a hot summer's day she had become a bit paranoid about beverages not prepared by her. It was almost to the point where she resembled Mad Eye Moody's level of paranoia- Constant Vigilance! Checking her drinks had become second nature to her.

"I'm going to wake Ron up." A shocked gasp was heard moments later and the angry wet red head jumped out of the cot wiping water off of his face with his good arm.

"Why'd you have to go and do that?" Ron asked loudly his blue eyes narrowed in anger at his best mate trying not to move his left arm that was now in a sling. He guessed from the dreadful after taste of Skele-Gro left in his mouth that he had broken it somehow. Bile suddenly rose in his throat so he shuffled his feet over to sink and purged the contents of his stomach into it.

"Had to wake you up." Harry shrugged offhandedly grimacing as he rubbed his now sore side. Ron had gained the peculiar tendency to flail his limbs at people who came near him in his sleep. It was most likely a defense mechanism he had developed as he was the favorite victim of the twins, leading to many rude awakenings.

"That was really awful," Ron grimaced. "So where's Madam Pomfrey?"

"Dunno, I haven't seen her since I woke up," Harry shrugged sitting on the edge of Hermione's bed. "Do either of you have your wands on you?"

"It can't find it." Ron paled as he patted the pocket of his patched up robes.

"Mine's gone too," Hermione rubbed the right side of her head then noticed something else. "My bag is also missing. What's going on?"

"I feel sick." Ron slumped down into the visitor's chair feeling dizzy all of a sudden.

"I don't feel so good either," Harry grunted unsure of what exactly was causing the feeling as he uncomfortable shifted around on his feet. He then remembered that they had been in the forbidden forest chasing after Pettigrew. His memory of what happened was slightly fuzzy- "Does anyone remember how we got here?" But there was this green light…

Hermione frowned she also felt ill, other than certain times around a full moon and about a week after going through her lycanthropy transformation it was very unusual for her to feel this poorly. This was due to her Lycanthropy. There had to be good things to come with a curse this bad. Most magical things were like that, there had to be balance…and using a time turner shouldn't have cau- decades the word reverberated in her mind, "My use and value unto you are gauged by what you have to do. I mark the hours every one nor have I yet outrun the sun." Everything was rushing back to her.

"She's finally gone mental!" Ron exclaimed his mouth agape as he turned to Harry silently asking 'now what are we going to do?!'

"That's what the inscription on a timer turner is supposed to read." Hermione said rolling her eyes at Ron's rather rude comment. Her entire body suddenly felt very tingly- almost as if there was someone watching them.

"Why is that-?" A strange look replaced the one of confusion on Harry's face as he decided on asking another question instead. "What did the one we use say?"

"Instead of hours, it said decades," Hermione smiled glad that Harry was able to understand that she didn't randomly regurgitate random facts anymore. She had thankfully grown out of that irksome stage. "That wasn't a regular time turner."

"Blimey!" Ron's eyebrow shot up into his hairline. "Harry you turned it twice! T-that's-"

"Twenty years," Albus Dumbledore interceded bringing the trio's attention to himself. He had been listening in on the conversation from afar choosing that moment would be the best time to make his presence known. "I am Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of this school."

"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry and Ron exclaimed in shock as they turned around. All of them looked like deer caught in the headlights of a muggle vehicle.

Albus's eyes were vacant of the familiar comforting twinkle. "I would say you've three have managed to find yourselves in quite the conundrum," The groundskeeper had stumbled upon them while gathering wood and immediately alerted him rather panicked. He had managed to calm that half-giant and assured him it was a faulty portkey accident and among other things that there was no need to worry. "I've always wondered what it would feel like to exist without being born, as of yet."

"Not good sir." Hermione piped up fidgeting with the goblet of water. They were twenty years in the past. Blood drained out of Hermione's face as this realization hit her.

Ablus held out what remained of the now broken time turner and asked rather sternly, "How did such a relic find its way into your group's possession?" When none of them seemed to want to answer his question he tried a different approach. "It was thought to be only a rumour that Salazar had successfully created such a thing before his death. Not many are privy to this knowledge. It's such a dangerous trinket, displacing and altering the very delicate fabric of time seemingly without consequence and destroying the original timeline. What is most troubling is the fashion in which the true powers can only be summoned." The hourglass converted time from the years of the human soul of a magical living being.

"And, what method is that sir?" Harry asked tentatively as if he already knew the answer to it. Forgetting about correcting Ron about how he almost turned the dial twice.

"Sacrifice." The word through the empty infirmary as clear as day. The way they looked at him and then each other was an indication that the young adults really had no clue with what they had meddled with. Either that or they were brilliant actors. Albus had his doubts about the individuals in front of him they had a certain look to them, a look he was quite familiar with. Only those who had seen war had. He had taken their wands and belongings away from them. One could never be too careful in these darkening times, especially when it was time that was concerned. Through sacrificing a witch or wizard Salazar's time turner made the future become a blank slate allowing the trio in front of him to essentially decide the future. With the time turner broken, there was no way to know exactly when or where they had come from. He needed to figure out what side they were on and the best way to deal with them. The three of them being there in front of him now had already disrupted the timeline beyond repair.

"It was entirely my fault. If you have to punish any of us it should be me! Ron and Hermione had absolutely nothing to do with it. I didn't know what else to do and it was me and me alone who murdered Pe-"

"Harry!" Hermione sharply called out stopping him from revealing exactly who he had killed. "He's still alive in this timeframe, so you technically did not kill him- as of yet and it was an accident, you didn't plan in advance to do it."

"Yeah mate. You're no murderer- he would have killed me if it wasn't for you," Ron swallowed the lump in his throat when he remembered how close to death he had really been. "So um listen, thanks for that. You know- the whole life saving business."

"I see," Albus said more to himself than anyone. It would seem that they were not aligned with the on the dark side of things. Though the boy had taken a life…it was under extreme circumstances and the girl did make a point, whoever had been killed was currently alive, clever and rather cunning logic. The twinkle gleamed in his eyes once he had come to that conclusion. He would not have to incapacitate them but rather get them to trust him which wouldn't be that difficult seeing as it appeared they already knew him or of him. "That was rather brave of you coming to the defense of your friend."

"Well in our time Harry's a bit of a hero," Ron grinned giving Harry a friendly slap on the back as the tension in the air seemed to have dissipated. "Though he doesn't look like one."

"Hey!" Harry protested.

"Headmaster what is today's exact date?" Hermione found herself asking.

After glancing at his complex pocket watch that had what appeared to have a bunch of planets instead of numbers Albus announced, "The 16th of August, 1975," He was delightfully entertained by the wide the range of facial expressions each person was now showing on their faces. "What was the date when you left?"

"It certainly wasn't August 16th, 19 bloody 75! It was the middle of our school term!" Ron burst, the tip of his ears instantly turning red in embarrassment he murmured an apology, while his face became beat red, remembering that it was Dumbledore standing less than six feet away from them.

"So you three attended this school then? And was I still the Headmaster?" Albus had a smile on his face as he looked at the teens. If he had been, it was his only hope that he had treated them well.

"Yes." To Harry this school was-will be- would always be first home after all.

"Excellent," Albus exclaimed. It was good to know he was still alive and kicking twenty years down the road. He wondered if his favorite sweet were still Lemon Drops. "I believe these belong to you." The wands and a ragged school bag floated over to the three students. He had gone through the contents of the bag and was not too surprised to find an invisibility cloak, among other things- a transcript envelope he had carefully opened and read before resealing it. Still, the items could have been planted on them all part of a very elaborate plan and he would need to have a close eye kept on the newcomers.

"So what do we do now?" Ron asked unsure of what to do. The reality of it all still hadn't really sunk in.

"A formal introduction perhaps?" Albus suggested as the future him may know the three students but the present him only knew them from reading something he shouldn't have.

"But we're not supposed to be seen," Hermione felt her breath hitch as the consequences of time travel came crashing down upon her. "You've seen us!"

"That I have. As well as our groundskeeper Hagrid and I mustn't forget about our delightful Medi-witch, Madam Pomfrey she was the one who came in and patched all of you up then declared you fit before going back to her summer home. She lives on a delightful farm you know? Has a bunch of horses and cows- I'm really quite fond of the cows," Merriment clearly shone through in his tone of voice as he watched her reaction. "Did you know that they are unable to vomit?"

"Hermione get a grip of yourself!" Harry watched as his friend stared unfocused at the blank wall across from her. Suddenly her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fainted slumping back down on the infirmary cot.

"Hermione!" Ron called out.

"Rennervate." Albus wandlessly shot the red spell into Hermione's chest awakening her.

"What happened?" Ron questioned when Hermione opened her eyes.

"I was having the strangest dream. You guys were in it…and-" Hermione blinked wondering what Harry, Ron and the headmaster were doing.

"I'm afraid it's no dream my dear." Albus watched as Harry reminded Hermione to breath.

"Headmaster? What are we supposed to do?" Hermione felt terribly lost- there were no books she could rely on for an answer. Was there? The time they were from no longer existed.

"I offer all you of my condolences for the future, as we know it, is undecided and there is no way to send you back from once you came. Perhaps there is a reason- or purpose the three of you are here. Accidents are opportunities in disguise. I'm sure you must have a lot to discuss amongst yourselves." Albus tilted his head slightly forward with a knowing smile. He had to get in contact with a quite a few people due to the unexpected arrivals. "As you are future students here come find me when you feel that you are ready. Tell the Gargoyle you have a fondness for some chocolaty amphibians."

"This is really happening isn't?" Ron gulped down the lump in his throat. "My family is gone."

"That's not entirely true," Hermione tried to comfort Ron. "A version of them is here, in this time."

"I don't want a version of them!" Tears clouded Ron's vision and he angry wiped them away. "We need to find a way back! There must be one!"

"This isn't what you want to hear but the moment that we came here means that the time we lived in, no longer exists." Hermione never fathomed it was possible to be sent this far back into the past.

"Everyone we knew," Harry's throat felt tight as those people were gone. "I'm so sorry guys. This is my fault."

"It's not your fault Harry," Hermione sniffled. "That sniveling rat was coming out of the second floor girl's bathroom you remember what's there don't you?"

"The destroyed Chamber of Secrets…" Harry whispered mostly to himself. A rat would have no troubles at all getting into Hogwarts and then into the sewage line, surpassing all the fallen sediment to escape with what he been sent there to retrieve.

"Come on Hermione, use that brain of yours! There just has to be a way back!" Ron felt desperate.

"There isn't any." Hermione would rather Ron have the ugly truth rather than give him a false hope, "All the books I read, time turners only worked because there was a timeline to travel through-"

"No way back…" Ron drew in a shaky breath.

"We've all left people we care about behind but we still have each other to depend on!" Harry was selfishly glad Ron and Hermione were with them.

"You're right." Hermione nodded knowing that Harry had accepted her for what she had become, it took a little adjusting to but he never treated her differently. After all he knew what that was like to be different. In a completely platonic way she found herself loving Harry even more for that. She didn't know what she would do, or where she would be without him.

"As terrible as this situation is, I'm glad you two are with me," Harry never really had a family, except for when Sirius was alive so he- wait- "Sirius is alive!" A wide grin spread across his face making him look rather goofy. "So is my dad- and my mum!"

"They'd be going into sixth year." Hermione said doing a quick calculation in her head.

"We can stop them from dying!" Harry proclaimed with fierce passion written all over his face. "There are so many people we can save! We can save them right? I mean with the future being not there and all."

"Bloody hell." Ron exclaimed feeling an entirely new pressure placed upon him. He still felt guilty over the fact that he didn't know how to deal with Hermione after her accident and he thought it was better if he stayed clear of her incase he angered or upset her. The anger he could deal with, it was the tears he had problems with. She moped around the Burrow all sad and he just didn't know what to do. He childishly thought if he didn't acknowledge that she had become a werewolf then- it didn't really happen or at least he didn't have to face the harsh reality of what had happened to his friend. It wasn't temporary like when she had accidently changed into a cat-hybrid from taking a Polyjuice potion, this was something that couldn't be cured. Then he didn't see the point in bringing up all of that emotional crap, not once the twins swept Hermione up under their wing. It was almost like they had become triplets after she had been changed. Then when Harry came to visit everything went back to normal- or at least in his mind it had. He had been a rotten friend to her in her time of need.

"I think you're right." Hermione said slowly a smile working its way onto her face. They really could end the war the first time around!

"We're going to save everyone!" Harry exclaimed throwing his head and arms back into the air laughing childishly spinning around on his feet. This also meant that there was also no prophecy! So this was what it felt like to be truly free. This was turning out to be a very good day. Harry was more optimistic than he had ever felt before.

"Chocolate Frogs." The trio climbed up the staircase as the stone eagle gargoyle statue granted them passage.

"Ah there you three are, I was beginning to think you had run off. That would have only resulted in rather depressing outcome, if I say so myself. Lemon Drop anybody?" Albus gestured to the candies on his desk, receiving no takers.

"Sir there's a few things we need to discuss," Harry spoke on behalf of his friends. "I'm Harry Potter, that's Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger."

"I understand." Albus gestured for the young man with passion burning in his eyes to continue. He listened as the story unfolded before him the bravery of the youngsters and a tales of many tragedies. It was well into the night and there was still so much left to be said. Albus felt his body heavy with burden.

"I'm sure I've forgotten some details." Harry apologized his throat sore. Ron and Hermione had spoken as well interjected at some parts but he had done the majority of talking.

"Headmaster, there's one further complication," Hermione took a deep breath to calm her nerves before revealing to him. "I am a Werewolf," Hermione bit down on the inside of her lip to keep herself from laughing as Dumbledore's eyebrows raised up disappearing behind the rim of his hat. "During the summer, my family was attacked by a small Death Eater cell and I was infected with lycanthropy but you have my word that I will not purposely endanger the lives of any of the students or staff here at Hogwarts."

"And what of your family?" Albus asked hoping for the best but realistically knew the worst her family could have succumbed to.

Hermione understood what Dumbledore was cautiously asking, "My mum and dad survived- their memories of that night… did not."

"Truly astonishing and very remarkable that you're alive today," Albus wondered if there were any further complications to the time travelers. "Did I allow you to use the Shrieking Shack for your transformations?"

"I'm afraid not, too many people had begun to poke around there because of the claims it was haunted. You had a small windowless hut disguised as a boulder built in the Forbidden Forest for me to use." Hermione informed him hopeful that he would allow her to remain as a student.

"My word," Albus breathed in deeply. "Not to worry Ms. Granger I will allow you to attend here but Madam Pomfrey must be informed of your condition. I may also need to divulge this information to two others- with your permission of course."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief but was slightly concerned. "Two others?"

"Yes." Albus replied simply.

"I trust you." Hermione felt uneasy but the Dumbledore of this time was putting a lot of faith and trust in them so she felt obliged to return the favour.

"I will see that our groundskeeper start construction on that abode." Albus's eyes were twinkling as he spoke.

"That would be very much appreciated." Hermione remembered something and dug through the school bag. When she finally pulled out an envelope and broke the wax seal pulling out the wad papers reading the note that had come along with it. (Ms. Granger enclosed is your transcript. I've also included Mr. Potter's and Mr. Weasley's records also; surely there is something you can do about their abysmal grades in History of Magic -MM.)

"My grades weren't that bad… were they?" Harry enquired reading the note over Hermione's shoulder looking away when she looked over her marks.

"My grades mean a lot to me so I requested these from Professor McGonagall before we ended up here. I'm not sure what to do with them- but I feel like you should keep them." Hermione said handing the envelope and its contents over to Dumbledore.

"You must be kidding yourself Harry. We were so close to failing that class along with divination last year, or have you forgotten the wonderful earful mum gave us for three long hours straight," Ron complained. "I had to listen to her compare me to my amazing older brothers until she forgot what she was telling us off for. Lucky dad came home when he did, otherwise we might have never been able to leave…I'm going to miss them."

"Me too." Harry patted his friend on the shoulder. Molly Weasely had treated Harry like one of her own.

"You three are here for a reason," Albus reassured them. "Hopefully you do not mind spending the night in the infirmary. By tomorrow afternoon I should have all the appropriate arrangements made."

"What arrangements?" Ron questioned looking a rather concerned.

"We shall worry about tomorrow, tomorrow Mr. Weasely," Albus felt as if he had aged many years in one day. "Tonight you shall rest up and recover. Food and reading material will be provided for you in the infirmary." He said ushering the trio out of his office. There was a long night ahead of him as he needed to create three identities for the youngsters, ones that would stand up to close scrutiny.

The night had gone by quickly as Harry, Ron and Hermione all under the effects of the long distance time travel. Hermione had been surprised to see an ample amount of dailyprophets that had appeared after coming back from Dumbledore's office. The newspapers would allow them to catch up to date- so to say on the current events. After all they were of this time now.

They had awoken in the morning to find three school trunks in the middle of the infirmary and a note that requested them to return to his office once they were awake. Dumbledore had informed them that the trunks were there's now and had been left at Hogwarts many years prior by previous students. He wanted to spend some time observing the trio so he brought them to Diagon Alley assuring them that money was not an issue and to make sure they at least had their school necessities.

"Never liked shopping." Ron grumbled tiredly after they had returned. People had kept bumping into his sore arm causing it to throb rather painfully.

"I didn't mind it, but could have done without having to drag Hermione out of Flourish and Blotts." Harry shuddered glad that this time she left on her own accord and they literally didn't have to drag her out.

"I wasn't in there for that long," She huffed, there were books in stock there that had either gone out of business or they stopped carrying in the future and she just wanted to look at them. Other than the required texts she had bought only one other book, which was copy of this time's Hogwarts, a History. "You spent the same amount of time, if not more, in the Quidditch supply store."

"Well Harry and I couldn't get over the fact that the newest broom model is The Nimbus 1500," Ron said crinkling his nose, "People were drooling all over that piece of rubbish like it was the greatest thing ever created. I still can't get over it!"

"Now you know how I feel." Hermione muttered under her breath.

"This is the perfect point where I feel like I can interrupt your enjoyable banter," Albus was warming up considerably to the trio after spending the day browsing shops and picking out and acquiring their things. It made Albus feel young again and reassured him that these were teens he was dealing with. "To avoid suspicion I had to forge your identities in this timeline so these are your keys to your personal Gringotts accounts," He handed each one to their respective person. "Now Mr. Potter, your resemblance to a current student here will not go unnoticed by the other faculty and students. So I took I have taken it upon myself to contact Charlus and Dorea Potter. I have sent them paperwork proving that you were the child, out of wedlock, of their distant cousin on Charlus's side who went missing a few months ago and that Ms. Granger here was also in that individual's care due to an unfortunate incident with her parents. During that time you were left to fend for yourselves until I was made aware of your existence. Later today I will introduce you two to them as they have agreed to let you stay with them until the term resumes."

"M-my grandparents," Harry's eyes welled with tears. His voice hitched in his throat as he was overcome with emotion. "I'm going to meet my grandparents."

"Wait what about me? Where am I going to stay?" Ron asked curious to know why he was being separated from Harry and Hermione.

"Don't think I forgot about you Mr. Weasley. I sent out a letter to Arthur and Molly informing Arthur a relative of his had been found. You'll be staying with them for the remainder of the break. I believe you are capable in coming up with your own story as to why. It may be a little rambunctious at the Burrow now though. I believe Molly's brothers are visiting," He was humored by the expression on Ron's face. "Arthur has informed me that he will be coming to pick up his cousin, hmm must be- right about now." He knew this because the wards had already shifted alerting him that someone was about to pop out of his fireplace.

As if those were the magic words a much younger version of the Mr. Weasley they knew suddenly tumbled out of the fireplace covered in soot from head to toe. "I take it this is my cousin then. The red hair and freckles is a dead giveaway son, runs in our family. Ronald right? I'm Arthur Weasley I'm so glad that you seemed to have arrived in once piece."

"D-dauhm," Ron coughed hoping that he covered up his stuttering as he shook hands with his father. Well a younger version of his father who had called him 'son' as a term of endearment. "It's nice to meet you- uh finally. I've heard so much about you." His normally deep voice had been raised a few notches out of nervousness.

"These must be your friends you travelled here with. I really wish I could stay and chat with you all but Gideon and Fabian, my wife's brothers, told me if I came back within ten minutes with the food they ordered they'd stop rearranging all our furniture and sticking them on the ceiling and walls," Arthur said sheepishly drawing everyone's attention to the large greased stained paper bag he was holding. "We'll have to make proper introductions other time then you two seem nice; so Ronald ready to leave?"

"I think so." Ron gulped, giving one last look to Hermione and Harry as he followed his dad to the fireplace. He was going to meet the uncles who Fred and George had been named after.

"Thank you for sending him our way Prof- Albus, Molly and I really appreciate it. We could always use an extra pair of capable hands around the house now that we're adding that other level to the house."

"Send my regards to Molly, Gideon, Fabian and your two boys." Dumbledore said amiably looking over the tops of his spectacles.

"Will do!" Arthur said hurriedly tossing a handful of floo power into the flames. "Just say the Burrow. I'll see you there. The Burrow." With a flash he was gone.

"Wish me luck," Ron groaned when they did. "I'll write to you guys or something. It's only a couple of weeks…with miniature versions of Bill and Charlie. Only for a couple of weeks, only for a couple of weeks, it's only for a couple of weeks-" Summoning up his Gryffindor courage after he threw down the powder then stepped into the green flames and called out, "The Burrow!" Then he was gone.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Harry had wiped all his tears away and looked at Hermione worriedly.

"The twins told me that Bill and Charlie weren't the best behaved as kids. The eldest children only grew out of their hellish behaviour when the twins began making their own mischief." Hermione was hit with a wave of melancholy for the Fred and George who hadn't been born. She then wondered what would have become of the magical fireworks they had created together; particularly the one that tuned itself into a dragon that could be controlled with a bit of magic.

"Well I think it's time to pay a visit to the Potters' lovely home in Godric's Hollow." With that Albus pulled out a tiny plastic banana out of his desk drawer and asked them to place one of their fingers' on the portkey. "Apples." With a quick tug of their navels they arrived at the front gate of the Potter residence they walked up the path and after two knocks the door swung open revealing a house elf in a slightly dirty child size frilly white dress.