EPILOGUE

Summary: What if Hermione was given a second chance to save the world? What if Lily Potter wasn't the one to protect Harry from the Killing Curse? It's the time of the First War and Voldemort is on the rise, but that soon changes with the arrival a young witch that is hell-bent on destroying him, no matter what it may cost her in the process. Rated M for a reason!

Disclaimer: I do not own canon events or characters, they belong to J.K Rowling. I'm not making money from this writing or posting this either.

AN

Thank you to all viewers, followers, favourites and reviewers, and I hope you enjoyed coming on this journey with me as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Page count: 13

Worcestershire - Wednesday 28th April 1982

The White Lions stood on one side of the battlefield, Voldemort and his Death Eaters stood on the other. Where they were wearing black robes and their silver masks, Hermione and the White Lions were wearing white robes. The contrast between the two would've been clear to anyone. Good and evil. Dark and light. Black and white.

"I will give you one more chance, Miss. Granger, join me," said Voldemort.

"It's Mrs. Potter-Black," she corrected, "And I would rather die."

"So be it, just remember this is all because of you."

He raised his wand and cast the first spell with Hermione effortlessly blocking his dark curse and signalling the start of the battle, both sides mingling and duelling, fighting for their lives and for their causes.

"Confringo," Hermione shouted, catching the tail end of Voldemort's robes but he was quick with extinguishing the flames whilst non-verbally casting a shield to deflect Hermione's following curse.

They continued duelling and parrying back and forth for what felt like hours and she knew Voldemort was getting bored. He was holding up well, but so was she. It may not have been a full moon but it was high in the sky and shining brightly, she knew the Moon Goddess was on her side.

"Stupefy," she shouted and he dodged it.

"Child's play," he hissed. "You are no match for me."

"And yet, here we are, I've already outlasted Dumbledore, surely that must be an indicator as to who you are dealing with," she threw back, blocking his Dismembering Curse.

"Serponsortia," he hissed.

A large king cobra appeared before Hermione and slithered towards her but she wasn't worried; with a few select hissing sounds slipping from her lips, the king cobra turned and headed out of the battle, off into the distance and finding a home for itself elsewhere.

She'd never been seen a man so surprised.

"Who are you? How do you know Parseltongue?" He demanded, his eyes flashing furiously.

This was what Hermione wanted. A distraction and it couldn't have come at a better time. The angrier she made him, the more focus he would lose; she knew that better than anyone.

"Still haven't figured it out yet? That must be embarrassing for you," she taunted, ducking and rolling out of the way of the Stinging Hex laced with a Blood Curse that she didn't doubt would've knocked her on her arse before slowly killing her.

"Who are you?" He snarled.

Hermione smirked, it was time to dig the wand in deeper.

"I'll give you a hint. I did attend Hogwarts. I was born in London. I existed but not here, not now." His irritation seeped from him in his very magic, swarming the battlefield like a dark cloud. "From what I've learned about you, Riddle, you were a smart man, surely you could figure it out." At his murderous glare, she smirked and gracefully dodged his Organ Rupture Curse. "No? Not smart enough, very well then, one final hint. You're asking the wrong question. You shouldn't be asking me where I'm from, but instead..."

His entire being seemed to freeze. "When are you from?"

Hermione clapped mockingly before blocking his Dismembering Curse. Hadn't he already used that one? Well, now he was becoming predictable. She was disappointed.

"I was born 1979; I am technically close to three-years-old. Now, however, I am nineteen. I was sent here from 1998," she explained as they continued their duel, paying no attention to those around them. "Things happened differently in my timeline; you were defeated in 1981 but you didn't return until 1991 in the form of a cursed half-life for drinking unicorn blood, you attached yourself to one of my Professors. Harry Potter, myself and another friend of ours were able to stop you from returning to your full power for the next three years. The fourth year, however, you did return and everything went to shit. A lot of terrible things happened those next three years, but eventually, the Final Battle was upon us and do you know what, Riddle? You lost, we prevailed and you died, I watched as you turned into ash and it was swept away in the wind."

He looked angrier than she'd ever seen anyone being.

"But most important of all, where I come from, I was referred to as the Brightest Witch of my Age, you really shouldn't underestimate me," she warned before clearly casting, "Sectumsempra."

His surprise at her using such a curse was evident and he deflected it, it catching his arm. His robes ripped open and exposed his flesh. The skin had deep lacerations and blood poured from the wound. He looked horrified to see himself injured. Even Albus Dumbledore hadn't managed that feat.

"As for the Parseltongue," Hermione continued as if she hadn't just landed a hit on the darkest wizard to have been seen. "Harry Potter was my best friend, my brother," she lifted her wrist so he could see the band and his eyes widened a fraction, clearly recognising what it symbolised. "If you thought I wouldn't protect my brother from you, you were severely mistaken. I would move Heaven and Earth for him; I would time travel back seventeen years for him, being stuck here for the rest of my life. I would learn how to cast fiendfyre for him, I would destroy six Horcruxes for him..." She saw him falter in shock. "That's right, Riddle, you didn't have five Horcruxes, you had six. You accidentally created another one when you tried to kill Harry Potter, you put a part of your soul inside of him and for that reason, he could speak Parseltongue and he taught me what he could. I lied to you a week ago, I've destroyed all of your Horcruxes, and you are mortal now, just like the rest of us. Except we have an advantage over you. We have hope and we know love."

"Hope and love are foolish," he hissed. "They are weak."

"Only because you've never had anyone give you hope or show you love," she argued.

Rage built inside of him before it erupted and he cast spell after spell, each one growing darker. She wasn't able to block so many at once and it resulted in a few near misses but before she knew it, she was on the floor, bleeding from many injuries and the two words she was waiting for were spoken.

"Avada Kedavra," he snarled.

"Expelliarmus!" She called, their spells colliding, fighting to keep control and to win.

She was weakening, she could feel herself letting go. She was going to die but she'd be taking him down with her.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Chorus two voices.

James was stood to the left and Sirius to the right, their spells colliding with the other two and the surprise caused Voldemort to falter slightly and that cost him. The magic backfired and a loud explosion rang out, a cloud of smoke revealing that all that was left was Voldemort's wand and Hermione's lifeless form.

~000~000~000~

She was floating, no, not floating. She was falling. Falling slowly with the gentle whipping of the wind brushing against her skin and blowing her hair into her face. She couldn't move, she felt weightless and light, feeling her limbs bobbing but not being able to control the movements. She fell past clouds and rivers of stars and beams of sunlight and then she stopped, gently settling on the grass beneath her.

"Well done, Dear," praised a soft voice, encouraging Hermione to open her eyes and push herself into a seating position, seeing Lily smiling down at her. "The war is over and the Wizarding World will forever be in your debt. You have completed your mission and the future is as it should be. You did a very brave and very difficult thing. For that, you have been granted one wish from those that watch over the world. What do you wish for?"

"I just want to go home," Hermione said softly. Lily smiled at her and motioned for her to lie down against the ground.

"That is something I will more than gladly give to you. I am proud of you, Hermione. Thank you and I know that you will make them happy. If anyone deserves it, it is you"

"Will I see you again?"

"No, this is the last time we shall meet. The mission is over and my presence is no longer required. The next time you will see me will be in approximately one-hundred and seventy-one years."

"That's quite specific for an approximation," Hermione replied and Lily chuckled softly.

"Goodbye, Hermione Potter-Black."

~000~000~000~

Hermione groaned in pain and opened her eyes to see her two husbands staring down at her worriedly. As her vision adjusted, saw them beaming down at her with escaped tears falling down their faces, smudges of dirt covered their skin and clothing and blood, both dried and fresh littered their clothing and bodies from injuries.

"What happened?"

"It's over. He's dead," Sirius answered gently, helping her to sit up.

Her eyes took note of the battlefield, seeing it was littered with dead bodies from both sides, many had been stunned and bound and there were still some duels taking place in the distance.

"How long?"

"You were duelling him for five hours," James replied, his concerned gaze sweeping over her as he shamelessly wiped away his fallen tears.

"The other Final Battle took nearly twenty-four hours," she whispered.

"We were prepared this time and it was all because of you."

"It's over?" She asked timidly.

"It's over," they confirmed.

"I'm alive?"

"You're alive."

Hermione stared in disbelief before she pulled them to her, tears suddenly breaking free as she sobbed and her body violently shook.

"I want to go home."

~000~000~000~

Hogwarts - Wednesday 1st September 1982

"Now that the sorting has been completed," Headmistress McGonagall started, standing from her chair and addressing the whole of Hogwarts, "You may notice that we have three empty chairs at the head's table," she gestured towards them and murmurs broke out. "I would like to introduce to you, your Professors of Transfiguration, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts."

She waved her wand and the great hall doors swung open, revealing a stag, a brown fox and a large black dog, strutting down the aisle and towards the head's table, the students staring in confusion and whispering to their housemates. When the three animals reached the head's table, they turned around to face the students.

"Professor James Potter of Charms," McGonagall introduced.

James turned back into his human form, gasps sounding when he stood smiling handsomely with his messy black hair and robes to match.

"Professor Sirius Black of Transfiguration."

Sirius turned back into his human form, arrogantly smirking as he brushed his hair out of his face, his muscles and tattoos uncovered with his dark robes rolled up to his elbows. Murmurs and whispers picked up.

"And finally, Professor Mia Potter-Black of Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Hermione was last to change and she stood in-between her husbands, her robes pristine and perfect and her hair surrounding her like a halo. The whispers morphed into shouts and cheers and Hermione ducked her head shyly, her husbands laughing as they each took a hand and they kissed the back of it, hearing sighs and grumbles at the action.

After they'd won the Final Battle, it had all come out in the press what had truly happened, revealing Voldemort to not truly be dead but a secret organisation known as the White Lions had been secretly working to destroy him for good and they did. Every member of the White Lions was credited for what they'd done, but most of all, Hermione and the Marauders. Hermione, James, Sirius and Remus were well-known and well-liked War Heroes.

McGonagall had taken over as Headmistress of Hogwarts and she'd known that Hermione and her husbands wanted to spend time together and she'd needed some new professors. The three of them agreed to take the positions at Hogwarts because they would all be together and Harry would be staying with them throughout the school term. He was old enough to attend classes and be kept occupied whilst his parents taught the students and if not, they had Honey to help them.

They had their own tower in the castle fitted a living room, study, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, not to mention they had their own classrooms and offices, access to every part of the castle and Forbidden Forest, the restricted section in the library and they could leave the castle and grounds whenever they wanted to, especially for the full moon.

Hermione had immediately jumped at the chance and after that, her husbands hadn't taken much convincing. If Harry grew up in the castle and sat in lessons until he was old enough to attend himself, he may learn things before he even started his school education.

Remus had been made the Department Head of the Control and Regulations of Magical Creatures and was working on abolishing the laws around werewolves. He'd moved out of Potter Manor and into the flat Sirius had gifted him for his future family.

Moody retired from the MLE Department, Kingsley, Fabian and Gideon had been given promotions, Snape was still the potions professor but he seemed to have buried the hatchet with the Marauders, he even had a girlfriend, not that he would tell anyone who it was.

Life was perfect for Hermione.

"Yes, thank you, settle down," McGonagall instructed. "Professors?" She nodded to them.

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione smiled before turning her eyes to the many students before her. "Not only will my husbands and I be your Professors, but we are also the new professors of Gryffindor house."

The Gryffindor table cheered loudly and she looked over to them and she spotted Bill beaming at her and she sent a wink, those sat around him turning to him and asking him questions as he lapped up the attention.

"Also, I will be the Head of Gryffindor house. We want to thank everyone for allowing us to come and teach at Hogwarts and to share our knowledge and experience with you all."

"And if any of you call me Professor," Sirius spoke and everyone looked at his stern expression, "I will give you a month's detention," he warned, laughter breaking out amongst the students.

"And if any of you refuse to call him Professor," James added with a smirk thrown Sirius' way, "I will give you two months detention."

They stared at him before they burst out laughing and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Merlin, what have I let into my school," Hermione heard McGonagall mutter and she chuckled.

Hermione and her husbands turned and headed to the table and took their seats, chatting as food appeared on the table.

When the time came, they stood to leave and headed out of the great hall with the rest of the students, following the Gryffindor students to their common room.

It hadn't changed much from the time she'd attended; red walls and Gryffindor tapestries and banners hanging, dark wooden flooring, comfortable and worn red couches and armchairs, wooden tables and study desks and a warm glowing fire. The only difference was the furniture looked newer than it did in her time.

"Aunt Mia!"

She looked to see Bill pushing his way through the crowd of students who all froze, talk stopping as they observed in surprise.

"Hello, Bill," she greeted, pressing a kiss to his cheek and hugging him when he reached her before he was hugged by James and Sirius. The students gasped and the older students stared in awe.

"You didn't tell me you would be a Professor here," he looked up at her.

"It was a surprise, now I can teach you all those spells without breaking the law," she replied and he beamed at her.

"I can't wait to tell mum and dad, and Charlie, he's going to be so jealous," he exclaimed and they snorted.

"Well, Charlie can wait two more years," James chuckled.

"And then we'll teach him everything we know," Sirius smirked.

"Okay, Bill, it's getting late, you should head up to your room, the boys' staircase is to the left, you'll be on the first floor and your trunk will already be by your bed."

"Night Aunt Mia, Uncle James, Sirius." He hugged them and turned back to the students.

"You know them?" A seventh year boy asked in awe.

"Yeah," Bill replied slowly, giving him a look that all but said he was stupid. "They're my Aunt and Uncles, I spent most of my summer at Potter Manor."

The students gawked at him.

"Right everyone, classes start in the morning and I suggest you all head to bed," Hermione spoke and the crowd started thinning out as they headed to their rooms.

When the common room was empty she turned and exited out of the portrait and headed to her own tower with her husbands following her, Hermione climbing the stairs to Harry's room so she could check on him.

"Hey, Honey," she smiled.

"Mistress," the house-elf greeted happily. "The Young Master has not woken."

They'd brought Honey with them to help care for Harry on nights they had patrol or would be working late in their offices, not that she'd given them a choice, mind. The elf refused to be left behind. The other house-elves had stayed behind to care for the Manor until they returned for the holidays.

"Thank you for watching him Honey, you may retire for the evening."

"Mistress, Masters," she bowed and popped out of the room.

Hermione leaned over and kissed the faded lightning bolt scar on Harry's head and she pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, stepping out of the way to allow James to kiss Harry and being followed by Sirius before they left to their bedroom.

Hermione flopped down on the king-sized bed and sighed, staring up at the ceiling.

"We have a question to ask you," said Sirius, his gaze focused solely on her.

"Hmmm?" She hummed questioningly with her eyes closed.

"Do you still have your old school uniform?" James asked.

She opened her eyes and pushed herself up onto her elbows, seeing the heated look they were sending her way. Her mouth twitched as she took in the sight of them in their black professor's robes.

"Why, Professors..."

She stood up and pulled her wand before waving it over herself, transfiguring her black pencil skirt into a grey pleated skirt, her white silk shirt into an oxford shirt, a Gryffindor tie appeared around her neck, her plain black robes transfigured into Gryffindor robes and her four-inch peep-toe heels stayed the same. They stared at her and gulped.

"This uniform?" She asked innocently.

James groaned and Sirius growled and before she knew it, laughter was peeling from her as she was tackled to the bed.

~000~000~000~

Wednesday 15th February 1984

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Hermione cried through her screams of agony.

"I'm sure you do, Love," Sirius said, rubbing circles on her back and James rubbed her shoulders as she gripped one of their hands each.

"Don't patronise me," she snapped. Sirius paled.

"Come on, little witch, you're almost there," James encouraged.

"Just one more push, Dear," Madam Pomphrey instructed calmly.

Hermione sobbed and braced herself, giving one last, big push when told to.

"I SERIOUSLY HATE YOU!" She cried, collapsing back against her husbands in exhaustion and trying to manage her breathing when a cry pierced the silence of the hospital wing.

A pink bundle was soon placed into the cradle of her arms, her eyes locking on the beautiful little girl she held to against her gently. She had ivory skin and a small button nose with her father's black hair and dark eyes. Hermione only hoped she didn't inherit her curls.

"We did it," Sirius muttered in awe.

"We? No, I did it, it was my body she exited," she grumbled, a snort coming from her left.

Lifting her head and turning to Sirius on her right, her eyes were filled with tears of joy and she'd never seen his expression so soft and adoring. Tearing his gaze away from the little girl, he saw tears slowly falling down her cheeks and he pressed a kiss to Hermione's forehead and then one to her mouth.

"I've never been prouder of you," he muttered softly.

"She looks like you," Hermione replied. "You're the father of a beautiful daughter."

James smiled at them and nodded in agreement. "She really does look like you, Padfoot. A true Lady Black if I ever saw one. Beautiful and no doubt a scary as hell temper."

"She'll get her temper from her mum," Sirius quipped, accepting his daughter when Hermione settled her in his arms, his gaze locked on her tiny form.

"She's beautiful."

Hermione lifted her gaze to see Madam Pomphrey and McGonagall, both stood off to the side and watching them with smiles.

"Thank you, Minerva, Poppy," she replied.

"As much I hate to admit this, Sirius, you will make a wonderful father," McGonagall said.

Sirius pulled his eyes away from his daughter to look at McGonagall in surprise. "Thank you, Minnie" he whispered, his eyes turning back to his daughter.

"Have you decided on a name?"

"Walburga," Hermione said innocently.

"What?" Sirius hissed, his wide, horrified eyes flying to her. As if he'd ever let his beautiful angel of a daughter be named of his God-awful harpie of a mother! "That's not what we agreed on!"

Hermione and James shared a glance before bursting into sniggers. "Just kidding," she said through chuckles. "You should've seen your face, it's not nice to play jokes on people, is it, Sirius?"

"Shut up," he mumbled under his breath.

There was a ruckus and the doors to the hospital wing burst open revealing a crowd of people; the Weasleys, Prewett twins, Remus, Harry, the Malfoys and Theo.

"We've been waiting out in the corridor for the last three hours," Narcissa huffed, sending a glare to Madame Pomphrey.

"Now you're all here, I'd like you to meet our daughter..." All eyes snapped to the buddle in Sirius' arms, their eyes softening. "Harry, meet your little sister," she said and Remus sat him on the bed so he could see. "This is Ella Lily Potter-Black."

"A beautiful name," Narcissa sniffled with tears in her eyes and Molly cried into her husband's chest. James kissed her cheek softly.

"Molly, Remus, will you be the Godparents?" Hermione asked. Remus' eyes shone and Molly cried louder.

"Welcome to the family," Hermione whispered to her daughter, shifting the pink blanket a little higher so it reached her chin.

~000~000~000~

Tuesday 1st September 1984

Hermione sat at the head's table with her daughter in her arms and with Harry was sat on a chair in-between her and James, watching as Charlie Weasley had the Sorting Hat placed on his head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat boomed, chorused cheers following from the students.

Charlie beamed at Hermione, his uncles and cousins and she sent him a wink as he made his way to the Gryffindor table.

~000~000~000~

Tuesday 1st September 1987

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat roared as Percy Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor house.

A very heavily pregnant Hermione clapped along with her husbands, children and nephews.

~000~000~000~

Sunday 6th September 1987

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate! I HATE YOU!" Hermione screamed.

"We know," James rolled his eyes as he rubbed his wife's back and Sirius worked on her shoulders.

"Don't patronise me!" she snapped.

She pushed again.

"I swear to Merlin, we are never having sex again!"

"Whatever you say, Love," Sirius said airily.

"One more push," Madame Pomphrey instructed.

Hermione sobbed and gave one final push until she heard a baby crying and she slumped back against her husbands. A pink bundle soon being set in her arms and Hermione smiled down at the newest addition to the family tiredly. Their daughter had her mother's mahogany hair but her father's hazel eyes and nose.

A ruckus was heard and the doors burst open, revealing their large family and they all rushed in, staring down at the little girl.

"She's beautiful," Narcissa sniffled, she and Molly wiping away their tears.

Smiling, Hermione handed her newborn daughter to James, her father.

"Harry, Ella?" She called softly, the seven-year-old and the two-year-old, looking up at her from beside her hospital bed. "Meet your little sister, Ariel Narcissa Potter-Black."

Narcissa let out a loud sob and buried face into Lucius' chest. "Cissy, Lucius, we want you to be the Godparents?"

~000~000~000~

Friday 1st September 1989

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat declared for all to hear, Fred and George both being sorted into Gryffindor.

They both did a victory dance in the middle of the hall and Hermione and her family laughed loudly and applauded them but rather than then heading to the Gryffindor table, the twins boldly approached the head's table.

"You can teach us how to make fireworks now," George grinned up at her.

"Hmm? We'll see, you have to earn it first," Hermione replied.

"How do we do that?" Fred asked, his expression crestfallen.

Hermione and her husbands shared a smirk and she leaned forward, motioning for them to do so as well.

"If you can successfully pull a prank on Severus without getting caught, I will teach you," she whispered. Their eyes widened. "And," she added, pulling their attention from the potions professor, "I will give you the location of the Marauder's Map."

"Really?" They whispered in disbelief.

"Really," she nodded, leaning over the table to press a quick kiss to their cheeks and sending them on their way to their seats.

"You're the best Aunt ever!" They exclaimed.

"Severus will kill you," James smirked.

"No, I have his wife on my side, and if he wants to have a son for his daughter to grew up with, he'll do as she says and that includes ensuring my health and safety," she replied smugly.

"You women are diabolical," Sirius muttered, shivering when Hermione smiled innocently.

~000~000~000~

Sunday 1st September 1991

Hermione watched in pride as her son, Harry, was sorted into Gryffindor and as her nephews, Ron was sorted into Gryffindor, Draco Slytherin and Theo Ravenclaw.

"A few years and they'll be sixteen," Sirius commented offhandedly.

Hermione froze, her pallor paling and taking a sickly hue.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm never going to be able to look at them," she whispered, burying her face in her hands as her husbands laughed.

"I wonder where mini-you is," James mused.

"They moved to France, she'll be attending Beauxbatons," Hermione said, lifting her head from her hands. "Who knows, she might have a better life; they're a lot more observant over there, they'll notice if anything's wrong."

~000~000~000~

Hogwarts - Sunday 13th December 1992

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"

"We love you, too," James quipped, rubbing her back.

"I hate you, you did this to me!" She sobbed.

"Actually, it was Padfoot," James deadpanned. "Blame him."

"YOU'RE BOTH GETTING CASTRATED!"

They both winced.

"I do believe she's being serious, Prongs," said Sirius, eyeing his crying wide fearfully.

"Yeah, best not wind her up," he nodded in agreement.

"SHUT UP!" Hermione growled.

She gave one final push and she fell back against her husbands, a cry breaking the silence that followed and a blue bundle was placed into her arms.

"You have a son, Sirius," she muttered.

"I have a son," he repeated, his voice gentle and quiet, staring down at the head of dark hair, the chocolate brown eyes and the small button nose.

As was expected, the doors barged open and their family rushed into the hospital wing.

"Mum!" A twelve-year-old Harry called, being the first to reach her bed, his cheeks tinting pink as he down at the baby boy in her hold.

"Mum!" Ella and Ariel repeated in a chorus, Ella being seven and Ariel now being five.

"Hey, everyone," Hermione said softly. "Harry, Ella, Ariel, this is your little brother. Cole Regulus Potter-Black."

They smiled down at the little bundle now being passed into his father's arms.

"Severus? "Minerva? Will you be the Godparents?"

Severus's expression remained blank but she saw his mouth twitch and his eyes soften and McGonagall cried.

Hermione looked around at her family with a smile.

It all worked out for the better, she thought, looking at her husband and children, her nieces and nephews – Malfoys and Weasleys, Remus and his wife Tonks who was pregnant with their first child, Severus and his wife and daughter and Minerva McGonagall.

Voldemort was wrong.

Love and hope are an extremely powerful form of magic