Time is a Delicate Thing

Summary: In the aftermath of the final battle, Harry and Hermione are sent back twenty-seven years to correct grave errors made to them. Time travel, Dumbledore/Weasley bashing, mentor! McGonagall, rated M for later chapters. HP/HG, JP/LE. More pairings as the story progresses.

The long, emotional battle was finally over. The wounded were being tended to by Madame Pomfrey and Emergency Mediwitches in the infirmary, the dead were being collected by the aurors, to be brought to the Great Hall so their families and friends could identify them. Any of the dead that were branded with the Dark Mark were thrown into the funeral pyre that was burning just outside of the Quidditch pitch, the few Death Eaters that survived the fighting were sent to the Quidditch locker rooms, which Filtch, along with Madame Hooch, had equipped with irons, much like the ones Filtch always threatened students with.

Harry and Hermione were the only ones at Hogwarts that day that didn't feel a sense of celebration underneath the intense mourning they felt. They sat in silence, leaning against one another for support on the steps leading to Hagrid's now destroyed hut. The faint smell of burnt wood and cloth still permeated the air in the area, but it was preferable to the burnt flesh and blood that hung around the castle. Hermione lifted her head and looked solemnly at the place she once called home.

"It's not over yet, is it, Harry?" she whispered as she watched the far-off pyre flare once more, another Death Eater found dead.

Harry sighed deeply. "It's not Mione. The fighting here is over, but I can't stop thinking that there's something else we need to do," he said dejectedly. "There's still more I need to do."

"That we need to do, Harry," she replied softly. "I've never left your side before, even when I knew that staying by you could mean my death. I'm never leaving your side."

Harry smiled tiredly and bent his head to look at her. "I never expected you to leave, Mione. I always knew you'd stay."

"And I always will," she said, smiling back up at him. "Come on, let's go find a quiet place to set up the tent, I don't really want to leave the grounds, but the thought of sleeping somewhere other than my cot doesn't feel right at the moment."

As they stood and walked towards the forest to find a place to set up camp for the night, Harry's eye caught those of two very familiar beings.

"Firenze, Bane," he said, bowing slightly. "I wanted to thank you for the centaur's assistance during this conflict."

The centaurs returned the bow. "Harry Potter, the centaurs will forever stand by you and Hermione Granger in whatever conflict you may come across, and when you have offspring, we will stand by them as well. The stars have told us that the children, grandchildren and on of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, will always stay steady in the path of the light, and they will always defend and honor the centaurs. For that, as long as there is a descendant of us, and a descendant of you, we shall remain allies," Bane said formally.

Firenze walked forward and hugged Hermione tightly. "The stars have also told us the conflicts you are facing are not over. Someone meaning you no harm will attempt to fix a great wrong they committed three hundred and thirty full moons ago. This will give both of you an opportunity to fix great wrongs done to both of you. The centaur nation wishes you immense luck."

Hermione looked to Bane, as if to ask him what Firenze meant, but Bane held his hand up. "We only know what the stars tell us, Hermione. They do not tell us what great wrong was done to both of you nearly twenty-seven years ago. I'm sorry, child."

Harry looked to Hermione and nodded, holding his hand out. As she took it, Bane spoke again. "My children and the rest of the nation have agreed to house you both until the stars tell us you will be leaving to correct these mysterious wrongs. Your new abode was constructed with direction from Hagrid, however, he was only a messenger. I believe Professors McGonagall and Vector were the ones who designed this dwelling which will remain standing for as long as the alliance between our families remains."

As Bane lead the duo to their temporary home, Harry whispered to Hermione, "I reckon our hunch was right. But how are we supposed to fix something that happened almost thirty years ago?"

"We'll manage somehow, Harry," she said just as softly. "We always do."

After a few more moments of walking, Bane stopped just short of a clearing. "Your home, friends." He gestured for the duo to step ahead of him.

What they saw took their breath away. In the middle of the clearing stood a modest stone cottage, complete with a small vegetable garden and light puffs of white smoke wafting from the chimney. As they walked down the smooth cobblestone path to the door, Hermione's tired smile got brighter. "It just feels like home, doesn't it, Harry?" she said breathlessly as they reached the door.

Opening the solid oak door, Hermione's excitement finally got the better of her. "Oh, Harry, look at this place! Professors McGonagall and Vector really are amazing!"

While she ran from room to room, Harry decided to take a calmer approach to investigating their new home. The front door opened to the living room, which felt open and airy thanks to large windows and light coloured furniture, such as the creme colored couch, and the soft blue armchairs. Turning left brought him to the kitchen, which was decorated in soft yellows, with muggle and magical appliances.

Turning from the kitchen, Harry explored the rest of the house and found that each room was decorated in soft colors, and light colored furniture, like the seafoam green in the bathrooms, to the pale grey of the hallways. When Harry reached the last room that he hadn't yet explored, he found Hermione grinning widely in a large bedroom. Hugging Hermione, he surveyed the room. Against one wall, two bureaus, one with the initials HJP and the other with the initials HJG were slowly becoming filled with their belongings with the help of Hermione's wand.

After several hours of rearranging and unpacking Hermione's beaded bag, the duo finally collapsed on the couch from sheer exhaustion. Hermione's last thought as she finally drifted off to sleep was of how comforting it was to have Harry's arm wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her safe. Harry's mind was on the same track, he was just too drained to admit it.