Hermione sat with what was left of the Order at the burrow in complete silence. She felt as if she was in one of those movies where everything around her was moving at mach speeds while she just sat perfectly still, barely breathing. Unable to cope with what had happened. It shouldn't of happened. They did everything right. They spent so much time and given up so much, hunting down all the Horcruxes. To make sure he died. Voldemort. The battle of Hogwarts. They had taken out a lot of the death eaters. Everyone pitched in and worked together to give the trio a chance to take out the diadem and the cup and Neville, Merlin bless him, had taken the snake out just in time.

But they missed something. Something colossal. And so with the epic end battle of all battles when Harry Potter went against Voldemort he did not kill him. He was in an upstairs bedroom now barely hanging onto life. No one knew if he would come back this time. The forest confrontation was a one time deal. And though Voldemort was hurt severely as well. We all know that will give us only enough of a reprieve before he attacks again and finishes what he started. "ne...mione...HERMIONE!" Ron is shaking her causing her to take a deep gasp of air. "We need you, have you not been listening?" He looks at her with concern. "What more can we possibly do Ronald...Harry..." She barely whispers out tears finally tracking down her dirt stained face.

He pulls her off of the couch and hugs her tightly. "Look let's get you cleaned up while mum is getting a meal put together for everyone, yeah? That way we can focus a bit and plan our next move." He rubs circles on her back while leading her to the upstairs bathroom. She moves without a fuss, taking in Ron's disheveled appearance. No one had had much of a chance to tend to themselves after the battle that happened a day ago. There was just too much to do, still was.

Pulling a clean towel from the cupboard he steered her into the bathroom," I'll wait for you downstairs. I know this is hard 'Mione with Harry and Fred..." He choked up a bit trying to get his emotions under control. " But we're all that's left. We can't lose anyone else. It's up to the rest of the Order to figure something out." He squeezed her hand tightly then spun around leaving her with her thoughts. Peeling the sweat, blood, and dirt stained clothing off her body she stood in the scalding shower trying to scrub away the lost, the screams, the devastation.

Staring at her reflection in the wall length mirror she traced her body's scars that had been acquired on their long journey. Some just tiny white lines, while others were still pink from not fully healing. The two that stuck out most was the giant slash across her torso from her fight at the Ministry against Dolohov and the red puckered "Mudblood" on her arm from her wonderful stay at the Malfoy Manor with Bellatrix. Even if they did get through this, she would never be the same again. One doesn't go through war unscathed or emotionally scarred.

Pulling her beaded bag out she fished out some clean clothes and dressed quickly. Pulling her hair up in a ponytail she started downstairs to regroup with the others. Kingsley was at the head of the table talking in a low bassed voice to the others. It seemed the table was in argument half agreeing with the man and the other half shaking their heads with with disapproving faces. Pulling a chair out next to Ron, Molly set a plate in front of her with a tight smile. "Eat up deary, We all need our strength."

Taking tiny bites she finally realized how quiet the table was. She looked up to everyone staring at her. Swallowing down her food she took a sip of tea and raised one eyebrow, "What?" She asked hesitantly. "Miss Granger" Kingsley started grabbing her attention, "As you are aware we need to act quickly. After hearing the full story from everyone and you and Ron we know that something was amiss with the information Dumbledore had gathered. We either missed an unknown Horcux or something all together. Now that Voldemort is aware of our ploys he will be even more on guard and the Order is down by half. 's condition is unstable, So we can no longer leave the burden with him. It is up to us to find a solution out of this horrendous situation."

Hermione shook her head in affirmation, agreeing with everything the elder wizard had stated so far. " Of course. I understand things are even more dangerous than ever. I will do whatever is needed in the future that the Order needs. It is important that we regroup and find where to go from here." Kingsley gave her a small smile at her acquiesce. "I'm glad you understand the severity of the situation. But it's not the future that we will need your help with." He stated evasively. "But the past."

Hermione set her fork down looking around confusingly at the group before settling her eyes back on their leader, "I don't think I understand." Shacklebolt leaned forward clasping his hands together talking more animately. "We've lost too much. Even if we found out how to rid the world of Voldemort, rebuilding and rerighting our devastated world is nearly impossible. Years ago after the first war the ministry started working on something that could right the wrongs of the past. Of course only a handful of people knew about the project and soon it was written off and hid away as time went on and the world rebuilt."

"We, The Order, have always had that as a last resort plan if there was nothing more we could do. It was never meant to be brought up unless it was the absolute necessary. And that is why I now bring it to everyone's attention now. Even if it works, it does not guarantee changing the outcome of our present time. It has never even been tested. So you very well could be lost." The man told her in a dead serious tone.

Hermione furrowed her brows together trying to work through the information she just received. A Plan to change the present time? Going into the past. Surely they would of known if there was such a thing. Obviously the trio had changed past events with the time turner their third year but even that had it's limits on how far it could go back. And there was no way to get back to the present time except to live out the events again.

For them to make any difference they would have to go back years. And even then that didn't guarantee them finding the information they needed. I mean Dumbledore was looking into Voldemort two wars worth of time. Shaking her head she voiced her opinions to them, "Even if you had a way it wouldn't guarantee anything. If Dumbledore couldn't figure it out how do you expect any of us to?" she asked in earnest.

Kingsley nodded his head at her concerns," Have no doubt that there is a way. And Dumbledore wasn't close enough to him to learn enough. Him and Voldemort were always at odds with each other from the beginning. That's why we need you. To go back, Get close, infiltrate the group as one of their own. Learn all that you can. If you can stop or change even a little it would make all the difference. And if you cannot at least we would have more information to go off of."

Hermione stared at him with her jaw hanging open." ME? Hermione Granger, the mudblood, brightest witch of her age, the brains of the golden trio, Harry Potter's best friend. Infiltrate the death eaters and cozy up to VOLDEMORT." Holding her arm so everyone could see where "Mudblood" was carved in her arm," You do realize they would kill me in a whole two seconds, right? Everyone knows who I am. Even if I used polyjuice potion or a charm to change my appearance it wouldn't fool You Know Who." She laughed sarcastically. "Obviously I am not the right choice here."

Shacklebolt leaned further even more,"Of course he would if you went back to when they knew of who ya'll were. But we are talking about before that, before either war, before he was Voldemort." Hermione thought she couldn't be more shocked. She was wrong. "Before? How far back are we talking about?" she asked. "1942. Right before he opened the Chamber of Secrets and made the first horcurx from Myrtles death. Before the Death Eaters were in fact Death Eaters."

The room was deathly quiet. Hermione could only stare at this point. "Perhaps I should explain a little more. It is similar to a time turner the device that will take you back. But it can only be used once. But it is similar also in the way that it cannot bring you back. Once you are there. That is where you will remain." He stared ar her in all seriousness. "Hermione. You are a natural leader, you are powerful and intelligent. You are patient, loyal, charismatic, and above all else tenacious in every task set before you. I know what we ask of you, what I ask of you, is the ultimate price. But it is the only solution left to us."

"There is no livable future for any of us. Maybe we will live years beyond now, but make no mistake, we will inevitably all die in battle. You are our only hope now." He finished. Hermione was pale and her hands were trembling on the table top. The table burst into conversation again arguing back in forth around her. Half agreeing with the elder wizard that it was the world's only hope, the other half stating there was another way and too much to ask of anyone. They just needed to look for something else.

Ron grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. "Mione you don't have to agree to this." He whispered to her. She held onto him like a life line. This was too much right now. After everything that had happened. How could they even ask her to do this. To leave everything she had every known and go back fifty years to be a spy. Literally a lifetime of being on the dark side and spying. Even deeper that Severus had went. To be like them. To have prejudices. To torture. To kill. To befriend the very people who have made their lives a living hell.

She couldn't breathe. The room was closing in on her, getting smaller and smaller. Standing up she ran out the back door. She didn't stop running till she came upon the pond at the edge of the Weasley property. Gasping heavily she tried to get much needed air into her lungs. Collapsing on the ground she cried out her hurt, frustrations, and utter loneliness. She had given everything of herself to the cause and it still wasn't enough. They wanted even more. To rip the last of her true self away from her. To do this would break her soul, her very being.

She always knew she would more than likely give her life to the cause. But death was quick compared to a lifetime of deceit and servitude under a mad man. Sitting up she pulled her knees under her chin, wrapping her arms around herself tightly. Trying to hold herself together. Why her? Sure Kingsley had said vaguely why but everyone in the Order had great attributes that could be used to do the same. Some older with more experience than her.

Could she even do it. If they could even get around her scars and muggle heritage to trick them, could she do what was needed of her. She stood up and started pacing pulling her thoughts and courage together. Why not her besides the obvious. She had no family left. She was trained in Occlumency and Legilimency. She had barely turned seventeen so she wouldn't even need to change her appearance to enroll back in school in the past. It was starting to make sense she was one of the better choices.

She needed to talk to Kingsley more, she needed more information. Turning around to head back, Kingsley was leaning against the tree watching her. "I figured you had more questions, you just needed time to get your head around the idea." He smiled. Hermione nodded," You are right. Just needed some air. I understand the necessity of what you are asking. And I understand the repercussions of what you are exactly asking. What I don't understand is how you expect me to do it?" she asked.

"I know you are worried about being marked and coming out as a muggleborn. We have a way to reverse the effects of the dark curse on your arm and cover story for your alias as a halfblood. You will be able to keep your first name but your last we would change to Sewlyn. There is not much on the Sewlyn family but that they are of the sacred twenty eight. Ravenclaw's direct descendent. Though most descendents would be pure blood. Your story will be that you were conceived out of wed lock when your father and your mother, a muggle, had an affair. Your mother didn't let anyone know of your conception until you started showing magical abilites at age five. Then Sewlyn hired a private tutor to help school you in the ways of the wizarding world and of your illustrious family history. Upon your fathers death at age of fifteen and your mothers at age sixteen you were left a hefty account being the only child of the man along with his estates. You then decided to go to the great Howarts school of wizardy and witchcraft. And will inevitably be in Slytherin as all Sewlyns the preceded you have."

"With you being a halfblood it will be a hard transition being in a house full a pureblooded supremist. But with your intelligence, combat experience and similar upbringing to Voldemort he will undeniably covet you and want to use you to your fullest potential. Our goal is for him to not only bring you into the group but to take you in as an apprentice of sort. His most trusted. From what we know of him he does not let anyone in, does not look at his followers as friends but as servants. In fact he has never had a friend or family to speak of. The only thing he has ever shown fondness for is the school itself. "

"Though he will want you to agree with his plans and opinions he will not be enthralled with just another follower, another person that worships him. He wants someone to challenge him, excite him. Though always with respect. That's why it has to be you Hermione. You ARE the brightest witch of your age. You ARE the only who is capable of the task. I know I am asking you to give everything up. But we have no future here. I beg you to think of not only the present but the future generation that have to live in the world we leave behind. We are the only ones who can fix this." Shacklebolt concluded.

Hermione was in awe of the thought that he had put into this. This wasn't just a whim of a plan. This was thoroughly well thought out. But then again. A smart general always has a back up plan of action if the main efforts fall through and a back up plan for the back up plan. Hermione didn't know too much about Voldemort in his younger years except that his name was Tom Riddle. He opened the Chamber. He created his first Horcrux from the baskilisk murder of Myrtle and recruited his following of death eaters while attending Hogwarts. But she doesn't know anything about him as a person.

"Do we still have Dumbledore's memory and his pensive?" She asked the elder wizard. He nodded tilting his head in curiosity. "Well I need to see who exactly I'm dealing with and learn as much as I can before we do this." She stated more confidently than she actually felt. He smiled widely at the witch" So that's a yes than?" Hermione nodded,"I'll do it. How long do we have?" "Two weeks. I already had my people on the inside of grab the device ages ago and hide it away at a safe house. There has already been sightings of death eaters in Diagon Alley and rumors of Potters fall has made its circuit. More people are joining them out of fear or completely leaving the country. It won't be long until they come for us. We are the last of the resistance and we are the number one targets."

"I'll have the safe house set up for us to go over everything you need to know. We'll stay here tonight and head out tomorrow. I suggest you use this time to say your goodbyes. It will only be us going. It will be better with less distractions so you can absorb as much as possible." He said as he walked of to the apparation point. Hermione walked slowly back into the house.

Everyone had moved to the sitting room talking in hushed tones. Looking up at Hermione's entrance Ron patted the seat next to him. She sat down and looked at the group who were waiting on her expectantly. " I have decided to do it." Molly and Ron took a deep gasp in. Everyone else started talking at the same time once again. "Listen! This isn't even a choice. There is nothing more to be done. Think of everyone we have lost, Remus, Sirius, Tonks, Fred, Dumbledore, Moody...Harry..." She started crying at the last one." They have all given their lives for this and to what end. For us to lose. For everyone of us to slowly be exterminated one by one." She took in a deep breath and steadied her voice and hardened her eyes," Well not if I can help it. That is not even an option. I am more than willing to do this for everyone. For the people I love. And for the future generations." She said adamantly.

"I leave tomorrow to a safe house and will have two weeks to prepare as much as possible before I go. I want to spend my last hours just with you all, my family." She said in hushed tones. Everyone was tearing up at this point smiling and others nodding in agreement with her. "Well I think this calls for a party of epic proportions." George said from his chair. Molly hopped to attention calling Ginny and Fleur to help in the kitchen to prepare food and drinks and got the boys to work setting up an outside area for them. "Well It's probably the last time all of us will be together for awhile and hopefully if you succeed everything will be different and none of this will have happened." Charlie said taking a drink of firewhisky.

The night was spent in as high of spirits as the circumstances allowed. Everyone ate and drank their fill. Laughed and talked the night away. Eventually even music was put on and they danced with each other till their feet hurt. Hermione found herself lying on the couch by the fireplace sipping back her umpteenth glass of firewhisky. " Care for some company?" Ron asked lifting her feet and setting them on his lap. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you." He said quietly rubbing her feet and ankles.

"Well if I do my job correctly our timeline will change and all of this." She waved around them,"Won't even exist." Ron looked at her intensely for a few moments, "I hope so 'Mione. I'm sorry we couldn't go with you this time. But you can do this. If anyone can, it's you." They sat in silence drinking and staring at one another and the roaring fire. Hermione fell asleep enjoying the last warmth she would have for a long time.

" 'Mione, time to get up." Ron gently shook her awake. "Shacklebolt is here. Waiting for you in the kitchen." Hermione sat up with one of the worse headaches of her life. Heading into the kitchen Bill passed her a potion, "For your head." He smiled. She drank it down quickly and immediately it faded away to a dull thrum and gave her a bit more energy."Thank you." She ate some food listening to everyone talk about the upcoming mission.

"Miss Granger, it's time." Kingsley stood. Everyone walked them out hugging and whispering their love and good byes. Hermione walked to the apparation point with the elder wizard. He offered his arm and she grabbed hold tightly taking one last look at one of the few places she called home. Within the next blink of her eyes she was sucked into the darkness of side by side apparation.