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Sleep that night was practically impossible. Thoughts were rushing through my mind so quickly it seemed like they would never end. By my actions the very foundation of the future that I know has been shifted. Anything could happen now – which means I am running blind.

Did I do the right thing? There were other ways to make sure James and Lily survived that night. I could have kept them safe without having to put myself in such a position.

That last statement I knew was untrue. If Severus had heard that prophecy, there is no telling if I could have stopped him from delivering that information.

Hermione get your head in the game. You knew what would be required of you when you decided to do this. Deep breath, focus on your shields and quiet your mind.

Slowly, my breath steadied, and I closed my eyes – pushing the panic out of my mind. While my Occlumency wasn't the best in the world by far, I could already tell the difference in the short time I had been using it. Not only did it help me make more rational decisions by keeping my emotions in check, but my memory was practically photographic. Information was no more than books in a library of my mind, just sitting there waiting for me to pick it up off the shelf to be re-read. Thanks to that, magic itself seemed easier to control. Where certain spells would have taken me at least a week to be able to cast I could accomplish them within mere hours.

Harry should have taken his lessons with Snape more seriously. If he had things could have been so different.

That last thought brought on a sudden wave of sadness onto me. Despite having been dead for a year now, Harry's death was still something that would stay fresh in my mind till the day I died.

I won't let that happen again. Things will be different and for the better. Now that James and Lily were out of immediate danger I could focus on fixing everything else.

I reached for my journal that I placed on the small table earlier beside my bed earlier, before pulsing a small amount of magic into it. There was a small click before I flipped the book open and watched as the words on the page slowly started to appear. I turned to page three and crossed out one of the items on my list.

Save Lily and James Potter

I let out a deep breath again and made a few notes and references on the page before closing the book once more and waited to hear another small click. Satisfied, I took a moment to think things through.

I need to hide this journal somehow. If it gets in the wrong hands everything could be ruined. I may have used some serious magic to protect the contents but for every spell there is always a counter that can be cast or created. Best to keep it stashed somewhere that's safe.

I checked my pocket watch again before snapping it closed and slowly running my thumb over the dented back surface.

It's already midnight. Tomorrow I start job hunting so I need to sleep or I'm going to be exhausted.

Turning to the bathroom, I got ready for bed. After brushing my teeth, I pause before smiling and putting my toothbrush and toothpaste back in my bag.

Some habits die hard I guess. Mom and Dad may have been accepting of my magical heritage, but they would have drawn the line for my teeth. Besides the taste of magic in my mouth isn't exactly pleasant.

Changing into my night gown, I got into bed before tapping my wand on a small purple stone on my bedside table. I felt a sudden warmth envelope me as the room flashed purple for a split second before turning back to normal. Content that it was safe, I set an alarm charm to wake me the next morning.

.~-~.

The next morning, I found myself walking down Diagon Alley. The cold weather seemed to be perfect for the scenery and couldn't help but pull my cloak around me tighter. The street was busy for an early Tuesday morning, but everything wasn't like in my time. Even in the worst of Voldemort's second rising the street had been lively, but the Diagon Alley that was before me looked as if a dementor had sucked out all the life out of it. The faces of people who had taken the chance of going out in such a public place seemed to be ashen with grief – completely and utterly vacant of any emotion except panic. No one wanted to stay in one spot for too long – seemingly to afraid to loiter in case of an attack that may or may not even come. Even the buildings seem to lack a certain luster to their bricks and the windows didn't shine so people could see the merchandise within.

I kept my eyes roving for possible threats, but nothing happened. I pulled my hood down, despite the fact I had cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm earlier.

I don't know how they could live like this for so long. Voldemort's first rising had lasted for just over a decade, it's surprising how this terror could be just flipped around as if it had never happened in just under a night. One night is all it took.

Before I could get carried away with my thoughts I remembered why I was here.

I need to stop at Mr. Mulpepper's to see if he would be willing to by some of my stock on potions.

I started to make my way down the lifeless street that was so full of people. Making my way to Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary was easy to find. Its windows were the only ones that seemed to be clean with the exception for the competitor – Slug and Jiggers – who happened to be the only other apothecary in all of Diagon Alley. There was one on Knockturn Alley, but no witch or wizard would risk going to such a place. You were more like to get a disease even worse than you already have than to get an actual cure – if not poisoned all together.

I removed the Notice-Me-Not charm before turning the handle and walking in, noting a small bell waving above my head.

Loud arguing was the first thing I noticed, followed shortly by a young, coughing boy no older than six years old. His eyes were sullen, and he looked to be underfed. His straight blonde hair was scruffy – as if someone had chopped it off with a knife that hadn't been sharpened in quite some time. His clothes appeared to have at one point fit him but now seemed to hang on him like he was no more than a rail.

"I will be with you in a moment!"

An older man in his late sixties was standing behind a counter.

I made my way around the shop discretely. Pick up items then returning them to their spots to keep up the appearance of shopping while listening in.

"I'm sorry for his condition, but there is nothing I can do for you. You do not have your documents – you could be a muggleborn for all I know. If word got out, then there is no telling what could happen to me. I have a family too after all, and I will do them no good dead. I'm sorry but I must ask you to leave. If you return with the proper documentation, then and only then can I help you."

A few moments later, the main door opened accompanied with the chiming of the bell overhead.

"In that case you leave me no choice. If you won't give me what I want, then we will simply take it!" Three sets of boots walked in.

Well this just went horribly wrong.

"EXPELLIARMUS"

"BOMBARDA"

I knelt behind a display of merchandise, while silently casting a Protego.

Flashes of lights, shouting and crashing were all that could be heard.

Petrificus Totalus. Another crash sounded. One down three to go.

I need to end this quick before this gets to much attention. Someone has probably alerted the aurors which means Death Eaters won't be far behind. These guys are most likely muggleborns. It would make since, considering the Ministry is controlling the distribution of potion ingredients. After all, if you get sick and you can't find what you need in the wild, muggleborns will have no choice but to come out of hiding.

"It doesn't have to be like this. If you leave now you could still get away from the aurors," I shouted from behind the display.

I heard the soft shuffling of feet. Two on the left, one on the right.

"Oh really, we both know it's too late for that. Besides, we have already come this far. What makes you think we would turn back now?" A female voice from my right.

"Because there are other ways to get what you want. Besides, who's to say Mr. Mullpepper even has to give you what you are really looking for. He could easily give you something and you would be none the wiser."

This time a male voice rang in the air, "If he's smart he wouldn't. It's not like we can't find him and make him regret it. After everything the Ministry has done, regulating potion ingredients is the last straw. People are going to die because they can't get the medicine they need. What are we supposed to do – sit around and watch?"

I need to get them to stop and see reason.

At that moment I saw Mr. Mullpepper in the corner holding back the little boy.

If this keeps on going someone could get seriously hurt. It's now or never.

"FULGERE MAGNISRA"

Suddenly, the store was incased with a bright light. I took a moment to check and see that everyone was disoriented from my flash bang jinx. There ears would be ringing for a while after that.

I quickly cast stunning spells on everyone in the store. I sighed with relief before gathering all the wands except Mr. Mullpepper's before raising my wand towards the woman.

"Rennervate"

The first thing that the woman saw was the tip of my wand.

"Stay right where you are, or you will find out just how good I am with my wand."

"Go ahead and kill me. I won't tell you anything so no use to drag it out."

Those words stunned me for a moment before I regained my composure. "If I wanted information there are far more easier ways to get it with you unconscious than awake. That is unless I used Veritaserum; in that case you wouldn't really have a choice but to spit out your deepest, darkest secrets no mater hard you struggled."

"Maybe but considering that the ministry deems it to be a controlled substance, I find it hard to believe that you have access to that. The only way you could is if you yourself work for them, but if that's the case, why am I not surrounded by Aurors and on the way to a jail cell yet?"

I leaned in close and whispered, "because I don't need them."

Straightening my back, I gave my best imposing glare that even Minerva McGonagall would be proud of. "What medicine did you need?"

"I already told you I wasn't answering any questions."

"And I made it pretty clear that I'm not with the Ministry, otherwise - as you stated – you would already be in a jail cell. Now stop playing games and tell me what you need."

The woman paused before speaking again, "Squabbs balm. My entire camp has been infested with Squabbs Syndrome for three days. It's turning real nasty now."

I couldn't help but snort, "Do you think I'm stupid or something. You do realize that Squabbs Syndrome is a disease that only dragons can suffer from, correct? Do you really think that I would fall for such a poor excuse of a sob story? Now tell me the truth – what is it that you were looking for here?"

"Why do you even care? I'm nothing but a filthy, little mudblood as far as you are probably concerned!"

For a moment I was stunned; I had never heard a muggleborn speak so degradingly about their own heritage.

"Well then, I guess if you're nothing but a filthy, little mudblood then so am I." Those words felt like knives stabbing in my very soul as they left my mouth as nothing more than a whisper.

"Who are you?"

I swallowed, before meeting her eyes. "You may call me Eliza."

She paused before speaking, "Thea."

"Look this is nice and but we have wasted enough time as it is. Aurors are going to be here in a matter of minutes. There is no way that after all this commotion that someone didn't report it. Listen very closely and follow everything that I say from this moment on. You are going to get your friends up and you are going to make your way to the Leaky Cauldron then to the closest train station. After three stops get a room in the closest hotel and wait for me to come for you."

I reached into my bag and pulled out one of my emergency envelopes. "In this envelope you will find two magi-cards. The red one is your ID and the blue one is for money. It may look blank to you but for muggles it will keep them from looking to closely. Under no circumstances are you to use magic during this time unless your life depends on it – you need to blend in with the muggles. Do you understand everything I just told you?"

"Wait what about the medicine. We can't leave-"

I cut her off quickly saying, "Don't worry about that right now. The medicine will not do any of those people any good if you're dead or locked up. Now do you understand everything I just said?"

"Yes, get to the muggle world and find the closest train station. After three stops find the closest hotel. The red card is for an ID and blue is money."

"And no magic," I stressed to her. I pulled out a galleon from my pocket and put it in her palm. "Do not spend this ever and keep it on you at all times. If you are ever in trouble bring it to your lips and whisper Hot, if you can get away before I get to you say Cold. If it ever becomes impossible to touch that means you need to get rid of it and relocate. Now get your friends and calmly walk out the back. Keep your heads down and don't run – you will only end up making a scene and that will lead to a trail the Aurors can follow."

Nodding silently, she got up and I handed her wand back along with the rest before turning back to her friends.

Rennervate

I made my way over to Mr. Mullpepper and checked on the small boy.

Morbo Invenias

Little lights danced over the boy for a moment. Respiratory Infection, Malnutrition, and an Iron deficiency – that's expected though considering the malnutrition.

Rennervate

I stepped back and addressed Thea. "This boy is not eating well – he has an iron deficiency – make sure he eats better. I would suggest some leafy greens; try some spinach and broccoli. I'll give you some potions for the other issues but right now I can't address that one."

"Is the old man okay? We didn't come here to make trouble – we are just trying to survive."

It took all of my will power to keep my irritation in check before I turned and addressed the man who just spoke. "That old man has a name and you should think about that next time you get yourself in a situation like this. If we start threatening people and treating them like they are nothing more than a means to an end, then we are no better than the Death Eaters."

The man paused for a moment looking as if he was going to say something before Thea place a hand on his shoulder and shook her head no. "We need to go."

"Remember, quickly but quietly. I will try to stall them, but I can't hold them off for long."

Another man paused, "You're not coming with us?"

"Don't worry I have plan; besides I can take care of myself." I turned to Thea before summoning some potions from my bag. "Here, these are for the boy. It's best for him to take it with a meal."

Thea nodded before placing them in a pocket in her outer robes. Turning to the rest she nodded towards the back door. "Let's go. We can't stay here for any longer."

Everyone nodded before moving towards the back. One of the men grabbed the boy from earlier and pulled him along.

"I will hopefully see you in a few days."

I turned to Thea before replying, "I will be fine. Now get out of here before you're caught."

She smiled warmly before making her way to the back room and shortly after I heard the creaking or a door then a low click.

Sighing quietly, I drew my wand before casting a weak cutting curse causing a cut to appear on my temple. As blood pooled down my face I reached into my bag to grab a mirror compact and a little piece of candy with a wrapper that had WWW written on it.

Unwrapping the candy, I placed it in my mouth and began to suck. I held up the mirror compact and watched as my face slowly grew deep purple and blue bruises on the right side of my face. Well George and Fred, you both have really outdone yourselves this time.

I kept sucking for a few more moments before spiting the piece of candy back into the wrapper and put it back in my bag.

Definitely don't need to leave that laying around.

I placed my hand on my cheek for a split second before jerking it away because of a shocking pain. Okay those boys may have made that to well. At least it will help sale it.

I made my way to Mr. Mullpepper and checked his vitals with a quick swish and flick of my wand. Good he's fine. He has a concussion but overall, he's fine.

I let out a deep breath and that's when the door was blasted in.

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