Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 6

Hermione noticed several changes at the Ministry. Several people that had been dead were alive and moving about, noticeably - Nymphadora Tonks. The fountain that had been smashed in her 5th year was still standing tall. "What in the world?" She muttered to herself. No one around her seemed panicked or surprised to see the changes happening. Ron didn't seem to notice any difference either. Hermione had checked with him before leaving for the Ministry.

"Level 9, please." Hermione intoned clearly as the lift door shut in front of her. The house elf working the machine nodded. A few of the witches and wizards on the lift looked at her in surprise. The ride was quiet as people got off at their floors. Hermione felt a bit impatient as she went deeper into the Ministry of Magic. She had so many questions.

"Level 9, Department of Mysteries" A female voice cooly stated as the ride ended. Dark brown eyes looked around as the lift disappeared. Everything looked the same as when she first arrived in her 5th year, the walls were jet black. The witch hadn't made it to the door before a cloaked wizard appeared before her. Hermione froze, her hand going for her wand.

"Hermione Granger."

The Gryffindor nodded in acknowledgement. "Who are you?"

"Croaker, I'm in charge of this Department."

Hermione nodded, she hadn't expected to talk to the Department head so fast. "Do you- "

"Know that Lord Potter is changing the past?"

The bushy haired witch gave a slow nod. "How did you know?"

"Follow me." The disembodied voice commanded. "We have little time." The person in the cloak turned and walked through the black doors. Hermione wished she had bought Ron with her, but she walked forward. Very few, if any, are ever invited into the Department of Mysteries. She swallowed her questions as she walked behind the Unspeakable. They didn't make it passed the room filled with brains before the wizard made a sharp left. Everything seemed to blur together, before they finally stopped. A wall shimmered before it disappeared. Hermione looked around a room that had been used for a ritual. "This is where Lord Potter was last seen. He was assisting Cricket on a project."

"Time travel? I thought the Ministry banned research on it after an accident several decades ago." Hermione couldn't see the cloaked face, but she could feel their piercing glare. She could understand a few of the runes on the wall and had deduced what their purpose could have been, time travel.

"The Department of Mysteries is autonomous to the Ministry of Magic." A fact that had been proven time and time again, Hermione remembered. She had sat in the hospital bed after her first visit years ago and read about the Department. They were shrouded in layers of secrecy. "I expected you to arrive to investigate. The ritual used was of a permanent nature, they are not returning to this time period."

Hermione bit her lip, "but the body can't handle the strain."

"Their bodies are here." The Unspeakable informed her. He gestured to the room. "I didn't touch anything, but soon everyone's memories will change and these bodies will disappear. It's slowly happened, those not exposed to time travel were the first to have their memories changed here. In a few weeks time, the entirety of the world will not remember the same events that we do."

A look of horror crossed Hermione's face as she looked at the door blocked by the wizard. "Their bodies? As in they're already dead?"

"In this timeline, yes. I had to wait for the magic to fade away, but they are effectively soulless. No different than if a Dementor's Kiss had been performed on them." Tears filled her dark brown eyes as she moved to get passed the Unspeakable. "Granger, you have one shot at going after them. Your chance occurs in two weeks, the magic relies on the lunar state."

"Why me?"

Croaker tilted their head as if puzzled by the question that they were being asked. "Magic pulled you here and I am merely doing as expected by her."

"What does that mean?"

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Harry would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying his day in Hogsmeade. Leila was bundled up to keep warm from the low temperatures of the day. She was hanging out with Luna and, to his annoyance, Theodore Nott. The Slytherin practically glared at him, every opportunity that he got to do so. The Gryffindor knew why, he had upset Leila earlier that week and for some reason, the skinny bloke thought he was going to take Leila from him. Harry wasn't 15 anymore, he had ranted at her to express his feelings and he had hurt her. Hermione had taken him to task for explaining his feelings in such an immature way. The witch hadn't known what the fight was about, but yelling at someone you loved was unacceptable.

He had darkly thought that someone had neglected to instill that into his relatives. Then again, he supposed they never really loved him. Despite his own feelings that had been crushed repeatedly by them until he could only offer them what they gave him.

His girlfriend had grabbed his hand and the group had walked over to the Three Broomsticks where Hermione sat waiting with a very familiar blond woman. Hermione and Rita stood as the group approached, Rita looking a little less than pleased. Leila still didn't approve, but she wasn't going to stop him. Especially since she knew it happened the first time around and had pushed some people into believing him. Leila had barely gotten a chance to finish saying her good bye to Harry when Hermione seemed to pass out. The time travelers raced to catch the witch before she hit the floor.

Harry held Hermione's limp form concerned. This definitely hadn't happened the first time around. "We should get her to Madam Pomfrey."

Rita Skeeter glanced at the teen witch and then Harry himself. "I'm not allowed in Hogwarts and I am already risking my reputation to complete this interview."

"I'll take her." Leila volunteered, "it shouldn't be too hard to get her there." Theodore rolled his eyes, there was no way he was helping Granger. "Do the interview and meet us at the hospital wing."

Luna's eyes seem to glow in a knowing way. "I'll stay and keep an eye out for nargles."

The only Slytherin glowered at the group before he huffed and left the table. Leila narrowed her eyes on his retreating form. She would have to handle the situation with him soon.

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Hermione groaned as she woke up, she didn't feel the greatest. It was almost like elephants had stomped on her head. "She's waking up." Someone stated urgently. "I'll get Madam Pomfrey."

"Thank you." Harry, that was his voice Hermione remembered. "Are you alright Hermione?"

The witch opened her eyes and noticed immediately that her best friend wasn't dead. Had it been a dream? Had she imagined seeing his body on the floor of the Ministry? The funeral for him? "Harry?" He smiled crookedly at her. He also looked young. Younger than she remembered him being a few weeks ago.

"Yes?"

"What year is it?" Harry looked at her strange, but couldn't answer as Madam Pomfrey appeared. The medwitch started waving her wand without a second thought. "I need a little space Mr. Potter." Hermione stared at the ceiling and allowed the nurse to run her scans. She was in Hogwarts. Harry did have long shaggy hair again, she remembered that style from Fifth and Sixth Year. Had her best friend come back to save his godfather? Did he not remember her warning about changing the past?

Madam Pomfrey muttered something to herself before glancing at Harry. "Miss Granger, you're not ill. I can't find the source of your fainting spell, but I will ask that you take it easy. Mister Potter, Miss Brown, please make sure that Miss Granger gets rest before dinner." The older woman looked at her patient with a smile. "Now let me get a potion for your headache."

Hermione sat up and looked at Leila in puzzlement. The Ravenclaw cast a quick muffling spell around them. "Is something wrong Hermione?"

"Who are you?" Her brown eyes narrowed at the other girl. "You wouldn't happen to be Cricket would you?"

Leila tilted her head in polite confusion. "Hermione?"

"What year is it?"

"1995." Harry answered finally, "did you hit your head?"

She stared at him as if trying to figure out something. She didn't get to respond as the Matron reappeared with a potion. "Thank you for at least silencing your conversation." Madam Pomfrey said, "I don't have many other patients but I do prefer they rest in a quiet environment. This is for you Miss Granger."

"Thank you." Hermione downed the potion with three set of eyes on her. "Am I excused now?"

Madam Pomfrey nodded, "And Mister Potter do stay out of trouble."

Harry nodded, offering the Matron a crooked grin. "I've done well enough to avoid your tender care so far."

The older woman laughed and shooed the three students out. "You're as funny as your father, Mister Potter."

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There was silence as they walked the halls of Hogwarts. Hermione walked quickly and quietly to the 7th Floor. Harry and Leila exchanged looks as the witch hurriedly paced three times in front of the wall across from Barnabas' tapestry. "Where's Ron?"

"Hogsmeade with my cousin, Lavender." Leila answered quietly.

Hermione led them inside the room she had summoned. It looked like the Gryffindor Common Room based on the color scheme. "You've started changing the timeline."

Leila's face went blank and she stared at Hermione piercingly. The Ravenclaw took out her wand and cast several spells silently. The Gryffindors recognized the privacy and security spells immediately. "Granger, what are you talking about?" Leila had feeling, she knew the answer to her question.

"Hermione, what year do you remember?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering between the two witches.

Hermione rubbed her hands together before setting down across from the fireplace. "It was early 1999. You had defeated Voldemort a little more than 6 months beforehand, we were getting things fixed. Kingsley had just gotten elected Minister!" Her brown eyes were alight with a fire as she glared at Harry. "And then I get calls that you're missing! Only to investigate and realize, time was changing. Oh, and discovering your soulless corpse!" Her dark brown eyes landed on the Ravenclaw, "Yours as well! The both of you!" The bushy haired witch hopped onto her feet again. "Your soulless corpses from tampering with time magic! Terrible things happen to wizards who meddle in time!"

Harry looked bashful and glanced away from his angry friend. She wasn't wrong. "Hermione, I didn't intend to - "

"How did you get to us?" Leila's voice was devoid of emotions as she cut him off. Her hazel eyes revealed little of her feelings.

Hermione Granger narrowed her eyes at Leila. "Well, Cricket there was enough of your work left behind from the ritual that Croaker and I were able to recreate it."

"You could have died." Leila informed her. "Neither of you knew every detail of my ritual."

"We did die, at least in that time." Harry reminded Leila. "Why don't we calm down and talk."

Hermione looked ready to do anything, but talk with Leila. "It's your fault he died."

"No one expects a ritual to work on the first try!" Leila shot back, "I expected us to maybe sustain injuries and minor magical exhaustion."

"Clearly, you underestimated your work!" Hermione retorted hotly. "Croaker recognized your ritual as being similar to the project you'd submitted as part of your application."

Leila's eyes narrowed, "It was extremely rough then! It took me six months to clean it up for a test use!"

"Maybe try not to test it on living people!"

"If not, I would only see dead bodies! That doesn't tell me if the process worked! You can't track a soul!"

"Or, you don't meddle in time!"

"I am, we have and you are too!"

"Only to look out for Harry! Clearly, you can't be trusted!"

"ME?" Leila snapped and her cool demeanor melted. "I've done nothing but help him since I've arrived here! More than you ever did during this year! Busy polishing that badge weren't you?"

"Leila! Hermione!" Harry called out. "Calm down! We're all meddling in time. Hermione, why don't we catch you up on what's been done here?"

"Is her mind even protected enough for that information?" Leila questioned, her hazel eyes were lit with irritation. "Isn't she a liability with her memories of the future being available for viewing for any bloke good at Legilimency? You know…like our resident Potions' Master?"

Hermione deflated after a moment of compilation, she was a liability. "Harry is not good at occulmancy either." Her brown eyes caught the slight twitch of his lips. "Harry?"

"I can't protect my mind completely, but I've developed some barriers. This, strengthens what I've got." Harry showed her the Potter heir ring. "Technically I should have the Lordship ring, but Dumbledore is holding on to it."

"Dumbledore? Harry, he's - "

"Alive until next year, maybe. We sort of went after the horcruxes early this time around."

Hermione's mouth dropped open, before she closed it. "You've destroyed them sooner?" She whispered before covering her mouth with both hands. "There's so many people that will be saved." Hermione breathed out. "What if he finds out?"

"He doesn't know." Harry informed her, "When I came back I noticed my scar hasn't been hurting as much. We had suspected that we destroyed that horcrux by accident. We know now it's still there but the connection is weaker."

Leila could've laughed at Hermione's expression.

Hermione Granger was thrown for a loop. "You don't get visions anymore?"

"Not particularly strong ones unless he's in mood."

"What about Mr. Weasley? Your vision saved his life!"

"It also killed Sirius!" Harry responded, his temper starting to flare. "I didn't purposely weaken it Hermione. This room can conjure almost anything that's inside Hogwarts. We can view our memories and inform the Headmaster just like we did last time about Mr. Weasley."

"I think you're focusing on the wrong thing right now." Leila cut in. "We have time to fill you in, but you haven't asked any questions about the ritual's side effects."

"What?"

"Also, we need a way to protect your mind." Leila reminded the Gryffindors. The witch started pacing, in thought. "I suspect our souls merged with our younger ones, it took a week or two before I felt close to 100% energized again. So far, the biggest difference I've noticed is my magic flows a lot better than it previously had. Harry's noticed the same thing, he also can easily over power a spell if he's not paying attention. My theory is part of our magics' maturity also came back."

Hermione frowned, "then are souls the source of our magic?"

"No, at least I don't believe so. It's not an area I studied." Leila answered. "From the little I know, our magical core is separate from our soul. However, things like a Dementor's Kiss which leave someone soulless, with the soul gone, the magic disappears with the life force." She paused, "I'd say a person's soul, life force and magic are tied in a manner that isn't as straight forward as we would think. Like I said, I'm no expert."

Hermione and Harry exchanged looks, "Do you have any information on Occulmancy then? I'll need to catch up and figure out what's going on…fast."

"I can lend you a book, it's at home right now." Leila responded. "But I'll owl my dad. In the meantime…I think I can whip up a rune cluster that will work just as good."

"You think a rune cluster will be able to work as a substitute for Occulmancy barriers?"

"Occulmancy and Legilimency are some of the harder aspects of magic to master. Not everyone has a natural talent or temperament for those subjects. As such, alternate methods were developed to protect against them. Rune clusters don't always work, it depends on the skill level of Occulmens, but I should have a book with a basic one that I can modify to fit our needs."

Hermione sighed, she wasn't sure about this Unspeakable. Up until then, everything had been need to know and restricted to Order members when possible in regards to Voldemort. Was Leila even trustworthy? The Ministry had been in shambles as Kingsley tore it apart to clean up the mess created in fallout of the blood purity war. Reliable department heads who's loyalties and productivity weren't in question had been allowed leeway in building up their department ranks. The requirements had been simple - treat all applicants fairly, no preferences for blood status.

Had Croaker hired Leila fairly?

Hermione examined the smaller witch that was no longer pacing, but muttering to herself over a notebook. Surely, Leila was intelligent if she had crafted a working time travel rune set. That she had tested on Harry and herself, killing them!

Harry seemed to trust her, Hermione reminded herself. She would just have to see for herself if her friend was misguided in regards to the other witch.

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Silver: Just a quick merge of our timelines now that Hermione is in the past.