Chapter 7

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: All praise and much thanks to my betas, Alienor and Septentrion, for their kind words, hard work and input.

Hermione opened one eye and scrambled around in the bed at the sound of loud squawking. She barely registered the owl on the floor due to the much more interesting sight of her new lover standing bare-arsed by the window.

And a very nice arse it is, too.

'Sorry to wake you.' Severus smiled apologetically. 'I wasn't expecting the owl to keel over and collapse.'

Hermione tore her eyes away from him to look at the bird. 'Errol! They didn't send you all this way...'

Errol hooted pathetically.

'Errol?' Severus enquired.

'The Weasleys' owl. He's been on his last legs for years. I'm amazed this hasn't finished him off.'

Gently, Severus lifted the owl off the floor and put it on the bed. Lying on his back, Errol stuck one foot in the air, offering the attached parchment to anyone who cared to take it.

Hermione sat up and pushed her hair off her face, blushing as Severus' eyes raked over her breasts, but she did not attempt to cover herself up. He handed her the parchment.

'Oh, God. Fred's funeral,' she said. 'It's tomorrow morning. I'll have to go...'

'I know.' Severus crawled back into bed and pulled Hermione into his arms as she started crying.

'Oh, Severus...'

He felt so good. It would be so, so easy to lean on those bony shoulders... and that, a little voice told her, would be a big mistake. 'Will-will you be here when I get back?' she asked, hoping her intuition was way off.

Severus' body stiffened before he let out a long sigh. 'No, love.' He kissed the top of her head, nuzzling her hair. 'It's time I was on my way.'

Hermione's heart sank, although his answer did not surprise her. 'Where will you go? An-and when will you be back?'

'The east, probably,' he replied. 'And... I'm not sure when I will return.'

'Oh... The... east.' Hermione hiccoughed as she tried to steady her voice. 'Severus...?'

'Hm?'

Stroking his chest, she toyed with the sparse hairs between his nipples. 'I know I've no right to ask you this, and I know that... one shag doesn't make a relationship, but... could I come with you?' She looked at him pleadingly.

Severus closed his eyes briefly. 'Don't... cheapen this,' he choked out. 'And... tempting though your proposal undoubtedly is, I cannot allow it...no, listen to me.' He put a finger over Hermione's lips as she opened her mouth to object. 'I will be forever on the move, always looking over my shoulder, living on my wits and little else. I refuse to drag you around Europe with me, worrying whether there's an Auror around every corner waiting to cart me off to Azkaban. It's too dangerous, and I won't risk you or your good name being dragged down with me. I... care about you too much to let that happen.'

'Dragged down...? What on earth are you talking about? I understand you wanting to go away for a while, but your name will be cleared...'

He snorted. 'You have a far greater confidence in the workings of the Ministry and the Wizengamot than I.'

'I'll speak for you...Harry'll speak for you.'

Severus tilted her chin and kissed her softly. 'I know you would.'

'Then, stay. Please.'

'Hermione...' He caressed her cheek and sighed. 'Don't make this any harder for me than it already is. Last night was wonderful, and I don't want to leave you, but you must understand. I have spent half my life making up for past mistakes, trapped and forced to serve the purposes of others. Now, thanks to you, I have been given a second chance, and I will forever be in your debt because of it. But, I also owe it to myself to pursue the ambitions I put aside, and... it's time for you to resume your life, too.'

Hermione stared at him in disbelief. 'Do you think I could just forget...?' A cold feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. 'You're going to Obliviate me, aren't you?'

'I think it would be... less painful for you if you forget all about rescuing me,' Severus replied gently.

'No,' she protested, trying to break away from him. 'Please don't.'

Severus held her closer. 'You would only try to find me if I did not.'

Hermione had to admit that he was right there; he knew her only too well. For an instant, she considered begging him to reconsider but decided just as quickly that it would be futile. He had made his mind up; he obviously had no room for her in his life, so there was little point in trying to fight him.

Catching hold of the little cauldron around his neck, Hermione whispered, 'Alter my memories if you must, but please don't take these few days away from me completely.' She kissed the talisman, silently blessing it. 'Just promise me you'll come back one day and return them to me. Please. It's all I ask.'

'All right. I promise.' He kissed her tenderly. 'Live well for me, Hermione. Now, close your eyes...'

Hermione awoke with a bit of a headache feeling slightly disoriented. Oh, yes. Ireland. And an owl looking at her expectantly. Oh, yes. Fred's funeral. She got out of bed and pulled on her dressing gown.

'I don't know what they were thinking, Errol, letting you come all this way. Well, don't you worry. I've got some nice bacon downstairs, and after that, you're travelling home with me. You just rest while I get ready.'

Errol ruffled his feathers and hooted his approval...

~ * ~

The clock, ticking noisily in the otherwise silent kitchen, was mocking her; she was sure of it. Hermione lifted her head slowly as the last part of her altered memory fitted seamlessly into the past she remembered all too well. It was an odd feeling; the memories were still fresh and raw as if Severus had just left...as were the emotions that accompanied them...and yet, they were like remnants of another life. It was going to take a while for her to take it all in, never mind make any sense of it.

Fidgeting in her chair, Hermione glanced at the man she had fallen in love with all those years ago and knew instinctively that nothing had changed. Severus was looking at her expectantly. What the hell was she supposed to say?

'When I saw you in the Ministry, I felt...' She cleared her throat, managing a wan smile. 'So, that's why I went off milk chocolate digestives... All these years... the weird dreams... There were times I thought I was going mad... Why now? Nineteen years, Severus. Why bother to come back now?'

Severus hesitated before replying, 'Because I made a promise, and as you know, I owe you my life.' He reheated her tea with a flick of his wand before conjuring a handkerchief and offering it to her.

'I see. So... now I have a beautiful memory from a time in my life when I was free...' Hermione shrugged. 'Oh, well. Thanks for that.' Taking the proffered hanky, she got up and walked over to the window to blow her nose.

Severus observed her silently, at a loss how to proceed. He had come to Hermione's home expecting to have to deal with a hurt, angry witch, not this accepting, dispirited woman. Rage, he could have coped with; apathy was something else. And as for the pitiable situation he had found her in... He couldn't leave her like this; she deserved better, so much better. He pressed on, 'My feelings for you have never changed, Hermione. If I could, I would take you away with me. Now...with all of your children, if you wanted...'

She spun around. 'How can you say that? Look at me. Go on! Take a good, long look. Is this the girl you left behind? Is it?'

Severus was at her side in an instant. 'Do you think me so shallow as to care about appearances? Did you think I expected to find a nineteen-year-old girl waiting for me?' He clenched his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to touch her. 'Hermione, the woman you've become is just as lovely to me as the girl I remember...'

'Don't lie,' Hermione cried, rounding on him. 'Don't you dare lie to me, Severus Snape! I'm fat and ugly, and-and you didn't even recognise me at the Ministry...' She threw her hands up in the air. 'Oh, what's the use? It's all academic, anyway. I'm bound to Ron; I can't leave, and that's that.'

'Nonsense!' Severus declared. 'You are neither fat nor ugly, and...' His shoulders slumped. 'I... will admit that I was looking for someone with wild, bushy hair at the Ministry. How was I to know my Gryffindor lioness had shorn off her mane?' Severus' hand seemed to reach towards her hair of its own volition, but he checked its movement. 'Gods, I want to hold you so badly.'

That was more than Hermione could bear. 'Thank you for returning my memories, Severus,' she said stiffly. 'You can consider your promise fulfilled. But now, I think it would be better if you left.'

Severus didn't move. 'I'm not going anywhere until you have heard all I have to say.' He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a wristwatch. 'I asked you if you were to have your time again, would you change it. I am offering you the chance to do just that.'

Hermione took a closer look at the watch. 'Is this a...?'

'Chrononavigator? Yes, it is.'

'Where on earth did you get it?' she asked, intrigued. 'I thought there were only one or two left in existence.'

'Indeed, they are exceedingly rare,' Severus agreed. 'This one was a parting gift from a rather... talented witch I met in Germany...the Black Forest, to be precise.'

Hermione raised an eyebrow. 'Oh, really?'

'Yes, really,' Severus replied smirking. 'You'd like her. She is a Herbologist of some renown...her medicinal plants are sought by Healers from all over Europe. We collaborated on a rather... lucrative project. She gave me this as a token of her esteem.'

'How nice for you,' Hermione said, folding her arms. 'I suppose you've been given quite a few "tokens of esteem" from grateful witches over the years.'

Her little display of jealousy made Severus want to kiss her senseless. 'What do you expect me to say? I haven't lived like a monk, no, but there has been no one... nothing that ever came close to my...our... first time.'

It took a moment for that to sink in. 'What?' Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth as she started to giggle. 'I was... That was your first time? You never said anything.'

'I thought you'd worked it out for yourself,' Severus mumbled, blushing. 'You said something about first times always being a bit clumsy, as I recall.'

'I meant the first time with a new partner...not the first time.'

He glared at her. 'Did you expect me to admit to being a thirty-eight-year-old virgin? I felt out of my depth as it was.' Sighing, he reached inside the neck of his robes and pulled out the chain that was around his neck. 'Anyway, do you remember this?'

Still smiling, Hermione took a step closer to him. 'You still have the cauldron after all this time?'

'I have never taken it off.' With his thumb and forefinger, Severus carefully extracted the lock of hair that was inside it. 'Before I left, I took this while you were sleeping. Up until last month, I resisted the temptation, but I finally asked someone to take Polyjuice... and, well, when I saw 'you' in the flesh, I knew that everything I had worked for, all the wealth I had accumulated amounted to a grand total of nothing. All the true happiness I have ever known... I left it behind in Ireland. That is why I came back.' Unthinkingly, Severus touched Hermione's face. He leapt back with a yelp.

'Fuck, that hurt.'

'Are you all right?'

He nodded, rubbing his hand. 'Of course, once I realised what a fool I'd been, I was tempted to go back and change the past myself...and after all you've told me today, I would still gladly do it for you...after all, I am partly to blame for your predicament; if I hadn't given you that damn book, your life would have turned out very differently. But it is still your life, and the decision to change it must be yours, and yours alone...' Severus stopped, following Hermione's gaze out the window.

'My children...'

'Ah, yes.' He sighed. 'Your children.'

They stood together quietly for a while watching the youngsters playing in the garden. Eventually, Hermione spoke. 'It's one thing to wish to have one's time over again, but having the opportunity to actually do it...' She continued to stare at the scene before her. Wisely, Severus said nothing, but waited while she considered the choice he was offering her.

'I didn't want them,' she confessed. 'I wasn't ready for motherhood and being... compelled to have children with Ron was more horrible than you could ever imagine. But that doesn't mean I don't love them...I resent them, certainly... Although, that's not quite true... I resent the fact that they prevent me from having any kind of life. Am I making sense?'

'I understand you perfectly,' Severus replied, turning around and leaning against the sink. 'Hermione... Do you have any idea what it is like being an unwanted child?'

Hermione tore her gaze away from her children to look at him. 'No, not really.'

'Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it's not pleasant.' He shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. 'You see before you the product of a loveless union...gods, I knew from the age of six that my parents hated each other, and I thought it was all my fault...' He paused. 'The point I'm trying to make is that the lack of love in my childhood undoubtedly contributed to the man I became. What your children see around them...how they see their parents interacting...will influence their outlook on the world, not to mention their ability to form satisfying adult relationships in the future.'

'That may well be...' Hermione sighed. 'But it's beside the point, though, isn't it? I'm still responsible for bringing them into the world. I gave them life; I don't see how I have the right to take it away again.' Out of habit, she picked up a dishcloth and began to furiously wipe down the draining board.

'You wouldn't be. Not... really.' Severus returned to the table and sat down. 'Come and drink your tea before it gets cold again. You see, their existence is not dependent on you giving birth to them.'

Hermione threw the cloth in the sink. Wiping her hands on her robe, she joined Severus at the table. 'What do you mean?' she asked, picking up the teacup. 'You're talking in riddles again.'

'I realise that...' Severus grimaced, struggling to find the right words. 'It's going to be hard to tell you this. I've never told anyone but... between the time I took the Draught of Living Death and you reviving me, I had what I suppose you could call an out of body experience...'

'Don't tell me you saw Albus Dumbledore at King's Cross as well?'

'King's Cross? What are you talking about?'

'When Harry...oh, never mind. What happened?'

'Well...' he continued, 'I found myself walking the streets surrounding Spinner's End. But it was the town of my childhood...the rundown part near the canal, which was demolished years ago. The bakery was still there...I could smell the bread...' He looked wistful. 'Anyway, I suddenly realised where I was going, and I started to break into a run. Sure enough, I rounded the corner and there was the old playground...'

Hermione had a good idea where this was going. 'You saw Harry's mother.'

'Yes. How did...?'

'I saw the memories you gave him. Didn't I tell you?'

'Oh... yes, of course.' Severus swallowed hard. 'Well, we talked about a lot of... things. And-and she told me that I had to go back. That someone was waiting for me...someone I would grow to... love.'

'Love...?' she gasped. 'Me? But, in that case why did you leave? Why did you ignore what she told you?'

'I wish I could answer that, Hermione,' he replied, leaning towards her as close as he dared. 'God knows I've asked myself the same question often enough. I wanted what was best for you; that was certainly one reason. I was scared shitless; that was another. And Lily never said anything about being loved in return...all of these reasons and more. But, that aside... what I wanted to say was this: time had no significance there. We were outside it. I seemed to spend hours talking to Lily, but I was also aware that only minutes had passed on earth. It all made perfect sense then, but it is very difficult to explain it in the here and now...it was like how a dream appears perfectly logical when you're asleep, only to seem ridiculous when you awake. But... from what I can remember, all of time and space exists simultaneously, side by side, in an infinite number of permutations...linear time as we know it is an illusion.'

He gave Hermione a moment to absorb this before continuing, 'Now, when a soul decides to incarnate on this level of existence, it chooses the time and place and to whom it will be born. By changing your past, you will not deny your children 'life'. Those souls will merely be born to someone else. They will go on; no one can prevent that. It will not cause so much as a ripple in the great scheme of things. But, on a personal level, I fear it is your loss...as their mother...that you would have to come to terms with.'

'The transmigration of souls...' Hermione inhaled sharply as her brain wrapped itself around the implications. 'So, what you're saying is, that it would be my sacrifice...not theirs, if I choose to go back.'

'Yes,' he replied. 'And I would not blame you if you decided it was too big a price to pay.'

'I see...' She drank the last of her tea and sent the cups and saucers over to the sink with a flick of her wand. 'All right. Leaving the children out of the equation for the moment, one other thing occurs to me. If I did go back, I suppose I'd have to do something to wreck the potion, wouldn't I? So, how can I be certain that my actions wouldn't recreate the original problem?'

Severus grinned. 'Give me the book, tell me everything you did...in detail...and I will make sure that does not happen.'

'Then, in that case, won't that create a paradox?' she asked.

'No,' Severus replied, shaking his head. 'You're thinking linearly. As I said, time does not work like that.'

Hermione thought a moment. 'What if I went back to Ireland and persuaded you to take me with you instead?'

Severus shook his head again. 'No. I was tempted to do something similar but... with hindsight, and because of the reasons I just gave you, I don't think that it was the right time for us. You were too young, and I wasn't ready. Besides, I have touched so many lives since I last saw you; much has happened which I do not want to see changed.'

'But I'd still have to wait nineteen years for you to come back!' Hermione ran her fingers through her hair desperately trying to think of an alternative solution. 'Severus, can you think of any way I can break the binding? Would it be possible to separate the charm from the potion, do you think? I know it's a long shot, but it would save a lot of bother if the enchantment could be broken.'

'Doubtful.' He tapped his index finger against his lips while he considered the possibility. 'Not after such a long time... The children would have increased the strength of the bond, I suspect...no, I don't think it would be worth attempting.'

'I thought as much.' Hermione sighed. 'Okay. You've given me an awful lot to think about, but I can't even begin to give you an answer, I'm afraid.'

'There is no rush...none at all. Take your time...be sure that your decision is the right one.' Severus stood up and wrapped his cloak around him. 'I should be going. Owl me at the Three Broomsticks when you have thought it over. I'm spending a few days in Hogsmeade.' He gazed at Hermione longingly. 'I will abide by your decision, whatever it may be, but... know that I love you.' He smiled almost boyishly before Disapparating abruptly.

Hermione stared at the space he had vacated. 'Now he tells me.'

~* ~

'You're home early.' Hermione barely glanced in her husband's direction before turning back to the casserole she was preparing for supper. 'Are you eating with us, or do you have a... case waiting for you?'

'Don't start, Hermione.' Ron's voice sounded weary.

'It's not that I particularly care, but the kids...remember them?...they always ask where their precious daddy is.'

'Hermione...'

'It's ironic, isn't it? You're the one who wanted them, but you can't even be bothered...'

'WHAT I WANTED WAS A FAMILY!' Ron yelled, trying to get a word in edgewise. 'What I wanted was to come home to a loving wife, not some sour-faced harpy who looks like she's trodden in dragon dung every time she sees me!' He took a deep breath, reining in his temper. 'Look, I don't want an argument. I'm back early because I've got some bad news. I think you'd better sit down.'

'Why? What's happened?' Hermione asked, immediately fearing the worst. 'Has someone been hurt?' She wiped her hands on a tea-towel before sitting down at the table.

Ron rubbed the corners of his eyes and sat down opposite her. 'It's... Luna. She's... I'm afraid she's dead. It looks like it may have been suicide, but we're treating it as suspicious.'

'Oh, my good God.'

Ron's hand reached for Hermione's, but she snatched hers away. 'I thought I'd better tell you before you saw it splashed all over the Prophet,' he said bitterly.

For once, Hermione swallowed her habitual resentment. 'I'm sorry. That was considerate of you, Ron. Thank you for taking the time to tell me.'

'Yes. Well...' Ron grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and stood up. 'I suppose I'd better be off. Draco is being brought in for questioning as we speak.'

Alone with her thoughts, Hermione did not look up until she heard Ron Disapparate.

~ * ~

It was getting on for midnight, but Hermione did not feel in the least bit tired as she sat, gazing with unseeing eyes into the dying embers of the fire. Putting the day's events into perspective wasn't easy; Severus, after all, had lived with those memories for nineteen years and had had time to analyse them, whereas for her... She had been a girl then: young, impressionable...she would have followed him to the ends of the earth if he'd asked her. Severus had been afraid, war-damaged, but had put her interests before his own personal happiness...at least in part...because he loved her. And now here she was, at the age he had been then: afraid, damaged, and facing a similar dilemma. Did she really want to be that nineteen-year-old girl again?

'Mummy?'

Hermione's head snapped up. Hugo was standing in front of her, rubbing his eyes. He looked so much like Ron, it was painful.

'What is it, darling? Can't you sleep?'

The little boy shook his head before crawling onto her lap. 'Where's Daddy?'

'Working late.' Hermione shifted his weight so that they were both more comfortable.

'He's never here,' Hugo grumbled, snuggling against his mother's chest. 'Mum?'

'Hmm?'

'Daddy doesn't love us, does he?'

Hermione's blood froze. 'Of course, he does, sweetheart. It's just that he's very busy...'

'Uncle Harry's always busy, but he comes home at night,' Hugo persisted.

'That's... different.' Hermione sighed and began to stroke his hair. 'Uncle Harry doesn't have to work, you see. But Daddy does, and his job is very important.'

'Oh.' Her answer seemed to satisfy him. He yawned loudly. 'I want a 'portant job, too, when I grow up. Just like Daddy.'

~ * ~

Hermione was beyond tears. How many lives have been affected by that damn potion...? She couldn't begin to calculate it. Hugging her son tightly, Hermione silently raged against its insidious nature, feeling powerless to protect her children from its influence. It seemed the misery it had created was set to affect a new generation.

In all her musings, Hermione had not allowed her feelings for Severus to cloud her judgment. She couldn't afford to; this was about her and her children. He wouldn't be waiting for her in the past; she would be alone and maybe as miserable as she was now. There were no guarantees that she would be any better off. Was it worth giving up what little she had? Would she wait for him...or try to find him? Would she even remember him?

Hermione bent her head, inhaling the scent of her child. Could she really live without this? Should she even be considering it...even though her children would be better off growing up in a more loving environment? Yesterday, such an idea would have been inconceivable, but which was more selfish? Giving up her motherhood and reclaiming the life she should have lived or staying put for moments like this, risking the future wellbeing of her children and living with the guilt that she could have done something to save Luna? Put simply, did she hate her life enough to change it, and did she love her children enough to let them go?

Hermione glanced at the clock. It was much too late to contact Severus now. She would owl him in the morning with her decision.

~ * ~

'Are you absolutely sure?'

'Yes, absolutely.'

'You realise this will be a one-way trip?'

Hermione nodded determinedly. 'Yes. I understand.'

'Then let us make plans.' Severus was sitting once again at Hermione's kitchen table, this time with several pieces of parchment spread out in front of him. 'I've studied the book, and from what you have told me, I conclude that the explosion was caused by the combination of the ingredients and the Charm...nothing more.' He produced a small phial from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. 'Dragon's bile. That will easily and quickly destabilise the potion, but you must add it before the last flower goes in the cauldron.'

'Okay,' said Hermione, frowning. 'But that will still cause an explosion, and there's the small matter of how am I going to pour it into the cauldron without being seen.' Nibbling her bottom lip, she leant forward in her chair and drummed her fingers on the table. 'I could ask Harry for a lend of his Invisibility Cloak, I suppose...'

Severus waved his hand dismissively. 'No. You would end up with two Invisibility Cloaks in that time. Besides, I have something better.' He produced another phial from his pocket. 'This is my latest invention...the one that has made my fortune. It's still top-secret.' He smirked tapping his forefinger against his nose. 'It's an Invisibility Potion.'

'You've achieved...Complete Invisibility?'

Severus nodded.

'Wow. That's... impressive.'

He inclined his head. 'Thank you. Now, the next thing is for you to learn how the Chrononavigator works.'

Eagerly, Hermione leaned forward as Severus explained, 'You see the twelve hands and the little planets around the edge?'

Hermione nodded. 'Yes.'

'Each of the hands stands for a sign of the Zodiac. Now, you'll have to find out the exact position of the constellations for the night in question, but once you have that, you move the little hands and modify the positions of the planets accordingly, like... so.' He delicately adjusted the device to demonstrate how to set it. 'Once you've done that, a spin at the rim will activate it in very much the same way as a Time-Turner. The hands and the planets will start to revolve, faster and faster until they reach the day when the heavens were in the exact position you have pre-set.'

'Fascinating,' Hermione breathed. 'How accurate is it?'

'It will take you to the day in question,' Severus replied, setting the device down on the table. 'I would suggest that you activate it in the early evening. That should ensure you arrive in plenty of time for the festivities.'

'Sounds sensible.' Hermione furrowed her brow in thought. 'So, what happens when I blow up the cauldron?'

'Make sure you cast a Shielding Charm on yourself first and take cover...'

'I know that,' she scoffed. 'I'm not stupid.'

'I didn't say you were,' Severus retorted. 'I'm just going over the plan. Now, once your younger self is unconscious, go and touch her. As two versions of the same person cannot exist in the same time and space, the two of you will merge. But before you do that, I think it would be wise for you to destroy the Chrononavigator.'

'Okay...' Hermione sighed. 'Are you sure I can't come back and merge with myself in this time?'

'And miss out on the life you should have lived?' Severus smiled ruefully. 'Go and make your mark on the world, Hermione. Live up to your potential. You won't remember saving me, of course, as you will be merging with your Obliviated self. And, hopefully, your experiences in this timeline, if you have any recollection of them at all, will just seem like a half-remembered dream.'

'I was afraid of that,' she said. 'But if I don't remember, I won't know that you're alive. And if I think you're dead, I'm unlikely to wait for you, am I?'

'That is a risk I am prepared to take.' Severus began to gather up the parchment on the table. 'You may; you may not. You and Mr Weasley may resolve your problems, or you may marry someone else. But whatever happens, it will be your choice.' He pointed to the time device on the table. 'Your fate is in your hands, my dear, which is how it should be.'

~ * ~

Standing in the lane near the entrance to the Burrow, Hermione was having second thoughts. However much she told with herself that she was acting with the best of intentions, it did nothing to assuage her conscience; despite everything Severus had said, effectively, she was abandoning her children.

It still wasn't too late to go back. Ginny wouldn't be worried yet that she hadn't called by to pick the kids up. Hermione hadn't seen Ron for over twenty-four hours either, which was irksome, as the urge to be in his presence was growing stronger, pulling her in the direction of home. Home. That was a laugh. Angrily, Hermione fought the lure of the spell with all her might; if she was going to change her mind now, it would be because she had made a conscious choice to stay and not because of this vile enchantment that had kept her in its thrall for half her life.

Dusk was already falling, but Hermione had set the co-ordinates on the time-travelling device before she'd left the house. She took it out of her pocket and stared at it. All it needed was one spin, one tiny spin, and all of her past suffering...not to mention that of her friends...would unravel.

She took a deep breath...

A/N: The Chrononavigator made its first appearance in Sylvanawood's excellent Time-turner fic Arachne and is used here with her kind permission.