Tears Made Of Blood

PROLOGUE

Hermione Granger was a very logical girl, someone who solved puzzles easily. But there was one puzzle that she could not solve: time. The Battle had been going for hours, and many students at Hogwarts had died.

Hermione stared with misery down at the Hogwarts grounds, where she saw many bodies laying. Tears streaked down her eyes, as the cold wind whipped around her. The Astronomy Tower was her favourite place in Hogwarts, the Owlery coming a close second. But the Owlery had gone; it blew just a few minutes ago.

Her hands held firmly around a small object, a gift from Dumbledore. But Dumbledore was dead now, too. Hermione saw him die.

Her fingers opened, as she glanced at the Time-Turner. This one was different, it turned time back years and decades, not just hours and minutes.

She remembered the conversation she had with Dumbledore, a few minutes before the Death Eaters and Voldemort attacked Hogwarts...

"You may sit down, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, his hand pointed her to a seat. Hermione sat down on the big, red chair, which was in front of Dumbledore's oak desk.

"Sir, why have you called me in?" asked Hermione, who felt afraid. There was no sparkle in Dumbledore's usual sparkly blue eyes. Instead, his eyes showed his concern, and for what, Hermione did not know.

"I have chosen you," Dumbledore began, "because I know you'd understand the situation we're in. We have just received a warning from Voldemort. He'll be attacking Hogwarts any minute now."

Hermione's mouth went dry. A lump had formed in her throat, and unwilling tears started to flow from behind her eyelids.

"Shouldn't we...evacuate?" she sobbed. Dumbledore looked at her with pity.

"We'd be more in danger if we leave Hogwarts," he told her, in a low voice.

"Why have you called me in?" repeated Hermione with sobs, "we don't need help, and we've got Harry."

"The Death Eaters have come too early," Dumbledore said, "we won't win, Miss Granger. I've invited you here for a favour that I'm going to ask you."

"A... a favour?" echoed Hermione, with tears. Dumbledore nodded, solemnly. He got up, and picked an object from one of his desks. He went back to the oak desk and sat down again.

He handed Hermione the silvery object.

"A Time-Turner!" she squeaked, her eyes wide.

"If we lose, Hermione, I want you to go back in time when James and Lily Potter are in their seventh year. You will go under the name of Pertida Hart. You will be an exchange student from Durmstrang, and if I don't believe you, give me this letter." He handed Hermione the letter.

"When Voldemort arrives at the Potters' house, I want you to kill him."

"But that'll change the time-line!" protested Hermione, weakly.

"At least that will be a better world," countered Dumbledore, and Hermione fell silent. "Please Hermione, wouldn't you prefer a Light world than a world full of darkness?"

When should she do it? Hermione closed her eyes. Harry was gone. Like Dumbledore, she saw him die. Ginny and Ron tried to protect him, but they died with him too.

"Ah, the mudblood is all alone."

She hated that taunting, slick voice.

"Malfoy," she said, without opening her eyes, "why don't you just leave a girl in pain in peace?"

"You're not in pain," whispered Draco Malfoy, as he headed slowly to Hermione, "but you will be, soon."

Hermione's eyes snapped open. Malfoy was in the middle of saying the killing curse when Hermione twisted the Time-Turner. In a blinding green flash, Hermione Granger was gone.

Twenty or so years earlier, Pertida Hart arrived at Hogwarts.