"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are." — Unknown

HERMIONE POV:

Seeing the killing curse coming at me at a fast pace. I screamed at my body to move, to dodge, get out of the way, but I couldn't.

My body froze in fear. I could hear the horrified scream that ripped from Corona's throat.

My body shook as tears fell down my face, we already lost Ron but now we're going to lose me too.

Corona has already been through so much. She didn't deserve to watch us die.

She didn't deserve any of this.

If the adults just did their damn jobs and protected the wizarding world when Voldemort was barely rising, then that damn prophecy wouldn't have been spoken.

I hated Trelawney for speaking that obscure and vague prophecy.

I hated Dumbledore for putting Corona in dangerous situations and not even lifting a finger to help her afterwards.

And the time he did, he was late. And Corona was almost expelled and magic-bound.

Corona was only eleven when she accidently burned her teacher into flames, possessed or not, she still accidentally killed her professor.

Let me repeat that, she was only eleven, do wizards not know what therapy is?!

Oh wait I forgot! THEY DON'T HAVE AN OUNCE OF BLOODY COMMON SENSE, HONESTLY!

And when they didn't let me console her and offer her comfort after her godfather died, I was ready to tear into some people. And to send her back to her abusive family, was the last straw!

I respect authority, I honestly did. Until every single authority figure decided to fail us, Corona, Ron, and I.

I stopped believing in adults and relied on my friends and myself.

I hated myself for not doing more. I closed my eyes, not standing the image of Corona charging into battle in rage as the killing curse finally made contact.

All I remember was wishing to be with Corona again, and help her when she is in need.

***

One moment I was floating in a void of darkness, then a bunch of blurred memories of me talking to an older Corona, before I found myself on a couch.

Confused, I looked around and went rigid at the black cloaked figure, I quickly glanced around looking for my wand when I remembered Avery snapped it.

As if seeing my panicked look the cloaked figure held out a slender hand out to me. Cautious and greatly confused, I held my hand out reaching for his after five minutes of refusing to do so before.

Before I could touch his hand a wand appeared in his, I gasped in shock.

"My...my wand. Avery broke it, he made me watch. How did you—?", I asked gratefully, accepting my wand.

I absentmindedly slid my fingers across the 10¾" long vine wood, and dragon heartstring core wand. I shivered remembering how violated I felt when Avery Sr. broke my wand.

The cloaked figure simply held a hand up halting and killing the questions ready to burst from my lips.

"Mistress had decided to do something foolish, and faces death soon—"

I was slightly startled by the deep silky smooth, almost alluring voice.

'Must be easy to convince people to die peacefully', I absently noted before paying attention to the man.

"—The Fates are not pleased to notice their work being undone and plan to do something about it. That's why I am cutting Mistress's time in the past short." He told me tonelessly after explaining the gist of everything.

I took a moment to process the information, my way, meaning I started to over analyze everything in a span of five minutes thanks to the mind art occlumency, which made storing information and memories a quick process, but a rather tedious and migraine inducing art to learn.

"So let me get this straight. Corona is the Mistress of Death—", I got a confirming nod.

"Using her the power and permission given to her, she decides messing with time and the fates was a good idea? That dumb and foolish Corona, of course you would feel the need to help everyone. It's just like you to want to save everyone and not think about the consequences that might hurt you in the end. When I find you, I going give you a lecture about the dangers and consequences of messing with time, Apparently one lecture wasn't enough. Just watch me Corona Lily Potter I will—", I paused in mid rant remembering my quiet audience.

Letting out a little cough and apology, I continued my analyst, "At the birth of Regulus Black she took over Walburga's body, a smart move I must admit, and has been posing as her for a bit over three years now. She's in love with Orion Black and has a daughter with him called Astraea, and is best friends with former Death Eater Lucius Malfoy's father, Abraxas Malfoy. And together they scouted and destroyed all five horcruxes that were made at the time. And "Walburga" has 2 months left to live. Am I missing anything?"

Again the man shook his head, he even quietly applauded me.

"If Corona is going to die, then what do you need me for? The Fates?", I asked him confused.

Once again he simply nodded.

"From what I gathered from the information you have given to me, you want me to lend Corona a helping hand in case the Fates decide to retaliate? What happens if they don't?" I quietly asked, afraid for Corona.

"If they decide to retaliate, at the end of two months on "Walburga's" death day, her existence will be wiped from everyone's mind and the Fates will reverse the timeline once again and let it run through its original course.

If not, at the end of her death day the Fates will let her continue to live and change the timeline and let her be. At least that's what I've been able to gather." He told her uncaring.

I thought of the chances, If this was any person the answer would obviously be the first option. But this Corona we're talking about.

That girl was anything but predictable.

I didn't even need to ask why I was chosen, I spent the last seven years keeping Corona alive. I more than qualified to save her once again.

The deep smooth and silky voice rang out throughout the room, asking a simple question that someone should think hard about.

But for Corona, I would do anything for her happiness. She deserved that much.

"Do you accept?" He asked, holding his long pale slender out to me once again.

I chewed my bottom lip nodding. "I, Hermione Granger, accept" I firmly stated, accepting his cold hand.

I watched as a dark silver glow aura surrounded him, flickering for a few minutes before traveling down to our linked hands before completely engulfing me.

I felt him let go of my hand just as my body rose from the floor.

"What's happening to me?!" I shouted in frantic surprise.

I got a deep chuckle in return, "A gift from Death". My eyes widened in surprise. Of course it would be Death! Hermione you foolish girl, you made a deal with Death of ALL people.

I felt my body grow two inches taller; my hips widen; my breasts grew a size larger; my teeth shrinking to normal size and straightening; my hair growing longer, fuller and falling down my back into thick brown curls.

Did I just grow into a woman?!

"How old am I?", I bit out to the smirking man—Death.

"32."

That son of a b— I glared at him as he shrugged.

"That's how old Corona is, I thought you would like to be the same age as her, no need to be hostile" He stated nonchalantly as if discussing everyday weather and not forced adulthood.

Before I could lecture him he held a hand up stopping me. "My time is up. I need to go back to work. Here is everything you need to live comfortably, If you need a job here are documents both muggle and magical as well as money. Here are all your identification papers both muggle and magical. Remember to protect Corona, enjoy your long stay in the past. Goodbye." And with that he disappeared with a flurry of darkness.

I blinked a few times adjusting to the new information that suddenly entered into my head. Once I adjusted I looked around my flat apparently.

I walked up to the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice and grabbed a glass out of a cabinet as if I lived here for years, I took a sip and sat at the small dining table and picked up the newspaper.

I spat out my orange juice all over my table and the newspaper.

"1964! Sweet Merlin!" I gasped in surprise.

I just let my head bang against my dining table muttering, "The things I do for you, Corona. The things I do for you."

***

It's been a week since I arrived in the past, and I spent this time adjusting to the past. The feminist in me recoilded at the sexism.

1960s girls were dizzy, easily seduced trifles whose biggest fears were getting fat and making bad impressions with men.

I sneered in disgust when I was catcalled yet again. I wasn't even wearing anything remotely "sexy" at least by 1990s standard.

I wore a soft pale pink blouse and a navy blue pleated skirt that went a little pass down my knees and matching mary janes.

I was reading a book ignoring the "women don't need to learn anything beyond learning how to run a household and pop babies".

I tried to remember where the Black Manor was but every time I tried to remember the address my thoughts were directed elsewhere, a ward must be preventing me, I thought to myself.

I was too busy thinking to realize I was about to crash into someone, only to find myself falling onto my butt and my book landing in the dirt beside me.

I glanced up to blink in surprise at the tall blonde man who looked oddly familiar.

I blinked out my daze when a hand entered my line of vision, I quickly grabbed my book before taking the offered hand. Thanking him I dusted off my skirt, before looking up into his gorgeous pale cornflower blue eyes.

We apologized, I gushed over the children, and we talked about books we've read and our interest when I noticed someone coming close to us.

The blonde man, I forgot to ask his name, and I turned to the woman. I jumped in surprise.

"Corona...?!" I gasped in surprise taking in "Walburga's" appearance.

"Hermione?", she asked hopefully in return.

I nodded my head in confirmation, the next thing we knew it, we were in embrace sobbing.

"I missed you so much, and when you died...I-I—", I cut off her sobbing.

"I know. I know, Death told me—"

"He did?", she asked surprised.

"—Yeah, surprised me too. One moment I was dead, had hazy memories talking to an older you, then I found myself on a couch talking to Death. But we should save this conversation in private" I told her.

Reminding her that we were in a public park, even if the men were kind enough to put a muffalio charm arround us and let us talk in private.

I smiled and pulled her into a hug, "Remember what I told you in fifth year?" I asked her.

She wiped her tears before replying, "We're with you whatever happens."

"Well, I kept my promise didn't I?" I teased giggling even as she smacked me.

"Yes you did, thank you Hermione."

"You're welcome Corona."

At last we were finally reunited.