To a Better End

Chapter 60

January 1st 1979

Regulus was rubbing his head as though the information just gave him a headache.

"Let me get this straight. You're not Mina Black, because she never existed. Alphard never had kids. You're Hermione Granger from the past, but you're actually from the future."

Hermione nodded. "That's about it."

"And you're here because?"

"I'm saving you," she said like it was obvious.

"You'll die."

She shook her head. "No. You were going to die if I didn't show up to help your sorry ass."

He squinted his eyes, thinking so hard it looked like he might hurt himself. "So... I'm sorry, this is a lot to take in. You know what's in that cave?"

"Yes."

"And if you're from the future, then you know what happens to me."

She contemplated if she should go that far into this but she was already at it. "Yes."

He straightened himself and raised his chin. "How do I die?"

"You're not going to die, because I'm here."

"Well, if you weren't here?"

"Inferi."

His eyes widened. "Brutal."

"Yeah," she agreed. She smacked her lips after a moment for him to digest the information. "Anyway, let's get going."

"Woah." He put his hands out as if the motion alone could stop her. "You can't seriously be following me in there?"

"I'm deadly serious," she said with a devious grin. "There's a potion in there that you are too weak to handle. I will drink it, and I need you to force it down my throat." She turned towards the house elf. "Kreacher, you will need to apparate us both to the bookshop after the locket is retrieved. We will all live. Are we clear on the plan?"

Regulus looked at Kreacher and nodded at him. "Now is as good of a time as ever to listen to my elders."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione extended her hands so they could apparate to the entrance of the cave. "Prick. Let's go."

They appeared at the cave, or what would be a cave after payment was received. Regulus seemed to know what was needed because he sliced his hand on a jagged rock before Hermione even attempted to cut her own hand.

"In all fairness, cousin, you don't even exist so I think my blood would be safer."

She nodded. It was logical, she supposed. They piled into the rocky boat as carefully as possible. Hermione couldn't help the smile on her face. She did it. She was here. She was finally doing something right.

"Don't look in the water, Reggie. And don't touch it."

"Whatever you say," he said with hands up in surrender.

It was a mostly silent ride with very nervous riders. Kreacher seemed too nervous to even breathe. He, no doubt, didn't want to be here again. When they reached the small bit of land that seemed to be made from crystals, they got out one by one. Regulus and Hermione cast a Lumos at the same time and took careful steps all the way out.

"If we don't touch the water, then we don't have to worry about waking them up. But if that does happen, use fire. A ridiculous amount of fire. It's the only way that we'll survive. Now, I don't know about you, but I fancy a drink."

Hermione walked over to the emerald potion. It would make her delirious, weak, and fearful. But the pain would be worth it. Conjuring a crystal cup, she scooped up her first serving and downed it. Before she could even swallow it, she filled the cup again. Two down and she wasn't feeling that bad.