The Resistance

Chapter 1

"We have no other choice." Minerva McGonagall said gravely. "We lost too many in the battle. Potter is gone. Albus is gone. I see no other options." The wind howled around the Burrow, the cold night's storm echoing the gravity of Minerva's words, making the houses occupants shiver. She was right of course. Harry's loss at the Battle of Hogwarts had cost them dearly, but they had to continue fighting. Voldimorts reign of fury had begun, and the resistance was running out of options.

"We have to go back to the beginning." McGonagall said. "It's the only way." She looked tired, battle worn. For the first time Hermione thought that the old witch looked her age. The stress of the past year showed in the deep lines of her face, and in the increasing amount of grey in her once rich brown hair. Even her bright eyes had lost their shine.

"I agree." She said quietly, speaking up for the first time that evening. Ron looked sadly at her from across the table. Harry's death had affected them both. He had been the tape that had bound them together, the peacekeeper, and they hadn't fully appreciated this until he was gone.

"You can't be serious." Molly said incredulously. "Even if we could send someone back, which by the way is almost impossible, we have no way of getting them back let alone to a precise date. It's too risky." She finished stubbornly.

"It's the only chance we've got." Minerva snapped.

"But who knows what we might change!" Molly cried desperately. "Minerva you of all people know how dangerous time travel is."

"But Molly, look around you, change is what we need." Kingsley said calmly.

"Fine." She snapped. "But who?" A heavy silence settled over the kitchen. The occupants of the Burrow eyed each other sadly, each and everyone of them praying that someone else would offer them selves up for the challenge.

"I'll do it." Hermione said at last.

"What!" Molly and Ginny exclaimed simultaneously. Startled looks adorned the faces of everyone in the room as all eyes turned to her.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked.

"You can't. Not Hermione." Hermione sighed and looked at Mrs Weasely across the table, her face a mixture of fear and love for the brunet who was once to be her daughter in law. "You can't." she said again. "Hermione it's far to dangerous."

"I've had experience with time travel." She said matter-of-factly. "I know the rules. And it can't be anyone who was at Hogwarts at the time as you will be certain to run into your younger selves." Molly looked at her imploringly from across the table. "I can be placed in Slytherine. Then I can work from the inside." She continued. "Unless of course, any one else wants to volunteer." She added, looking hopefully around her fellow Order members. Ron, Ginny, Fred, Bill, Charlie, Neville, Fleur, they all kept silent. "I didn't think so."

"But..." Molly looked hopelessly around the table, desperately trying to find a way out of this. She was only nineteen. But they were right, this was the only option left.

"You must try to turn to the weaker ones first." Minerva said. "People like Narcissa Malfoy. People who never wanted it in the first place. Work on her. If you can turn her, you have a chance at getting to Lucius, Bellatrix, and if you have Bellatrix, then we have at least one great advantage. Narcissa is more important than you realise. If she turns, she can influence others." Hermione nodded. It was a long shot, which they knew, but it would be worth it if it worked.