All the Time in the World

Chapter Seven

The next day was Sunday and so Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the lake where they sat on the grass enjoying the day while Harry narrated all that happened in the night to his friends.

Ron whistled softly. Hermione gasped. Harry raked his fingers through his hair.

"She seriously screwed up, didn't she?" Muttered Ron. "I can't believe she would have used such a spell."

"It must be advanced dark magic." Said Hermione, her eyes glinting. "I've never even heard of it."

"Professor Dumbledore said it was banned." Said Harry. "There must have been a reason."

"Do you think she was right?" Asked Ron after a moment. "That it can be broken?"

"I don't know. Anyway, Dumbledore refused to help her."

"It was the right thing to do too," said Hermione. "Time travel is too dangerous. It is never simple. You may end up changing too many things. You may even end up not being born."

"Somehow," Harry muttered. "I'm beginning to feel sorry for Tom Riddle. He never had a chance."

"Harry, this is You-know-who we are talking about," said Ron. "The dark wizard whose hobby is torture and murder?"

"I know, Ron, it's just-" he clenched his fists. "He might never have become dark if Merope hadn't done what she did. She...she puts a banned dark spell on her baby while it is still in her womb and then just leaves him in a muggle orphanage and dies... What chance did he have?"

"Harry," said Hermione. "This is not on you. Merope made her choices. And You-know-who made his. We can't change anything."

"Did he have a choice, Hermione?" Asked Harry. "After what his mother did, what else could he have become but a murdering psychopath especially considering he had to grow up in an orphanage?"

"Whatever happened, it can't be changed," said Hermione. "Dumbledore is right, Harry. Do you think he would have turned Merope down if there was a chance of changing things?"

"How can we know that without even trying?" Asked Harry.

"Harry, mate, you can't save everyone," said Ron gently. "This is magic beyond our understanding. What if Dumbledore turned down Merope because her spell could not be broken? Even if you leave aside all the ramifications of time travel, there's always the possibility that what she did can't be undone."

"We have to find out," said Harry. "We have to find out about this spell."

"Any book is bound to be in the restricted section." Said Hermione. "And even then, they might not have full information. I mean, if it has a solution, then why is it a banned spell?"

"Just because it is banned, does not mean it can't be broken," said Harry.

"Yes, but," Hermione frowned. "Merope said she had only a week.  I don't think we have the time to go through all the likely books. There's just not enough time for research." She turned to Harry. "You could ask Dumbledore, you know."

"I would have, but he's gone again," said Harry gloomily.

"I have an idea," said Ron, snapping his fingers. "Let's ask Snape. We have a DADA class tomorrow."

"Yes, and Snape is going to tell us, because he wants everyone to know how much into the dark arts he is." Harry shook his head. "Bad idea, Ron."

"Actually," said Hermione. "I think it's a very good idea. I can ask Snape saying I found the spell mentioned in some book. He might know enough about this spell."

"Or we could ask Slughorn," said Ron. "He would tell you anything, Harry. All you need to do is ask."

"If Snape can't tell us, we'll ask Slughorn." Said Hermione.