The Year Before Tomorrow

Chapter One- The Future- Blood Ritual

(A/N) OK. Hello, everyone! A few warnings before we begin. Firstly, if you came here for romance, you will leave dissatisfied. If the HG/SB does become real here, it will be only briefly. That isn't to say there won't be love. If unrequited love is your thing, I think this may be the story for you. You'll understand what I mean later. Secondly, this may take a while to be completed. It's already been over a year. However, it will be completed, no matter how long it takes. I have everything outlined, so it shouldn't take too long. Just stick around. I'll try to get it done by the end of 2016, but no promises. Third and most importantly, thank you so much for reading this! Reviews, follows, and favorites are more appreciated than you know. If you have anything at all to say, please say it. If it's to tell me that my story is awful, that's cool. I would appreciate it if you'd tell me why, but just letting me know is great. If it's to point out plot inconsistencies or to ask questions, that's fantastic! Please do!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize does not belong to me. That's why this story is here, on a site specifically for fanfiction. This disclaimer covers the whole work.

Please enjoy my story, and thank you for clicking on it. You're all awesome.

No.

No.

Harry.

His eyes were cold now, the life draining away. Things weren't supposed to happen this way. She'd told him that it was dangerous, but they killed Ginny. How could she force him not to avenge her?

This was all her fault. If only she hadn't been so stupid. She hadn't stuck with him! She had gotten distracted, a girl so useless and out of her league that she couldn't stop her best friend from being killed.

The fighting had stopped, for only a moment. Hermione fell to her knees and crawled forward towards his body. Even that was denied her; a Death Eater easily reached down and pulled her up. They held her by the wrists effortlessly. She wasn't fighting them.

Her legs nearly buckled beneath her. "Harry," she whispered. "Harry, no."

"This is your Savior?" called Voldemort. "This is what you've all put your hope in?" He cackled loudly, placing his bare foot atop Harry's head, pushing his face into the dirt. She could've sworn that he met her eyes as he did so, and she wanted to wipe the gloating triumph from his snake-like face. Her fists clenched and unclenched. There was nothing she could do. Nothing.

A sob caught in her throat. She couldn't look anymore, and so cast her gaze around her. They were in Hogsmeade, the streets flooded with Death Eaters. Some of the villagers had come to help fight once they learned that it was Harry Potter out there. Most of them lay dead in the dirt. It was a testament to the brevity of the battle that she herself was still alive. She didn't suppose that would last for long, being a Mudblood.

The sound of many feet rushing toward them hit her ears. They all collectively turned to see the newcomers. The teachers and older students of Hogwarts had come to join the fight, led by one Minerva McGonagall. Their wands were drawn.

"You're too late!" Voldemort crowed, looking for all the world like a storybook villain. "You've come too late to save your precious Savior, Harry Potter!" Hermione could tell that he enjoyed speaking to a larger group of people. As usual, he was fond of dramatics.

Professor McGonagall's face crumpled, and then hardened. She waved her wand, casting the first curse, and the others soon followed suit. Hermione pulled free from the Death Eater's grasp, which had loosened, and she ran to join them.

"Hermione?" gasped Professor McGonagall. Glee spread across her face, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to mirror it. "You're alive!"

If they hadn't been fighting for their lives, they would have hugged. Tears rose to her eyes, blurring her vision. She was almost caught by a purple hex, but managed to dodge it at the last second.