Time Boat

{19}

{19-Don't Die This Time}

The common consensus about Hermione's time revelation was unsure laughter. No one seemed to believe her, but then again, they really had no reason to.

"Flo- Hermione, could you be serious, we want to know why really," Lily said unsurely.

"I do mean it. I know what you think... you know about time travel, I'm sure, but what you know is wrong! Something extraordinary happened and that was you forgiving Severus. You weren't supposed to have even been asked for your forgiveness."

"Wow," she said, glancing at her friend briefly, still sounding mildly skeptical. "But why wouldn't he have asked? I know Severus, I figured he'd see what he did wrong eventually."

Severus went pale, aware of the path he'd have gone down weren't it for Hermione coming along.

"It doesn't really matter, but let's just say he wasn't upping with the Order of the Phoenix."

That was probably her most convincing piece of info she could give before telling them everything which she could very much just make up.

"Severus!" Lily moaned in despair, "I wish you would have told me what you were battling sooner! There's no use in suffering when you have friends."

He shook his head, "You wouldn't have forgiven me a smidgeon earlier than when I finally asked. You even had to think about it when I did. Besides, I didn't deserve it until Hermione led me out of my dark tunnel of self-pity and misery."

Sirius snorted, drawing everyone's attention.

"That's all brilliant, but let me ask a real question... Do I still look this good whenever you came from?"

Hermione grew solemn in her answer, wishing she could have laughed like the others, "You looked okay after twelve years served unjustly in Azkaban."

"Unjustly?" He seemed rather heartbroken at the news, as he should be, "Didn't they wand-test me... or Veritaserum?"

Hermione had never seen him grow so outraged so quickly.

"Didn't any of us stick up for him and testify? What the bloody hell happened to us, Hermione?" James was just as much angry, looking rather confused as he stood, gesturing to his friend.

"I'm sure you very well might have, but by then you were dead. So was Lily." She didn't let anyone speak for fear of a loud retribution, "You see, when Voldemort rose to an extremely high power, a prophecy came to light about your two's son. It was, blatantly put, that one could not live while the other did, and your son was the only one who could stop Voldemort. So, of course, someone who will remain unmentioned, gave this prophecy to Voldemort and realized his wrongs when he realized Lily wouldn't be spared, telling Dumbledore who put you three into hiding. Your secret-keeper was named Sirius but it became dangerous for him so you named Peter who betrayed the hide-out. Remus lost trust in Sirius as his kind became more targeted, so when Sirius found out, your son was given to Hagrid to bring to Dumbledore. Then he was placed in the care of Petunia and her family. Sirius then got ahold of Peter and cursed his finger off which would be important to me and your son and our friend Ron when you broke out of prison, Sirius. Once you finally found Peter again who had been disguised as Ron's family's pet rat for thirteen years, you made up with Remus. Two years later you died, then two years after in the second war so did Remus and Peter. No one in this room survived my seventeenth year."

Hermione had stretched some gaps with a few extemporary details, but to her best knowledge she'd represented it right. There were many flabbergasted faces, but Remus' was the worst. He didn't seem concerned about the future, but something in his own head as he bolted outside.