Harry Potter and the Blood of Merlin.

Chapter 10 - Puzzle pieces

They sat together huddled on Rons bedroom floor surrounded by new books, piles of robes and potion supplies, each in silence contemplating their thoughts.

'I wonder what's for tea?' Ron announced breaking the silence, Harry gave a sly smile as Hermione glared at him.
'What, I'm hungry' he answered defiantly.
Hermione shrugged and looked to Harry, 'my mind is racing, what about Draco? And the letter from Rons uncles and...'
'The prophecy?' Harry interrupted her.
Hermione looked at him sceptically, 'are you being serious ?, she an old fraud like her sister, I bet there's good reason why they fell out'

Harry let her carry on bashing the Trewlaney sisters but that was all he could think of, they had now both made prophecies, in his presence about Voldemort, it couldn't be a coincidence. Professor Trewlaney, on the day of his exams, which had come true and Peter Pettigrew had indeed returned to Voldemort and it seemed her earlier prophecy about himself and Voldemort was on its way to being fulfilled, so did that mean her sisters would too?

'Wow' where did you get that' Ron exclaimed breaking Harry's train of thought.
Harry looked over to Ron and then followed his wide eyed stare to Hermione hands. He couldn't tell what she had in there first, a small silver pendant from what he could tell, but that didn't explain Ron's attentive glare.

'I thought they all got destroyed when...' he slipped a sly look to harry and finished '...when they got broke at the ministry'
With that it clicked into place in Harry's mind.
'A time turner' he exclaimed loudly.
'Sssshhhhhh' Hermione scalded him, 'shut up I dont want anyone to know I have it'

'Coooool, can I have a go, I didn't get to try it last time' Ron whispered excitedly, 'I was in the hospital wing and my leg was broken remember'

'Yes I remember' whispered Hermione back, slightly more tension in her voice 'and we are not using it'

Both Harry and Ron looked at her, 'Why not' demanded Ron,
'I'll tell you why' said Hermione rounding on Ron with a Mrs Weasley air about her,
'You might not have been there, but Harry and I was, and I'm sure he will agree with me, its very risky business. Very serious, do you remember that bald death eater in the ministry and the time bubble. There is a reason Ronald that these are so closely regulated by the ministry, and if this is maybe one of the last ones, than I for one am not going to risk it falling into the wrong hands'

She glared at them both daring them to question her, Harry simply nodded. Ron looked upset but resigned, ' but Hermione' he pleaded.
'But nothing' she whispered through gritted teeth, 'I wasn't even going to tell anyone about this, but with all the other things that seem to be going on, it seemed like too much of a coincidence.'

'Why wasn't you going to tell us' harry asked her dryly, his voice barley audible.
She looked at him, the anger on her face from moments ago vanished and she got the look on her face that made harry want to cry, or punch something, or both.
'I think you know why Harry' she said looking at him with sympathetic eyes., 'He's gone and this wont bring him back!'

'But..' Harry started.
'Bring who back' Ron interrupted ' what in Merlins name are you two on about'
Hermione gave him a fierce glare,
'Sirius' harry said answering Ron's question.
'Oh' was all Ron could say and he looked to Hermione sheepishly.

'But why cant I use it Hermione' harry said raising his voice and reaching out to Hermione's still open hand.
She closed her hand around it quickly and looked Harry straight in the eyes. He noticed the grey flecks in her brown eyes and they danced as she stared into his own green eyes.
'It's too dangerous harry' she pleaded, 'you cant go back, you cant warn him, or anyone for that matter, things have to happen the way they did, if you made a change you don't know the effect that could have on the future.' Her voice cracked.

The red mist fell over Harry's eyes and he began to stand looking down on them both

'Harry' Hermione pleaded with him again, 'if you change something in the past it could effect the future, meaning you never went back to the past, it could create a paradox Harry, and there is no telling what that could do, its the first rule of time travel, there's a reason the ministry regulated it, paradox's are extremely dangerous and there's no telling how that could effect, you, the whole world even,

He was only half listening to her now, the mist had lifted somewhat but he couldn't help but think that there must be some way he could use the time turner.

'And with' Hermione gulped 'the prophecy'
He stopped, he had started to pace and not even noticed, the mention of Prophecy had stalled him.
Hermione sighed in relief, 'even with the prophecy, however much truth there is in it, this time turner, the box, Rons uncles, Draco, there seems to be something bigger going on, I just cant place my finger on it' she mused.

Harry shoved his balled fists into his pocket and sat back down again, his hand brushing against the handkerchief Mrs Weasley had given him and he felt himself calm down. He listened as Hermione recalled finding the turner in her attic and the conversations she had had with her parents regarding magical ancestors and her lack thereof.

'Hermione' Mrs Weasley called from downstairs,
'Damn' she uttered than covered her own mouth looking shocked at herself,
'Can you come help set the table'
'I'll be right down' Hermione called back,
'I'm sure your mother thinks that women should be in a kitchen' she grimaced, 'we need to talk about all this later' she added and whisked out of the room.

Harry looked to Ron, who looked back slightly wide eyed.
'Don't have a go at me mate' he said almost pre guessing Harrys question.'I really wanna try the time turner but she's got a point, I don't wanna end up in some Paradox'

'But Ron' harry started to plead, 'me and Hermione managed it and nothing happened, we could save Sirius'

'Nah mate ' Ron answered him but keeping his eyes facing the ground 'if they could be used to bring people back, no one would ever die, think about that'

Harry did, but brushed it aside, Ron stopped him contemplating this too much though, 'if you don't drop it mate, she'll wipe your memory of that time turner she's getting good at memory charms now' and Ron followed Hermione out of the room, 'really good'