A New Beginning

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Author Note: My first ever fanfiction! Please go easy on me. Thank you! I don't know how many chapters this will be yet, but definitely above 20. I am hoping to make this more unique than other time travel stories by adding an OC and more details behind the Unspeakable curtain. Please enjoy this first chapter! The second one should be up soon.

_What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly_

Richard Bach

May 2nd, 1998

As Hermione took a walk around the once magnificent Hogwarts castles, she thought back to when both Harry and Voldemort died, and instead of surrender, the Death Eaters have continued to fight; they even fought more viciously. She cursed herself for choosing the wrong time to faint. Hermione remembered being blown into a wall while dueling Rabastan Lestrange and woke up with the castle full of bodies. She had broken down several times when she recognized someone she loved laying lifelessly on the floor. She was sure she has no more tears left to cry. If the time turner was here, perhaps not everyone Hermione loved will now be dead; maybe Harry will still live and smile that comforting smile to her, and the Death Eaters might not rose and fought so viciously, turning the tides of the battle to the Dark. Hermione has returned the Time-Turner to Professor McGonagall at the end of the third year, which is such regret because she wished that she has one right now.

She tried to calm down her tear as she approached the Headmaster's office. She didn't know why she came here, she didn't even know the password, but there seemed to be an invisible thread that pulled her here. As she stood in front of the Gargoyles, she took a breath and started to guess all the passwords that Snape could have set.

"Slytherin"

Nothing happened.

"Death Eater"

Nothing moved.

"Order of Phoenix."

Nothing. Hermione recalled when Snape bugged Harry to retrieve his tears.

"...Dumbledore?"

The gargoyle suddenly moved aside, revealed to Hermione the staircase. The dots began to connect in her head as she thought back to Dumbledore's death. There has always been something aloof during that year: Dumbledore's blackened hand and Malfoy's haunted face. The conclusion she came up with surprised and scared her at the same time. She wished the trip to the Headmaster's office will shed some truth to her.

She has never come into the office before, what she knew of only based on what Harry has said, but it was evident that Snape hasn't changed much of it. All the portraits were here, all of Dumbledore's random trinkets were here, even his Pensieve and the old battered desk.

"Homenum Revelio." Because one could never be too careful.

Nothing came up. Good.

She could easily spot Dumbledore sleeping in his portrait, though it seemed to be an act.

"We lost." She speaks up.

As predicted, Dumbledore opened his eyes. His gazes held that solemn that she witnessed during the sixth year. She should have recognized it sooner.

"I hope it could have ended differently. I thought what I did was enough."

"Perhaps. We don't blame you, sir. I don't want to seem rude, but your death, everything isn't actually what it appears on the surface, yes?"

"Ah, yes, you have figured it out. Why don't you take a look at my Pensieve?"

Hermione nodded and approached the Pensieve reluctantly. She has never come into a Pensieve before, only have heard it through Harry and books. She took a deep breath and dived into the Pensieve.