Okay guys, here it is. Sorry to keep you in a bit of suspense, it had to be done!

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Hermione sat alone on the stairs as Madame Pomfrey attended to some of the students’ minor wounds and abrasions. She felt numb in her entire body. It couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

She had pleaded for what felt like so long for him to come back to her. She screamed and kicked when Ron pulled her away and held her so that they could take his body up to the infirmary until something else could be done.

She fought so hard against him but Ron wouldn’t let her go.

The ministry had apprehended some of the death eaters, but not enough. Only six of them were caught. The rest of them, including Pansy, Blaise and Mulciber, got away. They must have left the grounds and apparated.

The ministry didn’t seem too upset about Draco’s death, in fact, they seemed to think it was probably for the best.

“A boy like that would never find a proper job, not after everything.” One of them had said.

Why had he done that? Why did he have to save her? Her eyes were sore from the tears and so far Luna has been the only one to come and sit by her. She didn’t say anything; she just sat there by her side and rested her head against Hermione’s shoulder for a while before getting up and walking away.

What felt like forever had really only been a few hours but it was a few hours since Draco’s death. If this was what it was going to feel like from now on then she didn’t know if she could take it.

The look in his eyes when it happened wouldn’t leave Hermione’s mind. It was like they were saying I love you, something he had only said the once but she knew that if he could say one last thing, that would be it.

She had an ache in the pit of her chest where she had loved him. It was like an angry clawing beast that would not stop and she feared that it would never do so.

As she stared off into the empty space ahead she heard someone sit down by her side. She looked over to see Ron sitting next to her and giving her a feeble smile. She turned away again and he cleared his throat.

“I uh… I just wanted to see how you were doing.” He said softly.

She just sighed and tried to stop any more tears from falling.

“I um, I also wanted to say sorry for not being more… supportive of… everything yesterday.” He said.

“You don’t have to apologise. I didn’t think your reaction would be any better. But it doesn’t matter now.” She sniffed and turned even further away so that he couldn’t see the tear fall.

“Well, still. I guess I didn’t think it could possibly be true. You know… that you… loved each other. I just want to say that I was wrong for thinking that.”

She looked back. “Why? I know how much you hated it.”

“Well that was before…”

“So because he’s… dead, that makes a difference?” That word got caught in her throat as it came out.

“No, because I saw everything. You don’t go jumping in front of the killing curse for just anyone.” Hermione sighed. “I mean, I watched it happen. Pansy yelled something and I looked over, then I heard him call out to you. He just… Ran… he must have known it was coming but he just jumped right in front of you. I don’t know if I could do that. I mean we all like to think that we would do that for someone we love, but I don’t know if I could you know?”

He tried to think it all through. He saw Draco give up his own life for Hermione. Would he have done that? Like he said, he hoped he would have but you never really know until you reach that penultimate moment. When you see that someone is about to die and the only way to save them is to sacrifice yourself you have to just react. No thinking.

Draco just saved her life without needing to think. How else could you explain that other than coming to the conclusion that he loved her? He must have loved her a lot to do that.

Hermione looked up at him and forced a smile. “Thank you.” She whispered.

He put his arm around her shoulders and she nuzzled into him. It had always been Harry that she looked to for comfort like this but surprisingly it wasn’t weird for Ron to console her. She let herself cry for a while as Ron thought things over. When the thought was straight in his head he cleared his throat again.

“Hermione…” He said slowly.

“Yes?”

“I was just thinking… I mean… I don’t really know how you did it I only remember you and Harry telling me about it…” He started.

She pulled away a bit and looked up at him. “What is it Ron?”

“Well, you remember back in third year… after Sirius dragged me to the Shrieking Shack and all of that… you and Harry used some-”

“The time turner…” She breathed.

“Yeah, you used it to-”

“Oh my god, Ron, you’re right.”

“So would that work?”

“Yes, well, maybe, if we do everything right. I can't believe I didn’t think of that…” Her eyes grew wide as she thought it through.

It might not work but it was the only way that she could change this. She had to try, she had to do something.

“Well just tell me what you need. I’ll help you.” Ron said.

“We have to go, now.” She said, suddenly all feeling coming back to her.

She stood up quickly and pulled Ron up with her.

“Where?” He began to follow her as she led him down the halls, past all of the students recovering.

One student was being treated for a broken arm and another for a nasty case of one stinging jinx or another but Hermione kept moving.

“Slow down!” Ron called.

“To the common room, I have to get it first, I’ll explain it later but we need to go!” Hermione started to run.

In her opinion she couldn’t get there fast enough. This was her only chance at saving Draco and she wasn’t going to mess it up.

They made their way to the common room and Ron waited by the fire while Hermione headed up to her dormitory and fumbled about for her time turner. When she found the little pouch with it inside she grinned. It had to work, it just had to.

She ran down the stairs and Ron hopped out of the chair when he saw her coming.

“Is that it?” He asked as she put it around their necks.

“Yes, that’s it. How long ago did we find out about this?”

“I don’t know, about three and a half hours?”

“I’ll do four turns, we weren’t in here four hours ago were we?”

“No, we were at dinner.” He said.

“Good.” She said as she exhaled. “Here goes nothing.”

She turned the little hourglass back four times and watched it spin as they tried the only thing that could save him.

Nightfall 4 hours prior – Ron

Alright, first things first, I’m not sure I have any idea what just happened. Everything around us went all blurry and then suddenly it all stopped. The weird thing is that it’s just about sunset outside.

I stared out the window but Hermione just pulled the necklace off my neck and went to sit on the couch.

“This is just mental.” I said.

“Ron come over here we need to figure out what we’re going to do.” I turned away from the window and walked over to sit with her.

“Alright well, before we do, can you just explain this thing a bit?”

“Yes but it’ll have to be quick.”

“Well just tell me; we’ve gone back four hours right?” She nodded. “Okay, so what we want to do is change what happened, obviously, but what happens if we do change it? Do we change everything?” I was starting to get a little more confused but she just stopped me.

“Alright, the first thing you need to know is that you shouldn’t think about it too much or you’ll drive yourself mad. The second thing is that you can’t let yourself see you, you’ll think you’re going mad.”

“So I’m sensing a lot of me going mad.” I said and she gave me a stern look so I shut my mouth. She was dead serious about this.

That was probably a bad phrase; she was really serious about it.

“So here’s the basics… What happens is that yes, we’ve gone back four hours but everyone else is still doing exactly what they were at this time, including us. The only time it changes is when we make it change. So if we do change things, we’ll be the only ones who know what really happened, the rest of them will only have the one memory of it.”

I nodded, not entirely sure what was going on but I think I understand the important parts.

“The minute we change something it will affect everything else, and like I said, don’t let yourself see you, bad things happen when you mess with time.” When those words came out her face dropped a little, like she was remembering something, but I wasn’t about to ask.

“Dumbledore always said that you can't bring back the dead but he knew about this. I mean why didn’t we use it more often?” I asked.

“Because this kind of thing is risky. We used it for Buckbeak and Sirius because we had to, sometimes things just need to play out the way they do for everything to work properly in the end. This is a pretty big risk actually and if McGonagall knew she would probably have a massive fit. I just…” She sighed and then took a deep breath.

“Hey…” I put my hand on her shoulder and she looked up at me. “This was pretty much my idea so if she ever does, just tell her I talked you into it.” She laughed a little and I smiled.

She had such a beautiful smile.

Sometimes I wish that we had worked out for the better, but I don’t think I love her that way. I always thought I did but I guess I liked the idea of us more than actually being together. I know she felt the same. Beside, things seemed to be going well with me and Kate. I really do like her and she seems pretty happy with me. If we get through this alright I’ll have to introduce her to everyone.

“I think it’s both of our faults.” She said. “So what we have to do is find somewhere that we can interfere without being seen… or killed.”

“Ah…” I said.

“We didn’t think this through, did we?”

“Not really but I guess we have a bit of time now.”

“About an hour.”

“Well let’s get on with it then.”

We sat down for about half an hour trying to come up with a plan, there was less than an hour to go after that. Plus, we had to leave the common room because people had started to come up and I knew that we would be here soon.

That is still so weird.

Eventually we decided that we would wait at the end of the hall, far enough away from the battle to stay out of everyone’s way but not so far that we couldn’t see what was happening. We made a deal that if anything went wrong for us we would have to help out the other versions of ourselves… I know it’s confusing but I sort of understand it.

I just mean that I need to keep an eye on her in the battle and she needs to keep one on me. This whole thing could go wrong if we make a mistake. I still don’t fully understand how it works. I just know that if it goes right we will save Malfoy and no one will ever have to know that he died.

I never thought I’d say that.

“Hermione?” I said.

We were waiting at the end of the hall for everything to begin, it would only be another twenty-or-so minutes before it started.

“Yes?” She looked over, I could see that she was nervous but she was trying to hide it.

“I… I just want to say that I’m sorry for punching him and ignoring you…” I turned away, embarrassed at how I had treated her. “I mean if I could go back now I would have stood by your side. I just couldn’t believe that it was the truth you know? I’m not saying that I’m happy about it… it’s just weird… and I’m not saying that I like the guy because… well frankly he’s a bit of a mop head – no offence – but you… love him, so if this works out then I promise I’ll try to… not punch him in the mouth.” I looked back up at her and she smiled and hugged me.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

I thought she might let go of me sooner but she didn’t. I think she just needed a moment to cool down and relax before we did this again.

I really did mean it though. I think Malfoy’s a right git, but he’s not to her, and he saved her, so I guess I can tolerate him for her sake. I think I owe her that, as her friend.

It wasn’t long before we heard McGonagall’s voice ring out in the hall and look around the corner to see everyone gathered around her.

I had a slight panic when I saw myself standing there. Hermione reassured me that it would be fine, or maybe she was just telling herself. Whatever happens, we really needed to make sure we got this right.

The Battle –

Ron and Hermione waited patiently as everyone hid in the shadows. Ron looked out over the grounds and pointed out silently the small light that was almost at the castle doors. They looked at one another and nodded.

They had promised not to interfere unless they had to. They only wanted one thing to change and that was right at the very end.

Hermione was breathing very hard and Ron had his fingers wrapped so tightly around his wand that it could have splintered into his hand. When they heard Draco speak they didn’t dare look around the corner, McGonagall needed to be the one to break this ambush open.

On her cue they looked around and the students formed their barricade. When Draco began his battle with Mulciber all hell broke loose. They watched as the students fought with the death eaters, one of them sending a student flying back towards them. Hermione reacted and cushioned his blow, the student standing up a little dazed before rushing back in.

“It’s completely mental.” Ron said as he stared into it.

Hermione watched Neville run to help the boy who had just flown past them and she looked for Luna, she was dealing with Pansy.

“Oh no…” She remembered what came next and thought fast.

“Expecto Patronum!” She whispered.

The otter expelled from her wand and weaved through the students until it reached Pansy and twisted around her.

“What is this!” She squealed and Luna looked around at Hermione who was struggling with Kresta.

She looked a little confused and sent another jinx towards Pansy.

Draco looked over at the patronus and recognised it instantly. It was enough of a distraction to let Mulciber get the upper hand and send him flying back into a wall and into the ground. The otter made its way over to him and twirl around his body but he screamed so violently at it that it dissipated in the air.

Hermione watched as Ron battled with Blaise, the two of them letting their angers out on one another.

“It’s almost finished.” Ron whispered to her as he saw Blaise send him soaring into a pillar.

Neville hexed Blaise and Ron had a panicked look on his face.

“This didn’t happen before.” He said.

“I changed it with my spell, he’s supposed to see them coming.” Hermione said.

“Well that’s good isn’t it? The ministry will catch them.” Ron said.

“Not necessarily…” Their heads whipped around to the sound of Seamus’ screams and saw him holding his arm.

“What are we going to do?” Ron said, his breathing getting heavier.

“Go around and try to help the ministry cut them off, now!” She yelled and he ran as fast as he could down another passage.

She thought for a minute and knew that she had to do it.

“It’s the ministry! They’re here!” She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled into the corridor.

She flung herself back around as they looked in her direction and one of them must have seen them coming.

“Back down!” Yelled Mulciber as the other death eaters began to run.

She saw the yellow light illuminate the hallway as the flames prevented students from getting past the death eaters. She didn’t know what had changed but she knew that she had changed things with her patronus.

Then Hermione heard Pansy’s jealous shriek and stepped out from behind her wall.

“Oh no you don’t.” She muttered to herself and sent a stinging jinx heading straight for Pansy’s face.

She had only just begun to raise her wand when she was propelled backward by the force of the spell and into the arms of Blaise who proceeded to drag her away with the others.

Hermione let out the breath that she had been holding and couldn’t believe that it had just worked. She watched as the flames died down and Draco and a few of the others chased the death eaters down the passage.

He was alive. Draco was alive.

She felt the smile spread to her lips and couldn’t help but laugh at her luck. She couldn’t believe that it had worked.

She almost forgot that by keeping him alive she had inadvertently changed the future, probably in a dramatic way. The difference one life makes is quite extraordinary really. She let herself slump to the ground against the wall as she took everything in.

What did any of the rest of it matter? Draco was alive.

The ministry had still only managed to catch eight of the death eaters, this time they were able to capture Donahue. Ron had tried to help but when he saw that he had been one of those to chase after the death eaters he backed away, managing to stun one of them which led to his capture.

He came back around to find Hermione watching the scene unfold in the aftermath of the battle. When she saw him she jumped up and threw herself into his arms.

“We did it.” She said and he just hugged her back.

They watched as Madame Pomfrey came down to assist and Hermione gasped when she saw Seamus lying limp on the ground. They saw Harry walk up to him and put a hand against his neck.

Ginny watched him and held her breath. “Is he…?” She asked quietly.

Harry shook his head. “He’s alive.”

Ron and Hermione let out a sigh of relief, neither of them would have been able to forgive themselves if they had come back to save a life only to have another one taken away. Stretchers floated in and began carrying people off to the sick bay while Madame Pomfrey pulled a whole number of tonics out of her pockets and gave them to injured students.

The aurors from the ministry came back to thank McGonagall for the warning and scolded her only a little for allowing the students to fight. They saw Harry and decided that they wouldn’t say any more, knowing that he had done a lot of fighting only a year ago.

“It’s almost time.” Hermione looked at her watch and Ron looked puzzled. “I need you to distract me long enough for us to return.” He still looked confused and Hermione laughed. “We have about five minutes so on my word I need you to go in there and get me away from everybody because that version of me won't be there after that.”

“Right… yeah.” She shook her head.

He was never going to understand it, though she took a while to get used to the idea too.

When the time came they crept into the hall and distracted one another long enough for them to fade away without anyone noticing.

When Hermione next saw Ron he looked as though he had seen a ghost and she couldn’t contain her laughter.

“And what may I ask is so funny?” That voice.

She spun around with the widest grin and launched herself at him. She jumped into his arms and kissed him hard on the lips.

“What was that for? You only saw me a minute ago.” Draco asked as he held her into him as tightly as he could.

“I love you. That’s all. I just… I love you.” She said, her eyes glassing over again.

He laughed a little. “I love you too.” She kissed him again and again and she knew that she wasn’t going to stop because she knew what it felt like to lose him and she wasn’t about to do it again. “You know this isn’t over right?” He murmured.

“I know it’s not but for five minutes could you just shut that arrogant mouth and kiss me with it?” she muttered.

“I think I can manage that.”

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Okay guys, the next one will probably be the last chapter. Thanks so much for reading on, even though the last chapter ended without much hope. You guys are the best!