Last Straw
It was all for nothing.
Hermione had put a spell on her parents to keep them safe while they fought against Voldemort, in result they would have altered memories of themselves, of their lives and no memories of her.
So Voldemort wouldn't go after them for informations, but it was all for naught, they still got killed.
Right in front of her eyes.
Hot tears prickled down her soft cheeks.
The four got lucky that they had the invisible cloak with them, barely covering everyone.
Hermione thought that it was finally time to let her parents memories go back to normal.
To have her parents back, but before she could cast the reverse spell, Harry, Ron and Laverna pulled her under the invisibility cloak.
She wanted to shout in protest. "guys what the hel-"
But her words were cut short and dread filled her senses. Death eaters in the house.
The four were left in trance.
The sight was truly atrocious. Hermione saw her parents getting tortured for answers.
"Sir we really don't kno-"
"oh are you sure? not even after.. CRUCIO" the death eater said maliciously.
Hermione father lets out a gut wrenching scream, falling to the ground.
Soon after her mother followed along.
'They really don't know anything', she wanted to shout at them, at the top of her lungs and flung those bastards away from her parents,
but the chances of everyone dying was high. Too high for her to risk it.
Harry was injured, Ron too, Laverna wand hand was broken and Hermione too had some internal injuries.
The torture went on for exactly three hours and their bodies were drenched in blood, the white carpet turned red under them.
Mr and Mrs Granger had many bruises, their eyes turning dull from the endless torture.
Until the death eaters deemed them useless and ready to be killed.
Their bodies fell on the ground.
The death eaters laughed uglily as they went away.
Hermione didn't even notice hot tears falling from her eyes.
She could only feel the pain that was tearing its way into her heart.
The death eaters had left. Leaving nothing but unnecessary death.
Mr Granger and Mrs Granger died.
They died with fake memories.
They died without knowing that they had such a sweet and smart daughter.
Hermione let out a blood curdling scream as the house went quiet.
She was in shock, shaken and scared.
She ran to her parents bodies, her clothes turning a beautiful shade of red and misery.
Her blue dress red, her pale skin dirtied with blood, but she couldn't care less. She just shook her parents, hoping for something, anything.
Her sobs got even louder as nothing came out of them, not even small breaths.. just dull eyes, that looked into hers.
"please.. please mom wake up.. please.. please dad.." she said through gritted teeth.
"please.. please dont do this to me.. please, im sorry, im sorry. im sorry. im so sorry" she repeated while sobbing.
But Hermione couldn't mourn for long, the Weasley's stupid owl came through a window.
This time, weirdly enough he didn't bump anywhere and he was making loud hoots and noises. Trying to get Ron attention.
"Errol, not now" Ron muttered, his eyes wide from what he just witness, his legs bringing him closer to Hermione to hug her.
Harry closed Mr and Mrs Granger eyes, murmuring a soft sorry and a rest in peace.
Meanwhile Laverna held Hermione close to her chest as Ron kept his arms around her.
But the owl wouldn't stop bothering them, so he let out a loud sigh, before getting up and grabbing the letter harshly.
"FINE, Errol stop being so damn annoying, I'm opening the damn letter, see??-" Ron says, even though his words came to an alt hearing his mother tone.
Hermione head was against Lav neck, tears pouring and silents sobs leaving her lips.
The letter started talking, it was Mrs Weasley! But she sounded so strained.. her voice was a mere whisper, as if she was hiding..
-
"My dear son, if you get this letter, don't come home.
Don't. Promise mom to find a nice place to go to.. Don't come home."
Behind her soft yet broken tone could be heard screams.
"FRED, FUCK MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. CRUCIO! YOU DAMN DEATH EATERS"
"GEORGE BEHIND YOU- GINNY-!" Ginny let out a loud scream, crying in pain.
"FRED AND GEORGE, LEAVE NOW!" Mr. Weasley shouts.
"TAKE GINNY WITH YOU CHARLIE, NOW" Bill shouts "CRUCIO, DONT YOU DARE TAKE MY LITTLE SISTER"
"BILL, BILL!! BEHIND YOU!" Charlie shouts. "PERCY" He cries out, a body could be heard falling and then another.
"PERCY! BILL! NO NO NO.. EXPELL-" Ginny screamed, more curses could be heard.
The death eaters were giggling and bringing chaos "oh honey......."
"Don't contact the family. Please. Leave London. Go far, we lo-"
The last words couldn't be heard, the four could only hear a body dropping, cries, screams and pain filled goodbyes.
-
It was all going down.
Hermione was still sobbing and shaking, holding onto Laverna, Ron had wide eyes, his body frozen. The letter had ended and his family with it.
The Weasley family died.
Ron gulps. Errol scooted to his side. Not going back. Not hooting for a reply letter.
Hiccups left his mouth. Tears pooled and poured.
Harry was also frozen. The Weasley died. One of the first families who ever welcomed him into their life, expecting nothing from him and not caring about him being the chosen one.
They died. Leaving a cold after taste behind. He couldn't bring himself to imagine what Ron was feeling, so he got up and hugged him tightly, like he did with Mione.
Laverna heart was squeezing into itself.
First the Granger's, now Weasley's and.. Next was her family. Clearly.
She bit her lower lip, trying to distract herself from the inevitable.
Fate was a joke though and soon enough, Larry, her family owl busted through the same window that Errol came from.
Her eyes close. It was her turn now. Deep breaths..
She opens the letter.
-
"Little sister, I hope this reaches you.
I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect our parents and I'm sorry for not being able to grow old with you.
Leave London as fast as you can. Leave"
Behind his whispered tone could be heard fourniture falling and breaking.
Loud giggles and the death eaters voices calling for him. Cracking cruel jokes.
"We love you Lav, stay safe baby sister."
-
The Redkhert family died.
Hermione loud grieving noises came to an end, because now she wasn't the only one with a new fresh cut.
She knew she had to calm down, they all needed each other, she couldn't possibly be selfish enough and let her sadness sink deeper into her best friends skin as they were already tearing on their own.
They stared into each other eyes after what had happened in the last few hours.
They didn't know what to think, or what to say.
Was there even something to say?
Everything happened between 5pm to 10pm.
They didn't have any family left, in the matter of 5 hours.
And when they thought it couldn't go worst, Minerva McGonagall's owl appeared, nudging slowly at Harry's leg.
A broken sigh left their lips.
Silent glances and small nods.
Harry opens the letter with a gulp.
-
"Mister Harry James Potter, I am here to sadly inform you that Voldemort and the death eaters made a sudden move,
but I do hope that you arrived at Hermione Granger's parents' house safely.
Please tell her family to leave, also I know that Laverna Redkheart and Ron Weasley are with you. Inform them.
Flee as far as you all can with your families. Build your lives and don't bother looking back.
I'm glad I met you, as well as the other three trouble makers. Mr and Mrs Potter would be proud of you.
Take care and safe."
-
They altogether broke down after hearing the letter. One fell after the other.
The bloodied carpet welcomed them and their pain.
That night, they held each other.
Suffocating one another with grief.
No words came out of their lips.
No words had to be uttered either.
They woke up the next day at 6am.
Only rustling leaves or the wind could be heard.
That day, Mione buried her parents with them. They all sat at their grave and night fell as quickly as it left.
Pain could be seen on their every feature, they got back in the house and cleaned it from all the evidence and chaos.
10 pm again.
The silence came to an halt as Laverna spoke.
"I.. I think I want to go home now.. now that the death eater.. left. I also want to bury my family.." she sighs. Looking at her shoes.
"Me too" Says Ron, looking out of the window
Harry nods.. "I'm going to my parents graves then.." he whispers, looking at the laces of his shoes.
An understanding silence filled the room.
Though, before anyone could take a step away.
"Harry, you'd be too close to the death eaters, they're strong now, they are taking over with you-know-who. A-are you sure?"
Mione says, Ron and Lav nodding at her words, agreeing with her.
"I'll be fine guys.. lets split for now" And that's exactly what they did.
Nobody wanted to be the first to get on the broom and fly out, but they couldn't help but want to reach their families.
So, with the last silent nod, everyone bid farewell.
A week passed.
It was crazy.
The pain that those poor teens had to go through was terrible and there was no one left to save them, if not themselves.
Ron got home.
Since his mother died, the magic that held the house together left.
It was a mess, broken things everywhere, but he started the search.
It took him hours before finding a body. Ginny.
Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. A sour feeling gnawing at his chest, then he properly buried her.
Taking her favorite ring from her and putting it on.
Then he found Fred and George, stupid grins on their faces as they probably spit a joke in their last moments, holding each other.
He buried them. Taking a glove from George and one from Fred.
Tears kept falling as he walked around the ruins, casting spells to pull up broken stuff.
He saw the family clock. A pained "hmh" leaving his lips. Oh good old times..
Then he found Percy and Bill. Both with sad smiles, probably accepting their fates and going into death together. Like the twins.
He buried them. Taking Percy scarf and Bill bracelet.
He quietly sighs, a sob leaving his mouth. Why was life so cruel?
Now he only had to find Charlie, mom and dad.
Ron found his dad. He had his mouth open, probably trying to cast a spell.
He buried him. Taking his golden ring.
Then he found Charlie, with his wand broken and bruised knuckles, maybe trying to fight physically at this point.
He buried him. Taking his necklace.
Next was mom, Ron didn't know if he could keep this up. 15 hours since he started searching and burying his family bodies.
It was hard, to say the least.
He kept casting spells, lifting broken fournitures up and then he found her.
She was in a cruched position, holding her wand an a quill...
..
Her last moments probably spent writing to him.
That letter.
He grabs the letter in his pocket and clenches it in his hand.
More tears left his eyes, then he buried her. Taking her golden ring.
Meanwhile Laverna also arrived home.
Outside it looked decent, inside furnitures were turned upside down, broken, papers and family photos scattered everywhere.
At first, stepping inside the messy house made her hesitant.
She didn't want to find her family bodies, but she had to bury them.. so she toughened up and started searching.
A while later, she found the first body. Her father.
Very close to the entrance, probably trying to buy time and save the rest of the family, at the thought she started crying.
Then she buried him. Taking his golden ring.
The house had two floors.
First floor, had the entrance, kitchen, bathroom, a big playroom, where the whole family usually watched tv together and an hidden spot.
Near the stairs to the second floor, she found her mother, probably trying to protect Emmett.
She buried her. Taking her golden ring.
Lav went up the broken stairs, on the second floor were three bedrooms, a spare room, the bathroom and their childhood playroom.
She went inside each room, until she reached her childhood playroom, a bitter taste in her mouth as she went in.
She found him, Emmett, her older brother.
His left hand was holding her favorite childhood plush, in his right he was holding his wand, a sigh escapes her mouth.
She buried him, taking.. his necklace, her eyes widen.
His favorite necklace was THE time-turner, how could she forget.. her brother was meant to become a time-keeper.
Hope filled her as an idea popped in her mind.
They had to go back in time and kill the source of everyone's demise.
Lav quickly came up with a plan that made her a bit sad, she had to break the necklace in four pieces and put it on four different necklaces and hope for the best.
As she cuts it, her heart breaks a little, it was of her brother.. but he would have wanted this. He would have understood and supported her.
Then Lav sent her owl with an emergency letter, to go to Hermione, Ron and for last Harry.
Hermione was quietly eating one of the meals her mom had put in the fridge days before.
Her eyes landing outside of the house window, sadness was palpable in the house.
But her eyes widened in fear a few seconds later, she saw Lav's owl, flying fast and beating the wind that was going against him.
Worry filled her heart, thoughts of Lav being dead spread in her head.
She quickly opens the window and lets Larry land, but he didn't, he just dropped the letter and flew away as fast as ever.
Mione grabs the letter with urgency, closing the window and running to her broom and wand while opening the letter.
She heard Lav voice, it was fast, but it didn't hold sadness, or fear, it held hope.
"Mione, do as I say, put this necklace and go to Harry's location, but DONT ever show yourself in front of anyone until you see me.
Not even Harry and Ron, got it?
Look at the tree and once you see me, run to me, grab the necklace from your neck and let Harry put his against yours.
This may be the last chance we have to save everyone, lets not mess this up.
p.s I'm begging you, when you run toward me, don't ever look up until every piece is connected"
Her gaze thickens, she puts the necklace on, Mione recognizes it immediately, a piece of a time-turner, no.. THE time-turner.
Hermione understood Lav's intentions and she hopped on the broom with no hesitation, flying off to Harry's location.
Then the letter got to Ron, he saw Lav owl and jumped out of his trance state.
He was putting on his brother clothes to feel as if they were still there with him, while holding close Ginny stuffed animals.
'fuck' he thinks as he grabs the letter while picking some snacks for Larry, but before he could give him the snacks the owl flew off as fast as lightening.
Worry flashed in his eyes as he opens the letter.
"Ron, do as I say, put this necklace and go to Harry's location, but DONT ever show yourself in front of anyone until you see me.
Not even Harry and Hermione, got it?
Look at the tree and once you see me, run to me, grab the necklace from your neck and put it against Hermione's one, ON THE RIGHT.
This may be the last chance we have to save everyone, lets not mess this up.
p.s I'm begging you, when you run toward me, don't ever look up until everything is connected"
His lips seal, he puts on the necklace, grabs his brother broom, since it was not broken and way faster than his.
Adrenaline filling his entire being. Would he finally be able to hug his family after this? He could only hope.
Then it got to Harry.
Harry was against a building, hiding, until he saw Larry.
His heart beats faster, no,, Lav had to be okay- He quickly opens the letter, Larry standing close to his side.
"Harry, do as I say, put this necklace and stay where you are, HIDDEN and DONT ever show yourself in front of anyone until you see me.
Not even Ron and Hermione, got it?
Look at the tree and once you see me, run to me, grab the necklace from your neck and put it against mine.
This may be the last chance we have to save everyone, lets not mess this up.
p.s I'm begging you, when you run toward me, don't ever look up until everything is connected"
Harry gulps and puts the necklace on, it looked so much like Hermione time-turner, but more complex..
Realization hits him and a sigh of relief escapes his lips.
Laverna finishes preparing her bag for this suicide mission.
She sees the clock and sighs, Larry must have finished giving the letter.
Fears eats her from the inside, if this didn't work out, they'd be done for.. but they'd be done for either way, so fuck it.
Lav holds tightly the third piece of the time-turner and reads for the last time the instructions on how to use it.
They had to go where Harry was, because the tree in that graveyard gave permission to the people under it to use THE time-turner, as long as they held it.
They had to piece it together and at the same time and their names would be written down and they just had to utter a year..
and they'd fix everything.
Lav gets on her broom and flies off.
It was 2am now.
She knew that the other three must be hiding somewhere close, looking at the tree.
She arrived, her eyes on the tree.. a sigh escapes her lips.. if she was found before they could connect THE time-turner, the end would come.
The last breath and she started running.. as fast as her legs would allow her.
Hermione was hiding behind a tree, she sees Lav and with a beating heart she runs to the tree, putting the first piece of the necklace in the air.
Soon Ron follows along, putting it against Hermione's one.
Harry runs too, Lav already connected hers to Hermione left side and he puts it against lav's.
THE time-turner was complete.
Their eyes meet, they could see behind the other's back. Two death eater each.
Wands pointed at them, time was like going on slow-mo, Laverna starts humming a folk song to calm their hearts down.
"Are you, are you coming to the tree" The death eaters inches from them.
"Where a dead man called out for his love to flee" continues Harry, his heart feeling less heavy, even though danger wes creeping closer.
"Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be.." Mione says, hope filled her eyes. Even if she felt a death eater's wand against her neck.
"If we met at midnight, in the hanging tree" Ron whispers, He could feel a presence cms away now.
He squeezed his eyes, praying for whatever Lav thought to work now.
"Together?"Lav and Harry say at the same time.
"Together." Mione and Ron reply.
"TO THE 31 OF DECEMBER IN 1926" Laverna shouts.
Light immediately engulfs them.
And that's how they went back in time.
Where everything started, to finish it.