A brief discussion
"Flashes of lightning rolled across the sky. Showing the terrible reality that was before Hermione. She couldn't believe her eyes, could train her eyes on anything for very long. The blood and bodies were everywhere, but worse were the flies. She couldn't remember what had happened, or why she was there, her head was killing her. Going further around the worst of it she kept walking. Following the sounds of screaming.
Waking with a start Hermione first recognized an owl screeching at her from the desk. She grabbed the parchment off its leg and with another scowl it flew off. Opening the letter Hermione realized that she was terribly late for her meeting with McGonagall. Hurrying to fit everything in her bag she started rushing from the library.
Coming to a halt in front of McGonagall's office door. "Cat Nap" she said to the gargoyle. After hopping onto the stairs as they moved upward, Hermione tried to remember what she'd been dreaming about. She couldn't remember but she knew it was awful. She still had a sour taste in her mouth.
"Ah, Ms. Granger, nice of you to finally join us." Blushing, she nodded, noticing the second person sitting across from McGonagall. Narcissa Malfoy. As put together as ever. She had some nerve showing up here after everything that happened with the War. Voldemort may be gone but the hate Hermione felt for this woman and her family could not be measured. “What do I owe this…” Hermione couldn't even bring herself to finish her sentence.
McGonagall looked very tired but a moment before Narcissa piped in with “I am here because I was asked here.” the usual snootiness wasn’t in her voice. She actually seemed like she was worried about how this was about to go. This was certainly very odd. Clearing her throat McGonagall “Well I’m sure you’re both very curious about why I’ve asked you both here. I need your Help and I don’t know any other way than to ask. Narcissa you've been married into one of the darkest families and know dark magic better than anyone I know and Hermione you're the brightest witch of our age and the most capable for the task.”
Narcissa seemed to be taken aback. “Not many people know of your knowledge of The Dark Arts Narcissa I know, but I remember you in school and you and Hermione were both top of your classes. I can only assume that you continued your studies after marrying Malfoy with so much time on your hands.” Narcissa nodded, “ I just don't know what exactly you want from me Minerva, Could you possibly narrow it down.” hand slightly shaking in her lap Hermione noted.
“Hermione you were given a Time Turner in your third year to keep up with your studies if I remember correctly and Narcissa you've studied the Time turner I presume. The Black Family having one in the Heirlooms, Would you know what I speak of?” Narcissa's mask slipped but a moment and then was set into place. “Yes Minerva. That’s correct. Why do you ask?”
Hermione has a feeling this wasn't very common knowledge, and Narcissa was on guard. “The Time Turner in question isn’t like most time turners though is it? It takes farther leaps back in time if I remember my information correctly.” Again Narcissa seemed unnerved by Minerva having so much information. “But Professor, Time Turners are only meant to go back a few hours at a time, terrible things happen to wizards who try for longer than that. It was in the rule book in third year. How could one exist that was solely meant to go farther than that.”
Narcissa answered “That would be because this is not a legal time turner, and is much older then the ones the ministry have, especially because of the mess my husband made. This Time Turner was made with very dark magic. Blood Magic included, I might add.” she said looking at McGonagall. “I am assuming you got this information while my cousin was in your Order. He never knew much about what they did because Walburga didn’t trust him to not kill her with it.”
Nodding McGonagall continued “ We may have use for it.. That is if you both agree to my plan. I’d like to send Hermione back in time and acquire all the Horcruxes before James and Lily are murdered. When he goes for the Potters we could strike and he'd be vanquished for good. Maybe not so many people need to have been lost in vain.” The three women stared at each other for a few moments.
“You want to send me back in time..”
“I really don't know what the risks are..”
Hermione and Narcissa started at the same time. Hermione gestured for Narcissa to continue while she attempted to wrap her head around what was said. “I really don't know the risks. The watch hasn’t been used in my lifetime and the only person I know to have used it was my ancestor Phineas Nigellas Black..” Hermione looked to the Professor and was quite intrigued.
“It's said that he was the one who first came into possession of it, but I'm uncertain to its credibility.” McGonagall nodded. Lifting her wand she removed the curtain from the painting near the stairs. Phineas cleared his throat and looked at the three of them with a bit of surprise. Clearing his throat again to compose himself. “How may I be of service, Headmaster.”
“I need to know about the Black family Time Turner. I've been informed that you were the one to possess it first. Is this information something you know of?” Phineas looked from Hermione to Narcissa and back again. “Er.. I mean yes I do, but what could you possibly need it for?” He quipped back. “I’m uncertain of the risk intertwined with using the Time Turner and McGonagall has cause to use it.”
Narcissa was short and to the point with her ancestor but didn’t seem keen on prolonging the conversation. “Well to my knowledge I was the only one to have used it. I jumped only once with it and was taken about seven years into the past. It was very peculiar, I'd only given it one twist. I was very thankful at the time that I hadn't done more than that.”
Hermione’s head was racing, one turn was seven years. How many years was she going to go back? “Well that doesn’t even give us concrete timetables. Were you even able to return to your present time?” Narcissa chimed in. “Well no actually I simply remained hidden from myself and family until the seven years were over and returned to my life as such. It was the many reasons I was able to study so many different things, but I never used it again. I told my children that it was dangerous and cursed. Told them it was never a toy.”
McGonagall rose to her feet and flicked her wand and The curtains were back over the painting. “Well Ms. Granger. What do you think of my plan so far? Don't be shy, tell me how you really feel.” The room was silent except for the crackling of the fireplace. “How far am I going back?"