Chapter 1
All Hermione knew was that hope was lost. Harry was dead. Ron was dead. Fred, Remus, Tonks, and everyone else she ever cared about was dead. There was no chance at defeating the Death Eaters now. She could run as fast as she could, could cast as many spells as possible, and she still wouldn't even make a dent. All she felt was pure exhaustion and desolate grief, not even the slightest inkling of hope flickered in her heart.
It did not take long for her to be overpowered. She fought bravely with all the strength she could muster, taking out her fair share of death eaters, but in the end it did not matter. Hermione Granger stood in the Great Hall, slowly inching her way into a corner. She was fighting five at once, throwing hexes here and there, blocking each curse thrown her way. Her limbs were tired, her spirit all but diminished, and she could no longer tell the difference between her sweat and tears. All was lost. Through her peripheral vision, she watched as more lives were being taken, the numbers of the Resistance against Voldemort dwindling down till it felt as though she was the last one left. Only one seventeen year old witch up against the darkest powers in all wizardry history and that thought drove her to hysteria.
She was lashing out now, shouting every spell that was ever crammed into her head since she first received her letter from Hogwarts. From all the books, from all the classes, from all the practicing with Ron and Harry, all of her wizarding career leading up to this very moment. There were more surrounding her now, circling her like vultures. Even for as brilliant a witch as Hermione, she was overwhelmed. Even after spell after spell that took more and more death eaters out, they only kept reappearing. And when finally, the last curse hit her from behind, a scream dying upon her lips, it was all for naught. All was lost.
It was like falling asleep and waking up all at once. Her final memories washing through her head as the green embraced her and she sunk into the abyss. She was drowning, grasping for anything to pull her up, pull her back, but she was too far gone already. I'm sorry Harry she wished she could tell him I've failed. There was nothing to comfort her as she sunk, only the strengthening force that dragged her further and further down. She was in the limbo, the in between of life and death. Faces floated around her like little orbs that drifted along the tide. They were lost souls just as her, somehow unable find a sense of peace in death.
This is it then, she thought, I'm dead and I'm to travel to the after-life. Oh, how it will be sweet to see Harry and Ron once more.
And when the floor seemed to open up around her, a blinding light emitting from it, Hermione accepted her fate. Suddenly, light was all Hermione could see, all she could feel. It warmed her bones and filled her head with sweet, serene thoughts. No more pain, no more grief, just light, light, light. Until finally she was swallowed up into the floor and it disappeared altogether.
Hermione Granger was no more.
Hermione heard a soft voice filtering through the air, so soft she was almost certain it was the air itself. She felt engulfed in warmth, only this time it wasn't from the mysterious light, but rather from fluffy blankets that cocooned her body. Her only wish was that she could snuggle further into the alcoves of its comfort. Her mind was addled with drowsiness, her body purely exhausted, yearning for more sleep, but then she felt a hand sweep across her forehead and her blood ran cold in panic. Where am I?
"Hermione, Hermione dear, it's time to wake up, c'mon today's the big day," She heard a soothing voice whispering from above.
Immediately her eyes snapped open at the sound. Crouching beside Hermione was an elder woman, who looked no older than 40 and no younger than 35. She had bright almond-shaped green eyes with long blonde locks that fell along her shoulders, only slightly graying at the roots. Her faced was filled with sweet kindness as she stared upon Hermione. In her thoughts, Hermione heard a soft echo, Mum.
"C'mon sleepy-head, you don't want to miss the train, now do you?" The woman spoke, louder now that she saw Hermione was awake.
"The train?" Hermione found herself asking. Although it wasn't the deeper, more mature voice she remembered. Her voice now had a higher tint to it, deeply shocking her. Good heavens have a I landed in a Franz Kafka novel?
"Yes, silly, for Hogwarts of course. Don't act as though you don't know. It's the only thing you and Lils have been able to talk about all summer. Now, c'mon, Lils has been ready for hours. Don't keep her waiting," The woman laughed before ruffling Hermione's hair and making to leave her room.
Lils-Lily, sister, her thoughts echoed, twin.
"Mum?" Hermione tested the word on her lips, her heart thumping against her ribcage.
"Yes, dear?" The lady responded, cocking her head to look at Hermione.
"Nothing," Hermione squeaked, unable to find a sufficient excuse.
The lady chuckled, "Well, alright." Before making for the door once more, this time leaving.
Hermione's thoughts swam, unable to make sense of what was happening to her. She had died, was this the afterlife? No this couldn't possibly be, she felt more lively than ever. Her eyes feasted upon the room, taking in the soft lilac paint that lined the walls. It was small, but not enough to feel crammed. It made her feel cozy, rather. The bed lay smack in the middle, pushed against the wall in between windows that filtered in soft sunlight. Her bed sheets were a creamy white, with only a few stains marring its color. Across from her stood a bureau with a long mirror staring back at she her.
She hurriedly ran to it, desperate to examine herself. Gleaming back at her were the same chocolate brown eyes she had learned to grow fond of and the same round face she had come to know, but her features were slightly more youthful; less addled by stress but more addled with freckles. Her hair still lay in its thick curls, only slightly less voluminous, but it did not hold the same golden brown color she remembered. No, instead she was met with a deep auburn color, comparable to the Weasley's famous red. She was shorter than she remembered too, and her cheeks slightly more chubby. She looked almost as she did when she was eleven.
Her eyes flittered to the corner of her mirror where a small picture lay tucked into its side. She had to climb onto the bureau just to reach it thanks to her newfound height. Captured in the black and white photograph was an image of her next to a girl who looked nearly identical to her, if it weren't for the different shape of her face and nose. Their arms were wrapped around each other's shoulders and they seemed to have been caught in a laugh with both their mouths opened wide and eyes twinkling. Warmth filled Hermione's heart as she gingerly glided her fingers over it. Sister. twin.
And suddenly it felt as though she had been smacked in the head with a bludger. Memories flooded her brain. Laughing with Lily, running through the fields with her and Petunia at her back, dad swinging her up on his shoulders, mum kissing her bruised knee after falling on the concrete, making a book float with her mind, Severus telling Lily and her of magic, them receiving their Hogwarts letters, all moments forcing their way into her mind. Hermione fell back on the bed from the impact, her mind buzzing with her whole new life finding a place in the folds of her memory.
Hermione Granger was no more. Hermione Evans had taken her place.
It didn't take long for Hermione to find something to wear. It seemed Lilac was her absolute favorite color and the majority of her clothes were dashed with it. She found a soft lilac sundress that fell to her knobby knees before pulling her hair into tight ponytail, silently praying her tie wouldn't break as so many others did. It seemed despite taking on an entirely new identity, her cursed curls still managed to follow her. With a sigh, Hermione reached for her already-packed trunk and began to make her way out of her room. She climbed down the stairs where she was greeted by her bustling family scattered in the kitchen.
"Ah, so sleeping beauty has finally decided to come down from her tower," A middle-aged man, with deep auburn hair and hundreds of freckles displayed across his skin, joked. He had the newspaper set out in front of him with a steaming cup of tea held in his hand as he sat at the kitchen table. His eyes were warm and loving as he looked upon Hermione.
"I believe you're getting Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel confused there, dad," Hermione corrected him. She gave little thought as she reached for a plate in the cabinet above the sink and shoveled freshly cooked scrambled eggs upon it.
Her father let out a light laugh in response before ruffling her hair as she took a seat beside him. "What am I going to do without my little bookworm making sure I got my facts straight, hmm, you're gonna be off at that new school of yours," He quipped.
"You'll have me," A voice grumbled from across Hermione. She looked up to find the scowling face of her sister, Petunia.
"Of course, I'll have my little Tuney," Her father said, his voice turning from its joking manner to soft seriousness.
"I'm not little!" She cried. It seemed she was in an even more irritable mood than usual this morning.
Before Mr. Evans could find a reply to his oldest daughter, Lily came bustling into the kitchen, scaring her mother half to death who stood washing the pans in the sink. "Mione!" She exclaimed, "You're finally awake!" She ran over to her twin, taking a seat beside her at the table. Hermione shot her a quick wide grin.
"I'm sorry, I was just so sleepy," Hermione explained herself, but Lily only waved her hand.
"Are you all packed up?" She asked to which Hermione eagerly nodded.
"Just finished packing last night," Hermione informed her.
"Good. Oh, it's so exciting isn't it?" Lily inquired, her voice buzzing.
Hermione let out a little giggle and once again, nodded eagerly. "Hogwarts sounds wonderful I cannot wait to-"
She was cut off by the loud scrape of a chair against the floor. All the Evans looked up to the noise to see Petunia standing with her face contorted in anger. She huffed before running from the kitchen and up the stairs to, no doubt, her room. "Tuney!" Lily shouted before taking off after her and with a sigh, Hermione followed too. She sprinted up the steps to find Lily outside Petunia's door pleading with her to let her in. Hermione took up post beside her twin.
"Tuney, please come out," She begged, "Don't you want to see us off?"
There was hardly a pause before Petunia's shriek sounded, "No!"
"Please, we're going to miss you lots," Hermione tried. This was regarded with cold silence.
Her sister's dramatics was quite a recurring theme in her newly instilled memories and so Petunia's response hardly surprised her. In her mind she had two different versions of the woman. The hateful, neglectful aunt of Harry Potter and the melodramatic older sister. She understood why Petunia acted the way she did. She was envious, feeling forgotten while her two younger sisters were gifted in the arts of magic. In this new life of Hermione's, she felt compassion towards her sister, but she could not forget the things Petunia had done in her past life.
Before the girls could try more negotiations with their older sister, Mrs. Evans ascended the staircase. "Girls, c'mon, it's time to go, get your things in the car," She instructed them.
"But mum, what about Tuney? Is she not going to come?" Lily's voice was fearful at the thought of not getting to say goodbye to her sister.
"Don't worry, I'll get her out of there. Now, off you go, don't want to be late for your first year!" Their mother replied before shooing them down the stairs.
Lily was quiet as she packed her bags into the trunk of the Evans' family car. Her mind seemed to be focusing on her sister. Hermione knew of how Lily regarded Petunia wish such love and how it crushed her so that she didn't wish to see them off. It is a peculiar thing, the ties of siblings. This was the first time Hermione had any experience with it at all. When she had been Hermione Granger, she had no siblings, no matter how close she considered Ron and Harry. This was the first time she truly felt the bonding love of sisters.
When they had finished putting their belongings in the trunk, Lily and Hermione made a move to to sit in the back seats as their father took the driver's seat. He turned back to them with a big grin and excitement glinting in his eyes. "Are you girls ready?" He asked. Hermione responded with an enthusiastic nod while Lily could only provide a small one.
"C'mon Lils, you were excited nearly five minutes ago," He pointed out.
She mustered up the best smile she could, "I am, dad, I really am."
Hermione sighed before nudging her twin with her shoulder. "Don't worry Lils, Hogwarts will be all we dreamt it to be and more," She did her best to comfort her.
"I hope so," She heard Lily mutter.
It did not take long for their mother to emerge from the house with a furious looking Petunia. She clambered into the back seat without breathing a single word to either of her sisters, only staring straight ahead. Hermione sat in between them, but Lily still tried to reach over to Petunia. Though the attempt was quickly evaded by Petunia's flinch, causing Lily to shrink back. Hermione sighed, what a long car ride it was going to be.
When they finally pulled up at King's Cross, Hermione could hardly contain her bubbling excitement. She was to be at Hogwarts again, her one true home that never failed to bring her happiness. No matter which Hermione she was, Hogwarts would always be her safe haven. She giddily slid out of the car, grabbing at her trunk and hastily pulling it along as they made their way inside. Petunia was still thoroughly sulking and Lily was still thoroughly upset about it, but nonetheless, they continued on through the hustling crowds of King's Cross Station.
"No how on earth are we supposed to get to platform 9 and 3-quarters when there is no platform 9 and 3-quarters," Mr. Evans spoke utterly flabbergasted, eyes darting between platform 9 and 10.
"We have to run at the barrier, that's what Severus said," Lily piped up. Upon the mention of his name Petunia scoffed, but offered no words.
Mr. Evans only laughed, "My-oh-my, what a school you girls will be going to."
They did as Lily instructed and ran at the barrier with their trunks full of supplies, and came out the other side into bustling Wizards and Witches and a steaming train ready to be boarded.
"Oh this is truly magnificent," Mrs. Evans exclaimed in wonder as she took in the Platform around her. Hermione's happiness grew as her eyes appreciated the sight. Laughter echoed around her as many young witches and wizards bided goodbye to their families and boarded the train with their various pets and magical supplies.
"Sev!" Lily called as she caught sight of black-haired boy with ratty clothes that hung loosely on his body. He seemed a cloud of gloom, but the minute he caught sight of Lily, the cloud evaporated.
"You made it," He said and Lily nodded.
"Listen, I'm gonna say goodbye to Tuney and my parents, then Mione and I will meet you on the train," Lily informed him, but he remained planted in his spot.
"I'll wait here," He stated and Lily shrugged before making her way to Petunia who stood defiantly with her arms crossed.
Hermione could only sigh as she turned to her parents. Their eyes were still taking in the sights of magic, watching as things whizzed to and fro. They could hardly spare a thought towards Hermione, but she demanded their attention nonetheless.
"I'll write to you whenever I can," She told them, smiling up at them.
"Of course," Her mother responded with her warm green eyes, "And we'll always write back."
Hermione felt an odd ache fill her heart. She had only spent a few hours with her parents, but she still felt the prick of tears in her eyes at the thought of leaving them. Her father smiled down at her, now, his gooey brown eyes searching hers. He brought his hand down to ruffle her unruly curls (which had popped out of the ponytail half an hour ago) with a sad smile gracing his features.
"I'll never know where you got these curls," He japed, referring to an old joke between the Evans.
"I'm telling you, its from my Aunt Fern. Her hair grew to be the size of a bush," Her mother retorted, eyes shining with unshed tears, "Of course our Mione's curls are a thousand times prettier."
Hermione could hardly stop herself from running into her mother's arms, relishing in the warmth. "Oh sweetheart," Her mother whispered, "You're going to have a wonderful time. You and Lily both, you'll look out for each other won't you?"
"Always," Hermione hardly waited a beat in answering, fully understanding the promise this entailed. I'm going to save Lily, she swore to herself, I'm going to save them all.
She had only pulled away from her mother for two seconds before she was being engulfed in her father's hug. "Don't forget your studies, I'm expecting only top marks from our brilliant Hermione," He reminded her, causing Hermione to laugh.
"I will never forget," Hermione responded, absolutely serious. No matter what life she lived, her grades would always be of utmost importance.
Her father's smile dropped as he slowly pulled away and turned to look at Lily and Petunia who seemed to be getting in an argument. "Things will get better with her, won't they?" He asked, looking towards his wife.
She let out an exasperated breath of air. "We can only hope," She replied.
Hermione quickly ran to her twin's side who looked ready to cry. She had only arrived in time to hear Petunia's shrill, "Freak!" before Petunia was off to their parents' side. Lily was utterly devastated, watching their older sister with a sorrow-tinged heart. She finally turned to Hermione with solemn silence.
"It'll be alright, you know," Hermione promised, "We'll be together, as we always are."
Lily only gave her a nod and a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I only wish she was kinder," She admitted, eyes cast to her shoes.
"I know," Hermione stated before wrapping her arm around Lily's, "I know."
Together, with Severus trailing at their side, the Evans twins boarded a train that would bring about for them a whole new realm of possibilities.