The Blackthorns

*~*~*September 19, 1998*~*~*

*~*~* September 19, 1998 *~*~*

Her birthday dinner at the Burrow was almost like old times. Almost. There were no explosions of joy or people randomly getting changed into improbable creatures. The smiles were a shade dimmer and eyes a little sadder. The Burrow that had been rebuilt somehow wasn't as magical as it had been.

"Can we talk to all of you?" Hermoine asked as everyone was finishing their pudding.

"Of course," Mrs. Weasley said, hurrying everyone into the lounge. The older generation sat in chairs while the younger ones sprawled in the floor or leaned against walls. "What is it you need to talk to us about, dears?"

"We've been...offered an opportunity," Harry began pausing briefly in the middle of his sentence to consider how to describe it.

"Is this what the Goblin wanted to talk to you about?" Andromeda asked warily.

"Yes. He said that the goblin nation had a...device that they cannot use and they offered it to us if we would use it on their behalf as well as our own."

"What does it do?" Arthur asked.

"It could take us 25 years into the past. If their theories of time are correct, and Mione with her outrageously good brain thinks they are, it would give us the opportunity to change it all."

For a brief moment, it was silent. Then an explosion of sound devoured the silence. It was an overwhelming wall of voices all trying to be heard. Only three people in the room didn't speak. The noise paused for a moment as everyone was gathering breath to keep going. What happened next stopped them all.

"Do it," came an agonizing whisper from George. Andromeda hugged Teddy to her as silent tears slid down her face. "Save him."

"George," Hermoine called, causing the broken young man to look at her. "There's something you must understand. If we do this we might create a world where Fred lives and we might create one where neither of you was born. Or were born girls."

Harry shrugged, "We don't know. It's a chance. An opportunity. That's all. We don't know what will happen in this time. Will it all be wiped away as though it never happened or will it go on?"

"Can you save them?" Andromeda asked, stroking Teddy's fine baby hair.

"All we can promise is that we will try."

Andromeda nodded, and cuddled her grandson close, "Save them."

"How many people will go?" came Charlie's rough voice.

"Only two adults," Hermoine answered quietly. "But they said we could take two adults and one child or smaller creature such as a house-elf."

"You'll be taking Teddy, of course," Andromeda's voice was watery and tight before she cleared her throat. "Just in case this timeline gets wiped out. There's no guarantee Dora and Remus will fall in love if given another go 'round. He's too precious to lose and My Dora loved him so."

"That was what we had hoped, provided the goblins can help with a few things."

"How can we help?" Kingsley's voice flowed through the room.

"We need information. Names, dates, deaths, raids, everything you can think of from either war. We plan to change as many things as possible."

"I have one request," Bill spoke up. "Kill Greyback."

Hermione shuddered, remembering his hands on her while she was being tortured in Malfoy Manor.

"He's number three on my list," Harry said evenly, looking the older man in his scarred face. Hermione blinked up at him in surprise.