the_debt_of_time

A chestnut-coloured centaur trotted up behind Firenze, his red tail swishing behind
him. "The weeping human? She's foolish to enter this forest alone."
"Ronan." Firenze turned back to look at his brother. "She's much stronger than she
appears, if you remember."
Ronan rolled his eyes briefly but then bowed his head in bitter agreement. "Yes,
she's the one that delivered the offensive witch to us," he said, scowling as he spoke of
Umbridge. "Shame we let her go."
"Agreed," Harry said.
"Where did you see the girl?" Firenze asked.
Ronan gestured to a grouping of trees, his crossbow tight in hand as though it were
an extension of his arm. "Just through there. She should not shout at such a volume. Not
all creatures in the forest are as understanding of her reasons for being here as we are."
"And what are her reasons?" Harry asked.
"Healing," Ronan answered.
Harry frowned and then nodded. "Thank you both so much."
"Farewell, Harry Potter," Ronan said and walked in the opposite direction.
Firenze hesitated. "Tell your friend that she will not find her answers in the past but
in the future."
"I will. Thank you."
Harry made his way through the trees where Ronan directed him, and soon
everything began looking very familiar. He could hear Hermione yelling just up ahead—
her words like a dagger to his heart.
"Accio Resurrection Stone! Accio Resurrection Stone!"
She walked around the clearing, aiming her wand out randomly, attempting to
summon the Resurrection Stone he knew would not come to her. Tears streaked down her
cheeks which were now dirty. Her hair was dishevelled in a way that reminded him of when
she was younger. Spinning around to aim her wand in a different direction, she slipped and
fell to her knees. Not even bothering to dust herself off or check to see if she had been
injured, she stood back up and resumed her search.
"Hermione?"
"Accio... Accio... I can't do this.. ." She collapsed on the ground, burying her
face in her hands. "I can't live here. I want to go back. I should have done something."