the_debt_of_time

building. You're throwing away a gift that's been given to you, even though you know
nothing can change what will happen. You are the catalyst."
"I have to try."
"And if you succeed?" Hermione asked, hands on her hips in a challenging way.
"Then Jamie and Lily live."
"And who dies in their place? Remus? Harry? Sirius?"
"No one will die; I'll fix everything," Mia answered, choking back the thought of
losing anyone she loved.
"Mia, you need to listen to me." Hermione reached for her hands. "History has
already been written. Snape gives the prophecy to Voldemort. Peter betrays Harry's
parents. Harry becomes the Boy Who Lived. It has to happen that way. We defeated him,
Mia. Voldemort's gone, and we finally have a chance at a peaceful Wizarding world."
"I don't want Harry to become the Boy Who Lived," Mia cried, letting tears fall and
feeling bitter over it. "I want him to be the boy who has both of his parents. I want him to
have a happy childhood filled with family and love and not... not the life he lived. He
didn't deserve any of that."
Hermione frowned with genuine sympathy and understanding. "And if you are
successful, what then? If Lily doesn't sacrifice herself to save Harry, then Voldemort is still
in power. He won't stop. He'll come after Harry again and again, and if he doesn't
attack Harry, it'll be Neville. Are you willing to sacrifice Neville to save Harry's parents? Do
you know what Neville's doing now that the war's over? He's dating Hannah Abbott.
Sweet, shy Neville actually had the courage to ask her on a date."
"It'll be fine. I'll save Alice and Frank too." Mia made a mental list in her head to be
gone through later, especially since, thanks to Dumbledore, she was incapable of physically
writing any truth of the future down, even if it was for her own benefit. "Neville can have
both of his parents as well."
"Very well." Hermione sighed irritably. "It seems you're set on your course, so let's
work it all out, shall we?" She pulled Mia's hand back over to the centre of the tower where
she tugged her down. They sat cross-legged in front of one another. Hermione released
Mia, and suddenly, in her hands was a bit of parchment and a quill. "How do we save
Neville's parents? They were tortured by the Lestrange brothers, Barty Crouch Jr, and
Bellatrix, correct? Do you plan on killing four Death Eaters all by yourself?"