Hermione had spoken to Emma the previous night, before they went to bed.

'I'm sorry about earlier. It was the shock of seeing you instead of Ron.'

'I know; you miss him.'

'Yeah. Look, when you go back…can you…will you give Rupert my love?'

Emma smiled and hugged Hermione. 'I will, I understand. Make me a promise though? Will you give Ron your love too? He's really nice; he just needs a bit of help. He's your future.'

Hermione nodded. 'I'll do that. Goodbye.' They hugged once more, and Emma went into the room.

-o0o-

Hermione was up at first light, knocking on the door. A very tousled Ron opened it.

'Hermione?'

'Oh, Ron!' She threw herself into his arms. 'Oh, I've missed you so much.'

'He hugged her back. 'Same here. Look, Hermione, I need to talk to you…about us.'

-o0o-

Dumbledore's visitor was already in the room above the bar of The Leaking Cauldron when he arrived.

'As punctual as always, Tom.'

Voldemort refused to rise to the bait, Dumbledore would never acknowledge him, and he knew that.

'A request for a private meeting, outside the school? How could I resist? I take it you are not here to offer me the role of DADA teacher.'

'No. My plan didn't work. She came back.'

Voldemort raised his eyebrows. 'You failed? The mighty Dumbledore? Getting old?'

'The path was two-way. I hadn't allowed for that.'

'And you can't try again?'

'That Universe has collapsed, now. There were too many passages through it.'

'So create another.'

Dumbledore pulled back his sleeve to show a withered and blackened hand. 'It took more power than I imagined. I will not deny it has weakened me.' He saw the gleam in the red eyes opposite him.

'So you'll just have to kill her, and forget these foolish notions you have.'

'I cannot, Tom, and you know it.'

Voldemort laughed. 'Love? Which you keep telling me make one all powerful. You have risked yourself for one mudblood, for love?'

'Yes, I am fond of her. I would be proud to call her my daughter, no matter what her background. But she is no mudblood. Her pedigree is as long as yours, and as good.'

'So, you still say she is a descendent of Antioch Peverill?'

'Oh yes. She most certainly is, and that is what makes her so dangerous. When you turned Harry into a horocrux you merged two of the lines in a way that cannot be broken. She is the third. If they were to …breed, the child would link all three brothers and create a wizard the like of which we have never seen. If he then reunited the Hallows…' Dumbledore was unable to finish.

'He would be a worthy adversary' said Voldemort, taking a sip of wine.

'You fool, Tom! You think you could defeat him? He would crush you, yes and me, as if we were squibs. He would be Nemethith – the destroyer of worlds. I cannot allow that to happen.'

'Yet, you cannot kill her.'

'No. I tried to create a world where she could live, and perhaps find happiness. But, as I say, I failed.'

'Is Potter a potential mate?'

'I have tried to put distractions in her way; Viktor Kron, though I doubted she would accept him. The Weasleys are a better bet; she has six to choose from, and seems attracted to the youngest boy. But, it is still too risky. As long as her bloodline exists, there is a chance – one day. It may take another generation, or one hundred, but one day they could cross. Of course, had you not killed Potter's parents, the situation would not have arisen. I feel you will die without issue, and that would have been the end of it.'

'You have your plans, and I have mine. The other alternative is to kill the boy; as is prophesised.'

'Oh, Tom! You have allowed yourself to be blinded by that. In doing so you have created your enemy, and possibly – probably – your own downfall.'

'He cannot beat me, Dumbledore, and once you are unable to protect him…'

'I do not protect him. I teach him.'

'But can you teach him enough, in time?' Voldmeort nodded towards the hand.

'I have taught him to think. Tom, he has powers you have not ('Love, again!' Voldemort snorted) and a part of you inside him. I have confidence in him.'

'And I have confidence he will be destroyed.' Voldemort stopped to consider. 'Very well, Dumbledore. I shall lower myself to be your assassin. There is a price, of course.'

'Name it.'

'You will step aside, and give me a free run at the boy.'

'That can be arranged.'

Voldemort threw back his head and laughed. 'I have won, Dumbledore. You know that, don't you? You will give your life "for the greater good", and I get Potter – and the wand.'

Dumbledore eyed him shrewdly. 'You live for tricks, Tom, yet refuse to acknowledge there are things we cannot know.'

'Power IS knowledge, Dumbledore. You give me all this, and the means to stop the only creature who could ever match me. You have given me the world. When?'

'Sunday night. I shall take the boy out of the school for a few hours.'

'How do we get in?'

'Your "recruit" has completed the task you set him. He had help, of course, although he did not realise it.'

'Whether he succeeded or failed meant little to me. His success simply makes it easier.'

Dumbledore stood and made for the door. With his hand on the handle, he turned.

'Just one thing, Tom. I am fond of her, and this is not her fault. Please, as the last thing I shall ever say to you; make it as quick and painless as you can.'

Voldemort nodded curtly. It made no difference to him, she was just one more and he had long since lost any pleasure in killing; it was a means to an end.

-o0o-

Postscript

'I'm putting the Elder Wand back where it came from' said Harry. 'Then if I die a natural death its power will be broken.'

'Are you sure?' Dumbledore's portrait asked.

'I think Harry's right' said Hermione quietly.

'We have to go and find the Weasleys' said Harry. 'It's been so hard for them. Ginny, the night you died, and now Fred…' his voice broke '…and Ron. I don't know how we'll cope without Ron.'

Hermione put her arms around him, and pulled him into a hug. 'We will, Harry, we have to. If we can't all this would have been in vain. Everything.'

Harry took her hand in his, and they walked from the room. A tear rolled down Dumbledore's cheek.

Fin