Author's Note: This is it! The last half of the alternate ending! I hope you've enjoyed sticking around with me throughout this experiment and that you like at least one, if not both, of the endings I imagined! And if you did like this, and if you've read all my other current work, just know that I'll be posting some new things (Harry Potter related for now) in a couple of weeks.

A year? And the war that had just been recognized by the Ministry months before I left has advanced that much? Hermione tried to wrap her mind around the prospect. I didn't go back far enough! Should I try again? But what about Peeta, he can't survive more trips like that, I know it.

Hermione was knocked out of her reverie when Rue gently tapped her on the arm. "Hermione, are you okay?

"I don't know Rue, I don't know," Hermione admitted just as Madame Pomfrey burst through the door, shrieking when she saw Hermione. But before the nurse could get too distracted Professor McGonagall directed her towards the injured.

Hermione quickly pulled Katniss and Rue off to the side, explaining to them a bit about the wizarding world and the magic involved. But to her surprise they weren't really all that concerned, they were just glad they were safe (for the time being) and that Peeta would get the care he needed.

"What all did I miss?" Hermione finally asked as she turned back to her professor, quickly deciding that more time travel was not the answer.

Professor McGonagall stepped back, giving Pomfrey free reign over the area and she busied herself with her wand and a few potions from her apron. Rue and Katniss looked on in fascination and apprehension but didn't interrupt.

"You disappeared in your Sixth Year and we honestly suspected foul play from one of the Slytherins perhaps working under the influence of Voldemort. But it couldn't be proven. Harry and Ron and the rest of your friends were distraught of course. And Dumbledore became even more secretive, he had started meeting with Harry by the time you disappeared, correct?"

Hermione nodded, remembering the notes Harry had started to receive during their Sixth Year. She knew he'd been spending evenings with Dumbledore discussing Voldemort's history but she had traveled to Panem before she could find out why.

"It turns out that Voldemort learned a very dark magic whilst he was in school, a way to create Horcruxes, vessels where he could store bits of his soul so that he couldn't really be killed until each Horcrux had been destroyed."

"So that's what Harry and Dumbledore were working on, finding the Horcruxes," Hermione realized.

"Yes. And all but two of them have been discovered. Ron, Harry, and Ginny are working on finding one right now. They didn't return to school this year, your Seventh Year, so they could find what was left but they are in the castle now." McGonagall hesitated, finally reaching out to gently force Hermione to look at her. "And you should know. We've already had some casualties and more is sure to come. The enemy is at the gates. Literally, they are gathering outside as we speak."

"Who has already died?" Hermione asked as her heart pounded.

"Sirius, Moody, and Dumbledore."

Hermione gasped in shock. Three of the strongest men she knew all gone in, what felt like to her, the span of a second. "Dear Merlin," she whispered.

Suddenly Katniss appeared beside her. "Who is this Voldemort?" she asked.

Professor McGonagall gave both her and Rue an abbreviated version of the story of the wizarding wars. Hermione was thankful for the reprieve, the few seconds to mourn before the battle she knew she'd partake in. Then Katniss surprised her again.

"I'll help. Clearly you have magic which I don't understand but not everyone will be prepared to block a bow and arrow, will they?" she asked.

"But why? Why would you help us?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

Katniss looked off to the side where Madame Pomfrey was slowly helping Peeta to his feet. "Because you saved our lives, that's why. And no one deserves to be ruled over by a tyrant."

Minutes later they were as prepared as they could be. Hermione had been Summoned a wand from the school stores, Katniss's quiver had been enchanted to never run empty, and little Rue had surprised them most of all. When several wands had arrived for Hermione to peruse the dark haired youngster had reached for one and stars had erupted from the tip.

Rue was magical and as they walked to the Room of Requirement to join the rest of the army, McGonagall had taken advantage of the fact by teaching the small child a few quick spells which she easily picked up. The Professor wanted the girl to stay away from the battle of course but knew that she had little authority over the time travelers especially when Hermione had told her about the fight to the death they had just escaped from.

Professor McGonagall entered the Room of Requirement first so that she could announce Hermione's return, fearing they would assume her to be an imposter if she did not. Luna waited outside the door with them and told them of how Voldemort had magically amplified his voice and demanded they give Harry Potter to him and how Harry, Ginny, and Ron had even broken into Gringotts to retrieve a Horcrux.

Hermione was both proud of her friends and ashamed that she hadn't been around to help them. Then McGonagall ushered her into the Room and all thought vanished when she was faced with the rest of the Weasley clan who pulled her into tight hugs.

Then Harry, Ron, and Ginny returned and the reunion became even more emotional. No words were spoken as Harry and Ron pulled their best friend into a bone crushing group hug and Ginny, one of the strongest women Hermione had ever known, burst into ugly tears. But it didn't last long because, as McGonagall gently reminded them, they were running out of time.

Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stood gaping at Harry as he rushed up to Dumbledore's office. "He's going to look at Snape's memories now? In the middle of a battle?" Ron asked in astonishment.

Hermione shrugged, looking around through the devastation to try and catch a glimpse of her friends from Panem. The last time she'd seen them Rue had been protecting Katniss with a Shield Charm and Katniss had taken out a Death Eater who had been trying to aim some nasty spell at the corridor outside of the Room of Requirement as Peeta knocked Fred out of the way of a few falling stones. That had been after Harry, Ron, and Hermione had managed to destroy the second to last Horcrux in a fire that had claimed the life of one of Draco Malfoy's henchmen.

"Harry has to do what he feels is right," Hermione finally replied. "After all, if the prophecy is right then he's the only hope we really have."

So she really wasn't all that surprised when Harry went missing not long after and then they heard an announcement that he'd surrendered to Voldemort (though she had a distinct feeling that there was more to the story than what Voldemort was telling them with his magically amplified voice).

As they gathered in the courtyard she was finally reunited with her friends from Panem and they shared a look that told them they knew the moment of truth had arrived. They stood tall as Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters faced off across from them. Then the speech began.

"Your hero has been defeated!" Voldemort crowed as he pointed to where Harry's body was indeed laying limp in Hagrid's outstretched arms. "I have learned magics beyond all imaginings and if you will not surrender I will not only raze this land but all others with all manner of disasters with the help of my friend!" He indicated a tall white haired wizard off to his left, a wizard who looked strikingly familiar to Hermione and her comrades.

"He looks like President Snow!" Peeta whispered.

Hermione's mind raced and she started to wonder. Panem, the Hunger Games, is it possible that was a future where Voldemort had won?

But before she could do anything, react more, Neville pulled the sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat and used it to cut off Nagini's head and Katniss let an arrow fly right into the throat of the Snow look-alike. That, combined with the sudden disappearance of Harry's body, sent both armies into chaos. Chaos, which quickly led to the light side overcoming the dark when Harry revealed himself to be very much alive.

Once the battle was over and Harry had explained what had happened in the forest, the memories that had sent him there in the first place, McGonagall called a meeting to discuss the last major issue they had (at least until the Death Eater trials and Hogwarts renovations that were sure to follow). That issue was, of course, what to do with the trio of visitors from Panem.

"And you say they're from the future?" Lupin asked as he leaned against the wall of the classroom they'd decided to meet in. Tonks had already left to go visit her parents and make sure Teddy was alright.

"A future that I'm not sure even exists anymore," Hermione admitted as she thought back to the man who looked like President Snow. After Voldemort had been vanquished and the Death Eaters had either ran or surrendered Katniss had insisted on making sure the man had really died.

Professor McGonagall bit her lip and turned to the portrait of Dumbledore on the wall. "I'm not certain what to do Albus."

"You are not responsible for them Minerva," the painted man said gently. "If they are willing to take the risk then have them use Ms. Granger's spell to try and get them home. From what you tell me, Rue has magical talent so she may very well be able to guide the spell much like Ms. Granger did on the way here. And Ms. Granger, there will be something you'll have to do as well once they're gone."

Hermione nodded and the wizarding citizens all spun to face Katniss, Peeta, and Rue who were whispering amongst themselves. Then Katniss stepped forward. "We understand there will be risks if we attempt to travel to our own time but we want to try. We all have family we want to return to and if there's any chance they'll still be there we need to go."

So Hermione showed them how to use her smart phone time travel device and told Rue the words that would be necessary to get them back to their time and then with a few well wishes they were off.

"I really hope that works," Hermione whispered as her friends from Panem disappeared.

With a flash of bright light Katniss, Rue, and Peeta suddenly landed on the hard ground in the middle of a meadow. They slowly stood up and looked around in surprise at the scene before them. The meadow was resplendent with flowers and laughing children.

"Are we even in Panem?" Rue whispered, her eyes wide.

Katniss was just about to admit that she wasn't sure when a very familiar blonde girl ran up and threw her arms around her waist. "Katniss, where have you been? Mom is waiting for you!" she cried before rushing off to a series of tents on the far side of the meadow.

"Was that Prim?" Peeta said in amazement.

"It was! That means we did it!" Katniss breathed in relief.

"That's not all you did." Katniss, Peeta, and Rue spun around and saw another young woman that looked familiar in a very odd way. "You don't really know me but you did know my great great grandmother. Her maiden name was Hermione Granger."

The trio gasped and looked at each other in surprise while the red haired girl laughed at their expressions. "We have a lot to talk about but let's just start with a few of the most important things. Hermione's guess, and yours Katniss, was right. The Snow family never existed as you knew it because of what you did during the final battle at Hogwarts. America is still America. And, that's not all." She nodded off to the side.

Katniss couldn't contain her smile when she saw her family, every single one of them, even her father. They were talking to a family with dark skin and hair and with a jolt she realized they must be Rue's brothers and sisters. How that happened she would never get a complete answer but she chose not to worry about it.

"Granny Hermione passed it down from child to child, wanting someone to be here when and if you finally arrived. I'm the only one that noticed though."

"Noticed what?" Rue asked.

The red haired girl shrugged. "There was like a shimmer in the air when your consciences merged." When the others looked at her in confusion she continued. "Your families think you've been here the whole time because in a way you were. But after some time, and with the help of a few spells I know, you'll remember both of your realities."

After a few more quick words with Hermione's great great granddaughter, a few words of caution and updates on their lives and plans for more discussions about it, Katniss clasped hands with Peeta and Rue and they rushed off to the new world they had helped create.