Hermione Granger lit the fire under the moonlight outside the tent, while the sound of the forest came to life in the descending light. She had already placed the spells around the campsite for fear of being found by death eaters. She sighed lightly as she tore dry bread and tried to swallow it. Nothing goes down her throat anymore and she seems to be losing weight day by day. Sometimes it felt best to just jump down a cliff and end her life.
She started sobbing again as the light from the fire crackled, resembling the fiery orange of Ron's hair. She could still feel his lips against hers and the thought of never seeing his eyes light up every time he saw her choked her up as she sobbed uncontrollably. And Harry, dear sweet Harry - a brother she never had. He'll never mess up again for her to save him. Both the boys she loved most in the world are gone and had left her all alone to fight a battle she'll never win.
"Please help me," she whispered, looking up at the sky, "If there is someone out there - please save me from all this."
She wiped her tears, preparing to go back inside the tent when a sudden whirring sound started to her left. Pulling out her wand, she watched as a tall, blue box materialized out of thin air within her circle of spells. The whirring sound got louder and louder as the box turned solid and then all at once the sound stopped and the forest grew silent. Feeling cagey, she walked towards the box, her wand ready to defend herself.
Suddenly, the door opened and a thin man in a pinstriped suit stepped out, his full head of hair sticking up straight. Hermione stepped backwards, just in case.
"Hello there!" he greeted her with an air of familiarity, although she's never seen him before, "Why are you pointing that thing at me?"
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaky, betraying her emotions.
"I'm the doctor!" he said happily, as if that name would spark recognition in her, "You must be Ms. Granger - the famous Ms. Granger who used to travel with Mr. Potter!"
Harry's name mentioned so casually jumpstarted her courage as she stood up straight, pointing the wand at the man who called himself a doctor.
"What do you want?" she asked, "And how did you penetrate my barriers?"
"Oh, wizard magic don't work on the Tardis," he said, patting the blue box lovingly, "I came here to help you as it seems you called for help."
"I didn't call anyone," she said, eyeing him curiously.
"The Tardis here sometimes hears people's prayers and finds them," he explained, "That is probably why she brought me here to you - to help you."
"Why?"
"Because," he said, his air of cheeriness gone, replaced by a more serious and dangerous air, "The darkness has to be stopped. Without light, this world would no longer be and I can't just stand aside and watch it burn. I've stood aside long enough - near enough to watch but far enough not to interfere but this war has gone on long enough. Someone has to stop Voldemort."
"He can't be stopped," Hermione cried out, lowering her wand, "Can't you see that? The only person destined to destroy him is dead and there is no way to bring him back!"
"Oh, but there is," the man said, watching her with his hands in his pocket. Hermione looked at him in dejection, "My Tardis is a time machine. I can take you back in time to stop everything that has become."
"A time machine?" Hermione repeated, "But, I can't. We can't. Horrible things happen to wizards who mess with time."
"Yes but that's the thing, Hermione," he said, "I'm no wizard. I'm a Time Lord."
She watched him as hope danced its way through her. Can it be true? Can she truly go back and save them both, and at the same time, save her world? Can she trust this man?
"What do you say, Ms. Granger?" the doctor said, holding out his hand, "Do you want to come with me?"