Hermione Granger and the wishing stone

The winter had been one of the coldest in recent history, blistering wind whipped snow and ice through the air with almost bruising force. It was enough to make almost anyone give up the idea of travel and just stay indoors in front of a roaring fire.

Unfortunately, Harry Potter did not have that choice. He and Hermione had been wandering through the cold and the snow for weeks, and they were both cold, tired, and hungry.

If only Dumbledore had not been killed, he thought bitterly for what seemed like the hundredth time. Then he and Ron would have never fought, the red head would have never left, and all three of them would be safe and warm inside the walls of Hogwarts.

“Harry!” Hermione called over the wind that thundered against their ears. “Look!” She pointed through the blowing snow toward a small outcropping of rock. “There’s a cave.”

Harry had to squint through the snow to see what she was pointing at, but after a moment he was able to make out the dark hollow in the center of the rock. Nodding silently he changed course slightly and headed toward the safety the cave would provide.

Once inside the small crevasse they were met with shrouded darkness, and both teens lifted their wands in front of their faces and cast the illumination spell that had become second nature to them over the months.

“It’s not that much warmer in here. But at least there’s no wind and no snow.” Hermione stated optimistically. “And there’s just enough room to set up the tent.”

Harry smiled, despite the dire situation they were both in, despite the cold, and the hunger, and the hopelessness he knew she must be feeling; Hermione always tried to make the best out of the situation. “Sounds good. But lets explore the cave a little farther before we set up camp. Make sure there’s nothing and no one else in here.”

She nodded in agreement and the two friends began their investigation of the small earthen shelter.

It wasn’t very deep, or wide, and at first it seemed like the only light in the cave was the soft glow of their wands. However, as they neared the back of the cavern they both saw a soft opalescent glow that emanated from the far wall.

“What is that?” Harry asked, as he slowly made his way closer to the glowing object.

“Be careful Harry.” Hermione warned.

Harry nodded as he continued to move closer to wall. “It’s a glowing stone.” He told her, “And there’s something carved into the rock underneath it.”

“No, it’s words. I can barely make them out.” He answered, leaning closer in an attempt to read what had been scrawled into the earthen wall. “It says: ‘One wish in time.’ What do you think it means Mione?”

“I have no idea Harry, but we should leave it alone. That stone is obviously magical, which means it could be dangerous.” Hermione stated as she moved away from the glowing gem. “Lets go back to the mouth of the cave and set up camp for the night.”

Harry nodded but didn’t move, his gaze steady on the words he had just read aloud. “Do you think it means that the gem can change one event that has already happened? Like someone’s death?”

“Harry, come on. Even if that is what the message means, you have no idea what would happen if you made a wish like that.”

“Okay, so what about wishing that You-know-who never came to power?”

Heaving an exasperated sigh Hermione moved back to stand next to Harry and examined the writing below the glowing gem. “I don’t know if it would work like that. It could mean that it can change a single event. You-know-who’s rise to power was more then one event.”

“But if it really could change a single event… one thing… isn’t there a way to at least do something about all the death and destruction? I mean, I know Dumbledore wanted me to hunt down these Horcruxes, but if there was some way to stop You-know-who, don’t you think we should try it?”

Hermione sighed and rocked back on her heels. “Changing any one single event could have major repercussions.”

“Come one Mione, we could make things better for everyone. Right here, right now. No one else would have to die. Maybe we could make it so that no one died at all because of this war.” Harry pushed.

Hermione bit her lower lip as she thought. “I guess, if we changed one event, that would really make a difference it would have to be Hagrid.”

Harry furrowed his brow and turned to look at her, “Hagrid?”

“Change the event. Have Riddle found guilty for releasing the Basilisk and killing Myrtle instead of letting him place the blame on Hagrid.”

The gem’s gentle glow increased, blinding both occupants of the cave, and filling the small space.

Hermione shut her eyes tightly against the light. “Harry!” She screamed, reaching out to grab at her friend’s arm. “What’s going on?” She continued to grasp at the air in hopes of meeting the resistance of another person, but there was nothing save the light, and the sensation of floating, or falling.