HOGWARTS 1977
"Potter? Potter!" The boy's dreamy eyes came back into focus when his best friend elbowed him in the ribs as his classmates began to snicker. He found himself staring into the unamused face of his Transfiguration teacher, Professor McGonagall.
"An Animagus must be registered with the Ministry!" He said, still staring over at the object of his affections who was actively avoiding his stare as per usual. McGonagall raised an eyebrow.
"Yes...lovely, I believe we covered that in your third year...but that was not the question. My question was for you to define a Metamorphmagus..." McGonagall sighed when her student was still not registering. In a low voice, she said, "I'm sorry James...detention Saturday morning with Dumbledore and ten points from Gryffindor." An exasperated sigh came from the desk beside James's.
"Thanks a lot Potter!" A sharp female voice came, then, in a haughty, knowing voice said, "Please Professor...a Metamorphmagus is a wizard who can change their shape at will..." McGonagall did not smile at her, however.
"That is correct Miss Evans, still, you should know better than to yell out without being called on and I do believe you will join Mr. Potter for detention as well as taking another ten points from your house in the hopes that the Head Boy and Girl will learn to better set examples." The bell rang, and class was dismissed. Lily Evans gave her James Potter a look of death before storming out of the room.
"Prongs, when are you going to get over her?" The teasing voice of his best friend cut James like a knife.
"Never..." He said softly. "I am going to marry that girl if it's the last thing I do." Sirius shook his head with a chuckle when he spotted one of the girls he was intending on asking to Hogsmeade the next weekend.
"Oi! Elizabeth!" He said, running after her.
"So are you going to ask her to Hogsmeade?" Remus Lupin caught up with him, Peter Pettigrew not far behind them.
"Evans?" James asked without hesitation. Remus gave Peter a look.
"Of course..." He replied, irritated. "I don't understand...if she would give me one chance to show her how much I've changed...I haven't even said two words to old Snivellus..."
"Well...give her time...she may surprise you." Remus said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Come on...let's get some lunch." He said as James studied his face.
"Damn Mooney, you got yourself good this time." He said, eyeing the brilliant purple surrounding his friend's eye.
"Yeah yeah..." Remus said as Peter let out a small sound.
"Oh no...I've lost my potions book!" He said. "Slughorn will kill me!" He ran back toward the Transfiguration classroom as James and Remus rolled their eyes and caught up with Sirius who was looking very satisfied indeed.
"Get up! Oh, get up you great oaf!" James awoke from a lovely dream about playing professional Quidditch to being pelted in the face with a pillow. A shrill whisper brought him out of sleep as the first signs of sunlight crept into his room, illuminating the face of none other than his beloved.
"Evans?" He muttered groggily. She glared at him, her green eyes flashing at him.
"Dumbledore sent me to get you when you didn't show up for our detention!" James shot out of bed at that, realizing he'd overslept.
"Damn!" He said, changing without even caring that she was there. Moodily, she looked out the window while he dressed. "Alright! I'm ready!"
Dumbledore was smiling as Lily returned to his office with James in tow.
"Indeed..." He said quietly as they both struggled to catch their breath.
"I'm sorry Professor, I..." James choked out, but Dumbledore's hand came up to silence him.
"Past is past..." He said quietly, "Your task today is simple...I just need my office tidied and a bit more organized. I have an appointment this morning, so I unfortunately cannot stay with you, but I trust your good judgement. Good day...I will see you two around three o'clock this afternoon." James wasn't sure, but he could have sworn Dumbledore winked at them before leaving.
"Well uh...let's get to it, shall we?" James said, trying to be cheerful. Lily scowled at him before turning to the first cabinet she saw which was crammed with old papers and things. Sighing, she knew this task would be a bit harder than she thought. She'd gotten through that cabinet and two of Dumbledore's drawers when James looked up from the shelf he was organizing.
"Evans, why won't you go out with me?" He asked and she nearly dropped the glass paperweight she was holding at the bluntness of it.
"Potter...it isn't the time, you know why..."
"What if people change?" He asked and she made a noise of disbelief.
"They don't." She said quietly, trying to focus on the drawer.
"But what if I have?" He said softly and she looked up at him, her green eyes tired.
"Prove it." She said, crossing her arms and standing. "Right here. Right now...prove it."
"I...I can't." He said helplessly. "You'd just have to take my word for it."
"I'll pass." She bit back, and the two went back to work silently for what seemed like hours.
James scanned the shelf miserably, before a long gold chain with something strange on the end of it caught his eye.
"What is this...?" He asked, winding it forward. It appeared to be an hourglass. Lily looked up from her work and glowered at him.
"Potter, I swear if you don't get to...oh my God...Potter stop winding that thing, it's a time turner!" She got up again and leapt over the desk to where he was standing and stopped him from winding it, but it was too late. As she grabbed the sleeve of his shirt they were both thrown into the clutches of Time itself on a seemingly endless journey...