Notes: I do not own Harry Potter

This story is a Time Travel!AU. It will eventually have Dramione. It contains four original characters. Please be mindful of that as you proceed, thanks!

-Seph


PROLOGUE

There was something stirring in the forest under blinding lightning and a dark sky. Harsh wind whipped itself around her, encasing her growing frame in the leftover chills from winter. She trekked along as fast as she could so as to get away from the place she had once called home for many years. That was no longer an option for her, to call Hogwarts home, as there was nothing left for her there.

Hot tears burned her eyes, but the wind was quick to dry them away. Somehow, it was comforting. In the face of all this madness, at least something was there to hold her and wipe her tears, even if it wasn't intended that way. Blades of grass and bush scraped against her leg, snagging themselves against her robe. Letting out a huff as a branch cut against her cheek and caught itself in her collar, she quickly removed the heavy cloth and raced forward, one arm held in front to shield her face from the brutality of a storm.

The cold seeped farther into her bones, causing her teeth to hit against each other in a chatter. She was shivering, and she needed to get into some kind of warmth, now. Her body couldn't keep up much longer with the figure in front. She felt fatigue roll over her, but she had no choice to push forward, even if it meant stumbling over rock and sinking into mud.

"Hurry!" the figure hissed in panic, stopping for a moment to hold out his arm to the girl. "We don't have much more time!"

A boy. Smaller in size, but larger in life. His presence held one of leadership, of authority, of control. Even now when the world was against them, trying it's best to shove them back, he stood fearless in the face of a storm.

One that they were directly in the middle of, almost taunting it.

"I-I'm… here…" she croaked out, breathing hard and grasping his outstretched arm with all she had.

"It's just up this hill," he shouted above the wind, attempting to be loud enough so the girl with the growing belly could hear. "I know that you're tired, but please - don't give up now! Rest will come soon!" His calloused hand gripped the one held tightly on his arm as reassurance.

As his hand fell over her own, she almost buckled in relief.

Warmth.

As the wind caused the boy's hair to push out of his face, she was barely able to make out the look he was giving her. It was a look of hard strength, of steely determination… and it was all she needed.

Nodding at him once, the girl carried on, holding on to his forearm as if her life depended on it - and it did.

And so, they continued. Water crashed down on them like hail, it fell so hard that it hurt. She winced in pain as they took one aching step after another, one steep climb then the next, until they reached the hilltop just outside of where the trees no longer surrounded.

Pulling her small frame into his chest to stop her from crumpling to the Earth, he made her look at him as he held up a chain tightly between his fingers. Dangling from the cool metal held a small, silver key. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the hours of sleep she never got, and the sadness laced in her shivers. The storm was still going strong and it took every ounce of strength he had to keep her standing.

"This is your way out of here. It's a portkey. It will transfer you to the preset destination. Nobody but you and Dumbledore know where you'll be, not even me. That means that once you're there, you're on your own," he said, his voice gruff and his eyebrows furrowed. The moon offered little light, and he could see the tear stains on her cheeks that could quickly be confused with rainfall. His heart ached for her.

He pulled her hand away from his arm and held her hand open, hesitating for a moment. "This is goodbye for now."

"So it is," she whispered hoarsely, chuckling through a pained expression. "So it is."

He gave her a brief smile, one that she caught in the glimpse of the moonlight. This is how she would remember him: sopping wet, freezing, and determined - all with the hint of a smile. Her heart burned at the thought of leaving him behind.

"Thank you," she told him, her body shaking and her palm still held out. He nodded once at her, kissed the top of her head, and dropped the key into her palm. Still holding onto the chain, he pushed her fingers to close around the metal.

"Stay safe out there. Both of you."

He let go of the chain before she could utter another word, and everything faded from her vision.