It was dark and chilly out as two figures ran fiercely through the ice-covered trails and streets. Echoed laughter was catching up to the running pair. They finally reach an old apartment building and run up to the door. "Alohomora!" a feminine voice shouts and the door swooshes open.
The pair run inside and slam the door behind them, sealing it with a quick protection charm. They run down the hallway and round the corner into a parlor and close and seal another door. One of them goes to the window and seals it and finally sits down on the floor against the wall. "They know we're here. It won't be long before they'll be able to penetrate the wards," his strong voice whispers.
"Resistance is futile, Longbottom. We know you're in there, with your little lover too. Come out now and maybe we'll spare you and your girlfriend!" shouted a Death Eater from below.
Ezekiel looked out the window of the abandoned building and saw the man who had spotted them entering the property, along with half of dozen others. He exhaled and looked over at Temima with fear in his eyes. "We don't have time to complete this. Face it, we're done. They know we have it," he said sadly.
"Where's your courage, Longbottom? We can't just give up. Do you want our theft to be in vain? We have to do this. Now come on and get this on," she said, holding up a thin gold chain around her neck and reaching to him.
Ezekiel walked over to her and placed the chain over his head, swishing his dark brown locks. His fingers were trembling as he secured it around his neck. "Why are you so fidgety? Everything will be all right. We are just going to turn it five times and hopefully we'll be where Headquarters was," she said, holding the Time Turner in her hand. "I've tweaked it enough to where it'll turn back years. I hope my prediction for twenty years is right with five turns."
"How come you're not so fidgety? We could either one, be killed by those Death Eaters down there, or two, go back to the wrong time. Your haughtiness could, either way, lead us to danger!" he whispered angrily.
"Oh calm down. Now I'll start turning this," she said as she twisted the golden piece, "Don't you know? Malfoys aren't afraid of anything, my sweet Ezekiel." The clock started ticking and the room began swirling. "I hope you don't get motion sickness, darling." And she kissed his cheek.
Suddenly, the setting around them began to change rapidly. The tattered wallpaper that had adorned the walls became what it once was with dark purple and grey designs. Then furniture appeared and people were swerving around them. Finally the swirling began to slow down and eventually the room stopped moving and they looked around. There was a figure in the room sitting in a red armchair sleeping. Temima smiled as she realized it was Professor Dumbledore. She walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Dumbledore, we're here. Wake up before someone else does," she whispered.
Dumbledore blinked and looked over the rim of his glasses where his glistening blue eyes met soft grey ones. He cleared his throat and gave her a smile. "I see that you got my message, Miss Malfoy," he said. "I hope you didn't run into any trouble."
"None at all, sir. Is there anyone else here?" Temima asked, looking around the room.
"Yeah, like Mum and Dad maybe?" Ezekiel inquired excitedly.
"I believe everyone is here, except for your father, Miss Malfoy. I'm afraid he's with Severus in another location," he said then stood up to them. "My, Mr. Longbottom, it's almost as if I'm looking at your father, except your eyes are bright green, a perfect cross between his and Luna's."
"Thank you, sir," Ezekiel said, blushing.
"However for you, Miss Malfoy, I see no resemblance of your mother in you. Well, besides your curly hair, I wouldn't know you were—"
"Professor?" another voice called out.
Dumbledore paused while Temima and Ezekiel looked wide-eyed at the figure approaching the doorway, frozen with fear and not knowing what to do. The figure's footsteps echoed and came closer until they stopped at the doorway with wand at the ready in their right hand.
"Why, hello Harry. Couldn't sleep?" Dumbledore said coolly as he clasped his hands together.
"I heard voices so I climbed out of bed to see if anyone had gotten up. We have guests?" he asked, his green eyes scanning the petrified couple.
"Yes! Harry, these are some wizards from another part of England I've come to known. This is Ezekiel and Temima. They're here to hide out." His hand gestured towards them.
"It's nice to meet you both. It's always good to have more join the Order," Harry said, shaking their hands.
"Believe us when we say, we've been supporting the Light for years, Mr. Potter," Ezekiel said proudly.
"Please call me Harry. I mean we're all friends here. You'll meet the others in the morning since it is rather late."
"We're so sorry for our late arrival. It was quite difficult to get here without being seen," Ezekiel said apologetically. Temima rolled her eyes.
"Since it is late, could you show us to a room so that we can rest? We're both exhausted," Temima said stepping forward.
"Absolutely. Please follow me. Do you need a room as well, Professor?" Harry asked, looking at his mentor.
"Oh no, thank you Harry. This chair and I have become great friends. Send them to a room and then off to bed. We can't be tired when the time comes for which we will have to defend ourselves," Dumbledore stated with a smile. "Good night, everyone." He waved and sat back down in the red armchair.
Ezekiel and Temima followed Harry out of the room and up the stairs where the sleeping quarters were. Harry led them down to the last room on the right, next to his room. He opened the tall oak door and they all stepped into a small room where there were two cots set up. "Sorry it's a bit packed. We converted this from a broom cupboard," he said apologetically.
"Believe me, anything is better than where we were before," Ezekiel said.
"Can you tell me where you were before you came here?" he inquired.
"I'm sorry but we can't. However, I can say that if it wasn't Hell then it was the place right next to it," Temima said, rubbing her goose bumps.
-The next morning-
Temima opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. It was made of long, black planks that stretched vertically across the room. She rolled over and saw Ezekiel, snoring lightly in his cot. She smiled as she noticed his dark hair was entangled in his left hand and his right hand resting on his chiseled chest. He was always a peaceful but interesting sleeper.
She saw his lip twitch and he snorted loudly before opening his eyes suddenly. His piercingly green eyes met her tired greys and he let out a groan before smiling at her. "We're here," he yawned and stretched his limber body.
"I was more grateful that we made it here alive but yes, we're here," Temima said and rolled onto her back.
Ezekiel got up from his cot and walked towards her. He stopped at the side of her cot before sitting down, his back towards her. He looked over his shoulder and saw her staring up. Her grey eyes were wandering so he knew she was thinking about something. Her long curly blonde locks were lying neatly on her chest and moving with every breath she took in. Ezekiel could honestly say that she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him despite her cockiness and stubborn attitude. He loved her regardless. "So are we going to go downstairs and introduce ourselves to our parents and everyone else?" he asked, standing up and reaching for a shirt.
"That sounds so strange. They don't even know us. I can't believe I'm going to see my mum and I won't be calling her Mum. I can't believe I'm actually seeing her. It's been so long…" she said quietly.
"Yeah. It'll be strange but remember, we're doing this to save them," he stated. "Now come on and get dressed. Our parents are waiting."