AN: A kind reader has corrected me on the army ranks. I've gone through the past chapters and fixed the mistakes. Here are the corrections as I understand them:

Ron: General, not a Commander.

Hermione: Major General, though I think it should still be okay to call her Major but I'm not sure.

Here's the notes I have - Army officers in order: 2nd lt., 1st lt., capt, maj, lt. col, col, brigadier gen., major gen., lt. gen, and general


Chapter One – The Four Strangers

Midnight.

Dark, dank and completely lost.

Marie turned another corner and ran the distance of the corridor with nothing but her instincts to show her the way back.

The howling sound increased and she felt her heart race.

"I'm not going to die," she said in determination reaching for her gun, "Not like this."


Nick hated when this happened. He wished that she would just memorize the route. He had more important things to do than just bail her out every time.

He inched along the wall till he reached the nerve point. He could feel the air crackle.

"Damn it, you better get your arse back here."f


Samuel looked over the papers that were scattered on the bunk bed.

Everything was ready. He looked up at the ceiling when he felt water drip onto his head.

"I'm ready to get out of this place."


Nathan clenched his jaw in annoyance.

"One little task and she still manages to screw it up."

He reached into his pocket and fingered the ring in his hand. He shook his head before running down the narrow corridor.


Marie jumped the gaping hole in the ground before continuing running down the hall. Her grip on her gun slipped slightly when she heard the sound of the Drainer's coming closer. She slammed into a wall and hastily turned to her left, in her panic she had looked behind her and saw that the dark creatures were approaching.

There were too many. She didn't think she had enough ammunition to get them all.

Her skin prickled when she made another sharp turn and she knew she had made it. Dropping to the ground she rolled and turned back to where the creatures were approaching.

She swallowed and cocked her gun.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Marie felt the bullets fly past her ear. She didn't need to turn around to see who had saved her. Instead of turning to thank him she shot one blast after another at the creatures. She felt the person beside her drag her up from the ground.

"There's too many!" she said shooting at the creatures now easily stepping over their fallen comrades.

"Time to go."

Marie turned to see Nick running towards her. Her head snapped back to see the person who had saved her. She realised that it was Nate that was beside her and not Nick who was shooting down the Drainer's.

"Get your head in the game," Nick screamed running up to her and grabbing her arm.

She looked back to see Nate throw an orb at the creatures before running after them.

"Run!" he screamed at her when he saw her looking at him.

Marie didn't need to be told twice and she picked up her pace.

She heard the explosion behind them and they all jumped down into their shelter as the debris rained down.

Nate pushed down on the lever and the steel barrier was erected. They were finally safe.

"You okay?" Nick questioned in concern.

Marie didn't reply but looked up at Nate. Nathan was returning his gun to his holster, he didn't look at her but simply walked back to their headquarters.

She knew he didn't expect thanks and she wouldn't offer it even if he did, instead she turned and smiled at Nick.

"Would it kill you to memorise the map," he said in annoyance though his tone told her that he wasn't really that upset with her.

She gave him a lop-sided grin.

"Aww come on, a bit of a jog and gun fight is a good for the heart."

He snorted before helping her up.

"Better get back before the Captain decides to leave us here."

"Right," Marie said and the couple quickly ran to catch up to their leader.


"Little trouble Captain?" Sam asked when Nate walked into the room.

Nate didn't reply but simply reached for the ammo box and pulled out a few more bullets.

Sam looked back at the entrance when Marie and Nick walked in. Nick closed the door behind them.

Sam placed a hand over the lamp and it switched on drenching them in light.

"Steady on," Marie exclaimed shielding her eyes.

"Sorry," Sam apologized tapping the lamp as though it were a naughty pet, instantly the light dimmed to a level that their eyes were more used to.

"Did you get it?" Nick asked walking over to Sam and sitting down beside him on the bunk bed.

"Yes sir," Marie replied before reaching into her jacket, "Little hard to find but it was where we thought it would be."

"What was it like?" Sam asked in interest, "Did they have the red curtains and wooden floors?"

Nate cleared his throat and Sam stopped himself from asking any further questions. Nate held out his hand and received the object. They all watched in silence as their leader looked it over before nodding his head.

Sam and the others knew that this was all that they could expect from their Captain in the form of approval. They watched as Nate carefully placed the object into his rucksack before turning around to look at them.

"Get some sleep, we have a long journey in six hours."

With this he walked over to his own bunk before lying down.

Nick watched Nate lay down onto his bunk bed.

He turned and patted Sam on the head before walking over to his own and lying down but he didn't sleep. He lay awake simply listening the dripping of the water in the room.

"Nick," he heard Marie whisper from her bunk bed beside him.

He turned around to face her. He wished that he could see some emotion on her face, something to let him know that she was just as scared as he was, but as always when she talked to him her face was completely calm.

"What do you think it will be like?" she whispered to him.

"Bright," he said in response to which she smiled.

He saw her turn and lay on her back.

"Yeah," she replied, "Warm too."

Before he could reply she had closed her eyes and he knew that he should let her get some sleep.

He looked over at Nate's bed and thought he saw the Captain looking at them but the next moment Nate had rolled over and Nick pushed aside the bitterness he felt.


Marie tapped her fingers nervously on her leg as she sat and waited for Sam to pack the rest of their supplies.

She stopped in her tapping when a hand rested briefly on her shoulder.

"It's time," Nate said from behind her.

Maire nodded and stood from her bed and walked to the centre of the room. The four of them stood around in a circle their arms linked.

"If we don't survive this," Nick said softly, "I want you to know – "

"We know," Sam said before clicking the time-turner.


"Ron, you are being completely impossible!" Hermione cried storming down the stairs to the Great Hall.

"I am not, you're just being difficult," Ron replied following his friend down the stairs, "Harry don't you think she's being difficult?"

"Uh – "

"I am not being difficult, you are!" Hermione retorted.

"Oh that's a good one, that really hurt Hermione," Ron said sarcastically.

Hermione huffed and stormed off to the Great Hall leaving Ron and Harry staring after her.

Harry yawned and looked at Ron.

"So that's a no then," Harry said.

"Pfft, like I need her approval to go to Hogsmeade. Harry give me the map," Ron turned and looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry blinked at him.

"I let Hermione borrow it for patrols," he said finally trying to sound apologetic but sounding amused instead.

His two best friends have been having this argument for every day for the past week. Both of them were prefects and them all being in sixth year meant that they had little time to spend relaxing lately. That was what had sparked Ron's idea to skive off morning classes to go to Hogsmeade but of course Hermione would have none of that, and if Hermione wasn't going to allow it that was pretty much the end of the story.

"Morning!"

Harry turned to see Ginny and Luna walking towards them. Harry smiled at Ginny and they all headed to the Great Hall

"What's the matter with him?" Ginny asked Harry as they waved goodbye to Luna and headed to the Gryffindor table.

Harry saw that Ron was still sulking and was now having a glaring contest with Hermione's Charms textbook.

"Wants to go to Hogsmeade, Hermione says no," Harry explained before sitting down.

"Really? When are you going?" Ginny replied excitedly.

"We are not going," Hermione said putting her book down on the table, "Ron want's to skip classes and I – "

A sudden explosion rocked the Great Hall and the students were all instantly on their feet.


Nate opened his eyes and looked around them. They were still in the same room only it looked cleaner and there were no bunk beds. His eyes surveyed the underground shelter that he and his comrades had called home for the past few years. It was hard to believe as his eyes roamed the rock walls that this place had already existed a hundred years before he was even born.

He heard Sam tapping at his wrist computer and testing his gadgets.

"Everything seems fine," Sam noted before handing them each visors.

They all quickly placed the visors over their eyes.

"Is it strange that I'm a bit scared to go outside?" Marie questioned taking off her jacket and tying it around her waist.

"I know what you mean," Nick added, "But this isn't the same place, in this time this is just one of the rooms in the dungeon."

"Where exactly are we?" Nate finally questioned.

He felt silly asking the question especially since he knew exactly where they were but considering that they were a hundred years in the past he didn't want to take any chances, after all the General had told them stories of rooms and stairs changing. He wondered briefly if they would see the fabled towers and black lake.

Sam clicked on his wrist comp and tapped a few buttons.

"It says we are in the dungeons – "

"No kidding," Marie said sarcastically, "I think we should file that under 'Duh'."

Sam smirked before adding.

"It also says we are in the Potions department.

Nate eyes widened as did Nicks and Marie's.

Sam continued to look at them with a superior smirk.

"Alright, how do we get out of here?" Nate questioned fastening his belt and gun holster on his hip.

Sam turned back to his wrist.

"Follow the tunnels up until we reach – "

Sam trailed off and Nate looked up from his gun that he was loading.

"What? What is it?"

"Yeah, don't freak us out," Marie laughed nervously looking from Nate to Sam.

Sam furrowed his brow before looking up at them.

"It says we can exit through the potions classroom."

"Classroom?" Nick repeated, "What's a classroom?"

Nate didn't reply, he remembered reading about such things in the General's files but he didn't want to share that information just yet.

"Right then lets go," Nate said in a business-as-usual tone as he led them towards the door, "Ready?"

He turned to see his comrades nod their heads in determination.

"Right then, Nick will lead and Marie – "

"We know the drill Cap," Marie cut him off earning her a silencing glare.

"Don't get reckless, we don't need another screw up."

Nate saw Marie blush before frowning at him.

"Nick?"

Nick nodded his head and opened the door a crack. They all remained silent as Nick led the way out looking up and down the corridor. Nate was astonished to see the fine draperies hanging on the walls, silver and green with serpents a prominent feature. Shaking off the distraction he focused on his task.

Nick stopped at the stairs that led out of the shelter. To their surprise there was no lever or steel wall that blocked their path. Nate realized that this must have been another addition that the General had made when he had created the shelter for the survivors.

Marie looked back at Sam and he quickly pointed left. She nodded and re-laid the message to Nick. Nick disappeared up the stairs his hands held outstretched ready for an attack. Marie looked nervously around and kept her hand on her gun.

Finally they reached what appeared to be the way out. They stopped when they heard voices coming from the other side of the door.

All three turned and looked at him. Nate didn't move or react and simply waited till the voices disappeared. He felt Sam beside him and saw the technician point at his wrist. Nate saw the words 'Malfoy' float above a dot on the map. Nate briefly looked at Marie as he gritted his teeth.

Finally he nodded his head and Nick carefully opened the doors. They stepped into a room filled with jars of fluids and large pots of fuming sludges that gave off different scents. Marie walked forward and reached her hand out to touch one of the many wooden tables that stood in rows in the room. Nate instantly stopped her and gave her a stern look. Marie looked up at him and their eyes locked. Suddenly a creaking and banging sound was heard and they both looked at the door.

Nick quickly led them out of the room, the last thing that any of them wanted was to have a confrontation. Their objective was the find the General at all costs and assist him in destroying Voldermort.

Nick suddenly halted and the others followed suit pressing themselves against the cool smooth walls of the dungeons.

Nate saw Nick tense, the next moment he motioned to them to pick up their pace and they all raced up the stairs. They exited in a large foyer. They all stepped back and shielded their eyes against the bright light. Nate tapped his visor and the light deflector was turned on. He opened his eyes fully and looked around at their surroundings.

They all stood awe struck.

'It's beautiful,' Nate thought to himself as he looked around at the grand staircases and columns around them.

Nate felt panic run through him and looked over to see Marie staring at someone approaching them. It was too late, he had already seen them. Nate picked up his gun and pointed it at their enemy, trying to not show that his hand was shaking. He saw Maire edge towards him from the corner of his eye.

'Reckless,' Nate heard the General's voice in his head berate him.

The boy stood before them blinking at them in confusion before he smiled. Again Nate felt Marie step closer towards him in fear.

"Well, well, a couple of muggles actually found their way to Hogwarts," the boy drawled.

"Muggles?" Sam whispered from in front of him.

"We do not wish to fight," Nate said clearly and authoritatively surprising even himself, "Leave us be Malfoy."

The boy looked like he had been about to laugh but stopped when Nate said his name.

"How did you know my name?" Malfoy snarled reaching into his pocket and pointing a strange stick at them.

Before Nate could react Nick had blasted Malfoy with a stunning spell. The walls around them began to shake.

"W-what's happening?" Marie said fearfully.

"Too much energy," Sam explained, "The environment can't handle it."


"Someone's attacking students!" A young girl cried running into the hall.

Harry instantly made for the door but it was difficult to move with all the rest of the student body heading in the same direction.

When they had finally all reached the hall where apparently someone had been attacked they were all disappointed to find that it was just a group of students standing above an unconscious Malfoy.

Harry head Hermione gasp from beside him before they all pushed they're way to the front of the crowd.

There were four strangers standing side by side. Harry realized as he looked at them that they weren't students at all, but they were wearing what appeared to be a uniform, a black singlet, long black trousers and strange glasses. The boy furthest from Harry, had dark skin, brown short hair and black eyes, he had a bag strapped to his belt and he was surveying the students with interest as though they were specimens in a zoo. Harry heard strange clicking sounds come from the boy's wrist which was covered in a large metallic bracelet. The boy beside him looked the same age as Harry, he had a stern face, messy black hair and blue eyes, by the look of him he was clearly the leader of the group, he remained impassive while his companions were constantly watching the students as though suspecting an attack. The girl that stood beside him had brown wavy hair that was cut to her shoulders, she looked pale and underfed, she however appeared to be looking for someone in the crowd of students. Finally the boy standing with his back to his friends remained stationary but his eyes roamed the crowd. He had short blond hair and seemed tense and uncomfortable surrounded by so many people.

The hall remained silent.

"Who are they?" the girl spoke.

"Don't speak or look at them," The one furthest from Harry whispered reaching for something at his hip.

Harry eyes widened when he realized that it was a gun of some sort.

"What are you all doing?"

Harry turned to see McGonnagal walking down the flight of stairs to reach them.

The students jumped back when the boy with blond hair turned around and lifted his hands up at McGonnagal as though he were about to punch her. McGonnagal froze on the steps and stared at the strangers.

"And who might you be?" She looked down and saw Malfoy on the floor in a heap, "How dare you attack students!"

"Students?" The boy repeated letting his hands drop before turning around to look at his companions.

"Lieutenant," the leader of the group finally said.

Instantly the girl smiled and she walked around staring at the students. Harry clenched his wand when she approached him.

"Wait just one moment young lady!" Harry heard McGonagall say but her voice was drowned by a cry of delight from the young woman.

"Its him!" she cried, "I've found him!"

Her friends ran towards her and Harry realized that she was staring straight at him.

"Back to the Great Hall all of you," McGonagall ordered but no one seemed to be listening although they all stepped back when the group approached Harry.

Harry began to inch away from the girl as her eyes lit up with joy and her companions looked at him expectantly all except the leader who watched him with stern indifference.

"Step away from my students," McGonagall ordered the girl.

Instead of obeying, the young woman leapt forward with her arms outstretched as though to attack Harry. He winched and stepped back in horror.

Nothing happened. He didn't feel any pain at all. He opened his eyes and saw to his surprise that she was instead hugging Ron.

"I've heard so much about you," she said finally stepping away from a flabbergasted looking Ron, "It's such an honor to finally meet you in person."

'Well, that's different,' Harry thought to himself.