My tongue stuck out of the side of my mouth as my brow furrowed- I was very deep in concentration and anyone who knew me well enough knew to keep away from me when I was in this… state. I was so close to making the connection I had been searching for for four years now. I was so close I could taste it even.
"Come on, work, work," I muttered, not really aware that I was speaking. A curl escaped the messy bun I had thrown my hair into, and I swatted it away, annoyed. The cauldron I leaned over bubbled merrily, as if it knew of the things it offered me. My time-turner swung loosely from the chain around my neck, waiting for its turn in this convoluted piece of magic.
Ever since I was thirteen, and had first learned about the possibility of mixing magical objects with potions to twist the objects purpose, I had become obsessed. However, my obsession had a finer subject: time. I was so… enthralled by the thought of time. It taunted me as I could not seem to get the potion I was working on correct- the potion I had been trying to perfect for four years. I was in my final year at Hogwarts, and soon I would lose this very advanced Potions workspace, a space I desperately needed to make the potion.
I gave a grim smile at that thought. I was just out of time. Oh, the irony. Of course, my little obsession was not helped with my gift. I snorted inwardly at that- some gift it was. I was able to see the history of almost everyone magical, even if I hadn't met them. It wasn't even that I was a Seer. Not many people know of my "gift," but those that do don't even know what to call it. It's never been heard of before. The only one who I haven't been able to see so far is my brother, who is fifteen years older than me. He joked with me, "Thank Merlin for that, eh?" and winked at me. I had just rolled my eyes. Luciano had always been the joker of the family.
The cauldron hissed at me as I stirred once, twice, three times counter-clockwise. I narrowed my eyes as the hissing stopped suddenly. That was not supposed to happen. I leaned forward, the Time-Turner dangling forward along with me.
I gasped as I noticed a piece of parchment in the cauldron. My first reaction was horror- my potion! My beautiful, beautiful potion! Then, the reaction turned to my strong focus which I was known for. There was writing on the parchment, and I tried to read the scribbled, black, writing.
The Order needs the Lost Phoenix, the one who went up in flames.
Well, what the hell did that mean? The Order of the Phoenix had disbanded almost twenty years ago, and they had never had a Lost Phoenix, had they? I should know. As I tried to decipher the message, my Time-Turner came lose, and slipped off the chain and splashed into the potion. Shit shit shit! The expletives barely registered before my potion exploded, and I felt myself being thrown across the room.
Not good. It was especially not good that I seemed to be falling down now, rather than vertically, as I should. I tried to open my eyes but found it impossible as air rushed around me. Another flash of white light, and I landed with a bang on the floor. Luckily, there was a plush green carpet to stop my fall. I rolled my eyes at that. Then being ever the Gryffindor, I exclaimed, "What the fuck?"
My senses kicked in as I felt the distinguished rush of air of a spell zooming towards me, I threw up my shield nonverbally, not really thinking about it. Ugh, just what I needed. I was in this foreign place, and now some unknown witch or wizard was throwing curses at me. I had been in worse situations, definitely, but I so hated fighting. It had been a large part of my upbringing, but still.
I glanced down and almost groaned in my increasing frustration. I had a large gash in my side, and it was nothing I couldn't fix but I knew it would add another scar to my growing collection. I brushed my free hand over the cut, performing the spell in my head to seal it. I smirked as I took in my attacker, noticing his wide eyes at my… magical prowess.
However, it was my turn for surprise, and I swear my eyes almost bugged out of my head as I saw the man in front of me. I would recognize him anywhere- and besides, I knew just about everything about him. There, in all his blonde-haired, pale-faced glory, stood Lucius Malfoy.
He was so… young! My mind whirred as I thought of the possible situations I was in. I could only think of one, given my activities before I wound up in this hallway. I had gone back in time. My scholarly side was very excited at this prospect, but my realistic side was not so optimistic. I didn't know which one I should let win; after all, this was Lucius Malfoy, and who knew where he was at this point in his life. I decided I had no personal issue with him, and lowered my shield cautiously.
Reality hit and I let the excited side win. I felt a wide smile slip onto my face, and I could feel the scream building up slowly. There it was! "Ahh! I can't believe this!" I ran over to the now wary looking Lucius Malfoy. "Look at you! You're so… I don't know- young!" I placed my hands on this stranger's face, testing to see if he was actually real. He tensed, but to my surprise, he did not push me away. Instead, his grey eyes just bore into mine. I could see his pride there, but also a fair amount of shock. I just giggled at that. I had travelled back! Fate had done something in my favor!
My excitement could not be contained, and I placed a kiss on each of Lucius' cheeks, as was custom in my Italian household."What year is it?" I breathed, close to his face. His brow furrowed in confusion at that and answered, "It is the year 1995. Who are you? How have you breached my wards? How did you perform such magic at such a young age?" Boy, he sure was full of questions- questions I didn't have time for.
"Nineteen ninety-five, you say?" I quickly did the calculations in my head. "But of course! The Phoe-" I stopped short, remembering who I was with. I glanced at the Death Eater. "So, there are wards on your manor? Ha, we'll see about that." Before he could even splutter any sort of response, I undid the wards in the hallway only and apparated away. The last thing I saw of the cold man was him reaching towards me as if to grab me. I cackled at that.
I appeared in a very ordinary looking neighborhood, still grinning at the thought of anyone being able to catch me before I made a getaway. I hadn't allowed that to happen since I was eleven, and that almost cost me my life, along with Luciano's. I was sure to never let it happen again. I contemplated my magical career up to this point. Yes, I was a lot more advanced than most people my age. However, that was only out of the urging of my parents. I rolled my eyes. I loved them dearly, but they were so paranoid sometimes.
I belonged to the Pureblood family Caccia, originating from the hills of Tuscany. My family was very wealthy and had many precious magical items. Some I was not so sure how we had come by them. Well, it attracted a lot of unwanted visitors, and I always guessed there was something more to the story than my parents had told me. They started my training young, after my first show of magic as age four. I had physical training, magical training, and Muggle training. I needed to know how to respond to any kind of situation. I had been involved in about five attacks by the time I was eleven. It was then I put my foot down and said I would go to Hogwarts, the school in England that I had heard so much about.
The week before I was set to go, a man somehow breached our wards, as strong as they were. Although I was very advanced for my age, I was unable to throw him off. My brother had not been far behind, desperate to save his little sister. My heart warmed at that thought. "Aurora!" He screamed, his face covered in dirt and blood, his arm outstretched toward me. The evil man who had me laughed evilly and whisked me away. No, I mustn't think about that night right now. I have more pressing matters to attend to.
I continued down the street that was already familiar to me even though I had never been here myself. I stopped suddenly, realizing I was doing what I always do- rushing into situations without thinking. I forced myself to sit on the sidewalk. Fortunately, it had been a weekend and I had been wearing my regular clothes. I didn't feel like dealing with the looks from Muggles right now.
"Merda!" I cursed in my first language, which sometimes happens, although less often now. I barely have a trace of an accent even. Okay, I need to think. It is 1995. Early summer, by looks of things. Voldemort has just returned. Harry Potter is no doubt sitting in his room, brooding. He hasn't run into the dementors yet, that comes later this summer. I need to stop that from happening.
Satisfied with that plan, sketchy though it may be, I pushed up from the sidewalk. I held my wand nonchalantly so as not to attract attention. Because there are so many people here, I think snidely. I glance over at the park to my left. With a jolt, I see a boy with jet-black hair, sitting on the swings, looking at the ground. I sneak up next to him.
"Is there something on the ground that you can see that I can't?" I ask, grinning as he jumps. He looks over at me, confusion bursting through his striking green eyes. I guess my gift was pretty spot on- I would know those eyes anywhere.
"No?" he responds, posing it as a question. I slip languidly into the swing next to him. "Hmm. One would think there was something interesting going on there, what with you staring." Harry flashed me a ghost of a smile.
"I'm Harry," he said, sticking out his hand. I nodded wisely. "Indeed you are." I shook his hand, and my grin widened as I noticed his increased confusion.
"Do we know each other from somewhere?" he asked, abandoning his indifferent tone that he had managed to hold up until now. I shook my head.
"No, but I know you. My name is Aurora, and I'm here to bring you to Sirius and the others. There are more than a few people who would like to see you dead, as I'm sure you know full well of. And to prove that I'm not one of those people, I'll swear on my wand that I am being honest here in what I'm saying. I know it is a lot to ask, but will you trust me on this?"
Harry looked to be having an internal dilemma, but, being the trusting boy he was, took my hand. I gave him no time to prepare for the side-along apparition he was about to experience. It was best one didn't have time to worry about it before they actually did it. Harry spluttered and gasped for air as we arrived across the road from 12 Grimmauld Place. I looked at him and tutted.
"You're too trusting, boy." I grinned as he looked horrified, and I couldn't handle it anymore. I clutched my stomach as I laughed, and Harry's expression soured pretty quickly.
"That is not funny!" he hissed. I sobered up. "Oh, you're right. It most certainly is not funny, and you're just lucky I wasn't an undercover Death Eater trying to kill you." The boy had the decency to look slightly abashed. I just grabbed his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay." I nodded at him, and he gave a slight nod back.
We walked up to the house, which I guess opened for me because I knew how to get in already and the time had messed with the Fidelius charm when it came to me? I did not have time to ponder the minute effects that this time travel had done to me at this point in time, however, and I turned my attention to the muffled talking from down the hall.
I could distinguish a few voices, but I didn't think the whole Order was there right now. I pushed the door lightly, and it swung wide open. I hadn't really thought about this part of the plan as of yet, and didn't know quite what to say as five pairs of eyes shot towards Harry and I.