~Chapter 6~

Disclaimer: I do not own harry potter, only the plot. I do not make any profit off this story.

"A temflectous?" Severus had never heard of the term before. "I'm not quite sure I understand." The Great Hall was filled with students eating lunch. At the Hufflepuff table, Meg's plate was untouched, and Severus once again had a book in his hands. To his right was Evans eating her fill while attempting to do her charms essay.

"That's what the professor said." Meg had been released from the Hospital Wing just a few days ago. "Something about shifting time." Professor McGonagall called Meg to her office to talk about what had happened in class. It was evident that Meg had preformed a type of very rare magic. Unfortunately, it was such a rare occurrence, it was believed to be myth. No one really knew much about it.

"So, you're traveling through time?" Evans chimed in, looking up from her paper, her mouth half full. Meg gave her a disgusted look, she didn't understand why she had to be around all the time.

"Apparently so." Despite her bitter tone, Meg wasn't much paying attention to the Gryffindor. She had never gone forward before, only back. Moving in the opposite direction was positively exhausting. Her mind wandered back to the words Professor Dumbledore had spoken in the Hospital Wing, 'horrible things happen to wizards who mess with time.' One thing was for sure, Dumbledore was right, she had to control it. "I have to go, sorry."

Meg gathered her things and left her full plate along with her friends at the table. She walked down the aisle and straight out the doors past a group of in coming fifth years. Among them was a tall dark haired girl with heavy lidded eyes. Bellatrix Black and another boy from Slytherin were headed straight over to Severus. She noticed Severus had been hanging around them a lot more often than usual these days. Meg couldn't help but wonder what they were up to. Although, she knew they were up to no good, Bella never was. But Nutmeg didn't have time for them, she had to find Professor McGonogall. Making a left towards the grand staircase, she made her way up to the transfiguration corridor where Professor McGonogall's office was.

"Professor?" Meg knocked on the last door of the corridor, and waited for her teacher to answer. Soon enough the large wooden door opened to clear the frame in which the old woman now stood.

"Ms. LeTore," Professor McGonogall stepped forward with a smile. Holding out her arm she gestured Meg inside, "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Well, I was just wondering," Meg stepped inside but did not make herself at home. She continued to stand in the doorway as Professor McGonogall made her way over to her desk. "It's just that, what you say I can do, you said it was transfiguration." Meg looked down at her feet as she continued to talk, "So, I was hoping you could help me control it?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. LeTore." Professor McGonogall gave a sympathetic look as she crossed in front of her desk. She walked over to Meg and took her hand, "I'm afraid that is something you'll have to figure out on your own. The magic that gives the ability to a temflectous is very rare magic, indeed. Little is known about it, except that you are transfiguring time around you. In other words, you are bringing the past or future to you, instead of the other way around." Professor Mcgonogall gave a sigh as she guided Meg back to the door. "That's all, I'm afraid, that I know on the matter."

"Thank you, Professor." Meg let the professor's guiding touch lead her out the door. "Sorry to bother you." There wasn't much she could do at that point. If Professor McGonogall didn't know any more on the matter, then she didn't know who else would. Perhaps Dumbledore might, but then, she didn't know if she could ever reach him. Dumbledore was hardly ever at the castle, and when he was, it was very brief.

"Chizpurfle." Once again, Meg had made her way down to the Slytherin common room. This time it was completely empty, the fire slowly burning out in the corner of the room. The emptiness was to be expected really, she'd come close to curfew. Either they were all sneaking about, or they'd gone to bed. She sleepily made her way over to the fireplace which was decorated in different sized skulls. Just as she sat down by the warm glow she heard footsteps headed down the stairs. Her heart beat faster as she looked up to see who was coming down.

"Meg? What are you doing here?" It was Severus, still in his robes as always. She gave nothing but a warm smile in reply as he made his way to her. "What were you off in such a hurry about today?"

"I thought I would ask Professor McGonogall if she could help." Meg looked into the fire to warm her face, as much of a welcoming place the dungeon like room was, it was awfully cold.

"Well?" Severus sat down beside her and rubbed his eyes, he'd been out most nights recently. Going who knows where with that group of Slytherins he'd taken a liking to.

"Unfortunately she knows about as much as I do." Meg looked up from the fire and at her friend. Studying his face she could see the dark circles about his eyes, not only that but there was a sadness to them; alook that had not been there earlier that day. "What did Bella want any ways? You sure are hanging about that group a lot."

"Not you too?" The sadness in his eyes turned to pain as he looked down. Severus cupped his face in his hands. After a moment or two he ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I'm sorry, Lilly brought up that same thing today. Said they're never up to any good."

"Sorry, it's just," Meg decided it best to keep her mouth shut, that was exactly what she had thought earlier that day. "What was it you were reading today anyway, Sevey? It didn't look much like a bit of light reading." Meg leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder as her words faded into a yawn.

"It's nothing really, just a book I found in the restricted section." Severus thought he would refrain from mentioning the contents unless he was asked. Dark magic, as the name suggests wasn't exactly smiled upon. He looked down at Meg, her eyes closed, on the edge of consciousness. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, even as she slept. He looked away and into the fire for a few moments. Even Lilly was nothing compared to this girl, his best friend. "Meg, you should go to your common room. Get some sleep, you know?" When he didn't feel the weight of her head leave his shoulder he looked back down hat Nutmeg who was now fast asleep. He half smiled as he slipped his arm behind her back. With a little difficulty he managed to pick her up and carry her up to the dorm. It looked like Meg would be spending another night at Slytherin house.