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Chapter 10

My Travels in Time

Time travel is a delicate magic to mess with. Time rolls by every day without a care from anyone in the world. They do not realize its temperament, or notice how it can easily break us in two.

In 2020, (yes 2020, you read that correctly my dear reader) I discovered an invention when I was eighteen years old while attending Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a troublesome Hufflepuff. I did not invent it myself, but a dear deceased, whose name I am sorry, but I cannot mention, invented it. I only knew that he did since it said his name on the back of the device. The device lay on the Headmistress' desk, and I could not resist my own temptation. She had left the room and it only looked to me like a small, golden pocket-watch and I simply thought that it would act like a normal clock. The time of the day was 10:21 pm. The device was interestingly enough set to 2020, and I figured I should fix it, for I wished to keep it for myself. I had wrapped its chain around my neck and I changed it to 1021. Then I disappeared from sight, only to reappear right in front of Helga Hufflepuff.

At first sight, I knew exactly who the woman was. Her portrait had hung in the Hufflepuff Common Room, where I had mostly stayed my days at Hogwarts when I was not attending my many advanced classes. She was short and a tad plump, with a warm and cheery face. Her whisky red-grey hair was pulled back into a loose bun. No make-up lay upon her face, and so it displayed her natural beauty. She wore a loose, bright yellow dress and her blue eyes shown out of her wide face. They were staring at me curiously, and she was examining my attire, which must have been peculiar to her.

The first words she said to me after she studied me, were, "Who art thou, my son?"

I responded immediately to her kind words. Her voice was light and fully heartfelt. I chose not to lie, so I told her that my name was Miles Runcorn, and she smiled sweetly at me. She questioned me on how I was able to arrive in the Head's Office, and I showed her the device that I had found in the Headmistress' office. It obviously appeared advanced to her and she took it away from me, saying that she would show it to Salazar and she told me to stay in the office.

The Head's office had its same circular shape, but there were no longer the several Headmaster and Headmistress' portraits, and no more trinkets lay on the desk. It was simply bare and blank. I felt frozen, and I did not know what to do. Hufflepuff had already left the room, and so I eventually decided to stay where I was. I waited and I waited, and then the four Heads of Hogwarts entered the room, and I was amazed.

The first to enter the room was undoubtedly Lady Rowena Ravenclaw. She was beautiful yet austere-looking and seemed like a slightly intimidating woman. On top of her long black hair, which flowed on her back, she wore what is known to be The Missing Diadem, and her dark eyes stared at me, scrutinizing me. She wore an elegant blue dress that tightly fit on her, quite unlike Lady Hufflepuff. She muttered to Lady Hufflepuff in her Scottish accent, who had suddenly appeared in the room.

Lord Godric Gryffindor then entered the room. He seemed about over six-feet tall as he towered both Helga and Rowena. He had a full mane of red-orange hair that shaggily lay on his shoulders. He had a full beard which covered most of his face. His clothing was of old-fashioned brown cloth, and his boots were large. His presence unnerved me as he showed no fear with his bright green eyes, nor curiosity as he stared at me.

Lastly, Lord Salazar Slytherin entered the Head's Office. He was much shorter than Lord Gryffindor and his beard was grey, long and thin, which almost fell to the bottom of his black, sweeping robes. His face looked like that of a monkey and it was bald on top. He appeared displeased and angry.

"Who art thou, my boy?" Lord Gryffindor boomed as he had glanced at me.

I stuttered in my response, especially because I was in his great and intimidating presence. I only said my name, for there was nothing more to tell him. He nodded his head at me after I had responded, and Hufflepuff reached up to whisper in his ear. I then realized I was in my Hogwarts Uniform of my time, and I had wondered what they were thinking.

He opened his mouth once more and demanded how old I was.

I had quickly replied that I was only seventeen years old, and he gave me a long stare as I shook under it.

The Four House Leaders nodded their heads and conversed with themselves. I remember having stared at them nervously as they discussed my fate. They eventually turned and faced me again and told me that I was to become a student at the school until the decided exactly what to do with me. They knew that I did not belong in their era.

Lord Gryffindor had gone to get the Sorting Hat and came back to place it on my head. The Sorting Hat talked with me for a bit. He knew that I did not belong in this time, and he did not want to sort me at first. But, he was under Lord Gryffindor's angry stare, so he then immediately proclaimed that I was a Hufflepuff. Lady Helga Hufflepuff had smiled widely at me and approached me. She placed her hand on my shoulder and led me silently to the Hufflepuff dorms where I remained at my days as a student in the wrong time.

The teachers that taught me at the school included the founders, but there were few others. The founders opened my mind, and explored its depths. Every word that had spoken enlightened me, especially Lady Rowena Ravenclaw. Her knowledge was so great and so vast; she always left me yearning for more. Lord Salazar Slytherin had his prejudiced views, but his skills were excellentt. Lady Helga Hufflepuff was sweet and motherly, just like I pictured her in my true time. She was also smart and quick-witted, and she always stuck by Lord Godric Gryffindor's side. Lord Godric Gryffindor's presence was great and whenever he came by I grew nervous. He towered my stature and he was an imposing and strong figure. He was a person that I could not mess with. I could also tell that the other students around had felt the same way. The founders caused my nerves to go hay-whack. The other teachers in the school were extremely intelligent, but did not compare to the esteemed founders.

My knowledge was expanded from my first lesson with the founders, and I felt that I could actually succeed. The thought of being in an incorrect time no longer concerned me. I had nothing in the future.

Lady Hufflepuff and Lord Slytherin kept the time-traveling device and would, on occasion, ask me questions about what happened to me. I would answer them all truthfully. There was no reason for me to lie.

Lord Slytherin would also talk with me about the future. He constantly talked of his heirs, but I knew better than to reveal the future to him. It would cause terrible results. He was a scary and intimidating man, and so, it was a hard feat to accomplish. I had been saved several times from revealing the future when Ravenclaw came by and scolded him profusely.

In a few weeks after I officially became a student, I received a curious letter. A tiny little owl delivered it to me and it entailed false information, from what I believed.

It said:

Dear Miles,

How is Hogwarts? I hope that you are having an enjoyable time exploring the new in-depth studies that the professors can give you. What house are you in?

Why haven't you written me sweetie? I miss you so much and you promised to write me right before you left for school. It breaks my poor fragile heart.

Anyway, your father is succeeding with our family business. He started it after you left! It is simply called Runcorn's! You should come visit it soon!

Your sister is fine, but she misses you so much! Although, she can't wait until it is her turn to attend your magical school.

That is all for now honey, but please respond to your poor mama.

Love,

Mama

The letter drove me insane from the second I had received it. I had to keep reading it over and over again until I believed that it was real. After I had let the letter sink into my system I brought it to the Head's office. Conveniently they were all in there, and after they read the letter, they were all in the same shock that I was in. They then allowed me permission to seek this mysterious mother, and they would make an excuse for my absence. I packed necessities for my travels and I was off.

I had apparated to many possible locations in my search for Runcorn's. There was no such luck, anywhere. It was as though the place did not exist. Nor did anyone go by the last name Runcorn. The founder's sent for my return, and I came back empty-handed.

In my theory, I believe that time devises an "excuse" for the traveler. The "mother" did not exist, no trace, no sign. So in that case, time makes it that you do exist, but not in entirety. In such case, it creates a false mother. In close, it is completely odd, yet it drove my curiosity to a peak where, that every weekend I searched for this woman. No results were ever found.

The founders, thankfully, agreed with me in my theory and they claimed the search fruitful. But it was only in the fact that a new theory was discovered. This, unfortunately, caused them to have a tighter leash on me. Yet, the "false mother" never again concerned me.

My studies continued with high marks, especially in Arithmancy, which was taught by an old, fraying man. Rumors circled around, talking about his soon retirement from the position. This excited me greatly. I wanted that position. There was nothing else that I would have been able to do during the time period, but teach. The time I searched for the so-called mother was the only time the Founder's let me leave the castle. My presence in this time, they said, would mess up the future in drastic ways. They wanted to keep my existence hidden from everyone, besides those living in the castle. All of them were simply curious teachers and close-minded students.

Although, Lord Salazar Slytherin would constantly try to usurp the tales of the future out of my mouth, Rowena would always catch him. She was fairly strong and intelligent with her diadem always perched high atop her head. Her presence was foreboding, and I could tell that even Slytherin grew timid around the fair women.

During my stay I befriended Lady Helena Ravenclaw, Lady Rowena's fair daughter. She was kind, intelligent, and beautiful to my eyes. From the first time I laid my eyes upon her, she was immediately familiar to me. I felt that I had seen her at Hogwarts in the future. Yet, I could not place her.

I felt like I belonged with her. This made me feel myself to be insane. I had known that I could not stay in that time period, but it could not help my uncontrollable feelings. Lady Helena had another suitor though, yet she revealed to me that she detested him. When she told me that, I don't think my heart had ever soared like that before. The other suitor never again concerned me. He never appeared in my presence.

Lady Hufflepuff at that point blatantly refused to return the device to me. It was detrimental in my eyes to return to the future before my feelings for Lady Helena went too far.

The end of the year came by soon, and the Head's allowed me to stay at the castle, for they did not wish for me to leave, ever. It was boring without the classes, but as the years went by I grew closer to the fair Helena, and more accustomed to the time period. The longer I stayed, the more I wished never to go back.

The Founder's still had not decided what was to become of me. I mainly spoke with Lady Hufflepuff, but she revealed nothing to me. It was all small talk.

The years slowly passed and they drained my spirit. It was as though I was to become nothing, just a nuisance to the founders. Lady Helena still hung about, mostly around me. She always had her ways of brightening my day.

The Arithmancy teacher finally retired after five years after the rumor began. The Founder started their desperate search for a new teacher. That was when I applied to fair Lady Hufflepuff. I remember the wide smile she gave me as she told me to follow her to the Head's office. It took the Founders a long time to decide whether or not I was worthy for the position. After they determined it, they told me that the position was mine. During that time period, I had never been so happy and thrilled.

When the school year began the students filed in before me in my classroom. Having the privilege of teaching these young minds endeared me and I flew straight into the material. I did not care if the students appreciated it or not, but I deemed it necessary that I fill their brains with the intelligence that I could show them. The Founders apparently had received great reports of my teaching, and they praised me for it. Yet, they still would not give me the device after the many years I had already spent with them.

Lady Helena Ravenclaw would constantly intrude upon my lessons and bother my students. She would spare her intelligence with them, and I could tell that they enjoyed her, mainly the boys. After one lesson that she observed she planted a kiss on my unsuspecting lips and she ran away as I was stunned and could not say a word. For days she did not speak with me, and it disappointed me greatly.

Days later I received notice that Lady Ravenclaw wished to have a word with me. Fear stroke my insides immediately. Questions had circled my head, all that related to my relationship with her daughter. Helena had kissed me, had Lady Ravenclaw seen?

The walk to the Head's Office felt like the longest walk I had ever taken. As I opened the door Lady Ravenclaw greeted me with the largest smile I had ever seen on her flawless face. Lady Helena stood somewhat behind her, fiddling with her petite hands nervously.

Lady Ravenclaw then spoke the words that were both enlightening and frightening to me. She had announced that day that she wished to arrange a marriage between Lady Helena and me. I had to agree to Lady Ravenclaw's demands. The grin she formed after I agreed to the proposal increased ten-fold and Helena brightened.

The day of my marriage commenced quicker than I thought it would. Lady Helena never looked more beautiful in my eyes. We married in the Great Hall of Hogwarts and it was filled with the staff and the students, also extended family and friends. We sealed our fateful vows with our second kiss, and the Great Hall erupted into glorious cheers. That night our love was officially completed as we commenced in lover's actions.

The days wore on slowly and returned to its normal pattern after my marriage. The fact that I was now married in this time, I felt that I was never leaving the Founder's eyes.

Lord Slytherin had begun to talk with me more. He would talk about Pureblood Supremacy and his ideas to force the muggle-borns to leave the school. I entertained him with his thoughts, knowing thorugh history about the Chamber of Secrets. I do believe in Pureblood Supremacy, but not as strongly as he does. We talked about it every day, when I told him, "If all does not go well in your own eyes, why bother to stay and shower these fools with your intelligence. You have rights to your ideas, and if they are not respected you may as well leave."

The next day Lord Slytherin was gone, and the other founders were extremely furious. I did not tell them what I had said, as I knew that it was his driving point to actually leave. Over a year's time the Founder's no longer cared about Lord Slytherin, nor did they try to find him.

Eventually, my Lady Helena became pregnant with my child, which was unbelievable to me. Her stomach grew with each passing day. I felt as though I would cry every second of the day. I did not belong in this time and I created a child, of who will never belong, will only be an outsider. He or she will be stuck in this castle for the rest of his or her life.

I discussed with my Lady Helena plans of escape. She ignored my wishes, demanding to stay at the castle with her mother. She was carrying my child; I could not dismiss her or her wishes. She grew angrier with me, which I had hoped was due to her hormones and her pregnancy. She also stayed with her mother, instead of with me. As her stomach grew, the more I felt that she disliked me. Life, simply put, was hard.

Classes occurred just as normally as before. The students were entranced with what I had to say, and the other Founders praised me, except Lady Ravenclaw. I felt that she no longer liked me, that she thought the marriage was a failure, or she heard of my plans of escape. Most likely, my Lady Helena must have told her.

My Lady Helena grew even more distant from then on. I barely saw her during the days, and when I would, she would give me a furtive nod and a grimace of her lips. It disturbed me. She was my wife.

The time came when she had to give birth to the baby. Lady Ravenclaw called me to her chambers that fateful day. I was forced to wait outside the bed chambers as I heard my Lady Helena scream in pain inside the room. I waited and I waited, without any patience.

Finally I heard crying and I slammed the door open and I immediately ran inside the bed chambers. My Lady Helena was crying and matrons surrounding her had their heads down in sorrow. Lady Ravenclaw was weeping and my heart pounded furiously. My Lady Helena was holding no baby in her arms.

The first words I was able to say were, "Where is my child?"

Helena, Lady Ravenclaw and the matrons stared at me as some of them cried their tears. One matron spoke, as none of the others could and said, "The baby was never to have existed. It was never alive."

"Where's the body?" I demanded out of the matron angrily. My world was tumbling.

"We got rid of it," The matron nervously said as she fiddled with her thumbs. The ladies continued weeping as I remained standing in pure shock.

Finally everyone went silent as Lady Ravenclaw hushed them. She walked up to me ever so slowly and spoke those fateful words, "The others and I will discuss your fate."

Then she left the chamber as my Lady Helena continued weeping her sorrows. I went to hug her, but she shunned me away and I was forced to leave the bed chambers. After that I never saw my Lady Helena again.

According to my theory, I believe that time travelers cannot have children. And that if a body if conceived in the womb, it is destined to never be alive. Time most likely did not want to mess with the timeline. Time most likely messes with the life where you do not belong. Or, in a string of fate, it is mere coincidence that it occurred between Helena and me, and that the baby was only a stillborn. In conclusion, time may possibly severely mess with the lives of the time traveler in the fact of love and children.

Later that night I was called to the Founder's Office and all four stood there somberly, especially Lady Ravenclaw. Lady Hufflepuff sighed and reached into her pocket as my body filled with anxiety.

She pulled out the device, after many years of my wanting it so desperately back. I reached out my hand and she placed it on my palm. She closed my fingers around it and squeezed my hand for a single second.

Then she said those words, "We have kept you all these years for curiosity stroke us greatly when we laid our eyes upon you The mysteries of your travel aroused us. On behalf of all of us, I am sorry. Please return home. You ruined Lady Helena. We shall ought to start a rumor of thou death. Now go."

I stood for a second, and the touch of the device was strange. It obviously had been tampered with. With one last glance at the Four Great Founders I wrapped the device around my neck and fiddled with the controls.

I disappeared from that time and reappeared in another strange time. 1846.

My Second Travel in Time

I had opened my eyes—

Hermione stopped reading and shut the book close. Everything made sense once again. Everything Runcorn said must have been true. The device must be the same as the one she and Harry had used, Hermione concluded. Excitement soared throughout her body and she felt pumped and thrilled. More text was in the book, but Hermione dismissed it for now. It was detrimental to her that she would have to speak with Harry, although Harry had yet to return from Hogsmeade.

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-Simply Paranoia