AN:

Hey, guys!

Sorry, I haven't updated in a while. My laptop's been out of commission! Don't forget the holidays and work, but I'm starting up on all my stories again, and a new fanfiction for Yu-Gi-Oh! is coming soon for those interested! Happy reading!

-Manus Fati

~Chapter 21~

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

Nutmeg remained at the balcony, leaning over the edge. The door leading to the main hall slammed behind Draco, leaving Meg to her own thoughts. "I really should have listened to Severus. I'm sure he has good intentions, like he always has. It's just..." Meg scanned the empty staircase. Everyone must have been packing for the holidays, or out on the grounds; after all it had snowed last night and the castle was beautiful. The meeting at Severus' office played out again in her head as she stared out the closest window at the falling snow.

"What do you plan to do next week for the Christmas holidays?" Meg was confused by her friend's sudden change of topic. Trying to figure out what Draco Malfoy and the Christmas holidays had to do with each other was indeed a chore. Something more had been going on the last few weeks she'd been here, more than Severus would tell her. All the secrecy was forcing this whole ordeal to be anything but simple.

"I'm not sure, I suppose stay at Hogwarts," Meg laughed under her breath. "What else can I do?" Severus looked relieved in a way, but it was hard to tell if his face changed at all. He looked up at her with only his eyes, the same black color as she had known them to be.

"I'd advise you stick to that plan."

"Well, I guess I certainly didn't stick to it." Meg said aloud to herself. "I suppose I should get that book before I leave for the holidays though." Pushing herself away from the balcony edge, Meg followed the stairs to the fourth floor. Quickly, she pulled out the parchment Severus had given her earlier from her bag; Lost Languages of Magical Races was still scrawled across the top in his messy handwriting. Passing through the front doors of the library, Meg was almost hit in the face by a book passing by. Waving it away, she went over to the front desk where Madam Pince, as she probably was when Meg left, was sitting examining a few books that a student just dropped off.

"Can I help you?" The vulture-like librarian said, without looking up.

"Yes, I'm looking for this book." Meg held out the parchment to the woman. "The headmaster told me to check it out."

"You are aware that the holidays are coming up?" Madam Pince looked up, below the rim of her hat with an annoyed smile on her face. "And that you are not allowed to take the books off the grounds?"

"Yes, ma'am." Meg continued to hold out the parchment above the desk, waiting for the woman to take it. The librarian pursed her lips and took the paper from Meg's hands. Frowning, she motioned for the student to follow her to the back of the library. Meg silently watched Madam Pince's hat bounce, and her robes flow behind her in an odd, organized manor. A Slytherin sneezed as she passed them, and was punished by being hit in the back of the head with a feather duster Madam Pince always carried with her.

"You'll find what you need in the back row, under L," the vulture pointed a few shelves over, and then headed back to her own desk. "Don't forget to put it back exactly where you found it. If you want to check it out, you'll have to come find me." Meg nodded, and made her way to the shelves that Madam Pince directed her to. Books were flying everywhere, and a few shelves away was the restricted section, closed off by a rope. Meg just came to the right shelf as she heard the librarian going off on another student. "NO EATING IN THE LIBRARY!"

Meg sat down at a table, Lost Languages of Magical Races in hand. With a bit of difficulty, she lifted her bag onto the table and pulled out the book that she received accompanying the parchment. She opened the book to the marked page, where Severus had marked the passage in gold. The passage glittered, and seemed to almost move on the page. Meg continued to stare at the figures for a moment before opening the other book. It was a while before she could find the section on dwarfish, but she sat down and studied the section until her eyes were tired and sore. A few hours later, just as the sun was about to set, she sat down her pen beside the parchment she was using to translate and read what she had so far.

The Second Day of the Third Month,

I've been lost for some time now, keeping this journal is the only way for me to keep track of when and where I am. Of course, I'm staying in the same place, but the time, it seems changes all around me. I've come to realize recently that it is my own doing and not that of the universe's. Though, in the past few days I have been able to control the ability better than I have before. . .

The rest was hard to make out, but it seemed that the ability to time travel wasn't restricted to wizards and witches alone. Not only did this dwarf share her ability, but he was managing to control it as well. The runes were smudged a bit here and there, being a hand written journal and very old. The spell Severus cast helped define the runes a bit more, but not without adding difficulty. Meg sighed and rubbed her eyes, letting them relax before she left to go back to the dorms.

"Meg!" A soft dreamy-distracted voice quietly called her name. Meg looked up to see Luna Lovegood with a butterbeer cork necklace hung around her neck and her wand tucked behind her ear. "I've been wondering where you've been getting to. I've been meaning to ask you about the meetings Neville and I invited you to."

Meg was confused for a moment, "Oh, you mean the party?"

"That's right. I was just on my way now, if you wanted to go." Luna smiled.

"I guess I would like a break from all this," Meg looked at all the work that was laid before her and sighed again. Rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes, Meg gathered her things and followed Luna out of the Library. The entire way up the Grand Staircase, Luna spoke of everything from Hinkypunks to Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. Passing the Fat Lady where the Gryffindor common room was, they past into another section of the corridor. This part of the 7th floor was empty except for Meg and Luna. The small Ravenclaw paced in front of the wall a few times but nothing was there, until the wall began to morph. Soon there was a large wooden door where only stone had been before.

Twisting the door handle, Luna broke her usual conversation, "I'll have to warn you though, not everyone likes that you'll be here."

"I don't even know if she'll be here, Ginny." Neville's voice came as soon as the door opened. Meg stepped in the room, taking in the bookshelves lining the walls. There were books about defensive spells, Dark Magic, and all sorts of devices. Dueling dummies lined the back wall, some of them already set up on long rectangular rugs. A tall red headed girl was in the middle of the room talking with Neville. Meg had seen her in Gryffindor tower before, but they'd never exchanged so much as a word.

"You barely even know this girl, Neville!" The red head was now yelling at Neville as Meg and Luna walked into the room. "How do you know she can be trusted? She's awfully chummy with Snape and Draco, I don't exactly find that redeeming company!"

"She's a new student, of course she'd have to visit the Headmaster every now and then!" Neville retorted Ginny's argument. His voice got quieter when he saw who had walked in the room.

Meg realized something then. Both Neville and Luna knew her secret. Neville was there when Meg showed up, and it was Luna that found an article on her from 22 years ago. The two must have talked to each other and put two and two together. Meg's heart started pounding nervously as she looked at Neville, trying to silently tell him not to say too much.

"Besides, I think she'll be great asset." Meg let out a sigh of relief.

Ginny grew quiet and looked at Meg as she walked in the room. Meg smiled at her but she only glared at Neville one last time and sank behind him. Ginny stood there silently, watching as other students came into the room, every now and then suspiciously eying Meg.

"Sorry, I wish you hadn't heard that. But, I'm glad you came!" Neville walked up and hugged Meg, welcoming her. "This is the Room of Requirement. We hold meetings here so we can actually learn Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"You've seen how the Carrows teach," Ginny said, her mouth still twisted into a scowl. "I'm sure you realize it wasn't defense Amycus was demonstrating." Meg remembered the pain she felt at the hand of the Cruciatus Curse preformed by Amycus Carrow, and she flinched, feeling the memory. "Anyway, that's why we're here. To defend ourselves against wizards like the Carrows, not to mention Voldemort."

"Voldemort? I wonder if he could be this Dark Lord I keep hearing about." Meg thought, "Maybe, this group could shed a little light on everything. Severus certainly won't."

"I've never seen you before," A boy dressed in blue robes spoke up. "I thought this was exclusive, member's only and what not."

"Neville and I invited her, Anthony. She's not from around here," Luna interrupted. "An exchange student, right, Meg?"

"Oh, right. From Beauxbaton's Academy." Meg replied, after being nudged by Luna's elbow. The cover Severus had given her would have to do, as long as Neville and Luna played along. Ginny narrowed her eyes, still mistrusting of new visitor. She lowered her head just a bit to speak to Neville privately for a moment. The other members were scattered about the room, mostly sticking to their own houses. All the houses were present, except for Slytherin. There wasn't a single green robe in sight.

"Well, whether you're from around here or not I suppose you still need some ability to fend for yourself in battle." Ginny said, pulling out her wand. Luna gave Meg a smile of support. "Maybe we can see what level your at." Ginny said and turned to Neville. "I guess you could work with everyone else?" Ginny twisted on her heels and led the way to the back of the room, where the rectangular rugs were set up. "You'll duel me, while the rest of the group practices." Meg followed Ginny to the other side of the room. The redhead pushed a dueling dummy out of the way, and took her place at the far end of one of the rugs. Meg took her place at the opposite end of the rug, drawing her wand just before Ginny cast her first spell. "Alarte Ascend-!"

"Aqua Eructo!" A jet of water burst from the tip of Meg's wand, hitting Ginny square in the chest and sent her to the floor before she could finish her own incantation. Ginny quickly got to her feet, and held her wand at the ready position. This time with no incantation a red light appeared from the tip of her wand, hitting Meg in the left shoulder. Throbing pain developed in her arm from the spell, eventually completely numbing her entire arm. Switching her wand to her good hand, she quickly took aim at Ginny, "Entomorphis!" A scream escaped Ginny's lips just before her body morphed into an insect-like creature, still wearing her robes. It crawled into a corner, and her wand fell to the floor. Neville waddled over as quickly as he could to see what had happened.

"Looks like this duel is over. . ." Neville said, watching the insect crawl around in a circle on the floor. He tried to repress a look of disgust; even though it was Ginny, the sound of a giant insect was still revolting. "Not exactly time travel but-"

"Shut up, Neville!" Meg shushed him, looking back at the other students to see if they heard. Luckily everyone was involved in their own duels or getting instructions from Luna. One student shrunk a dueling dummy as it came at him from across the room. "I know you were there, but I don't exactly think it'd be a good idea if anyone else knew."

A disgusting crunching noise came from Ginny's direction as her form began to transfigure back into her human body. She shook and squirmed trying to push the insectoid feeling from her limbs. "Bloody hell, Meg. I think Neville's right; you could be an asset to the DA." She paused a moment, and shook again, this time ruffling her hair a bit. Now she was staring Meg down, curiosity and seriousness combined in her features. "By the way, what do you mean by time travel?"