Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened last time:
Ginny and Harry clutched the strange silver instrument that was buzzing and emitting puffs of smoke. They waved for the last time as a good-bye – and they were gone.
Hermione sobbed into Draco's shoulder. "Everything is going to be alright." Draco said in a soothing voice, hugging Hermione tightly.
"Yes, it is." Dumbledore smiled serenely. "They have arrived safely." And suddenly he was clutching the strange silvery instrument again.
On with the story:
Harry and Ginny landed hard on their feet, holding hands. To their luck, the transfiguration classroom was empty at that time. "We made it Ginny." Harry said smiling and hugging his girlfriend tightly. "Yeah, we made it." Ginny said softly, before opening the door for them.
Also, the corridors were empty and the students either seemed to be in class or on the grounds. Ginny pointed at the huge grandfather clock. "It's 11:45. Nearly time for lunch."
"Yes, only fifteen minutes. We should go to Gryffindor tower as fast as possible."
"We don't know if we are really in Gryffindor. Dumbledore told us to look for him immediately." Ginny informed Harry crossly. "Besides, we are still wearing our old school uniform from the 40s. Look at your emblem: the Gryffindors wouldn't be happy to see a snake."
"Okay okay, I give up." Harry laughed embarrassed, rearranging his Slytherin tie, when they stepped out into the next windy hallway. Suddenly, a scrawny, ugly boy with brown unkempt hair, thick eyebrows and dirty, wrinkled robes appeared in front of Ginny and Harry who both jumped out of their skins.
"Who are you?" the boy asked in an unfriendly way, gazing at the two people with a mixture of hatred and suspicion. His eyes were dull and his teeth rivalling Karkaroff's yellow ones.
"Uhm…"
"We are looking for Dumbledore." Ginny cut across Harry. She noticed that the boy was wearing a Gryffindor emblem, but he still seemed unfriendly enough. Ginny unconsciously had to scrutinize the boy closely. How could anybody wear such atrocious and DIRTY clothes? Especially at school?
"Why are you looking for him?" the boy asked, his small watery eyes, narrowing dangerously.
"That's none of your business. Keep your large nose out of it!" Harry spat.
"Oh really?" the boy looked at Harry's robes and gave a sneer worthy of Malfoy. "A Slytherin, of course. YOU can't tell me what to do and not to do!" When his eyes turned to look at Ginny, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You are in Gryffindor? I've never seen you before."
"That's your problem, then. Ginny, we have to go on." Harry said, tugging Ginny's sleeve. They seemed to be in trouble and obviously this boy didn't know them, which wasn't a good sign. Hadn't Dumbledore told them that everybody would know them?
"Well…" Ginny gave a forced smile. "We will be leaving then. See you later."
The boy just shook his head and turned to leave.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Harry rounded on Ginny. "I can't believe it! He should know us. Dumbledore told us that everyone will know us and that we – " but he stopped in midsentence. The young Sirius Black was storming out of a classroom, laughing merrily and slinging his bag over his left shoulder. To Harry's surprise, he was in Slytherin, not Gryffindor.
A second later, Harry's mum stepped out of the same classroom, beautiful as ever. Harry's heart leapt, his father must be there somewhere as well. "Peter Pettigrew! Come back please. You are not ugly. Don't listen to Sirius." Lily's voice echoed over the hallways, calling the boy who had just run into Harry and Ginny.
"Why should he? He is a disgrace to the wizarding world. Let him be, Lily." Sirius grinned, high-fiving another Slytherin, Harry didn't know.
Lily gave Sirius a death glare and hurried after the Gryffindor. Harry remembered his face. Of course, this ugly boy must have been Peter Pettigrew. He still felt a certain hatred for the rat-like man and shuddered at the thought of sharing a dormitory with him. "Lily, come back! You are too good for him!" Sirius called out but then noticed the two.
But what had happened? Why did they land in THIS time?
"Hey!" Sirius walked over to them, smiling. "Do I know you?"
"No, I don't think so." Harry suddenly grinned happily, remembering that his godfather was standing in front of him. "We graduated and are transfers from Durmstrang. We will be here to observe what it's like in Hogwarts."
"The best school ever. By the way, congratulations, young man." He pointed at the Slytherin crest. "It's my house as well."
"And mine as well." a smiling, breathtaking young girl, with long black hair and silver earrings appeared next to Sirius. "Oh sorry, where are my manners. I'm Bellatrix Black."
Harry and Ginny almost fainted. "Nice… nice to meet you." Ginny stammered, trying hard to keep a smile pasted on her face.
"I'm starving, cousin. Coming with me?" Bellatrix asked with a softness, neither Harry nor Ginny had ever heard from Bellatrix before.
"Yeah sure. Bye you two. See you later then." Sirius smiled and departed with Bella.
"Wow, I can't believe it. We are in a completely wrong time-zone." Ginny gasped. "We should get out of here as soon as possible."
"My dad is here as well!" Harry said quietly.
"Yes, but you will see him in the future anyway. We should hurry." Ginny urged Harry forwards in the direction of the headmaster's office. Reluctantly, Harry obeyed.
After bumping into several other unknown students – although Harry swore he caught a glimpse of Severus Snape – they arrived in the headmaster's room. Just in time – as it seemed – since Dumbledore was about to head to lunch.
"Ah… isn't that… Mister Potter and Miss Weasley?" he asked astonished. "Didn't I send you to another time?"
"Well yes, but your silver time-traveller sent us here." Ginny explained.
"Very well. It means I will have to send you back to your time in the future." Dumbledore led them to his office and Ginny and Harry felt the dizzying sensation of travelling forward for the second time this day.
THTHTH
"What do you mean?! How do you know?" Hermione asked eagerly, letting go of Draco, looking at Dumbledore with a confused expression.
"The silver time-traveller is back, which means that the people it transported have arrived safely AND in the correct time. Of course, they had a little stop-over in the 70s." Dumbledore chuckled, holding up the strange silver instrument.
"Really?" Hermione and Draco laughed simultaneously.
"Seems as if the time-traveller isn't made for such long distances." Dumbledore explained again.
"I would have loved to leave with them." Hermione said, rubbing her stomach unconsciously.
"What do you think about me? Right now, they are probably talking to their parents and laughing with their friends!" Draco exclaimed angrily.
"Draco, they aren't even born yet." Hermione half-smiled. But her face grew serious again. "Our task isn't finished yet. You have to somehow convince Abraxas that you are his grandson and by doing so, giving him the opportunity to stop this dangerous group."
Draco sighed. "But how? Isn't it a bit too blunt saying, hey I'm from the future and your grandson, stop your stupid group?"
"You're from the future, Krum? I figured that much." a sneering voice suddenly appeared, making Hermione and Draco jump out of their skin.
'Oh no!'
Hermione and Draco both thought the same, being embarrassed to the max and sweating profusely. Of all the people who could listen in on their conversation it had to be HIM.
"Uhm… Abraxas…" Hermione said lightly, for the first time in her life, having no idea what she could say.
"I think we should talk, Abraxas. Just the two of us. And no word to anyone else." it surprised Hermione how steady and convinced Draco's voice sounded and she immediately felt proud of her classmate.
Abraxas raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Why? Didn't you just hear?" Draco asked astonished. "I think I have some explaining to do."
"I meant, why shouldn't I tell anyone? Not that anyone would believe me anyway. They would all think I'm nuts. But okay, I promise." Abraxas shook his head.
"But you believe me?" Draco asked hopefully.
"Depends. I first need to listen to your story. But why do you tell me now? And why not before? IF I'm really your grandson?" Abraxas asked, curiosity lining his voice, instead of the usual sneer.
"Look at me, Abraxas! Do I look like a Malfoy? Haven't you often wondered why I look like a relative to you? Or why my gestures, my smirk and my taste are similar to yours?" Draco's eyes flickered to Hermione for half a second, Abraxas' as well.
"Yes, I've already wondered. My researches were faulty, since I looked for clues in Russia and Bulgaria. I couldn't find any – big surprise. Tell me, young Malfoy, what's your real name?" Abraxas' voice sounded strained and much older now.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Hmm, a nice name. But you are not my son?"
"No, your son will be called Lucius Malfoy." Draco said, his face a grimace.
"And who will I marry?" Abraxas' eyes were alight with fire now.
"Draco, I don't think that it would be wise to tell him too much about the future. Furthermore, a lot of the original future has changed now that we are here." Hermione explained and Draco nodded, although Abraxas looked at her impatiently.
"So? You being here doesn't mean that I won't marry her. Tell me, Draco, it's Agatha, isn't it?"
"How do you know?" but it was Hermione who answered, astonished. "I've never seen you talking to her."
"So, it's her. I knew it from the beginning."
"It was an arranged marriage?"
"No, Natalija – IF that's your real name – I can choose." Abraxas explained.
"Now Draco, Abraxas, I will leave you two to talk. By the way, Draco, don't forget to show him your birth certificate so that he will finally believe you." Hermione smiled.
"I DO believe him!" Abraxas countered. "But it wouldn't hurt to have a look at the birth certificate." he added in a smaller voice.
Hermione watched happily as Draco and Abraxas made their way to the grounds, talking happily with each other. She knew it was the right decision and was happy for the two of them when suddenly two strong arms slung around her waist and hot breath was in her ear.
Really hot, familiar breath.
"Tom." Hermione breathed, turning around, smiling happily.
"Natalija." Tom said huskily, admiring the beauty of his girl. The pregnancy glow illuminated her further from the inside, making her look like an angel. He inched nearer and gave her a light butterfly kiss, his lips barely touching hers.
Hermione groaned and melted into his arms to which Tom responded immediately. He pulled her towards him and kissed her hungrily. It seemed to them as if there was no such thing as time when Tom slowly pushed her towards a wall, further making out.
"I never expected the head boy to be such a bad example." a snide voice said from somewhere and Hermione and Tom spun around.
"Minerva." Tom greeted politely, whereas Hermione just narrowed her eyes.
"As I said, Tom, you are a bad example for the younger students and YOU, as headboy, should know." Minerva shook her head sternly.
"But as you might see, dear head girl, we are all alone in this corridor, until YOU decided to come and bother us. Maybe you've already noticed that you are not welcome here. Go and play with your little good-for-nothing Gryffindor friends." Tom said in a fake polite voice, though Minerva and Hermione heard the danger.
Minerva opened her mouth to say something, but thought better. Tom gave her a last dangerous look and noticed with satisfaction that Minerva departed without a backward glance.
"A pity." Tom said silkily. "She would have made a good Slytherin. Eyes like a hawk."
"Don't let her hear that." Hermione half-grinned. "Did you know that she applied at the transfiguration centre? She wants to become a teacher.
"Glad that I'm out of school by then." Tom said earnestly.
"You maybe. But our little one will have Mc Gonnagal as a teacher. You shouldn't infuriate her too much or she won't be fair to our child." Hermione said.
"I doubt she will. She knows who the father of young Riddle junior is and she most certainly knows that I won't take it lightly when someone treats my offspring wrongly."
Hermione smirked. Yes, she most certainly does know. And she, Hermione, most certainly knows as well.
They arrived in the head boy dorm soon afterwards as Hermione was tired from the day's events. She also felt a bit lonely now that her two best friends from the future were gone. At least she had Tom… and Draco. And some friends from Ravenclaw. And her baby. She sighed. It was surely the right decision to stay in the past.
Tom cuddled towards her and kissed her tenderly, sliding his tongue into her mouth, pulling her body towards his warm body, savouring the feeling.
THTHTH
"Aaaaah." Harry screamed when they arrived in the transfiguration classroom of their time. McGonnagal was sitting behind a stack of papers, eyeing Harry disapprovingly. "Stop making that noise, Mr. Snape and try not to make the carpet too dirty.
She had appeared in the doorway the exact moment, Harry and Ginny had appeared in the room. But wait. Why was Harry called SNAPE? Surely, it wasn't what Harry feared, right?
"Why are you in my room anyways? Was there something you wanted to talk about, Mr. Snape?"
"No, professor. We will need to see Prof. Dumbledore." Harry explained, his voice quivering.
"Very well. I will see you in my next lesson then." McGonnagal shut the door in Ginny's and Harry's face.
"I can't believe it!" Ginny said outraged. "You are Snape's son? It can't be."
Harry didn't answer. He was in complete and utter shock.
Dumbledore greeted them jovially when they arrived in his office. "I need to give you a quick overview of your life."
"Harry, I'll start with you. You may be surprised that you are called Snape, right? Your mother married James – and had you – but soon after that James left her for another woman and Snape has been her husband for several years now. Although James is your biological father, you get along quite well with Snape and see him as your father figure."
When Harry heard that he almost fainted. WHAAAAT?
"Your father is potions master here and you were sorted into Slytherin." Dumbledore explained, waving his wand so that the outdated Slytherin robes were replaced by the new model.
Harry nodded mutely. He had expected that much. "Headmaster, my biological father – was he also in Slytherin?"
"No, he was in Gryffindor. That's why you decided to take another route. You didn't want to be like him."
Of course he didn't want to be like his father. His father left his mother for another woman? That's rich. Just normal that he wanted to be the exact opposite.
"Now to you, Miss Weasley, you are in Gryffindor and have tons of brothers. Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George and Ron."
Dumbledore told them some more anecdotes about their life until it was time for dinner. "I wish you lots of fun, exploring and finding out about yourselves. Just don't act too surprised." he winked at them and Ginny and Harry departed, frowns on their faces.
It had been a long day.
When Harry and Ginny stepped into the corridor, a girl with long white blonde hair, deep blue eyes, pale skin, perfect white teeth and an angel-like smile was waiting.
"Harry." she said, her tone, slightly disapproving. "I've been looking for you for ages." Even when she was upset, her voice, couldn't be harsh, she still sounded like a lovely little girl.
"Ah… sorry. I had to see Dumbledore." Harry said, clueless at what to say.
"Yes, I know that NOW." the girl said.
"Harry! Ella!" another voice said. It was coming from a good-looking Slytherin boy, surprisingly Harry's age, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing his quidditch robes confidently striding towards them, ignoring Ginny completely. This person seemed familiar to Harry but he couldn't quite place him… yet.
"Adrian Pucey…" Ella smiled and Harry nodded. Wasn't Adrian a bit older than him? Harry racked his brain, but couldn't find anything. The only thing he remembered was that Adrian was a good chaser.
"You didn't come to quidditch training." Adrian said disapprovingly. "We've just finished and Flint is furious." He turned to the girl next to Harry. "Don't tell me, you've kidnapped him again, Ella Malfoy?"
Ella Malfoy? The twin sister, Draco had told him about?
"I had to see Dumbledore and didn't know that it would take all day." Harry said off-handed, his voice a touch cooler. He had a feeling that he would have to defend this girl who was a head shorter than him.
"Ah well… your problem then. Have fun explaining that to Flint. I'm heading to the showers. See you at dinner, you two love-birds." Adrian laughed loudly and departed again.
Ginny's face was as red as her Gryffindor lion by now and she was shaking with suppressed rage. "Okay, Harry, I need to get back to the common room. Can we talk later?"
"Yes, sure." Harry said surprised.
Ginny turned on her heel, not even looking back at him. Now he was alone with Ella Malfoy. "So." the sweet voice next to him said and Harry looked downwards. What was he supposed to do? He was with Ginny… or wasn't he?
It startled Harry that Ella slung her arms around his neck and giggled. "I've missed you today." Harry reacted in the only way he could, by carefully putting his arms around her waist.
"I've missed you too." he said huskily, looking into the beautiful eyes of… Draco's twin sister. Well….
She giggled again and put her lips onto his. Harry didn't know what came over him, but he pulled her nearer and kissed her back passionately. All thoughts of Ginny were driven out of his mind.
"Mmmhhh…" Ella moaned, pressing herself nearer to Harry. To enjoy her company would be an understatement. Harry still hated himself for "betraying" Ginny like that. But otherwise… it was the future… and so much had changed. He kissed Ella back with much more heat, being immensely happy and carefree for the first time in several years.