Time Turners and Hippogriffs

AU Drabble Series. Yes, drabble. Hermione gets dusted with the Sands of Time and is sent back fifty-something years into the past. This is a TMRxHG fic.

Apologies to Hermione. I know you're shipped with everything with a pulse...

161)

"I'm sure that will be fun, especially since I had an elf look up the name McIntyre to find that they're an ancient line of purebloods with exceptional magical talent. That they adopted Hermione on blind faith alone means well for her. And you when you go there, since I expect you'll most likely learn everything that you can while taking advantage of this opportunity.

Tom chuckled. That was exactly his plan.

"Tom, let's go," Lucien stated as he started the fireplace with a wave of his hand. Abraxus and Tom shook hands in goodbye.

"Don't look for me on the train," Tom instructed. "Hermione and I will be flooing to Hogsmead from the McIntyre home, since it's closer than going back to London for a nine hour train ride." Abraxus nodded.

162)

When Tom arrived at Wools, there was no one in sight to receive him. He was fine with that. No one to worry about catching him coming out of the fireplace in green flames. Lucien handed Tom a handkerchief that was slightly weighted, and told him not to look inside until he was alone in his room, with all of his things properly put away. Tom nodded, said his thanks, and watched as the fireplace at Wools was put out with another wave of the older wizard's hand. The head of the Malfoy family then disappeared in a loud pop, and then the silence of the orphanage settled around the boy.

163)

He headed for his room, to put his things away, his hand clutched tightly around whatever it was Abraxus' father had given him. Tom closed his door, deposited his trunk at the foot of his bed, and then opened his hand.

He found a small, silver whistle on a chain laying in the center of the handkerchief. There were no engravings or any indications whatsoever on what it was for. However, despite how little of the magical world he knew about, Tom knew enough that this energy he felt from the whistle meant that it was magical. He didn't want to try anything out, but trusted that the scion of the Malfoy family wouldn't try to harm him.

164)

Shrugging, he lifted the chain over his head and hid the whistle beneath his shirt, meticulously folding the handkerchief neatly before placing it in his pocket. He was full from the full breakfast he had this morning, and, with no one to disturb him, Tom flopped onto his bed and shut his eyes, his mind reeling over what a wonderful time he had at his friend's house. His eyes opened widely.

It gave him pause.

He knew Hermione was his friend. She has been basically since they had met. But could he consider Abraxus as a friend, and not just a follower?

Tom smiled.

He figured he just might, and he closed his eyes again to take a small nap before noise encompassed the building when the rest got back.

165)

The orphanage was filled with children's shrieks at half past five, when Mrs. Cole led them back from the park a few miles out. They had to take a bus, so they wouldn't lose a child in the Underground, but the little extra money was worth the knowledge of the safety of the children. The matron, however, knew the instant she stepped in the orphanage that Tom was back. Nothing was messy, or out of place, and that was how she knew. A few toys had been left out in the hallway, off to the side so much that someone would have to go out of their way to step on it. They were back in their original place, and that the other children didn't mind anymore when Tom did the cleaning.

166)

Mrs. Cole started directing some of the older children, who were in their middle teens, to the kitchen, for it was their turn to cook tonight. She followed them in, and spotted Tom seated on a chair, his knees drawn up to his chest, a book in his hands and a glass of water on the table next to him. He glanced up when they came in.

"I'll go to my room now," he stated, and he washed out his glass, put it back where it belonged, grabbed his book, and left. It was only after in bed that she noticed the bit of chain around his neck, and wondered when he had acquired a good luck charm.

167)

There was a special patron to the orphanage that didn't exactly want to be in charge of his orphaned nephew, but he was willing to part with a certain amount of money to make sure his overactive charge was taken care of while leaving his hands free. He visited his nephew from time to time, but with one foot in the door to becoming the head of his department at work, these visits became less and less. His nephew only saw him as a great uncle, and Theodore wanted to keep it that way. He didn't need the brat getting underfoot like Theo knew he would if the boy learned he was his father's brother.

168)

Wools orphanage was a good place for Roger. His great uncle visited him from time to time, and even had him introduced to one of the boys where he was staying. His Great Uncle Theo was so nice to him! He got a small allowance that let him buy anything he wanted, and the orphanage he was at seemed to improve daily with little changes. Tom was the friend he always wanted. That girl that had visited him, though, seemed to change his Tom into someone else. Roger didn't like it.

He knew he had to get rid of her. Tom was all his!

169)

Theodore got a letter from his nephew, complaining about a girl who had taken his friend's attention away from him. Theo particularly didn't care, but when he noticed that his nephew had described something like magic, he was instantly curious. Rereading his nephew's previous letters, there were the occasional mentions of magic from his friend, and from that same girl before she had gotten adopted. Each incident was written as if it was a coincidence, and was small enough not to be detected by someone not looking. But when a member of the Ministry was involved, things changed.

Theodore was instantly intrigued.

Why was there magical children at a muggle orphanage?

170)

Tom couldn't wait. It was a week since he came back from the Malfoys, one week until he went to the McIntyres, and three weeks until he and Hermione would be sitting in the Great Hall together, eating at the welcoming feast. It was a no-brainer to say that Tom was excited. Even Roger's clingy behavior couldn't put a damper on his mood. The library saw him as a constant companion, and with nothing else left to do but learn, Tom was truly happy at the orphanage.

That is, until an old man that Roger claimed to be his uncle arrived on the doorstep.

Thanks to X-Random-X, Moonlit Puddles, gakuhaitsu and Miyabata Keigai for reviewing, alerting, and favoring. Thanks to everyone who read! :)

And don't forget to leave a review! Any bit counts. If you find any mistakes, let me know! I'll fix it to the best of my ability. :)

And remember: this is considered an alternate universe. So some things may not be as you remember. . . :)