The Time Travel Crew

Chapter 14: A shock for Luna, a spank for Draco, along with a mission, hi dilly hi dilly ho!

Today Draco completed a year of big brotherhood. He sat at the study table his parents put up in his playroom drawing vertical, horizontal and slanting lines, while his younger twin brother and sister sat on the floor squabbling over a soft toy.

He was almost five years old now and this room had always been Draco favourite place for gossip. By putting a clever undetectable eavesdropping charm on the wall, Draco was able to hear everything that went on the other side, the room where his parents sat so they could be close to their children and yet discuss things that weren't meant for their ears.

It was this eavesdropping charm that helped him learn that Dolores Umbridge was arrested by some goblins for breaking into Gringotts a year ago; how the Minister of Magic had to convince them that they were mistaken for Umbridge had an airtight alibi throughout that afternoon; that the goblins refused and sent her to their personal prison for a few years; how that had now ruined Umbridge's reputation and made her the first wizard to be arrested by the goblin force.

That had been Minerva's plan all along according to a very chipper Flitwick, who now had the Diadem of Ravenclaw in his cupboard too. That of course was all thanks to Sprout who was hiding a particular pillow in the room of requirements for a certain activity of the Houses United one Sunday.

And speaking of brotherhood, Draco who never had any experience of looking out for someone younger or anyone for that matter, found it challenging. When Gerald and Alina - both blonde and pale eyed - were first brought home, and put next to Draco, he practically pushed them away and even decided to have a tantrum for the first time in a long time, but his mother...his very own mother... the mother who doted on him and pampered him and gave in to his every whim, pulled him over and gave him a smart smack on his bottom.

Draco was so surprised, he forgot that he was a baby for a while. He just stared at her in shock and Narcissa, thinking that she had gone too far, moved forward to comfort him...But his father stopped her. He said it did him, Draco, good.

Draco inwardly huffed in indignation but decided to behave from then on. But his pride still hurt and in revenge, he put an undetectable compelling charm on his parents again, this time though, he forced them to reconcile with Andromeda and Teddy Tonks and befriend the Longbottoms.

After that was done, Draco took off the charm and his parents were so surprised and appalled at what they had done, Draco thought his days could never get better.

Secretly, Draco wondered if Tonks and Remus would meet in this time... Harry would think of a way, he was extremely fond of his godson.

It was a few days after Draco's parents met up with the Longbottoms, that Sirius Black, who for some reason returned to Grimmauld Place, gave his House-elf clothes. The next moment Kreacher popped into the Malfoy Manor and Draco's parents having learnt their lesson, accepted him graciously.

And till today, they treated him with consideration. The old elf was a massive help at the Manor and Lucius did not dare to belittle him in any way.

It was later that Draco learnt from McGonagall that it was Harry who sent Black there.

Draco was actually surprised that Black fell for the spell, he had at that time, completed his second year at Auror training. Of course, Mad-Eye Moody too was fooled, so Draco couldn't actually say anything.

Harry said he felt terrible compelling Sirius to go to the place he hated and dreaded, but he was the only person who had access to that house. Black sent the Horcrux to Harry's bed.

The locket was now kept with Snape who, like Voldemort, felt it was unwise to leave too many Horcruxes in the same place.

According to McGonagall, Snape was quite annoyed with Harry for getting involved, but now that the deed was done, he made Harry give him his word that he wouldn't interfere again. Harry happily agreed and Draco knew there was nothing else left for him to get involved in.

Harry had even compelled Black to set Kreacher free and magically force him to offer his services at the Malfoy Manor. Black, however, would not remember anything, save for the fact that he gave Kreacher an old T-shirt.

Draco considered making his parents meet with Black. But Black would be too adamant to even sit and listen.

Today was Draco's siblings' first birthday and the Tonks family was invited, including Nymphadora Tonks who would would be attending Hogwarts in exactly twenty one days. The Longbottoms too were invited and Draco would now be the first amongst the younger five travelers to see both little Sally and Neville's youngest sister, Edith.

Draco and Neville would also be the first to meet each other after nearly four years. They had become quite close over those two months of vigorous training and planning.

Now sitting at his table and still drawing vertical, horizontal and slanting lines, Draco wondered if they would be able to keep their emotions at bay. He was overly excited to meet Neville, though he knew they wouldn't be allowed out of the adults' sight, oh well, maybe they could play a game of ball...maybe include the Tonks girl too... Draco wondered if he would get to meet Harry, Luna and Justin anytime soon.

Draco's mission of retrieving the Diary would probably need a little more time, for his parents still kept an eye on him. It was rather annoying, but maybe he could use some outside help and have all of them his parents, siblings and even Kreacher out of the house one night, maybe once he turned ten...

Sitting in his playroom, Draco wondered when the day would come when he would have to stop using the eavesdropping charm, afraid that his younger siblings might get too smart and comment about it to his parents... He was going to have to ask Filius to teach him a different charm that would send the voices from the other side of the wall straight to his ears.

Draco also wondered if the twins would accept him or if they would keep him away, because they had each other... He was worried what would happen to them all when Voldemort came to power - destroying all the horcruxes wouldn't destroy Voldemort in his current form.

It wasn't Dumbledore's portrait that told them that...in fact this was something Dumbledore didn't bother to divulge to his portrait. Probably because he was sure there wouldn't ever be such a case, but imagine, hiding something from your own portrait...

It was a stroke of luck that helped Harry find the huge book on Horcruxes in a bag that Hermione Granger carried with her on the day of her death. Back then, Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, Harry, Neville, Justin, Luna and he, Draco, all thought she had been buried with it and no one had the heart of going to search the grave. It was that missing detail that nearly cancelled their mission.

But Harry found the puny bag under a large piece of rock, a little further away from where Hermione Granger fell to the floor for the last time.

It was from the book that they learnt that destroying the Horcruxes whilst Voldemort didn't have a body wouldn't make much of a difference. The deed had already been done and the fact that Voldemort was all shadow and vapour, rendered it earthly. You cannot see a soul, and a soul is definitely something that cannot take the shape of anything earthly, not even vapour.

So Voldemort would have to return and find Nagini and make her a Horcrux and kill somebody in the process. That someone would most probably be Frank Bryce, or even Bertha Jorkins... Or both. The crew would have to think of something.

And when this happened, Harry would have to face him while poor Snape kept Harry, his mother and sister and himself safe. Draco on the other hand had taken it upon himself to keep his parents and siblings safe and it would be Neville's responsibility to see to it that Bellatrix and her gang didn't come after his family if and when she was released.

If things went as planned then maybe everything would be alright. If things didn't go as planned...

Draco didn't want to think about it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Today was a beautiful day to go out and play in her mother's kitchen garden and that was why Luna woke up early and hurriedly ate her mother's newly invented beetroot porridge. It wasn't the most appetizing of her mother's meals, but the sight of her mother always made Luna hungry.

Her mother bent down and Luna gave her cheek the customary five-year old kiss and hurried out into the garden.

Life had been amazing for Luna and for the past five years, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Here she was, back in time, cocooned with love, love and more love. She had always been loved, even in the previous time, but it felt wonderful to witness and experience all that affection once again.

Her mother's company, her father's beliefs, the fact that so many others whom she knew and loved were still alive was at times so overwhelming, Luna could barely contain herself. And instead of being the quiet, calm child that she was back then, she was now a very hyper, noisy little kid who let her essence be felt wherever she went.

There had been times when the Lovegoods visited or were visited by the Weasleys. Mr. Weasley and Ginny were alive and seemed so full of life... Ron was just a little thing who, though fun loving, was already worried about being forgotten by his parents... Fred and George were as mischievous as ever and Percy just as serious...Charlie and Bill just as wonderful as before...the three older boys had already begun with Hogwarts...Mrs. Weasley looked so young and healthily plump... It all gave Luna a sense of longing...a desire to see them more often.

Luna had already befriended the younger four now and she didn't know if she it was okay to get closer to them or simply keep them as distant friends.

That was why, one night when Professor Sprout visited her, Luna casually mentioned the visiting Weasleys and nothing more... She did not state her what she wanted...She did not state her worries.

But when the time came for the next nightly visit, Harry who saw right through her dilemma sent her a message through Professor Snape telling her not to worry, to go ahead and strengthen her bond with them and if possible, try and put into Ron's head that there was nothing wrong at having so many brothers, that he was very much loved by them as well as his parents.

Harry also told her that Ron at times was just a bit thickheaded and so trying to implant the idea into his head using legilimency wouldn't work. He also said that she needn't worry if she didn't succeed.

"Simply sow the seed of doubt into Arthur and Molly's heads." Professor Snape said "They will do the rest."

Luna decided not to try too much on Ron for as thickheaded as he was, he had always had a knack for getting suspicious over even the littlest of things.

So the next time Luna visited, she positioned herself and an unsuspecting Ron within the hearing range and sight of his parents and commented on how lucky he was to have so many big brothers.

Ron said nothing, he stiffened and made a move to leave the room, his expression was that of annoyance.

It was a perfect opening and now both parents were looking at him with confusion.

"Ron dear,..." began Mrs. Weasley as Ron reached the door of the living room, but Luna didn't let her continue. She sat down on the floor looking perplexed and hurt and using that as her cover, she planted a few doubts into their heads... Not many, but just enough... Ron was jealous of his brothers, he was worried that he wasn't loved as much as the rest of his siblings, he felt left out, he expected to be thrown away one day...

For a long moment, there was no reaction from either parent and Luna began to think she didn't succeed.

Mrs. Weasley gasped and stood up and so did Mr. Weasley who looked terribly pale.

"Oh, oh, oh!" Mrs. Weasley wailed. "I'm such a terrible -"

"Molly!" Mr Weasley interrupted her sharply inclining his head towards Luna.

Mrs. Weasley sat back shakily.

Luna looked at both the Weasleys and said in a shaky voice:

"Me a bad girl?"

She stuck out her lower lip and let her eyes water and put on a very sorry face immediately adding to the effect.

Mrs. Weasley was out of her chair in an instant, she picked Luna off the floor and gave her a warm, cuddly hug.

"No, no, my dear...you actually did right, my girl, you opened my eyes!"

Luna just looked at her with confusion and Molly shook her head.

"Don't worry about it, sweety...here, come on, I'll take you near Ginny... I think she's in the garden with Fred and George and your Mummy and Daddy...I'll put your things on first, it's quite chilly outside..."

Mrs. Weasley put on Luna's scarf, coat, gloves and balaclava and carried a nearly six year old girl out into the November evening, closely followed by Arthur.

Luna's parents were sitting on a bench a little away from Fred, George and Ginny who were running around the place like hooligans. Her parents stood up as they saw the Weasley parents and Luna approach and her mother ran towards them.

"What's happened? Is Luna hurt?"

"Oh, no, no, dear." Mrs. Weasley said. "Nothing of that sort. We just brought her out to play here. Arthur and I will bring Ron too... I think he's in your backyard... if you don't mind us going there..."

"Of course not!" Luna's father said generously and Molly beamed.

"But we need to have a small discussion with him first." Arthur said.

"Did he get into trouble?" Luna's father asked.

"Xen!" her mother said sternly, closing the conversation.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley moved to the back of the house towards the kitchen garden and they didn't return for a while.

In the meantime Luna and the three Weasleys in the garden played a lot of tag, they threw the ball around each other for a while, they ate Luna's mother's mint cookies and drank Mrs. Weasley's lemonade. And it was only after they had a good few rounds of 'Old Xeno says' that Arthur and Molly returned with an ecstatic Ron in the middle, holding each of their hands.

Mission accomplished.

Luna congratulated herself as she rubbed her tummy and hopped on one leg as instructed by 'Old Xeno.'

The next problem arised the very next evening.

Luna's father had always told her that her mother was friends with a lady who had married a crackpot and Luna, believing it to be of no importance, put only a little emphasis on finding that friend and all she knew was that the friend died a couple of months after Voldemort was defeated.

It was that evening that very evening that the friend's husband decided to pay a visit - not a friendly visit - a visit to warn Xenophilus to publish something that made sense. The Quibbler that had been published for the first time that year had threatened to ruin further the man's name at the Ministry...This man's name had been already ruined by his son who was living as a captive in his father's home.

That man, Luna's mother's friend's husband was none other than Bartemeus Crouch Senior!

Luna had never been caught so flat-footed in her life and now all she could do was to wait for the next nightly visit to place the bomb on the visiting professor.

The next visitor happened to be Flitwick and Luna carefully recounted the happenings. Poor Flitwick fell off the bed in shock but he didn't forget to tell her that Draco had finally found the nerve to compel Andromeda Tonks to bring Sirius over to the Malfoy Manor for dinner. Draco had to do just a little more of Magic to keep his parents civil... It was a wonder how Lucius and Narcissa weren't suspicious of their unintentionally affable behaviour.

Anyway, Neville displayed his first bout of 'accidental' magic when his tea cup slipped from his hands and gently sank to the floor without spilling a drop. A few days later, Justin, whose little brother was doing quite well, decided to transfigure his shoes into a pair of bunnies which caused a huge panic in the Finch-Fletchley household.

Luna asked Flitwick to suggest a good time for performing her first bout and Flitwick said, "You could do it right now, if you wish dear!"

And with a happy smile on her face, Luna turned everything in her room her favorite colour - baby blue.

To be continued...