March, 1998
"Is it him? Draco, is it Harry Potter?" Bellatrix whisper-yelled in Draco's ear causing him to flinch. Her black hair as wild as ever, falling into his face as she leans over him. Draco was kneeling in front of a disfigured Harry.
The Golden Trio were on the run from Voldemort when an argument led to Harry saying a taboo, sending Snatchers to their location. While they were running, Hermione threw a stinging jinx at Harry to disfigure his face. Trying to hide him in plain sight. When the three of them were finally captured, they were brought to Malfoy Manor.
"I can't be sure. His face. I don't think it's him." Draco quietly says, shaking his head and standing up. He knows it's Harry, he just doesn't want to admit it. Draco knows if he identifies Harry, then the light side will lose. It has come to Draco's attention that he doesn't want Voldemort to win. The Dark Lord has cost him everything. He's marked as a Death Eater, his father has lost his mind, reputation and respect, and his mother was recently tortured to the brink of insanity by the Dark Lord himself. Draco has realized a little too late that he is on the wrong side.
Bellatrix peers over Draco's shoulder to the teenage girl being held tightly by Fenrir Greyback. The werewolf is currently sniffing the girls hair with a look of pure unadulterated lust. Bellatrix smirks, "What about the girl? Do you recognize her?"
Draco catches a glimpse of Bella's smirk, then looks at said girl. She is trying to wiggle out of Greyback's arms but he holds tight. The werewolf whispers in her ear, "You're mine. The things I'm going to do to you girly." Hermione flinches in disgust. Draco turns to his aunt, "I...I"
"It's Hermione Granger. Potter's Mudblood." Lucius sneers from behind his son. "Are you sure?" Asking Bellatrix. "I'm sure. I recognize her from the Prophet." Lucius limps up to his son, "Now, Draco. Is it Potter or not?" "I don't know." Draco's voice cracking at the end.
Bellatrix turns away from the boys, now facing one of the Snatchers. He is holding the captives belongings in one hand and a sword in the other. "Where did you get that?" Bellatrix points to the sword. "It was in her bag when we searched her. Reckon it's mine now." The Snatcher says.
Several things happened in less than a minute. The Snatchers have been subdued, the boys put into the cellar and Hermione is knocked to the floor. Bellatrix standing above Hermione casting the Cruciatus curse, Hermione screaming at the top of her lungs. Bellatrix only stopped long enough to question the girl on how they got the sword. This went on for several minutes before Narcissa walked over to Draco, oblivious to what's going on behind her, "Come. Time for tea."
Draco looks to his mother. Her eyes are glazed over, like she's not really there. "Not now, Cissa!" Lucius yells at his wife from the other side of the room. In a moment of clarity Narcissa straightens her posture, standing to her full height facing her husband, "You dare speak to me in such a matter. I am your wife, not one of your playthings." Turning back to her son, "Now come along before…." Narcissa is cut off mid sentence when she is hit with the Killing Curse from behind. Draco catches his mother's body before it could hit the floor. He looks up to see that Lucius was wielding a Snatchers wand. Lucius had killed his mother. That was the final straw that broke Draco.
Delicately setting his mother down, Draco closes her eyes, trying to hold back his own tears. "Now, now Draco. You know how we treat traitors. It is the same fate as any other blood traitor, as well as Mudbloods." Lucius has crossed the room, past the twitching girl on the floor, to stand over his son. Sadness turned to anger. Anger turned to hatred. Draco never hated someone as much as he hated his father in that very moment.
Masking his emotions, Draco stands in front of his father. Looking him in the eyes, his wand in his hand, "You're right father." Before Lucius could realize what was happening, Draco raised his wand, jabbing it into his father's throat, "Avada Kedavra." Lucius fell to the ground at Draco's feet.
Bellatrix noticed the room had become laced with the residual magic of the killing curse. She looked around the room, her eyes landed on her nephew standing over his father's body. Then she sees her sister Narcissa. "What have you done?!" Bellatrix is even more furious than ever as she wields her blade covered in blood. Bellatrix had hacked the slur 'Mudblood' into Hermione's left forearm. "He killed my mother. She was trying to protect me and he killed her." "You stupid boy!" His aunt points her wand away from Hermione, aiming it at her nephew, "You're going to pay for that!"
BOOM!
Chaos ensues. Harry and Ron have broken out of the dungeons and are heading to the drawing room to rescue Hermione. What they did not expect to find was Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy dead, or Bellatrix torturing Draco Malfoy. Ron is the first to run into the room towards Hermione. Fenrir Greyback was crouching over her. The sight was sickening, Greyback had licked Hermione on the side of her face, his hands were in places they should not be. "Get away from her, you monster! STUPEFY!" The werewolf was launched into the wall behind him.
"Expelliarmus," Harry had disarmed Bellatrix. She just stands there staring at Harry as he moves over to Draco. Not taking his eyes away from Bellatrix, Harry speaks to Draco, "Malfoy?" Draco is trembling with the after effects of the Cruciatus, "P-P-Potter." With his free hand Harry extends it to Draco, with a tone of compassion and understanding, "Time to go." Draco takes Harry's hand and gets pulled up. Quickly as they could they join the group of prisoners that Dobby will be transporting to a safe house. They all could feel the magic of the wards shift. Voldemort is coming. They needed to leave now or they would be trapped.
"Filthy HalfBlood!" Bellatrix yelled, throwing her cursed knife as the group disappeared. She was aiming for Harry.
When the group reappeared on the shores of Cornwall, Harry sat up and looked around. He saw the other prisoners, Malfoy, Ron and Hermione had made it out. Dobby was hobbling over to Harry, "Master Harry Potter." Harry saw the free elf pull a knife from his gut, "Dobby!" Harry scoops him up and runs to the cottage, "Hang on Dobby."
Unfortunately it was too late. Dobby could not be saved. The blade that was used to kill him was cursed. The wounds it creates will never heal. Harry buried Dobby, his friend, the muggle way on a hill near Shell Cottage.
Later that night a deal was struck between the Golden Trio and Malfoy. Draco agreed to help retrieve Hufflepuff's cup from his aunt's vault for sanctuary. Draco will fight for the light but not openly. He knew he was a target on both sides of the war. So working with the Golden Trio to end this war is a surefire way to survive and possibly stay out of Azkaban.
May 2 1998
"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight." - Lord Voldemort's ultimatum. Quoted from DH.
Needless to say they did not wait until midnight.
Draco did not think he would be inside Hogwarts helping underclassmen escape, but here he was. Running behind a group of third year Ravenclaws that were caught up in the excitement near their dorms. "Move it!" Draco looks over his shoulder in time to throw up a shield. Dolohov, the Carrow twins and Greyback were hot on his heels, slinging curses left and right. "I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart boy!" Greyback yelled through bloody fangs.
The Ravenclaws had turned to run down the stairs from the fifth floor when Dolohov broke through Draco's shield, stunning him. Draco hit the floor face first hard enough to break his nose with a sickening crunch. He was pinned down by the Carrows as Dolohov used his own cursed blade to carve into his back. The searing pain was unbearable. Draco was screaming while struggling to get away, but it was no use. "Now everyone will know where you belong, boy." Once Dolohov was done, Alecto took Dolohov's blade from him and proceeded to slice flesh from Draco's left forearm, removing the Dark Mark and several layers of tissue.
Flipping him over, and Standing Draco up, he came face-to-chest with the werewolf. Greyback had to duck down to look the boy in the eyes while he shifted halfway into his wolf form. Draco could only watch through watering eyes as Greyback raised his hand..No, not hand..Claws, swiping across Draco's face on the left side. With a second swipe Greyback slashed across the left side of Draco's chest to the right side of his abdomen, just above his hip.
The werewolf was going for a third swipe that would have definitely killed the boy when he was petrified. Dropping like a stiff tree to reveal Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna and Neville. The Carrows drop Draco to the ground and start fighting with the misfit bunch. The group of students were inching the Death Eaters away from Draco.
Neville and Luna were fighting Alecto Carrow. Ron had taken out Amycus and was trying to tend to Draco's wounds. Hermione and Harry were battling both Dolohov and Greyback (Dolohov cast the counter-curse). The teenagers were outmatched and to make matters worse, Bellatrix and her husband joined the fight. Harry quickly looks to Hermione, giving her a knowing look. 'Do it.'
Hermione backs up to Ron and Draco while Harry puts up the strongest shield he could, "Hurry Hermione!" She kneels down next to her best friend and newest friend, setting her purple beaded, magically extended bag full of supplies including their tent from being on the run, on Draco's lap. Ron is confused, "What are you doing?"
A few weeks before the battle of Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione came up with a plan, a desperate, not-so-smart plan. If they were on the verge of losing, Hermione was to give Ron or Draco her bag and set off her time turner. Harry gave her the idea to send either or both back in time where his parents were alive. Before the first Wizarding War was at its peak.
As Ron was asking, Hermione opened her bag and pulled out a gold chain. Throwing the long chain over Ron's head, then extending it to go around Draco's, she looks Ron in the eyes, "Fix this." She lets go of the centerpiece of the chain, and stands up to continue fighting.
Ron notices a little too late what Hermione put around the boys' neck...Her time turner. It was already spinning. Soon the room around them was spinning, a bright light surrounded them, then they vanished.
May 2 1977
James Potter and Lily Evans were finishing up their prefect rounds on the fifth floor, heading for the stairs, when they were blinded by a bright white light. Once they regained their vision, they were shocked to see two teenage boys laying on the ground. The prefects approach carefully, wands drawn.
Ron groans, slowly sitting up. Opening his eyes, he looked down to the boy next to him, "Malfoy!" Quickly getting into a crouching position next to Draco and opening Hermione's bag he searches for Ditany, "Hold on Malfoy." Draco is losing a lot of blood. Ron was too focused on Draco to notice the approaching students. "What happened?" Ron startles, looking up at the voice, he must be seeing things, "Harry?"
"My name is James." This Monday night has become not so boring for James Potter. A wet cough interrupted the staring contest between Ron and James. Lily, James and Ron looked down to Draco, who was trying not to choke on his own blood. "Lily, go get the headmaster. Meet us in the hospital wing." James stowed his wand. Lily didn't think twice, turning to run to the headmaster's office. "Alright. Let's get you two to Madam Pomfrey." James comes over to the other side of Draco, pulling the severely injured boy up so he could get a grip on him. Ron on the other side of Draco, Hermione's bag dangling from Ron's right wrist. They quickly carried Draco down to the hospital wing, not speaking a word.
Madam Pomfrey and Headmaster Dumbledore, along with Lily were anxiously waiting for James to come through the door. Slamming the doors open, James and the red-headed boy moved over to the bed nearest Madam Pomfrey. "Oh dear. Lily, retrieve some blood replenishers, pain potions, dreamless sleep, Ditany, Murlap, and bandages."
James and Ron almost had Draco lying down when James saw the boy's back, "Madam Pomfrey. We-we can't lay him down." James moved the sliced up shirt out of the way and nearly vomited. Letters, two inches in height, spelling out the words 'Blood Traitor' permanently etched into the boy's back. Some of the lines were deep enough to see muscle tissue.
Madam Pomfrey stepped closer, pushing James out of the way, peering at the boy's back. Deciding she is going to need help, "Headmaster, I need some help. This boy is bleeding from.. From..everywhere." Levitating the boy above the bed, she will tend to him as best she could until help arrives.
Headmaster Dumbledore cast his phoenix patronus, alerting Professor Sprout, as well as his Deputy Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, they are needed in the hospital wing. Lily returns from the store room with several vials and bandages, lays everything down on the floating tray next to Madam Pomfrey. "Is there anything I can do?" Lily volunteered in the hospital wing, to prepare for healer training after graduation next year. Without turning from her current patient, "See to the other boy." Lily nods her head.
Ron has stepped over to the bed next to Draco's. Sitting on the edge, slowly blinking, obviously in shock. "Hullo. I'm Lily Evans." He blinks quickly, his vision coming into focus, "I'm Ron Weasley." "Are you hurt?" Lily looks the boy over. He shakes his head, "Nothing too bad. I think the worst is my split lip. My jacket took the blunt of the attack." Ron had never been more thankful for the hand-me-downs from his brother Charlie. His Dragonhide jacket took most of the damage from spells.
Professor Sprout and McGonagall have entered the hospital wing, "What is it headmaster? What do you need?" "Madam Pomfrey needs some assistance Professor Sprout." He points to the boy. Pulling McGonagall closer to the redheaded patient, "It seems these two just appeared out of nowhere." Dumbledore said to McGonagall. "Young man, can you explain how you got here?" Dumbledore asked Ron. Lily had moved out of the way to wait for James. The Headmaster glances at Lily, "That is all Miss Evan. You and Mister Potter can retire for the night." Lily nods her head and pulls a still green looking James out of the hospital wing, "Come on Potter."
"Now, what happened? How did you get into the castle? Who are you?" Dumbledore gazes at the redhead. "My name is Ron Weasley, sir. We were already in the castle, in the middle of a battle with Death Eaters." McGonagall gasps. "My best friend Hermione, she gave us her bag and put this around both our necks, and said 'Fix this'. Next thing I know, we're in the hospital wing." Ron pulled the time turner off his neck to show the headmaster. "Sir, what is the date?" Dumbledore pursed his lips, "May 2, 1977. What was the date you last remember?" Ron had gone even more pale from shock yet again, "May 2, 1998."
Even though he is in immense pain Draco voices his opinion on the matter. Wincing in pain as he turns his head towards the very much alive Professor Dumbledore, "Sir, the future we came from is in ruins. The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters have overthrown the Wizarding World. The battle we came from was more of an.. extermination." With that final word, Draco lost consciousness.
Two hours later, exhausted and covered in blood, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout step away from the patient. "Albus." Madam Pomfrey gains the headmaster's attention, "How is he?" "He'll survive. His injuries were extensive. Broken nose was the least of them." Taking a deep breath in, "I believe he was marked. Whoever attacked him cut it away, leaving his arm almost useless. His face and chest have what looked like werewolf claw marks, and his back." Madam Pomfrey's tear up. "Oh, Albus. They carved 'Blood Traitor' so deep I can practically see the underlying muscles."
Looking at the two boys lying in the hospital wing, Dumbledore can't help but think they will play crucial parts in ending this war. He goes to stand between them, "Get some rest. We will figure the next course of action in due time." Ron nods his head. Draco is not paying attention due to being unconscious, his torso, left arm and left side of his face heavily bandaged. The professors exit the hospital wing to get some rest, the term is not over yet, and the week just started.
Meanwhile
James' stomach was still churning when he reached his dorm room, he barely reached their ensuite before violently vomiting. "Mate? You alright?" Sirius Black, one of his best friends and dormmate asked with concern in his voice. In Between bouts of vomiting, *retch* "Get out the map. *retch* Check the hospital wing." *retch*.
Sirius gets the map out from its hiding place, pointing his wand at the parchment, "I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good." The layout of the entire castle starts to appear. Opening the folds to show the hospital wing. Joined by Remus, Peter is dead asleep, they look over the names, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy.
The last two names confused the boys. "Who are they?" Remus asked out loud. James had stopped vomiting, rinsed his mouth and exited the ensuite. "If I didn't know any better I would have thought I was looking at Lucius Malfoy and one of the Prewetts." "What got your stomach in a knot?" Sirius wonders. "The one that looks like Malfoy. His injuries are so bad, especially his back. I think it was Death Eaters. Someone carved 'Blood Traitor' into his back. And his face, and chest had claw marks." James stated that last fact while looking at Remus.
James gets out some parchment and a quill, "I'm going to owl my mother. She told us at Christmas Hols if anything bad happened to owl her." James quickly wrote a missive, requesting his mother and father come to Hogwarts as soon as possible. "I'm going to take this to the owlery now. And then try to get some sleep." "Um, James. You may want to take a shower when you get back." Remus points out James' blood soaked uniform. "Right, yeah. I'll be back."
The next morning, all hell broke loose. You do not stand between Fleamont and Euphemia Potter and their family.
Meeting the Potters
The Marauders had just barely finished breakfast when James was summoned to the headmaster's office. "You guys coming with me?" Sirius wipes his mouth, "Here we go." Peter spoke up, "We didn't even do anything today." Peter was not informed about what happened last night while he was sleeping, so Remus said he didn't have to come with them. "Oh ok. I'll see you in class then Remus."
The three boys entered the Headmaster's office to see a very irate, pacing Euphemia Potter and her concerned husband, "I get an owl in the middle of the night, requesting our presence only to find out you're fine. What was so urgent that couldn't wait?" "I'm sorry mum, but you said to owl if anything happened. Last night, two boys just appeared out of thin air. One was severely injured, but the other seemed ok." James steps closer to his parents, so only they could hear him, "I think it was Death Eaters."
Euphemia's eyes widened as she spun towards the headmaster, "Is it true? Were these boys attacked by Death Eaters?" Up until this moment Dumbledore hadn't given any details, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighed, "It appears so." Adjusting his glasses, he leans his elbows on his desk clasps his hands, "Your presence couldn't have come at a better time. Let's head down to the hospital wing to discuss further. You may be of assistance in this matter." Fleamont Potter raises his eyebrows in suspicion but follows his wife and son and his friends out of the office.
Ron awoke to the sound of the door opening and voices of Dumbledore and a woman he couldn't place. Then again he wouldn't recognize them since he and Malfoy are in the past. Malfoy. Who would have thought he traveled back in time with someone he used to hate, and vice versa.
"Good morning Mister Weasley. How are you feeling?" "Better than yesterday. Or my yesterday." Ron sits up to greet everyone. "I imagine." Dumbledore gestures to the Potters, "This is Fleamont and Euphemia Potter. I believe you met their son James last night. Mr and Mrs Potter, this is Ronald Weasley."
Euphemia Potter glares at Dumbledore, "What are you playing at? He can't be a Weasley. I know the Weasleys' and the Prewetts'. He is not one of them."
Ron clears his throat and speaks loud enough for everyone to hear, "My name is Ronald Billius Weasley, born to Arthur and Molly Weasley on March 1, 1980. I am the second youngest of seven. We, my friend and I, were sent back in time by our best friend using a time turner."
Dumbledore held up his hand, "Mister Weasley that is quite enough." He didn't want their true origins revealed, time is such a fickle thing.
Once again feeling exhausted, Ron continued, "Professor, it's better if they know the truth from the start. If things continue the way they are, the future we just came from will still happen. Do you really want to risk that?" Ron takes a deep, shaky breath before continuing. "My best friend Hermione used a time turner in her third year to take more classes. She explained as best as she could the consequences of tampering with time. Well, I say screw that. We were sent back to change the outcome of this war before it gets too far out of hand. How are we going to do that, if we can't share what happens?" Ron closes his eyes, taking another deep breath, "Also, I will not be revealing anything else until my friend wakes up and we meet with the Order." He meets the eyes of Euphemia, "My apologies for my outburst. It seems the headmaster is still wanting his pawns set for the final match."
Euphemia looks to Ron, then the other, heavily bandaged, sleeping boy, then turns to the headmaster, "These boys will be going home with me. End of."
A/N: Please let me know what you think. I have not abandoned any of my stories, I'm just slow to update.