Disclaimer: Joy to the World I own this piece, I own ever-y-thing!!!! (People stare weirdly at her.) ^_^x;; No I don't really…If I did, no one would be liking Harry Potter as much… Eh heh.
Author's Notes: I should have saved the last chapter in HTML. It was prettier in HTML. Oh well. I never intended this story to become like…THIS. It was supposed to be a plot-less, one-shot at Ron angst. This is what it turns into as I wrote it in the middle of the morning. O.ox;; I never intended ANYONE to review. Well, here you go.
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Draco Malfoy didn't like what he had done. He knew of all the horrifying after effects of what he did, and the risks… He was paying the price.
Luckily, he was stuck in a time much like his own; similar, but not quite the same.
He couldn't understand it. It was just a harmless trick. What could've happened?
This.
A flicker of light came back to him. Flashes of images poured into his mind, a recollection of the memory.
He had been in the Infirmary the other day, laying in one of the beds, injured with a black eye, a swollen ankle, and perhaps some few aching areas. He had provoked Weasley into a fight, as usual. But Weasley had the upper hand, and took a preemptive strike to his left eye. And in the process, he fell back from the force and tripped down the stairs. Fortunately, Granger had been near by and happened to call for help. Hah. Gryffindor managed to get about twenty points off and a detention for Weasley.
He had finished all of todays and yesterday's homework, as it was nearing dinner time. His black eye became less noticeable, and his ankle was in a sense all right, as he was able to walk on it, with a tad limp. His aching body wasn't hurting as much anymore.
Collecting his books, he got out of bed, and left the Infirmary. He came up a few flights of stairs without much difficulty, and muttered the password ("Dracaena") and went to his dorm. Placing the books down on his bed, he checked his calendar, which was opened. There was a circle around the 23rd in red.
'Ah yes, today's the final day! The Potion is ready…'
A friend of his, Androca Dromwell, was in the area. What he didn't know was that Dumbledore had personally hired him to be a watcher. He and Draco had been budding up.
Androca spoke of his past and interests to Draco and vice versa. Androca was also an American. That surprised Draco, because his English accent was seemingly natural. Androca was just a few years older than him, about three or four. He also was renowned to be a famous writer in the Wizarding World, which wasn't surprising to Draco. He had heard of him.
But there was something interesting about him too. Dromwell had an interest when it came to Mythology, Astrology, and time; anything that had to do with time was a hobby of his. Draco thought it was fascinating.
He too had thought about what it would be like to travel different times, different dimensions. There must be at least a million times and dimensions out there. You could get lost.
So, one day, Draco had been looking through books in the Restricted Section, as with permission, and found a book. It perhaps was one of the eldest books out of the section. It was titled, "Constrictede Potions" or something close. He could barely tell the cover. The coloring of the letters were worn, but not removed.
That was about two months ago.
He and his friend were brewing the potion, secretly, while taking notes. Draco knew Androca appreciated doing this potion with him.
But he didn't know that his friend was slowly dieing.
Distracting him, "Hey, Draco?"
He looked up from his book, "Yes?"
Pointing out, "Hey, look here. It says here we have to do an incantation. But I can't read any of that."
Scanning, "I can. I can teach you how to say it, if you want."
He sheepishly chuckled, "You see that's the problem. When I try to remember an incantation, I can't remember it as well. And you have to say the incantation right off the bat."
Murmuring, "Besides, I'll be dying faster if I do this… It'll just speed up the process, and I don't want to die somewhere else."
Draco stared at him with befuddlement. "What? What are you talking about?"
Androca sighed, "There's this thing… It's like a new disease or virus that I happened to have caught in an area I was passing by. In that area, one of the big-time crooks in that area was trying to do this plot for terrorism… I happened to have been one of the few victims that got hit by this disease. It slowly withers me, much like HIV or AIDS, horrifying muggle diseases, except faster. And if I strain myself than the usual, it hastens up the virus. It is not contagious person to person, but when the source is exposed to people, that's where it is contagious."
Draco stopped his stirring as was instructed in the book, and sat down. "But are you sure…?"
He was frightened, and yet, calmed, and saddened.
"So you're saying that I would have to do this incantation and take this potion? That's absurd!! You've waited your live to do this-this type of thing! There's enough for the two of us! How can such-"
Androca cut him off. He shook his head. "For one thing Draco, use your logic. Even if we take the same potion, it does not guarantee that we'd be in the same time. And you don't know exactly how drastic this potion might do to me. It might even shorten three months worth of life, if possible!"
He placed his hands on his shoulders and stared into Draco's eyes for a moment, the hazel sternly gleaming, and he hugged Draco. "Besides, you seem more worth it than I; you seem like you had a life much harder than mine. I can tell. It's everywhere you walk, you look. It's just there."
He removed himself from Draco, "Besides, you can tell me your adventures when you come back. I'm busying myself with the newest fiction novel of mine otherwise. Maybe I can find a charm, or perhaps a simple spell to send you things through the space continuum. You'll never know, right?"
He glanced at his pocket watch, "Well, I got to go. It's time for my shift, and the potion is done for today, right? See you tomorrow, Draco. Have a good night."
He waved and gave a grin of reassurance. And he walked away.
A tiny voice called back, "You too."
That was about a month ago. He had remembered that day very well, as if it were yesterday or perhaps taking place right now. The corners of his mouth were twitching upward in contentment. He had not been this happy, and this free in such a long time. It was a time way beyond his youth. He took a look at his watch. 8:30. He still had about two to four hours, depending on if the potion was cooling slowly or rapidly.
He walked out of the dorms, and glanced around in the common room, seeing if anyone was there; just a few people.
He left out of the room, muttering the password once again, and made it down to the Great Hall, where everyone was expecting him.
He got stares from all directions as he entered, and he sat down in silence, with the usual face. Alone, he ate in silence, just wishing for time to hurry. He discreetly watched what he had eaten, but tucked up, in hopes for filling up.
Moments later, when he was rather satisfied, he went to an empty classroom were Androca was waiting. He shut the door behind him silently as he muttered a few charms to prevent any body from coming in, and sat in a chair near Androca.
"Is it ready?"
He sort of shrugged. "It's nearly done. All we have to do is sprinkle the pixie dust and say the words, and in a few minutes it should be cool enough to drink."
Draco nodded, "Ok," and took the bag of pixie dust given to him.
Reading the book one last time, he took two pinches, as followed, and muttered the olden English.
"Divine, Unity, Truste,
Bring back the time that was lost.
Air, light, star, heaven,
Stir anew the time thou hast given.
Purity, Virtue, Wisdom,
Give the strength and will thine forward,
And taketh thou in Chrono's Hands"
Draco took a long wooden spoon, and stirred for a few more minutes. In seconds, the dark purple turned a nearly translucent milky white. It was clear, but with bare coloration. He had ladled enough of the potion into two vials, feeling the iciness of the potion on the glass. Placing the cap on top of one of the vials, he placed it in his pockets, placing an unbreakable charm on it. Taking the other vial in his right hand and he took a glance at Dromwell.
"Don't forget, if you need to get back, and there is no more of the potion, you have to find your time guide to lead you, and say the incantation once more. Time won't move except for the potion makers. Well, me anyway. "
Nodding with impatience, "Well, good luck Draco."
He returned the gesture. "You too, Andro'..."
He shut his eyes, and swallowed the tangy, yet cold concoction and fell into a bleak void; feeling his blood rush into his face faster than before. He felt all the sensation pull away as he drew inside of it. And he fell straight in.
That was how he got here. He sighed, as he pulled the silken sheets around him. It was still night. He just came from the Astronomy Tower. He had sworn he felt someone there before him, and followed; for a moments time, anyways.
He was running out of time. Only the potion maker doesn't freeze when the potion is being taken, and Andro's life was draining normally. He wanted to be there. It was scaring him, being away in a foreign, and yet familiar landscape. He had to find the Time Guide.
Where? Who could it be? It could have been anyone! There are millions out here!
He had remembered Andro's words calling out to him, 'For all you know, they could be near by you, or under your nose…'
Who would it be then?
He shuddered at the thought.
He sighed and shut his eyes and drew into sleep.
He was sorting this out in the morning.
-- End Chapter/Part 2
Author's Notes: Wow… That ended up better and longer than I thought it would have been. I was looking through CoS for some little on hand research. This is getting better though…Very much. And I am DEFINITELY sure to save this in HTML or I will kick my butt.
I have been addicted to HTML. O.o;; Again.
Had a Happy T/Turkey/Bird Day anyone? I did! Though, pork was served than turkey. --;; Well I hope you enjoy this! I worked hours (two/three really) on this! ^.-
Review if you dare!
~A-Chan Yuy~
11/23/01
5:03/:07 AM CST
