Prologue.
The sun beat down on Harry's neck as he sat by the lake watching the giant squid waving its tentacles lazily above the water. Somewhere along the way, he had lost the thread of Hermione and Ron's conversation as he looked across the water to the opposite bank. The stag—his stag—had galloped toward him from there just last night…
"That's it?"
Ron's incredulity and his questioning glance at Harry dragged him from his musings. The redhead was staring at the tiny, sparkling hourglass that dangled from the very long, very fine gold chain that hung from Hermione's fingers.
"The Time-Turner," Hermione confirmed. "I've been using it all year to get to classes."
"Can I look at it?" Ron asked. When Hermione hesitated, he added, "I won't touch it, just the chain."
When she looked at him, Harry shrugged. "Up to you, I guess."
Ron frowned a little and Hermione sighed. "Oh, fine," she said, rolling her eyes a bit, "Here you go."
She stretched her hand out to Ron who took the chain from her and lifted it so the hourglass dangled in front of his eyes.
"Just be very careful," Hermione fretted as he peered at the Time-Turner, "It's fragile."
Ron nodded and visibly tightened his grip on the golden chain before staring at it a while. Eventually, he passed it to Harry who examined the shimmering sand swirling within.
"What makes the sand move like that?" Harry asked curiously.
"I'm not exactly sure," Hermione frowned. "I tried looking it up in the library but apparently, the ministry is very secretive about time magic, which does make sense I suppose." She looked very put out.
"That's a bummer," Harry said.
"Yeah," Hermione sighed before perking up, "Wait, I almost forgot! If you look closely at the metal, there's an inscription that says—"
"Oi, Potter!"
Harry's head whipped over his shoulder to find Malfoy stalking towards them. To his immense irritation, the blond was smirking.
Harry scowled, hand reflexively tightening around his wand as the three of them stood up to meet him, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"I heard you three spent the night in the hospital wing." Malfoy's wand twirled in his fingers.
"And?" Harry asked aggressively, "What of it?"
"Then you missed the news!"
"News? What news?" Ron demanded as Harry and Hermione nervously glanced at each other.
"I'm sure it'll come as a bit of a nasty shock… I don't think you want to hear it," Malfoy said with mock concern. He positively beamed as their faces darkened.
"Just spit it out, Malfoy," Hermione said crossly, "And if it's about Sirius Black, we already know so you can save your breath."
"Not Black, no. But his filthy, half-breed pal Lupin, yes."
The three of them froze as his words sunk in. Seeing comprehension spread across their faces, Malfoy's grin widened.
"Oh, so you knew then, did you?" He laughed. "Of course. Figures you lot would be fine with a mutt like that teaching."
"You shut your mouth!" Harry spat.
Malfoy continued as if he hadn't spoken. "The parents will be horrified, of course, now that it's out. A werewolf teaching their children, can you imagine?" he shook his head, "No wonder Lupin resigned."
"He resigned?" Harry blurted out.
"Heard he's packing as we speak," Malfoy gloated.
Panicked urgency shot through Harry at the news and he turned to Hermione and Ron. "I need to see him."
"But Harry if he's resigned—"
"—I don't think there's anything you can do."
"I don't care," Harry insisted, turning towards the castle, "I still want to see him."
"Harry wait, the Time-Tur—" Hermione's voice cut off with a squeak.
A heavy silence fell as Harry froze.
"The what?" Malfoy asked dangerously.
Harry swallowed as he turned to face him. "None of your business, Malfoy."
"I think it is, actually."
As Harry's grip tightened on the golden chain, Malfoy's eyes flicked down to it and narrowed. His wand hand twitched.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
Harry's spell came a moment too late.
Hermione let out a shriek as the Time-Turner slipped between Harry's fingers and flew toward his face. Panicked, Harry scrambled to grab the golden chain but it was in vain as he watched, cross-eyed, as the tiny hourglass shattered against his glasses.
Glittering sand rained. Green eyes burned. Darkness fell.
And then Harry was very small.
Harry was very small and very hungry, lying on his back, staring at planks of wood covered in cobwebs and a single lightbulb on a chain. Harry was standing outside in the cold, barefoot, watching Aunt Petunia hug Dudley as he opened a shiny present. Harry was at the zoo, smiling at a snake who spoke to him. He was running through brick, fighting a troll, stabbing a diary. A swirl of colors and memories that sped past him, rushing, and pushing until—
He was sitting at a long table, arms protectively clutching a cold bowl of soup as he kept an eye out for the 30-something hungry boys seated with him. He was staring into the horrified eyes of an older woman as she whispered Monster. He was lying in the grass talking to a snake, feeling for once, special. He was watching his wardrobe burn, choosing his wand, reveling in his magic. He was powerful, and brilliant, and strong. And alone. Achingly alone.
Harry began to scream.
