The cold made Draco wake up. He slowly opened his eyes, blinked a few times and remembered where he was and why he was there. Looking around himself he saw that the strange green-haired boy had returned. He was standing at the selling window of a Café only a few steps away. Draco got up from the ground and stretched his arms above his head. He couldn't remember ever having slept that uncomfortable before. His back hurt, he had a stiff neck and he was quite sure he had caught himself a cold. The moment he started to feel how much he missed Hogwarts it suddenly hit him that today was the day he was supposed to become a Death Eater. The sleepiness he had felt was immediately replaced by anxiety. They would search for him and when they did they would sooner or later find him.

Slept well? The green-haired boy asked and sat down on the stairs.

Draco replied curtly and rubbed his neck.

Del didn't seem offended by this, he grinned. So what are you up to today?

I'll leave, they are probably already searching for me. Draco had made up his plan the night before. He knew it might not be a good idea, but it was the only thing he had been able to come up with.

Who are 'they'? The other boy asked.

You wouldn't understand. Draco turned his head and looked down the street.

Hm, okay.

Well, thank you for your help. Draco muttered. He found it hard to thank someone. And he didn't have much experience with it.

Good luck then.

Draco nodded, turned away and quickly walked down the street. The green-haired boy looked after him until he vanished in the crowd of business men on their way to work.


***


Hermione ran down the stairs of the hotel she and her parents were staying in, walked across the entrance hall and out onto the street. It was a bright and sunny but still very cold day. She was glad to finally get away from her family for a few hours - she had never particularly liked family celebrations. And being in a city like London she knew some better things to do with her time than drinking tea with her relatives. The traffic lights turned green, she quickly crossed the street and walked up the small hill. She didn't quite know where she wanted to go so she just strolled along the small street looking at the shop windows.

She saw him standing in a small side street she crossed. Although acknowledging his presence she didn't really realize he was there and walked on, stopped after a few steps and turned back. It really was Draco Malfoy, leaning against a red brick wall and staring down at the ground. She had noticed that Draco had missed their transfigurations class the day before and she had heard rumours that he might have run away but still hadn't expected to just run into him when walking along the street. She didn't really want to have anything to do with this but the way he was standing there, on his own, staring at his feet, he looked quite miserable to her, so she walked over to him. Draco didn't seem to notice her until she was standing next to him. He looked up and frowned.

Granger, what are you doing here... He muttered.

That's just what I was about to ask you too. She replied.

None of your business. He snapped.

So you really ran away? The whole school must be out searching for you by now.

Get lost, Granger. He muttered, turned away and started to slowly walk down the small street.

Hermione was worried about him - although she didn't want to be. And she didn't know why she was. He had been rude to her now and he had been mean to her and her friends ever since they first met. Still she followed him. With a few quick steps she had caught up with him, reached out and grabbed his arm.

What's your bloody problem! Malfoy shouted at her. Go away, leave me alone!

What's your problem!

They stood in silence for a few moments.

You're a mudblood, you can't understand... Draco said softly.

Excuse me? Hermione said angrily. I'm just trying to help you and all you are doing is insulting me!

I can't remember asking for your help! Malfoy hissed. I... I didn't mean to insult you... He added in a low voice, lowering his gaze to stare at the ground again.

Hermione was definitely surprised by this. She couldn't imagine Malfoy not wanting to insult her and even less had she expected to ever hear him apologizing to her.

Are you all right? She asked.

As I said before, I don't need your help. I have to leave now. He said calmly and walked away from her again. And again, she followed.

Where are you going?

Somewhere where I won't be forced to make this decision. He said slowly.

What decision?

Draco suddenly stopped and looked around himself. Seeing that the street was empty except for him and his fellow student he pulled out his wand and took a deep breath. He raised it above his head, waved it and then quickly let his hand drop and touched the ground with the tip of his wand, shouting 'Via Tempus!'. A flash of light raced down from above and hit the street right where he had touched the concrete with his wand and then a low rattling sound could be heard, coming from very far away but quickly approaching the place where the two students where standing.

What did you do! Hermione cried, her voice sounding weak against the rattling sound.

Called the train. Malfoy replied dryly.

What train!

The Aeonexpress.

Hermione stared at him out of wide eyes. What?! How do you know... I mean, you mustn't....

She couldn't finish her sentence. A gush of air hit her hard and made her stumble backwards and suddenly right in front of her in the middle of the street she saw the train. It was the strangest train she had ever seen and that was not only because it hovered a few inches above the concrete, not seeming to need any tracks. The engine looked very old, bearing some resemblance to the Hogwarts Express. The carriages didn't go quite well with the engine or with one another. One seemed to have been taken straight from a London subway train, another one might once have been part of the Orient Express while the next one was made of shiny silvery metal and with its black windows and flashing lights looked more like a spaceship than a train.

Draco seemed to be nearly as surprised as Hermione. He obviously hadn't quite known what to expect when calling the train. All he knew was that no wizard was allowed to do what he had just done because the Ministry had already about two centuries ago decided that it was very dangerous to allow every witch and wizard to travel around in time whenever they felt like it. Azkaban awaited everyone who didn't follow this rule. Draco didn't care. Who knew if Azkaban would even still exist where he was going. With a swishing sound the doors of the carriages opened, one after another. Draco put his wand back beneath his cloak and stepped towards the door of the second carriage, the one that looked like a subway train.

Wait, you can't do that! Hermione called out to him.

Just mind your own business! Draco snapped at her and jumped onto the train.

Hermione looked up and down the street and contemplated what to do when she heard the doors closing again, one after the other, starting from the end of the train. Come on, Malfoy, get off that train! She tried to convince him although she was quite sure he didn't care. Damn you. She muttered, saw the door of the third carriage fall closed, took a few quick steps and jumped onto the train. The door closed right behind her and a second later the train set into motion.


Out on the street the green-haired boy stepped out from the shadows of the entrance to an old warehouse. He folded his arms in front of his chest, looked up at the magic train slowly rising up into the air and sighed inaudibly.


Hermione saw Draco sitting in a seat at the window at the end of the carriage and ran along the aisle to sit down in the row in front of him. The train hovered in the air by now, high above the streets and houses of London. It started to move very suddenly, gaining speed fast and only a moment later it was racing through an infinite blackness towards its unknown destination.

Hope you know you got yourself into quite some trouble with this. Draco muttered, staring out of the window into the darkness.

Hermione turned to face him, her back against the window. You are the one who got both of us into trouble! She replied.

I told you to get lost, remember!

Hermione said, not being in the mood to argue with him. Especially because she knew he was right. So now that we're here... why did you do that?

None of your business.

Don't be such an idiot... She muttered, leaned her head against the window glass and closed her eyes.

Draco looked at her for a long time. Fine, what the hell... He said. My father expects me to join Voldemort. Hermione opened her eyes when he said that name. I don't want to. Guess that surprises you, Granger, doesn't it? Everyone thinks I'm already one of them...

Actually yes, I'm surprised. She replied. More by your courage though than by the fact that you don't want to be a Death Eater.

Shows pretty much courage to run away from your decisions rather than dealing with the consequences... He muttered.

Still better than to just give in.

They had been sitting in silence for a few minutes when Draco stood up, looked out of the window at the end of the car and then walked along the aisle to look out of the window at the other end. Doesn't look like there was anyone else on this train. He said when he returned to his place.

I don't think a lot of wizards dare to call the train. So where is it going anyway? Hermione asked.

To a time where I won't be forced to make that decision.

When would that be?

Draco shrugged his shoulders. I have no idea. Probably a time in which Voldemort doesn't even exist. Might be the past, might be the future.

Well, let's wait and see then. Hermione whispered more to herself than to her fellow student and closed her eyes again.


***


The Aeonexpress floated silently through time and space and Albus Dumbledore poured himself a cup of tea. The sky had cleared up by now, only a few white fluffy clouds were to be seen and warm rays of sunlight were shining through the room's windows. The wizard walked over to the window and looked down onto the castle grounds. Everything seemed happy and peaceful, like a picture from a book of fairy tales. Until he saw the large gray owl which was flying right towards him. He quickly opened the window, stepped aside and the bird raced right past him to land on his desk. Sitting there it spread its wings and hooted angrily and the headmaster noticed the red collar it was wearing.

Oh, so you're an urgent Ministry owl. He said softly and put his cup onto the windowsill. I just hope... He muttered under his breath, reached out and took the parchment from off the bird's foot. The owl obviously wasn't meant to wait for his reply and immediately set off again. When the old wizard opened the letter and read the first few lines his expression darkened. He muttered and shook his head.


***


When Hermione opened her eyes again she realized that she must have been fallen asleep. Turning around to Draco she saw that he was sleeping as well. Outside it was still pitch black and all that could be heard was a low continuous humming sound. She pulled back her sleeve and looked at her watch: the hands weren't moving. Of course not. Would she have thought about it she wouldn't have expected it to work. The neon lights that illuminated the carriage flickered and Hermione felt like the train was slowing down.

She whispered. Draco? Wake up.

He slowly opened his eyes.

I think we're there... wherever that might be.

Whenever more likely. He replied, took a deep breath and looked out of the window. The blackness turned into gray and the blurry outlines of large buildings came into view.

They quickly realized that they had returned to the exact place from where their journey had started. Not much seemed to have changed, the only thing they noticed when the doors opened was that the weather had become significantly colder and darker. And it was raining. Draco slowly stepped outside and Hermione followed him but hesitated when she reached the door.

Do you really think we should do that? She asked.

I reached my destination, so I'm getting off that train, whatever you do is up to you. He looked around himself and then started to walk up the street.

Hermione called after him. She had no idea what would happen if she would just stay on the train so maybe she should rather try to stick to Malfoy.

Aeonexpress Incorporated would like to thank you for travelling with us and to wish you a pleasant stay. Hermione winced when she suddenly heard the voice echoing through the train. The passengers in possession of a return ticket will please note that the train will leave again in exactly ninety-nine minutes. Thank you for your attention.

Return ticket? She whispered to herself and jumped out of the train. She looked at her watch and noticed the hands had started moving again. Knowing the train would be waiting here for another ninety-nine minutes she could just as well follow Malfoy.

Hey, wait for me! She called after him, Draco turned around and seeing that she was following him he decided to at least walk a little slower. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to have her around, after all he didn't quite know his way through a muggle London, no matter in what time.


***


Dumbledore had decided to keep this staff meeting small, actually he didn't think it made sense to inform anyone else besides Professors McGonagall and Snape, being heads of the houses the two missing students were in. When he entered the staff room he smiled at seeing them both already waiting for him there. He noticed that Minerva seemed worried and Severus seemed, well, nothing at all, as usual.

Why did you ask us to come here, Albus? McGonagall asked even before the headmaster had taken his seat. Did you hear anything about Mr. Malfoy?

Yes, unfortunately I have. The old wizard replied and hearing this Snape raised his gaze from the fascinating oaken tabletop he usually studied during staff meetings and looked up at the headmaster instead.

About an hour ago I received a letter from the Ministry which states that Mr. Malfoy seems to have called the time-travelling train. Dumbledore explained.

Snape sighed inaudibly. That stupid kid, he thought.

The Ministry also informed me that Miss Granger was with him at that time and entered the train, too. She was not the one who called it though.

Another stupid kid, Snape thought. He really would have expected a little more common sense from the Gryffindor girl.

Oh my goodness, why did they do something like that? McGonagall said. They know what consequences this will have! How can Mr. Malfoy even know how to call the train!

Death Eater's knowledge. Snape said in a low voice. Some of them still know how to do it.

Well, I suppose they didn't travel to the past, if they would have we should know that by now... McGonagall said thoughtfully.

I'm afraid you're mistaken there, Minerva. Dumbledore replied. It is possible that they actually did travel to the past. By this they may have changed that past and thus created a new timeline which would not allow them to ever return to the future which is our present.

McGonagall nodded slowly, still waiting for the information to settle. Snape went back to staring at the table. Logical thinking had never been difficult for him but time-travelling theories tended to make his head spin. Probably because time itself had always been completely illogical to him.

So actually there is nothing we can do? Snape asked after a few seconds of silence.

Waiting is the only action that makes sense in this situation. The headmaster replied. It is still possible that they might find a way to return to this time. And if they travelled to the future, we may just have to wait for the time to go by.