Draco carefully pushed the door open and stepped into the entrance hall. The castle seemed strangely familiar to him but at the same time it felt like he had never been here before. The large wooden door fell closed behind him and he was left standing in complete darkness. He stood motionless for a moment and listened, perceiving nothing but silence. Suddenly he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and spun around.

We have been waiting for your return for a long time, Mr. Malfoy. The voice sounded hoarse but still he recognized it. Out of the shadows stepped a tall man. His once black hair had a lot of gray streaks in it and the elegant stride that had suited him so well when he was younger had been replaced by a slower way of moving, his steps supported by a walking-stick he held in his left hand. He was dressed in his usual black robes and was wearing black leather gloves.

Professor Snape? Draco asked.

Yes indeed, Mr. Malfoy. Snape replied and stood right in front of his former student. His black eyes seemed tired and empty, drained of all life that used to flicker deep inside of them.

What do you mean, you have been waiting for me?

Miss Granger told us about everything when she returned. Snape replied in a low voice. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver hourglass attached to a necklace. It's time for you to go back now.

No... I can't go back. Draco muttered. My father...

Yes, I know. Still you have to go back. You will be safe at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore... Snape paused. He told me to give this to you. He held out the chain to the young man.

Draco hesitated, noticed that Snape's hand was trembling slightly and quickly took the necklace from him. It's a Time-Turner. Snape explained.

What happened to Professor Dumbledore? Draco asked, still staring at the small hourglass in his hand. He couldn't see the pain and sadness that crossed his professor's face.

The less you know of your future, the better, Draco.

Is he... He's dead, right?

Snape sighed. Yes, he died.

Draco asked. I mean, if I know how, maybe there is something I can do, maybe I can change...

Snape interrupted him. Messing with the flow of time without exception leads to unpredictable and often disastrous outcomes.

But if you just tell me... Did we win? Or did we lose?

In wars like this there are no winners or losers, there are only those who are left. He said softly. Don't think I would not... It was the last promise I made to Albus. I had to promise him not to try and change his or anybody else's fate.

So he's not the only one? Draco asked. Who else? Just tell me what happened, tell me and I can warn you when I get back so... His voice trailed off when he saw Snape smile, a very sad smile, showing he had given up fighting long ago. Malfoy stared at him out of large eyes, searching for the person he once knew but failing to see anything but a beaten man.

Go home, Draco. Snape whispered. Don't tell me about it, don't tell anyone about what you have seen or heard.

Draco wanted to protest but he knew he wouldn't change his mind so he simply nodded. Snape took an old folded piece of parchment from his vest's pocket and handed it over to his student. The instructions on how to use the Time-Turner. Albus wrote it down for you. You will have to go back seventeen years and twenty-three days exactly.

But... what about the Ministry? I mean, I called the train, that comes close to using one of the Unforgivables...

Don't worry about that. Everything will be taken care of by the time you return. With this said Snape turned away and slowly walked back into the darkness he had come from. Just one thing... The man stopped but didn't turn around. He was speaking in a low voice, choosing each of his words very carefully. When you return, tell me to not give Miss Granger detention for cursing Weasley in my class.

Hermione? Why, did something happen to her? Draco asked.

Farewell, Mr. Malfoy. Snape muttered and vanished into the long corridor, leaving Draco on his own again. A slim gray tabby cat jumped down from where it had been sitting on the stairs and followed the wizard.


Snape listened to his own footsteps echoing through the empty hallway as he walked towards the small door leading out of the castle. He stopped by a window next to the door and gazed over to the Quidditch field which was hidden beneath a dense layer of white mist. To one who didn't know, the silhouettes of the gravestones lined up on the former playing field would have been invisible, but Snape knew them well. In his mind he could see each of the letters engraved in the marble stones. He knew the inscriptions by heart, having been present at each of the funerals. He wished he could have told Draco about everything, he wished he could have changed this future, but he also knew that Dumbledore had been right when he had made him promise not to do so. Maybe the fact that he returned would change something. A different timeline. Maybe. Still he had to tell him about the Gryffindor girl. She shouldn't have died, she had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. And he himself had made her be there. Snape opened the small wooden door and slowly stepped out into the cold to walk over to the graveyard. He needed to tell the headmaster that he had fulfilled his duty.


Draco wanted to ask him a million more questions but he knew he wouldn't get an answer. He suddenly realized why the castle seemed so odd to him. It was too quiet. It wasn't that late yet, there should still have been students awake. But he could neither see nor hear any students. No teacher prowled about the school, there was no hooting of school-owls, no slamming of doors, not even the sound of the moving staircases. Taking a closer look at his surroundings he noticed that all the picture frames were holding empty portraits. The people had disappeared from the paintings, all that was left were empty rooms, empty chairs and empty meadows. The stone walls looked old and dirty and so did the wooden planks covering the ground. This place had nothing in common with the Hogwarts Draco knew. It was a deserted and run-down castle, having lost all its beauty and splendor. He folded the parchment to put it into his pocket but then decided it would be better not to take it back with him and dropped it onto the dusty ground. He looked around himself one last time, put the golden chain around his neck, turned the hourglass exactly like Dumbledore had written it down and closed his eyes.


His feet left the ground and a strong force pulled away his body. He was glad he had closed his eyes just like the headmaster had suggested in his letter because he was convinced if he had kept them open this journey would have made him feel very very sick. His body seemed to float through the air, strong currents throwing him into different directions. Suddenly there was solid ground beneath his feet again and he opened his eyes.

There you are, Mr. Malfoy! I see everything worked out just as I had planned it. Albus Dumbledore came walking towards him across the entrance hall, smiling broadly.

'Not quite I fear...' Draco thought to himself. It sent a shiver down his spine to see the man of whose death he had just learned a few minutes ago standing in front of him and hearing the chatter of students in the warmly lit halls of the castle.

Are you feeling all right? The headmaster asked when Draco didn't reply anything. I suppose you might have had quite a long journey.

Draco stammered. Slowly he was really beginning to feel better. At least the walls around him had stopped moving and the ground wasn't shaking anymore. He took the chain from his neck and handed the Time-Turner back to Dumbledore.

Ah, yes, I think I should take this back.

When did I come back? Draco asked. I mean, when is now?

It is friday evening, exactly one week and ten hours after you left. The headmaster explained. Would you follow me up to my office please? I think there are some things I have to tell you about. Draco nodded and followed him up the stairs.


Draco found it hard to follow the headmaster's words. The only thing on his mind was the future he had seen. He wanted to tell him about it so desperately but he knew he couldn't do that, it was just too dangerous.

Dumbledore seemed to notice his student wasn't really listening to what he said. Mr. Malfoy, I know that you might have seen things that you feel the urge to inform us about. The old wizard said and sat down in his chair. But no matter how wrong it might seem to you now...

I know. Draco interrupted him.

We should go back to discussing the present then. Your father does not yet know that you have returned or where you have been...

Are you sure? Draco asked.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in surprise. Of course I am, how could he know?

Draco fiddled with his cloak and stared at the ground. Professor Snape might have told him... He muttered.

The old wizard smiled. No, Mr. Malfoy, there is no need to worry about that. Draco sighed in relief. When he had seen Snape in the future it had been obvious that he wasn't on the dark side anymore, but of course Draco couldn't know for sure exactly when he had left the Dark Lord. And from what Miss Granger told us I assume you don't want to join his side either?

Not if I have a choice. My father won't accept it though.

Dumbledore replied thoughtfully. You are obviously aware of the consequences this decision would have for you. Please think about it well before you decide what you are going to do, but if you are going to act against your father's will, be assured that we are all going to support you as good as we can.

Thank you, Sir, I appreciate that. Draco rose from his chair. If you'd excuse me now, I have to go and see Professor Snape, there's something I have to tell him.


Down in the dungeons it was dark, cold and quiet which reminded Draco a lot of the state the whole school would be in seventeen years from now. He quickly chased the memories away when he reached the door leading to Snape's office, raised his hand and knocked.

Come in. Snape muttered, sounding quite annoyed. Draco walked in and closed the door behind himself. When Snape looked up from his desk he didn't seem to be surprised at all.

So it worked. He simply said.

'Looks like it.' Draco thought to himself. He replied and Snape went back to grading some essays.

Professor, there is something I have to tell you. About the future.

Snape dropped his quill onto the table and looked up again. You must not tell anyone about what you know. He whispered, wearing a very serious expression.

I know, but this one thing... You yourself, in the future, you told me to tell you this when I get back here.

Did I... Snape was obviously surprised about his future self's actions. Since I probably will have a very good reason to do so, go ahead. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms in front of his chest.

You told me to tell you not to give Hermione Granger detention for cursing Ron Weasley in your class. Draco said. I suppose it will make sense to you, some time in the future... He added, seeing the blank look on his teacher's face.

Yes, you're probably right about that. Snape muttered.

Well, I'll be leaving then... Draco said, making some steps backwards.

Just a moment, Mr. Malfoy. Snape stopped him. I understand that you have to make a very difficult decision...

I already made my decision. Draco interrupted him. I... well, I hope you will be supporting me.

The wizard nodded and for a split second Draco thought he had seen something like pride in his eyes. He smiled and left the office to go back up to his common room.

Snape still stared at the door for a few minutes after he had left. Unlike nearly everyone else he had always thought it probable that Draco would not follow his father. Still he had not tried to talk to the boy when Lucius had told him that his son was going to be initiated to the Death Eaters. Maybe he should have. It might have made things easier. Since he hadn't he probably had to thank Hermione Granger's Gryffindorish courage for Draco's return. And this was something he didn't like at all.


Lucius Malfoy hadn't been very delighted to hear about his son's failure. Still there was not much he could do, Draco was staying at Hogwarts, well protected from his family's influence and Lucius couldn't quite walk into the Ministry of Magic and complain about Dumbledore keeping his son from becoming a Death Eater.

As a natural talent when it came to being an actor and a liar Snape had easily gotten used to his new role in this game, keeping Draco out of the reach of the Death Eaters and at the same time pretending towards Lucius that he was doing everything he could to convince the boy of turning his back on Dumbledore.

Draco had started to dissociate from his former friends for most of their parents were followers of the Dark Lord as well and was seen on his own most of the time - it was difficult for him to make some new friends.

Three weeks after Draco had returned Snape saw him flash a shy smile at Hermione Granger when the fifth years were entering Professor Binns' classroom for an unannounced general test. It reminded him that he hadn't yet told the girl that he appreciated the courage she had showed by following Draco.

That test had been Dumbledore's idea, he had thought it would be a better way of preparing the students for their exams. Most of the students though seemed quite unhappy and looked at Snape as if he was the one responsible for this. He knew he was the person they would expect to come up with something so cruel and unfair. Snape smiled at the thought.

As soon as the last student - Neville Longbottom - had entered the classroom, Snape followed him inside and closed the door. Seeing the anxiety grow in the students' faces while McGonagall handed out the questions, Snape was glad nobody had had such a brilliant idea while he had still been a student at this school.


McGonagall was sitting at the desk in the front of the room and keeping a sharp eye on the students while Snape was pacing up and down the room to make sure everyone kept their attention to their own work.

Hermione was staring down at the paper in front of her, reading question twenty-one for the hundredth time. 'How many magic runes are needed for an Alagonian rune oracle? What an incredibly stupid question.' She thought to herself. How could they regard something like that as basic knowledge? She didn't take any divination classes and thus didn't have the faintest idea. To her the answer could be anything between 'some' and 'quite a lot'. She looked up and made sure none of the teachers was watching her.

She whispered. Although she doubted he had ever paid a lot of attention to Professor Trelawney, she hoped he at least knew that much. He glanced over at her. Question twenty-one. She whispered. He looked down onto his paper, found the answer, leaned over to her and felt McGonagall's glare. Giving Hermione a curt apologetic smile he quickly looked away again.

Snape slowly walked along the tables until he reached the place where Hermione was sitting. He stood behind her and looked over her shoulder down at the paper in front of her. When he read the question she had left unanswered he remembered well that he had never thought the world of divination classes either. He leaned over her a little and whispered so softly nobody else could hear it before he continued with his round through the classroom.


-end-



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Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed - I love you all for that ;)


shadowycat: Thank you. Still more questions than answers I suppose - hope you still liked it. Glad to hear you thought Del was interesting because he and his friend are taken from an original story of mine. You're right about them being some sort of time guardians, trying to straighten things out and accidentally causing even more chaos.