Chapter 23

"Whoa! Stop, please, stooooop! I want to get off!" Araminta shouted as the world spun green and blue and black and purple spirals around her eyes. She turned green herself and her stomach ached and her ears rang. The Time-Turner had spun itself around a million times in its chain and even though she grabbed it tight in her hand it didn't stop the strange and awful events from happening all around her.

At last Araminta tumbled to the ground, breaking the Time-Turner. The breath was knocked out of her and she wheezed seven times before a good breath came and she got her breath back. "Whew, that was really scary," she said. "I'd better hurry and see if I can catch Melannen again. This time, I'll stand up for myself and I'll stand up for the rules of Hogwarts."

She sprinted up the steps to the school and almost knocked over Professor McGonagall. "Slow down, there, missy! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Wow, you look really young, Professor," Araminta blurted out.

"I...do? Yes, I do," the professor continued. "Where are you from, and why are you wearing that outlandish getup?"

"They're my Slythindor robes," answered Araminta uncertainly. "What else would I wear?"

Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot up like wild, wriggling caterpillars. "I'm afraid I've never heard of Slythindor house. Is this some kind of practical joke, Miss..." She trailed off, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"My name is Araminta Malfoy-Potter," said Araminta Malfoy-Potter.

McGonagall gave a short bark of laughter and then clutched her hand to her chest. "Dear Merlin's beard, you're serious!"

"Um, yes," said Araminta. "Absolutely, completely, utterly serious. Professor McGonagall, don't you remember me?"

"My dear child, I have never seen you before in my life." Professor McGonagall cleaned her square-framed glasses and peered closely at Araminta. "Where did you come from?"

Araminta was very disappointed. "But, just yesterday you helped me find my virgin Animagus form and we are Hot Cheetos together. Are you suffering from mild dementia? Am I so very boring?" Araminta looked at her feet, hot tears pricking at the insides of her eyelids.

"I remember nothing of the sort. I think we had better see the Headmaster about this."

The Headmaster! Of course! Albus Dumbledore would have all of the answers.