CHAPTER 6: A Greeting From the Future Order

"Go to the future?" Sirius said slowly. "Could we do that?"

"Yes," Selina answered. "But not all of you would have to come. Tonks, Mad-Eye, Kinglsey, all the Weaslys except Ron, and all the professors except for father could stay."

"Why do I have to come?" Ron questioned, half complaining.

"Everyone is beginning to despair, we can't defeat Voldemort and everyone knows it. It would help Cherie to see you again I think," Selina told him.

"Cherie is my daughter, right?" Ron asked.

"Mh, hm," Selina said. "Now everyone who isn't coming, get out of here for a few minutes and that includes you, Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore isn't coming!" Harry exclaimed, aghast.

"It would be to risky," Selina explained simply. "If Voldemort got a hold of him in the future, then he would never be able to come back to the present and the result would be catastrophic!"

"Oh," Harry said. Everyone whom Selina had mentioned filed out, a few glancing back worriedly (Mrs. Weasly more than once until she almost fell down the stairs).

"All right," Selina said. "This is what you have to do. Padma and Ron go and stand over in that corner, make absolutely sure you hold hands. Ginny and Draco, go and do the same in the opposite corner. Harry; stand in the corner down from Ginny and Draco and Sirius in the corner opposite him. Mom, dad, come with me. We're standing in the middle." Selina grabbed her brother's hand and together they walked into the center. Hermione and Severus followed uncertainty. Once they were all in place Selina took out what appeared to be a muggle stopwatch. Fiddling around with the buttons she got it to say 2036.

"Ready?" she asked everyone. They nodded. "Then let's go." She pressed the red button and the office filled with light. It circled around them, going faster and faster till it was just a blur. Then it stopped, just as suddenly as it had begun. They were in the future.

* * * * * * * * *

It became clear as soon as the lights had disappeared that they were no longer in Dumbledore's office. The land was dry and rocky and deserted houses, which had fallen into disrepair and decay lined along what used to be a street. Above the sky was black, or it might have been an extremely dark blue, no one could rightly tell. There was something in the air which just screamed danger, you didn't have to listen hard to hear it. But Ron wasn't listening at all.

"Where?" the redhead began. Selina glared at him and he shut up immediately. In her own time the Snape woman seemed much more dangerous and alert. She motioned for the group to follow her. She walked calmly over to one of the houses holding her brother's hand and pressed an apparently broken doorbell.

"Who is it?" a high but commanding voice asked.

"Selina," she answered. "An I've brought a few guests."

"Excellent," came the voice. The door swung open.

"Come on," Selina said and she stepping in with her brother. Harry shrugged and followed. Everyone else did the same.

* * * * * * * * *

Inside the house it was not dark or falling apart as could be expected, but bright and full of technology that was for too advanced to be muggle alone and far to muggle looking to be entirely magic. A lone witch stood waiting for them, her hair silvery and her eyes green. She was only about five foot four but and imposing nature hung around her like most wizards ware a cloak. Her pants were black and clung to her a bit like spandex but it was a material the group from the present had never seen before. Her shirt was a dark green and made out of the same stuff. She wore normal black boots and out of her right ear dangled a lightening bolt earring.

"Hey," she said, suddenly smiling. "Good to see y'all."

"Y'all?" Ron asked blankly.

"Artemis lived in the southern parts of the U.S. with Harry until he died ten years ago, then she moved back to England," Selina said, then added in a whisper: "But we haven't been able to get rid of the dreadful accent."

"I'm hurt," Artemis drawled, trying her best to look mortally wounded. "After all I've done for you."

"Don't start," Selina said irritably.

"Now are you gonna tell me that trip to the past didn't make you at least a little happier?" Artemis said with an exaggerated sigh.

"Dramatic enough?" Harry murmured. Artemis grinned.

"Somebody's gotta be, pops," she said.

"Pops?" Harry said in a strangled voice. Selina snorted.

"Guess you were always dead boring then," Artemis told him sadly. Harry gaped at her, strongly resembling a fish. Clearly he didn't know what to make of this woman who would someday be his daughter.

"Harry, why don't you go and talk with Artemis. She'll explain things more clearly to you than I have," Selina instructed firmly. So Harry, though a bit frightened truth be told, walked over to Artemis and they disappeared.

"Where'd they go?" Ron and Sirius exclaimed.

"What did you do to him?" Hermione demanded.

"Relax," Selina said, putting her hands up and waving them back. "They'd just gone to another part of the house. The quidditch filed if I'm not mistaken. Artemis hasn't had a truly decent person to play with since Harry died."

"Don't you play quidditch?" Severus asked (oddly enough).

"Yeah, but I'm a beater," Selina explained, or so she thought.

"If you're a beater, why can't she play with you?" Ron asked, confused. Selina smiled.

"Sorry, I forgot it was different in your time," she said apologetically. "You see everyone in the house plays quidditch, but all together we've only really got enough for one team, and that wasn't any good. So ever the loyal quidditch player and inventor, Artemis created robots that could take the place of other plays, but none of them are good enough to challenge Artemis as a seeker. Now follow me." Selina pressed a button on her necklace, which had suddenly appeared around her neck and the next second they were in a new room, which looked a lot like the Hogwarts library. Sitting in a large armchair, her legs over the side, was a tall, redheaded woman. She had light blue eyes and her clothes were like Artemis's except her shirt was blue and her earring was a simple ruby. On the other side of the room was a medium-height, pale-blonde haired woman standing on a ladder looking through one of the bookcases. Her shirt was amber and her earring a large sapphire crystal. Unlike Artemis and the redhead, who wore their hair in a simple ponytail, the blonde wore her hair in a braid, a very long, thin braid which reached just below her waits. The redhead looked up from her book and dropped it.

"What was that for Cherie?" The blond said irritably, not turning around. "You know we can't replace these books if you ruin them."

"Um, Vickie," Cherie said uncertainty, her voice reminding Ron strongly of a clarinet. "We have some visitors."

"Who could be-" Victoria stopped mid-sentence as she turned around. She looked at the people from the present, her mouth slightly open. Her eyes stopped on Draco and stayed there. Cherie looked sharply at Selina.

"Are they" the redhead trailed off.

"Real?" Selina prompted. Cherie nodded.

"Find out for yourself," Selina said, grinning wickedly. Cherie swung her legs over the chair and stood up, seeming even taller. Cherie walked over and hesitantly touched Ron's arm.

"Hey!" he protested. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Merlin," Cherie breathed. "They are real, so"

"Say hello to your seventeen year old parents and their friends," Selina said, smirking slightly at Cherie's total shock.

"Then that'd be mum and daddy," Vickie said, joining them.

"Daddy?" Ginny asked, sniggering. The look on Draco's face was priceless.

"Ever heard the phrase, daddy's little girl'? Selina asked innocently.

"Yeah," Ginny replied, pretty sure where this was leading.

"Before you say anything," Vickie interjected. "Our mums died first and our dad's raised us for the most part. So everyone here is, was, like that. Except for Rye, what would you call him? A daddy's little boy?"

"Nah," Cherie said frowning. "It doesn't work that way. A boy can be a momma's boy or you can't classify him."

"Whatever," Vickie said, rolling her eyes.

"Vickie and Cherie are like sister," Selina whispered. "Always arguing, but they're only cousins, really." She continued to speak in a louder tone. "Cherie, Vickie, would you show your parents around, and explain everything, would you," she added in an undertone.

"Come on Sirius, mom, dad. You aren't staying here." With another click to her necklace, the remaining three and her brother disappeared with her.

* * * * * * * * *

When they reappeared their settings had changed drastically. It was like they were outside in an evergreen/deciduous forest, and a flourishing one at that. A loud screech of a bird cut through the air. Everyone but Selina (and Salazar, but that's a given) jumped and looked up, seeing a large hawk circling overhead. It screeched again and then dived at them. They jumped back and a second later, standing next to Selina was a tall, lean, young man. He had a medium brown shade of hair and gray eyes. Unlike the girls he wore dark jeans and a loose gray T-shirt. But like the girls he had a single earring, his was the head of a dog. He had tanned skin and as soon as he looked at the small group he grinned, and suddenly it was alarmingly easy to tell who he was.

"You must be Ryan," Severus observed dryly.

"How could you tell?" Ryan asked in a mock serious voice, struggling to frown. It didn't work and he began to grin even more.

"You know," Ryan remarked randomly. "I must be the only one who is actually still younger than both my parents at the moment."

"How old are you?" Hermione asked.

"Seventeen," Ryan answered promptly. "Selina, Salazar and Cherie are thirty, Vickie is twenty-nine, and ancient Artemis is thirty one."

"No one asked how old I was," Selina snapped.

"Thirty," Sirius said, an eyebrow raised. "Wow, you're a lot older than I thought you were."

"But you're still older," Selina said, overly sweet.

"Not much!" Sirius protested feebly. "And Snape's the same age!"

"Whatever," Selina said, shaking her head dismissal. "This is your stop, Black, see you later." And the future Snape family vanished.

* * * * * * * * *

Harry slumped to the ground, panting slightly. Never, in his entire time at Hogwarts had he ever bee up against someone as good as Artemis. She landed, a smirk planted firmly on her face and the snitch in her right hand. The robots, which had made up the rest of their teams, walked off the field and got into their pods, for you see in the way back of the field was a long row of about thirty-six stasis pods where the robotic quidditch players were kept until they were needed.

"Thank you," Artemis said as a new robot, which unlike the quidditch plays who looked like humans to the naked eye, looked clearly metal and it took their brooms form them then vanished into the field.

"How did it do that?" Harry asked amazed. "And how do you get from place to place in this building? What is this place anyway?"

"Going backwards," Artemis said, smiling. "This building is called 4PD, each of us who lives here had a special device, in my case a bracelet, in Selina's a necklace, which is charmed by an appartion spell but coded to that persons' DNA so it only works for them, and that robot merely went down the staircase into my workshop." Harry looked back at the spot where the robot had just vanished and was startled to see a staircase there instead of part of the field.

"That was charmed to look like part of the field," Artemis explained, seeing his confused look. "Come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the stairs. Dropping his hand she began her way down. Harry followed cautiously, still not completely comfortable in this place. That reminded him.

"What does 4PD stand for?" he asked Artemis.

"Number four, Privet Drive."

* * * * * * * * *

"What I wanna know is how does Ginny end up married to Malfoy?" Ron said first thing.

"And how do I end up with Ron?" Padma asked.

"As great as my dad is, he's about as observant as an earthworm," Cherie murmured. Vickie giggled briefly.

"Mum and daddy are already dating, secretly," Vickie began. Cherie and Vickie then had to laugh at the horrified expression on Ron's face.

"They-how-when-I-how?" Ron stuttered.

"Do you want to explain, or should I?" Vickie asked her future parents.

"You can," Ginny replied, smirking. "I have a feeling you'll do it so well."

"Thank you," Vickie said, sweeping a small mock bow. "Let me show you" The same sinking feeling came over them as when Selina had showed everyone the ritual, and a new set of images came to their minds.

*

*

*

Ginny was sneaking carefully back to the Gryffindor tower. It wouldn't do to get caught after coming back from breaking up with Justin Fletch-Flintchly, it wouldn't do at all! She was about to round another corner when she heard low, urgent voices coming the other way. She pressed herself against the wall and hoped she wouldn't be noticed. Then she caught snatches of conversation, which ignited her curiously.

"Just go his dark mark-" that had to be Professor Snape.

"Willingly?" Dumbledore perhaps?

"-father forced-" Snape again.

"-he'll be fine-" definitely Dumbledore. Ginny then heard the click of a door shutting and the halls were silent again. Ginny knew she should get back to Gryffindor tower, but she had to know whom they were tailing about. The door opened and closed again and Professor Snape and Dumbledore walked by, somehow not seeing her. Once they were out of sight Ginny looked around the corner to make sure no one was coming then dashed over to he door and opened it. Surprising the door opened and she stepped in and shut the door behind her. What she say, lying on a bed on the left side of the room made her hold her breath. Draco Malfoy lay there, his lips cracked and bleeding, a black eye and large gash across his forehead. His shirt was off and she could see many old scars and a few new ones that were still bleeding. It looked to Ginny like Draco's father beat him, but even Lucius Malfoy wouldn't sink that low, would he? Draco's good eye opened.

"Here to see Draco Malfoy beaten," he asked hoarsely.

"No," she said softly. She walked over to the bed. He looked worse up close. "What happened?"

"Why should I tell you?" Draco demanded painfully.

"Because you need to tell someone," Ginny said quietly. "And I'm as good as anyone." He looked at her for a long time then opened his mouth and said, "Fine."

"This morning I received a letter from my father that said to meet him at the Shrieking Shack, since you now we were going to Hogsmeade today. I did, and I went alone, not suspecting anything unusual. But when I got there he grabbed my hand and apparated out of the village to a strange old house. He told me I was to receive the dark mark. I told him I didn't want to, but he forced me into a room and there was the dark lord. He burned the mark onto my arm and then told me he saw I would make a very good servant. Then my father took me to our manor and beat me for trying to disobey him. When he left he room I just barely managed to use flew powder and get to Severus's quarters. He brought me to the headmaster and here I am." Tears were streaming down Draco's face by the end of his tale. Ginny was shocked. How could someone's own father be so cruel and to be in front of you-know-who and get the dark mark against your own will, and now Draco Malfoy was crying? This was a bit too much to digest all at once.

"So what are you going to do now?" Ginny asked once she had semi-sorted her thoughts out.

"I'm going to become a spy for Dumbledore like Severus," though his voice trembled there was something firm and definite about the way he looked and Ginny had no doubt he would. She summoned a chair and sat down. Taking his hand she smiled.

"You won't be alone, Draco," Ginny told him. He smiled in return then fell asleep. She briefly let go of his hand and pulled the cover up. She stayed by his side all night.

*

*

*

"So that's where you were," Ron said faintly.

"That's where I was," Ginny agreed politely.

"Never repeat what you saw, Weasly," Draco warned.

"Even he couldn't be that stupid," Padma said in a perfectly audible voice. Ron scowled at her.

"I still can't see myself in love with her," Ron muttered.

* * * * * * * * *

Sirius looked at Ryan. Ryan looked at Sirius. Neither spoke a word but neither felt that it was needed yet. Spontaneously and simultaneously they both transformed. A hawk flew above a large black dog and they moved deeper into the forest.

* * * * * * * * *

Back in the present time Voldemort sensed a change in the magical atmosphere. Several great powers had just vanished. How could that be? He wondered. But he answer became clear very quickly. They had traveled somewhere in time.

"Surely Dumbledore hasn't resorted to time travel to be rid of me," Voldemort murmured. No, he couldn't see that good wizard doing something like that. Even he wouldn't get something done that way, because she had always disapproved of time travel and not using it was the last way to hold onto her.

* * * * * * * * *

*Squeals in excitement* I have 26 reviews! That is the most I've ever gotten. Thanks to all of you, who have reviewed, I really appreciated it. Anyway, I might not update again for another week or two 'cause it's February break and I think I'll be lazy. Next Chapter: The next chapter will be a blast from the past. You'll see Voldemort's relationship with her, who incidentally is Hermione's real mother. You'll see how Hermione ended up with the Grangers and the ritual will be explained. A side of Voldemort which supposedly doesn't exist will be shown so be warned, major OOCness in the next chapter!

~ Any questions you readers have, ask them now because I'm actually going to take the time to answer them starting this chapter. I bet you have some, because after all, I have my friends read them before I post them up and it's a rare occasion where I don't have to explain something. ~ Remo