Harry watched as Hermione, Fred, and George disappeared in front of his
eyes. Mr. Weasley put his arms around his wife and held her close. Ron
looked to the ground, then over at Harry. Dumbledore walked behind his
desk and sat down. Everyone took this as a queue to sit down as well.
They reformed the circle of chairs and faced him, waiting for him to
speak.
"Now.. Harry. I need you, young Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Malfoy to do some research for the Order. It won't be as easy as that though. It needs to be thorough and in depth. I need you to research everything you can about Xavier Gillium."
"Who was he?" asked Ron, interrupting.
"A wizard long before even my time, Mr. Weasley. It is extremely important to the Order; you'll understand what I mean the further in depth you get with the study. I'm sorry I can't explain more, I simply do not know enough. All we know is that Voldemort has contacted the dead, him specifically. Now I have to ask that you two get along and start working. I must talk with the others in private. I'll call on you again in a week and explain more then." Dumbledore smiled. Grumbling, Ron and Harry got up and left his office. They headed towards the library.
"Why'd Hermione have to go? This is the sort of thing she should would LOVE to be doing." complained Ron. Harry just nodded.
"Should we go get Malfoy?" he asked.
"He'll find out on his own. I'm not going to be bothered with waking him up." replied Ron. Harry opened the large wooden door leading into the library. The morning light was just beginning to shine into the musky room. Harry sighed. He didn't know where to even begin looking. They went down one of the long rows of books, and he began scanning the titles.
"He should've at least gave us more information. Like the year he died, what he was famous for, anything." Ron commented.
"Well he must've been a dark wizard. I mean, why else would Voldemort want to resurrect him?"
"I think Hermione is rubbing off on you, mate."
It clicked in Harry's brain. He rushed over to the Restricted section and began going through the titles looking for a book containing information on those that were infamous for crimes. He pulled out a book bound together with what looked like dragon hide. The cover read: REGISTRY OF AZKABAN PRISON. He tugged on Ron's robe and they sat down at one of the abandoned tables. He opened up the index and began skimming through it.
"Hey look there's Sirius' name." Ron pointed out. Curiosity got the better of him and Harry opened up to the page listed.
Black, Sirius; c. 1960- [arrested: 1, November 1981]: Serial murder. Arrested on the 1st of November, 1981 for the murder of James Potter, Lily Potter [maiden name Evans], and Peter Pettigrew. Student of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry [c. 1971 - 1978, Gryffindor]. Guilty without trial.
"That's it?" Ron asked, a bit disappointed. Harry flipped through the book and nodded. He went back to the index and found out they were looking for.
Gillium, Xavier; c. 1616-1677 [arrested: 23, March 1677]: Goblin War Radical. Serial Murder. Arrested on the 23rd of March, 1677 for the premeditated murder of twenty wizards, one hundred muggles, and three Goblins. Self taught wizard. Trial held on 3rd of April, 1677. Guilty on all accounts, sentenced to Azkaban where he died three days later. Next of Kin: Delsie Gillium.
"Well, it's a start." remarked Harry, optimistically.
He grabbed a sheet of parchment and one of the library quills. He wrote down the information. Ron got up and began searching through the books for information on the Goblin Wars. The library doors opened and Malfoy walked over to them.
"So what've you found out about this git, Xavier?" He asked, mid-yawn.
"He was involved with the Goblin Wars. He died in Azkaban over three hundred years ago." Harry told him as Ron struggled over with a pile of books. He slammed them down on the desk and breathed out a breath of relief.
"I guess grab a book." He told the other two.
Ginny came in around lunch to bring them sandwiches. She didn't stick around though. All three boys were irritated. They hadn't found any more information on Gillium and Ron was falling asleep. They worked into the evening.
"Why is there nothing on this guy? You'd think with the numbers he killed he'd be mentioned. And I can't remember Professor Binns ever mentioning the name." complained Ron.
"I don't think he mentioned the name to us either." Malfoy grumbled, shutting another book. He picked up another one entitled: MAGIC THROUGH THE AGES.
"Do you think we ought to give it a rest for now?" Harry asked them.
"No... Dumbledore's depending on us, but I really could go for something to eat. I'm starving."
"Dinner should almost be ready." Harry stood up with Ron and they headed for the door.
"You coming?" Ron asked Malfoy.
"No, I'm going to stay here."
"Suit yourself."
"We'll bring you back something." Harry told him. He nodded, not looking up at them. They left the library and walked down the corridors to the Room of Requirement.
"Why'd you tell him we'd bring something back?"
"Why not? Listen, I don't like him either but technically he saved Hermione's life. Plus, we're not going to get anywhere fighting with him at this point."
"You've given in." Ron shook his head in disappointment.
"Yeah, because I can tell we're going to be stuck with him for awhile. Just try and deal with it Ron, until Hermione comes back."
"You know he's with Fleur now. Of all the guys she could have, she picks the biggest prat in the school."
"I thought she was with Bill."
"No, it didn't work out." Ginny butted in, joining them at the door for the Room of Requirement.
No one talked during dinner. There wasn't anything to say. Everyone was worried about Hermione and the twins. Harry had just finished his second helping when Malfoy came running into the room. He went over to Harry and bent down.
"I need you to come with me."
"Why, what is it?"
"Don't ask questions. Come on." Malfoy turned around and left the room. Harry excused himself and followed.
"How do you get a Time Turner?" Malfoy asked, after making sure Harry had come alone.
"I don't know. Why? What's going on?"
"I told you! Don't ask questions!"
"Well if you're not going to allow me to ask questions, then I have the option of not telling you anything." Harry began walking away. Malfoy grabbed his arm.
"Fine! Hermione's in trouble, okay?"
"What?" Harry surveyed him. He could tell Malfoy was genuinely worried.
"I was doing research. Got bored and started reading about some other things. She's the one that gives the prophecy that their looking for, but it also says that Theresa Ellis died not long after that."
"By who?"
"No one knows. She's a seer, Harry. It confused me at first. She's muggle-born. Seer's inherit the power, but I think there's a connection between her and a seer back in Ancient Greece."
"Slow down, what connection?"
"Do you pay attention at all in History of Magic? No of course not, you have more important things to worry about like saving the world. Never mind, you're too dense." Malfoy began to walk off.
"No wait. Malfoy! Tell me!"
"Cassandra, Potter!"
"Cassandra? Troy? That's just a fable."
"Wow, you really were raised by muggles. Like I said, never mind."
"Ok! So it's not a fable. What does she have to do with Hermione?"
"Helen of Troy had a daughter named Hermione. Her husband was supposedly the father, but what if that wasn't true. Paris was related to Cassandra, they were brother and sister. Paris was in love with Helen, what if by chance the child belonged to him, that would make her daughter related to Cassandra."
"Just because they have the same name doesn't mean that it has anything to do with our Hermione though."
"Yes, I thought that, but then in another book it shows lineage. Hermione's father isn't a muggle. He's a squib. He comes from a long line of squibs, but there are still wizards in her family. Distant cousins from her father's side."
"So she's related to Cassandra?"
"Possibly, either way though she is the one that gives the prophecy. It's stated in 1942 that Theresa Ellis went into a fit before her O.W.L. exams. She was taken to the infirmary where she died three days later."
"What book did you find that in?"
"Hogwarts, A History. We have to get Hermione out of there."
"We can't interfere with history, Malfoy."
"So you're just going to let her die???"
"No... fine. I don't know how to get a hold of a Time Turner though. They're kept at the Ministry of Magic."
"Let's go."
"To the Ministry?"
"Yes!"
"Malfoy... We're on probation, we can't just waltz into the Ministry of Magic and take a Time Turner."
"You know Potter, for someone who's broken rules since his first year here to save his friends, you sure are reluctant about saving Hermione. You're supposed to be one of her best friends, at least that's the impression she has."
"Fine! I'll go get the invisibility cloak. We can take the thestrals." Harry rushed off to Gryffindor Tower. He ran into Ron on the way out of the common room.
"What'd Malfoy want?"
"Oh nothing, he thought he found some information but he had the wrong person. I'll see ya, all right?"
"Where are you going?"
"Oh er... to take a bath. I figured since no one's in the school it'd be okay to use the prefect bathrooms."
"You'll need the password. It's 'butterbeer'."
"Thanks." Harry rushed off, leaving Ron standing at the portrait hole confused. He felt bad, but he didn't want to drag Ron into it. Mrs. Weasley would have a fit as it was, and with two of her sons gone already, she was liable to completely unhinge.
Harry met Malfoy below the stairs of Gryffindor tower. He covered them and they rushed out of the school. They ran to the edge of the forbidden forest and waited.
"How are we going to call the thestrals?" Malfoy asked, looking around for the bat-like horses. Harry grabbed and rock then took Malfoy's hand.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy tried to take his hand away, but Harry had a strong grip.
He dragged the stone against his palm, leaving a fresh gash. Blood started to seep from the wound.
"Bloody hell, what was that about?" Malfoy went to hit him, but Harry pulled out his wand.
"It's the only way the thestrals will come. They have to smell fresh blood. Didn't you listen to anything Hagrid told us about them in fifth year." Harry smirked. Malfoy scowled at him.
Slowly the thestrals began coming out of hiding and stepping out from beyond the trees. Harry and Malfoy mounted Tenebrus and took off towards the Ministry of Magic. The horses didn't take them to the Ministry though. Instead they were dropped off a few miles outside of London.
"Why were we left here?" Malfoy asked, as they watched the horses gallop into the forest.
"I'm not sure. They've taken us to the Department before. Think maybe Dumbledore's found out?"
"Possibly. Well what do we do now? It's too far to walk. The Knight Bus?"
"Too risky. If Dumbledore knows, then it'll just take us back to Hogwarts..." Harry replied. He looked around at the nearby neighborhood and tried to think of a plan. Then he set his eyes on it. Across the street sat an old BMW. He looked around for people, but the street was barren. It had to have nearly midnight. He looked at Malfoy.
"I have an idea... but it's not a smart one."
"What is it?"
"See that car over there... It could get us to London..."
"It's a muggle object. Do you even know how to use one?"
"Well I watched Fred and George when they picked me up in second year. Ron didn't seem to have a problem driving. I've watched my Aunt and Uncle drive loads of times."
"If you get us killed I swear I'm gonna... I don't know, but don't get us killed." Malfoy sneered, then started walking across the street.
Harry quickly followed. He looked around again before muttering "alohamora" at the door. It unlocked and he climbed into the driver's seat. He unlocked Malfoy's door. He tried to remember how Ron had started the Ford Anglia. He muttered something under his breath and tapped the dash with his wand. The ignition started. Driving the BMW was harder than it had looked. Having never been behind the wheel of a car before, he had no real clue at what he was doing. He moved the stick shift around then pressed on the gas. The engine revved but nothing happened. He put his foot on the clutch and tried the gas again, but when he removed his foot the engine stalled.
"I thought you said you knew how to work this thing."
"Shut up. Let me think." Harry snapped, tapping the dash again.
The engine started again. He hit the gas and released his foot slowly off the clutch. The car lurched forward fast, throwing both him and Malfoy before stalling again.
"I think we should put our seat belts on." Harry muttered while tapping the dash again. Malfoy cursed under his breath as he tried to figure out the seatbelt snap. The engine started once more. He eased off the clutch, but didn't put so much pressure on the gas. They moved forward and he steered the car into the correct lane of the street. Harry hit the break at the stop sign causing the engine to stall yet again. Malfoy had gotten over his initial fear and began snickering as Harry started the automotive.
"Shut up. Do you want to drive?" Harry glared at him. He stopped laughing.
Harry was beginning to get the hang of things until they ended up in traffic. He nearly missed hitting another car and swerved to the side.
"Shit, Potter! Watch where you're going!" Malfoy yelled.
"Sorry." Harry pulled the car back into the street.
Lurching forward again, he started driving towards the Ministry of Magic. He relaxed as soon as he figured out how to keep the vehicle straight. He was sure he wasn't in the right gear, but at this point he didn't care. It wasn't until he reached the center of London, that he realized he wasn't quite sure where the Ministry was in proximity to their location.
"Do you remember what road Fred and George lead us down?" Harry asked looking at the street names.
The car behind him honked and the driver screamed out their window to watch where they were going and pick up the pace. Malfoy yelled back at him. Harry's foot accidentally brushed up against the gas pedal and they found themselves being thrown forward. The car next to them swerved out of the way, causing Harry to lose concentration and focus. The car turned right and slammed straight into a wall. The driver that had been behind them laughed and cursed at them as he drove past. Harry managed to get the driver side door open and stumbled out of the car. Malfoy pulled himself out and dusted himself off. Harry moved to the front of the car to see the damage. The hood was crushed and smoke was leaking from beneath it.
"Well that was brilliant. Now we're lost in the middle of Muggle London." Malfoy glared at him.
"We have to get out of here before the police show up. Come on, we have to be close any way. This all looks familiar."
They walked down the streets until finally coming across an alleyway that Harry remembered. The shabby looking offices had been boarded up. The pub's sign flickered on and off. They reached the phone booth and shoved inside. Harry dialed the numbers and heard the familiar voice of the woman.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and your business."
"Er... James Williams and..." Harry looked at Malfoy, who looked at him in confusion.
"Uh...Marcus Branor."
"And your business?"
"Uh... to see Arthur Weasley."
"Thank you. Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes." the woman hung up and two name badges popped out of the coin return.
The phone booth lowered into the Ministry and the woman wished them a nice day. It was dark and none of the torches were lit in the Atrium. The glow from the bottom of the fountain caused the ceiling to shimmer and dance with the movement of the water. Harry tugged at Malfoy's robes and they headed towards the Golden Gates to the lifts. Harry skimmed through the List of the levels.
"I'm assuming they'd be on level six, the Department of Magical Transport." Harry muttered.
The lift grilles opened and they climbed inside. His insides were lurching around. If they were caught, they'd be convicted without a trial. They were on probation as it was. When the grate lifted, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them and they rushed down the hallway, reading the signs above the office doors. Harry stopped in front of a small cramped office at the end of the corridor. Above the door hung an old worn sign which read: REGISTRY AND VALIDATION: PAST AND FUTURE TIME TRAVEL. Harry pulled out his wand and unlocked the door.
"Where do you think they'd keep them?" he asked Malfoy as they began rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
"They're right here." Malfoy pulled him over to the cabinet he'd just opened.
A large glass jar held at least half a dozen Time Turners, their chains intertwined with each other. Harry grabbed the jar and twisted it open. He untangled one of the Time Turners and handed it to Malfoy. They heard commotion from outside the office.
"I heard someone over here, sir!"
"Shit!" Harry quickly closed the cabinet and they retreated back under the cloak. Malfoy threw the Time Turner around his neck. The door opened and there stood Lucius Malfoy with Wormtail. "They're here. I can sense it." Lucius stated. He began walking around the room.
Harry and Malfoy backed away from his reach and into the one of the cabinets. There was a large clank as the metal shook. A smile spread across Lucius face as he reached out and pulled the invisibility cloak off.
"Draco." he pulled out his wand, but Harry and Draco were quicker. They stunned him and Wormtail and jetted out of the room.
"Which way?" asked Draco as they came to another corridor.
Harry tried to think quickly. He'd never been on this floor, he didn't know where either led. He pulled Draco left. The footsteps of Lucius echoed behind them. They ran down another corridor, but were trapped into a dead end. The footsteps got closer. It wasn't Lucius however, it was Wormtail.
"Peter!" Harry gasped.
"Master!" Wormtail called loudly.
"Peter! Stop! You owe me this." Harry snapped quietly at the pudgy ugly man.
"I owe you nothing!"
"You betrayed my parents, your best friend...yet if it wasn't for me Sirius would've killed you three years ago. You owe it to my father and you owe it to me. Let us go."
"You may go, but the other stays here. We're even." Wormtail smirked. Harry leaned over to Malfoy.
"Turn it forward three times and back two. Take the cloak."
Malfoy nodded and Harry ran past Wormtail and down the end of the other hallway towards the lifts. Harry heard Lucius shouting at Wormtail as the grilles closed leading him back down to the Atrium and the Visitor's entrance to the Ministry of Magic. He breathed a sigh of relief. Malfoy had used to the Time Turner and was gone. Harry snuck out of the Ministry to find the Knight Bus waiting for him.
"You needed us?" Stan asked, smiling. Harry smiled back and boarded it to head back to Hogwarts.
"Now.. Harry. I need you, young Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Malfoy to do some research for the Order. It won't be as easy as that though. It needs to be thorough and in depth. I need you to research everything you can about Xavier Gillium."
"Who was he?" asked Ron, interrupting.
"A wizard long before even my time, Mr. Weasley. It is extremely important to the Order; you'll understand what I mean the further in depth you get with the study. I'm sorry I can't explain more, I simply do not know enough. All we know is that Voldemort has contacted the dead, him specifically. Now I have to ask that you two get along and start working. I must talk with the others in private. I'll call on you again in a week and explain more then." Dumbledore smiled. Grumbling, Ron and Harry got up and left his office. They headed towards the library.
"Why'd Hermione have to go? This is the sort of thing she should would LOVE to be doing." complained Ron. Harry just nodded.
"Should we go get Malfoy?" he asked.
"He'll find out on his own. I'm not going to be bothered with waking him up." replied Ron. Harry opened the large wooden door leading into the library. The morning light was just beginning to shine into the musky room. Harry sighed. He didn't know where to even begin looking. They went down one of the long rows of books, and he began scanning the titles.
"He should've at least gave us more information. Like the year he died, what he was famous for, anything." Ron commented.
"Well he must've been a dark wizard. I mean, why else would Voldemort want to resurrect him?"
"I think Hermione is rubbing off on you, mate."
It clicked in Harry's brain. He rushed over to the Restricted section and began going through the titles looking for a book containing information on those that were infamous for crimes. He pulled out a book bound together with what looked like dragon hide. The cover read: REGISTRY OF AZKABAN PRISON. He tugged on Ron's robe and they sat down at one of the abandoned tables. He opened up the index and began skimming through it.
"Hey look there's Sirius' name." Ron pointed out. Curiosity got the better of him and Harry opened up to the page listed.
Black, Sirius; c. 1960- [arrested: 1, November 1981]: Serial murder. Arrested on the 1st of November, 1981 for the murder of James Potter, Lily Potter [maiden name Evans], and Peter Pettigrew. Student of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry [c. 1971 - 1978, Gryffindor]. Guilty without trial.
"That's it?" Ron asked, a bit disappointed. Harry flipped through the book and nodded. He went back to the index and found out they were looking for.
Gillium, Xavier; c. 1616-1677 [arrested: 23, March 1677]: Goblin War Radical. Serial Murder. Arrested on the 23rd of March, 1677 for the premeditated murder of twenty wizards, one hundred muggles, and three Goblins. Self taught wizard. Trial held on 3rd of April, 1677. Guilty on all accounts, sentenced to Azkaban where he died three days later. Next of Kin: Delsie Gillium.
"Well, it's a start." remarked Harry, optimistically.
He grabbed a sheet of parchment and one of the library quills. He wrote down the information. Ron got up and began searching through the books for information on the Goblin Wars. The library doors opened and Malfoy walked over to them.
"So what've you found out about this git, Xavier?" He asked, mid-yawn.
"He was involved with the Goblin Wars. He died in Azkaban over three hundred years ago." Harry told him as Ron struggled over with a pile of books. He slammed them down on the desk and breathed out a breath of relief.
"I guess grab a book." He told the other two.
Ginny came in around lunch to bring them sandwiches. She didn't stick around though. All three boys were irritated. They hadn't found any more information on Gillium and Ron was falling asleep. They worked into the evening.
"Why is there nothing on this guy? You'd think with the numbers he killed he'd be mentioned. And I can't remember Professor Binns ever mentioning the name." complained Ron.
"I don't think he mentioned the name to us either." Malfoy grumbled, shutting another book. He picked up another one entitled: MAGIC THROUGH THE AGES.
"Do you think we ought to give it a rest for now?" Harry asked them.
"No... Dumbledore's depending on us, but I really could go for something to eat. I'm starving."
"Dinner should almost be ready." Harry stood up with Ron and they headed for the door.
"You coming?" Ron asked Malfoy.
"No, I'm going to stay here."
"Suit yourself."
"We'll bring you back something." Harry told him. He nodded, not looking up at them. They left the library and walked down the corridors to the Room of Requirement.
"Why'd you tell him we'd bring something back?"
"Why not? Listen, I don't like him either but technically he saved Hermione's life. Plus, we're not going to get anywhere fighting with him at this point."
"You've given in." Ron shook his head in disappointment.
"Yeah, because I can tell we're going to be stuck with him for awhile. Just try and deal with it Ron, until Hermione comes back."
"You know he's with Fleur now. Of all the guys she could have, she picks the biggest prat in the school."
"I thought she was with Bill."
"No, it didn't work out." Ginny butted in, joining them at the door for the Room of Requirement.
No one talked during dinner. There wasn't anything to say. Everyone was worried about Hermione and the twins. Harry had just finished his second helping when Malfoy came running into the room. He went over to Harry and bent down.
"I need you to come with me."
"Why, what is it?"
"Don't ask questions. Come on." Malfoy turned around and left the room. Harry excused himself and followed.
"How do you get a Time Turner?" Malfoy asked, after making sure Harry had come alone.
"I don't know. Why? What's going on?"
"I told you! Don't ask questions!"
"Well if you're not going to allow me to ask questions, then I have the option of not telling you anything." Harry began walking away. Malfoy grabbed his arm.
"Fine! Hermione's in trouble, okay?"
"What?" Harry surveyed him. He could tell Malfoy was genuinely worried.
"I was doing research. Got bored and started reading about some other things. She's the one that gives the prophecy that their looking for, but it also says that Theresa Ellis died not long after that."
"By who?"
"No one knows. She's a seer, Harry. It confused me at first. She's muggle-born. Seer's inherit the power, but I think there's a connection between her and a seer back in Ancient Greece."
"Slow down, what connection?"
"Do you pay attention at all in History of Magic? No of course not, you have more important things to worry about like saving the world. Never mind, you're too dense." Malfoy began to walk off.
"No wait. Malfoy! Tell me!"
"Cassandra, Potter!"
"Cassandra? Troy? That's just a fable."
"Wow, you really were raised by muggles. Like I said, never mind."
"Ok! So it's not a fable. What does she have to do with Hermione?"
"Helen of Troy had a daughter named Hermione. Her husband was supposedly the father, but what if that wasn't true. Paris was related to Cassandra, they were brother and sister. Paris was in love with Helen, what if by chance the child belonged to him, that would make her daughter related to Cassandra."
"Just because they have the same name doesn't mean that it has anything to do with our Hermione though."
"Yes, I thought that, but then in another book it shows lineage. Hermione's father isn't a muggle. He's a squib. He comes from a long line of squibs, but there are still wizards in her family. Distant cousins from her father's side."
"So she's related to Cassandra?"
"Possibly, either way though she is the one that gives the prophecy. It's stated in 1942 that Theresa Ellis went into a fit before her O.W.L. exams. She was taken to the infirmary where she died three days later."
"What book did you find that in?"
"Hogwarts, A History. We have to get Hermione out of there."
"We can't interfere with history, Malfoy."
"So you're just going to let her die???"
"No... fine. I don't know how to get a hold of a Time Turner though. They're kept at the Ministry of Magic."
"Let's go."
"To the Ministry?"
"Yes!"
"Malfoy... We're on probation, we can't just waltz into the Ministry of Magic and take a Time Turner."
"You know Potter, for someone who's broken rules since his first year here to save his friends, you sure are reluctant about saving Hermione. You're supposed to be one of her best friends, at least that's the impression she has."
"Fine! I'll go get the invisibility cloak. We can take the thestrals." Harry rushed off to Gryffindor Tower. He ran into Ron on the way out of the common room.
"What'd Malfoy want?"
"Oh nothing, he thought he found some information but he had the wrong person. I'll see ya, all right?"
"Where are you going?"
"Oh er... to take a bath. I figured since no one's in the school it'd be okay to use the prefect bathrooms."
"You'll need the password. It's 'butterbeer'."
"Thanks." Harry rushed off, leaving Ron standing at the portrait hole confused. He felt bad, but he didn't want to drag Ron into it. Mrs. Weasley would have a fit as it was, and with two of her sons gone already, she was liable to completely unhinge.
Harry met Malfoy below the stairs of Gryffindor tower. He covered them and they rushed out of the school. They ran to the edge of the forbidden forest and waited.
"How are we going to call the thestrals?" Malfoy asked, looking around for the bat-like horses. Harry grabbed and rock then took Malfoy's hand.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy tried to take his hand away, but Harry had a strong grip.
He dragged the stone against his palm, leaving a fresh gash. Blood started to seep from the wound.
"Bloody hell, what was that about?" Malfoy went to hit him, but Harry pulled out his wand.
"It's the only way the thestrals will come. They have to smell fresh blood. Didn't you listen to anything Hagrid told us about them in fifth year." Harry smirked. Malfoy scowled at him.
Slowly the thestrals began coming out of hiding and stepping out from beyond the trees. Harry and Malfoy mounted Tenebrus and took off towards the Ministry of Magic. The horses didn't take them to the Ministry though. Instead they were dropped off a few miles outside of London.
"Why were we left here?" Malfoy asked, as they watched the horses gallop into the forest.
"I'm not sure. They've taken us to the Department before. Think maybe Dumbledore's found out?"
"Possibly. Well what do we do now? It's too far to walk. The Knight Bus?"
"Too risky. If Dumbledore knows, then it'll just take us back to Hogwarts..." Harry replied. He looked around at the nearby neighborhood and tried to think of a plan. Then he set his eyes on it. Across the street sat an old BMW. He looked around for people, but the street was barren. It had to have nearly midnight. He looked at Malfoy.
"I have an idea... but it's not a smart one."
"What is it?"
"See that car over there... It could get us to London..."
"It's a muggle object. Do you even know how to use one?"
"Well I watched Fred and George when they picked me up in second year. Ron didn't seem to have a problem driving. I've watched my Aunt and Uncle drive loads of times."
"If you get us killed I swear I'm gonna... I don't know, but don't get us killed." Malfoy sneered, then started walking across the street.
Harry quickly followed. He looked around again before muttering "alohamora" at the door. It unlocked and he climbed into the driver's seat. He unlocked Malfoy's door. He tried to remember how Ron had started the Ford Anglia. He muttered something under his breath and tapped the dash with his wand. The ignition started. Driving the BMW was harder than it had looked. Having never been behind the wheel of a car before, he had no real clue at what he was doing. He moved the stick shift around then pressed on the gas. The engine revved but nothing happened. He put his foot on the clutch and tried the gas again, but when he removed his foot the engine stalled.
"I thought you said you knew how to work this thing."
"Shut up. Let me think." Harry snapped, tapping the dash again.
The engine started again. He hit the gas and released his foot slowly off the clutch. The car lurched forward fast, throwing both him and Malfoy before stalling again.
"I think we should put our seat belts on." Harry muttered while tapping the dash again. Malfoy cursed under his breath as he tried to figure out the seatbelt snap. The engine started once more. He eased off the clutch, but didn't put so much pressure on the gas. They moved forward and he steered the car into the correct lane of the street. Harry hit the break at the stop sign causing the engine to stall yet again. Malfoy had gotten over his initial fear and began snickering as Harry started the automotive.
"Shut up. Do you want to drive?" Harry glared at him. He stopped laughing.
Harry was beginning to get the hang of things until they ended up in traffic. He nearly missed hitting another car and swerved to the side.
"Shit, Potter! Watch where you're going!" Malfoy yelled.
"Sorry." Harry pulled the car back into the street.
Lurching forward again, he started driving towards the Ministry of Magic. He relaxed as soon as he figured out how to keep the vehicle straight. He was sure he wasn't in the right gear, but at this point he didn't care. It wasn't until he reached the center of London, that he realized he wasn't quite sure where the Ministry was in proximity to their location.
"Do you remember what road Fred and George lead us down?" Harry asked looking at the street names.
The car behind him honked and the driver screamed out their window to watch where they were going and pick up the pace. Malfoy yelled back at him. Harry's foot accidentally brushed up against the gas pedal and they found themselves being thrown forward. The car next to them swerved out of the way, causing Harry to lose concentration and focus. The car turned right and slammed straight into a wall. The driver that had been behind them laughed and cursed at them as he drove past. Harry managed to get the driver side door open and stumbled out of the car. Malfoy pulled himself out and dusted himself off. Harry moved to the front of the car to see the damage. The hood was crushed and smoke was leaking from beneath it.
"Well that was brilliant. Now we're lost in the middle of Muggle London." Malfoy glared at him.
"We have to get out of here before the police show up. Come on, we have to be close any way. This all looks familiar."
They walked down the streets until finally coming across an alleyway that Harry remembered. The shabby looking offices had been boarded up. The pub's sign flickered on and off. They reached the phone booth and shoved inside. Harry dialed the numbers and heard the familiar voice of the woman.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and your business."
"Er... James Williams and..." Harry looked at Malfoy, who looked at him in confusion.
"Uh...Marcus Branor."
"And your business?"
"Uh... to see Arthur Weasley."
"Thank you. Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes." the woman hung up and two name badges popped out of the coin return.
The phone booth lowered into the Ministry and the woman wished them a nice day. It was dark and none of the torches were lit in the Atrium. The glow from the bottom of the fountain caused the ceiling to shimmer and dance with the movement of the water. Harry tugged at Malfoy's robes and they headed towards the Golden Gates to the lifts. Harry skimmed through the List of the levels.
"I'm assuming they'd be on level six, the Department of Magical Transport." Harry muttered.
The lift grilles opened and they climbed inside. His insides were lurching around. If they were caught, they'd be convicted without a trial. They were on probation as it was. When the grate lifted, Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them and they rushed down the hallway, reading the signs above the office doors. Harry stopped in front of a small cramped office at the end of the corridor. Above the door hung an old worn sign which read: REGISTRY AND VALIDATION: PAST AND FUTURE TIME TRAVEL. Harry pulled out his wand and unlocked the door.
"Where do you think they'd keep them?" he asked Malfoy as they began rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
"They're right here." Malfoy pulled him over to the cabinet he'd just opened.
A large glass jar held at least half a dozen Time Turners, their chains intertwined with each other. Harry grabbed the jar and twisted it open. He untangled one of the Time Turners and handed it to Malfoy. They heard commotion from outside the office.
"I heard someone over here, sir!"
"Shit!" Harry quickly closed the cabinet and they retreated back under the cloak. Malfoy threw the Time Turner around his neck. The door opened and there stood Lucius Malfoy with Wormtail. "They're here. I can sense it." Lucius stated. He began walking around the room.
Harry and Malfoy backed away from his reach and into the one of the cabinets. There was a large clank as the metal shook. A smile spread across Lucius face as he reached out and pulled the invisibility cloak off.
"Draco." he pulled out his wand, but Harry and Draco were quicker. They stunned him and Wormtail and jetted out of the room.
"Which way?" asked Draco as they came to another corridor.
Harry tried to think quickly. He'd never been on this floor, he didn't know where either led. He pulled Draco left. The footsteps of Lucius echoed behind them. They ran down another corridor, but were trapped into a dead end. The footsteps got closer. It wasn't Lucius however, it was Wormtail.
"Peter!" Harry gasped.
"Master!" Wormtail called loudly.
"Peter! Stop! You owe me this." Harry snapped quietly at the pudgy ugly man.
"I owe you nothing!"
"You betrayed my parents, your best friend...yet if it wasn't for me Sirius would've killed you three years ago. You owe it to my father and you owe it to me. Let us go."
"You may go, but the other stays here. We're even." Wormtail smirked. Harry leaned over to Malfoy.
"Turn it forward three times and back two. Take the cloak."
Malfoy nodded and Harry ran past Wormtail and down the end of the other hallway towards the lifts. Harry heard Lucius shouting at Wormtail as the grilles closed leading him back down to the Atrium and the Visitor's entrance to the Ministry of Magic. He breathed a sigh of relief. Malfoy had used to the Time Turner and was gone. Harry snuck out of the Ministry to find the Knight Bus waiting for him.
"You needed us?" Stan asked, smiling. Harry smiled back and boarded it to head back to Hogwarts.