A/N: Wow! 6 'views for the first chapter! I'm so psyched and so glad I decided to take the plunge into the realm of HP fics! And CatalinaRose, this is the 5th Year. *wink* So, hope y'all enjoy and REVIEW!! ~alive
Hogsmeade
By the time Ron had finished his quick search of the castle he'd realized something had gone horribly wrong with the Time-Turner. He pushed open the big front doors hoping to see someone, anyone, even Malfoy. 'Well, anybody except him.. or Snape.'
He took a few steps out onto the front steps then sucked in his breath quickly. "What the-" He stood stock still moving only his eyes to take in his new surroundings.
The lake was covered with something that looked like bright green algae, the emerald green grass was nearly two feet high, and it looked as if the forbidden forest was about to take over the school grounds.
"It looks as if Hagrid's been spendin' a lil too much time down at the pub in Hogsmeade!" Ron said, and laughed uneasily at his poor attempt at a joke. "Well, I think I'll explore a bit before I head back. Be something to tell Harry."
He made his way off the steps, down onto the grounds and headed over to Hagrid's hut. As he got closer he felt his stomach drop to his feet. Where Hagrid's hut had stood for as long as he could remember there was now nothing but a pile of ashes, the only thing remaining were the stone steps.
After making his way around the burned area several times trying to figure out what had happened, he made his way through the gate and started down the trail to Hogsmeade.
Pulling his cloak tighter to keep out the chilly late March air, Ron entered Hogsmeade, to find it was just like Hogwarts. Totally deserted. "What's happened here?" He mumbled to himself and his question was carried away on the wind.
He looked into the windows of Zonko's Joke Shop, which was empty and looked as if the owners had packed everything up in quite a hurry. He crossed the road and pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks. And found several chairs tipped over, glasses still on the bar, half empty bottles of butterbeer on the tables and not a soul there.
He felt prickles of fear go down his spine as he turned and left the Three Broomsticks. 'Something's scared everyone away, it's almost as if-' there he stopped not wanting to continue that train of thought.
He wandered down the middle of the main road and looked around for anything to show what might have happened in Hogsmeade. Upon hearing the rustle of paper he looked down and saw a copy of The Daily Prophet. He bent down and picked it up blinking several times at the date printed on the top right hand corner. March 2, 2024. 2024?!
Deciding to hold off reading until back in a nice, warm, fluffy chair in the common room, he went to pull the Time-Turner out from under his cloak and felt only cool skin. Panicking he dropped the paper on the ground and used both hands to search under his cloak.
But it was pointless, the Time-Turner was gone. "Just absolutely brilliant! I've lost the Time-Turner!" Picking up the paper and stuffing it in a pocket of his cloak he began retracing his steps.
He was nearly on the trail back to Hogwarts when he heard a noise that sounded a lot like someone following him. He paused and sure enough the noise paused a split second after he did. He took a deep breath and spun around to find himself totally alone.
He turned back around and headed forward again. He got halfway up the trail when he decided to stop, sit for a few moments on a large boulder and have a look at the Prophet. He still felt as if he were being watched as he pulled it out of his pocket.
He had time to read the words "Panic Breaks Out In Hogsmeade!" before he was snatched off the boulder by unseen hands and had a hood draped over his head.