Author's Note: If anyone's getting that déjà vu feeling reading this, that might be because you've read the old version I had posted on a loooong, long time ago. I recently deleted it as it… well… sucked. I, quite honestly, haven't been on this site in a long while, and as I'm currently on spring break, I thought I'd get to work on my abandoned fic. No, I'm not a plagiarist; this is my story and always has been. But I really appreciate your concern.

Disclaimer: See prologue.

Chapter Three: "Traitor"

September 15th, 1996-

Kali and Elita sat by the lake. Elita was watching the giant squid loll lazily about in the water and Kali was working diligently on an essay for Transfiguration she was sure she had done before…

"Elita?" She looked up from her parchment.

"Hmm?" Elita asked, still watching the squid.

"I've been thinking—"

"That's new," she said sarcastically.

Kali rolled her eyes. "Elita, could you please be serious for a moment? Would it kill you?"

Elita sighed heavily. "Probably. But since you're my sister, I'll give it a shot. What have you been thinking about, Kal?"

"This whole mess. I'm really worried," she confessed nervously.

"About what?" Elita asked. Kali could tell by the expression on her face that she was obviously dreading the answer.

"Mr. Weasley—I mean, Ron. He's going to think I'm a nutter one day when I call him 'Mr. Weasley' to his face."

"Nah, he'll just think it's a French thing. And besides, haven't we—" Elita stopped abruptly to avoid being overheard as a blonde Hufflepuff girl strolled passed them. Once the girl was out of hearing shot, she continued. "I've sort of been avoiding this subject, but now that's it's come up… I'm sure we're here to change something. I know that we have to help Mr. Wea—I mean, Ron. We have to stop him from turning," Elita proclaimed confidently.

"But are we really sure? About what's going to happen to him, I mean?" asked Kali, now stuffing her Transfiguation textbook and essay back into her bag.

Elita scoffed. "I think we're pretty damn sure if you ask me. I've told you all about your little prophecy multiple times, but if you want to hear it again I wrote down the Cliff's notes, considering you pesky Seers can never seem to remember them. Oh, hold on," she fished in several pockets of her robes until she finally pulled out a small piece of parchment. "I don't know why you idiot Seers have to be so damned cryptic all the time. How are we supposed to know what's going to happen in the future if we can't understand what you're saying in the present?" she ranted.

Kali rolled her eyes melodramatically. "Are you still talking?"

"Watch it," Elita snapped. She cleared her throat an unfolded the piece of parchment, suddenly businesslike. "Alright. What we know. One: 'There's a traitor in our midst.' Pfft, what a lame line. Two: He's 'flame-haired.' Two-'A': I'm guessing he's a guy unless the person who came up with this rubbish is just incredibly sexist." She was put back on track by another eye-roll from Kali. "Three: He's close to the Potters. Very close. Someone who seemed loyal to a fault until he betrayed them. Sounds sickeningly familiar to a certain case of Wormtail, doesn't it? Well, I guess history really does repeat itself," she sighed.

Kali lowered her voice significantly, so that even Elita could barely hear her. "It's just… we've met Ron. Both past and present Ron. He's just not the type of person who would betray anyone. What could he possibly gain from it? Let's face it, Elita. Ron's no Peter Pettigrew. And it just doesn't make sense. We both think that your time-shifting abilities and my Seeing abilities coincide. We know we're supposed to stop something from happening—like always. Something that must have to do with Ron becoming traitorous. So why are we here… in this time?"

"I thought it was about Harry and Hermione. I figured they started dating this year," Elita theorized. "Remember how Kris told us that Mr. Wea—Ron—used to have a big crush on Hermione? Well, I figured Ron was just incredibly jealous, and we both know that's entirely possible."

"But jealous enough to turn traitor? No, I don't think so. And Harry and Hermione haven't even started dating yet. And Ron's as loyal as ever, and even if he wasn't we wouldn't be able to get a peep out of him. So why are we here… in the past… changing the future that hasn't even happened in our time yet? It just doesn't make any sense." Kali lay wearily down on the grass and stared blankly up at the cloudless sky.

"Kal, I have tried and tried again to explain it to you. I have little or no control over my time-shifting abilities. They take me back when I'm supposed to go back. I can go back a few minutes with my own willpower—it's difficult, but I can do it—but stuff like this I have no control over, you know that…this must be big. Really important. Something we have to change."

"There're two things that are bothering me right there!" Kali exclaimed. "First of all, who's 'they'? I've thought before that it might be your subconscious. Or maybe we're right, maybe we do have a freaky-twin-bonding thing that allows my Seeing abilities to communicate with your time-shifting abilities without either of us consciously knowing? Oh, I don't know. But you seem so convinced that what takes us back in time is an outside force. I suppose you'd know better than me, it is your 'gift'. So let's say, hypothetically speaking, that it is an outside force controlling when you travel through time. It's really odd they have this control over you, if not worrisome. In fact, it's very worrisome, indeed.

"Second of all," Kali continued. "I thought we couldn't change the past. Didn't Kris or Shane or even Aiden ever tell you about that time when their parents went back in time to save Sirius Black? They—oh, how do I explain it? They didn't change anything. They just… confirmed the events that were predestined to happen. We've gone back before when I've Seen things, but I don't think I was Seeing the future—I think I was Seeing the would-be future. I remain unconvinced that anyone can actually alter the course of time once it's already happened. Because every action has a consequence."

Elita looked at her sister in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, what would you do? I mean, if you got to pick a time to go back to so you could change the past or the future or what have you, what would it be? What would you do?"

"Erm, I dunno. I suppose I would go back to the Marauders' time. Kris told me all about them. I would stop them from ever befriending that little rat Pettigrew."

Kali thought for a moment. "Alright, that'll work. Say the Potters and Lupin and Black never became friends with Pettigrew. So Black's really their Secret-Keeper. Of course, he never betrays them. Lily and James Potter don't die. Harry Potter is no longer known as the Boy Who Lived. He has no lightning bolt scar."

"What's your point?" said Elita disbelievingly. "That's a good thing!"

"No, Elita, it's not," said Kali, waving her hands impatiently. "Listen to what I'm saying! What would've happened if You-Know-Who—?"

"For Merlin's sake, say his name, Kali."

Kali sighed. "Alright, what would've happened if Voldemort hadn't met his downfall in little Harry Potter?"

"Erm—"

"Sure, the Potters wouldn't have died. But hundreds, maybe thousands more would've died in their place because Voldemort was never weakened! Don't you see? Every little thing we do! Every action, every choice… has a consequence. What if your actions are being manipulated by some evil powers-that-be? We have no earthly way of knowing! We could be sealing the fates of countless people!" she yelled as if she had bottled this up for quite some time.

"You really need to step off your soapbox and lay back on the caffeine, sis," Elita finally said after her sister's outburst.

Kali shrugged, "I've just had extra time to think, is all."

"Think, huh? You spend entirely too much time with Shane."

The two were unable to converse further, however, do to the sudden appearance of the blonde Hufflepuff who had strolled past moments earlier. "Excuse me?" The girl asked politely. "Are you two the new students from Beauxbatons?"

"Wha—oh, yes," Elita smiled sweetly. "That'd be us."

"Well, I thought I'd introduce myself." The girl extended a hand to Elita, who grasped it, and then to Kali, who followed suit. "I'm Raleigh Hampton." Kali gave a small gasp and covered her hand with her mouth, but she quickly dropped it when she realized what she had done. "Are you alright?" Raleigh asked, concerned.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine. I just…" she frantically racked her brain. "I just recognized your name because you're Head Girl," Kali pointed to the badge pinned of Raleigh's robes, just above the Hufflepuff crest. "And it's very flattering you've come to talk to us."

Elita snorted, and then began to cough.

"Oh, no trouble at all," Raleigh said while glancing worriedly at Elita and then back to Kali. "So… er—I hear one of you is in Gryffindor, then?"

"Yeah, that'd be me," Elita said, beginning to recover from her abrupt coughing attack. She pointed to the Gryffindor crest on her robes.

"Oh," Raleigh replied, flushing slightly. "Would you happen to know Ron Weasley?"

"Ac—" Elita began before her sister cut her off with a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow.

"Yes," Kali cut in. "In fact, we've been quite friendly with him ever since we got here. Charming fellow, really."

"Yeah, he is," Raleigh said dreamily. Then she snapped back into focus realizing that Elita was staring at her questioningly. "Listen, this is going to sound really childish of me, but I was wondering… I mean… I was thinking about—er… do you know if Ron is… if he's seeing anyone?"

Elita let out another hacking cough, which was suddenly stopped by Kali's foot smashing down on her own. She grimaced and glared angrily at Kali.

"No he isn't, actually. And what a coincidence!" Kali exclaimed, not taking notice of the daggers Elita was glaring at her. "You see… I told a little fib earlier, I'm afraid. The real reason I knew who you were is not because you're Head Girl… it's because—erm… Ron talks about you constantly."

Raleigh's strangely familiar gray eyes shone with happiness. "Really?"

"Oh, all the time," Kali assured her. "You know," she continued, lowering her voice. "He would love to ask you out, but the poor boy's simply too nervous about rejection," Kali shrugged, feigning hopelessness. Elita mouthed something that looked like "What the bloody hell are you doing?", but Kali ignored her pointedly.

"Oh, well then…" Raleigh seemed to be thinking hard.

"Then you should ask him out," Kali stated as-a-matter-of-factly.

Elita stared at Kali, mouth open in disbelief, but the other two girls seemed not to notice. Raleigh looked at Kali as though she were the most wonderful thing on the planet. "You're right… I should! And I will! Thanks so much." Raleigh suddenly seemed like she was in a hurry to be someplace else. "Well, I'll see you two around then," and with that she began to make her way up the hill towards the castle, but she spun around abruptly and beamed at the sisters. "Oh and, if you two are ever in a tight fix," she pointed to her Head Girl badge which was gleaming in the sunlight. "You know where to go." She winked at them then she was off.

Elita pushed Kali so hard it almost knocked her down. "What the bloody hell were you thinking!" she screamed as soon as Raleigh was out of sight.

Kali blanched. "How dense could you possibly be? I think you've set a record! And for you, Elita, that's saying a lot."

"ME? YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S SETTING UP INNOCENT GIRLS WITH TRAITOROUS MURDERING PSY—"

"ELITA!" Kali slapped her sister hard across the face. Elita staggered backward, looking utterly aghast, and suddenly regained her composure and raised her hand, about to return the favor, before her sister grabbed her arm. "Get a hold of yourself, Elita! Are you a complete dolt?"

"Well, one of us is," Elita murmured, forcing her arm away from her sister and staring sulkily down at her feet. Kali chose to ignore her.

"Don't you recognize that girl? You've seen pictures of her!" Kali said eagerly.

"Erm—have I?" Elita replied, looking up. She knew Elita hated it when she didn't know what was going on inside Kali's head—she smiled to herself—which was all the time.

"Yes, you have!" Kali grinned. "That girl—Raleigh Hampton, you know her, or know of her, at least," Kali's face suddenly grew somber, but she continued keenly. "Only we know her with a different last name. She's Brynn and Ste's mum. Raleigh is—or was—Mr. Wea—Arggh! Ron's wife. I was doing them a favor. We do want Ste and Brynn to be born, don't we?"

Elita stared at her sister, dumbfounded. "Of course. Wow," Elita replied softly. "Suddenly the events that have occurred in the past five minutes make much more sense…"


In a different time…

A young man, no older than twenty-three walked into the dark, cold room. He was wearing a cloak with the hood up, and his face was hidden in shadow. But a few rogue tufts of fiery red hair peeked out from under his hood.

"You sent for me, my lord?" the young man asked.

"Yes," another man replied hoarsely, as though he hadn't spoken in a long while. He was seated in a chair, hands folded neatly in his lap. He was cloaked and hooded too, but from under the hood two eyes, colored a frightening blood-red, shone menacingly. "Tell me, how goes it?"

"How goes what, my lord?" The young man replied, clearly uncertain of his master's sudden friendliness.

"Forgive me for not making myself clear. I mean, does anyone suspect your loyalty to me? You are, after all, in the midst of my enemies, that must be incredibly difficult," the man said casually, maybe with a tiny hint of sarcasm, the young man seemed not sure.

The young man chuckled nervously. "No, my lord, no one suspects anything of me. In fact, I can name several people they would suspect before me," he boasted. The other man said nothing. "Is—is that all, my lord?"

"Yes, boy. Leave me now."

And with that order the young man left the dark, cold room as quickly as he had arrived.


September 15th, 1996-

Harry found Kali and Elita to be... strange to say the least. Not strange as in Luna Lovegood sense (although Kali was making friends with her rather quickly), but strange in a déjà vu kind of way.

Harry also found it odd that the girls seemed to know their way around the school as well as anyone else. Hell, Harry got lost more than the girls did. It had taken himself and Ron nearly their entire first year to finally be able to navigate themselves successfully around Hogwarts, and it had taken the Rollins girls about a week! He supposed he was being paranoid, an undesired side-effect from hanging out with Hermione as often as he did.

He didn't have time to worry about the girls, anyway. Quidditch trials were fast approaching, and Harry's main focus at the present time was recruiting. He was asking everyone, yes, everyone in the Gryffindor House (besides the first years, of course) to be present at the trials. Harry even thought he'd convinced Neville to come.

But as excited as Harry was to be playing his favorite sport once again, after a year's distinct lack of it, he couldn't deny that he was rather anxious. Fred, George, Alicia, and Angelina were all gone this year, and they had been pretty much the entire team (besides Katie, who was awarded the captaincy). And while he had complete confidence in Ron, he hoped that his best friend was mentally preparing himself for more rip-roaring rounds of "Weasley Is Our King" from the Slytherins.

The Order was at a momentary standstill, doing nothing but waiting. A few months ago Harry would've figured that this would be the time Voldemort would be making his move, but nothing was happening, and there was a great sense of foreboding growing in the pit of Harry's stomach. He knew this was the calm before of the storm; it would only be downhill from here.

He still hadn't told Ron and Hermione about the Prophecy, and he wasn't quite sure why he was so anxious about doing so. Of course they would understand... right? No, it wasn't about them understanding… it was about him understanding. He knew he would have to come to terms with what was happening, it just might take him awhile. But when he did, then he would tell them.

Despite all of the pressures of Harry's everyday life and all of the other things he should have his mind on, he often found his thoughts drifting back to Kali and Elita. He had known the girls for over half a month now, and they seemed nice enough (although he had been right in his fist assumption, Kali was rather intense). But there was just something about them… He knew Hermione sensed it too. And whatever that something was, Harry had the awful feeling that he was somehow going to get caught up in the middle of it.