Disclaimer: see prologue.

Chapter Ten: "No Rest for the Weary"

"Kris!" Elita said in a loud whisper, shaking her friend. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground: Kris was not a morning person, but she had to get into the Ravenclaw common room, and if anyone knew the password, it was Kris.

"Kris!" she said again. "Wake up!"

A loud, annoyed groan was the only response she got from the girl. Kris turned over and proceeded to ignore, and annoy, Elita.

"Come on, Kris! I need your help!"

Kris abruptly turned over and her eyes snapped open, although they were considerably unfocused. "Elita! How… wha—bloody hell…" she trailed off.

"I know, I'll explain everything later, right now I need the Ravenclaw common room password," she said urgently.

"Merlin's beard," Kris replied groggily.

"Come on, Kris! Just tell me!"

"No," Kris replied, shaking her head impatiently. "'Merlin's beard' is the password."

Elita blinked. "Oh. Well… thanks." And she was off.


It was six o'clock Saturday morning. Stephen Weasley was very tired, but he could not sleep. He kept on thinking… one day. If only they had realized who the real traitor was one day earlier. Time. It was a funny thing.

He pulled out the small piece of paper and read the words once again. Singulus Alius. He had been telling the truth earlier, never before had he seen a spell like this one. Maybe, just maybe, it would work. Maybe Elita could go back in time and warn someone about the traitor.

No, Ste realized. That would never work. Who would believe her? He wasn't even sure if he believed it himself…

Brynn. His older brother who had always protected him, always looked out for him. Brynn, his big brother who had given him his owl. Brynn, whom he had wanted to grow up to be when he was a little boy.

Brynn, who had betrayed them all.

Stephen Weasley had never been angrier in all of his life. How long had this been going on? How long had Brynn been giving information to Voldemort?

Ste was slightly comforted when he remembered that the deepest circle in hell was reserved for those who betray.

But if Elita went back in time and warned and warned the Order before Brynn disappeared… Nothing would change, Ste realized. No one would believe her. Elita wasn't close enough for the Order to trust entirely. And besides, Ste knew all well and good that you were not supposed to change the past. Too many repercussions for every action…

And who was to say that they couldn't save themselves now, in the present? They'd managed to do it before. Just because they had a girl who happened to be able to time-travel at their disposal didn't mean they could just use her every time something went wrong! And again, there were consequences for every action. If somehow the Order did find out about Brynn before he fled… who's to say the consequences wouldn't be worse? What if Brynn attacked—or even killed—someone? What if someone killed Brynn? Was Ste ready to handle that? He shuddered.

He turned over restlessly in his four-poster. All he knew was that this whole ordeal was giving him a huge headache.

But there was that idiot nagging "what if" in the back of his mind that just wouldn't leave him alone. What if Elita could go back in time to stop Brynn from turning against them?

No, that wouldn't work either. He remembered what he himself had said earlier that night. If you're right—if your powers allow you to go back so you can change things—to change them for the better… If preventing him from being born was the only way he wouldn't betray them, then it's his destiny. There's nothing else we can do about it.

He had been right.

He looked at the words on the tiny piece of parchment once again.

No. He ignited it with his wand tip and watched it disintegrate into ashes, and then extinguished the flame quickly before it could burn the flesh on his hand.

Ste decided that it was better this way. He had written a letter to his father telling him everything and sent it from the Owlery with Mercury after Elita had retreated to the girls' dormitories. Ron's reaction would certainly not be pleasant. Ste had requested they meet in Dumbledore's office, so he could explain everything, hopefully, with Dumbledore on his side. He would have to arrange that with the Headmaster in the morning. He knew his father would listen to reason if it came from Dumbledore… at least… he hoped he would.

Elita's secret would not be a secret for very much longer. But maybe… since they didn't change anything… Ron already knew about Elita? Maybe Ron had known the two girls longer than Ste had himself… Time-travel is entirely too confusing, was Ste's last coherent thought before he drifted into an uneasy sleep, only to be awoken thirty minutes later by an impatient Connor wanting breakfast.