Temporal Flux

Chapter Seven: Dumbledore's Office

Ginny and Neville returned several hours later, close to sundown with the other students.  By that time, Ron was brooding in the boys' dorm.  Jared was sitting in Hermione's designated chair, while she was in the library.  Harry was sitting by himself in front of the Ron's chess board, pondering about what Jared had said earlier.  He knew for sure that he wasn't about to tell Ron what Jared had told him. 

Ron hadn't really done anything to Jared, but it was only a matter of time.  Harry was on Ron's side, yet at the same time he didn't want anything to happen Jared.  For right now, it was better that all three were separated.  Ron had left his chess set out, so Harry was just setting them up.  The chess pieces were getting antsy, glancing up expectantly at Harry to get the game going.

"Do you mind if I enjoy?" offered Jared as he shifted to look at Harry.

"Sure," answered Harry.  Jared got to his feet and took the chair across from him.  "Do you know how to play?"

"Yes," replied Jared. 

Ginny came up just then and asked, "What's going on?  Where's Ron and Hermione?  What happened on Ron's date?"

"Actually, I kind of want to know myself," said Jared, looking expectantly at Harry.  "I mean it might explain why he got so pissed with me just talking to Hermione."

Harry glanced at Ginny then at Jared.  It seemed like the chess pieces wanted to know, too.  He sighed and gave a brief summary of what happened on Ron's date with Casey.  Ginny was livid, while Jared was grinning.  "I can't believe how stuck up that little—ooh, just wait until I get my hands on her!" exclaimed Ginny. 

"She's not worth it," said Jared.  "She wasn't even worth the date." 

"And why are you spending so much time with Hermione?" demanded Ginny as she glared at him. 

"Why can't I spend time with her?" countered Jared cleverly.  Ginny clutched her jaw and wore the look she often did when she attempted to discipline him.  It was an expression close to his grandmother's.  Jared assumed the look that Weasley boys' often wore when they wanted to look innocent; it was something he had picked up from his uncles.  Not that it ever really worked.  It sure wasn't working right now.  "I mean it's her business who she wants to spend time with.  Ron doesn't have the monopoly on that, does he?"

"What do you have against my brother?" challenged Ginny as she slammed her hands palms down on the table, startling Ron's chess pieces. 

"I've got nothing against him," answered Jared automatically.  "I like him just as much as I like Hermione."

Ginny turned her head at Harry for some assistance because Jared was absolutely confounding her.  Harry stared at Jared, if what he said about Hermione was true; did that mean that Jared loved Ron, too?  That didn't make any sense at all.  Or did it?  Harry would have said more, but he felt a sudden sharp, burning pain in his skull.

He groaned as his hands automatically flew to his scar.  He was heaving, gasping for air.  Jared was on his feet.  "Harry!  Are you all right?" he asked.  "What's wrong?  What's going on?  Ginny?" Jared turned to her and saw that she had gone pale. 

"Harry?  Can you hear me?" asked Ginny as she placed her hand on Harry's shoulder.  "Calm down.  Block it.  Block it.  Jared, go and get Professor McGonagall.  Now!"  She shouted the last part because Jared seemed froze in place.  He blinked then made a dash for the portrait. 

"No…don't," moaned Harry, trying to control his breathing.  He was focusing on blocking this intrusion into his mind.  He had to fight it.  He didn't want Dumbledore to find out.  He concentrated, trying to keep himself calm and ease the pain that was penetrating through his head.  It was much stronger than it had ever been.  Before Harry would have allowed himself to see the visions, but not now.  It was too dangerous.  He knew how dangerous they were.  It cost Sirius' life.  Harry collapsed, succumbing to the darkness.

Jared knew that they were trying not to talk in front of him.  He considered the three of them a trio.  An old man, a spy, and a priest.  Jared had gone to get Dumbledore as Ginny had ordered him, too, and Snape and De Luca joined him.  It was the DADA professor who had given him entry into the Headmaster's office.  Jared was holding his breath, knowing that it didn't look too good for him.  Snape was probably telling the other two that he was dangerous to Harry.  Jared had the unfortunate luck of being present when Harry collapsed, and it wasn't his doing at all. 

Ginny had gone to get Ron as soon as Harry was helped into the infirmary, and together they had gone and fetched Hermione from the library.  That much Jared knew.  He cursed himself for not reading this in the diary ahead of time.  He should have known that Harry was going to get attacked.  Even in Hogwarts, Voldemort had a way of getting in.  Not that Jared was afraid of the man or even the name.  It took a long time before anyone could say Voldemort's name in a sentence.  Maybe it was better that Jared didn't know, it would have looked more suspicious otherwise.

Jared was sitting across from Dumbledore's desk, while the Headmaster was conversing with De Luca and Snape.  After another five minutes of heated whispering, Snape stalked off with De Luca following closely behind.  Jared swallowed, feeling his throat constrict as the Headmaster swept up to him.  Jared had read Hogwarts: A History numerous times.  In the revised edition that he had practically memorized, Dumbledore had a whole chapter devoted to him, but still Jared had a feeling that the chapter left out a lot of things.

"Headmaster," stated Jared without looking at him.

Dumbledore took a seat at his chair.  "Would you like a lemon drop, Jared?" he offered, his blue eyes sparkling.  "I suspect that you have a sweet tooth."

That was true.  Jared loved sweets.  He took one drop, but didn't put it in his mouth.  "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," he whispered.

The Headmaster leaned back against his chair, his eyes never leaving Jared's face.  "You are a very gifted student, Jared.  Very gifted indeed.  Your parents must be very impressed with you."

Jared didn't like where this conversation was heading, so he decided to take a different route.  He had a way of disarming people.  He did it very often with his parents and family.  There was very few people who were immune to his tactics.  "Whatever do you mean?" he asked innocently, almost batting his eyelashes for effect.

"Blake is your maternal grandmother's name, isn't it?" asked Dumbledore.  Jared remained calm, his expression never wavering.  "You do have your mother's eyes much like how Harry Potter has his mother's eyes.  However, judging from the report from Professor McGonagall regarding your fight with Draco Malfoy earlier, you seem to have inherited your father's temper.  Now the real question is not who you are, but why you are here?"

"How did you figure it out?" asked Jared, very impressed and elated that the history books weren't lying.

"Through keen observation of your activities.  That and Professor De Luca has his ways of figuring things out," replied Dumbledore.  "He was right to trust you.  You aren't here to harm anyone, but why are you here?"

"I can't say," answered Jared.  "Please don't force me to give you an answer."

The Headmaster stared into his eyes with a soft smile on his lips.  "I must say that I am surprised at how well Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger's son will turn out.  You are a credit to both of them.  However, I cannot have you running around my school causing problems between my students."

Jared pulled at the chain around his neck.  It was in the shape of an hour glass, but rather than holding sand, it held a clear blue liquid inside.  "This is an advance time turner.  It was original developed by my mother," he explained.  "It works a bit differently.  Combined with a spell, it keeps a person in a different time for as long as they wish.  The spell will hold as long as I don't flip it over.  My parents didn't want to send me back, so I went on my own."

"A disobedient Weasley?  As if I have never heard of one before," joked Professor Dumbledore.  He sighed.  "Do you have any intention of telling your parents?"

"Would they believe me?" laughed Jared.  "I don't think either of them like me right now, especially my father.  He was yelling at me today."

Dumbledore shook his head with a chuckle, "There is very little I can do if it is a family issue for you.  Just do not fight with anymore people in the halls."

"In my defense, Malfoy insulted my mother."

"No more, Jared.  I am sure that you are aware that your mother can fight her own battles," insisted the Headmaster.  "If you require any assistance from me, please say so."

"There is one thing I just have to know.  What did you tell De Luca and Snape?"

"What are you really doing here?"

Jared clamped his mouth shut at that question because he didn't really want to give any information.  It was bad enough that people were on to him.  He found Dumbledore's eyes unreadable, but didn't venture to ask again.  They had a silent agreement.  So, Jared sighed and instead asked, "May I leave now?  I have detention with Professor De Luca in a little while."

"Very well, but remember I will be keeping an eye on you," Dumbledore reminded him.  "I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding your way back to Gryffindor Tower."

"No," agreed Jared.  "And I would have never had a problem finding this office."  He got to his feet and let himself out, while Dumbledore got to his feet.  He reached towards Fawkes and gently stroked his feathers. 

"Did you notice anything about him, Fawkes?" asked Dumbledore to his familiar.  Fawkes gave a melodious noise.  "I don't know what he's up to either.  He's very well trained."  Dumbledore found it difficult to read Jared because he had successfully blocked him.  It was most intriguing. 

When Jared got out of the office, he walked towards the infirmary instead of Gryffindor Tower.  He stopped just sort of the corner when he saw Ron and Hermione coming out.  They were talking in hushed tones.

"I forgot that it's your birthday today," said Ron.  "Um…I'm sorry.  I didn't get you anything."

"It's all right," said Hermione.  "We never really celebrate it anyway."

"Harry got you something, but I think he wants to give it you later.  I wish I could have gotten you something," explained Ron, looking rather sheepish. 

"Let's worry more about Harry," said Hermione, not wanting to talk anymore about her birthday.

"What do you think happened to him?" asked Ron.  "I was in our room at the time.  Ginny just went and got me.  Jared went and got Dumbledore because Ginny told him to.  He and Harry were at the chessboard."

Hermione bit her lip.  Jared knew it was a sign that something was troubling her and once again he had a feeling that the conversation wasn't going in his favor.  She pulled a lock of her hair behind her ear.  "What is it?" asked Ron.

"Don't you think there's something weird about Jared?" asked Hermione with a sigh.  Ron raised his eyebrow at him.  It was something that Jared had unconsciously done earlier, causing Hermione to do a double take as she looked at Ron.  "There's something strangely familiar about him, don't you think?"

"I try not to look at him really.  He really irritates me, Hermione," confessed Ron.  "I had no idea that anyone could be that obnoxious."

Hermione laughed at his words as she shook her head.  "I know someone who's just as annoying," she laughed.

"Are you comparing me again to him?  I'm nothing like him!" exclaimed Ron loudly; realizing that was too loud, he repeated in a softer voice, "I am not like him."

Hermione shook her head.  "There are times where he's exactly like you."

"What about in class?" asked Ron.  "What about with you?  He's like you, not me."

"He's more like you than he's like me," insisted Hermione.

Jared was having a difficult time holding in his laughter.  It wasn't the first time his parents had that argument, but it was the first time they had ever had it without realizing it.  He was nearly choking on his laughter, and he was about to leave.  "Hey, what are you doing here?" demanded Ron angrily.  His ears were red.  "Are you eavesdropping?" 

"No," replied Jared automatically, wearing his innocent look again.  "Actually, I just wanted to know if Harry was all right."

"He's fine.  Madame Pomfrey just wants to keep him overnight," Hermione informed him.  She placed her hand on Ron's wrist to keep him from doing anything.  She was doing it without thinking.  Jared looked pointedly at her.  She gave him a puzzling look before she glanced down and noticed what she was doing.  Ron was staring at her as she released him suddenly.  Jared had a grin on his face as they reddened in front of him.  Hermione cleared her throat and said, "Why don't we head back?  Jared has to go with us because he might get detention if he gets caught and we have our prefect badges to keep us safe."

Ron shoved his way passed Jared, "What the Hell are you smiling about?"

"Nothing," answered Jared.  Hermione wore an exasperated expression, not knowing who she should throw it towards.  She and Jared just followed closely behind him.  From around the corner of the corridor that Jared just came out of, Professor De Luca shook his head and smiled because someone had completely forgotten his detention.

Jared woke up with a start the following morning.  He realized that it was Sunday, but realized that he never showed up for detention.  Damn it!, he thought frantically as he climbed out of bed.  He nearly fell out of bed and opened his trunk.  He grabbed his toiletry kit and made a dash to the bathroom.  He dumped almost everything into his trunk and was only half dressed on his way out of the door.

Hermione was just coming out of the girls' side when she saw Jared practically sliding down the side of the stairs.  He was trying his shirt over his head, his stomach was exposed.  Many people told him he was built like his father, but Hermione never saw Ron without a shirt before.  And she wouldn't until the next summer or so.  She had no idea that Jared's slender, muscular structure was almost exactly like Ron's.  She blushed at him as he tried to pull his shirt over his head, but he ended up stuck.  "Ah!" he exclaimed, struggling with his shirt.  The sleeves seemed tangled.

Hermione shook her head as she went downstairs.  She held her giggling in as she asked jokingly, "Do you need some help?  Didn't your parents teach you how to dress yourself?"  She assisted him and pulled the bottom edge over Jared's stomach.  He smoothed out his shirt, she noticed a chain around his neck, but didn't think much of it.  His hair was sticking up in one side.  Hermione resisted the impulse to smooth it out, even though it was very tempting.  Instead she asked, "Why are you in such a hurry on a Sunday morning?"

"For you information, I could have dressed myself.  Yes, my mother taught me how to dress myself.  And for your last question, I forgot I had detention last night.  I have two weeks of it.  I have to go and talk to Professor De Luca before he gives me more detention and hopefully explain to him why I forgot," Jared said it in a very rushed voice, but at the same time he sounded almost bossy.  "Now, I have to go."

"Good luck," called Hermione after him impulsively.

"Thanks," said Jared as he left.  Hermione sighed as she shook her head.  Are all boys like either Ron or Jared?  She wondered.  If that was true, then she was really worried.  She felt tired because she was between the both of them.  She sat in her chair, noticing that someone had left something on it. 

Hermione picked it up and saw a short note with it.  The smile on her face grew as she read it:

Sorry about almost forgetting your birthday.  Sorry about it being late, too.  I know that you said you really didn't want anything.  I wish I could have gotten you something better, but this will have to do. 

Ron

She unwrapped the plain paper, wondering when Ron got it because he had come back from Hogsmeade empty handed.  It was a small jewelry box that was just the size of her palm.  She opened it and found that it was empty, but it was a beautifully crafted.  There was an intricate design on it, representing the rune symbols she was studying in her class. 

What she didn't know was that Ron had picked it up in Diagon Alley weeks before school began.  Ron just didn't want to hand to her in person and with anyone around.  He had dropped it off on the chair after everyone else had gone to sleep in the early morning hours.  He had taken the chance of Jared finding it first.  Ron also didn't want anyone else to see the small jewelry box he really could only afford.  It suited Hermione fine because she hardly ever wore jewelry, except for special occasions.  The last time she wore piece of jewelry for a long period of time was the Time Turner.

She didn't throw the note away.  Instead, she folded it and placed it inside the jewelry box.  She went back upstairs to put it in her trunk.  Harry still hadn't had a chance to give Hermione the candy he had picked up for her favorite candy from Honeydukes.  None of the other girls stirred when she put the jewelry box in her trunk, next to her diary.  Realizing that she hadn't written yesterday's entry, she picked it up and grabbed her quill.

Jared still had not had a chance to check her diary in the last few days.  If he had, the entry would have read like this:

I haven't really written yet about the new boy, Jared Blake.  He says he's from Los Angeles, but I'm not so sure about that.  He is the strangest person I've ever met.  It's like he knows me or something.  At first, he got on my nerves, but whenever I look at him—I can't help but think that there's something special about him.  He really knows how to get to Ron.

It's funny.  Really funny.  Ron and Jared have so much in common.  They have the same gestures.  They both make sarcastic remarks and they have the same temper.  It's exhausting trying to keep them from hurting each other, especially keeping Ron from hurting Jared.  I know that Ron doesn't trust him, but I do.  I can't explain why though.  I just do.  I feel comfortable with Jared, like we have a bond together and that's why he knows me so well.

Hermione stopped because she could hear Lavender or Parvati waking up.  She closed her diary and returned it to her trunk.  By the time her roommates were up, she was just brushing her hair.  Hermione didn't like to take much care in her appearance normally, but she was trying to appear as if she hadn't run into Jared and gotten Ron's present.  It was like the two situations were connected together.

She was in deep thought when Ginny tapped her shoulder.  She gasped.  "I'm sorry," said Ginny, equally startled by Hermione's reaction.

"It's okay."

"Ron's waiting for you.  He wants to go and see if Harry's all right."

"I'll be there."

Ginny was giving her a smile similar to Jared's.  "What?" demanded Hermione.

"You were getting ready for Ron, weren't you?" teased the younger girl. 

Hermione's cheeks immediately went rosy.  "No!" she said defensively.  "I was not.  I was just brushing my hair.  That's all."

"You don't really like brushing your hair," insisted Ginny.  Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes at her, deciding that it was better to ignoring Ginny for the time being.  Honestly, Hermione was starting to think that Fred and George were bad influences on her.  "Hey!  Don't ignore me!" shouted Ginny after Hermione.

Hermione came down and saw that Ron was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.  He had his hands in his pockets, looking up at her expectantly.  "What took you so long?"

"She was brushing her hair," answered Ginny for her.  Hermione looked back at her with a glare, causing Ginny only to grin at her again.  Hermione turned back at Ron and rolled her eyes.  "I'll see you two later," added Ginny.

"Aren't you coming along?" asked her brother.

"Nope.  Just the two of you," answered Ginny with some satisfaction.  "I also have to meet with my study group."  She practically skipped the last two steps of the stairs, grinning like the Cheshire cat.  Hermione yanked Ron's arm and dragged him out of the common room.  This was no easy feat, but she managed to get him through the portrait.

"What was she talking about?" asked Ron utterly clueless.

He looked absolutely irresistible at that moment.  His hair was ruffled a bit, too.  Hermione shook her head.  "She was just babbling.  You know how your sister is," she explained lamely without looking at him.

"Oh," murmured Ron, noticing the way she was avoiding his eyes.  "You know that date I had with Casey?"

"How did it go?"

"Not so well.  I just don't have any luck with girls it seems.  Except for you that is."

Hermione swallowed hard, but she had the compulsion to say something to make Ron feel better.  She just wished he had more confidence in himself.  "You will someday," she attempted to reassure him.

"I don't think so.  I mean look at Harry.  He's got money, naturally good at Quidditch—"

"Money isn't everything, Ron," interrupted Hermione sharply as she faced him.  "So, what if he's good at Quidditch?  So are you.  Stop comparing yourself to Harry or anyone else.  Your brothers aren't better than you either.  I wish you'd just see that for yourself."

Ron gaped at her, thinking that his ears were playing tricks on him.  Hermione turned a little rosy again and looked away from him.  This was the way their conversations went.  They either argued over something stupid or were telling each other things that the other one wanted to hear.  In front of other people, they argued.  Hardly anyone ever saw them talk to each other like that. 

"You're a good friend, Hermione," concluded Ron softly without taking his eyes off her.

"Yeah.  A good friend," echoed Hermione, feeling more upset and mildly hurt at his statement.  A friend.  Just a friend.  Of course.  That was all she really was to him.  That's why it took him so long to notice that she was a girl. 

"Let's go see if Harry's all right," said Ron because they had stopped walking completely.  "Are you all right, Hermione?"  His voice sounded anxious after another minute of silence.  "Did you like the present I got you?  I know that it wasn't much, but—"

"I love it," Hermione said in a whisper without looking at him as they continued in silence.


AN: A very bad explanation for Jared's time turner, isn't it?  It works for me.    As for the wrist grabbing, that was definitely an allusion to the movie.  I think that's so cute, okay?  And this whole chapter is just filled with Ron and Hermione moments.  The end part is left open for interpretation.  Did Hermione really mean that she love the present or someone else? Actually, Jared's just one big moment in their lives.

Still haven't decided who among the students should catch Jared first.  That's not really true.  I had time to write the story over the break without the new computer, so yes I know who finds out first.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.  This story belongs to me and cannot be posted anywhere else without my permission.