Spell of Time
By: xxlostdreamerxz
Disclaimer: No, I do not own HP.
Albus Dumbledore, the esteemed headmaster sat alone in his office deep in thought. He had just given two young boys, probably the cheekiest ones he'd ever met, save for the Marauders, the high positioned position of Defense against Dark Arts. Dumbledore prided himself for knowing and understand a person at first glance...and yet, these two probably have as many secrets as a secret keeper. For the first time in his long life, Dumbledore was confused.
The only thing he knew about these two young ones were their names, and their amazing magical aura. Nothing else. Were they Death Eaters in disguise? Or possible a spy? And how could they possible be so strong! It was impossible achievement for one so young...wasn't it? He glanced up sharply when the door slammed open...
"Minerva? What are you doing here?" exclaimed Dumbledore looking slightly worried. "Did something happen?"
Instead of looking like her usual strict self, Professor McGonagall looked like a volcano ready to explode. Her face was red with something close to anger, while she held a hand to her chest trying to catch her breath as if she'd stormed all the way to Dumbledore's office. She had an expression of horror and disbelief pasted upon her face.
"May I ask what those two young men are doing in the teacher's quarters?" she asked with forced calm, her lips were pressed into a thin line, while her eyes flashed slightly with anger.
Dumbledore looked puzzled for a moment before his expression cleared. "You must mean Mr. Eaton and Mr. Smith," he answered slowly, his eyes lingering upon his fingers. "I'm glad to present to you the two newest addition to our staff..."
Professor McGonagall looked horrified. "But...Albus...you can't! You don't understand! They're worse then the Marauders! You have to see what they did to the our common room!"
He looked up, his bright blue eyes twinkled with surprise. "What happened Minerva?" he asked with a hint of amusement, trying his best not to chuckle. The strict and prim headmistress was meticulous beyond belief. Her weekly purges of prank items was well known throughout the school. Items, which the Marauders would usually 'borrow' back. "It couldn't have been that bad..." he said trying to calm the flustered professor.
"Look! At this!" she shrieked, causing Fawkes to give an annoyed squawk. She held up her black leather purse...err...rainbow colored purse furiously. "Did you know that they repainted everything in there!" she took a deep breath before continuing, "When I walked in on them, they were arguing about what color to paint the walls! Did you know that they painted the ceiling GREEN with little yellow stars!"
"Well...I suppose they're trying to show some Slytherin sprit..." he began, as he was drowned off by Professor McGonagall's loud voice.
"I swear! They're insane! Do you have any idea how they were going to solve this little argument of theirs?" she ranted furiously, not paying attention to Dumbledore who was secretly chuckling behind her back. "They were going to have a duel! Can you believe it! A DUEL JUST TO DETERMINE WHAT DEMENTED COLOR TO PAINT THE BLASTED ROOM!" she yelled shrilly, turning a nasty shade of purple.
At those words Dumbledore's amusement slowly crept away. So maybe his assessment be correct. Those two must be extremely powerful, for most wizards would rather run then duel. For during a duel a wizard usually drew upon so much magical energy that it left them exhausted for weeks to come. So strange...and classes started the next day...
Professor McGonagall stood there, seething in anger. "I don't understand you Albus..." she muttered after a moment, finally regaining her stiff composure. She closed her eyes and mentally counted to ten, before continuing, "...especially in times like these, it isn't wise to trust so willingly. For all we know, they could be spies..."
"I knew about the dangers of hiring them from the moment they appeared in the Great Hall," he answered warily, sounding older then ever. "But I believe that their presence here would do more good then harm..."
"What makes you say that?" she retorted stiffly. "Just imagine what they might teach the students! We'll never be safe as long as they're at Hogwarts! For all we know, they could corrupt the students with senseless lies about purity!"
"They are strong...far too strong..." Albus shook his head sadly as he plopped another lemon tart into his mouth. "However, they do not bare the dark mark yet..."
Professor McGonagall snorted in disbelief, "You're trying to tell me that those two boys are actually STRONG? They're nothing more then children...they can't be much stronger then our seventh years..."
"I wish it was that simple..." replied Dumbledore as he shook his head in disagreement. "Those two's magical powers might possible even rival mine..."
"That's impossible..." she stuttered, her eyes wide with shock. "You're of the strongest wizards in two centuries! And you defeated Grindelwald! How is it possible that those two...children...could surpass you!"
"I have never seen or met anyone so strong before..." He continued, holding his hand up for silence. "Even Voldemort would be hard pressed to win against those two." His deep blue eyes met Minerva's black ones. "That's why I hired them, it would be for the better if they joined our side instead of Voldemort's." Dumbledore blindly fingered the ring around his finger. "If Voldemort gains those two, they our side would be doomed..."
The always witty transfiguration professor pointed out, "But what if they're already in league with Voldemort? It could destroy whatever little hope we have of winning!" She bit her lips nervously, and answered slowly. "However I understand your position in this matter Albus. You believe that those two would be a great addition to our side, therefore you allowed them remain here...to teach. In hopes that they'll produce some sort of sympathies and ties to our students, so they would not stray far into the Dark..."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "That is my plan, however it is also slightly dangerous. It is never wise to allow an proposed enemy to remain here." He sighed in frustration, "That's the thing! I don't know these two boys at all! We need some way to learn how their mind works, just in case. For if they are Death Eaters, we will be able to benefit from them, all the same..."
"...by learning how Voldemort's mind works!" finished Professor McGonagall thoughtfully. "But the real question is, how to do it? They'll be suspicious if we cast a spell on them, or forced a pitcher full of Veritaserum down their throats! There's just no possible way..."
"I suppose we could sort them..." muttered Dumbledore to himself, his eyes twinkling with delight. "That'd be fairly easy. All we have to do is make this into a game..."
Professor McGonagall frowned slightly. "A game? What in the name of Merlin are talking about?" she demanded, eyeing him with a worried expression upon her face. 'His age must be getting to him...poor Albus...' she thought sadly.
"What I mean is that we should present the students with something they've always wanted to know..." said Albus cheerfully. "...what house all their teachers originally came from. All we have to do is resort all the teachers, therefore allowing us to test Mr. Smith and Mr. Eaton."
"I still don't understand how it'll help us if we sort them..."
The headmaster chuckled softly, "Minerva, you do remember the reason the Hogwart's founders originally created Houses don't you?" he asked while he searched through his papers for a stamp of the Hogwart's seal. "For example, Gryffindor. The house made for the bravest and most daring soul, which was symbolized as a Lion. Although Gryffindor may be loyal, their loyalty will not remain unless they truly believe they're doing the right thing. They also tend to make rash decision, without thinking about the consequences of their actions," stated Dumbledore, as he leaned heavily back against his chair. "Every house is unique in it's own way...and each house has it's own weakness..."
Minerva nodded in agreement and flushed slightly in embarrassment. "Very well Albus, will we put our plan into action tonight?"
"Yes...tonight..."
Meanwhile
"I'm bored..." wined Draco, throwing his dirty clothes towards Harry. "I can't believe I actually allowed you to talk me into this!" he cried in annoyance. "Just think about it! I could have been home enjoying the luxuries of the world now that Voldemort's gone!" He stuck his nose up disdainfully, "And to think! I spent all that time saving your ass just too find myself back here...with a younger...and uglier looking Voldemort..."
Harry snorted, before his eyes flashed anticipation. "What? Are you admitting that you actually thought Voldemort...Tom Riddle was...handsome before?" he snickered slyly, enjoying the horrified expression that crossed Draco's face. Harry mockingly clasped his hands together, and placed a dazed expression upon his face. "Just think of it! Those beautiful red eyes, his pale clammy skin, those long spider-like fingers. Oh! And don't tell me you forgot about those cute nicknames he gave you. 'Scum...pathetic weakling...ext.' So romantic wasn't he Draco?" taunted Harry, mimicking a dreamy sigh.
Moments latter, "POTTER! GET YOU SORRY ASS BACK HERE! I SWEAR I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB WITH MY BARE HANDS!" roared Draco, as he chased Harry around the room.
"Oh come on Drake! You've got to know that Voldemort had a secret crush on you!" he said mockingly, earning himself a hard punch in the arm. Harry winced slightly, before he continued his onslaught. "Oh the horror! Voldemort will sure be heartbroken to hear that you've rejected him in such a manner! Have you no heart Draco?"
"Of course I do!" replied Draco, as a sly light flickered across his eyes. "After all, how could I love him when I'm in love with someone else?" he said softly, trying his best to sound emotional.
Harry stuttered to a stop, as his jaw dropped in surprise. "You like someone? Who is it?" he asked curiously, jumping around Draco like a young child. "I'm so glad you've finally found someone Draco! Now I'll finally be allowed some peace and quiet!" he sighed in relief. "And here I was thinking that you'd torture me with your annoying banter for the rest of my life! I'm SAVED!" he cried, giving a whoop of joy, not noticing Draco who was trying his best not to burst out in laughter.
"But...it's not that simple..." replied Draco, trying to sound emotionally traumatized. "He doesn't know that I exist...and I...and so...'fond' of bothering him..." he said with a fake sniff.
"Oh...I'm sorry Draco..." muttered Harry looking slightly guilty. "If there's anything I can do, just ask..."
Draco's eyes gleamed with sadistic joy. "Well, Harry there is actually something that you can do for me..." he said trying his best to sound weak and timid. At Harry nod of agreement, he continued, "To tell you the truth Harry...I...have a crush on you..." he finished, looking up just in time to see Harry's face pale with horror.
"WHAT!" screamed Harry, as he backed away from Draco as if he was being possessed by Voldemort himself. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN ARE YOU PLAYING AT!"
"But Harry, I love you...with all my heart," he said as he jumped towards Harry his arms opened, as if he was ready to give Harry a hug. At that, Harry screamed in feared and ran as quickly away from him, which caused him to trip over Draco's dirty clothes and land headfirst against the ground.
Draco couldn't take it anymore, and burst out in laughter. 'I...can't...believe...you...actually...fell for that..." he chocked out between laughs. "That look on...your...face...was priceless!"
"You...mean you don't like me?" asked Harry, eying Draco cautiously.
"Don't be a prat Potter. Did you actually think that I, a Malfoy would actually lower myself to such a level?" he said arrogantly. "After all if I ever marry, even as unlikely as it seems, it would be to a girl, not a dead ugly guy such as yourself..."
Harry's eyes narrowed in anger, "Draco, don't you DARE scare me like that again!" he snapped furiously. "That had to be the creepiest experiences I've ever been through. Hell, that was even scarier then facing Voldemort!"
"So are you trying to say that I'm scarier the Voldemort?" he said wiping a fake tear from his eye. "Oh the horror! The agony! Deserted by my one and only best friend..." said Draco dramatically.
"Oh can it Malfoy," grumbled Harry, as he threw Draco's dirty clothes back at him.
"So it's Malfoy now huh? What happened to Draco?" he asked, his lips trembling with suppressed laughter.
Harry threw his hands up in frustration, "Fine, then DRACO," he said emphasizing his name, which caused Draco to smirk in triumph. "If you don't hurry up...we're going to be late for dinner." A horrified expression crossed Draco's face as Harry continued, "I mean just think about it. All those hungry students out there are going to finish everything off! While we...teachers are left to fend for ourselves..."
At those words, Draco quickly grabbed the scruff of Harry's robes and dragged him towards the direction of the Great Hall. "I won't let those little monsters eat all of MY food!"
