October 21, 1971

After what seemed like eternity spinning around in total blackness, the trio landed on a cold marble floor with a soft thump. Wincing, Ginny pulled herself up and dusted off her robes, looking around at her surroundings. At first glance, it looked exactly like where they had been moments ago - the hallway leading to the Great Hall in Hogwarts.

On closer inspection, however, she noticed that a few things were different: a suit of armor missing here, a vase of flowers missing there. The one thing that was still the same was the happy buzz of students talking as they ate their lunch.

"Where are we?" Hermione whispered apprehensively.

"I think the question you should be asking is -"

"- what year are we in?" Draco finished for Ginny.

Ginny glared at him. "Thanks, I needed that," she muttered sarcastically.

"Glad I could help," he replied, equally sarcastic.

"What are you three doing, standing here in the hallways?" The three students jumped in surprise and whipped around to find a very young and stern looking Dumbledore looking down at them through his half-moon glasses. "You should be going to lunch."

"Yes sir," they mumbled and quickly hurried into the Great Hall.

Without another glance at each other, they hurried to the nearest table, which happened to be Gryffindor. Hermione and Ginny sat down next to a handsome black-haired boy, and Draco sat down across from them (though not before he made sure the two girls saw his look of intense disgust at having to sit down next to a Gryffindor).

Looking around nervously, Ginny decided against discussing what was going on. It was too risky - they couldn't let anyone hear them. Instead, she turned to the boy sitting beside her and coughed politely.

He looked over with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?" he asked with a bored expression.

Ginny blushed and replied, "Um hi. We're new -" she gestured to Hermione and Draco, who nodded at the boy "- and we were wondering, um, what the date is. Oh, and my name is Ginny."

"October 21, 1971. Name's James Potter. Nice to meet you," he said, looking a bit more interested.

Ginny's eyes widened and she turned to Hermione. The older girl was staring back, looking just as shocked.

Ginny couldn't believe it. James Potter? As in, the famous James who was also the father of Harry? He's pretty cute, a little voice inside her head said. She grinned. He was. James looked exactly like his future son - from the ruffled raven-black hair, to the strong nose, to the cheeky smile. The only difference was that his eyes were brown, rather than green like Harry's.

When she turned back to James, he was no longer facing her, but a cute sandy-haired boy. Probably Lupin, Ginny thought. That means that the boy sitting across from James must be Sirius and that means... She narrowed her eyes at the sight of a small, chubby boy with thin brown hair. Peter Pettigrew, the man who had betrayed Harry's parents and sent them to their deaths.

Hermione seemed to be sharing the same thoughts as Ginny, because when she looked over, her older friend was looking at Peter with an angry expression on her face. Draco, on the other hand, was leaning back in his chair with his feet on the table, examining his fingernails.

"Hey Ginny?"

Ginny was surprised when James addressed her, but quickly gained her composure and smiled at him.

"Yeah?"

"Do you and your friends want a tour of the school? Me and my friends can give you one."

Ginny turned to the other two with an inquiring look. Draco shrugged, which she took as a yes. Hermione nodded.

"Sure," she replied, grinning.