Hello, readers! No, I haven't forgotten about you. I've been trying to figure out a way to fit this story around HBP! I loved this story too much to let it die; and so I've decided that a few things may conflict with canon. Nothing major, just yet. A new theory may pop up in this chapter involving Snape. I adore Snape; but he's completely evil.

Oh, I'll go back and fix the last chapter so it's more suited for HBP. When I feel like it.

DISCLAIMER: I own Johanna Finch, and I don't own Phil of the Future, or Harry Potter, or Cal Langdon, or…anything else.

Tom broke off his memories; almost abruptly, as the memory progressed to include another wizard. Dumbledore.

Dumbledore terrified Tom. He had more powers; and he was good. Johanna had always trusted him. He silently cursed himself.

He never regretted hating Dumbledore. One day, Dumbledore would be gone, and all that would be left was the little boy from the prophecy. Harry Potter?

Severus Snape had helped him a great deal in finding the child. Snape himself couldn't supply the exact whereabouts; Wormtail had that. Wormtail was actually the one who had originally advised Tom to kill the Potter boy. The only reason the man was still alive.

Snape had helped Tom along the way on one promise, that he would give the boy's mother a choice. Not to recklessly kill her. No, give her a choice, Snape had said. It's what she deserves, he had said, his lip curling.

Severus Snape unnerved him and angered him; thinking he could give Lord Voldemort orders. But he'd paid for that with all the information he could give. Snape was loyal. As for the damn Lestranges and the Malfoys, they were the only people Tom felt really were loyal. Bellatrix and Narcissa were sisters; and highly annoying at that. But they had skill; and they had value; and so, they remained by his side.

He imagined killing the little Potter boy; dreaming of the day that he'd have full power. Well, now, Johanna, wouldn't that be nice? It seems you turned out to be wrong after all these years, he thought sarcastically to himself. He could not stop turning his thoughts to her; every day since her last letter. That letter was ages ago. He hadn't seen or heard from her in ages.

Tom silently cursed himself for thinking so much about the damn woman. Why did he think about her so damn much?

"I got tired of waiting around for something I know I could never have." The words stung.

Dear Johanna,

Did you get a letter from this school called Hogwarts? Guess what, I'm a wizard. A man with an extraordinarily long beard came by. And told me everything. I mean everything. Obviously, it's not quite as simple as it sounds. Are you? A witch, I mean. You're too good to be the rubbish witches from the film Wizard of Oz. I suppose things really are different than I'd ever imagined. It would be foolish to categorize you in the same way as the wicked witch of the West, wouldn't it? I'm being silly; ignore me.

I hope you're going to this school, too. I could use a friend.

By the way, happy birthday. Was it as grand as your sister's eleventh? Now I suppose I finally understand why. It's all astounding.

I wish I had more to say in this letter.

Happy Birthday again,

Tom

Johanna read the letter once, twice. She bit her lip. Tom couldn't possibly be that clueless and naïve, could he? Perhaps he was a bit simple, she'd supposed, but that wasn't anything to hold against him. But still, not even knowing about magic! Raised as a muggle! Johanna had grown up with magic. Why, her parents had even worked with Dumbledore!

She vaguely wondered if that was who visited Tom. It certainly fit the description. Dumbledore was amazing, a hero. He'd been around since before her grandparents, which was certainly saying something. Her grandparents were ancient.

Her parents had pinned Dumbledore as the next Minister of Magic, or, if he didn't get that, at least the next Headmaster of Hogwarts. Johanna had met Dippet, too- he was kind, and he was very caring. But he wasn't Dumbledore!

Tommy didn't even know about Quidditch.

"Johanna?" she heard an abrupt voice, startling her thoughts. "Johanna, dear, we've really got to hurry. Diagon Alley can't wait, and the Floo Network's down, don't ask me why…" her mother's voice trailed off. "We'll have to take that- the new thing. The Knight Bus. Newfangled bus thingies…"

"Mum, buses are hardly anything new these days, you know that, don't be silly."

"Three decks, Johanna, dear. You realize? Muggles ride these things, too. And theirs break down, easily. This thing could break down, and worse, since it's magic.."

"Mum, it'll be alright, I think."

"Alright. Well, come then, dear. Have you got your things? We'll have to spend the night."

Johanna agreed and speculated as to whether Tom had gotten his school things, yet. Half her things were her brother Jack's, who had just graduated. She was at least hoping for an owl.

Johanna spent the entire ride to Diagon Alley in thought, wondering about Hogwarts. What adventures would it hold? She'd read even the muggle adventure stories, and they'd sounded more interesting than her life.

Hopefully this would change things.

There you have it! Originally, this chapter had "Miss Aubersworth" explain Hogwarts to him; as well as a letter from his mother. Obviously, HBP changed things. But STILL! HARRY AND GINNY! YAY! (It's the one ship I completely support.)

Has anyone got suggestions?

REVIEW! I've had TONS of hits on this story, and maybe a small fraction are reviews! It'd be really gear to get some reviews!

Sigh. I had to resort to using UNDERLINES.