Author's Notes: Thank you to Wren, blueforest, and lilith for your reviews! I really appreciate them :-)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe; JK Rowling does.

Recap of Chapter 4:

'Great,' Honora muttered. 'Well, here goes nothing.' She stepped toward the light, which had now increased to a door-sized portal. She glanced at her grandmother and Julius, who each waved at her. She smiled weakly. Not wanting to lose her nerve, she stepped forward.

'Now!' Bane fairly shouted the order, 'Now! Before it closes!'

Honora took a deep breath and stepped into the light.

Chapter 5

Magus

Pain, burning, so intense she could not stand it. Her body broke, shattered, was eaten by the maw in time that gobbled her up and disintegrated her.

Then a sudden calm, floating, no more feeling. Everything went black.

A tiny pinprick of light in the distance. A tunnel, bringing her closer, and closer…whizzing by, there were people there, thousands of them, millions of them.

Perfect love and perfect trust. Something great was near, she was swept up into light and life…Honora knew in that moment that there was a great world beyond the veil of death. Beauty enveloped her, a great brilliant light that hugged her close with ultimate love. It was so warm and wonderful that she did not want to leave…

And then darkness once more. A crack. Pins and needles all over. She could feel her limbs again, and her cheek pressed up against a soft bed of pine needles.

Honora's eyes blinked open. At first, everything was out of focus. She groaned and tried to move her fingers, her toes. Gradually, she pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. She looked around; yes, she was in the forest clearing. But there were no centaurs, or humans for that matter. She was entirely alone.

She sat on the ground for several moments, contemplating what had just happened to her. She had died, and experienced death, and it was not all that bad…but now her soul was back in a reconstructed body, breathing and blinking.

Shaking her head of its cobwebs, Honora stood up uncertainly. She checked her wand (still intact) and her locket (unbroken) and her bag of Galleons (all there). The air was not cold, and this surprised Honora until she remembered that it was late summer in 1943.

'1943,' she said out loud. 'I'm back in time.' Glancing around once more, she broke into an exultant laugh. 'I'm back in time!' She spun on her heels, and pinched herself once to be sure it was real.

'Okay. Time to get down to business.' She brought out her wand and prepared to Apparate to London. Hyde Park, Hyde Park, Hyde Park, London, she focused as hard as she could. 'Apparate!' she commanded. There was that squeezing into a tube again, and then Honora saw new trees and new grass. She stepped into a breezy, warm, sunny day in London, England.

Grinning in self-appreciation, Honora took a few steps out of the trees that concealed her. There were a few people around, but not many. They wore very peculiar clothes. Must be a Muggle thing, she thought. Honora walked east through the picturesque park, passing a large silver lake, until she came to a street lined with stately white homes facing the trees. Several people stared at her curiously. She must look strange in her white dress, she concluded. Best to find Diagon Alley right away.

She could hardly take her wand out to point her in the right direction, so instead Honora wandered through the streets of London. She walked through a very posh area, and then got into what was clearly the heart of the city. Honora took it all in with glowing, amazed eyes. She could not believe there were so many people all in one place, a vast and bustling city. The architecture was so interesting, white and clean, with beautifully ornamented iron fences. Now and then she could tell the older buildings by their worn grey stones, majestic and timeless. Honora fervently wished that she could explore Muggle London more fully.

Reaching a cross-roads called 'Picadilly', she kept heading east until she reached a square with trees and benches. A sign said it was called 'Leicester Square.' She had just passed through the square when an alarming noise started, sending people running through the streets. It filled Honora's ears with screeching emergency and she looked around frantically.

What was going on? People were disappearing into a tunnel marked 'Underground.' A man in a cap yelled in her face, 'What are you waiting for, lady? Get inside! Don't you know there's a war on?'

Honora heard a droning sound in the air and looked up. Great metal birds were swooping through the sky. She saw things dropping from them…and then she understood. The Muggle war was going on, and these must be their weapons. She had better find her way to a safe place.

She ran until she reached a street called Charing Cross Road, and turned right. People were still running, and then she heard a series of loud booms that sounded like explosions. They were not far away. Honora was at a loss as to what to do. Had she come back in time just to be blown up by Muggles?

Then she saw something that filled her with relief. A man in a long black coat was running down the street, holding what was unmistakeably an owl. He must be a wizard! Honora realised. She ran after him, following him into a pub marked 'The Leaky Cauldron.' She stepped inside with a snap of the door and all was calm.

Several witches and wizards were sitting around old wooden tables, drinking or chatting or reading. Only a few glanced up at the girl in the white dress. Catching her ragged breath, Honora tried to remember all her briefings as to what she needed to do.

With remarkable presence of mind, Honora found the proprietor and booked a room at the Leaky Cauldron to stay until the term started at Hogwarts. She sent an owl to then-Professor Albus Dumbledore, explaining that she was a war refugee with no formal magical training, but was at sixth-year level. She went shopping on Diagon Alley and bought a functional wardrobe. She went to a hairstylist, and got her hair cut and styled appropriately for the 1940s. Wart, the barman at the Leaky Cauldron, was very helpful, and answered all her silly and odd questions with equanimity.

An owl came for her a few days later from Professor Dumbledore. Honora scanned the note carefully.

'Dear Miss Crowley,

You must have had a terrible plight in Europe. We at Hogwarts will do everything we can to help you. I have spoken with the headmaster, Armando Dippet, and he is most willing to offer you a place at our institution.

Since you have no formal magical training, I will visit Diagon Alley the week before term begins and test your abilities. We can then place you into the appropriate level at Hogwarts. Until then, please stay safe in London.

Yours most respectfully,

Professor Albus Dumbledore.'

Honora smiled in satisfaction. Everything was coming together.

A few weeks later, she was beginning to feel very comfortable in Diagon Alley. She was a fast learner, and took her grandmother's advice to heart. Her lack of formal magical education and 'refugee' story did a lot to explain her curiosity, and Honora had made friends with some of the shopkeepers in Diagon Alley as well as the staff at the Leaky Cauldron. With delight, she discovered things like Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs, novelties that had long disappeared in the gloom of the future.

There were so many witches and wizards everywhere, so many things to see, that Honora felt compelled to explore it all. It was exhilarating. There was a scope here that she was simply not used to. Polaris was tiny in comparison.

Professor Dumbledore appeared on the 28th of August. He sought her out at the Leaky Cauldron, and Honora nervously walked down the stairs, aware she was about to meet one of the greatest wizards of all time. She need not have been nervous, however; the bearded Professor Dumbledore was very nice to her and had a twinkle in his kind blue eyes that reminded Honora powerfully of Julius Talbot.

'So, Miss Crowley,' he began after they had finished butterbeers, 'There are a series of tests I must put you through. You are how old, exactly?'

'Er, just seventeen, sir. My birthday was…August 11,' Honora said in a burst of inspiration. It was the day she had appeared in this time. According to her locket, it was also the birthday of the famous Ginevra Weasley, the love of Harry Potter's life.

'I see. Well, you should be in sixth year, then. At Hogwarts, we administer the Ordinary Wizarding Levels, or OWLs, at the end of fifth year. I'll start there; if you pass that level then I think sixth year is the place for you.'

Honora nodded. She felt confident she would pass OWLs, and she was right. When Dumbledore administered the tests, he was particularly impressed when she put up non-verbal defence shields and even produced a non-verbal Patronus charm. Honora was a little surprised at Dumbledore's reaction; in her time, everyone learned non-verbal defence. It was a matter of survival. However, it was to be expected that magic would evolve a little against a foe such as Lord Voldemort. Honora just mumbled that her father was a very powerful wizard and it must have rubbed off on her.

'Well, Miss Crowley,' Dumbledore brushed his hands together, 'that settles that. You are more than competent to become a student at Hogwarts, and I offer you a most sincere welcome.' He smiled at her, eyes glittering with good will.

Honora stood up and shook his hand, grinning. 'Thank you very much, sir.'

Dumbledore produced her letter of acceptance out of thin air and a list of her books. 'The train leaves Kings Cross at 11 am on the 1st of September,' he informed her. 'And I shall see you at Hogwarts. You will be sorted into your house along with the new first years at the opening feast.'

'Okay! Thank you, sir.' Honora accepted the letter and bid Dumbledore farewell.

Four days later, she woke up in her room at the Leaky Cauldron and carefully got dressed. She put on her new stockings, low-heeled black shoes, white blouse, grey jumper, black skirt. She left her uniform robes in her trunk; she would put them on when the train approached Hogwarts.

Hogwarts. Honora still had to tell herself it was just a school, not the Dark Lord's headquarters. It was difficult to overrule a lifetime of fear of a place like that. With a swish of her wand, she packed her trunk and levitated it down the stairs. Honora was glad Kings Cross station was not too far away. Muggle London was not safe, as her first day attested.

At Kings Cross, she wandered along between platforms 9, and 10, rather unsure of what to do, until she saw someone with a similar trunk walk through a brick wall and disappear. She deduced it had to be the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾. She followed the next person who did it and was immediately overwhelmed. Gleaming in red and gold glory was a steam train marked 'Hogwarts Express.' The platform was crowded with witches and wizards, of all ages. Parents hugged their children, older students gathered together in groups, reunited after the summer holidays.

Glancing around for Tom Riddle, Honora realised that she had absolutely no idea what he looked like. She had not been briefed on his appearance, and she could hardly expect him to be wearing a sign saying 'Future Dark Lord.' All she knew was that he was a Slytherin. She would just have to keep her eyes and ears open, that was all.

Taking a deep breath for courage, Honora pulled her trunk along and levitated it into an empty compartment toward the rear of the train. The cacophony around her did nothing to calm her nerves. She was scared and nervous and excited all at once. Honora hoped that the compartments were not pre-assigned, and that she was not taking anyone's place.

She sat down on the seat closest to the window, and waited. The clock read 10:52. Stragglers made their way onto the train, but no one bothered Honora in her compartment. She wondered why no one was sitting with her, then shrugged as she crossed her legs and leaned against her armrest.

One final whistle from the train, and a group of younger students burst into the compartment.

'Oh, sorry, can we sit here? All the others are full,' said a fair-haired girl.

'Sure, of course,' Honora nodded.

'Thanks!' These students looked to be about three years younger than Honora. Besides asking her name, they occupied themselves with a game called Exploding Snap and Honora took the opportunity to gaze out the window as the train picked up speed, heading north out of London.

When the terrain started getting rough and mountainous, and the sun was low in the sky, a girl with a crest on her robes stuck her head in the compartment. 'We're nearly there,' she said. 'Time to put your robes on.' The third-years scrambled, and Honora carefully put her black robes over her outfit, sitting back down with her hands clasped in her lap.

She looked up, and immediately caught eyes with a tall boy with a green and silver tie passing through the train's corridor. A shiver went down her spine. The boy had black hair and looked vaguely familiar to Honora. She saw his eyebrows come together for a split second in puzzlement when he saw her.

Get used to it, Honora thought. I have a feeling I'm going to cause quite the stir, being the new girl.

For all her nervousness, Honora loved the looks of Hogwarts so far. It was magnificent, glittering in all its towers, and her ride across the lake was memorable, even if it was with screaming little first years. Professor Dumbledore met them at the door, and pulled her aside for a moment.

'The headmaster is going to announce that we have a new student after the first years have been sorted,' he explained. 'Then you can be sorted and join your new house.'

Honora could only nod.

'You aren't frightened, are you?' he asked her, looking concerned and bemused all at once.

'Oh, no, not a bit!' Honora lied openly, then grinned at him. Dumbledore could tell she was scared witless, he did not need to ask her.

'All right, then. Don't worry, you're not the first transfer student we've had. Two joined us last year. In a time of war like this, it is not uncommon.'

That made Honora feel slightly better.

Honora waited in the shadows in a room off the Great Hall, and she heard silence descend as Headmaster Dippet (she assumed) announced that a new sixth-year would be joining them.

'Honora Crowley!'

Hearing her name, Honora stepped into the Great Hall. She held her head high, determined to look cool and collected. She smiled briefly at Dumbledore, and shook hands with Headmaster Dippet, a short, portly man with a careless air.

Whispers went through the assembled students. New students were always interesting. Honora could feel herself being judged and the Sorting Hat was not even on her head yet.

'Please sit, Miss Crowley,' Dippet gestured at a stool, and Honora obeyed.

She felt him place the Sorting Hat on her head and she bit her lip, waiting.

'Oh my, oh my,' the hat said. 'The future evolution of magic, indeed. So many things at once. There is the Weasley bravery, oh yes, don't think I am fooled, I know what it took for you to come here.' Honora raised her eyebrows at this; she hoped the hat would not tell anyone. 'And ambition, burning in your heart, a flame, crawling out of darkness. But where to put you? Gryffindor and Slytherin blood do not mix well…so you must be somewhere in the middle…'

Honora could see people glancing at each other. It seemed the hat was taking longer than usual with her.

'I must put you somewhere, clever girl, so let it be…RAVENCLAW!'

Honora breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was not Hufflepuff. She sat up, smiled, and walked down the steps to join the Ravenclaws, who were all applauding her.

A/N: I love reviews! So take a minute and tell me what you thought…thanks a million!