Tempus Magia

Part Four

Chapter 36: Auggie

Hermione Granger made a grave error during the final battle that resulted in Remus' death. Working as an unspeakable she spends two years working on a spell using powder from time turners to go back to Remus's greatest hour of need. What if Remus's greatest time of need wasn't in *this* war?

Saul buried his head into his Ancient Charms book, pushing his yellow and black tie out of the way. He needed to do more than just really well on this last exam if he wanted to apply for the Department of Mysteries summer internship program. He needed perfect scores and he needed loads of extra credit. Currently, he was working on merging three charms together to create an anti-cheating quill.

Professor Flitwick had claimed that this year had the highest level of cheating on exams in Hogwarts history. No one dared to cheat in Professor McGonagall's class but every other class was now being patrolled by Ghosts and extra proctors during exams. The heightened security was expensive on the school and if Saul could create a simple charm for Quills then he would get the internship for sure. In his experience, nothing made people happier than saving money.

"You know if you stare at the parchment any harder you might burn a hole in it," said a sarcastic male voice in front of him. Saul looked up. Sitting across him, as usual, was a mountain of books. He was never able to see who was underneath it without actually standing up and peaking over the mountain of books. Not wanting to snoop or bother someone studying, he usually just went about his business and ignored the person sitting opposite him.

"How can you even see through that tower of books?" A slender manicured finger poked through a thin space between two books. "You have a spying hole? That's either very Ravenclaw or Slytherin of you."

The finger retreated to reveal a pair of light green eyes, the color of the sea. Saul forgot about his project instantly. "I'm Saul."

"I know who you are."

"Oh," The two boys were silent for several moments. "Are you going to introduce yourself?"

"But we were having a civil conversation," the boy murmured.

"I'm more than capable of having a civil-" the books began to rearrange themselves so that the space in front of them was clear. His face turned cold when he saw who was sitting opposite him. "Augustus Rookwood."

The boy shrugged. "My friends call me Auggie."

Saul stood up and gathered his books. "So, I guess it's just Rookwood for me then?"

His eyes widened and then fell when Saul stood up. "You don't have to leave. I won't bother you."

"No, of course, you won't. Instead, the rich kid who can afford to pay for his own summer internship at the Ministry is going to take my spot. Go make fun of this poor Hufflepuff somewhere else."

Saul stormed off towards the opposite end of the library to work on his charm. He found the small desks with only one chair directly behind the new library matron, Madam Pince. It wasn't the greatest location as she tuttered to herself quite often and the books he needed were surrounded by his old table but he wasn't about to let Augustus Rookwood take the credit for the work he had done over the last several months.

"Git," he muttered to himself.

"Mate!" Saul winced as his best mate, Benjy Fenwick came stomping over shouting across the library. Last time his vibrant Quidditch-obsessed mate joined him for a studying session he got into an argument with the Ravenclaw Prefect and got them all thrown out of the library. "I'm not on the reserves anymore! I'm on the team! Some Slytherin hexed Stebbins and-"

Saul hit him with a silencing charm. "Will you shut up you idiot? I'm trying to work."

Benjy mimed himself running and tripping and then searching. Rubbing his temples, Saul canceled the spell. Benjy slid into the seat next to him and whispered. "I went to your usual wanking spot and found Augustus Rookwood of all people. What happened? He bullying you again or you two wanking together?"

In their fifth year, Augustus tripped him during the final Defense exam and Saul sprained his ankle. He wasn't able to duel properly and almost failed the class. Thankfully, he was able to speak to Professor Flitwick who spoke to Professor Houghton on his behalf. He was given a Pass but the grudge was still there.

It was the reason he needed this charm to work. He had perfect scores except for that bloody Defense final in fifth year. The Ministry representative he was in contact had already told him that the grade had put him behind other applicants. He had been working on the charm all year. He was in the library all weekend, holidays, evenings, and even when Hufflepuff threw parties. Considering the microbrewery that his roommates set up at the beginning of the term, the parties were more often than not.

His sixth year was a miserably lonely circle of obscure books, charms in empty classrooms, broken quills, and angry letters from home. Father had been ill and his mother refused to step foot in their family-owned Apothecary. Saul didn't want to work in the Apothecary for the rest of his life, he had dreams and aspirations. He wanted to work in the Ministry and study magic. Time magic, specifically.

His father had been ill all of his life but only this past summer had he been unable to work anymore. They couldn't afford to hire any more help and mother refused to work behind a counter. When father resolved himself to having to let the house elf go, mother had pitched a fit and insist that their son step up and abandon his education to work at the shop. It was only Saul's fervent pleas to his bedridden father and a letter to Professor Sprout was able to keep his mother from throwing him in a shop apron and tossing him behind a counter for the rest of his life. He still had to work the rest of the summer but his father fought his mother to send their son back to Hogwarts. His mother was still sending him owls blaming his father's relapse on Saul's selfishness.

As if he didn't have enough problems, his mother refused to pay for him to go to Hogwarts. Saul couldn't even work over the summer to pay for his education, as he was working in the store and that money went directly back into the store. His father reasoned that Saul they scrape enough money together if they let one of their two employees go. The shop was barely functioning with the only two employees they had left. If they fired one of the two employees, the whole shop would go under. Mother was livid, especially after losing her house elf. It was only after Professor Dumbledore came to their house one afternoon in the middle of August that he was told he would be going back to Hogwarts.

His mother refused to talk to him for the rest of the summer. Before his lonesome departure at Platform 9 ¾ his father confessed that the Headmaster offered to pay for his education for the year. He had even sent over the books and supplies that Saul needed for his remaining years at Hogwarts. Saul had never been more indebted to anyone in his entire life. His father had cautioned him to be the best student he could be and not throw the gift back in the Headmasters face. Saul hugged his father and left via Floo to the train station. It was the last time he spoke to his father as his hands were too weak to hold a quill. His mother had asked him not to come home for vacations as he was a burden on their family. Easter was fast approaching and he wanted to see his father so badly it woke him at night. Benjy had offered for him to spend Easter with him and his mum but Saul didn't want to feel more homesick than he already did.

Saul thought back to Benjy's question. "No, he wasn't bullying me or anything just being an arse. I'm too annoyed and I can't get any studying done. Want to convince the elves to give us some pudding?"

Benjy nodded enthusiastically and the two left the library. Everyone would be leaving for Easter later in the day and Benjy had already packed the day before. After a bit of heckling, the two boys managed to get the house elves to give them not just pudding, but roast beef and drinks.

They hurried back to the dorm and devoured their feast while their roommates packed in a frenzy. Matthew, who was the owner of the small brewery, handed him a beer and Saul drank it thankfully. He was the only one in Hufflepuff staying over Easter break. Given the dark magical activity going on, parents were either pulling their children from school or spending as much time with them. Obviously, that didn't apply to someone who was a 'burden' on their parents.

He sighed. He shouldn't group his parents together. His mother was from a rich Pureblood family and wasn't use to living the way regular people lived. She struggled with finances and the glamorous parties that she had to leave behind from the world she grew up in. Father had been enough at one point and then her friends started popping out pretty babies and his parents could only afford to have just the one scrawny disappointing one they had. In other words, him.

Their fun and cheer grew to a close as they were all ushered to catch the Express. He waved goodbye to his friends and turned in for the night with his books and a beer.

The next morning, he noted that there were only six other students present. Three Gryffindors, a Ravenclaw, and Augustus Rookwood. He wasn't surprised to see Rookwood. The Slytherin's sister had mysteriously drowned on September first after his parents found out she was a Squib. They were currently under intense scrutiny from the Ministry and it was no surprise he was told to stay at school. Typical Purebloods, rather than deal with the 'shame' of having a Squib they killed their own child.

He stumbled into the Great Hall a bit hungover and was delighted to see it was decorated for Easter. Saul made a quick detour to give compliments to Hagrid who was talking to a Gryffindor student just outside of the Great Hall before he went back in. He almost turned around and ate by himself in his dorm when he saw the lack of tables. Professor Dumbledore had set up one table in the center of the Great Hall due to the small number of students. Teachers and students mingled together and Professor Dumbledore patted to the empty space next to him when he hesitated.

Saul sat in it quickly. "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Mister Croaker. How is the Hufflepuff common room? Not filled with empty plates of roast beef and treacle tart, I hope." Saul stuttered nervously. "There is very little that goes on in the school that I don't know about. Never worry! Growing boys, need to eat do they not?"

He then turned to Augustus who was listening to Professor Slughorn talk, "Good morning, Augustus how are your parents?"

"As well as can be expected," he replied tightly before returning to his eggs.

Swallowing his toast quickly, he excused himself and left for the library. He researched for the better part of the morning stopping only to run up to the owlery and send a post to his father. Even though his father couldn't answer, he loved updates on Saul's schooling. Sometimes, one of the shopkeepers would go upstairs and read him his letters. Saul always made sure that he had letters to read from him. After carefully writing an update on his project's progress and sending him his love, he sealed the envelope and attached it to his gift. His gift was a chocolate bar from Honeydukes that he had saved up for all term by doing other people's homework. It was strictly not allowed, but the Healer probably wouldn't be too happy if he saw it.

It was around noon that he decided to look in the transfiguration part of the library. He was holding a teetering pile when he turned a sharp corner and tripped and fell over a hunched over figure. Annoyed with skinned knees, he looked over to see Augustus Rookwood sitting on the floor against a shelf in the Squib and Non-Magical Humans section. He was rocking back and forth, tears streaming down his face.

Saul had not been sorted into Hufflepuff for nothing. "Rookwood? Are you okay?"

His green eyes snapped up and he looked away quickly. He got up and stumbled for a bit before running through the library until Saul heard a loud slam of the main doors closing. Shaken, Saul got up and picked up the rest of his books.

Augustus didn't come to dinner that night or any meals for the next two days. It was on the third day that Saul stumbled into him again. Feeling choked up in the castle, he borrowed Benjy's broom and flew around the Great Lake. In the center of the Great Lake was a small island that was rarely used. He could hear the bombarda from where he was flying over the lake. A tree shattered and exploded into a million shards around him. Augustus collapsed into heart-wrenching sobs.

Setting Beny's broom down on the bank, he walked slowly towards Augustus. "Er… is everything alright?"

Augustus looked up his eyes wild. "Came to gloat have you?"

"Why would I-"

"Leave me ALONE!"

"I haven't even done anything! You just blew up a tree. Why are you yelling at me?"

Augustus kicked the bits of wood away from him. "It deserved it."

Saul raised an eyebrow skeptically, "You're telling me a tree deserved to be eviscerated?"

"No… I… piss off, Croaker. Why are you even here?"

Saul crossed his arms against his chest. "Stop stealing my projects."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You tripped me in the fifth year and I nearly failed my Defense OWL. I need the summer internship to get into the Ministry, so quit stealing my project ideas and get some of your own."

Augustus jaw dropped, his red rim eyes wide. "You are joking right?"

"What, do you not remember almost ruining my entire career?"

"You moron, I tripped you so that you wouldn't go up against that Black bitch. She put Marcy MacDonald in the Hospital wing for a week, or did you forget because you were busy throwing yourself a pity party?"

"Pity party? You sprained my ankle!"

"Yeah, and Marcy won't ever be able to use her left hand properly again. She basically lost most career options, especially because she got a near perfect score on Potions. I heard Saint Mungos was thinking about hiring her straight out of Hogwarts and they withdrew from their negotiations."

Saul felt the blood leave his face. "Marcy can't brew anymore?"

"She can barely hold a wand anymore. She has tremors in her right hand. Her parents are pulling her out of Hogwarts after this year," Augustus collapsed onto the blackened grass around him. He pulled at the two lone blades of grass that had survived his carnage. "So your welcome."

Yeah, he wasn't going to thank Augustus Rookwood for basically ruining his chance at getting a job in the Ministry. "So are you mourning Marcy or something? I didn't know snakes knew so much about Gryffindors."

"We don't. Marcy was my neighbor. Her parents are moving their family to France to seek out a specialist this summer."

"Oh, so you were shagging your neighbor. Pity, she was a nice girl," he was being petty but he was annoyed. Augustus was an prick and a royal pain in his arse. He was also the prettiest boy in Slytherin, or that's what Benjy's sister claimed constantly. It was annoying.

Augustus laughed. "Yeah, I'm bent. So, definitely not shagging dear old Marcy."

"Oh." Saul was floored. He didn't know anyone that openly admitted to being… "Not going to lie, I'm kind of surprised you didn't figure it out sooner. Us bent blokes tend to notice each other pretty quickly. Bloody Malfoy's being banging that Jugson bloke all semester. Shameful, considering his betrothed walked in on them twice." Saul stood slackjawed, staring at Augustus in silence as he prattled on.

No one knew.

No one.

Not his dad, not his mother, not even Benjy. How the-

"I mean, I'm not saying you're not shaggable but even you must have noticed that birds stopped hitting on you this year. I think it's the sixth year curse but-"

Saul finally found his voice. "What?"

"The sixth year curse. If a bloke hasn't shown interested in any birds by the sixth year than he's bent. It's the-"

"I know what the fucking Sixth Year Curse is you, insufferable git! How did you… I mean I took Rosie out in fourth year… and then I..."

He was choking. He could feel the air closing around him. What if his father found out? What if Dumbledore found out? What would happen to him? Would he get cast out into the streets? What-

"Breathe you, idiot! You're going to pass out!"

His mother already hated him and when Dad died… Fuck. Darkness began to eat at the edges of his vision, swirling like the black wisps of smoke that accompanied apparition. He was about to pass out when he felt air whoosh into his lungs. His body jerked only to be held firmly in place. "Seriously, you idiot. Breathe."

Light began to flood back around him filling him with warmth and…. What was on his lips? His fingers searched for the source of warmth on his lips. He leaned forward only to feel lips press harder against his own. They caressed gently before pushing him down onto the ground hard.

His entire body lit up and suddenly he became aware. Aware of everything in a way, he never had in his three dates with Rosie Stephens. Not wanting to lose the feeling, he chased it molding himself into the robes above him. His eyes closed, he fought for dominance only to give in when a tongue pushed for entrance into his mouth. He moaned as his body tingled under fingers running over his ratty second hand clothes.

He had no idea how long he was underneath Augustus. It was as if they didn't need air to survive and this, this feeling was enough. A loud clearing of a throat had the two of them springing apart instantly. Saul felt cold instantly and he had to clench his fists to stop them from reaching back out to Augustus. It was only the wizard behind the half-moon spectacles above him that brought his mind back to the present.

Fuck.

Albus Dumbledore stood tall and stern in his purple and orange robes above them. Augustus rolled off of him, his green eyes bright but avoiding Saul's gaze. The Headmaster cleared his throat again. In unison, they stood fixing their robes as they got up. If the Headmaster found something odd about the destroyed corner of the island, he said nothing. Instead, he turned to Saul and he felt the blood drain from his face. He was only here at the mercy of Professor Dumbledore. "Mister Croaker please right yourself and come to my office immediately."

"Sir, it wasn't his-" Augustus moved and put himself between the Professor and Saul protectively. Saul's heart made a tiny funny jolt in his chest. It was so powerful, he wondered how no one noticed it.

"Mister Rookwood here at Hogwarts we teach love and acceptance. Who our students love is not the-"

Saul still hadn't found his voice, however, Augustus was doing fine on his own. "But, Professor-"

"Mister Rookwood, Mister Croaker has a family matter that needs immediate attending to..."

Whatever else he said was drowned out by a loud drum in his ears. Saul felt the air leaves his lungs and his knees crumbled beneath him. There was only one other reason Professor Dumbledore would actively be searching for him and summoning him to his office.

Saul was barely aware of his broken cry, "No!"

Everything after that was a blur. He remembered being given a calming draught. He was vaguely aware of being levitated to the infirmary by the Headmaster. Madam Pomfrey administered different potions and spells for shock and argued with Professor Flitwick about giving him dreamless sleep to help him deal with his grief of losing his father. He could vaguely make out a warm voice reminding the Mediwitch that he was allergic to the main ingredient in Dreamless sleep.

There was one constant that got him through finding out his father had died, his mother selling the shop, taking all of the money despite the will that gave her nothing, disowning him, and marrying some count double her age in Belgium. Augustus. The Slytherin boy with a heart bigger than the castle they lived in, never let go of his hand and supported Saul when there were few others that did. They spent more time together much to the chagrin of his housemates. Benjy was supportive in his way but refused to have anything to do with the Slytherin.

He was able to repay Auggie's support when at the end of their seventh year, both of Auggie's parents died in a drowning similar to their daughter's. No one was ever caught and the Ministry deemed it a cold case. Their deaths were immediately overshadowed by excitement when they both got into the Department of Mysteries based on their joint revolutionary anti-cheating quill and ink invention. They were each given a monetary award from the Ministry and an award from their school. A plaque was put up in their honor or dishonor as many students dubbed it.

Graduation was hard with no parents but they made it through by leaning on each other and supporting one another. The morning of graduation saw their last visit to the island on the lake, as they exchanged gifts. Saul's gift to Auggie was more... intimate, while Auggie completely overshadowed Saul's gift with his own. Auggie presented Saul with a key to a flat next to the Ministry as a graduation gift. Saul had been terrified about paying for rent, food bills, and had already planned on crashing on Benjy's couch for the first four months so that he could afford a room on Knockturn starting in January. It was also a huge step on Auggie's part as it solidified their relationship.

A year later, Auggie keyed him to the wards and set him up to his Gringotts account. They made each other vows of fidelity and love. Auggie promising to always hold him and love him and Saul promising it in return. Auggie had helped him through the worst time of his life. The two kept no secrets from each other and while their actual relationship didn't have its own page in the Prophet and Witch Weekly like Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy it was bursting with love and happiness.

While they were within the confines of their flat, their life was filled with light. It was outside of their flat that was dark and terrifying. Death Eaters had begun pushing their boundaries, people were disappearing daily. They argued like all couples, but no argument was as big when Saul told Auggie he was joining the Order. It took several weeks for Auggie to come around but eventually, he was okay with it. Auggie refused to join, no matter how many times Albus Dumbledore, himself, asked. Being the spouse of someone in a heavily targeted rebel group made Auggie extremely stressed. He became jumpy at the slightest noise and even went so far as hiring a cursebreaker, Dolohov or something, to put extensive wards on their flat. This annoyed Benjy as he was no longer able to drop by whenever he wanted.

In an attempt to ease Auggie's nerves, Saul made him a schedule of his patrol route and who he was partnered with. He also left him with the dates and times of meetings, in case Saul had to go straight from work and forgot to owl him to remind him of the meeting. When he arrived home there was always dinner and a pacing Auggie waiting for him with open arms and a relieved expression on his face. Those evenings were usually spent together late and in front of the fireplace draped in only a large blanket that Benjy had got them as a flat warming gift.

Times weren't easy but they were good. Until it got very very bad. Most of the Order was hunted down and a spy was suspected. His Order friend was killed by werewolves during some massacre and an entire village of muggles and muggleborns was burned alive.

Benjy being murdered was the tip of the iceberg. It was Saul's breaking point. The only reason, he got up every morning was because Auggie dragged him out of bed and forced him to dress and go to work. Auggie forced him to eat three meals a day and was so far gone in his worry over him, that he stopped going to chess club twice a week. He'd been attending the club since the third year. The guilt of taking Auggie's beloved hobby from him drove him under the waters of depression once more. It couldn't get much worse, could it?

But then the Potters were murdered by Voldemort and suddenly You Know Who was gone. Things were going to go back to normal, weren't they? They couldn't get any worse than losing all the mates you shared a dorm with at Hogwarts? It couldn't get worse than losing your family, could it?

It wasn't until Igor Karkaroff called out Auggie's name to the Wizengamot that Saul realized there was something much worse than being disowned by your mother and losing your best friend to Death Eaters.

Finding out the love of your life was a Death Eater and that he was responsible for your best friend's death at the hand of the wizard who put protection spells on your flat. Saul stumbled backward into Travis Scott, a new hire from his department as panic descended on the stands. Auggie was sitting next to him, his face white and his eyes pleading with him to understand. The Aurors jumped over the stands and grabbed him. He didn't resist as they took his wand and snapped it in half. He didn't fight, though it might have had something to do with the look on Saul's face.

Travis pulled him from the courtroom as a shocked Albus Dumbledore tried to reign in the raging crowd. Travis had barely managed to push him through the doors of Courtroom fourteen when Saul heard Auggie being sentenced to life in Azkaban.

The next year passed in a haze of meetings, inquiries, and Aurors visiting his home. Auggie had transferred ownership of their flat to him and left no possessions in his name for the Ministry to seize. He had been prepared for the possibility of his arrest. There was nothing in the flat to implicate Saul and after a full year, he was cleared of all suspicion by the Auror department. Life would go back to normal, they said.

Normal? He lost everything.

His entire life was a lie and it almost broke Saul. Benjy was dead as were most of his friends from the war. No one at work trusted him as his partner had betrayed them all. He was the reason they lost loved ones.

Augustus Rookwood and Sirius Black.

Traitors.

Saul was alone in a way he had never been before. He was alone without hope and love in his life. It stayed that day for almost three years. He came into work first and left last. Often, Travis Scott dragged him out of the office earlier and the two shared a pint before Saul apparated home and cried into Auggie's pillow. The pillow had long since lost his scent but there was little else that the Aurors had destroyed. They said most people went mad after six months in Azkaban, he had been locked up there for three years. Albus Dumbledore claimed he had spoken to him and was trying to get Saul a visit, but he wasn't holding his breath. He would drown if he did.

It was on a morning after an especially long night of drinking with Travis when he saw it. At first, he thought it was a mistake but after several revealing charms and four sober up potions he went straight to Hogwarts. While he was waiting for Albus Dumbledore, his brain sped through dozens of scenarios. The year prior, an embarrassing mishap involved four obliviator teams and the DMLE, when a muggle and a muggleborn with the same name were confused for one another. After that pictures were included on the International Muggleborn Registry. But how was it possible?

He climbed up the spiral staircase, marveling that somehow she must have been from the future. There was no other way. Her face and that god-awful hair were the same, even as a tot on the International Muggleborn Registry.

A tot whose name was Hermione Granger was born on September 19, 1979.

FYI: Italics means flashbacks. There's going to be an uptick as we figure out what's going on with the Unknowns. Thank you for all the comments, they make my day! Let me know what you think of the chapter! - Chefke