DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 3: Hufflepuff

"Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest and taught them all she knew." - 1995 Sorting Hat Song, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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"Hufflepuff?" Al gaped in disbelief.

To his surprise, Mr. Diggory chuckled. "I know that reaction. During our Hogwarts days, everyone thought she should be in Ravenclaw." He entwined his fingers and rested her elbows on his knees, leaning forward. He opened his mouth to say something more, but Albus couldn't stop himself.

"But she was Minister for Magic," he whispered.

It was Mr. Diggory's turn to gape. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that," he told him calmly after a few moments. "Please prepare for the questioning tomorrow in the presence of three Unspeakables, including me."

His eyes widened. "Is that how you do things in your office whenever there's a time-traveler?"

Mr. Diggory nodded kindly. "Yes, Mr. Potter. It is our job to record everything. But don't worry about it, we will just listen and record everything you say. We don't meddle with time, even if you'd say, for example, one of us Unspeakables died in your timeline." He smiled when he said that, but there was a bit of sadness in his eyes.

Mr. Diggory moved to get up, but he asked the question that was bothering him. "How did she end up in Hufflepuff?" he asked, stopping the man from standing up. "And not Ravenclaw?" he added.

Mr. Diggory leaned back. "She's loyal, hardworking, and dedicated. Contrary to popular belief, we're not duffers," he grinned.

Al remembered a boy from Hufflepuff who was older than him. He was kind, cool, and displayed a great deal of familial love - Teddy. "I know. My sort of brother was in Hufflepuff, and he's the coolest wizard I ever knew."

Mr. Diggory nodded. "So, what exactly do you want to know? What made Hermione decide to be in Hufflepuff? 'Cause I'm sure in your time the Hat also said she should be in Ravenclaw."

He nodded. "Yes, I want to know..."

"And you want to know if her, being sorted in Hufflepuff, resulted in being my wife?"

He inhaled sharply but nodded. "Yes."

"We've known each other since 1991," he told him. "I was the first wizard she met."

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Al couldn't sleep that night, even if the room made him comfortable. He couldn't sleep because his mind was busy thinking of the minor change he made.

As Severus Snape suggested - through Scorpius - Al, traveled back to 1991 (for the first time) and spoke with the headmaster - his namesake, Albus Dumbledore.

The old wizard was very surprised, and at the same time, intrigued when he heard his name: Albus Severus Potter.

He didn't have to explain things at first because the headmaster viewed memories of Severus Snape from 1994 to 1998 - which, in Al's opinion, were the same events that happened in his original timeline sans for the survival of Voldemort. Moreover, Al told the older Albus how his father, Harry Potter, survived.

It took a while for Headmaster Dumbledore to decide what to do. Al stayed for two days in 1991, answering the old wizard's questions. For two days, he was under the headmaster's protection, and no one else saw him other than Professor Dumbledore and later on, Professor McGonagall.

And then, suddenly, that rang a bell!

McGonagall.

Al's heartbeat doubled.

McGonagall could be the reason why Hermione ended up in Hufflepuff House, leading her onto the arms of Cedric Diggory.

He groaned and cursed.

He closed his eyes, not knowing what to feel.

Should he be relieved, or guilty?

But Rose and Hugo are alive, even if their father and surname are different, a part of his mind said. And looks like Hermione is happier. She may not be the Minister for Magic at this time, but she's happier. Her life is more peaceful.

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July 1991

(Al's quick trip to the past)

Al watched the two professors in the room. Professor Dumbledore was patiently waiting, seated behind his desk, hands clasped together.

Professor McGonagall was still standing by the Pensieve, one hand on the marble basin and the other was massaging her forehead. She looked like suffering from a terrible headache, in Al's opinion.

"Albus, you can't do that to the boy. To a boy," she said slowly.

"I don't want to do it either, Minerva," replied the headmaster.

Professor McGonagall turned around, arms crossed over her chest, and walked towards the headmaster's desk. "So he was gone by 1998, but he had a daughter. Change things, Albus."

She sounds rather demanding, Al thought.

To Al's surprise, Professor Dumbledore nodded.

"And you can't just die while he's still out there and send Potter and his friends in a mission! I can't believe you never told me - in the other timeline! I would've helped Severus. Oh, that poor boy..."

The two professors were disturbed by a buzzing noise from Professor McGonagall's wand. An alarm, Al recognized.

Professor McGonagall took a hold of her wand and the buzzing stopped.

"It's time you visit Miss Granger and deliver her acceptance letter," the headmaster said.

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No. There are more pressing matters than that. I can ask Pomona to do it instead. Besides, I don't think I will be able to compose myself if I see young Miss Granger today."

Professor Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Very well. Why don't you tell Pomona first and then we'll continue discussing?"

Professor McGonagall gave the headmaster a curt nod and smiled at Al before leaving.

After half an hour, Professor McGonagall saw the two Albus having tea and biscuits.

"It's been taken care of. Pomona's going to deliver Miss Granger's acceptance letter. I felt bad for cutting off her teatime with Cecile Diggory and the boy, Cedric."

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July 2020

(the present)

"So, Aunt Hermione wasn't visited by Professor McGonagall but by Professor Sprout," he muttered to himself.

He never knew Professor Sprout personally because Professor Longbottom took over Herbology in Teddy's Hogwarts days and Professor Macmillan was the Head of Hufflepuff House. He only read about Professor Sprout in books - particularly in history books about The Second Wizarding War and The Battle of Hogwarts.

"But how did she influence Aunt Mione to be a Hufflepuff?" he wondered.

He shook his head and got up. He really couldn't sleep. He left the room and walked to the window at the end of the hallway. He was surprised when he saw Rose there, already in her pajamas, facing down and holding a Muggle device he knew called 'smartphone'.

When he walked towards her, Rose turned around and placed the smartphone down on the window sill.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hey," he echoed, standing beside her and looking outside the window.

"Can't sleep?" she asked quietly.

He nodded. "This is Ottery St Catchpole," he said without turning to her. "So where's the home of the Weasleys and the Lovegoods?" he asked casually.

"We're in the Muggle village, so the Weasleys and the Lovegoods are a bit far from here. You'll have to walk for half an hour, I think," she answered. Then, she paused. "Are you friends with any of them?"

He nodded. "One of the Weasleys was in my year. Was, because it's in my original timeline." Rose didn't say anything, so he decided to ask again. "Is there a Malfoy in your year?" he asked carefully.

Rose turned to him, and he also met her brown eyes. "Scorpius Malfoy, yeah. He's in my year."

Al felt like his chest was stabbed. How come Scorp is always alive and I'm not? he thought bitterly.

"Can you tell me about the Potters?" he asked again.

"James Potter is two years ahead of me," Rose replied.

Al knew that Rose was holding something back. "What else? Tell me, please. In the universes I have visited, there's no Albus Potter because Harry Potter didn't survive the war. I need to know if I did something right this time," he almost pleaded Rose.

Rose sighed and gave him a sympathetic look. She bit her lip and looked away. She turned her eyes outside the window. "James has two younger siblings - a boy one year younger than me, I think. And a girl who's starting Hogwarts this year."

"What are their names?" he asked.

Rose looked at him once again. "Well, I think the girl's name is Luna."

"And the other boy's name?" he asked nervously.

Rose studied him carefully. He knew that look. He had seen that look on the other Rose's face several times already - when she was trying to concentrate, remembering something.

"You look like him," she whispered as if seeing him for the first time. "Green eyes, jet-black hair, but more tamed than James Potter's."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Arthur Potter."