Chapter 3: March 3rd, 1943
I feel new memories rush into my mind.
"You're going to the Potter's for a play date." Mum informs a 6-year-old me.
"Okay!" I exclaim, happily. "Do I speak English or French?"
"English, sweetheart." I nod, happily. I wanted to practice my English. My mum holds my hand as we climb into the fireplace. "Potter Manor." We are transported to a cosy lounge with a ginger-haired woman, a man with glasses and a young boy with similar glasses. "Lily, James, it's good to see you again." Mum hugs them both and I look at the small boy, hiding behind Mrs. Potter's leg. I decide to go forward and stretch out my hand.
"I'm Céleste Géroux." He peeks out from behind Mrs. Potter's leg. "Who are you?"
"Harry Potter." He answers, shyly, and shakes my hand. "Do you like exploding snap?" I nod my head. "I have cards if you wanna play?"
"Yes, please." I reply, and he grabs my hand, and brings me to my room.
This is how I meet Harry? Not on the train?
I feel all these new memories come into my mind.
Quirrell was the one stealing the stone not Voldemort.
No one was petrified in 2nd year.
Sirius wasn't an escaped convict from Azkaban. Peter was.
Cedric didn't die.
Professor Dumbledore didn't die.
The battle wasn't against Lord Voldemort, it was against an organisation. An organisation banned together with their Pure-Blood supremacy views.
We won.
My Parents and siblings aren't dead. Nor is Fred, Remus and Tonks.
I did it. I changed the future but how would I have got to the future if we won the battle? I sit up, shakily. Despite, Madam Causer telling me to lay down. "I can't lay down." I snap. "My life is at stake." She gives me a confused look, but I jump out of bed, running out of the Hospital Wing. I need to find Professor Dumbledore. I burst into his room where he was sipping tea with Tom. They both look at me in surprise. "I thought you two hated each other?"
"Hate is a strong word, Miss Géroux." Dumbledore comments with a twinkle in his eye. "Tom came to me when you collapsed and told me everything he knows about you. Speaking of, are you feeling better?"
"Much." I answer, sitting next to Tom. "It was new memories coming into my head. My mission is completed. There is no Voldemort. Only a pure-blood supremacy organisation which we defeat." I pause for moment. "Now, I'm the issue. If you change the past, you change the future. So, my past self in the future still needs to come here or what I've done will be for nothing. There's also a possibility I might fade as I'm in the past because I'm not meant to be here."
"I think I have just the thing." He gets a potion out his draw. "Drink this. It will stop you from fading while we figure out how to get you forward in time. I, for one, can tell your past self and give her the time-turner that you gave me to look after." I nod in appreciation and drink the potion. "In the meantime, just go about your studies as I search into how to get you home." I sigh. "I know this is hard, Miss. Géroux, but think for the greater good." I couldn't help but laugh.
"You always say that in the future." I murmur and his eyes twinkle.
"It's a good saying." He states. "Now, I believe it is lunch time in the Great Hall. Are both of you hungry?" I shake my head.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could have your permission to go to Hogsmeade, Professor?" I question. "I need to accomplish some personal things."
"Of course. I shall write you a slip." Professor Dumbledore answers. "Unfortunately, I have lessons for the rest of the day and therefore cannot accompany you. I fear for your safety if you go alone. Mr. Riddle, would you mind accompanying Miss. Géroux? I can write a slip for you as well, of course." I narrow my eyes briefly. What is his game?
"Of course." Tom answers. "I would be happy to accompany Reine."
"Excellent." He replies as he writes our slips. "Here you go. Be back before dark please." We nod and exit the room.
"What is the old codger doing?" Tom sneers and I roll my eyes.
"No idea but I was actually planning to go and see your family, and bring them back to England." I answer. "Are you sure you want to come?" I could see it maul on his face.
"Yes." He insists after a few moments.
"Okay but try not to kill them, please?" He widens his eyes.
"I kill them?" I grimace but nod.
"You make another horcrux from their deaths." I whisper as we pass some giggling and ogling Ravenclaw 4th years. I can't help but roll my eyes.
"Jealous?" He teases with a smirk.
"No, of course not." I retort and hit his arm. "Girls like that annoy the hell out of me. I had two as roommates. Lavender and Parvati. They could also gossip like there was no tomorrow."
"Bad luck." He says with another smirk. "Can you tell me more about your time? How were your years at Hogwarts?"
"Before or after time changed?" I question as we make our way out the entrance towards Hogsmeade.
"Before." I maul for a moment in silence.
"Well, the first year, I was sorted into Gryffindor. My roommates were Hermione Granger, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown and Fay Dunbar. Hermione and I were attacked by a troll on Halloween but Harry Potter and Ron Weasley saved us which is how we all became best friends."
"Did you say Potter and Weasley?" He asks.
"Yes, as in the current Pureblood families. Ron is a Pure-Blood and Harry is a Half-Blood but that doesn't matter." I say pointedly before continuing. "The DADA teacher of the first year, Professor Quirrell, had your face of the back of his head which he hid with a turban." Tom gapes. "Yeah, creepy, I know. You were after the Philosopher's Stone which Dumbledore hid in the school. He's the headmaster of my time. Harry saved the Philosopher's Stone but killed you in the process. We won the House Cup that year." I see him grimace and I grin. "In the second year, Ginny is possessed by you and opens the Chamber of Secrets. The basilisk petrifies a lot of people including Hermione." I give him a glare who puts up his hands in defence. "Hermione and I successfully brewed Polyjuice Potion and found out that the heir of Slytherin wasn't Draco Malfoy."
"A Malfoy?" Tom snorts and I shrug.
"Anyway, Harry, Ron, Lockhart and I go into the Chamber of Secrets. By the way, Lockhart is the 2nd worse professor of all time, and we've had a death eater, Snape, and Lord Voldemort as professors."
"Who's the worse?" He questions with curiosity.
"That will be explained when I get to fifth year." I answer. "Harry kills the Basilisk and Lockhart loses all of his memories. He's permanently at St Mungo's. We win the house cup for a 2nd year and everyone comes unpetrified again." I smile at seeing Hermione at the doors to the Great Hall. How I had missed her. "Third year, a convict called Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. He was charged as indirectly killing Lily and James Potter because he told you where they were because he was the secret keeper and killing Peter Pettigrew along with multiple muggles. In response to this, Dementors were set up as guards outside Hogwarts. Professor Lupin was the best professor that we ever had. Anyway, Ron was taken by Sirius Black in Dog Form, we went after him and he explained what really happened that night. That Peter Pettigrew was the secret keeper not him. Pettigrew was the one who killed all the muggles and faked his death. He was living as a pet of Ron's – His name was Scabbers. Personally, Hermione and I felt violated. The amount of times that Pettigrew was in our room as Scabbers while we changed." I shudder. "What a pervert. Anyhow, once we get outside again, Professor Lupin starts to change into a werewolf, but he's forgotten to take his potion for the night. In the 70's, the Wolfsbane potion is invented, it gives the werewolf the ability to retain their mind during a full moon, making them less dangerous. We were attacked by Professor Lupin, but Sirius saves our lives but gets captured by the Ministry and was to be given the Dementor's kiss. Hermione, Harry and I travel back in time with the use of a Time Turner. Again, not invented until the 70's but they are very limited. The most you can go into the past is 5 hours without the potential to fade. We go back 3 hours, Save Buckbeak who was a Hippogriff and get attacked by Professor Lupin again but Buckbeak saved us. Harry saves his past self and Sirius from Dementors by using a Patronus Charm. Yes, he did that at 13. We use Buckbeak and break Sirius out of the top of the tower he was in. He then rode Buckbeak into the night sky which commences the end of our 3rd year and the story because I can now apparate because we're outside the wards." I hold out my hand and look at him expectantly. He takes my hand and I apparate us to London, near the Leaky Cauldron. "Right, transfer the clothes to something other than a school uniform." I wave my wand and other clothes change to casual muggle clothes. "This way." I turn the corner and walk into the Leaky Cauldron. I spot a younger looking Tom behind the bar. I approach him. "Hello, may I use the floo network?"
"Of course." Tom answer, setting his tea towel down and activating the fireplace for us. "Where are you two going?"
"Oh, just a visit to home." I reply, politely. Tom and I step into the fireplace, and I take some floo powder. "Géroux Villa." I throw the powder down and the fire engulfs us. We land in the living room and it's the same as I remember. I see Mamé (It's what she calls her Great-Grandmother – Delphine) round the corner with the wand at the ready. I put my hand up in surrender. "Posez la baguette, grand-mère. C'est moi. Reine." She lowers her wand. "Désolé, je sais que vous ne m'attendiez pas mais nous ne faisons que passer pour arriver en Afrique du Sud."
"C'est bon, chérie." Mamé replies. "Tu m'as juste fait peur c'est tout. Vous ne pouvez pas être trop prudent en ces temps." She looks at Tom. "Vous avez acheté un garçon avec vous? Reine…"
"Ce n'est rien comme ça." I insist. "C'est Thomas Riddle. C'est un ami qui m'accompagne en Afrique du Sud pour voir sa famille." I pause for a moment. "Pour lui, nous devrions probablement commencer à parler anglais." Mamé sighs before shaking her head with a grin.
"Children today." I snort at this. "Hello, my name is Delphine Géroux." She holds out her hand for him to shake.
"Thomas Riddle." He kisses her hand instead of shaking it. "Nice to meet you."
"Trying to charm my great-grandmother, are you?" Mamé has a sly look as she looks between Tom and I.
"It's fine, dear." She soothes me. "I'm a married woman anyway." I smirk. "Now, let me look at you, darling." She closely examines me. "Well-kept hair – it looks like my mother's hair; you have my eyes-" I smile at that. "You're tall but not too tall." I snort. "A gorgeous figure and stunningly beautiful. You got the good genes, clearly." I groan in embarrassment. "No need to be embarrassed, Reine. Although, you seem a bit skinny – what are they feeding you at Hogwarts?"
"It's always roasts which I dislike profoundly." I answer. "I've been craving bœuf bourguignon for months."
"Well, why don't you two go and run the errands you need to in South Africa while I make bœuf bourguignon for dinner." I widen my eyes and grin.
"Really?" She nods with a smile and I can't help but hug her. "Thank you!"
"You must really love bœuf bourguignon." She teases. "Now, on your way." I nod, and we step into the fireplace.
"South African Ministry of Magic." I state and throw the floo powder down. "The Ministry of Magic is in Johannesburg but your family live in Cape Town which is on the other side of the country."
"So, how are we getting there?"
"Apparition." I hold out my arm. "Hold on and bend your knees." He grabs my arm and I feel ourselves move. I land on top of Thomas as we appear outside the Riddle House. "Sorry." I mumble as I get up and he gets up. He looks at their house in awe. Their house was more like a mansion and had a villa vibe to it. I open the gate and we walk up the path to the front door. We exchange a glance before I knock on the door. A very old man in a butler's uniform opens the door. He takes all but one look at Thomas and his eyes widen in surprise. "Hello, we were wondering if we could take to Mr. Riddle?"
"Of course, come in." He answers and opens the door further for us. I hear him shut the door behind us while muttering, "it's a bloody miracle." He leads us to a closed door. "Wait here." He knocks on the door twice and enters. "Sirs, Madam, it's him." I hear an audible gasp from a woman.
"Bring him in!" The woman exclaims, excitedly. The butler gestures us to come in and I gesture for Tom to go first. He does, and I walk in after him. There were three people sitting in the living room as there was last time. His grandparents and his father. Mrs. Riddle walks towards Tom and pulls him into a tight hug. "Look at you! You're finally home!" She looks at me. "Oh! Such a beautiful girl! You two would make such beautiful babies!" I feel a blush come over my cheeks.
"Darling, stop embarrassing the children!" The grandfather teases his wife as he walks towards us. "Hello, Thomas, I'm your grandfather – Thomas." They shake hands.
"I'm Thomas as well." Tom replies.
"It's going to get quite confusing with 3 people of the family being called Thomas." I smile. This is going better than I thought. "Now, dear, what's your name?"
"Reine Géroux." I reply and shake his hand.
"Reine." He tests. "Queen in French." I nod. "A beautiful name."
"Thank you." I thank him, and I see Thomas, the father, move forward. He was basically staring in shock for the entire time. He stopped inches away from Thomas and closely examine him before I knew it, Tom was bought in for another hug but this time by his father who looked quite emotional. Tom returns the hug, slowly.
"My God, I've been praying for this day." He says as he lets go. "Your mother released me from whatever spell she put me under and I left to go and cool off because I was angry. I came back the next day to discuss this situation like an adult and she was completely gone. I don't know where she went. I've missed out on so much of your life. How did you even find us? Do you have magic like your mother?"
"Why don't we sit down and tell the story?" I question and they all agree, and we sit down. The grandparents sit down on the doubled seated sofa while the father sits on a chair. Tom and I take the other doubled seated sofa.
"Coincidentally, Reine knows more about my story than I do." Tom states and looks at me. Right, I can tell some of it, I guess.
"Right, Merope Gaunt kind of lived everywhere as she was homeless when she left the house. She walked into an orphanage in London to give birth on New Year's Eve. She died during the birth, but Tom survived. Moving up to a few weeks ago, I transferred to Hogwarts which is where we study magic. I was sorted into the same house and we became good friends. I'm one of a few people who know Tom was raised in an orphanage and I was determined to try and find his family. Whether it would be good or bad news. And here we are."
"So, the tales that our son told about us were true? That she had magic?" Mrs. Riddle asks, and I nod.
"For example-" I take out my wand and point it at the dying flowers in the vase. I swish my wand and the flowers begin to look livelier in colour and posture. Mrs. Riddle gasps in delight. "There's a lot more things we can do but we're not allowed to do underage magic, so, gotta keep that under wraps."
"Well, I would love to hear more about you, Thomas, would you two like to stay for dinner?" I can see the longing in his eyes to stay with them, but we also had Mamé.
"Do you three like bœuf bourguignon?" They all nod. "My mother is currently making some at our house. Would you like to come for dinner? I can open a floo network in your fireplace to get us there and I have some spare floo powder in my bag." I pause for a moment. "Floo is a way of travelling for wizards but non-wizards can also use floo."
"That sounds delightful, dear." Mrs. Riddle replies. "Let us grab our coats." Luckily, the fire wasn't going in the fireplace and I open the floo network to travel to our villa in Spain. I feel someone place their hand on my shoulder and I turn around. It was Tom.
"Thank you." I think he was genuinely being sincere.
"It's alright." We exchange a smile before I break when the Riddle's walk back in. "The Floo is open."
"Who wants to go first?" The grandparents step forward. I nod and lead them into the fireplace. I take some floo powder out of the bag and pass the bag to Tom. I place myself in front of the grandparents. "Géroux Villa." I throw the floo powder on the floor of the fireplace and we're engulfed in flames. The Villa comes into view while I balance the grandparents. "Are you two alright?" They both nod and we move out of the fireplace.
"We were not expecting the flames." Mr. Riddle says.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that." I reply, sheepishly. "Mama! Où es-tu?"
"La cuisine, ma chérie." She calls back and the flames sprout from the fireplace again. Tom and Mr. Riddle step through. I lead the family through to the kitchen.
"Nous avons des invites." I comment as she turns around. "Mama, voici Thomas Riddle et Mary Riddle." I gesture to the grandparents. "C'est Thomas Riddle." I point to the father. "Il est le père de Tom." I pause for a moment. "S'il vous plait parlez anglais." I turn towards the family. "This is my mother, Delphine Géroux." They all shake hands and before we knew it, we were all laughing and eating the most delicious meal – Bœuf Bourguignon. Mamé, Mary and I were talking about going shopping in NYC by going through floo while all the Thomas' were talking about muggle and wizard sports alike. The muggle Thomas' were very interested in the concept of Quidditch.
Unfortunately, all days must come to an end and we needed to get back to Hogwarts before dark. With a promise of a shopping tripping to NYC on a weekend during the summer with Mamé and Mary, Tom and I left through the floo network to the Leaky Cauldron. Instead of using apparition, we decide to use the floo network to get to the Hog's Head Inn with the bartender's permission. We step through and immediately exit the crowded pub. "Okay, lets change our clothes quickly." I swish my wand and our clothes change to our school uniforms. "So, how was that?"
"Surprising." Tom answers as we walk back up to the castle. "I thought they would have reacted in horror not relief."
"And they didn't, Tom." I agree. "I can already see that Mary loves you."
"I like her." Tom replies. I reckon he's close to loving her already, he just needs to say the words then I can prove Dumbledore wrong. "She's a sweet lady."
"She is." I muse, gently. "So, what now? I know you went off for a private conversation with your father."
"He's going to formally adopt me from the orphanage and I'm going to live in South Africa with them during the holidays." He explains.
"That's amazing, Tom!" I exclaim. "Congratulations." I see a slight smile form.
"Thank you." We lapse into comfortable silence and make our way through the entrance.
"Do you think I should go to Madam Causer before I get into more trouble?" I ask with a smirk.
"Probably." Tom answers. "Come on, I'll take you there." We make small talk as we make our way to the entrance of the hospital wing. "I assume you can go inside without any help." I snort.
"Of course, it's a few feet." I reply, teasingly and I see him smirk. I didn't realise how close we were standing. I felt myself being drawn near and near to him. We were so close that we could kiss when the door to the hospital wing opens which breaks us apart.
"There you are!" Madam Causer exclaims, angrily. "I've been worried about you! You are to stay here overnight – no if's or but's." I nod with a pouting face. I really didn't want to stay here overnight. "Mr. Riddle, thank you for accompanying her back." Tom nods with a charming smile. "You can come and see her tomorrow." With that dismissal, Tom leaves with a wink at me. Oh, God. I'm so screwed.