AN - Hi friends! I'm back to having internet access, woo-hoo! This chapter is my favourite one I've written by-far and I really hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think! I love hearing your feedback. :) J K Rowling is a genius and I am merely a fan. Thanks for reading.

- Chapter Eight - June 19 1929 -

- Furious Freckles and a Fantastic Family Estate -

A dream was just fading in his mind and transitioning to another when Justin felt an alarming shake. This was followed by another and another accompanied by a hissing in his ear. He tried to push it away until his foggy mind began to wake up and recognize the hurried syllables streaming from Hermione's mouth.

"Justin. We need to leave. Right now!" He heard frantic steps pacing back and forth. Her voice was farther away when Justin got up and rubbed his weary eyes. "How could I have been so stupid?" Hermione was running her hands through her hair. The poor frazzled witch was muttering something about disguises and identities.

Cygnus had played the excellent host the previous night. His large manor was opened to all four of the time travelers. Justin did not appreciate the way that Cygnus kept touching Luna's arm or the small of her back as he showed them around his extensive estate. The man was playing the part of the perfect host, and Luna was unaware of his not-so-subtle leers when she was turned. Justin knew (and was quite glad) that she also did not see Justin's frequent glares sent towards the Black patriarch. Justin thought it rude of him to be acting like that with such an innocent witch.

The bed that he had used in one of the many guest rooms was so luxurious; Justin was furious that he had never slept better in his life under the roof of such a slimy pureblood pig.

The fact was that the group of them couldn't stay in this timeline long because they had already slipped up. They had given Cygnus their names and didn't even bother to change their appearances. Witches and wizards from their timeline would be very confused to see replicas of all four of them in old photographs -together as well! Furthermore, folks would be sure to recognize them and be confused.

Since they hadn't made any drastic changes, their current timeline would remain the same as the one that the four of them were born into. From what Hermione was muttering about, Justin gathered that as soon as they were to make a change, say, adopt Tom Riddle, they would not significantly change their timeline. Although time travel was interesting, it was dizzying stuff to think about. Justin was glad that Hermione was the brains behind their plan.

Justin's gaze shifted to Luna who sat on the edge of the large four poster that he was currently nestled in. She smiled at him and spoke in her usual airy voice, "Good morning Justin. You're a rather heavy sleeper. Do you happen to own an Umgubular Slashkilter we don't know about? They are known to make loud noises at night and keep one up very late."

Luna struck Justin as quite pretty. He had always admired her back when they were in school, but the two to them didn't speak enough for him to get to know her and develop true feelings.

Her eyes drifted around the room as if in search of something. She turned to him once more and said, "I hate to be a bother, but we must get going now. Hermione is quite anxious."

This sprung Justin into action. He grabbed his robes from yesterday and his everything sac that lay on his bedside table. Justin was ready to go within a minute.

"Where's Malfoy?" He asked the girls.

A grunt from the floor made Justin turn to the sound. Draco was lying down lazily on the carpet. "I'm right here Hufflepuff, hating every minute of my life."

This made Justin chuckle. Draco said the darndest things.

After sneaking out of the Black manner, the four of them Apparated and regrouped underneath an old tree a couple blocks away from the main street of Hogsmeade.

"So, you mentioned disguises? And new names?" Luna asked Hermione. This was a temporary precaution for the remaining time they would spend in the 1920's.

Hermione nodded and took out her wand. Other than noticing Draco tense up to his left, Justin wasn't put off by Hermione's wand being out and pointed at his face.

"Justin, any preferences?" His curly haired friend questioned him with a slightly sorry expression.

"Not really. Maybe make me taller…" Justin was not necessarily a short guy, he was about 5'10, but he had always hoped that he would reach six feet tall.

After a couple of quick charms and spells, Justin looked quite different. A glance in a small mirror Hermione handed him showed her handiwork. His previously sandy brown waves were a blond mop. Justin's eyes used to be green, but now they were a dark hazel tone. He could feel he had grown a couple inches as well. That made him smile.

Luna clapped her hands and exclaimed, "This is fun! Please do me next." A minute later Luna's long dirty blonde hair was magiked into a short black bob. Her pale silvery eyes became brown. It was odd, Justin found himself staring at her. He had never seen Luna with vivid eyebrows before. She was quite striking.

Luna's new eyes caught his and she cocked her head to the side. "Why are you staring at me like that Justin?"

He blushed at how direct the witch was. "You just look so different. You still look pretty of course, but-" Justin caught himself. His heart dropped when he heard his words escape his clumsy lips.

Instead of making fun of him like he had assumed, Luna instead gazed at him in a calculating manner. Justin could imagine the gears grinding in her head.

"You are quite beautiful too." She said shortly. Justin couldn't understand her words but had to keep listening as she spoke again. "I remember this one time in fourth year, I was looking for my shoes -I suspect it was the Nargles- and I passed by you and a first year Ravenclaw boy, I think his name was Mikel, and you were comforting him. I didn't know why he was upset, but I always thought that it was beautifully kind of you to console that boy, even though he didn't even belong to your house." Luna grinned at Justin and he couldn't help but feel special.

Before Justin could elaborate on the story or even stutter a thank you, he was interrupted by Draco's outraged voice.

"Don't go near me with that! I can do it myself." Draco spat his words at Hermione with a growl.

"Stop being foolish." Hermione sniffed. "I'm the only one here who has the advanced skill to perform these spells as they weren't taught at Hogwarts. Luna will do me because I taught her a spare few of these charms when we were in the DA."

Looking defeated, Draco sighed and said, "Just don't make me look ugly."

"No, the point is I'm changing what your face looks like, not keeping it the same." Hermione laughed at the furious colour rising in Malfoy's cheeks.

"Says the one with unruly hair and half a face dedicated to two teeth. Honestly, I could go on…" Draco bit back snarkily. Justin wished he could grab some popcorn; fights between Hermione and Draco could get intense.

Luna furrowed her brows and stamped her foot. "That isn't kind. Stop insulting each other."

Many grumblings later, Draco looked quite similar to before but two things were radically different. Upon seeing his reflection, Draco let out an exasperated yell. Justin couldn't help but laugh.

"You think you're so funny Granger!" Draco stormed towards Hermione. He seemed to settle himself and then he calmly said, "Jokes on you, I can sport the ginger in a way Weaselbee never could." Whatever giggles were escaping from Hermione stilled.

Justin was still shocked by the nerve of Hermione. She even gave Draco freckles!

Hermione, now a blue eyed witch with a straight blonde ponytail, looked quite similar to the muggle she disguised herself as when she and Justin broke into the Ministry. She was surprised when Luna offered up a manor from her family's heritage. This was not because Luna was selfish, only so because Luna had never mentioned this piece of land before. Conversations with Luna were always a roller coaster of detailing made up beasts, awkward pauses and endearing phrases uttered by the slightly younger witch.

The four of them had been wandering around in a grassy field somewhere outside the city limits of Norfolk county for quite a while and it was wearing Hermione's patience thin. She really wanted to settle down and adjust the plan to include her three fellow time travellers. Hermione was not looking forward to the fact that she would have to cooperate with the stuck up wizard currently sporting a hairdo that made her heart clench.

Finally, Luna jumped up and down and exclaimed, "This is it! I do feel poorly that I made you three walk through the field this long, but there are many anti-apparation wards laced all along this property." She turned to the rest of the group with a small smile on her face and said, "For some reason, my great grandparents were quite the pair of recluses. Their work in the dragon training business must have been too far ahead of the times…"

Hermione suppressed a snort, but smiled at the witch's words. Who knew that eccentricity travelled far up Luna's family tree? The brightest witch of her age sure had suspected so and was happy at learning she was correct.

The smile fell off her face when she saw Luna break into a run towards a large hill in the near distance. Hermione was never the active sort, but when Justin laughingly joined the pace with the whimsical girl, she decided it was best to follow suit.

Panting for air once the three of them reached the hill, Hermione turned around and looked back. She saw Malfoy walking leisurely with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He had an eyebrow raised at the childish antics although judging by his close proximity, he must've at least sped up to keep pace with the group.

Although he was scowling in the same haughty manner he did back during their Hogwarts days, something about him looked different. Malfoy looked older. He had deep bags underneath his eyes akin to sixth year. His normal arrogance wasn't displayed due to the slump in his shoulders. Before she could think more of it, Hermione shook her head. This was Malfoy. He would always house a cold heart beating against the steel rib cage holding him up.

"Hermione, come on!" A gleeful shout from Luna made her turn back and trudge up the hill. Luna's smiling face disappeared as she and Justin continued on.

Luna giggled as she reached the top of the hill. It had been a more eventful few days than she could ever have expected. She was a little out of breath from all of the running, especially after being cooped up in that bleak room with Augustus all of those months, but she kept pushing on through sheer excitement. Luna was excited at the prospect of regaining a feeling of family after she had lost so much during the war and running alongside Justin made her feel like she belonged.

A top the hill, she could see the Lovegood estate. This hill almost matched the hill beside Luna's childhood home and her heart clenched. She had been at this estate once in her life shortly after her mum had passed away. It was humble and, much like her family, emitted an odd aura. It was a three story house that by some magical reason had perfectly rounded walls like a stone-built paper towel tube. Large windows seemed to be placed in a hodgepodge fashion around the house as if a child plastered them on like stickers.

A great garden that was untended revealed huge flowering bushes and gnarly looking trees. Grasses that hadn't been cut in what looked like years made their home snuggled around the house and the various plants. A slanted tin sheet topped the cozy building like a homemade gingerbread roof.

"Come on Justin!" She grinned up at her friend. He smiled back at her with equal vigor.

After a short pause she looked at him straight in the face, as one does to make sure they can gauge exactly what their friend means, and asked him a very important question. She gently grabbed her hand in his. He inhaled sharply.

"Do you trust me?"

"What? I-"

"Do you trust me Justin?"

"Well, of course Luna."

"Good."

As soon as she got her answer she knew what she was going to do. Luna flung her body down the hill with a gleeful shriek. Justin, holding her hand, descended right along beside her. She let his hand go just as she hit the ground in a resounding thump.

The world whizzed by in a cosmic tumble where ground met sky. The smell of dew kissed grass and earthy goodness tingled her nostrils. The old style gown she had on was sure to get dirty, but somehow that didn't matter. The muffled sound of Justin's hearty laugh met her ears and made her grin.

Rolling down the large grassy hill reminded Luna of times she spent with her mum before her untimely death.

At five years old, Luna's sole reason to live was the yard she played in for countless hours a day. When little Luna wasn't painting, she was outside. Her mother, Pandora, would often join her after working on some new spells down in the basement of their beloved home. When her mum would join her, Luna's day would become even better. Her mum was the perfect playmate.

The sun was just about to go to sleep as she stood on top of the hill with her mum. Luna, with grass and flowers braided into her hair to match her mother's, gazed up at the woman who she would later grow up to look almost exactly like. She grinned at her and said, "Mummy, let's spin one more time!"

Pandora looked up at the sky. She drew a theatrical intake of breath and exclaimed, "We mustn't, daddy will be home any moment. We should be ready to greet him. And darling, we both have grass in our hair."

Luna was never one to pout, but she really didn't want to go inside. They were having so much fun.

"Don't look so glum, child. I have an idea." Pandora smiled down at her daughter with a brilliant grin.

"What is it mummy?"

"Do you trust me?"

"To the ends of the earth mummy."

"Okay!"

The next thing little Luna knew, she practically flew through the air and landed in her mother's warm embrace as they tumbled down the hill and towards their house. Shrieking and screaming all the way, the two of them bumped and rolled down the hill. The sun waved at her in a blurry goodbye. Green smudges were all she could see speeding through her spinning vision.

At the bottom, Pandora lifted her daughter into the air and laughed. "See? That was fun, wasn't it?"

From then on, Pandora and Luna made somewhat of a tradition of rolling down the grassy hill by their home. Luna loved the dizzying sensation because it never failed to remind her of the best about her mother.

Once the pair reached the bottom of the hill, they fell into a fit of giggles that turned into full blown guffaws. The sheer oddity of sharing this experience with the kind-hearted Hufflepuff made Luna laugh even harder. She felt at ease in his company, she knew her mum was smiling down at the two buffoons with that brilliant grin she used to wear.

Hermione's frustrated yelling from the top of the hill didn't even bother Luna. "Really now, why in Godric's name would you two do such a thing? Look at your robes!" The passionate witch stormed down the hill to reach the now quieted pair.

Draco followed her with a small smirk on his newly freckled face. Luna found it odd that Hermione had given the one wizard she detested more than anyone else such distinct features adorned by most of her loved ones. It was not her place to say, but Luna always thought that the Draco Malfoy was severely misunderstood.

Justin's words whispered into her ears brought her out of her head and made her smile once more. "Don't worry about what Hermione says, she's just uptight about us hitchhiking on her plans."

Luna looked up at the wizard beside her and gazed into his unfamiliarly colored eyes. She disregarded the fact that she had no clue what 'hitchhiking' was and said, "It is a rather fantastic circumstance, isn't it?"

"You can say that again."