time turned

(A/N hey guys, so I went over the past few chapters and noticed a lot more mistakes than I care to admit. I will do my best to go back through and correct them. For some reason Persephone's name isn't spelling out all the way and some mistakes in spelling that the auto didn't catch because it technically wasn't wrong but it wasn't the correct form of the grammar. and etc. that will be my focus over the next few days instead of posting new chapters. I will go over all the stories and fixing stuff. thanks to CaptinTombi for pointing out the formating issue in operation shego I appreciate it. now pending this one hopefully not having issues. enjoy!)

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Hermione was a little miffed, when Tonks showed up ready to escort her to Persephone's home. "And why couldn't she come get me?" Tonks scratched her cheek. "Word got out and Daphne, Tracey and Draco invited themselves along. She is at her house to welcome them there. We're going to take the knight bus to my house then floo there." Hermione huffed and nodded. "I still don't get why we're going so early." Her parents had been fine with the idea, beings they had to go back to the office that day, but she was awake before even them. "Because Neville said something about getting there with time to spare or something. It's some kind of horse thing. I don't know." Hermione smiled a little. "I really do like horses." Tonks smiled.

Once Hermione came off the bus she had to hold onto Tonks, her face a bit green. "Don't worry, you only have to take the knight bus any time you wanna visit your pals." Hermione went more green. "I'm only kidding. There are ways we can make it work. Soon I'll have my apparating license I can just pop u there. Or Folly or any house elf can." Hermione sighed, letting the cool air ease her stomach. They walked up the path to the simple brick house. The lights made it a welcomed sight. "You have a lovely house." Tonks hummed and opened the front door. It was warm and a little dark, save for the tree that was still lit in the foyer. "Come, the floo is this way." She handed Hermione a pinch of powder. "Now, throw the floo powder into the fireplace, say your destination, wait til it turns green then say the password. It will flash softly then you can step through. Keep walking as if through a door." Hermione did so. After tossing in the powder she spoke. "The underworld." The flames turned green. "Cerberus wrath'." The flames flashed then she quickly walked forward and kept walking. Her world flashed green and swirled softly before she walked out directly intoPersephone's living room. "Hey Mione! Welcome to the underworld."

Hermione gave her a soft glare and she shrunk. "Look Hermione…" she began when Tonks flew out of the floo in her back. She stood and quickly brushed herself off. "My bad." She quickly walked off. "Anyway… Hermione… I wanted to apologize." Hermione gave her a go-ahead look. "I completely forgot you wanted to go shopping with us, and I feel terrible. Harry was feeling down and I said we should go shopping and.. I just forgot I'm so sorry Hermione." Hermione gave her a soft sigh. "It's okay Persephone. I was pretty upset but I understand. We're going to do something fun today so it'll be worth it."

"Seph! Are you ready to go?" Harry called out. "Seph?"

"Yes I have no idea. He called me that earlier and I didn't mind guess I have a nickname too now mione."

They walked side by side into the kitchen where the others gathered. Folly had passed out tea to everyone. Quickly they drank their tea, then linked up at the floo. "Alright guys follow my lead." Neville walked up to the floo, taking some powder and calling out. "Longbottom hall." When the flames turned green he then called out. "Grognair." He gave a shrug to his friends. "I think Gran set up the password after my father…well she drinks a lot of brandy." Quickly he stepped through the flames.

When Tonks was the last out, again on her back and cursing floo travel, they all stood in the Longbottom entry hall. There were only a few lanterns lit, and Neville motioned for them to follow. Outside there was a large path dusted with snow that led down to a carriage house. "We will be taking the carriage to the town square. Most around here still use carriages and horses. So we won't be seen as abnormal. These horses are of breeding stock, a lot of mares and a few stallions. There should be food and games too as well as a lives stock auction after.

My Gran wants me to find some chickens I guess." Neville rolled his eyes and led the way. The carriage had been modified with an expansion charm so all could fit neatly. It was topless and reminded Hermione and Persephone of the hayride carriages when they were younger. It took them only ten minutes to get to town.

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The town was still a bit quiet, the few vendors setting up their stands, some already had food wafting the air with their delicious scents. "Oh I'm hungry…" Persephone grumbled the others soon following. "Well… unless you have muggle cash…"

"I do." Both Hermione and Persephone said at once. "I'll cover you guys. Let's eat."

They all had a strange meat pie that for some reason had egg in it, but they are them all as they began to walk around the animal pens. Neville inquired about some chickens with the local seller, while the others began to look at the horses. Each stall had an information card about the breed, age, familial history as well as price. When they got to a beautiful painted black and white mare Hermione froze. The mare had taken notice of her and bent down, her nostrils flaring as she sniffed Hermione's head, lipping some of her hair gently. She had giggled softly, and Persephone took a look at the Id card.

Four years old, 22 hands, bred within the past year but unknown status. Father was the race horse Lucky Down. Mother reputable for breeding champion stallions. 1200.00 euro.

Persephone smiled and took a small tag from under the Id card. Hermione had a hard time walking away from the mare, but she continued looking at other horses, her eyes kept going back to the beautiful painted mare.

Daphne and Tracey had looked at a few themselves, a fully tan stallion and a grey and tan mare respectfully. Persephone had even looked at a few herself. Her eye had caught a black stallion with a white mane, young but had a muscle malformation for racing. He was a working horse now. He whinnied softly when she approached him. All of his I'd tags had still been there. No one seemed interested in him. He was young and excitable. Still had a bit of growing to do. Looking around and seeing all of her fellow dragons had eyes on horses made her groan. She knew for sure she was getting one horse today or trying too, but she could feel the pain in her pocket.

She had issued a quiet command for an invisible Folly. Who listened carefully to the plan. He would disguise himself as a human and place the bids for Persephone. He was handed quite a few I'd tags with a down trodden Persephone. "What be wrong?" He whispered quietly. "The black and white mare is a must. All the others are a bonus ok? And only if the vault allows. I have no idea what my standings are at the moment." Folly gave a soft affirmative and they popped away.

An hour later and most of the kids were playing games and checking out vendor stalls, Persephone and Neville had bid them a temporary farewell. Neville saying he was going to auction and Persephone offering to accompany him. Most didn't even bat an eyelash their way. They were having too much fun. Especially Hermione having to explain how the games worked to the others.

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With Folly giving her a short bow, his choice had made her chuckle. He looked almost like he could have been her father with slightly greyer hair and laugh lines. He held an auctioneer's bidding paddle card with the number 43 on it. "Daughter." He spoke with a chuckle, while she rolled her eyes. "Dad " she played along, and walked with the two boys to a seat.

The first up had been a group of piglets, then some chickens Neville had bid on. He had quickly won when no one wanted to pay more than a few pounds for them. Soon there were some sheep and goats, that Folly surprisingly bid on. "The house needs more than a garden miss." He whispered. Persephone shrugged and only had an eye out for the horses.

Soon enough the horses were led out one at a time. That was when the crowd really came to life and bidding took off. Folly was just as vocal as the rest and seemed to gain a gleam in his eye as he did so. He was a natural at the bidding game. Horse after horse went through and honestly Persephone had lost track of what horse was what but Folly never wavered.

At last on the 20th horse, the black and white mare was led to the ring. She was led around in the circle showing her off. Folly opened hard. But another raised him a hundred quid. Folly scowled and rose him higher. They bid off the other for a few more rounds before the other gave him a smirk and the auctioneer called out. "Going once…going twice…sold!" Persephone blinked as the horse was led away again. She had no idea what had happened or who won.

After another 2 hours all of the horses had been shown, and those who didn't sell were offered at base to any who didn't bid. Folly had given her a shoulder squeeze before walking off to those in the stall still up for grabs. "I think Folly has found a bad addiction." Neville commented softly and Persephone chuckled. "You're telling me. I don't have any clue how much money he cost me today."

"How much money for what?" Hermione chimed in as the group approached the duo. Persephone paled only a second before Neville cut in. "Buying livestock. Folly went a little crazy. I'm sure there's a good horde for him to care for now. You may have to get a second elf Seph." Neville laughed but Persephone actually thought about it for a moment. It wasn't a bad idea with all the work now.

Hermione seemed to accept that answer and they both let out a sigh when she turned away again. Thank Merlin. Persephone gave him a quick smile before following. It was well past lunchtime and they were hungry.

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The ride up to the Longbottom hall was a chatty one, most talking about the games and random things people were selling. Hermione had sat closer to Persephone on the ride back warning a slight look their way from a blonde witch a few times. "Mione do you have a hair tie? My hair is bugging me." Hermione blinked a few times before reaching into her small purse-like bag. Pulling out a simple black tie. "Here, turn away." Persephone did so and Hermione began to pull her hair back. It was just long enough to touch her shoulders, so it didn't quite make a sizable ponytail, but just enough to lift the hair off the girls neck. Daphne scowled a moment, before Tracey gained her attention once again. "Thanks Mione. Are you ok to stay at the underworld for a bit?" Hermione shrugged. "Mom and daddy didn't give me a time to be back. Honestly if I let them know I could probably stay over….that sounds like fun!" Tracey cut in. "We should all stay over!" Neville pouted some. "I don't know if Gran will go for it. But I can ask."

"If I ask mother I should be fine. Father may not be ok with me staying with uh..girls." he had to bite his tongue softly. It was taking him quite the hard time convincing his father that Hermione and Persephone were actually good people. On top of him begging his father to not go to the school board to have him resorted even though the hat did as he pleased and could not be persuaded otherwise. "Well… my floo is open. You all know the password and such. If you can just drop in ok?" They all agreed Daphne was already smirking at Hermione leaving the girl confused.

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Harry and Hermione had followed Persephone back to the underworld. Harry having pulled a Tonks and flew out on his back. "Maybe it's just metamorphs?" Hermione said jokingly and Harry scowled at her. Harry excused himself to his room to change, and Persephone showed her around. The three guest rooms, a small study with mostly empty book shelves, the kitchen and then pointed out the window to the stables out back. "You have horses?!" Hermione cut her off as she was trying to explain what was what. "Well..err I think so. Folly made a lot of purchases today, so who knows." Said elf popped in and gave her a deep bow a sly grin on his face. "Mistress Gallows Folly did as asked." Hermione lifted a brow to her. "And what is that. I told you just call me Persephone. I'll even settle for miss!" Folly blinked a few times then clapped his hand and a small elf popped next to him. "This be Gunby. He young elf given clothes earlier this week." The little elf seemed so heart broken and looked at Persephone hopeful. "He knows how to care for gardens and livestock." Persephone gave Gunby a smile. "Sounds good to me. Show him around and I'll bond with him late…." There was a small flash and Gunby ran off instead of popping. "Er…well I guess that was that?" Folly nodded. "Younger elf's do not need formal bonding. They just needs know you want them." Persephone gave a soft nod. "Come Hermione. Want to see the stables? See what Folly got?" Hermione grinned.

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Harry had quickly rejoined them before they set off down the path. He couldn't stop his grin and Persephone kept elbowing him in the ribs when his smile threatened to give it away. Hermione seemed more lost than before each time it happened. A gentle whinny was heard within and Hermione perked up. She had to hold herself back to not just run for the stable doors.

Persephone stood in front of the doors and gave her a wicked grin. "You wanna see the horses?" Hermione huffed and crossed her arms. "You know i do! Now let me in!" Persephone gave a wink to Harry who grinned wildly, pulling out a small blindfold, quickly wrapping her eyes. "What? Hey Harry! Stop!" He tsked and held her one arm, Persephone did the same to the other as they led her inside. Hermione could smell the fresh hay. And hear a few snorts. "Come on guys, let me go…" her voice sounded so desperate almost like she might cry.

When Persephone saw the horse she was hoping to see, they quickly pulled her to it. "Ok Hermione…just…don't be mad ok?" Hermione grunted at her when she felt them let go and she hastily pulled off the blindfold ready to scold them until she saw the mare.

She couldn't speak, the mare was there and took a few steps closer to her, giving her a few sniffs before she whinnied and bopped her on the head with her nose. "This…this was the mare from the auction!"

"She catches on fast Harry."

"I'd say so Seph. There's a reason she's brilliant." Hermione whipped her head around to look at both of them. "You planned this?" Persephone scratched the back of her head. "I told you I felt bad about shopping. And you seemed to attach to her. So… I asked Folly to get her if he could. And he did apparently. As well as others." She motioned to the other stalls including Hermione's mare there were thirteen. Hermione sniffled softly before she turned and hugged Persephone hard. She managed to grab Harry in a blind hand and pull him in too. "You…did you know I loved horses?" Hermione was crying softly. "Harry reminded me. Then Neville told us about the auction and I figured I'd try and find you one." There were voices outside and Hermione quickly let go and wiped her face. "I'm.. I'm gonna stay with my horse now."

"You do get to name her you know. She is yours."

The two walked to the barn door to greet the four stragglers. Draco seemed a little on edge but instantly relaxed once in the stables and by the horses. "I didn't realize you had so many Persephone." She rolled her eyes. "Folly went overboard. But I didn't say how many so that's my fault too."

Hermione had taken to brushing her mare while thinking to herself. The others had spread out to other horses. Persephone was at a black stallion with a striking white mane. She gave her lips a raspberry and he nuzzled her face. Hermione smiled and returned to her mare. And she smiled, "Aphrodite. That's what your name will be." The mare lipped at her hair again and she chuckled.