A/N: Timekeeper will be updated in either May or June. This is the last chapter until then.

Anything you recognize (characters, setting, etc.) belongs to J.K. Rowling. Everything else is mine.

Thank you for reading, and don't forget to review!

Chapter Ten

There were three days left.

She'd spent every moment between the Chamber and this moment absorbing as much of Hogwarts as possible. She trained with Helga each morning and got stronger each day. She suffered through meals with Gryffindor and played the game as best she could. She had vague and impossibly frustrating conversations with Rowena about philosophy and, surprisingly, theology. And she spent each afternoon and evening with Salazar.

The man surprised her every day. Just when she thought she'd figured him out he'd say something new or contrary to what she believed and it would change. The list of things about him she'd started was nearly two feet long. If Croaker ever saw it he'd throw a fit because aside from 'his wand core is basilisk heartstring' and 'his sister is a squib' there was also 'he tastes like mint after meals' and 'his hands are surprisingly soft.' If she ever submitted the list for documentation it would have to be heavily reviewed.

It seemed that they spent as much time in each other's company as possible. Not all of it was spent snogging. Some of it was spent talking about each other's pasts and dreams for the future. Hers were either lies or vague truths, but it didn't seem to bother him. Either he assumed it was because of her mysterious façade or he just bought into it. She learned about his childhood in Cambridgeshire and his parents, Aznar and Lupe, who had left Britain after Salazar entered his apprenticeship.

The only thing he spoke little of was the apprenticeship. It was common knowledge that he'd met Godric Gryffindor during that time and they'd grown as great wizards together. Their teacher was a mystery—some powerful sorcerer distantly connected with Merlin—but Salazar wouldn't answer her questions on the subject. Instead he'd tell a funny anecdote about some time that Gryffindor had gone on a dumb quest and failed miserably. There were many of these.

Each day felt like the last. She kept trying to pull away, but couldn't. Something drew Salazar to her and she to him, and it wasn't something she could control. She'd spent an entire afternoon hiding from him throughout the castle and, somehow, it had just turned into a bizarre game of hide-and-seek. Althea didn't know what was going to happen after she left or how it would affect him. Part of her assumed all of the changes that had to happen for him to become the Salazar of the future were her fault.

In three days she would find out how badly she had damaged the world. It was terrifying.

#

Dinner was always an interesting affair. In order to sit beside Salazar she had to also sit by Gryffindor and put up with all that entailed. So far she'd had an additional three requests to share his cup, and each time she'd been forced to come up with an excuse not to. It seemed that he got more frustrated each time she turned him down. She could see a glint in his eyes—determined and sure—and knew that he would ask and ask again until she relented. He would never give up on their game, at least not until she lost.

Helga was currently directing a small band of musicians to strike up a tune. They'd stood at the Hogwarts' gates for hours before being admitted in, and had proven to be good entertainment during meals. She knew from Hogwarts: A History that they would stay until the end of term before leaving for other opportunities and meeting an unfortunate demise in a muggle town. They were better than she would've guessed from just reading about them.

The students loved the music, and she noticed Waldo and Helena sending each other coy glances from their respective tables. She wished that they'd just make it public and get it over with. Courting wasn't something to be ashamed of, and she was sure that if Helena would just talk to her mother about it the problem would be solved. Other students were laughing and smiling, talking about the upcoming exams, and sending small charms and spells at each other. Apparently, the trend was Tickling Charms because every now and then a student would burst into laughter for no obvious reason.

A hand reached over and grabbed hers, and she resisted the urge to stab a knife in Gryffindor's wrist. He was smiling like a mad man and she could sense Salazar's silent fury on her other side. She was a hypocrite; if Helena and Waldo didn't feel comfortable going public then she was same. It wasn't safe for either of them. Gryffindor's rough, calloused fingers traced over her hand and drew a heart. She tried to relax, but was sure he could tell how tense she was.

"My dear Lady, what troubles you so?" he said. "I would slay a thousand dragons to make you happy."

She knew that his statement would send the Prevention and Ethical Treatment of Magical Creatures commission into fits. "I am simply tired from so much adventure. Helga and I climbed mountains today."

"She exhausts you too much. Someone with such a delicate disposition as you has no use of battle tactics."

"You'd be surprised," she said. The sip of wine after tasted just a little bit sweeter.

There was a quiet laugh beside her before Salazar spoke. "Do you not know this girl at all, Godric?"

"What do you mean, friend?"

"Lady Althea is fully capable of slaying her own dragons. She doesn't need you to do it for her."

"It is a man's duty to protect fair maidens!"

Althea didn't want to pop Gryffindor's bubble by mentioning she hadn't been a maiden since she was sixteen. That probably wouldn't go over too well with how old-fashioned his values were.

"The Lady," Salazar said, "doesn't need your protection."

"And what? She has use of yours?"

"And what if she did? She may choose that which her heart desires—it is her right."

All of sudden, both men were looking at her intently and both waiting for answers she couldn't give. It wasn't fair that she went undesired in her own time but was so popular in this one. But, then again, wasn't it human to want what one could never have?

"Gentlemen, I'm afraid that my protection is my own responsibility. It has been that way since I was a girl and I know no other way. Let me slay my own dragons and choose my own company. The one at hand is finer than any other," she said.

They paused, unsatisfied, but then gave tight smiles and continued with the meal. When Althea looked over, Rowena was staring at her and she shook her head once. It was all the disapproval needed to make Althea's stomach tight. She took a small bite of her stew and was finished. The conversation at the Masters' Platform turned to muggle raiders again and the newfound peacetime they seemed to be enjoying. Gryffindor was worried they would settle nearby, but no one else shared that belief. No one else thought muggles were a threat.

After dinner, she gave Salazar a small kiss goodnight as he went to speak with his students and went back to her room. There was a lot of packing and things to be sure of before she left. Undressing, she let her suit rest in a Deep Cleaning Solution before slipping on the dress that Salazar had conjured for her. Then she pulled out every scrap of parchment and note she'd written, every quill and ink bottle, and organized with meticulous detail.

She packed them away in preparation for her journey back. Then she stood up and looked around the room. What at first had been a sad broom closet had become a home of sorts. She would miss it and the memories she'd made. Sure, she could find this room in her modern Hogwarts but it wouldn't be the same. That castle was different—greater and just what Salazar would want it to be—but it wasn't this one. There were too many paintings and suits of armor, décor and paraphernalia from its history, and more students and professors than she could count. There were classrooms and buildings and the Quidditch Pitch, but even if it was bigger it would forever be lonely to Althea now.

A single tear fell, but she wiped it away. Croaker would laugh to see her like this. He'd say something like, "Staying here isn't an option—even if you don't live to see the timeline you changed."

There really wasn't a choice.

#

With two days left, Althea took the time to absorb everything that she could. Knowing that she wouldn't be allowed to return put a new spin on her view of Hogwarts. Suddenly the minutia and background information was of utmost importance. She wrote down the names of all of the students and which House they belonged to: from Alton, Margery to Worple, Adam in Hufflepuff, from Abercrombie, Anthony to Zeller, Tamsin in Ravenclaw, from Black, Corvus to Vane, Adrian in Slytherin, and from Crouch, Marcus to Thomas, Charmaine. She wrote them all down, regardless of whether she knew a descendant or not.

She wrote down descriptions of every painting, tapestry, and statue. Every meal was detailed down to the crumbs. Nothing went undocumented. Salazar seemed to find this amusing and obviously didn't understand her newfound obsession with the history and knowledge of everything to do with the castle. Gryffindor regaled her with endless tales, but she wasn't sure whether they were all true or not so she then asked Helga and Salazar for their own.

At her second to last dinner, Althea looked out at the students and felt a wave of sadness pass over her. She knew that some of them would die in their lifetimes or that their magical line would die out eventually—some in her own time. Salazar himself would be lost in short time and his magic ended with Lord Voldemort. It almost seemed hopeless to her even if it spanned centuries.

The band played softly in the background, and although their tune was light she felt weighed down. The consequences of the past two weeks would be immeasurable. She could go home and find total destruction or perhaps a world only slightly different. It was impossible to guess how wide the ripples would go. She sipped at her wine and savored the boar that Gryffindor had caught a day before. The students were looking forward to the annual end-of-term ball and Althea knew it would be her last event in the past.

Salazar and Gryffindor had both asked for the honor of escorting her, but she hadn't given either an answer. It was safer that way. She could come by herself, dance with both of them in equal turns, and vanish the next day. It was a proper send off to this fantasy of staying and living her life in the past. Althea finished off her cup of wine and was bothered when it didn't magically refill.

"Something wrong, my Lady?" Gryffindor said.

"I seem to be cut off from the wine."

"Must be another anomaly, eh? Let me fix that." Gryffindor reached over, took her goblet, and waved his wand over it. It didn't refill. He sighed and snapped his fingers. A small, timid-looking house elf appeared and bowed before him.

"What is Master Godric requiring?"

"Fetch a new goblet of wine for Lady Althea at once."

The house elf looked over at her, eyes watering slightly and hiccupped, but nodded and disappeared. Seconds later, it reappeared and handed over a large goblet to Gryffindor. He waved the elf off and handed over the drink. It was slightly heavier than usual and she dipped her head in thanks. She brought it to her lips and froze.

She knew that smell.

In the Department of Mysteries there was a locked door. What was behind it wasn't known for sure except to those who apprenticed or worked within. She'd heard the rumor about a fountain of Amortentia being inside and knew it to be true. Every time she walked by the door she smelled the same three things: French vanilla, oncoming rain, lavender.

She knew the smells and what they meant so well that it only took a second to realize what was in her cup and that there was a new smell. She recognized it as parchment newly touched with ink. In the next second she vanished the drink and waited until it refilled with plain wine to put her cup down. Gryffindor looked pleased and her stomach plummeted. If she didn't act like a lovesick fool he would know but she didn't want to fawn over him any more than absolutely necessary. She could tell the others what he had attempted, but there was no promise that that would end up well.

She hated having her choices taken away.

"Oh thank you, Godric!" She turned to him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

She saw Salazar cringe a moment later and Rowena's eyes narrowed in an almost inhumane way. Gryffindor smiled and reached over to run his fingers over her bare arm. Shivers followed and she had to cover it up by leaning into his touch. He pushed her away as he whispered in her ear, "Let us save that for later."

And a second later she was released. It was difficult to act stupidly in love with him, while not being so, and while also pretending to hold back on her immense love for him for the sake of the public. She made sure to keep near constant eye contact with him, licking her lip for good measure, and drinking the rest of her wine. She could feel Salazar's tense body beside her and had to ignore him. It was a new level of pain.

Everyone was dismissed from the hall and she had to watch as the students went to their common rooms, as Helga and Rowena went off to the Headmaster's Office, and as Salazar waited for her at the door. When Gryffindor wasn't watching, she looked at him and shook her head. He looked confused for a moment and drew out his wand, but turned away and walked down the corridor at a brisk pace.

"Finally," Gryffindor said, "we're alone."

"I thought they'd never leave," she said.

He came closer and attacked her lips with his own. Acting classes had never been a part of her training, but she pulled up every possible skill she could. She pretended that he was Salazar, but it wouldn't work. His hands were too rough, his kiss too fierce and untamed, and he kept groping her breast through her gown. It seemed like he grew another three limbs as they continued on and she had to play along.

She could hear house elves clearing the tables and cleaning, but did her best to ignore them as he picked her up and put her on top of the table. Gryffindor kissed his way down her neck and pulled down one of the shoulders of her gown. At the same time he pushed up the hem and raked a hand up her thigh. Everywhere he touched grew cold like frostbite.

"Godric," she said.

"My Lady?"

"Take me to your chambers."

"So forward," he said.

She kissed him again and ran her fingers down his back. "Please."

"You beg for me? You plead for my affection?"

"Yes, yes." She gave one of the greatest fake moans the world had ever known.

He pushed her away from a moment and she reached for him. His eyes roamed her body at the same pace his fingers did, but he slowed at the bodice of her gown before stopping. She almost sighed in relief.

"I'm afraid that I cannot continue."

"Why not?"

"I do not wish to sully your virtue, my Lady, and I would have my future wife pure."

She gasped. "You wish to marry?"

"What do you say?"

No, no, a thousand times no. "Yes!"

"Shall we announce it at the ball tomorrow? A farewell present for my students and friends?"

She ran her hand over his face, the stubble itching her hand. "No, let's save that for later. Tomorrow is a celebration of this school and your great teachings. I take no credit in that."

"Whatever my Lady wants," he said. He kissed her again.

She wobbled on her feet a little. "I feel sickly all of a sudden. Perhaps I should retire."

"I'm sure it's too much excitement for your disposition. Let me escort you."

"I would love that."

They walked down the corridors, stopping in every other alcove to snog, and eventually made it to her rooms. She knew that Salazar's wards had probably been tripped and he'd know that Gryffindor was with her, but she wasn't sure what he would do. They kissed once more at her door before he left. She locked the door behind her, put up wards and Silencing Charms, and sat down on the bed.

Crying would be the reasonable thing to do in a hopeless situation like this, but she didn't have the time. She had to plan, prepare, and get ready to leave. Then there was the matter of an entire day of putting up with Gryffindor and his affection, but she'd have to power through. It would be worth it somehow.

She just had to make it through one more day, and then she could go home.

#

Rule #10 of the Timekeeper's Code: All Timekeepers and their effects must return thirty days after arriving in the past.

The worst part of preparing for the ball was choosing what to wear. Honestly, she'd rather wear black and pretend it was her funeral but that wasn't an option. Wearing purple—her color of preference—was also not a choice. The only thing she could do was transfigure a gown of scarlet and try not to feel like a whore. The jewelry was gold and the headdress made it look like she had a head wound. She felt ridiculous.

There was a knock at the door and she opened it to see Salazar. He looked handsome in green, but took in her appearance with a frown. "This is a new look for you."

"It's not one I favor, to be honest."

"There's still time to change."

"I'm afraid that isn't an option."

They began to walk up to the Great Hall, but stopped just short as he pulled her into an empty room. He kissed her and she felt heat flush through all of her veins at the same time. She pulled away before he could ruin any aspect of her disguise and shook her head. "I can't."

"What has he done to you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Something happened at dinner last night and you won't tell me anything. I have reason to be suspicious."

"There's nothing you can do about it."

"Tell me what it is and I will tell you what I can do."

"Wasn't it you who told me I can slay my own dragons?"

"Are you going to slay Godric?"

"Salazar," she said, "let me take care of this, and all will be well."

He frowned, but let her leave the room and keep going up to the Great Hall. He followed at a distance, watching her, and she saw his face when she had to go to Gryffindor and latch onto him like a swooning idiot. It was painful.

Gryffindor was dressed in gold, and looked immensely happy with what she was wearing. "My Lady is by far the most beautiful thing in this castle."

"You flatter me, Godric."

"I would like to do more." He twisted her hair between his fingers and pulled her in for a quick kiss. She froze under his touch, but obediently followed into the room.

The Hall was decorated like she'd seen only once before. On the 10th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, the professors and Headmistress McGonagall had thrown a giant party and invited all of the heroes of the war to celebrate. It had been one of the grandest nights of her life, unlike all of the muggle parties she'd gone to, and she thought it could only compare to this simple end-of-the-term ball.

The students were wearing their finest cloaks and gowns. She saw Helena and Waldo dancing together and hoped that this was the first step to a happy time in their lives. Gryffindor held her hand as they walked up to the platform and sat down with the others. Helga and Rowena each wore beautiful gowns in their House colors, and jewels much fancier than she was wearing. The diadem shone on Rowena's head, the eagle staring at Althea in an accusing manner.

They didn't seem happy about her arrival with Gryffindor or the fact she was wearing his colors and sitting by him. Perhaps they'd been rooting for her romance with Salazar to succeed. In which case, they seriously underestimated Godric Gryffindor. She reached for her cup and smelled Amortentia again. It had to be continuously administered or the effects would wear off.

She vanished the potion and drank. Gryffindor smiled and kissed her hair before offering her some bread from his plate. She ate and drank and waited on his every whim and wish. The students seemed happy and relieved to be done with the term, but she could not feel the same. Salazar had barely touched his food and drink, but took up the goblet when Gryffindor led her out to dance.

He was as good a dancer as hunter, but that didn't mean she was able to enjoy it. Rowena managed to cajole Salazar onto the floor, and she noticed that they whispered to each other while the music covered all sounds. Meanwhile Gryffindor murmured sweet nothings into her ear about their grand future together. They were going to get married in the hollow where he'd been born, they would live at Hogwarts during the school terms, and she would give birth to many sons for him to be named Gabriel, Gaynor, Gareth, and Gerard. If she was stricken with a daughter then it would be named either Gaia or Genevieve.

She replied positively to each comments, no matter how ridiculous, and smiled at everything he said. They danced to several more songs before he was obliged to dance with Rowena and Helga, and she was allowed to retire to a balcony that had been conjured just for the event. She stood outside and stared at the grounds. They were dark, but she could see the edge of the Forbidden Forest and the shores of the lake from where she stood.

Quiet steps echoed behind her and she knew he'd done it on her behalf. "I'm surprised you're not hovering on Gryffindor's every word right now."

"I wouldn't if I didn't have to," she said.

"I don't understand why you're doing this."

"Neither do I," she said under her breath. "Neither do I."

#

After several hours of drink and dance, the ball was over and Gryffindor allowed her to go back to her quarters after several rounds of snogging and a promise of another hunt the next day. She wouldn't be able to go anyway.

She transfigured the gown back into her suit and packed up her supplies, including Helga's sword. By the time she was done the room was bare and nothing remained. It was like she hadn't even been there. Her possessions safely stowed, Althea tried to sleep for a few hours but couldn't. She kept replaying the events of the past two weeks in her mind, and still couldn't find a happy solution. Her only hope was that the future was the same, and everything would be fine. Croaker could fire her for this, get her banned from the Ministry, maybe even sent to Azkaban, but if everything was the same then at least she'd know that she hadn't screwed up time that much.

Lying in bed and just thinking wasn't getting her anywhere so she decided it might be better to leave the castle earlier. She found her Cloak and put it on, becoming invisible with a simple swish of fabric, before taking down all of her wards and alarms and leaving the room. It was late and no one was in the halls, and a few moments later she was walking out of the passageway and onto the grounds.

It was a warm, quiet night and she made it back to where she'd arrived within thirty minutes. Then she sat down on the dewy grass, stared up at the stars and moon, and waited. There was nothing else to do with her time and it was safer to be further away from the castle and its powerful inhabitants. She tried not to think of the future or of the past, but instead focused on her breathing and the beauty of the present.

When she was ten—before Hogwarts and magic—her mother would take her into the backyard of their cottage and they'd lie on the grass. Then they'd stare up at the heavens and Mum would point out the constellations and tell her about them. It was hard to see the stars that close to the city, but in the pre-technology world there were millions of them. She found Canis Major and Minor, Lepus, and Monoceros. She wondered if her mum still looked up at the sky and picked them out or if it was something that had been ruined by magic too.

Althea spent hours picking out the stars and watched as they faded away. The sun crested over a hill and broke the horizon. She had a small meal of bread and cheese before standing. She pulled out the Time-Turner and stared down at it. It still amazed her that something so small could hold so much power. Harry Potter and his friends had destroyed so many, almost shut down the entire Timekeeper business, but fourteen had survived and she held one of them.

It would take her home.

"Althea!"

Her head whipped to the right as Salazar stepped into the clearing. She'd waited too long and now she'd been discovered. His wand was in his hand, ready to fight or defend, but she didn't let go of the Time-Turner. She began to turn the dials of the Turner with expert precision.

"Where are you going?" he said. Centuries.

"I have to leave." Years.

"Without saying goodbye?" Months.

"I'm sorry." Days.

She turned the final dial and felt the pull at her belly-button before the searing pain began. Her last sight was of Salazar running toward her. Her last feeling was of a hand gripping her wrist tightly.

There was no time to stop him.

THUS ENDS TIMEKEEPER: PART ONE.