Soul Healers Trilogy
Part II
THE TIME MIRROR
Chapter 1 – Old futures
November 7th 1870, One of the de Chagny properties - undetermined location, 09:00 AM
Dreams
Hello Hermione.
Severus Snape was currently by my side, smiling at me. A much younger Severus. There was a diary in his hands.
It's time, Hermione. I'm taking you home.
The teenage form of Severus Snape held the remaining of Tom Riddle's diary in his hands and, after rising from the bed, he raised his wand and the diary changed into a bigger brown leather book. I frowned; I had this familiar sensation of déjà vu, where had I seen that book before?
The book opened and the pages started flicking dangerously fast, back and forth, emanating light, faster now, it enlarged and the pages started to rip themselves off, the book changed into a mirror and the room now blazed in flames that didn't burn, until it freezed in time. There was a song in the air or in me, and I felt Fawkes' claws in my shoulders, she looked much bigger than before. When I looked around me, everything was different.
The bed was gone, as well as the furniture, and there was a golden mirror surrounded by several portraits, one of them was of a unicorn. I closed my eyes, stood in front of the mirror, which did not reflect me, and I touched its surface. I immediately regretted it. I tried to escape but it started to absorb me slowly, a wave of strong magick flooded the whole room, the portraits started whispering to each other, I lost some of my will, my chest started to glow brightly, like a heartbeat and emanating a peaceful melody, the song of the phoenix, Fawkes too sang with me. I could hear a woman's voice, it must have been the maid, I tried to yell but it was no use, even if she did hear me.
For a minute later I was already gone.
November 8th 1977, Hogwarts, 08:00 AM
7th year Severus Snape ran away from the Marauders trap, and found a temporary refuge in the same room you are thinking right now. And no, it is not the one Dumbledore found when nature called, it's the one with the golden mirror and portraits. Anyway, once he got in, locked the door and turned his back on it he saw her. She wore muggle clothes under her hooded cloak and lied on the floor, obviously unconscious, with a minor injury in her head.
"Who is this girl? How long has she been here?", asked a very pale Severus to the portraits.
"She has…" the unicorn picture started answering, but was abruptly interrupted by the Marauders entrance.
"There you are Snivellus! Hey! Who is that girl? She's bleeding!"
"I can see that Black! I just found her, I'm taking her to the hospital wing"
After a not-so-brief-discussion 'How come Black always gets the girl' and 'Get lost greasy git before we hex you into a slime' an not-so-unconscious young woman rested in the hospital wing. There are several states of conscience and Hermione could hear everything, Madame Pomfrey, McGonagall and Dumbledore were talking quietly about her condition.
"The portraits said that the girl came from the mirror, just like Agnes did. It was that 7th year Slytherin, Severus Snape, who found her."
"They are so alike Albus, I wonder if this is the girl Agnes talked about before leaving. Can she really be Agnes' daughter?"
"Yes", she mumbled, audibly, still half-asleep.
When she woke up in a beautiful sunny morning, Madame Pomfrey gave her some potions and breakfast. No questions were made nor answered. As soon as she finished it, the Headmaster conveniently arrived.
"Good morning, Albus."
Albus Dumbledore
I could hardly believe this was the same young woman I had met over 100 years ago. She looked exactly the same.
"Why did you leave?"
"Apparently my time had come Albus. Your mother wouldn't leave me alone, and young Severus kept telling me I was going home. Raoul took me away, we had a misunderstanding after his proposal and he knocked me out. Then there was this dream…" she told me then how she had left.
"All of Paris whispered that you had fled with Raoul." she could hardly bit back a sob.
"I can imagine the rest…" She then whispered.
"Here you are." I handed her a strange shaped medallion. She caressed it as a long lost friend would, no, as a lover would. "Your mother asked me to give it to you, after she passed on, so to speak."
"I think she was more of a telekinetic than a witch. But I'm no longer sure. If it was so, how could she have travelled in time? Why did she leave the wizarding world to live as a Muggle? She never answered any of those questions." She sighed deeply. "The truth is she never told me if she was a witch or not, I just assumed she was one as a little girl. She used to tell me stories about Hogwarts and magic but I never saw her using a wand or anything. It was as if she was a Muggle. I started believing that after my first year."
"She also gave me something else." I watched her. "Her diary and some letters, but I will give them to you later." She nodded.
"I miss him. What happened after I left?"
I chuckled at this. "Maybe one day I'll tell you." I couldn't very well tell her how it all ended, now could I?
It was another sunny day, yet windy and with some occasional rain. Autumn was already falling upon the trees, the Forbidden Forest, and apparently nobody stayed inside – she could spot the Marauders near by the lake and Snape was apparently coming inside.
Since she was fine and done with the place for now, she left the wing. In the precise moment she closed the door and turned around, she found herself facing… Severus Snape. And those black deep eyes.
"Good afternoon Mr. Snape."
"Hello Miss… I don't know your name."
"I'm Christine Dumbledore, the Headmaster's niece." He looked curious and asked her if she would be attending Hogwarts. "I've been on home schooling so far but it was decided that I was to make 7th year here, at Hogwarts. After all, I know the school so well, I spent part of every Summer here."
'How I envy her.', he thought. "So, pray tell, what caused that decision?"
"I'm too much of a bookworm, I'm afraid", she laughed, "and I spent too much time on my own." She smiled. "Since it's almost lunch time, you should get going to the Great Hall, no? I'm going to my quarters, I'll only be introduced at dinner, there is much to do."
"Certainly. And how are you feeling?"
"Better. And thank you… I am truly grateful… for finding me. I'll see you later, Mr. Snape."
Severus just nodded and turned. "By the way… I loved the book.", he heard.
'I'm glad you did.'
As soon as Hermione stopped on the top of the stairs, she hid herself there, watching him going straight to the Great Hall doors and The Marauders coming to him.
"Hey Snively… you really should restrain yourself from harassing the ladies… That one is far too pretty for you." James was messing up his hair, consenting in Sirius' words and playing with the snitch, laughing with the other Marauders.
'You really look like a ladies' men Sirius… too bad you act like an arrogant jerk at this time. How sad the way it will all change…'
"I don't think you can add her to your collection Black, she is too smart for you. And she is Dumbledore's niece.", barked Severus.
"You're lying!", yelled James. Sirius had already hung Severus upside down, in the air. All wands were out except for Severus', it was on the ground, and Remus, still the reasoning, ignored voice.
'Oh my, this doesn't look good… I'd better do something.' Before they noticed it, they were also being hung like Severus, by growing plants that came out of nowhere. Their wands glued to the ceiling, and they were surrounded by several other students when Professors Flitwick and McGonagall arrived.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Snape, what on earth did you do this time!", yelled her.
"We didn't do anything this time! We were just having a civil conversation when…" started James.
"Civil my ass! You were playing me around in the air!", shouted Snape.
"10 points from Slytherin for swearing and another 10 from Griffindor for silly games in the halls!"
A few seconds later, with some wand waving from Professor Flitwick, all of them fell on the ground loud and painfully.
"What about our wands?", asked Remus.
"Minerva, I can't seem to undo the spell… It's strange."
"How come?"
"It's quite alright, Minerva. Allow me", said Dumbledore, pronouncing the counter spell, that twinkle in his eyes when he spoke again. "It isn't a very known type of magic, mind you. You seem to have a new friend in Hogwarts, Mr. Snape." Both looked to the stairs, just in time to see Hermione's shadow running away.
Hermione finished organizing the room at her will a few hours after eating her lunch and then decided to pay a visit to the library, of course. It still had the same smell and looks, and that favourite little corner of hers, an occult refuge, which was presently occupied by two Slytherins, Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. The first easily spotted her. She raised a finger to her lips, and he immediately understood she didn't want to be disturbed, so speaking. 'Later then, Miss Dumbledore… Later.' He couldn't stop noticing the time travelling and potions books from the restricted section, but said nothing.
Later…
In that same evening, every student in the Great Hall was waiting impatiently for the food. The Marauders, Severus Snape and the Heads already knew, as well as the whole school, that the Headmaster's niece would be joining for dinner and for the rest of the year.
"I hope you will forgive me for this delay. I won't detain you for much longer. I'd like you to meet a new student, she has been on home schooling, Christine Dumbledore. I trust that you will treat her as one of your own. Could you come forward for the sorting, Miss Dumbledore?", asked Dumbledore.
Hermione came out of the shadowy corner. "Certainly, Professor Dumbledore.", she smiled and sat down. Minerva placed the hat on her head and it longed on her head for about ten minutes. By then, everyone was whispering amongst themselves, till the hat spoke loudly "Very well… SLYTHERIN!"
The whole of Slytherin table clapped politely and as she went down the table, she couldn't help noticing their stares and veiled whispers, so she prepared to settle down in front of Severus Snape. He was, surprise surprise, flipping through a potions book.
"May I?" he nodded and she sat down, serving herself with some food.
"Do you have your timetable already Miss Dumbledore?" Hermione jumped at Minerva McGonagall's voice. She nodded. "Very well, I suppose Mr. Snape will lead you to your common room, or you can go to Miss Evans, there, she is our Head Girl. Now, if you'll excuse me." She pointed a red head on the Gryffindor table and then left.
"I'll go meet her when I'm done eating." She said to Snape. He nodded and started eating.
'He was waiting for me to start eating… how polite…' she thought, smirking inwardly.
After dinner, Hermione raised and inquired Severus, who was back to his book.
"I'm going to meet the Head Girl, if you'll excuse me." He muttered.
"Of course, Miss Dumbledore." I smiled.
"It's quite alright! You can just call me Christine." She turned and headed to the Gryffindor table, smiling.
"Hello, good evening people." She greeted amiably, trying not to sound like a hyper-happy fool. "Are you Miss Evans, the Head Girl?"
She shut her book and looked at her with her green eyes. 'Harry.' Christine made her best not to stare at her eyes nor at James Potter, who looked pretty much like a brown eyed Harry. Most people in the table were staring. Sirius Black muttered something about "bloody Slytherins, can't trust any of them… keep eyes open."
"I'm Christine. Dumbledore." She shook hands with the Head Girl.
'The House rivalries must be even greater in this time. Lily looks positively shocked.'
"Lily, Lily Evans." She smiled brightly.
"It's a pleasure Miss Evans." She told her to call her Lily. "Now if you'll excuse me I should go. Good night."
"You don't know the way.", she pointed. Hermione smiled.
"It's fine, Lily, Severus will show me the way."
Christine
As I joined Severus and followed him to the Slytherin Common Room, I replayed the last scene in my head. I made quite an impression in both Gryffindors, for the good, and in Slytherins, for the bad – I had just touched a mudblood, in their point of view.
The portrait, Salazar, an early teenager, did not ask us the password, which surprised Snape, and the others as well. I need not say it wasn't the first time I had seen or talked to this particular portrait. He looked at me and frowned teasingly. "Welcome back, Christine." The group started whispering; this portrait was rather strange and different from the others. One of the prefects said he would speak to Dumbledore first thing in the morning.
Once I entered through the portrait hole, together with Severus, Lucius Malfoy, Lestrange and Narcissa Black, I installed myself in a black leather sofa. They introduced themselves and the interrogation then began.
Who was my mother, why had I been on home schooling, why did the portrait not ask me the password… "My mother was married to Aberforth Dumbledore, which should make the Headmaster my uncle. I don't know for sure, since I am not Aberforth's daughter – it was my mother's second marriage. I am ahead of my school work, always have been, so being here now… well I always studied too much for my own good… As for the portrait, I have been here before and he recognised me, that's all. I had long conversations with it and he simply remembered. This has been a long day so I'll just rest for now. Good night." Severus simply watched the flames of the fireplace.
November 25th 1977, Hogwarts, breakfast (early time)
Severus Snape was already at breakfast table when I arrived, as usual, eating his scrambled eggs with bacon. I sat down and prepared myself to tease him a bit. Lily Evans, though, approached me – we were the only ones at the Snake House table.
"Good morning, Christine. How was your night?" I wondered why she had decided to approach now.
"It was fine. Very comfortable quarters. A pity they are located in the under levels and have no windows, but they were still very nice. And how was yours? Would you care to sit down? It's just us." She beamed at this and sat down. Both of us helped ourselves with pumpkin juice and some bread with jam.
"Mr. Snape, I never thought you to be a scrambled eggs person…" I teased him. "You looked more like a toast man."
He bit back a half smile and glared playfully, but changed to a serious expression, and spoke to Lily.
"You should leave Lily, Lupin's already here, the rest of the Marauders should be coming down in no time. We'll see you in Potions."
And so, shortly after, the four Marauders entered, followed by some more members of the Slytherin table and other houses and Severus and I left.
We were near the dungeons already and I decided to ask him,
"Can I call you Severus?" he nodded. "You're a quiet person. Listen, do you know Lily well?"
"Yes." Yes, just that? He was already difficult in his teenage years – fun-bloody-tastic.
"And? Does she date someone?"
"I think she likes Potter." He mumbled angrily.
"But?"
"He annoys her. She says she'll only go out with him when he decides to be less of an obnoxious git towards me. That will be never." His mood apparently improved with this thought.
"Am I a bother?" he seemed pensive for a bit.
"Are you with me out of gratitude?"
"No! Of course not. You're my favourite bat of the dungeons, after all." I smiled, my eyes twinkling. I winked at him playfully.
"People don't really like me. And I don't befriend people just like that." We sat down and started to prepare ourselves for the lesson.
"So I'm a friend of sorts? Oh, Severus, I'm touched!" I smirk and he lifts an eyebrow. "So, the fantastic four make your life hell… This will be an interesting year."
"How come?" I just thought of some pranks I could do once again.
Slughorn had just entered followed suit by other students. We were already sat, side by side, and waited for the lesson to start. The Professor stood in front of me, after chastising Potter and Sirius Black for tardiness.
"Hmm… Miss Dumbledore?" I nodded. "I certainly hope you managed to catch up with your class mates." I nodded and replied I was just fine. "If you don't mind I'll ask you a few questions…"
He then started with simple questions, then harder and harder ones. He made me a few which only Potions Masters would truly know and I still managed to answer. After all, I had learned my Potions for six years and then some more from a very talented Potions Master. The class was astonished and the teacher pleasantly surprised.
"Twenty points to Slytherin. My, my, Miss Dumbledore, and here I was, worried about you!" he laughed and after displaying instructions on the board, we started gathering ingredients and brewing. For a couple of times I managed to avoid our potion from ruin – Padfoot seemed to enjoy destroying Severus' potions. Really, how much more of a child could Sirius be?
The teacher gave us 10 more points for a perfect potion and we left the class shortly after. We had Double Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws next and after lunch we had Defense against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors. We had to work in pairs once again, which changed once. I began with Lucius Malfoy and after him I paired up with Severus – he did not object and we sure gave my old house a run for their money. We did, after all, practise much more than the requested spell – we went all the way. Half the classroom was destroyed after we finished. That earned us both a detention, repair the room and clean the trophy room under Filch's supervision, and I was sent to Dumbledore's office by Floo.
Albus Dumbledore's office
"Hello Albus. I'm sure you already know about the Defence classroom…" Christine grinned sheepishly.
"Yes, that was quite the day, wasn't it?" my eyes surely twinkled. "Though you could have restrained yourself, non?" she snorted.
"Look who's talking. You always restrained yourself in practise, and STILL managed to damage the room, but the description I read on your last battle with Grindylocks was quite the opposite of the fighter you were with me."
"Facing an enemy is always different." I never could hide anything from her. "Already researching the past?"
"I need to find out what happened to Erik, you old man," she teased me "and all I can find is that silly fiction of Leroux. I never ran away with Raoul."
"Yes, one can't say you have."
"I did find Grindy's death suspicious. What is it, Albus, you're hiding from me?" her eyes narrow and then draw into slits.
"You do know its no point dwelling on the past." She growls. "No matter what you do, the outcome will be the same."
"Fine." Christine sighed exasperatedly. "Where is the damn diary?" I turn to a closet and pass her a medium sized trunk. "Here you go."
"Thank you. I can't wait to read them. I'll finally understand who my mother truly was."
"You'll be very surprised then my dear." I chuckle and she frowns.
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Dum dum dum dum…. over 3000 words! Ah! So please… R&R. And do tell me what you think.
Leroux is the author of The Phantom of the Opera