Chapter 1—Tria
It seemed that no matter how many times Tria visited the Hogwarts library, she would always find a new section. The library's twisting passages and mysterious corners, all filled with novels and tomes and encyclopedias on every subject imaginable, were a maze she never tired of searching. Some sections were brightly lit and open, and these usually carried the books about charms for getting rid of pimples and hiccups, the cheery and helpful books that students used to find out exactly what moonstone's use in potion making was. Then there were the darker sections, filled with enchantments, spells, and jinxes for pain and bewitchment and deception. The students found here were sixth and seventh years, and of course the occasional second year needing to find the recipe for Polyjuice Potion in order to crack the mystery of the Heir of Slytherin.
But Tria's favorite places in the library were the narrow, twisting, and dimly lit passages that barely had enough room for the books that were jam packed into their shelves. There was usually and delicious treat for her hungry mind here, books on the most unusual spells, potions she had never dreamed of, charms and jinxes that baffled the mind. There were books of fiction, novels not studied by Hogwarts students, with stories that would entertain Tria for hours. To this day, her favorite novel was one by Ophelia Druid, and it told a richer, fuller version of Beedle the Bard's The Fountain of Fair Fortune. The story expanded on the journey to the fountain, and gave Asha, Amata, Altheda, and Sir Luckless full and eloquent back stories. Also found in these mysterious sections of the library were histories full of wars and battles and political scandals that showed that History of Magic was not as boring as Professor Binns made it seem. Tria soaked up the elaborate history of witches and wizards and other magical creatures in Europe, and even read on the histories of other continents, the Americas, Africa, Asia, India, and the Middle East.
And so it was that she wandered away from Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they searched for books on Potions, Herbology, Charms, and whatever else they were looking for in search of something that was interesting. She twiddled her pencil in one hand as she walked and in the other she fingered her necklace. And as usual she found herself in a place that was completely foreign. As she ran her fingers along the spines of the books, glancing at the titles, she thought to herself that this section did indeed look very promising.
Understanding the Legends of King Arthur
The title caught her eye. King Arthur and the Camelot legends were something that she had never seen in the library before, nor heard it mentioned in History of Magic, though she was vaguely familiar with some of the tales. She picked it up, and began the introduction.
Through history there have been many stories of the great King of Camelot, who united the land of Albion with the help of his sister, the Princess Celeste. This tome attempts to find the connections between the varying tales and understand…
No, that wouldn't do at all. She placed the book back where she had taken it from and was about to pull out another when a voice cut through the silence.
"What're you doing back here?"
The voice of Malfoy turned Tria's head towards him.
"Browsing," she said, giving him a disdainful glare. Malfoy was leaning up against the shelf, blonde hair glinting in the dim light of the library lamps. "As I recall, I'm allowed to do that."
"Never said you weren't," Malfoy said, turning to pull a book from the shelves. Tria recognized it instantly. The book detailed the history of how the magical community influenced the Muggle politics of the Middle Ages. The nonfiction narrative read like a storybook, and Tria loved it.
"That's a good one," she blurted out. Instantly regretting and embarrassed by her outburst, she fiddled her necklace even more.
Malfoy glanced up at her. "Yeah, I know. I've read it. Three times, actually."
"I've read it five. I love it."
"Seriously? So you like history?"
Tria nodded. "I just like books. And history too."
Malfoy nodded. "Me too. Hate Binns, but I love the subject."
Tria gave no response, instead she turned away to see the next book on the shelf.
Celeste Pendragon
That looked interesting. Tria had always been a great admirer of the Warrior Princess of Camelot.
The Bane of King Cenred. She Who Has Slain a Thousand Foes. The Warrior Princess. All names for one who stood behind the scenes during Camelot's Golden Age, ruling from behind the throne with her brother, the great King Arthur. Many tales tell of Celeste as a Warrior Princess, greater than any of the knights in the realm. Others tell of a mild maiden, fair as the summer, who bewitched the heart of many a knight. Trying to sort through all the tales of Celeste Pendragon is a daunting task, but here they have all been condensed into one tale, of the most accuracy possible.
Tria kept that book with her, still fiddling with her necklace after she tucked the pencil behind her ear.
"Try this one." Tria had not heard Malfoy come over. "Every legend Camelot has to offer." He handed over a massive volume entitled The Complete Legends of Camelot.
This book was huge, Tria realized as accepted it from him. It had to contain every single legend of Camelot ever written!
"Thanks," she said, only remembering her manners at the last minute.
She flipped through it absentmindedly, but as she did, something fell out with a flash of gold.
"What's that?" Malfoy asked as he and Tria both bent down to examine the gold object.
"Time turner!" she said breathlessly.
"In Hogwarts?" Malfoy sounded both skeptical and amazed.
"I thought they were all destroyed in the battle of the Department of Mysteries last year, but it looks like some student from long ago hid one here, probably to avoid getting in trouble for it," Tria said.
She picked it up. "I'm gonna show it to the other three."
Malfoy too stood up. "And I am going to head back to my common room."
But as Tria and Malfoy walked back to the main area of the library, books forgotten, she spun the time turner absentmindedly.
She looked at the rapidly spinning time turner, realizing immediately what she'd done.
Shit, she thought.
"What did you just do, Tria!?" Malfoy exclaimed.
"Damn it," she swore, "why do I always have to play around with things?" She had been doing it for as long as she could remember; a quill, necklaces, no small object in Tria's hands was safe from her twitching fingers.
But this time it was actually going to cause some trouble.
Shit, she thought again.
And then she and Malfoy were no longer standing in Hogwarts.