A/N: Sooooo sorry for the delay!!!! Thank you for all your reviews! Here is the new update! Enjoy! :)
That's what happened last time:
Ginny and Harry were sitting in Dumbledore's office, looking slightly tired. "This will be the last time you are going to visit the future! It wasn't changed to the better, I'm afraid. Come and see for yourself."
Ginny and Harry nodded obediently and were minutes later standing in the Great Hall…
On with the story:
"I can't believe that Abraxas Malfoy is the new dark lord!" Ginny hissed into Harry's ear. "Shhht! We will see if that is even correct!" Harry said quietly. "For some reason, I don't think that."
Most of the students were already eating – and to Harry's relief, the Great Hall seemed like the Great Hall in Hogwarts, not Slytherin's order. However, the dining hall was not as occupied as he remembered – some students seemed to be missing. Shaking his head tiredly, he looked down his robes and noticed that he was wearing – again – Slytherin robes. He groaned. "Look what I'm wearing!" he bit out.
Ginny laughed openly. "A Slytherin. AGAIN. Oh Harry…" Ginny flattened her Gryffindor tie and walked up the aisle to the table where Harry was longing to sit.
He slowly made his way to the Slytherin table. Not that this was something new. To his utter shock, Hermione, Pansy, Theodore and Blaise were sitting cosily in a corner, talking animatedly. Harry suddenly felt dread and knew immediately who was missing…. Draco…
Adrian Pucey, Markus Flint and Terence Higgs were sitting in the middle of the table, waving at Harry. Uhm… well… where should he sit now?
"Harry!" Pansy called out to him "come over here… I don't know why you were talking to that Weasley girl so long." Harry groaned inwardly. 'Figures!' he thought.
Nodding, he sat down across Hermione, next to Pansy. "So… where is Draco?" Harry asked as he began ladling mashed potatoes onto his plate. The Slytherins looked at each other, obviously clueless. "Sorry… WHO?" Blaise asked, raising his perfect eyebrows as if Harry was a lunatic.
"Draco… Draco Malfoy!" Harry said unashamedly without shrinking back from Blaise's piercing gaze.
"Who should that be, Harry?" Hermione asked, a sneer on her pretty face. Unfortunately, Harry had never seen a sneer on her face.
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to know as well. You always say what I think, Jones." Theodore smirked.
"Harry…" Hermione tried to put on a consoling face with which she failed terribly. Harry had always known her as the kind and helpful girl, always there for others. This new Hermione was cold and ruthless, a typical Slytherin. "We know you are feeling a bit under the weather. Tough times we are in! But don't forget. You are in Slytherin! Nothing can happen to you!"
Harry suddenly felt very sick. Okay, Draco Malfoy didn't exist. And ice-queen Hermione was still adopted by Hestia Jones. But Tough times? And being in Slytherin meant being alive? What other surprises were awaiting them?
"So, where are you going for your summer internships?" Hermione asked everyone in a more cheerful tone, ignoring Harry's pale face completely. "Well –St. Mungos, of course. In the department for Magical Maladies and injuries." Theodore explained. "And I'm going to work in the ministry – at the front desk." Pansy smirked. "You know, my father has the perfect connections."
"I will be a bit preoccupied with my photoshoots and other shows. What are you going to do, Hermione?" Blaise said, slicking back his hair with his hand.
"I'm going to work in Gringotts. The torture of arithmancy has finally paid off." Hermione grinned.
Harry was being left out, but he didn't care. That gave him time to think.
Meanwhile, Ginny was sitting at the Gryffindor table, squashed between a shrieking Padma Patil – (not Parvati – who was at the Ravenclaw table) and a babbling Cho Chang. She mentally rolled her eyes after another episode of giggling.
"I'm surprised your mother let you go to school." Cho said, shaking her head at Padma. "I've always thought she was dead-scared of You-Know-Who!"
Ginny perked her ears, forgetting to chew for a moment. That was going to be interesting! But who was You-Know-Who? "Really, your mum wouldn't let you go?" Ginny acted surprised.
"Yes, my mother is indeed very concerned." Padma answered her sadly. "But she thinks that Hogwarts is the safest place."
Cho nodded in agreement. "That's what my parents think too. However, it's always riskier, NOT being in Slytherin these times."
Padma's eyes went wide. "No thank you! If the hat had sorted me into Slytherin, I would have taken the next train home. Believe me." Cho and Padma started laughing loudly.
Suddenly, Ginny caught a whiff of expensive cologne. "Hi ladies." a charming voice greeted them. Ginny and Cho smiled, Padma blushed profusely.
"Hi Cedric." the three of them chorused.
Cedric grinned and took a seat in front of them. "So, how's it going?"
"Not bad not bad." Ginny smiled back. "What about you?"
"Very well." he gave Ginny a pronounced smile and Cho giggled. "By the way, tell us, WHY are you sitting at the Gryffindor table?" Cho asked, quirking an eyebrow lasciviously.
"Because I needed to talk to you, Cho." Cedric suddenly went pretty red and Cho mirrored his expression. "Oh, really?" she asked flustered.
"You know there is a Hogsmeade weekend coming up… and well, would you like to go with me?" Cedric asked her. Cho tried hard not to squeal or giggle.
"Yes, I'd love to." she answered in a semi-steady voice.
"That's settled then. See you in class. See you ladies." Cedric winked at them and sauntered off.
"Ooooooh, you are soooo lucky!" Padma gushed and Ginny had to agree with her. Wholeheartedly.
"I suppose, you are going with Dean, Ginny. As usual, right?" Cho asked, trying to steer the conversation away from her.
Ginny was about to answer, when someone she hadn't seen for ages walked up. "Ginny, there you are! I've been looking for you for ages!" Ron said, plopping down in the seat between Padma and her. Although Ginny was immensely pleased to see him, she couldn't refrain from scolding him.
"Ron! Padma and I were talking and you are sitting between us!" Ginny reprimanded him, holding up a warning finger.
"It doesn't matter!" Ron said, already chewing potatoes, taking out his newspaper.
"What's that?"
"The Daily Prophet, Ginny!" Ron rolled his eyes, scanning the first page hastily. "Lots of rubbish."
Ginny was surprised. Since when did Ron read the Daily prophet? That was usually something, other people, people like Hermione did. "Ron, can I have the copy?"
"Since when do you read the Daily Prophet?" Ron was so surprised he even stopped chewing for a second.
"Just like to browse through." Ginny gave him her best smile.
Ron shrugged and continued eating when Ginny took the newspaper gingerly. She flipped open the first page – and started.
Abraxas Malfoy was smirking from the top page. Well, a very old and frightening Abraxas Malfoy – but it was HIM nevertheless. To her horror, his eyes were blood red. The headline confirmed Ginny's worst fears: "Malfoy was sighted! Resources claim that he is currently hiding in Romania."
Ron who was reading over Ginny's shoulder, gasped wide-eyed. "Romania? You-Know-Who's in Romania? That's where Charlie is working!" he looked at Ginny panicky. "Oh dear." Ginny mumbled. Abraxas Malfoy was clearly the next Dark Lord. Bravo! Hadn't the four time-travellers changed anything to the better?
"Harry!" Ginny called out when most of the students were leaving the Great Hall.
"Ginny!" Harry said cautiously.
"We have to talk! Alone. I've got loads to tell you!" Ginny moaned.
"See you at quidditch practice, Potter. It's at eight o clock tonight." Flint smirked and handed Harry the firebolt. "I've had it examined and it is fine." Harry nodded and thanked him politely and as an answer Flint grinned and walked by, flanked by Adrian and Terence.
Ginny smiled and when they were out of earshot, she laughed quietly. "On the quidditch team again, Harry? Am I surprised? But now, to the point."
Ginny lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Abraxas Malfoy is You-Know-Who. It's in the Daily Prophet I got from Ron. You-Know-Who is currently in Romania. Some parents – like the Patils didn't want their children to go to Hogwarts even."
Harry's eyes went wide, but he nodded. He had thought this much. "The Slytherins told me that we, the Slytherins are safe. Hermione is still a Jones, and a conceited one at that. And Draco doesn't exist." Although Harry used to hate Draco, he had grown to quite "tolerate" his classmate. He didn't want him non-existent though.
"Harry…" an ice-cold voice said warningly and Harry and Ginny turned around at the same time. Hermione, Pansy and Blaise were standing in front of them, glaring at the red-head. Hermione still looked like Hermione, though the sparkle in her eyes was lost and she seemed to have adopted a cold, cruel aura. "Yes, Hermione?" Harry asked as politely as he could. "I want you to practice well tonight. Tomorrow is our game against the lions. We have to win. It all depends on you."
Since when was Hermione a quidditch-freak?
Harry smirked slightly – he knew how the minds of Slytherins worked.
"Don't worry, Hermione. The cup is in the bag. We're going to win tomorrow." Harry said off-handed.
Hermione pulled her face into something that should have looked like a smile, but was stretched into something that resembled a grotesque mask. "Very well. I'll count on you."
"Urrggghh…" Ginny rubbed her temple when the Slytherin-trio was gone. "We have to find Dumbledore. As soon as possible. We have to change our strategy."
"But what can we do? If there isn't this Dark Lord, then it's another." Harry said dismissively.
"Mister Potter." a tired voice greeted. "Shouldn't you be in quidditch practice? I heard that the Slytherins are quite determined to win the cup before the Gryffindors. I suppose they need you." Dumbledore smiled.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry's voice showed pure relief. "We need to talk to you urgently."
"Very well." Dumbledore smiled knowingly and nonverbally did a spell so that the others couldn't hear them. "What is it?"
Ginny recapitulated their story and Harry filled the blanks. Not even five minutes later, Dumbledore was in the picture.
"I'm glad that you have finally found me." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "The answer is clear. Miss Granger has to stay in the past – so does Mr. Malfoy, I'm afraid. By staying in the past, Miss Granger can raise her child and help the original Dark Wizard not become Dark. And by letting Mr. Malfoy stay there as well – he can tell his grandfather who he really is and help him to NOT become the Dark wizard either. Besides, Draco Malfoy can survive."
Harry and Ginny were stunned. "Headmaster…" Ginny said slowly. "I think that makes sense. Perfect sense." she and Harry looked smiling at each other.
"But now off you go, Mr. Potter. Quidditch practice has already started." and with that Dumbledore bade them good evening.
"Harry, this is it!" Ginny was happy and had tears of relief in her eyes. "But now you have to go to quidditch practice. You don't want to keep the snakes waiting. Besides, we still have 15 minutes left."
Grumbling, Harry waved his wand so that he was temporarily wearing the Slytherin quidditch uniform. "See you in the past!" Ginny smiled and kissed him on his cheek.
Harry hurriedly made his way to the cold quidditch pitch, where the team was already practicing. He hadn't played quidditch for quite a long time, after all. "What took you so long, Potter?" Montague called out, earning whispers and jeers from his team-mates. "We've been practicing for at least 10 minutes."
"I had a meeting with Dumbledore." Harry said.
"With Dumbledore? Why that old fool?" Flint asked, furrowing his brows.
"He needed to talk to me about an assignment. Nothing important." Harry waved it off. "But I'm here now."
"Well, that's good. We will be passing the quaffle between each other." Flint explained and Harry nodded.
He mounted his broom and rose up in the air, where Adrian was passing the quaffle to Flint. Harry couldn't believe it. He was a Slytherin again – and by the looks of it a very popular one. Quidditch player, seeker of course, and admired by almost everyone, especially Pansy. Not that that counted for anything.
"Here, catch!" Adrian called out, sharply passing the quaffle towards Harry.
Harry caught it in his fingertips and passed it on towards Montague. It still felt strange playing with the Slytherins, but Harry had to admit that he quite liked it.
"Now, we're going to race from this end of the pitch to the other!" Flint told them and Harry smiled. Yay! They had never done that in Gryffindor.
"Aww come on, Flint!" Adrian called out. "What good does this do? We should refine our strategy."
"Adrian!" Flint was getting irritated. "I am the captain! And we have to practice everything. Besides, we will refine strategy later this evening. We have to practice until it's dark. We are playing Gryffindor tomorrow. Wood has put together a great team, I have to admit. But I know one thing: WE are going to win!"
Adrian grudgingly accepted the situation and placed himself next to Harry.
The other boys also got themselves in one line. This was an interesting quidditch strategy.
Before Harry could dwell on that any longer, he felt a pull behind his navel and in an instant was in the past again. He was still wearing his Slytherin quidditch uniform as he took a seat in Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore looked at his two students again, his eyes twinkling. "I suppose, you know what to do?"
Harry and Ginny nodded mutely. "But we don't like the idea." Ginny said sadly.
"But this is the only solution. Otherwise you see what the future will become." Dumbledore explained. Ginny and Harry hung their heads.
"But professor," Harry suddenly said, smoothing out his green Slytherin robes and grinning wickedly. "If the two of them stay here, then the future will be changed again. To the better probably, but won't we be changed as well?"
Dumbledore smiled. "If you are referring to the fact that you have been placed in Slytherin for quite an amount of time, then yes, the future AND your lives are changed. Though I can't tell you, IF you will be placed in Slytherin or Gryffindor."
Harry grinned. "Well, of course I will be in Gryffindor. It's crystal clear to me."
"Miss Weasley, I guess, you know what you have to do." Dumbledore told her urgently and Ginny nodded. Yeah, she knew what they had to do. Convince Hermione and Draco to stay in the past. Wonderful. But how could they do it?
THTHTH
Hermione and Draco were sitting on the sofa in front of the crackling fire in the Room of Requirement. Draco had slung his arm casually around the top of the sofa. To Harry's and Ginny's surprise, both of them jerked when they entered the room.
"Hey!" Harry said uneasily sitting down on the chair next to Hermione. Hermione and Draco noticed with apprehension that he kept looking on the floor. Ginny also seemed very subdued and avoided looking at Draco and Hermione.
"How was the meeting with Dumbledore?" Draco's voice was guarded and low.
Ginny shrugged. "Harry, you tell them."
"Why me?!? You heard as much as I did!" Harry defended himself.
"Well good – chicken out… honestly… guys…" Ginny groaned. "Well, okay, here is it. Hermione, Draco – you have to stay here!"
WHAT?!?
The story was told in 10 minutes, though Hermione and Draco were unconvinced.
"But do we have a say in that? Yes, I think we do! So maybe my grandfather is the new dark lord then, who cares?" Draco slumped back in his chair.
"Because you won't exist then!" Harry spat.
Draco glared but looked at Hermione imploringly. "You can't seriously WANT to stay here?!?"
"I think this is the only way." Hermione said timidly. Besides, she didn't really mind staying here, because here was her big love.
"We signed up to change the future and NOT stay in the past!" Draco growled out. "Look, no more discussion. I won't stay here. My family and friends are in the future! You can't keep me from coming back home, Potter!" And with that he exited the common room without even looking back.
"How can we possibly convince him?" Ginny asked. She was nervously chewing on her nails and shooting concerned glances at Hermione.
"I think he's right. You can't stop anyone from going home." Hermione said quietly. "Although we have to somehow make him WANT to stay here."
"How is that possible?" Ginny asked sceptically.
"I don't know yet, but I'll think of a way!"
THTHTH
Dumbledore was sitting in his office, his forehead in a deep frown, his face sombre and disappointed. Abraxas Malfoy's sneering face was as clear as ever in the crystal ball.
THTHTH
Hermione arrived in the head boy dorm 10 minutes later. "Tom? Tom!" she called out and her heart almost stopped when he emerged tousled and wet, with only a towel slung across his waist. "Here I am!" he grinned, throwing the towel in her direction.
"Hey! Put something on." Hermione pretended to shield her eyes, grinning broadly.
"I know that you're looking." Tom said lazily, accioing back his towel. "But I can't blame you. It must be a wonderful sight."
Hermione stuck out her tongue and giggled. "What are you exactly planning, Tom?" Hermione asked jokingly seductively.
"You'll see. You'll see." Tom picked her up bridal style and carried her to his room. "But I know one thing. You'll like it." he smirked and kissed her passionately. "A lot."
Some hours later, Hermione lay awake in Tom's bed, his arm slung possessively around her, pulling her closer. He was obviously fast asleep, snoring slightly. Hermione inwardly groaned. What should they do? She didn't exactly want to stay here either. What about her family and friends in the future?
She glanced at Tom, whose face was chiselled, carved out as if it were marble, his mouth slightly open and a lock of dark hair hanging into his face. He looked lovely, like a sleeping angel. Hermione smiled. No, she couldn't leave him. Besides, he was the father of her baby. Of their baby.
With a last glance at Tom, she finally fell asleep, having made the decision to stay in the 40s with Tom.
Draco, however, had much more difficulties. Yeah, of course. It was easy for Potter. He could go back to the future. How dare he! He glanced over to the bed where another Slytherin was slightly snoring. It was impossible! He could not stay here. Draco Malfoy belonged to the future. Not here, where his grandfather was his age or another Almost-Dark-Lord was getting chummy with the girl he loved.
Draco rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Why did Hermione fall for HIM of all people? He had never expected HER to fall for the Dark Lord. HER! Had she already told him that she was actually a mudblood? He smiled grimly. Maybe he should let it slip.
No, that would be too dangerous for her.
How could he convince them that he also wants to go back to the future? Maybe he should talk to Dumbledore. That's a good idea. With a last sigh, Draco Malfoy fell into a fitful sleep.
The morning came, grey and cold. Not a good sign. Hermione shivered and pulled on her uniform, careful not to wake Tom. However, Tom yawned loudly when Hermione brushed her hair in front of the mirror.
"Already up so early? Come back to bed!" Tom rubbed his eyes gingerly and looked at his girlfriend. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I am. Sleep on, Tom." Hermione smiled at him.
"Why aren't you coming back to bed?"
"I have to talk to Sarah Clearwater about something. See you later!" Hermione gave him a loud kiss and departed at full speed towards the dungeons.
She had to see Draco urgently. He couldn't ruin their future! She wouldn't allow that!
Well – now Hermione Jane Granger was facing a problem. 'Where is the stupid Slytherin common room? Not that anyone wants to go there anyway, but WHERE is it?' Hermione thought, wandering through the cold halls, shivering from cold and anger. Not many students were already awake, and those who were, seemed to be from anything but Slytherin.
Groaning loudly, she turned around the corner to the potions classroom. Bingo. She had crossed this room three times now. "Miss Karkarova!" a jovial voice boomed from behind her and Hermione turned around startled.
"Professor Slughorn, sorry." Hermione blushed scarlet. What would he want?
"Are you looking for something? You've been strolling through the halls in the past ten minutes." Slughorn said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry. I was actually looking for Maxim. And the Slytherin common room is quite hard to find." Hermione amended.
"Of course it is. It shouldn't be found by other houses." Slughorn explained to her the way and now Hermione was faced with a different dilemma. How was she supposed to get inside the stupid common room? She didn't even have the password!
Angrily, she glared up at the stone wall, engraved with snakes.
Not even a minute later, the stone wall opened, revealing none other than Abraxas Malfoy. "Hi!" Hermione said from the dark corner, obviously startling Abraxas.
"Natalija! You gave me a heart attack!" Abraxas said, clutching his heart, although smirking broadly.
"I'm sorry, Abraxas." Hermione smiled.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, raising a perfect eyebrow.
"I was looking for your twin." Hermione said, smirking a bit herself. 'This isn't called backstabbing, Hermione. This is helping Draco to make his decision easier.' Hermione thought, a brilliant plan forming in her mind.
"My twin." Abraxas said without any emotions. "What do you want to implore with that?"
"I've noticed – and so have many others – that he looks a lot like you." Hermione went on. "One could even say that you could be related."
"No, Natalija. I've checked my family tree and talked to my relatives. I don't have any family in the East." Abraxas said, shrugging.
"Maybe you are related in a different way. What do you think of him, Abraxas?"
Abraxas just stared. He had no answer to that. Or did he? "Well, I see him as my son sometimes. I know it sounds strange, but he has started to grow on me. Maxim is very important to me."
Now it was Hermione's turn to stare. "WHAT?"
Abraxas laughed. "Not in that kind of way. I like women! But in a kind of fatherly way." Abraxas explained and even Hermione laughed a bit.
"You know, before I came here – to Hogwarts, I mean – I read all kind of books in order to integrate myself better and know a bit about your culture. I also know about the Malfoy's. They say that their family is the MOST IMPORTANT." Hermione said, reciting something Draco had told her in the room of requirement.
"This is correct. We value our family more than anything else." Abraxas said proudly.
'Sounds like a Hufflepuff, but oh well.' Hermione thought smirking.
"Abraxas, I haven't known Maxim for a long time, actually. We aren't even friends –" Hermione begun but was interrupted by Abraxas.
"Yes, I know, you are more than friends. He cares for you very very much!"
Hermione's face suddenly started to flush and she was thrown off course. "But – WHAAAAT?"
"Don't you notice that, Natalija? He gives you more than obvious signs."
"But I'm with Tom." Hermione justified herself. No, that conversation was clearly going the wrong way.
"Tom might be better for you anyway." Abraxas said slowly.
"Look, what I wanted to say is that Maxim and I – " but at that moment the door of the Slytherin wall banged open and another Slytherin emerged.