Disclaimer: Nope...Harry Potter is still not mine.

Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews everyone! I hope this chapter lives up to everyone's expectation and make sure you let me know if it does or not! R&R, thank you! :)

Chapter 2

It was like déjà vu. Yet, again the three left the Common Room, perhaps not the same one as the previous day, but nevertheless, it was the second time they were experiencing the second day of attending Hogwarts in the last twenty-four hours. However, they were entirely on time today, eager to leave the dungeons, and pick up their schedules from Professor Dumbledore.

As they turned the corner to Dumbledore's office, they suddenly collided with another group, and books went flying in all directions. The other group appeared to be three Gryffindor girls and a boy, all of whom were now scrambling to pick up their belongings while apologizing. The first one up Harry immediately recognized as the Head Girl, Liz Potter.

"We're so sorry," started the shortest girl. She had long, light brown hair and seemed vaguely familiar.

"Psh, stop apologizing, Mary," said the boy who had inconspicuous red hair and freckles. Ron's jaw dropped for he seemed to have reached the same conclusion Harry had: He was a Weasley, "They're just Slytherins, bound to probably insult us for ruining their oh-so-perfect strides."

"Stop it, Rupert," said Liz, "You three are new aren't you? I saw you sitting with To…The other Slytherins."

"Yes, we're transfer students," said Hermione, "And we're sorry for not paying attention. We were on our way to Professor Dumbledore's office to pick up our schedules."

"Oh, well, sorry I said something," said Rupert, "It's just Slytherins have a certain reputation around here. I didn't realize you three were new. I don't pay much attention to the slimy snakes slithering around these halls."

"We've noticed they're a bit…" started Hermione.

"Annoying?" chimed in the tallest girl with a tight black bun and a stern expression.

"Rude?"

"Egotistical?"

"Evil?" The four had answered all in rapid fire as though planning the attack from the start of the conversation. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all laughed. Harry suddenly felt a great deal of fondness for the four.

"Anyway, we have to get to the Great Hall," said Liz, "It was a pleasure meeting you, and don't let those Slytherins corrupt you guys. You actually seem nice." The three laughed and said goodbye as they walked around the corner, coincidentally spotting Dumbledore coming toward them.

"Ah, just the three I was looking for," smiled Dumbledore.

"Hello, Professor, we were headed to pick up our schedules," said Hermione.

"Of course, I have them here," he spoke as he handed each of them a sheet of paper, "I trust you will find them thoroughly challenging and enriching, and I expect to see you first thing this morning in my classroom."

"Thank you, Professor," said the three as he nodded and headed off toward the Great Hall whistling quietly to himself.

"Looks like its certainly challenging alright," said Ron tugging at his collar with anxiety.

"Oh come on, Ron," said Hermione, "It's not much different from the schedule we had in…well…1996."

"Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, History of Magic (at this Harry groaned), Herbology, Astrology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts," moaned Ron.

"Oh shut up, Ron, it's not that bad," muttered Hermione, rolling her eyes and heading toward the Great Hall.

"Oh, come on, Hermione, just because you can handle all the workload, doesn't mean Harry and I can," said Ron.

The bickering between the two didn't cease the whole way to the Great Hall, but Harry's mind was preoccupied. In the last twenty four hours, he'd been transported back in time, became reunited with his former headmaster whose death he'd only just come to terms with, met the teenage Lord Voldemort, and came into contact with some distant relative as well as many of the relatives of his former peers. Everything that had happened within the last day was enough to push him on the edge of a psychological breakdown, and Harry had a strange feeling that the rest of the year was going to be just as strange and unreal. However, Harry was interrupted from his reverie as soon as they entered the Great Hall.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione!" Malfoy was waving to them from across the Hall from the Slytherin table. Next to him was Eve, and next to her sat the two boys who had been coaching the chess match from last night. Riddle was seated across from Eve.

"Good morning!" said Malfoy, as the three sat down nervously as the only open spot was next to Riddle, "I don't believe you three have met Collin Lestrange and Richard Crabbe. This is Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They are transfer students."

"Hello," grunted Crabbe.

"What the hell is that on your head?" asked Lestrange, rather rudely. He was staring at Harry, who gave him a puzzled look.

"That was the result of a dragon attack several years ago. Harry got in a bit of a predicament with a Hungarian Horntail. Luckily, only the tail grazed his forehead and he ended up with a lightening bolt shaped scar," piped up Hermione, as though she had had this story brewing in her mind since their arrival yesterday.

"What were you doing near a Horntail?" asked Crabbe, the same dumbfounded face of his future generation. Before, Hermione chimed in yet again, Malfoy answered.

"Their parents are dragon trainers, Crabbe. Sorry for Lestrange's rudeness!" he said, shaking his head in disgust, as though his inquisition was far too personal. Harry just nodded, his heart still pounding as Riddle continued to stare at his scar, his face not revealing his thoughts on the small lightening bolt.

"Anyway, we'd thought you'd gotten lost," smiled Eve.

"Oh no, we had to see Professor Dumbledore. He was in charge of preparing our schedules. We kind of came in on late notice," explained Hermione.

"The last thing I want is to see Dumbledore first thing in the morning," said Tom, "But, regrettably, Transfiguration is a necessity."

"I assume you three will be joining us for Transfiguration?" asked Malfoy.

"Yeah," responded Harry, "Perhaps you can show us where it is?"

"My pleasure," responded Abraxas. However, he was preoccupied with Eve, gently putting a loose curl behind her ears. Harry suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, knowing full well her smiling face was entirely a lie. Riddle, however, didn't seem to notice the gesture of affection between the two, let alone care. The owl post had arrived, and he was reading The Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow.

"He's an idiot," he finally said throwing down the paper.

"Hm?" said Malfoy, picking up the paper.

"Grindelwald," said Tom, "He's a fool."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" asked Eve.

"He's attacking the Muggles in Scotland."

"So?"

"It's a stupid move. It's foolish to begin with the Muggles. I thought I made that point clear," explained Tom, "He doesn't have nearly a strong enough support system yet to go directly to the Muggles. I understand his ideology and I can't say I disagree. However, his methods are pathetic."

"What would you suggest?"

"I suggest he appeal to the purebloods and target the Mudbloods. His forces would be stronger if he had a large group with a similar ideology to rally with him. Rather, he has a small support system and has rushed right into his plan of action. Not to mention, by attacking the Muggles, he's only threatening the wizarding population as a whole who are dedicated to secrecy, thus turning purebloods and Mudbloods alike against him."

"Perhaps you should owl him with these thoughts?" laughed Malfoy.

Tom merely smiled in response and pulled out a pocket watch.

"Might as well get Transfiguration over with," said Tom, rising. The others nodded in agreement and stood with Riddle. Of course, the trio followed their lead and walked with the group toward what used to be or, rather, would eventually be, Professor McGonagall's classroom.

The three entered the classroom that almost identically matched the classroom more than fifty years in the future. The only variance seemed to be the bowl of Berty Botts Every Flavor Beans upon the professor's desk and, of course, the Professor. Various students had already taken their seats, including Rupert Weasley, Liz Potter, and the other two girls from their encounter earlier that morning. They gave them a small smile and Harry was tempted to sit by them, however the group of Slytherins had chosen seats closer to the back of the classroom and Harry determined that it was more beneficial to sit closer to them seeing as Malfoy, especially, was readily assimilating the three into their group.

Dumbledore stood at the front of the classroom, and made a polite 'ahem', signaling he was ready to start the class.

"Good morning, my students, I trust all of you had engaging and productive summers," smiled Dumbledore, eyes twinkling, "However, I am happy to see you all here in front of me whole and healthy, especially in these trying times." Many students began to whisper at this comment and Harry overheard words such as "Scotland" and "Grindelwald."

"Now, now, students, let us not start off on such a solemn note, rather, I feel as though we could us a bit of cheering up, and what better way to cheer a person up than a bit of chocolate" said Dumbledore, "This morning, all of you will receive a mundane object, a quill, a book, perhaps a sock. Within the next ten minutes, though, I expect to see a bar of chocolate upon your desks." Several of the students began talking excitedly at the prospect of creating candy, while Dumbledore passed out everyday items.

"Of course, at the N.E.W.T. level, I must add a twist. It may perhaps be easy to transfigure an object, however, I am under the impression some of you have yet to master nonverbal spells, so, of course, I do not want to hear a word as you attempt this task. Similarly, I also expect that after you have completed this task, you write me a brief explanation on why I am not having you merely conjure up a chocolate bar out of thin air. You may begin."
Soon the classroom filled with bright red faces and the low whispering of frustrated students trying to coax their object into changing its form. Harry glanced around at the other students. Just like Harry's desk, the majority of the students' still displayed quills and parchment, rather than the brown, melty candy. However, two chairs next to Harry sat Tom Riddle, who was casually writing the explanation Dumbledore had requested after transforming his object in less than a minute. Hermione, who was next to Harry, had transfigured her chocolate as well, but it seemed to lack the perfect symmetry of Riddle's bar. Ron, conversely, had turned bright pink as he attempted to perform the nonverbal spell and looked as though he may faint.

After ten minutes, Dumbledore asked the students to cease their attempts, and began walking around, collecting papers and examining all of their jobs. The rest of the class proceeded with a discussion of the fundamental magical theory of transfiguring items into edible substances, a topic that normally would have bored Harry to sleep, but with Dumbledore teaching, Harry couldn't have stopped paying attention if he had tried. Not to mention, he was learning quickly and enjoying the connections he was making to the people in the room and who they were related to in Harry's time. Harry soon learned that the Gryffindor girl with light brown who he had collided with earlier was a Longbottom, and in the class was also a Bones, Diggory, Chang, and even a Lupin. Perhaps the most intriguing to Harry was those he already knew in his present. Within the room was Alastor Moody and Madame Pomfrey. Harry received a jolt of excitement when he found that the Gryffindor girl with the tight black bun and stern face was none other than Professor McGonagall.

The class soon ended, however, and Harry felt as though he had learned nothing, spending so much time observing the nuances of all his future acquaintances and their relatives. After Dumbledore dismissed them, Harry gathered with the other Syltherins outside the classroom who preceded to complain about the amount of homework Dumbledore had assigned them.

"Three chapters? I don't have time for that shit," whined Eve, who stood against the wall picking at her fingernails.

"I agree, darling, it's completely ridiculous," said Malfoy. However, just as Eve opened her mouth to respond, the group of Gryffindor girls and Rupert exited the classroom and turned toward their right. Suddenly distracted, Eve stared in their direction for a second before speaking.

"Hey, Potter!" she yelled down the corridor, walking in Liz's direction. The rest of the group followed her, however, Tom seemed to hover near the back. The girls turned around to face Eve immediately, while Liz stood for a moment, apparently composing herself, before turning around to face her Slytherin enemy.

"What, Eve?" she asked coldly.

"I just wanted to let you know you looked so much prettier with the baby bump." Everyone around them who had just exited the class went silent, suddenly paying attention as though a fight to the death was inevitably going to occur. Harry's stomach flipped. Baby bump?

Liz stood completely still, emotionless, for nearly a minute before responding, while Eve smiled at her, daring her to strike back.

"You have no right to mention that."

"What? Don't want everyone to realize how much of slut you are? It's about time someone mentioned it."

"Cut it out, Eve." Tom Riddle's voice rang over the crowd and people moved out of his way as he stepped toward them.

Immediately, whispers spread around the circle at his appearance.

"Stay the fuck out of this, Riddle," yelled Liz. Everyone went dead silent again, as Tom stood just staring at her, his face completely unreadable. It seemed as though his sudden involvement struck some sort of nerve with her for her hands began to shake and tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Don't talk to him like that, whore, it's not his fault you were such a mistake," snarled Eve.

"You know what, Eve, I had enough of this bullshit," screamed Liz, pulling out her wand, "You seem to be incredibly mistaken about the definition of the word 'whore', and perhaps I should give you a bit of a lesson on vocabulary. Yes, I got pregnant last year, and yes, I eventually lost that child, but you know what, I knew who the father of the baby was, I may have regretted it, but I knew full well the asshole who got me pregnant," the whole time her eyes never left Tom's who stood over Eve's shoulders as she spoke, even though her speech was directed at Eve, "However, if you were to get pregnant, you wouldn't have a clue who the father was, and quite frankly I think that qualifies you as more of a whore than myself."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, bitch?" yelled Eve, suddenly switching from an air of superiority to enraged anxiety.

"Liz," said Tom in a threatening tone.

" Why don't we ask your 'fiancée', hmm? Whose bed did she sleep in last night, Malfoy? Was it your's?" asked Liz, neglecting Tom's warning completely.

"No. I imagine her own," said Malfoy slowly, "What are you getting at?"

"Ha! It's pathetic how clueless you really are, Malfoy," laughed Liz mockingly, "I recommend you ask her. I bet you ten Gallons she'll answer the Head Boys' room." Immediately, there was a jet of light speeding at Liz and everyone screamed. She immediately deflected the spell, and pointed her wand at Eve, "Go ahead, bitch, try to curse me."

Eve begin shooting every curse she could think of at Liz who deflected them all easily causing the crowd to dissipate in order to avoid being cursed themselves. However, before Liz could shot a counter curse at her enemy, both of their wands flew into the air and landed in the hands of one Albus Dumbledore.

"What is the meaning of this, ladies?" asked Dumbledore, frowning.

"I was merely defending myself, Professor," replied Liz.

"She insulted me, Professor!" yelled Eve, bright red with rage.

"That is no reason to duel, and I know both of you are familiar with that rule," said Dumbledore, scanning the crowd, "I am very disappointing with the both of you, especially you, Liz, being Head Girl. You're above this sort of behavior."

"I'm sorry, Professor," replied Liz, looking increasingly more distraught.

"Riddle, why didn't you stop this? As Head Boy, this conflict should not have occurred."

"I beg your pardon, Professor, but I fear, based on the impetus of the conflict, my involvement would have only exacerbated the situation," spoke Tom coolly. Dumbledore looked at him for a moment, considering his statement, before turning around to the girls again.

"I'm afraid this will have to end with detentions, ladies," said Dumbledore solemnly, "If you'll please join me in my office." Dumbledore turned around and headed down the corridor with the two girls following. The crowd began to clear now that the excitement had ceased, leaving the trio, Malfoy, Nott, Lestrange, and Riddle standing alone in the corridor, all silent.

"Is it true, Tom?" asked Malfoy, suddenly breaking the silence.

"I'm afraid so, Abraxas," said Tom, without a twinge of remorse or regret in his voice. On the contrary, Harry noticed a faint hint of amusement.

"For how long?"

"Two years." Malfoy made an odd noise, and put his head in his hands. When he looked back up, anger seemed to coat his face, and he looked as though he would attack Riddle. Riddle, on the other hand, seemed to be finding the entire situation increasingly entertaining for he merely smirked back at Malfoy, while twirling his wand between his fingers. Malfoy took one look at the wand, and it appeared as though he had suddenly decided against attacking Riddle. Rather, without saying another word, he turned around and walked away down the corridor. Tom turned to the trio and said in a mocking laugh, "Welcome to Hogwarts."