Juniper froze as she watched the time turner gently swing in from Dumbledore's hand as he rested his elbow on the edge of his desk. The firelight from the candles around the room seemed to make the time turner glow as she stared at it.

"Juniper?" Dumbledore prodded and she opened her mouth to speak before her hand almost immediately tightly clamped it shut. She couldn't tell him how she had it, it went against nearly every wizarding law in regards to them. Hermione had warned her nearly a hundred times the consequences of even mentioning its existence while in the past, let alone explaining how or why she had it-

"Juniper, I can understand your hesitance," he told her, rather uncomfortingly. "However I believe that if I'm to truly help you and get you back home, I simply need to know more. I'm sorry." Juni decided that the thing she hated most in this exact moment was knowing that he was telling the truth. After a long silence, Juni lowered the hand from her mouth, her lips tightly closed as she watched him. As Dumbledore began to open his mouth, she made sure to quickly cut him off before he could speak.

"Then you really intend to try and help me get home?" she all but demanded of the man in front of her. If she had any doubts, this was the time to get her answers - real answers.

"I do," he told her simply, his eyebrows raised in surprise. It seemed as though it hadn't occurred to him that she would have her doubts on him.

"And you have no intentions other than to better understand the time turner? You don't want to know about the future?" Dumbledore shifted in his seat and crossed his ankle over the opposite knee as he considered his words carefully. He clearly was more disciplined than Juniper was in what she said under the influence of a truth serum.

"While I am curious as to what the future holds," he began and Juni felt her stomach drop slightly, body stiffening again. "I know better than to go meddling in it. The future is for my future self to discover, not I." Juni's eyes drifted back to the time turner that was still dangling from his hand. "That being said, I do think it's important to understand the origins of this particular time turner, if I can."

"I…" Juniper chewed on her lip for a moment, eyes nearly mesmerized by the shining gold necklace. If she tip-toed around her answers carefully enough, she hoped that she wouldn't accidentally say something she shouldn't. "I got it from a professor… Sort of. I got it from another student who… She found it on a professor."

"Found it on a professor?" Dumbledore repeated, clearly confused and a little astonished. Making a face, he considered her. "What house did you say you were originally sorted into, Miss Nott?"

"I didn't, sir. And.. And the student didn't steal it if that's what you're on about."

"Yet they 'found it' on a professor?" He asked again, raising his eyebrows as he lowered his arm finally, resting the time turner on the desk between them.

"Yes, sir."

"...And yet they somehow didn't steal it…?"

"They were already dead, sir, so that hardly counts as stealing," Juniper blurted out before she could stop herself, as though annoyed with the pestering. Inhaling sharply, her eyes darted upwards to meet his as they stared back at her widely.

Another long silence followed as they both considered what Juniper had just said, eyes locked on the other.

"I… Think that I may actually require a bit more information on that, Juniper…" Dumbledore informed her, to which she slowly nodded.

"There… There was a war. It started before I was born and ended in 1998-"

"Which is when you came from," Dumbledore commented more to himself than to her, but she nodded again anyway.

"Yes," Letting out an almost shaky breath, Juni began fidgeting with her fingers in her lap. "The um… The battle that ended the war was…" Her voice faltered as she looked down at her lap, fingers trembling slightly.

"Was…?" Dumblefore pressed gently, eyebrows furrowing slightly as he watched Juni.

"Here," she whispered in response and Dumbledore tensed. "It was here. One of the professors had…" Shaking her head, Juni swallowed the lump forming in her throat, clearing it softly. "It fell out of her robes next to her. Granger noticed and grabbed it."

"I see," his voice was soft, sympathetic. Glancing around the room, he hesitated before asking the question nagging in the back of his mind.

"Juniper, this.. This war. It wasn't the same-"

"It wasn't Grindelwald, sir," she told him quickly, shaking her head again. "No. This wizard, he… He's worse."

A chill ran through Dumbledore as he sat upright in his chair, his hands gently gripping his knees in front of him. Worse than Grindelwald?

"I don't-"

"He's a blood supremacist," he cut him off again, either not thinking about the consequences or not caring, she wasn't sure which. "Only he's worse than that. Anyone who's muggle born or even half blooded he either has killed or jailed. Magic is illegal if you aren't pure blooded now. He's a liar and a psychopath and-"

"And you went back in time to try and stop him?" It was Dumbledore's turn to interrupt as he watched her with great interest.

"Yes."

"Juniper, don't take this the wrong way, but…" Shaking his head slightly, he watched her for her reaction. "From what I've observed, you don't strike me as the 'sacrificing my life away' type."

"I'm not," she said so suddenly she surprised even herself. "I think I tried to convince myself that I was to make myself feel better about my situation."

"Which was…?" he kept prodding.

"Nobody trusted me after the war was over. The fact that you knew of my family name suggests that you're aware of my blood status. My parents were high ranking in the Dark Lord's 'minions'," Juniper spat out, as though disgusted by the very thought. "I joined up with a group of surviving rebels but… They never trusted me. Well, except for a few - or so I thought anyway. Until all of this happened. Maybe they didn't trust me after all and just wanted to get rid of me."

"So going in the past was their idea?"

"There was something that they wanted me to get rid of. Apparently it would've changed the entire outcome somehow," Juni shrugged. "They never really fully explained 'how', they just said to trust them. Funny, isn't it?"

"I think I'm beginning to better understand the situation. You didn't agree to travel back in time and put yourself in danger of potentially being killed for the 'glory and praise'. You agreed as you saw it as a chance to prove yourself. As a chance to prove your loyalty."

"Exactly," Juni nodded her head once as she spoke, crossing her arms. There was a twinkle in Dumbledore's eye as he laughed softly.

"Juniper Nott, I think there's a little more Slytherin in you than you give credit for. And before you get offended, just know that I no longer have to guess at what house you were originally sorted into. Hufflepuff is a noble house, and you should be proud to have been a part of it."

Juni opened her mouth to protest but only ended up shutting it again.

"Now then," Dumbledore adjusted himself in his chair again, watching her. "Let's see if I've understood everything properly then. There was a war, led by a wizard worse than Grindelwald. This war ended at some point in 1998, where you were from, merely 17 years old. It ended with a battle, here. One of the professors died, and out of their robes fell this time turner. Another student saw this, knew what it was and snatched it before fleeing. After this war ended, you, Juniper Nott, went against your family and instead attempted to band with a group of survivors. They didn't trust you due to your lineage, and I'm sure they likely volunteered you on a mission to return to the battle, destroy this 'mystery, war-turning item' and change the course of your recent history. You, in an effort to prove yourself to both them and I'm sure yourself, accepted. Am I correct?"

"Yes, sir." Dumbledore considered her for a long time in silence as she began to once again fidget with her fingers in her lap.

"Well. I believe that this both complicates and illuminates the situation immensely."

"Agreed," Juni sighed almost bitterly. As dangerous as the situation was, telling someone, willingly or not took a sort of weight off of her shoulders. And knowing that he wanted only to help her made her feel even better.

"What it doesn't explain in the slightest, however, is why someone in this time period would want to harm you," Dumbledore told her bluntly, causing her to freeze. "While you were trying to 'lay low', as you put it, is there anyone here that you may have gotten on the wrong side of? Someone who would have any sort of reason to harm you? Maybe they simply went too far and got scared?"

"I don't…" Juni shook her head, trying to think.

"Really think, Juniper," Dumbledore urged her, leaning forwards slightly.

"As… As far as I knew there was only one person who didn't like me here," Juni's voice had grown quiet and she shook her head. "But he's already been cleared, he couldn't have done it."

"Who?" Dumbledore urged.

There was a soft knock on the door to the office behind Juniper's chair causing her to jump slightly as Dumbledore's eyes shot to the door. Quickly digging in one of the pockets of his jacket, he withdrew a small dark vial. In one swift motion, he opened the bottle and downed its contents as the door opened behind Juni.

"Professor Dumbledore?"

Juniper spun around so quickly in her seat at the voice that the room spun with her for a moment after she stabilized herself. Blinking away her dizziness, she stared at Tom Riddle standing in the doorway of the office.

"Yes, Riddle?" Dumbledore's voice had changed, taking on a more professional tone as he addressed the intruder, tucking the tiny bottle back in his jacket.

"I was just speaking with Headmaster Dippet and he asked me to come find you," Tom explained as he watched Juniper curiously before drawing his attention to the professor. "He asked for you to meet him up at the second astronomy tower as soon as you were able."

"Ah, of course," Dumbledore stood silently, brushing off the tops of his legs and stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets once more and leaving them there. "Well, Miss White. It appears the remainder of our meeting needs to be postponed."

"Oh," Juniper quickly jumped up, causing the chair to be pushed back noisily. "Right."

"Tom, I'm sure as head boy you won't mind escorting Miss White back to your common room?" Dumbledore asked almost absentmindedly as he pulled a pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at it. "It appears the time has escaped me, I do apologize." He gave a small smile to Juni as he shoved the watch back in his pocket.

"He would mind, and I can find my own way back, professor," Juni blurted out before her hand quickly found her mouth. Standing with her back towards Tom, she felt her face grow hot as she looked almost desperately at the professor. A quick realization passed through Dumbledore's face as he gave her a quick apologetic smile, rummaging deeper into his pocket.

"I certainly would not mind, Professor Dumbledore. I was headed back soon anyway," Tom objected almost defensively. To protect his 'perfect image', Juni was sure.

"Here," Dumbledore's voice was quiet as he quickly handed Juniper a tiny vial identical to the one he had taken only moments earlier. "Now then! Off we all hop!" Dumbledore ushered the two out of the room as Tom eyed both Dumbledore and Juni suspiciously, taking one last glance towards the room as he was all but forced into the classroom.

Dumbledore stayed in the office, shutting the door behind them, leaving Juni and Tom alone in the classroom. Almost immediately after the door was closed, Tom grabbed the vial in Juni's hands.

"What is this?" he demanded quietly as he held it up to the candlelight to get a better look. Juniper inhaled sharply and tried to grab it back, only to be held back by Tom's free arm. Trying to get around his outstretched arm to jump and grab the vial, Juni rounded the other side of him.

"It's none of your business- give it back!" she demanded back of him. Watching her, an almost amused look danced across his face as he held it out of her reach.

"And if I refuse?" Tom smirked down at her attempts to reach, still pushing her back with his free arm. "What is it?"

"None of your business," she repeated through gritted teeth. It wasn't technically a lie: it really wasn't his business. As long as she didn't try to explain further than that… Growling slightly in frustration, Juniper pulled out her wand, pointing it straight under his chin.

A muscle twitched softly in Tom's jaw as he watched her, the smirk still on his face as he continued to hold the vial out of reach.

"...Are you going to hex me?" he asked softly, his voice low as he watched her. Juniper didn't move as she pressed the tip of her wand upwards slightly into the soft skin beneath his jaw, glaring at him all the while.

Something passed through his eyes that Juniper hadn't seen before as he watched her. Maybe it was mocking, maybe it was just a different form of annoyance. Whatever it was, she didn't care. She wanted her antidote- before she said anything else. Especially to him.

The two stood, locked in conflict as Tom slowly began to lower his arm, his eyes not once leaving hers. As soon as it was in reach Juniper snatched the vial back from his hand and bolted.

"Hey!" Tom called after her, attempting to grab her arm as she ran, only to have his fingers graze the hem of her sweater. "Juniper!"

Juniper ran on, leaving the classroom and the following several hallways behind her. Rounding a corner, she hid behind a large stone pillar as she caught her breath. Hands shaking, she stuffed her wand away and popped open the vial, downing its contents in one swift sip. She wasn't about to let Tom get even the smallest opportunity to learn that she was under veritiserum's influence. She didn't even want to think about what he would ask her. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of it.

Sighing, Juni shoved the vial in her pocket and leaned against the wall next to the pillar, rubbing her palms harshly against her eyelids.

Of course Tom had shown up at the most inconvenient time… they were just getting to the matter of her immediate safety at Hogwarts. Maybe she could meet with Dumbledore after classes on Monday and try and figure out-

The sound of soft footsteps nearby made her jump, hand instinctively reaching back for her wand as she listened, hidden by the pillar. Fingers wrapping tightly around her wand's handle, she listened as the footsteps grew closer until they stopped. Whoever they belonged to was stood right on the other side of her pillar. And worse, they knew that she was there.

A sudden realization flooded over her that it was clearly Tom following her, irritation and anger surging through her. Bringing her wand out again, she held it up as she rounded the pillar to face him.

"Tom this isn't-"

No one was there.

The hallway was completely empty around her.

Clenching her fist even tighter around her wand, she spun around, eyes searching for the owner of the sound she knew she had heard.

"Hello?" she asked the hallway stupidly, unsure if it would be better or worse if there was an answer.

Despite the lack of a reply, Juniper still began to feel the overwhelming sense that someone was watching her. Just the thought sent a chill straight through her. Hesitating for only a moment, she took off running again, only the way she had come. Tracing her steps back through the halls, Juniper paid no attention to where she really was going, causing her to run straight into something rather solid at full force.

Knocking both herself and a very confused and now annoyed Tom Riddle hard to the ground, Juni froze. Propping herself up on her elbows, she realized that she hadn't just run into Tom, she had, in fact, landed on top of him and was a mere six inches away from his face.

"Oh," she said lamely as he opened his eyes to glare up at her. "...Oh!" Quickly rolling off of him, she scrambled to her feet as Tom propped himself up on his elbows, still glaring up at her. "I'm- I'm so sorry! I wasn't- I'm sorry!" Juni apologized, clearly shaken. Attempting to help him up, he merely swatted her hands away from him as he got to his feet and brushed the dust off of his clothes.

Returning to his glare, Tom stared at her silently, as though wanting to kill her with his eyes. Almost immediately, Juni's eyes were drawn to Tom's hair. Normally perfectly smoothed against his head and never having a single strand out of place, his bangs now hung half in his face. Instinctively and without thinking, Juni raised a hand to fix it for him. Her hand made it halfway to his hair before freezing, as though she regained control of it. Fingers flexing slightly as she glanced between her hand and his glare she stepped back away from him and shoving her hand in her pocket.

Eyes narrowing slightly further in his glare, Tom continued to just watch her.

"Sorry again," Juni bowed her head slightly and rushed past him without looking up at him. "See you in class!"

Juniper left without so much as another glance or word in Tom's direction as she practically raced back to the common room, only this time paying more attention to where she was going.

The moment she entered the common room, Ruth practically pounced on her.

"There you are!" Hooking her arm with Juni's she led her towards the girls' dorms. Juni really hadn't realized how late it had gotten, nearly everyone had already gone to bed for the night, leaving the common room quiet. "I was worried sick about you." Rue scolded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Especially after what happened only yesterday, Juniper White."

"I know," Juni stumbled slightly, trying not to step on Rue's feet as she walked with her. "I was in my meeting with Professor Dumbledore. Neither of us realized how late it was."

"Oh!" Rue's eyes lit up slightly as they entered the bathroom for their dorm. It was empty, save for the two of them, but the girls still spoke softly in case anyone were to be eavesdropping. "So I'm guessing he isn't the culprit here if it took so long? Did you guys figure out who it could've been?" Rue was taking the braid out of Juni's hair, combing her fingers gently through it as Juni began brushing her teeth.

"Mm-mm," Juni shook her head as she brushed, looking at Rue through the mirror at the sink they stood in front of. Spitting into the sink, she rinsed her toothbrush and wiped away the excess toothpaste from her lips. "No, we still have no ideas."

"Oh," Rue's eyebrows furrowed as she combed out a tangle with her fingers from Juni's hair. "I was sure that Dumbledore would've had some better idea. If it wasn't him, anyways." She laughed softly as she finished with Juni's hair, giving her a soft smile in the mirror, which Juni returned for a moment before it fell.

"I had a weird moment though, afterwards."

"What do you mean?" Rue's face fell as she watched her friend through the mirror. Rue had already gotten ready for bed and clearly had stayed up to wait for Juni, sending a pang of guilt through her.

"Here, I'll tell you in a minute, let me change first," Juni offered as she made her way into their dorm room. The other girls had already gone to sleep, their curtains drawn. Stopping in front of her trunk, Juni found her nightgown and quickly changed, climbing into her bed. Rue stood almost awkwardly in the space between their beds before Juni patted the spot next to her for Rue to sit down. Smiling slightly, Rue did as she was told and climbed onto Juni's bed, drawing the curtains so they could talk privately. Juni had never been more thankful for the soundproof curtains on her bed before.

"So what happened?" Rue watched Juni intently as Juni pulled the covers of the bed up and over the both of them and scooting down onto her side. Rue followed suit, facing Juni and pulling the cover up over her shoulder, tucking it under her chin.

"When I left the Professor's office, I had stopped to… Double check that I had something in my pocket."

"Okay…"

"I thought I heard someone coming, and I didn't know who it was, so I just…" Juni shrugged a shoulder and snuggled up more under the blankets. "Hid behind a pillar." Instead of laughing at her seemingly paranoid-ness, Rue nodded slowly, eyes slightly wide as she listened. "It sounded like the footsteps literally came right to where I had just been standing, so I went to look - with my wand - and… No one."

"Really?"

"Literally there was no one there. The hallway was completely empty. And I swear there were footsteps. So where did they come from?"

"It isn't like ghosts make footstep noises…"

"I know."

"That's… Really weird, you're right."

"Thanks for the boost of comfort."

Rue propped herself up on one elbow and quickly tried to redeem herself.

"I mean, no! That's totally normal! Nothing out of the ordinary there, honestly. I think you're just being super paranoid!" Juniper laughed and pushed Rue's elbow out from under her, causing her to fall back onto her side in the bed.

"What?" Rue laughed. "You wanted comfort!"

"I know, I know," Juni smiled, curling up under the blankets and looking at her friend with admiration. "Thank you."

"Any time, any time."

The pair continued talking for a time about their next week of classes, complained about assignments and wondered what would be for breakfast in the morning, as though they weren't served the same thing every day.

After a while, they drifted off to sleep, finding some comfort in sharing the bed, even if for now the danger seemed just a little bit further away.