World Enough and Time – Chapter Eleven

Tweaking the Time Line

Of all the nights Lily had spent in the Hogwarts Infirmary, this was by the far the strangest, and the longest. Although the sun had long since set Lily remained awake, leaning against the headboard of her tidy white bed and staring into the inky blackness that filled the tall windows of the room. Her legs were pulled up to her chest and her arms were wrapped limply around her knees as she stared blankly ahead. Her eyes itched with exhaustion but she could not sleep. All the adrenaline from the night had worn off but her mind was buzzing, she was sore all over, and she was utterly emotionally spent.

The only other occupant in the wing was her Uncle Bill, who slept peacefully at the far end of the hall. Lily glanced over at him and saw the gashes on his face were already healing due to Madame Pomfrey's care. The low candlelight in the room flickered and threw Bill's features into sharp relief. Lily looked away.

Have I changed anything, Lily wondered. Bill was still badly scarred, Dumbledore was still dead, and Snape had still killed him. It was the history she knew, but it was not at all how she had imagined it. It had all seemed so exciting and straight forward when she was younger. Now she knew it was anything but simple and that any excitement was forgotten, far outweighed by terror.

Lily gripped her knees more tightly and closed her eyes, wishing she could fall asleep. But her mind was filled with too many troubling thoughts.

Dumbledore's gone, she thought and buried her face in her knees. She had only met the famous wizard a few weeks ago but she had heard about him her whole life. He had been everything and more that she had imagined from her father's stories of the legendary wizard. And she missed him. Even after knowing the man for such a short time Lily still mourned the death of Albus Dumbledore, and not only because he had been her best hope of going home.

Lily had not realized how much she had been relying on the Headmaster to conjure up some miraculous solution to send her home. Now there was little hope of Lily ever returning there except by the natural passage of time. She briefly envisioned greeting the family she remembered as an adult, older than Al, James, even Teddy. As old as her parents. She shivered and pushed that thought away.

Stretching Lily let herself collapse into the pillow behind her and curled up on her side. Despite the stiff and scratchy bedding of the Hospital Wing Lily was glad to be here instead of Gryffindor Tower. Madame Pomfrey had not argued and Lily had watched without regret as Harry, Ginny, and the others departed for the night. After Lily had finally convinced them all of who she truly was there was less talk about her and more about the tragic events of the evening. The weight of Dumbledore's death had settled on all of them again and there were things to be done, things that could not wait, not even for the time traveling daughter of Harry Potter.

Lily knew that she was probably not the only one in the castle still awake. She knew that Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were probably still up – probably talking about her – but she preferred their speculating to the numerous questions she would have been submitted to in their presence. That could wait. They believed her and that was what mattered right now. And they would, as much as it pained her to even think it, have plenty of time to get to know each other because - Lily felt her stomach twist in knots - she was not likely to go anywhere any time soon.

As her tired eyes slipped closed Lily could not help entertaining yet again the feeble hope that she would wake up somewhere more familiar, in her own bed, all of this just a bad dream. She was just drifting off when a weight settled on the end of her mattress and Lily started out of her dozing state.

Lily sat up quickly and twisted to see Ginny sitting by her feet, staring back at her. She scrambled awkwardly into a sitting position and glanced around to see if anyone else was in the room but Ginny appeared to have come alone.

"I didn't hear you come back. You startled me," Lily mumbled.

"Sorry," Ginny answered automatically. Her gaze did not waver from Lily's face and she took a deep breath before speaking again. "Everyone still believes you. That you're from the future."

There was something in Ginny's voices to suggest she did not necessarily include herself in "everyone." It was surprisingly painful - though not altogether shocking - to have her mother doubt her.

"And what do you believe?"

For a moment Ginny did not say anything at all. She simply stared at Lily and Lily stared back, two sets of identical brown eyes meeting across the space of the bed.

"You know things," Ginny conceded. "Things you shouldn't. It's just that... it's so..."

Lily sighed and ran a hand through her thoroughly disheveled hair. "Impossible?"

"Yes."

Lily recalled her first meeting in this Hospital Wing – when she had met Albus Dumbledore – and the irony was not now lost on her. She had been so reluctant to believe that she had traveled back in time, so reluctant to believe what Dumbledore was telling her, and now she was in the position of convincing a teenage witch that was every bit as stubborn as she was.

Lily shifted her weight into a more comfortable position and turned her gaze to the windows straight ahead of her. The sky was no longer tinged with green and the stars had come out. "I wish it was impossible," she said in a tired voice. "I want so badly to be home. But that's not looking very likely anymore, not with Dumbledore..."

"Dead," Ginny finished somberly. She turned to look over at Bill and Lily saw her expression harden. "There really is going to be a war, isn't there."

Lily looked over at Bill as well. "It's already started."

The two were quiet for a while after that. Lily considered the Ginny Weasley before her and marveled at her teenage mother's courage. The fifteen-year-old sitting on her bed seemed neither frightened nor intimidated by the war that would soon be raging in the Wizarding World. Lily was terrified that she might still be stuck here when things really began to go badly. Voldemort was history to Lily and she wanted him to stay that way.

"But we're going to win," Ginny murmured fiercely, still looking at Bill.

Lily swallowed hard and could not help asking quietly, "But how can you be so sure?"

Ginny looked back at her, surprised. "If anything's proof of that, you are." And then she blushed.

"How do you know I haven't changed something? Messed everything up? The world I know might not even exist anymore."

It was the first time she had voiced this thought aloud and it stung. "We'll win," Ginny repeated confidently, "Because that world is worth fighting for."

Lily, who had never been faced with imminent war before, could think of nothing to say to this and so she merely nodded. The other girl's confidence was comforting but Lily could not help dwelling on all the terrible things that would happen before Voldemort was defeated, if in fact he still would be now that she had shown up and thrown a wrench into everything. So many people died, Dumbledore was just the beginning. Uncle Fred was not far from her thoughts.

Lily did not want to see anyone die.

"We'll all make it through this, we have to," Ginny said. She paused, and for just a moment, she looked vulnerable. "Won't we?"

Her mother's eyes, so like her own, were fixed on Lily, who opened her mouth only to have no sound come out. She was about to tell Ginny – to lie – that yes of course everyone would make it through all right, but before she had the chance, a sharp, blinding pain exploded in the back of her head.

James ran as he never had in his life.

He sprinted out of the Department of Mysteries, up the flights of stairs to the Atrium, and hurtled through the throngs of people there until he reached the fireplaces lining the walls. He ignored the angry exclamations or witches and wizards he shoved in his hurry, grabbed a handful of floo powder from beside the closest grate, and threw it into the flames. With a hurried shout of "Twelve Grimmauld Place!" James disappeared in a rush of green flames, the time turner still clenched in his sweaty fist.

James's momentum carried through the whirling blur of fireplaces until he was spit out onto the carpet of his parents' Londom home. Lying there, face pressed into the floor, James felt his heart beating against his chest and tried to steady his breathing while everything that had just happened caught up with him. By now his dad had mostly likely been arrested for... well, quite a few things actually. Most recently, breaking into the Department of Mysteries and stealing –

No.

Harry Potter never left the Department of Mysteries with a time turner in his possession. He, James, had stolen it. His fingers closed more tightly around the fragile hourglass. His father's desperate voice came to him. Don't lose her again. Don't let Lily disappear.

James took a deep breath and got shakily to his feet.

Go to Al first, he might know something about why she was out that night.

James jogged to the stairs and began bounding up them. "Albus! ALBUS!"

As James crashed up the stairs and rounded the corner of the second floor landing Al burst from his room, wand in hand. James opened his mouth but there was no air left in his lungs.

"What? What is it?" Al asked frantically. "Is everyone all right?"

"We're going to Hogwarts," James croaked out, "I need your help. Come on." He grabbed Al's shoulder and started to pull him towards the stairs.

"James, what the hell are you talking about? Wait. Stop." Al jerked out of James's grip and stepped away from the stairs. "What the hell is going on?"

"Yes, James, what the hell is going on?"

James and Al turned to see Teddy coming down from the third floor, his green hair out of place in the surrounding décor of Grimmauld Place. Like Albus he also had his wand out but his expression was much calmer.

"I heard yelling. Is everyone all right?"

"I think something's wrong with James," Al muttered and James swatted his arm. They simply did not have time for this and so, instead of trying to explain the situation he held out the time turner in front of him. It dangled on its short chain, glimmering. Albus stared wide-eyed between the hourglass and James, his mouth gaping like a fish.

Teddy stepped forward slowly down the remaining stairs onto the second floor landing. "James, where did you get that?" he asked quietly.

"Does it matter? It's about time we did something to get Lily back."

"Finally," Al burst out, overcoming his shock at seeing the time turner. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."

James watched Teddy's expression flicker with doubt. His hair faded back to its natural brown. "This is so illegal," he said quietly, still staring at the time turner.

Al huffed impatiently. "Teddy, this was your idea."

"It doesn't matter whose idea it was," James said quickly. "It's happening, we're doing this. Al, you were the last one to see Lily, and I know you've done nothing but come up with theories about why she was out that night so I need your help." James straightened his shoulders and turned to the older wizard. "Are you coming or not?"

Teddy nodded. "But I know all of Al's theories, he's told me enough, he doesn't need to be a part of this– "

"Just try and stop me!" Al retorted furiously. "I'm coming."

"Agreed," James said quickly to avoid any further argument. He was extremely thankful their mother was not in the house.

"Fine," Teddy conceded reluctantly. "Al, go grab the Cloak from your room. We'll Apparate to Hogsmeade and use the time turner once we're in the castle."

Al disappeared to him room to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and Teddy turned to James. "How are we going to find Lily once we go back?"

"We know generally where they found the broken time turner and the Marauder's Map. We can wait there, under the Cloak."

"We don't exactly when though..."

"That's why we're bringing Al. He was the last one of us to see her, talk to her, and he really has done nothing but piece together that night as much as any of us can..."

Al came back a moment later, the infallible cloak shimmering in his arms. "We're really doing this," Albus said, looking very slightly nervous.

James and Teddy exchanged a look. "We're really doing this," they said together.

Evening was falling quickly but Hogsmeade was still brimming with shoppers and residents when James, Albus, and Teddy arrived. They Apparated into an alley behind the Three Broomsticks, which was thankfully vacant, and were instantly met with the sounds of people coming from the main street.

"I hate Apparating," Al muttered, rubbing absently at his ears.

"Al, stop grumbling and put the Cloak on," Teddy whispered harshly. Al rolled his eyes but did as he was told.

"Why do I have to be invisible? James is the one who stole from the Ministry."

"Shut up," James hissed. "You'll draw more attention than Teddy or me. You're still a student and it's not a Hogsmeade weekend."

"Not to mention you're the spitting image of Harry Potter," Teddy muttered. Albus shot a glare in Teddy's direction that, of course, the older wizard did not see.

"I haven't been in school in weeks – "

"Al, just shut it, okay?" Teddy cut in. "We'd all be wearing the Cloak if it fit but, as it doesn't and as you are the most conspicuous, you get to be invisible."

The High Street buzzed with evening shoppers, all hurrying about to get their errands done before the shops closed for the night. Albus was careful not to bump into anyone and cause a stir, an easy task after so many nighttime wanderings with the Cloak.

Al felt oddly at ease despite the fact that they were about to do something very dangerous and very illegal. James on the other hand was visibly unsettled. He was not saying anything and he kept glancing around as if he expected Aurors to jump out from any direction and arrest him. For the first time since James had returned to Grimmauld Place in a frenzy Albus wondered where his father was. He had gone to investigate Pansy Parkinson and, when he had not returned, Albus's mother hand sent him home and Teddy had gone as well. They had not heard any news and then James showed up with a time turner... A wriggling unease filled his stomach but he ignored it and forced himself to think about saving his sister instead.

When Al saw that James and Teddy were walking in the direction that would take them to the castle gates he seized his brothers robes as surreptitiously as possible.

James jumped at the contact and spun around and Teddy grabbed his shoulder.

"James, relax. You're breathing like you've run a marathon."

"What, Albus?" James whispered.

Had he not been invisible Al would have rolled his eyes but instead he said, "You can't just walk up to the gates and get in, you idiots. Let's take the secret passage in Honeyduke's."

Thankfully the candy shop was still open and James, Albus, and Teddy had little trouble sneaking into the cellar. When they had entered the tunnel Albus removed the Invisibility Cloak and stuffed it into his jacket. The walk to the castle felt like an eternity and the three wizards made the journey in relative silence, their footsteps slipping and echoing in the dark, cramped space.

Finally, all three of them breathing heavily, they reached the entrance to the tunnel concealed by the one-eyed witch. Al stretched his stiff limbs and looked around. The last time he had been in the castle Lily had only just disappeared. It seemed fitting that upon his return he would be getting her back.

"Near the Great Hall, right?" James asked quietly. Albus nodded and the three of them set off through the corridors. The castle was quiet. The sun had set during their trip through the tunnel and Al suspected that most students were probably back in their common rooms. They did not encounter anyone in the corridors on their way to the Entrance Hall and found it equally deserted when they arrived.

As they stood in the quiet Hall Albus looked around to find the space as ordinary as ever. If he had not already known, he never would have suspected that anything had happened to Lily here.

"So, how exactly are we going to do this?" Teddy asked. "We just go back and... wait for Lily to show up? You're sure you did the math right, James?"

James nodded. "I'm positive. Are we all going?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Al shot back.

"I think at least one of us should stay behind," Teddy suggested. "Just in case this doesn't go as planned."

"Well I'm not saying behind," Al said immediately. He turned to James and cut him off before his brother could say anything. "And don't you dare say otherwise."

James did not look pleased. "Mum will have my head on a platter if I let you do this and she finds out."

But Albus was having none of this. "You don't have to let me do anything. I'm seventeen! I've decided and I'm not staying behind. We're finally doing something to get Lily back and I won't be left out of it!"

"Well I can't let both of you go," Teddy said, sounding grim. "I don't even want to think about telling Harry that all three of his children are missing."

"Fine, it's settled. Teddy and I will go."

James still looked mutinous and Al fought down an irritated sigh. He held out his hand and waited. James stared at him and Al stared right back and a moment later his brother had carefully placed the time turner in his hand. "Don't let Lily disappear," James said quietly. Albus nodded.

"We're doing this to fix things, James," he told his brother, his irritation gone now that they was no more argument about his participation. "Everything's going to be normal again."

James still looked unsure and Albus watched as Teddy put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It really is our only chance to get her back."

"Dad said he didn't know what would happen if you go back and change things..."

Albus was about to protest but before he could say anything James caught him in a hug. After a second Al returned the gesture. Although not complete strangers to displays of brotherly affection it still caught him off guard. He felt suddenly very nervous about what he and Teddy were about to do and let himself wonder for the briefest second what would happen if they did not succeed. They might destroy everything. He might never see James again.

"If you get lost Mum will murder me," James said seriously. Al smiled and James let go.

"See you soon, James," Teddy said with another clap on James's shoulder. A moment later Albus had covered himself and Teddy with the Invisibility Cloak, the latter crouched down to hide his feet, and he held the time turner in his hands. It was practically buzzing, or maybe he was shaking, he could not be sure. Teddy gripped his arm tightly and Al began to turn the delicate hourglass. There was a faint sound like a chain clinking against itself and perhaps the faintest ticking and then they were gone.

Lily let out a cry of pain and her hands flew up to her head. She was barely aware of her surroundings but she heard someone yelling her name.

"Lily! Lily!"

The voice wavered in Lily's ears and she let out another cry. The only thought that filled her mind was pain and she vaguely felt herself collapse on the bed. Instinctively, Lily curled up on her side and her fingers gripped at her hair. As if from very far away Lily heard Ginny calling for Madame Pomfrey.

"Lily? What's wrong? Lily!"

"Mum?" Lily murmured and she thought her voice might have slurred. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt tears leak out of them.

"Madame Pomfrey, I don't know what happened, she just collapsed."

Her mother's voice was frantic and it did nothing to sooth Lily's aching head. She could not open her eyes but she felt a hand on her shoulder and knew the matron was there. There were more words, garbled and nonsensical to her, and Lily peeked through her eyelids to see Madame Pomfrey's hazy form in front of her.

And then she was gone.

And Lily was not lying down anymore either, though she did not remember sitting up. Her head spun and she felt dizzy and disoriented. Had she been crying? A hand flew up to her cheeks but they were dry. Ginny was sitting calmly on the end of her bed and Madame Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen. But then Lily could not remember why she should have been looking for the witch. Her head was pounding and Ginny was saying something...

"We'll all make it through this, we have to. Won't we?"

Lily brought a hand up to her aching head and stared at Ginny in confusion, trying to recall what they had been talking about.

"Make it through what?"

But Ginny did not seem to hear her. Lily blinked and Ginny was no longer watching her but was staring down the length of the Infirmary at her brother. Lily felt her breathing hitch, her heartbeat speeding up unaccountably.

Her head continued to throb and she gasped and clenched the sheets beneath her in her fists. She shut her eyes and tried to block out the pain, to make sense of something, but could come up with nothing.

When Lily opened her eyes again Ginny was still seated on her bed and Lily almost sighed in relief before she heard, "Everyone still believes you. That you're from the future." Although she had no idea why Lily felt certain she had heard those words before. ...Hadn't she?

Lily stared at her fifteen-year-old mother and struggled to find an appropriate response but only ended up groaning in pain. Her eyes began to water and she rubbed at them furiously. When she looked again, Ginny was gone.

"What is going on?" Lily burst out desperately and then wondered why she would say such a thing. Her vision blurred and her head throbbed and all she wanted was to curl up on this bed and go to sleep. But just as she twisted to lie down she found herself standing in a Hospital Wing full of people, staring at her, some of them angrily. Lily blinked in shock as Harry started shouting.

"Everything you've told us since you've been here has been a lie! You're not McGonagall's niece, you're not a student here, and you're not my daughter from the future!"

Lily felt as though someone had punched her in the gut and she stared at Harry. Frustration and fear welled up inside of her and her heart pounded furiously in her chest and her head hurt so much. Lily felt herself shaking and she pressed the palms of her hands to her face. Deep breath, she told herself. Just breathe. And then something next to her exploded.

Lily screamed and ducked down to the floor as curses of every color flew past her, a battle raging around her. She turned frantically in every direction and saw Death Eaters and students and members of the Order of the Phoenix. She saw rubble and blood and heard screams and shouts of curses. How did she get here she had just been in the Hospital Wing – no, that's not right... She had just been in Dumbledore's office... with Harry, and Snape had told them about Death Eaters in the castle and –

An orange burst of light streaked by her shoulder and Lily twisted to follow its trajectory. The instant she turned toward one of the windows she saw Albus Dumbledore's body plummeting to the earth in a graceful arc.

Collapsing, Lily felt tears sting at her eyes while her head continued to pound and her whole body shook. Images began to blur all around her. She caught snatches of conversation, random sounds and feelings.

"You believe me?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Dumbledore believes you."

'I think I would know if I had a kid!"

"Lily Evans was my grandmother."

"Lily who?"

"Lily Potter."

Harry and Snape were arguing.

She was meeting her fifteen-year-old mother.

"MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM!"

"It's April eleventh, Ms. Potter. And it is nineteen ninety seven."

"You think I've... traveled through in time?"

The pain in Lily's head reached a peak and her vision blackened. A moment later she could not hear or see anything at all.