Playing with Time

Chapter 3

September 1996

"Now, what brings you to my humble school Miss. Abben?" Professor Dumbledore's voice is calm and soothing, but holds something more dominate beneath. Tanis surprisingly finds herself wanting to just tell the truth. This realisation causes her to falter.

"Well, I just…" It's almost like he's in her mind, which he very well could be if her dad hadn't taught her Occlumency.

Her eyes never leave his face, and yet she still stumbles into her next words. "I just heard about the school's reputation sir; and I wanted to see if I would be able to attend class here."

Even to her the excuse sounded weak, but it wasn't long after her encounter with her father that the drought took full effect. When she woke up this morning, this man was next to her bed.

"Well, you sure do have the most, unconventional ways of entering. You can see where I would be just a bit…wary, Miss. Abben. You were found in the dungeons you see."

She knew this man couldn't have believed her façade. He introduced himself as the Headmaster and the stories she remembers from her mother about him were always filled with such admiration and respect that she almost questioned her mothers sanity; but after sitting down no longer than 20 minutes with this man, she can see where it came from. He may not be loud or demanding, be he definitely has that knowing look in his eye, the one that makes the young witch a little unnerved. She shifts slightly, then nods.

"Yes sir. You see I-" She is about to pull some other excuse straight from her arse, when a loud screech fills the room and her attention is pulled from her thoughts to wonder how she didn't notice that magnificent creature perched no more than 15 feet from him.

He extends his wings and embers are pulls from the fire of feathers as he tries to stretch just a bit further. They move in a seemingly choreographed manner and she becomes entranced in the beautiful dance before she is brought back to reality.

"Oh, yes, and before I forget. I believe, this belongs to you." He reaches into his robes without ever leaving eye contact, causing Tanis to shift again. Before she looks into his out stretched hand, she catches that all knowing look in his eyes.

The necklace that was in her back pocket, and was once inside that journal is now in the hands of the man in front of her. A small smile is planted on his face as she reaches for it.

"I, thats, how...did you get this?"

"Madam Pomfrey found it on the floor next to your bed this morning. Do you know what this is?" He lets the centerpiece slip from his fingers and the chain catches on his index finger and he holds it up, letting the hourglass turn slowly on its own.

"Sort of." She replies truthfully. "It was a gift from my mother. She apparently wanted me to have it...in the event of her death."

He moves the charm close to his face and stares at it for no longer than a few seconds before holding it back out to her. "It is a time-turner, giving you the ability to go back in time. This hourglass, each time you turn it, it will go back one year in time." She reaches out and he drops it in her palm. Her eyes drift to the hourglass as he continues. One turn equals one year? "But!" He claps his hands, rises, and walks around the desk; running his hand on top the bird's head then steps behind her. "We should get you sorted. Breakfast hasn't ended yet, so lets get you to the Grand Hall and under that sorting hat." She jumps up from her seat behind him.

"Th-thank you sir! I really, really appreciate it." He stops before leaving his office and turns to her.

"It is my pleasure Miss. Abben; and I hope you figure out what your looking for and learn all you came to know, because I would hate for you to feel as if this was a waste of your time. Now, please follow me." Her head perks up and she watches him as they silently walk to the already growing noise that is the Grand Hall during breakfast. Her only thoughts are wrapped around trying to decipher what he had meant by his last comment.

Nervousness begins to fill Tanis' mind as they get closer to the large double doors that create the barrier between them and the voices on the other side. Even still, she squares her shoulders, holds her head up and prepares for the entrance...that doesn't happen.

She releases the breath she didn't realize she was holding as they walk past the doors, and enter a long corridor before stopping at normal door.

"I suppose there is no reason for you to make a grand entrance. You'll get enough attention when you are sorted. Come along; follow me." He ushers her through the door and quickly takes the front again as she is led behind a long table, full of adults, talking and eating. She glances to her left, and sees the vast amount of students, also eating, but also laughing, playing and generally just enjoying themselves before they have to get back to classes, homework and exams.

He motions for her to take a seat in the middle of the table and he stand to the left of her, raising his wand to his throat, mumbling a spell, then speaking, with his arm stretched out in a loud, booming voice.

"Attention students, I have a special announcement to make." A silence quickly falls within the students, and all eyes turn toward him, and then, to her. Tanis' heart is beating faster and harder than she can ever remember. For some reason, even the first time the Order was ambushed, she didn't seem this frightened. Probably because she had her family backing her up and her dad always beside her. Right now though, she is alone, and beginning to feel that regret of not telling him before she decided to do this stupid plan.

"Even though she is new, I expect you all to treat her with the up most respect, just like you would with any of your other peers." Apparently she missed most of her introduction speech. The next thing she realizes he is turning to her, motions her to stand and sit on a lone stool placed in the view of everyone.

The four long tables in front of her are filled with hundreds of students, all eyes now on her. Including the one person she found herself actually looking for. Her father.

His face is curious again as their eyes meet and her back instantly straightens more as she pulls in a deep breath. She will not break the contact first. Simple as that. She will never back down and she will never let anyone put her into a corner. That was practically her mother's motto when she was younger. Always stand up for what you believe in and never allow anyone to come between you and what you want.

After about a minute with nothing happening, it's finally him who turns his head when a girl next to forces his attention away. Seeing it, her mind wanders to her mother, and her eyes follow.

Her eyes run up and down the red and gold adorned table, searching for the female hero of her life. After a few seconds, she spots her. Her head is turned towards and Tanis tries desperately to also meet her eyes but her attention is quickly stolen by a red headed boy next to her. She turns towards him, and gives him the same look she got that one time she got into the bag to berttie botts she wasn't suppose to be eating.

Hermione's thick, brown mass of curls and olive skin causes Tanis to realize that she truly does look nothing like her mom. Neville always told her she was just like her; personality, and will power but the only physical resemblance she can think of now, and see for that matter, are their deep brown eyes.

She wills her mom to turn her head, to look in her direction. The girls only reasoning is maybe if Hermione saw her, truly saw her, that some how she would recognize who she is. That some mothering instinct would kick in and she would no longer be alone. It's a weird sensation to not be known by the woman who gave birth to her, but have been held, loved and protected by her for the first six years of her life.

Tanis continues to trying to get Hermione to turn around, but is distracted when something is placed on her head.

"Your name is not Abben, its Granger. Hmm, very curious. You have plenty of courage, just like your mother. Yes, I know her, I know her well, though your father. It's a bit hazy on who he is. Wait, Draco? As in the Malfoy heir. Ah, that would explain the strong self-preservation I sense, and your ambition. Though that could have come from either. You try to be honest, though don't seem to follow it very well. I can see the potential in your intelligence, but your craftiness, ah yes, I see that you have seem to already mastered. I can feel this want you have to know your father, which I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but who am I to decide? I just put you where you belong." Throughout his talking, she found herself unable to respond to anything he was saying. Malfoy? That's her fathers name- Draco Malfoy. Sounds...different. Foy is faith, she remember that from those Latin words her mom was always spouting to her, but mal? She doesn't remember that one.

"Syltherin!" The table adorned in green at the end of the room erupts in cheers, and everyone stands, along with her father. She finds him again as she gets up, moving towards the mass of commotion, and tries to actually see him, the Draco Malfoy. He isn't cheering, but he does have a smile on his face. As she nears the table, she realizes it isn't a smile. It's that smirk Neville had told her about. She really does look so much like him.

She quickly glances over at her mother, hoping to see her eyes, but they were again focused on the people around her, this time she is whispering to a black-haired boy with large round glasses. That must be Harry Potter. She did talk a lot about him. She then turns to the red head. Ron, that was his name.

People crowd her as she takes the nearest empty seat, this, of course, happens to be several several feet away from the only person she cares to know at the table. She sees the back of his head, before her view is covered by a tall brunette girl with way too much make-up, getting too close into her personal space.

"I'm Ella Brey, a fifth year." She sticks out her hand, and Tanis represses the urge to slap it into that smiling face of hers. She blinks a few times, and counts to five. Being the center of attention like this is making her nervous again. Do these people really need to be this close? She finishes her calming exercise with a deep breath and is about to say something when a boy shoves her and he appears in her immediate line of vision.

"Derek. Derek Phillips. Good to meet you. Maybe I could take you out, and we could really get to know each other." He winks and grabs one of her hands. Tanis allows the immense amount of disgust show on her face, and jerks her hand out of his. These people really need to learn about personal space. Is this how teenagers really are? Is this how she would be if things were different and she went to this school? Is this how Draco, her father, is? It seems every boy she's met so far has somehow come on to her. She shutters. If her father says anything close to that, she's telling the headmaster everything and getting the hell back to her time. She can live without knowing her family.

Just as his name crosses her mind, she hears another males voice coming from behind her. This one, she can tell, has nothing but deep anger.

"I'd move away from her Phillips; before I take you out those double doors and you can be up close and personal with the end of my wand, or fist. I'll be the gentlemen and let you decide."

"Sod off Draco. I was here first. You can't have all the ladies to yourself."

"Want to bet on that?" She feels a hand land on her shoulder, and instead of freezing up, she finds herself relaxing into the small gesture.

"You think you're just so cool because of who you're father is. Well, guess what, you're not going to be able to hide behind your family's name forever."

"Who said I was hiding? I told you." Draco releases his grip from her and takes a step forward. She turns her head and sees his stripped tie. "Let's take this out into the hallway, and we can see who's hiding behind what afterwards." The anger has caused his voice to rise a bit, and everyone around them is diligently watching, their eyes glancing between the two boys and herself. This causes her to shrink back a bit. Why are they drawing so much more attention to her?

Whatever his response to her father's challenge is left unknown, because before he answers, the food in front of them begins to disappear, and people all around her begin to leave. Guess breakfast is over.

Draco reaches across her and grabs a few muffins with one hand before putting his free one on her back, nudging her out of her seat.

"Here, I noticed you didn't get anything to eat, with all these distractions." He places one of the blueberry filled pastries in her hands before stopping the girl who calls herself Ella.

"Take Tanis to the dormitory. I've got a few things to take care of and then I'll show her to class." She nods quickly at him, smiling wider before turning to her.

"Come on, I'll give you a quick tour, but then I have to leave. Flitwick doesn't like me as it is, and me being late on the first day will do nothing to remedy that.

To be continued...

Author's Note: I'm not to fond of sections of this chapter...but I wanted to get it up. I've been playing with it for a while and feel it's time to just get it out. Hope you Enjoy!

Don't forget to Review! :)

~AtraLuna

Disclaimer: Everything is owned by J.K. Rowling. I'm not looking to gain any monetary substance from this