Chapter 2 - The fate of magic
"Miss? Miss are you all right? Can you hear me?" Amelia looked up and saw a boy about her age with brown hair and brown eyes looking down at her, he was in a Hogwarts uniform, with a Slytherin tie. Amelia felt woozy as she tried to sit up and fell back down, the boy seeing her obvious discomfort laid her down on the grass. Amelia realised where she was, she was in Hogwarts next to the lake, it was her favourite spot in the entire grounds. The boy spoke "Your not well don't try to sit up can you tell me your name?"
Amelia's war instincts kicked in and she knew she had to come up with a false name, so she said the first name that came into her head "Jane Meadowhearst" Amelia didn't know where it had come from but it worked, the boy nodded and took off his cloak revealing his toned body, he wrapped the cloak around her before stating, "Your very weak, I'm going to carry you to the infirmatary just relax you'll be fine." With that, Amelia felt her world slip away and all became black.
"See, I was right."
"No Godric you were lucky, you could have gotten the poor girl killed."
"Godric, Helga, shut up, she's here." Amelia heard these voices and there seemed to be some dissatisfied grunting in the background. Amelia opened her eyes and everything around her was black except for five figures and their animal guardians all of whom she recognised standing before her and out of sheer frustration screamed
"Bloody hell, you five again? Will you never leave me alone?" A man in green sneered, Salazar Slytherin, who had never liked her after all she was in Gryffindor. The woman in black and yellow Helga Hufflepuff spoke
"Sorry my love, but once again..."
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. The fate of magic rests upon your shoulders young one and you must protect the world from it's own evils, all because I'm special, the rest of the world is shit and you guys are to annoyingly stubborn to find someone else to do your dirty work."
Salazar laughed and stated "Oh why weren't you a Slytherin? You'd make a good Slytherin you know." Amelia rolled her eyes at the five. During her years of near and actual death experiences Amelia had gotten used to seeing these five people four of whom were the commonly known founders of Hogwarts and another witch Lucinda Honokaa, who would go onto marry Roberto Malfoy, a French Wizarding diplomat. Lucinda had been the first Hogwarts headmistress as the other for founders had thought it best that, the headmaster was not a head of house, much to Salazar's displeasure.
Amelia saw these four whenever she was dead or on the brink of death, which happened far too often for anyone's liking, as they were always afraid she wouldn't wake up. Rowena Ravenclaw interjected into this conversation from the first time and told Amelia "You have been sent back in time, in order to spread your elemental list and commission a return to the ways of our time." Amelia knew immediately what Rowena meant as in olden times the great leaders of Pacis Tutela sat on thrones and ruled over the Wizarding world but not in the way you would expect.
In the ways of old, your social stance was very important, but the factors affecting your social stance were dependant on your sorting upon your 17th Birthday into the ways of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Honokaa. This sorting took place at 17 as teen years can have a dramatic affects on one's personality. It was also not uncommon for two houses to be assigned to one person, as it is not common that a person is ever strictly Slytherin or Gryffindor. The heirs due to their status were placed on all the social ladders because of who they were.
The social ladder was much more visible as it was set out on five great magical tablets in the throne room; the tablets would automatically adjust due to sorting and a person's actions and friends and create a clear social order, which would govern one's life. Each of the five tablets were different based on the heir courageous deeds could take you up in Gryffindor, as good grades could in Hufflepuff and acts of love in Honokaa.
Rowena then went on to explain "Due to the nature of what you already know about the future, we have deemed it appropriate to wipe some of your memories after this conversation, but don't worry you'll still remember most things and we've already changed your appearance for you." A mirror appeared in front of Amelia and she saw that she had been given honey brown eyes, tanned skin and wavy black hair. Amelia was about to ask what memories she would be losing when she felt herself being sent back, they clearly didn't want to have to answer that question.
Amelia opened her eyes and she was in Hogwarts infirmatary, stood around her bead Amelia saw three people a very young Madam Pomfrey, a younger Albus Dumbledore and Armando Dippet. Amelia remembered that Armando Dippet was the headmaster before Dumbledore as she had spoken to his portrait in the Headmasters office many times before. Madam Pomfrey was fussing over her, apparently in the time travel Amelia had accumulated some bumps and scratches, once Madam Pomfrey had finished she stepped back to let Headmaster Dippet ask Amelia some questions.
"Jane Meadowhearst, not a name I recognise or a face for that matter, but you look of Hogwarts age."
Amelia knew she could trust Headmaster Dippet from what Dumbledore had told her of him, "Your right sir I need a private word with yourself and Professor Dumbledore." Madame Pomfrey refused to let Amelia get up so simply shut the curtain and had Headmaster Dippet put up a silencing charm, "There you are now. So tell us Miss Meadowhearst what's going on."
Amelia took a deep breath and said "Sirs, what I am about to tell you may seem absurd, but I promise you it is the truth, you see I have been sent back in time I am from the future."
Headmaster Dippet seemed curious as well as a little worried "Why were you sent back?"
"I'm not sure sir, all I was told that the fate of the Wizarding world rested on my coming back, you see in the future we are fighting a very dark wizard, but I don't think I should tell you any more." Both men nodded as meddling with time was dangerous business. Dumbledore spoke for the first time,
"If I might interject Headmaster, as to why Jane wanted me here?"
"Force of habit I suppose, as in the future, I know you quite well" Both men nodded knowing that she was picking her words carefully. They asked her the necessary questions such as what subjects she was studying
Professor Dippet went into thought for a moment before opening the curtain and speaking with Madame Pomfrey, then turning back to Amelia. "You'll stay here for tonight then tomorrow I'll come fetch you and we'll have you sorted" Amelia nodded and Dippet and Dumbledore left as Madame Pomfrey handed Amelia a sleeping draught.
Amelia awoke the next morning ready to face anything; she had never had such a refreshing nights sleep. She had a breakfast of scrambled egg on toast and had just finished when Professor Dumbledore came in, with the sorting hat, "I'm afraid Headmaster Dippet has important business to tend to so he sent me to have you sorted. Amelia put the hat on and listened to what it had to say assuming it would put her into Gryffindor again. "Ahh what have we here? Yes, there is great power in your bones, qualities worthy of all houses. My, my now where shall I put you? Ah, you were in Gryffindor before but is that still right... No better be Slytherin. Amelia practically started choking, she'd gone from Gryffindor to Slytherin, how had that happened.
Professor Dumbledore spoke having not heard the conversation "Are you alright, seems like you experienced a bit of a shock? Slytherins not the house you were in before?"
"No sir, I was in Gryffindor." Professor Dumbledore simply nodded, come now well take you to see Professor Slughorn, he's the head of Slytherin house and not to worry Headmaster Dippet saw fit to invest in some books and robes for you, Dumbledore handed Amelia a bag with everything she needed. Amelia nodded asking Dumbledore to pass on her thanks, before changing into her school robes and following him to the dungeons. The first lesson was just starting to file in, but upon seeing Dumbledore, Professor Slughorn came over, "Albus what can I help you with and who's this young lady."
"A knew student Horace, Jane Meadowhearst she was sorted into your house, she in her seventh year so..." Albus was interrupted as the boy from the lake came over and spoke to Amelia
"Jane, I'm glad to see you're alright and you're in Slytherin."
Dumbledore spoke to the boy "Ah yes Tom seeing as you and Jane are already acquainted, why don't you keep an eye on her for me?" Tom nodded and took Amelia's hand leading her to two empty seats. Professor Slughorn set the potion for the lesson and everyone gathered their ingredients. Once things had settled a little Tom asked "So Jane, where were you before Hogwarts?" Amelia was ready for this question and had already discussed her answer with Headmaster Dippet the night before. "I attended Beauxbatons, as my father moved us there when I was ten, as he was doing some undercover auror work you see and well..." Amelia paused for dramatic effect, she was an excellent actress and as such a brilliant liar "You see the group my father was spying on, well they found out he was an auror and killed both him, they were interrupted whilst torturing me, but as you can see I pulled through and was sent hear for my own protection." Amelia wiped a false tear from her eye as she felt Tom's arm snake around her., Amelia shook her head to make it look like she was pulling herself together, "Come on we haven't even started the potion yet."
Amelia decided to let her potions skills show and when Slughorn was coming round inspecting the Potions he was clearly impressed, "Why Jane that is brilliant you clearly are a talented witch and an asset to Slytherin if I do say so myself 10 points to Slytherin. Now tell me what brings you to Hogwarts." Tom's head sprung up at this and squeezed Amelia's hand as he said
"Professor I think that is a topic best left to another time, suffice to say she previously attended Beauxbatons." Slughorn nodded his head and seemed to be in shock that Tom would jump to somebody's defence and protect them so vigorously. Amelia smiled at Tom and went back to her potion. When she was finished Amelia bottled her potion and took it over to Professor Slughorn, "Excellent work Miss Meadowhearst, you certainly are talented." Amelia blushed at the compliment, it wasn't often she was praised for good work it was simply what was expected of her. Going back to her desk Amelia cleaned up and had just finished as Tom finished bottling his potion, as tom was taking away the potion Amelia cleaned up for him. When seeing that his desk was already clean and all he had to do was put his stuff away and leave he thanked her giving her a heart-warming smile.
Upon leaving the classroom a boy chased after them "Hi Tom, who's this?" The boy was of large build, with short black hair and brown eyes. "Avery this is Jane, she's a new student from France, Jane this is a friend of mine Avery." The two nodded head before head. Tom went school the Hogwarts school day with her as Amelia pretended to be interested but she knew all this already. First two lessons were at 9., there was a short break in-between but only to get to lesson then there was lunch that ended at one, followed by two afternoon lessons and supper was at half four. Their next lesson was Transfiguration with professor Dumbledore and Amelia was curious to find out what kind of teacher he actually was.
It turned out Dumbledore was in fact a really good teacher he always knew when someone was going to get in trouble but Amelia could have sworn that he kept giving her and Tom suspicious looks. After leaving the classroom, Amelia remembered that it was time for lunch she was thankful that Tom was guiding her, as she nearly headed for the Gryffindor table out of habit. Tom introduced her to everyone around the table and they all greeted her with a smile and she felt strangely welcome, it was like if you were a Slytherin you weren't just friends you were a family who would stick together through thick and thin.
After lunch Tom and some of his cronies went off on a walk to talk about some "important matters" so the girls showed her to the Common room, the password was Wolfsbane. Wandering in Amelia saw that it was just the same as in her own time, one girl Belinda Wassen, had taken a particular shine to Amelia and showed her up to the girl's dormitory. Amelia couldn't believe how nice the Slytherins were, it seemed so strange. "So Jane if you need anything just asks me." Amelia offered her thanks as Belinda began to ask how Amelia had met Tom and Amelia had to think fast. She hadn't thought of an excuse as to why she had been found passed out by the lake, Silly of her really.
"Oh well you see I was coming into Hogwarts and I began to think of my parents and my mind wandered so my feet went off course and I tripped and banged my head. Tom found me passed out by a lake." Belinda nodded seemingly believing Amelia, who had been never been so thankful for quick thinking. "From Potions should I take it not to ask about your parents?" Amelia simply stated that she was newly orphaned and Belinda nodded not wanting to upset her. They were talking about the other Slytherins and Amelia found out Tom's name was Riddle. She recognised it, but she couldn't think why and as much as she didn't like it, she assumed this must have been one of the memories she had lost or she just had a sense of deja vue
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So what do you think? If any of my names or details are wrong at any point during this story tell me and I'll fix it as soon as I can.