Thank you to Glolite and Mrs. Spicy for your inspiration. I hope this chapter does not disappoint you!
Chapter Four – 4:44
"Now! Put her down now!" Severus retrieved his wand from his robes in a flash, the polished wood glinting as it caught the sunlight.
Andrea writhed in midair, the exhilaration of completing her objective clashing with the unpleasant gravitational overturn.
As if snapping out of a trance, James flicked his wand, the termination of the hex resulting in Andrea's sudden tumble to the ground. Not unlike her sudden arrival back on the Hogwarts grounds earlier that morning, the ground collided with her chest and momentarily stole the air from her lungs. Behind James, Sirius chuckled at Andrea's ungraceful tangle of limbs as James released the hex.
"Dammit, James! What's the matter with you?" Andrea's voice was full of strain as she pushed herself up onto her knees.
"You think that's funny, Black?" Severus spat at Sirius, raising his wand in warning, the tip aimed at Sirius's forehead. In silent reply, Sirius raised his wand, his arms poised in preparation to duel.
"What is going on here?" The harsh tone of Professor Kettleburn interrupted the quarrel before any spells could fly. "Black, Snape! Lower your wands immediately."
"Potter helplessly attacked a student, Professor." Severus did not lower his wand, his eyes remaining narrow and focused on Sirius. Outwardly, Andrea's face showed frustration and concern as her eyes darted from Snape to Black. Inwardly, the exhilaration of Severus's chivalry was leaving her breathless.
"Potter, is this true?"
"Yes, it's true!" Andrea snapped.
"Well, yes …" Potter started, "But the spell wasn't aimed at—"
"Detention, Mr. Potter. I suggest you use the time to study for your next OWL. You and Mr. Black will come with me."
Grudgingly, James and Sirius followed Kettleburn while Remus and Peter retreated silently in the opposite direction.
Andrea's eyes moved to Severus's. The dark orbs were still narrow and suspicious, even as he met her curious gaze. In a sudden whoosh of movement, he lowered his tall frame, gathered his supplies and began marching away from Andrea.
"Wait, Severus!" She trotted after him, her robes billowing in the breeze generated by her quickened pace. "Thank you for your help."
Severus's body whipped around to face her, his dark hair cutting through the air before coming to rest on the sallow skin of his face. "May I ask what happened to your intelligence?"
Andrea stopped, Severus's unexpected harsh tone catching her off guard. "What?"
"You stepped in front of a hex! In front of a raised wand! Are you mad?"
"I was just coming to speak with you," she said defensively. Her acting skills suddenly weren't necessary as her frustration with his reaction feverishly bubbled to the surface of her lips. "Just to chat with you about your OWL. It's not my fault James is a careless wizard. Plus he hung me upside-down! You should be mad at him, not me."
"James Potter deserves none of my attention," he scowled. His statement was full of emotion, but Andrea knew it was also a lie. Severus hated James, especially since Potter had something Snape never earned: Lily's heart.
"That was a poor form of dark magic he used," Andrea responded, pointing angrily at James's retreating figure.
"And what do you know of dark magic?" Snape took a step toward Andrea, his voice rough and quiet as his nostrils flared.
"I know more than you think I know," she said smartly, crossing her arms in front of her. A playful smile crept onto her face.
"Doubtful." But Severus's tone and demeanor had been tamed by her words, proving he was intrigued.
"I know you've done it before, and I know you're good at it. I know it brings a new feeling to your magic. You like it."
Severus frowned and turned on his heels, his cloak rippling through the breeze. He marched away from her, her statements clearly hitting a formerly untouched nerve. Andrea hurried after him, her tiny strides no match for his tirade across the grounds.
"You think the dark arts can change you, can fix things, can make you belong—"
"Silence!" With a tornadic gust, Severus planted his feel and swiftly spun around to face her. His stony features and icy gaze equally matched her determination. But the close proximity of the face she had studied for so long momentarily caused her to forget her words. His tone chilled her bones as he continued. "You know nothing of me or the Dark Arts."
The blazing expression on Severus's face had startled her. Had the creeping desire of the Dark Arts already seeped into his veins?
As she did frequently amidst recent events, Andrea reflected on time. Was he a waste of her time? Would her time here not even cure him of his obsession with dark magic? Had her time passed? Time, it felt, was suddenly betraying her. The stinging pain pierced her heart and burned in her eyes.
"And you know nothing of me. You never tried. And I'm tired of being the only one who does."
*****
Marcus Featherstone rushed through the cool halls of the Ministry of Magic, the intra-office memo still wriggling with life in his hand. He had been immediately summoned to the Improper Use of Magic Office regarding an urgent matter of law enforcement.
He slowed his footsteps as he reached the director's office. The door flew open before he could rap on the door. Several memos flew out of the door and soared overhead toward their destinations. A short, portly wizard replaced him, his blonde, thinning hair slicked back atop his shiny head.
"Mr. Featherstone, I've been expecting you." The man held out his arm, guiding Marcus into his office. Marcus nodded his head and entered, anxiously clasping his hands together behind his back.
Nicholas Pepper, Head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, stood opposite Marcus, a thin layer of perspiration coating his balding head. "You understand the implications described in my memo?"
"Yes, sir. Quite extraordinary circumstances. May I ask, sir, how you discovered it?"
"Ministry scientists observed an extreme disruption in the space-time continuum at 4:44 a.m. this morning. An investigation of the location of the disruption, Fiddle and Smith's Tavern in Hogsmeade, showed the partial destruction of one of the owner's offices – Simon Smith. Shortly afterward, we discovered his daughter was missing."
"Fascinating."
"Before you marvel at her magical capabilities, Mr. Featherstone, remember that she has broken magical law, and there are potentially disastrous consequences on her hands."
"Of course, sir."
"I take it you are prepared?"
"As prepared as I can be, sir."
"Good. As the Ministry's Time-turner expert, I fully believe you will succeed, but I must ask that you take two Aurors with you for any assistance you may require. They're waiting for you in the office next door. Report back to me as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Marcus felt the sweat begin to form on his brow, and he felt his hands begin to quake behind his back.
"I would like to have Andrea Smith back before the day's end. Go, now. There is little time.
