The Time Turner Incident
…
Sirius dropped the mug of steaming coffee that he was holding with a rather sharp crack that echoed throughout the expanse.
"Oh bloody hell." James cursed, from Sirius's left elbow.
Yet, no one bothered to admonish him.
"Sirius…James? Blimey…what is going on?" Harry bellowed from the connection, his once prominent scar faded, his eyes rimmed in slight dark circles.
Dumbledore stepped cautiously from the shadows. "Mr. Potter. It seems that there has been an incident with a Time Turner belonging to the Ministry in your time."
Harry looked as though he was going to faint. Chucking, he managed a shaky laugh. "I can see that much, Professor."
"There is no need to call me Professor anymore, Harry. You and I are both adults. If my calculations are correct, you are 37?"
"Yes, profess…I mean Dumbledore."
Sirius laughed. "It's not every day that you find out your godson is a year older than you are!"
Harry managed a weak grimace. Turning his attention to the adolescents, he questioned them. " Are you lot alright? We were worried sick that you'd gone much too far. I presume you are in Grimmauld Place…1995?"
Teddy, nodding, stepped from behind MadEye. "We're alright, Harry. Did you call Bill and Fleur?"
"Yes, the entire family is here. Your Uncle Ron and I are trying to contact some of the officials in the Department of Mysteries." Harry's voice caught slightly.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "May I ask how you are contacting us?"
Harry grinned a rather boyish smirk. "It's all Hermione and Luna Lovegood's doing. They have yet to name the contraption, but it's similar to a muggle holographic image. It's a bit like the fire communication, but without the flames. It allows us to contact individuals in various times and places using a small device. I placed a tracker in James' cellular phone last summer after he attempted to run away and live with the Beaubaton's female population."
"Dad!" James groaned.
Sirius, grinning, high-fived the boy.
"May I ask what a Cellular phone is?" Tonks questioned, stepping from the shadows, dragging Remus along.
Harry's breath grew a bit shaky. "It's an object that allows muggles to contact each other by using wooden poles. It's quite complicated, actually." Harry had spotted Arthur Weasley scribbling madly.
Then, a voice cut through Harry's connection. "You got through, Harry?" This was shortly followed by a quick shout. "He's got it to work…is that Sirius?"
"Hermione…breathe."
"Right… Sorry."
Then, the feed expanded, and the respectively aging faces of Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Bill, Fleur, George (who was missing an ear), Angelina, Luna Lovegood, and Charlie.
"This is unexpected." Lupin mumbled. It was quite disconcerting for him to view former students at his own age.
"Bloody Hell! Is that Dumbledore and Lupin? Tonks?" Ron yelped.
"It's a long story, Ron." Harry mumbled.
"Can we get on with things?" Snape groaned in the background.
"Snape is there? Hang on…this is an Order Meeting." George stated slowly.
"Well spotted Weasley." Snape sneered.
Dumbledore raised his hands. "I suggest we all return to our seats. It appears that the night has yet to draw to a close."
…
An hour later, Lily had fallen asleep, and the future communicators were fully caught up on the varying circumstances.
"So…there isn't a way to get them back yet?" Ginny questioned, crestfallen.
"Do not despair, Mrs. Potter." McGonagall murmured. "We'll sort this mess out in due time."
There was a general agreement.
Sirius spoke up, sounding rather serious. "Now, the real question is why they've been summoned here." He gestured at the travelers.
With a blast of violently purple smoke, a sliver of parchment bellowed from the ceiling, landing in Sirius's outstretched palm. "Well…that's convenient." He stated.
"Mr. Black, if you please…" McGonagall gestured towards the paper.
"Right…Minnie."
The woman scowled.
To whomever this may concern,
You have been congregated for a purpose. In a few moments time, three novels shall appear. It is imperative that you read them all, aloud.. The congregated will not be able to leave the year of 1995 until all three are completed. Time had been stalled in both future and past worlds.
So long for now,
Enya
P.S: Certain individuals will be joining you as the chapter's progress.
P.S.S: All material presented by the books is completely truthful.
MadEye grunted. There wasn't a trace of dark magic upon the parchment.
"Well, as the letter clearly states, I fear that we have no choice but to read." Dumbledore stated.
"Where are the books?" Victoire questioned.
Rose looked up, only to be hit by a fairly large, leather bound package. Ron, from the opposite line, winced in sympathy.
"You alright Rose?"
"Just peachy." She grumbled. Just then, two more packages thudded, the largest slamming into Snape's hooked nose, and the other landing neatly in Luna's lap, on the opposite side of the feed.
Snape read the title. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
"Oh come on!" Harry protested.
Hermione patted his back.
Dumbledore looked rather curious.
Rose read her novel. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
Snape's greasy eyebrows rose ridiculously.
Luna chirped from the feed, her sweet voice issuing a short phrase. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
At this, Dumbledore blanched considerably.
McGonagall, who was observing the tales, announced the order of the novels to the crowd. "The Order of the Phoenix is the first one."
"Well, as it appears that the morning hours draw near, I suggest that we reconvene at eight o'clock." Remus countered, taking notice of Hugo's sleeping form.
Harry nodded in affirmation. "Sounds good to us. We'll leave the feed running. We are camping out in the parlor, so if anyone needs us, we are here."
"Very well." Dumbledore stated, his color returning gradually.
Sirius began directing the parties. "Tonks, you share the upper room with Lily…you seem to have bonded with the little one well. Miss Victoire and Rose, take the second door on the left, third floor corridor. I'll share with Remus and Teddy, while James, Albus, and Hugo can have the room across the hall. Minnie, take the first guest room on the right, off of the fourth hallway, Kingsley, take the room across from that. Snivellus…you take Regulus' old room. MadEye, Arthur, and Molly can take their pick of the two rooms on the fifth floor. Dumbledore, my parent's room is straight upstairs, third door on the left. (If I left anyone out, sorry, it's a lot to keep up with.)
They all straightened, and left for their respective rooms, Tonks carrying a sleeping lily upon her back, the entire congregation (minus Snape) thanking Sirius for their accommodations.
By the time Sirius turned to the feed, Harry was the only one left.
"Hi Sirius."
"Hey kiddo."
"It's been a while."
"I don't make it, do I?"
Tears glistening, Harry shook his head.
Sirius coughed. "How long?"
"The end of this year. Bellatrix Lestrange murders you in the Department of Mysteries."
Sirius let out a gruff bark. "Always knew it would be her. She had it in for me since the day I was born." Something clicked in Sirius' mind. "Hang on…what the bloody hell was I doing in the Department of Mysteries?"
"You came to my rescue. Voldemort tricked me into thinking that he was torturing you for information. Ron, Luna, Ginny, Hermione, Neville and I came to your aid to find it was a trap. By the time you and the order arrived, we were in a bad place. You died in front of my eyes."
Sirius was overwhelmed with emotion. "I'm sorry Harry…that you had to go through that." He swallowed hard.
Harry nodded. "I miss you, Sirius."
Sirius cracked a smile. "I know, Harry, I know."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
And with a brisk hum, the lanterns flickered off in the kitchen, leaving the glowing connection as the solitary source of light.
Sirius strode from the room, his mind a blur, his heart heavy, with one thought in concentration.
The future needs to change.
…
That's a wrap.
Please leave a comment below. The next chapter will be up in a few days' time.
Adios,
Enya