Chapter 27 : "Gotta Get Back In Time"
Draco glanced at his watch, took a deep breath and announced, "It's time. Perhaps we should wait in the hallway, no telling what this room looks like if Sirius is living here."
Ginny giggled and stood, putting out her hand to Harry. "Draco's right, this could get ugly!"
"Hey!" Harry allowed her to pull him to his feet. "That's my God-father you're talking about, madam! I'd watch my tongue, if I were you."
"Ha! Sirius doesn't scare me . . . if he's living here, that means I've got new territory to claim and re-do," replied Ginny, eagerly rubbing her hands together.
"Love, by now you've already done that," Draco reminded her, as he ushered them toward the door. "I'm more interested in seeing how our memories change. Hope it's not too much of a sensory overload." He closed the parlor door firmly.
"Perhaps a bit of anesthesia," suggested Ron. "Kreacher!"
'Pop'
"Yes, Mister Ron, how can Kreacher be of service?" asked the ancient House Elf, bowing.
"We each need a shot of fire whiskey. Quickly, please."
"Right away, Mister Ron."
'Pop"
"Anesthesia or shot of courage, Ronald?" asked Hermione, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.
"Both!"
'Pop'
Kreacher re-appeared, tray in hand, laden with five shot glasses of the amber drink. Taking one each, as Kreacher circulated among them, all looked at the closed door of the front parlor, silently raised their glasses and downed the fiery liquid.
Ginny and Hermione both gasped, eyes watering, while Harry and Ron grinned and Draco shook his head.
"Amateurs," Draco muttered, smiling.
"Perhaps we should sit on the stairs; if these new memories hit hard, we might get dizzy or even pass out," Ginny suggested, walking over and sitting down on the carpeted treads. Hermione joined her and linked arms with her sister-in-law. Ron braced himself against the wall next to Hermione, while Harry leaned on the newel post.
Draco sat on a small bench and looked at his watch again. "We should start to feel our memories changing any minute now. Don't fight it, or try to sort them out, just let them flow and worry about remembering details later."
The others nodded at him. Ron took Hermione's hand, even as Harry decided to sit on the floor and lean on Ginny's knees as she ran her fingers through his perpetually messy hair.
"You need a trim," she observed.
Harry turned to her. "Won't help. You know that, right?"
"Yes, but I can . . . . ." Suddenly Ginny gasped and she looked at Harry, eyes wide.
"Ginny? What . . . " Harry started to ask, then he, too, took a deep breath, wincing before clapping his hand over his scar. "OW!"
Ron knelt and pulled Hermione into his arms as tears sprang to her eyes.
"Ron!"
"It's alright, 'mione, I'm right here," he whispered in her ear. Then he stiffened."BLOODY HELL!"
Draco was sitting, hands over his ears, as if trying to shut out their voices, concentrating, even as tears started coursing down his cheeks, unnoticed . . . and then a smile spread across his face. He checked the others, who were looking around, dumbfounded.
"Are you all okay?" Harry was the first to find his voice.
Ginny was looking around, trying to see what changes were evident. "Oh, dear."
"What?" Hermione twisted and looked up the stairs, then checked the hallway.
"It looks the same," Ginny observed in a small voice.
"Not quite," came a voice from the back parlor, as Sirius Black emerged, dressed in leather pants and a 'STAY CALM SWISH & FLICK' !" t-shirt. "I took your advice about this hallway, Ginny; lightens the old place up, don't you think?"
"Sirius!" "You're alive!" "You look great!" "I'm so glad to see you!" "Anyone else here?"
"Whoa! One at a time! Yes, I'm alive, I'm glad to see you lot, too and all sorts of people are waiting for the signal to join us." Sirius replied, as he gave them all hugs. "But first, don't we have to make sure Dan and company made it back safely?"
"They'll be here in five minutes," announced Draco, double checking his watch. "I set their return a bit later to give us time to recover from the memory switch-over, if needed. Everybody okay, so far? Any problems?"
"Have to think about that Draco," replied Harry, straight faced. "Ahhhh . . . NO!"
There was a second of stunned silence and then they all dissolved in laughter.
X X X
Most of the crowd had said their good-byes and left the parlor, Dobby would be taking Narcissa and Draco back to Malfoy Manor after he returned from taking Neville and Luna to their homes. The Weasleys were making their way to the kitchen with Severus, Albus and Minerva, Tonks, Mad-Eye and Remus as they prepared to Floo to various destinations. Narcissa was talking with Sirius while she waited for Draco.
"This is going to be weird, saying good-bye to you lot," Rupert announced, pulling Ron into a bear hug, which his 'twin' heartily returned. "Considering we'll be seeing you in just a few seconds."
"That's easy for you to say, Rupert," Hermione sniffed. "We'll have to wait sixteen years before we meet again!"
Emma nodded agreement with Hermione's statement as they threw their arms around each other for a good-bye hug. She risked a glance in Draco's direction and blushed crimson when she saw he was watching her, his patented smirk firmly in place. He winked.
"It'll be worth it, if all of our planning works as we hope," Dan threw his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Just remember, you've got the big advantage of knowing about and having most of the Horcruxes. Do the best you can and don't forget that 'Felix Felicis'.
"We'll do just fine, thanks to all of your help and suggestions," Draco shook Tom's hand, as his fellow 'Slytherin' waved away any thanks.
"How could we possibly have NOT helped? Don't think anything of it, Draco."
"Listen," Draco leaned over and whispered. "I appreciate the fact that you all accepted me, without judgment, considering what you knew of me."
"Hey, I'm glad you had the brains to think of and build this Time Turner," said Tom, as he opened the wooden box he'd lifted out of Emma's bag. "If anything, that proves you have changed, Draco. Just keep up the positive attitude and you'll have a good life, no matter how this turns out." Tom took the special, secret Time Turner and put it on the table. "This little baby is all yours, Draco. Without it and your hard work, we wouldn't be standing here, you know."
"Wait a minute," Hermione walked over and looked down at the dials and buttons. "I thought you said you used a Time Turner like mine!"
"Well, we had to promise to not show this one to everyone, but we are using modified necklace Time Turners, too," Emma came over and explained. "Sorry, but you made us promise to keep it hidden, you realize."
"Oh . . . well . . .I suppose we'd have spent too much time talking about how this one works if you'd shown it to everyone." Ron said, even as he bent over to look at it, sitting, gleaming on the coffee table. "Not to mention how Dad would have been over the moon to try to see how it works! Then we would have had a problem!"
"Too right we would have," Dan agreed, laughing. "What if we were stuck here until time caught up!"
"Tom, I think those books you got Arthur, will keep him happy and busy for MONTHS, if not years!" Harry added.
"Everybody have everything? And I mean everything? Can't leave any books, movies, notes, nothing," Rupert asked.
"We all double checked our backpacks and Emma's bag is packed full!" Dan replied.
"Okay. You four have to stand back at least five feet, maybe over by the piano, if you want to watch us leave," Tom instructed as he set the dials, following Draco's instructions.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco backed away, watching as their new friends stood with the Time Turner in the center of their small circle. Tom reached down to turn the machine on.
"Ready?"
The other three nodded. Tom pushed the button and then straightened up, grasping Emma's hand , she took Dan's, who reached out for Rupert's, who completed the circle by taking hold of Tom's.
"See you in a minute!" Dan called.
Harry waved, while the others nodded.
Draco made eye contact with Emma and she couldn't look away. Suddenly, their Wizarding friends disappeared and the flashing of light through the curtains again showed the passage of time. What would they find when time came back to itself, back in 2012?
X X X
Harry, Ron, Draco and Hermione walked out into the hallway, solemn looks on their faces. Narcissa glanced at Sirius, who shrugged.
"Come on, people, it's going to work out just fine." Sirius smiled as he approached the group of teenagers. "We'll get to 2012 in great shape, this time around!"
"I hope so," Harry said. "We just have to focus and keep one step ahead of old Voldemort and his gang ."
"Which we are, several steps ahead, even now," Ron pointed out. "I'm hungry." He turned and started down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione muttered, as she followed him.
"We'd better get home and get you packed for school, Draco dear," Narcissa said, smiling at her son, but turning to Sirius, she added, "I almost forgot, Lucius is at a meeting with the Dark Lord this evening, so if I can get word to you of any information he might let slip in conversation, I will."
Sirius nodded. "Send Dobby, that way I'll know it's from you, personally."
'Pop'
"Did Dobby hear his name?" The green eyed House Elf looked up expectantly.
"Yes, indeed, Dobby. Cissa was just saying she'll ask you to deliver any messages she might have for us, if you don't mind?" replied Sirius.
"Certainly, Master Sirius. Dobby is glad to be of service."
"Well, right now, we'd like to get back home, Dobby, if you would be so kind as to take us?' Cissa smiled.
"Of course, Missy Cissa." Dobby held out his hand. "Master Draco?"
"Right. See you at school . . . Potter." Draco grinned at his new friend.
"Yeah . . . one has to take the bad with the good, I suppose," shot back Harry, with a wink.
Draco barked out a laugh and then 'Pop', Dobby, Cissa and he were gone.
X X X
"How close are we, Tom?" Dan asked, as he watched the room changing around them.
The changes had showed up not long after they started their journey back to the future; Grimmauld place had been cleaned, brightened up and then the furnishings had been rearranged, then changed for different pieces, the curtains became lighter, the rug disappeared, the wood floors cleaned and polished. Then more changes, as newer, modern pieces of furniture appeared.
"At least whomever is doing this knows to leave this space open for us," observed Tom. "Ugh, that's an ugly lamp!"
"Then Ginny isn't doing this . . . Sirius must be in charge," laughed Rupert.
"Probably," agreed Emma. "Oh, we seem to be slowing down . . . what's the read-out, Tom."
"Almost there . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . THERE! We're back!" Tom exclaimed, as he reached down and turned off the machine.
Turning around, trying to absorb what they were seeing, Emma clamped her hand over her mouth, Dan and Rupert exchanged stunned looks and shrugged, while Tom stood shaking his head.
"This just reeks of Sirius and his outrageous sense of the ridiculous," Dan said as he turned around, taking it all in. "I'm betting he did this just to surprise us!"
"Lord, I hope so, mate, or else his sense of style and taste are seriously out of whack!" agreed Tom.
"I don't know, it's not so bad," Emma walked over and plopped down on the violently pink leather sofa. "Hey, these really are comfortable, sit down.
The boys sat down and bounced on the cushions, but didn't seem to share Emma's opinion. Rupert stood up and walked across the room, then turned and faced the others.
"Oh, please, Emma . . . would you have this in your flat?" Rupert asked, pointing to the hanging lamps.
"Well...no, but then, I'm not Sirius," was her tart answer.
"Speaking of which," said Dan, as he rose and walked over to a side table, picked up a picture in a silver frame and studied the faces. Smiling, he set it down and headed to the door. "Ready?"
"As we'll ever be, mate!" replied Tom as Emma and Rupert nodded and joined him.
Dan hesitated, then pointed back at the picture. The others looked and smiles appeared on their faces . . . it was a picture of Harry, Ginny and their three children.
Grasping the doorknob, Dan took a deep breath and then pulled it open and led the way out into the hallway.
X X X
"What's taking so long?" Fred turned to his father, who shrugged.
"Sirius said he'd send word as soon as he safely could, son. We just have to be patient." Arthur answered, his arm around Molly's shoulder.
"Be glad you're here to greet them, bro," chided George, pushing Fred sideways, playfully.
"Yeah, Dad," answered Rupert Weasley. "Otherwise we wouldn't be here, either," he added pointing to his twin brother, Thomas.
"Right, point taken!" Fred grinned, as his wife, Angelina, slipped her arm around him, kissing him on the cheek.
"And I wouldn't be part of this family, either," added George's wife, Alicia Spinnet Weasley. "And we wouldn't have our children, either."
Molly laughed as Roxanne and little Daniel Weasley shot past, running after a loose Golden Snitch. "Another generation of Weasleys for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Rupert and Thomas joined in the chase, as the adults cheered. Even Winky was clapping, giggling and cheering from her perch on a stool in the kitchen. Life at The Burrow, in 2012, was good.
X X X
"Ready, darling?" Narcissa checked her reflection in the mirror before turning to her husband.
"Are you sure you want me to come along? I'm still not positive these Muggles will be civil, knowing my history," Lucius muttered.
Narcissa came over and put her arms around her husband and hugged him, then pulled back and looked up at him.
"Lucius Malfoy, you listen to me! Over the past sixteen years you've learned the differences concerning: right and wrong, good and bad, misguided and forward thinking and you've admitted your faults, your misdeeds, false beliefs and made huge changes in yourself and in the Malfoy family's reputation. It took courage, inner strength and humility to admit those things you'd done wrong and make amends. I'm so proud of you, as is Draco. So, I don't think meeting the four Muggles who risked their lives to save us all is anything you need to be worried about, do you?"
Lucius looked into his wife's eyes and saw nothing but love and trust. Hugging her close, he whispered in her ear, "You're the bravest of us all Narcissa . . . you risked your life to save me and our son and for that, alone, I don't deserve you and your love . . . I wasn't strong enough, but you were. . . . my love." He buried his face in her hair, silently thanking his lucky stars they'd all survived.
"Can't breathe!" gasped Narcissa, laughing as Lucius quickly released her and stepped back, blushing.
"Sorry," he smirked. "Don't know my own strength, sometimes."
"That's alright, dearest, just joking,'" She patted him on his cheek. "But, seriously, you'll be greeted with open arms by Rupert, Dan, Emma and especially Tom. I can't wait for you to see how much like Draco he looks. Except for the fact that his hair is sandy colored, he could be Draco's brother or Merlin help us, his twin."
"Oh, no, leave the twins to the Weasleys!" laughed Lucius.
"Indeed, although it looks like we may never be grandparents, Lucius, if Draco doesn't soon find a suitable witch to make his wife," fussed Narcissa, straightening her gown, frowning at barely visible wrinkles, which she smoothed with a flick of her wand.
"Now, Narcissa . . . leave the boy alone, he'll find the right witch in time," Lucius smiled at his wife. "Are you really ready to be 'Granny'?'
"Oh, well . . . I am a bit on the fence about that part of it, I admit," Narcissa snickered.
"Then don't worry, when he gets married, I'm sure he'll let us know about it," teased Lucius.
"KNOW ABOUT IT! I should bloody well think we'd be the first to know!" sputtered Cissa, until she saw Lucius grinning. "Oh, you! Humph!"
X X X
"Hurry up, Teddy! Uncle Sirius should be contacting us any minute now!" Tonks shouted up the stairs.
"Be right down, Mum."
"What are we going to do with the boy, Remus, he's never on time for anything!" Tonks fussed.
"Relax, dear. It could be worse . . . he could take after his mother and be dead clumsy!"
Remus smiled at his wife as she spun around to respond to that remark and almost knocked a lamp off a side table.
"Point taken, dear," Tonks laughed, as she set the lamp back in place.
Running steps were heard descending the steps, and then Teddy Lupin took one big leap and landed with a "Ta-Da!" on the rug at the bottom of the stairs.
"Typical fourteen year old; all speed and noise," remarked Remus, shaking his head.
"I am so excited!" Teddy gushed. "When do we go?"
"Any minute now, son. Be a little patient," chided his mother. "Did you brush your hair, dear?"
"Yes, Mum," Teddy grumbled. "I'm not a kid, you know."
"That's right, dear. Our Teddy has a girlfriend!" Remus stage-whispered to Tonks.
"Dad! How do you know?" Teddy spun around, even as his hair flashed pink in embarrassment.
"Oh, I just saw Bill Weasley's owl flying in and out, so I put two and two together and came up with Victorie. Am I right?"
"We're just friends, Dad. Merlin's saggy shorts!" Teddy threw himself down in an overstuffed armchair, pouting.
"Remus, don't tease him, he has plenty of time for girlfriends later. If Victorie is just a friend, then that's that!" Tonks said, as she put her arm through Remus'. "Look how long it took me to catch you!"
"Catch me! I beg your pardon? It seems I was asking you out . . . "
"That was the second time around . . . the first time, I had to run you to ground, during a war, remember?" Tonks poked him in the ribs.
"Really?" Teddy sat up, looking very interested.
"Never you mind, young man!" Remus shook his finger at his son.
"Okay, fine. Mum will tell me later, anyway," Teddy replied, as he sat back, satisfied look on his face, as Tonks burst out laughing.
"Maybe I can get Severus to make up a memory modifying potions for you, my dear," Remus growled, which sent both Tonks and Teddy into a fit of the giggles.
"He wouldn't dare!" Tonks managed to gasp.
"Oh, yes he would! He's a Slytherin and a good mate of mine, remember, " Remus added.
"So what? He knows we need to retain the memories of both of our histories, if we're going to keep the newer generations from repeating our mistakes," Tonks pointed out, with Teddy nodding agreement.
"That's why Aunt Hermione updated "Hogwarts - A History"; so people wouldn't forget," Teddy reminded them. "Never read it myself, but there it is!"
At that, all three burst into laughter.