A/N: Mirabel is starting to suspect there's more to her connection with the new miracle, and Julieta has come up with her first new story in over twenty years.

Julieta's story was inspired by the horror/sci-fi novel 'Only Forward', by Michael Marshall Smith.

Genre: Dark comedy.

Acknowledgements: I want to thank the community of the Writers Anonymous forum for giving more than a little input on this one. If any of you see this, you really were a massive help. Thank you.

Only Forward

"And I'm not asking you to. I just thought you might be interested."

"Sorry, Mirabel. But I'm not."

"Just… I really think I'm right about this."

"Maybe you are. I'd still find a way to mess it up."

A sudden movement caused Bruno and Mirabel to look towards the steps to the kitchen. Isabela leapt down from a vine, landing in the dining room surprisingly softly for how fast she'd been travelling. The splashes of pink and yellow on her dress were so vivid they almost appeared luminous against the deep indigo. Her blue hair had streaks of the same neon pink, and a long chain of multicoloured flowers hung by her hip.

She had arrived carrying a pair of glass vases in her hands with reckless disregard for their fragility, and she placed them on the table.

"You two weren't arguing just now, were you?" she asked, as voluminous arrangements of brightly coloured flowers sprouted from the vases.

"Of course not," insisted Mirabel. "I was just telling Tío Bruno how I think his gift has changed."

"You still think you can tell?" Isabela asked sceptically, pulling up a chair beside them.

"I've been right so far, haven't I? First Dolores, now Mamá."

"You didn't exactly predict how their gifts had changed, so much as make some well-timed remarks. Seems like a coincidence to me," said Isabela with a slight scoff.

Mirabel looked frustrated. "I can't explain it, Isa. But ever since I became the bearer of the miracle, I feel like I can communicate with it somehow. Like… I don't think I can make it do things, but I dunno. Maybe I can sense what it's planning? All I know is I'll think of something that would be nice for someone, and then… poof… they can do it."

Bruno plucked a flower from the nearest vase. "What would be nice for me, is not having a gift at all. Can you do that next please?"

Mirabel rolled her eyes. "I said I can't make it do things."

"But if you think of something that would be nice for one of us, it happens?" he remarked, fiddling with the flower.

"Yes. And this version of your gift would be nice!"

A flash of surprise came across Bruno's face as he accidentally knocked the flower off its stalk, but the expression quickly faded to morose. Isabela noticed and took the stalk from him.

"Mirabel, I know you have our uncle's best interests at heart, but sometimes, what seems best for someone isn't what would make them happy," she said as the flower reattached seamlessly and she returned it to the vase. "You said our happiness should always come first, right?"

Mirabel sighed. "You're right." She forced half a smile and turned to Bruno. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to pressure you. I just thought you should know."

"And now I do."

"And now you do." Mirabel agreed.

"Isabela, darling!' Julieta had returned from her break and was calling from the kitchen. "Could you let everyone know it's nearly time for dinner?"

"No problem!" she replied brightly, lifting her feet and climbing to a standing position on the chair.

She then leapt from the chair landing on a thick vine that had appeared as she began to descend. The vine carried her straight towards the closed patio doors at considerable speed. The Casita reacted just as she was about to collide with the wood, pulling back the folding latticed doors with a clatter, and she glided through without so much as a flinch. Mirabel and Bruno then watched her surf past the dining room windows and up towards the bedrooms, whooping as she went.

"Is it just me," Mirabel began slowly, staring at the patio outside, "or does Isabela seem a little… wilder, these days?"

Bruno watched the doorway as though replaying what he had just witnessed, then shrugged. "Seems the same to me."

.

That night…

The Madrigal family gathered in the vision cave just before midnight, arranging themselves once again as they had done since the very first meeting, with the triplets at one end of the circle. Pepa sat to the right of Bruno, with Félix beside her and then their children in descending age order, and Julieta's family followed the same pattern on Bruno's left. Parce lay behind Antonio, who rested against the jaguar's warm body like he was a big soft beanbag, and Abuela sat with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, directly opposite her son.

"Mamá, you said you had another story, didn't you?" said Mirabel once everyone had made themselves comfortable with their cushions and blankets, and the snacks had been passed around.

Julieta had shared her previous story with her brother and sister many years ago and only repeated it at the first Midnight Club meeting because no one else had anything planned at such short notice. The combined demands of parenthood, feeding an ever-growing family and serving the needs of an expanding community, had put an end to her storytelling days long ago, but that had changed recently.

Many of their gifts had changed slightly over the past few months. Pepa now had full control of the weather, Isabela could create far more than just flowers, and Dolores could turn her super hearing off and on at will, but Julieta's had remained the same. That was, until a few days earlier. After Mirabel mentioned that healing by touch would have been more convenient, she had become curious.

The following day, she tested this idea and sure enough, at least minor injuries would heal simply by her placing her hands nearby. This considerably reduced the amount of time she needed to spend in the kitchen and meant she finally had more time to read. Immersing herself in the kind of magical worlds she loved as a child had rekindled her dormant imagination, inspiring her to come up with a brand new story of her own.

"I do, but I've already had my turn."

"Anyone else want to go next?" Mirabel asked, looking around the room where there was a distinct and deliberate avoidance of eye contact from everyone. "Looks like you're in luck!"

"Oh, then, I'd love to go next. Thank you, Mirabel." Julieta then cleared he throat and prepared to share the first new story she had come up with in over twenty years.

.

"Sometimes, something that appears as one thing is really something else, but at other times, the thing is exactly the thing it appears to be, which is not the thing it's meant to be at all."

"Sorry, what?" Bruno interrupted, blinking at his sister with confusion. "Would you like to try that sentence again?"

"You don't need to understand it, Bruno. I'm just setting the mood. Creating a hook. It'll all make sense eventually."

"I'd rather it made sense now if you don't mind."

Julieta sighed and tried her sentence again. "Sometimes things appear a certain way, but once you look more closely, you see that it is merely an illusion. But at other times, despite what logic might tell you, it is exactly as it appears... Any better?"

"You know what? Just tell your story," Bruno said, looking no less confused.

"Hermione Granger was an exceptional student. Unlike her peers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—"

"What did I tell you? Always witches…" muttered Bruno beside her.

Julieta glared at him.

"Sorry, sorry… go on…."

"Unlike her peers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione wasn't born to magical parents. Her ability was truly a chance blessing, and she was determined to work hard and honour the gift she had been given. Whatever it took, however hard she had to work, she would be the best witch she could. Studious, bright and with such an insatiable thirst to succeed, Hermione had signed up for extra classes during her third year of school, but some were scheduled for the same time.

"Although not a privilege extended to just any old student, her Head of House, Professor McGonagall, had given Hermione a special device called a Time-Turner, that allowed her to skip back and forth in time and attend two classes at once. This had come with strict instructions to use it only for attending class, to keep it quiet, and avoid being seen in two places at once. Instructions that Professor McGonagall could be sure Hermione would follow to the letter.

"Hermione waited at her desk until the other students had left the Divination class, heaved her heavy satchel over her shoulder and then swiftly left the North Tower. Once she was sure she was alone, she took out the circular, golden pendant that hung from a chain around her neck. A tiny rotating hourglass was suspended in the centre and she rotated it backwards, twice.

"What?" she said, curiously when nothing happened. She spun the hourglass again, but time remained as it was."

"Come on, come on…." She kept trying to activate the device but nothing happened at all.

"She could hear the approaching footsteps of fellow students hurrying to their next class, so she headed to the Great Hall to avoid being spotted.

"Once inside the vast and formidable hall, which was lit by many candles that floated in the air against a magical ceiling that looked like the sky outside, Hermione tried the Time-Turner again and once more. Again, nothing happened.

"The realisation that the device had malfunctioned finally set in, and she began to feel the first twinge of panic. She needed to go back two hours or she would miss double Arithmancy. She could not miss double Arithmancy.

"'No, no, no… this isn't happening,' she cried, frantically spinning the hourglass.

"A sudden pop accompanied by the jangling of bells snapped Hermione from her thoughts, and her heart immediately sank.

"'Ooh, deary, deary me. What is the matter with Miss smarty-pants Granger?' sang a familiar but extremely unwelcome voice.

"'Not now Peeves,' Hermione hissed, quickly tucking the Time-Turner into her cloak.

"A small, semi-transparent man had appeared, floating a little above Hermione. His jet-black, oily hair poked out from beneath an outlandish hat onto which bells had been sewn, and he wore a garish orange bow tie. Peeves drifted down, gradually appearing more solid until his feet landed lightly on the stone floor. He then grinned at Hermione, showing his pointed teeth.

"'Come on. Tell old Peevsie what's wrong,' he insisted. His words sounded friendly but his crackling tone dripped with malice.

"'You're the last person I'd ask for help,' Hermione snarled, marching towards the door to get away from the poltergeist.

"Several ghosts had taken up permanent residence at Hogwarts over the centuries, but none were quite like Peeves. He could float, and glide through walls if he wished, but unlike the other spectral inhabitants, Peeves could also take physical form, and interact with the tangible world. His favourite pastime was causing mischief and he had a lot of time to pass. Hermione knew well enough that Peeves was trouble, and more trouble was the last thing she needed, so she left the hall, closing the heavy doors behind her.

"Once outside, she took a deep breath, leaning against the doors to steady herself. She reached into her cloak, took out the device, and tried the hourglass once more.

"'Oooh, the ickle ticky-tock. Has someone been playing with time?' Peeves had made himself incorporeal again and was poking his head through the thick wood.

"Before Hermione could react, Peeves continued through the door, grabbed the chain and yanked it over her head, taking the Time-Turner with it.

"'Give that back this instant!' Hermione demanded.

"'No need to shout,' Peeves pouted, pretending to be hurt.

"As he gazed at the pendant in his hand, a broad, unsettling grin spread across his face, somehow wider than would be possible for a face made of muscle and skin. His pupils danced with all the mischief that flooded his putrid mind and with a slow, sideways glance at Hermione, he spun the hourglass.

"'What?' he croaked with frustration when he realised he hadn't moved through time. He continued to rapidly spin the hourglass. 'It's busted.'

"'That's the problem,' Hermione said haughtily. She knew better than to tell Peeves too much, but couldn't resist the chance to point out that someone was wrong. 'It's not working and I'm now going to miss double Arithmancy. I just need to speak to Professor McGonagall. She'll know what to do.' She then started heading down the corridor, flicking her thick, frizzy hair as she went.

"'Not here,' Peeves sang out after her.

"Hermione paused. 'She's not here?'

"'Nope. On 'busy-ness', she said!'

"The bell rang to signal the start of the next class and Hermione became flustered.

"'I have to fix this. My attendance is 100%. I can't afford to miss a single class,' she said, more to herself than to Peeves. 'Now please, give that back!'

"Hermione launched herself at the poltergeist, hoping to grab the Time-Turner, but he vanished at the last second. The Time-Turner then floated a few feet from Hermione's grasp and with a pop, Peeves reappeared, this time floating above the ground.

"'Tut, tut, snotty Miss Granger. Where are your manners? Only trying to help.'

"Peeves examined the device. 'Aha, here's the problem. There's something in here, there is,' he said, shaking it to his ear.

"He then tugged at the hourglass and it popped out with a snap.

"'What are you doing you demented old…'

"'Ah-ah… don't interrupt. Yes, yes, that's what it is. Full of sand isn't it.'

"'That's meant to be there!' Hermione yelled, frantically. But it was too late, Peeves had snapped the tiny hourglass in two and was shaking the fine, magical dust onto the floor.

"He forced the broken bits of hourglass back into the device and attempted to turn it.

"'Still busted,' he said, tossing it on the floor. 'Sorry witchy. Bye.' He started to cackle wildly and then vanished, leaving no trace but fading laughter and the jingling of bells.

"Hermione dropped to the floor and picked up the broken pieces of the Time-Turner. She had worked so hard, and her attendance had always been immaculate. What about the homework? What if something came up that wasn't in the textbook? Or worse yet, what if Professor Vector asked a question that only Hermione knew the answer to, and she wasn't there to answer?

"'This isn't happening. This can't be happening.'

"Hermione started to cry.

"'Miss Granger, out of class?'

"There was a rattling of chains and Hermione looked up to see another ghost had appeared. It was the Bloody Baron. Despite his unnerving, blood-stained appearance, he was by and large a rather agreeable ghost.

"'Something the matter?' he asked.

"'It's the Time-Turner,' Hermione sniffed. 'Peeves broke it and now I can't go back in time. I'm missing double Arithmancy!'

"The Baron's expression darkened. 'Peeves?' He then repeated in a growling voice, 'Peeves! Show yourself this instant!'

"Peeves materialised almost immediately, and his wicked grin was replaced by apprehension. Everyone at Hogwarts knew the Bloody Baron was one of the only people who could control Peeves, though nobody knew why.

"'Yes, Baron?'

"'What did you do to Miss Granger's Time-Turner?'

"'Didn't do nothing. Already busted, it was,' Peeves said, his voice whining more than usual.

"'You made it worse!' yelled Hermione, pointing at him.

"'Well… I…'

"'You're going to fix this Peeves,' the Bloody Baron demanded. 'I don't care how you do it, but get this young lady to double Arithmancy, or you'll have me to answer to.'

"'Yes Baron. Leave it to me Your Bloodiness!' Peeves said, trying to sound sincere.

"'I have to trust HIM?' gasped Hermione.

"'Peeves won't be pulling any more pranks today, Miss Granger. Not if he knows what's good for him,' the Bloody Baron replied, causing Peeves to recoil with a single glance. 'You have until dinner to sort this out!'

"'Dinner? But—'

"'Stop wasting time and get it fixed!' he barked, and with the clinking of chains, he floated through the wall and into the hall.

"'So…' Hermione began, awkwardly, 'what do you suggest?'

"Peeves looked thoughtful, then said. 'Don't know. Don't know nothing 'bout time magic. But I can look it up.'

"'If you mean the library, don't waste your time. I know just about every book in there and I can tell you there's no spell that can transport me backwards through time by two hours. Only a Time-Turner can do that.'

"'Not the library. There's another place. A place only ghosties can go,' Peeves said, and then before Hermione could ask any more questions, he vanished.

"Hermione sat alone with her thoughts, wondering if she was making a mistake trusting Peeves. Was attending double Arithmancy really worth the risk? What? Of course it was. She had a perfect attendance record to uphold after all.

"Peeves reappeared with a bright expression on his face, that didn't seem like the delight he would wear at seeing chaos and destruction, or the unbridled joy of knowing one of his pranks was about to unfold. Hermione felt hopeful.

"'There's a natural thingamy-whatsit,' he began sounding almost authoritative and certainly confident, 'that only happens in the wizarding world. Can be used to travel through time, it can!'

"'And I can get back too?'

"'I suppose.'

"'Great. So… what do I do?'

.

"It wasn't easy convincing Neville to help. Ron or Harry would have been better choices, as they were both much better at flying, but they were already at the Quidditch pitch getting in some practice before dinner."

"A ball game played on flying broomsticks," Julieta broke from her story to explain before anyone asked.

"But Hermione knew that Neville had been asked to stay behind after class because there were a few things he was struggling to understand. She grabbed him the second he left the classroom.

.

"'So, all I have to do is fly over the Black Lake?' Neville asked as they both headed for the lake carrying broomsticks.

"'Until it appears solid, yes,' confirmed Hermione.

"'Remind me why again.'

"Hermione rolled her eyes. 'It only works if we're both expecting it to happen, but at some point when you are high enough above a large body of water, and the light is at just the right angle, your eyes will trick you into thinking it is solid earth. At that moment, it will also appear solid to me. That's my chance.'

"'Your chance to what?'

"'To go back in time and attend double Arithmancy.'

"'And that's absolutely necessary?' Neville sounded very unsure about the whole thing.

"'Of course. Look, just promise me you won't tell anyone about this, okay? I'll be back in time for dinner. Everything will be fine!'

"Neville wasn't convinced, and he didn't much care for flying so high, but he wanted to help his friend and so did as he was asked.

"Hermione waited patiently by the edge of the lake and watched as Neville spiralled above her.

"'Just before Arithmancy, just before Arithmancy, just before Arithmancy' she chanted to herself, focusing all her energy on the precise point in time she needed to reach.'

"Once Neville appeared to be high enough, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She gasped when she opened them again. Just as she had hoped, the surface of the lake now appeared like solid, albeit muddy, earth.

"She took a tentative step onto the lake and was relieved to find it took her weight. She then proceeded to walk across it, continuing her chant as she went.

"'Just before Arithmancy, just before Arithmancy, just before Arithmancy.'

"After some time, Hermione glanced up at Neville where he dutifully remained, holding onto the illusion that the lake was solid. She had instructed him not to leave until he had seen her vanish.

"As she neared the centre of the lake, the world around her began to blur, and there was a dull ringing in her ears as though they had become filled with water. She quickened her steps and there came a popping sound and the ringing ceased. The world slowly became clear again and when she looked towards the sky, Neville was no longer there. It had worked. Hermione had made it!

.

"'Well, did you fix it?' boomed the Bloody Baron.

"'Course I did!' replied Peeves. 'Found a trick I did.'

"'What kind of trick?'

"'When the lake looks solid, Miss Granger can walk right on over, and into the past!'

"'WHAT? Where is she now? She hasn't done it yet, has she?' the Bloody Baron was almost always calm and collected, and yet he seemed to be in a state of panic.

"'She has. She's all gone. Two hours in the past, like we said.'

"'You foolish poltergeist! I meant, fix the Time-Turner! That ritual can only transport people FORWARD in time. One hundred years forward!'

"Peeves tried to look bashful, but couldn't quite mask his delight at what might go down in history as the greatest prank ever. 'Whoopsie!'

.

"Something looked different when Hermione made it to the other side of the lake, although she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She hopped on her broom and hurried back to the great castle that was Hogwarts. She didn't want to miss a minute of Arithmancy if she could help it.

"As she neared the school, a group of unfamiliar female students wearing the Hufflepuff house colours passed by. They were whispering to one another, and Hermione noticed the yellow in their scarves was different; paler perhaps, and the badge on their blazers bore a slightly different design.

"Not a single student looked familiar to Hermione as she made her way towards her Arithmancy class, and even the Gryffindor uniform was different to her own. She noticed that the paintings had changed too, or were in a different location. Something did not seem right, so she decided to pay the Headmaster, Dumbledore a visit.

"Hermione was particularly perplexed by a large portrait near Dumbledore's office that appeared to show an older version of her schoolmates, Harry and Ron.

"'Hermione! It's so good to see you!' said Harry with a wave from within the magical canvas.

"'Well I'll be. Would you look at that, Harry. It really IS Hermione!' breathed Ron.

"She waved politely back, but Hermione was too unnerved to stick around and exchange pleasantries with a painting.

"As she drew near, an unfamiliar figure blocked the entrance to Dumbledore's office and appeared to be leaving.

"'Thank you Professor Lupin,' said the tall wizard with pronounced features and dark, curly hair, peppered with grey. 'That'll be all.'

"Professor Lupin? Hermione thought to herself. Their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? What was he doing in Dumbledore's office?

"The wizard at the door noticed Hermione and smiled. 'Well, what do you know, you were right, Teddy. She's here, just like you said she'd be.'

"Confused further by that comment, Hermione entered the office still clutching her broom and froze when she saw neither Dumbledore nor her Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Instead, an elderly man with a short beard and kind eyes was sitting in the Headmaster's chair.

"'Ah, Hermione Granger. Come in, come in.' He motioned towards a spare seat by his desk, and she tentatively sat down. 'Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Edward Remus Lupin. You're welcome to call me 'Teddy', but please know this is not something I allow just any third-year student to call me," he said with a playful wink.

"As he spoke, Hermione could swear his eyes had changed from deep blue to green, to the darkest brown.

"'I suppose you'll be wondering what is going on? Correct?' he continued, and Hermione nodded. 'I'm afraid Peeves made a bit of a miscalculation. The ritual he told you about can't take you back in time. Only forward. One hundred years forward, to be exact.'

"Hermione gasped. 'I'm a hundred years in the future? But… there's a way to get back, right? We can use magic? There's a spell for that?'

"Teddy looked regretful, and his hair faded to a paler grey. 'I'm afraid there isn't,' he said. Hermione's shoulders slumped at his words. 'Yet!' he added with a glint that sent his eyes blue again.

"He picked up several thick leather-bound books and handed them to Hermione.

"'After you disappeared, your friends never gave up trying to bring you back. Ron and Harry used their position as Aurors to access the most heavily guarded magical texts, in order to find anything that could help.'

"'They became Aurors?'

"'Indeed. And with their research, they revolutionised magical time travel. However, for all their efforts, they never worked out how to return you to your original place in the past. Time magic is highly unstable, especially the method you used, and almost irreparable damage was caused by that ritual.

"Hermione turned the pages of one of the books. 'This is all of their research, isn't it?'

"Teddy nodded. 'After Ron passed away, Harry was too old and too tired to continue, so he asked that I pass these on to you. They may not have succeeded, but they were getting close. If anyone can figure out the rest, it's the smartest student Hogwarts has ever had.'

"Hermione closed the book and slowly raised her head until her eyes made contact with Teddy's. His hair was no longer grey, but a mousy shade of brown.

"'But… where do I even start?' she asked, feeling rather dizzy from the gravity of her situation.

"The school bell began to sound.

"'Well, I suggest you start by getting yourself along to double Arithmancy,' Teddy said, glancing at a parchment on his desk and dipping his quill in ink. 'You're exceedingly late for class.'"

.

"Hey, not bad Tía Julieta," said Camilo when it was clear she'd finished her story.

"Thanks, Camilo."

"So… like, is everyone a witch or wizard in that world?" asked Luisa.

"At Hogwarts? Mostly, yes. It's a school for witches and wizards after all. But generally, no. There are many non-magical folk in the world, like Hermione's parents. The wizarding world calls them 'muggles'."

"Muggles?" inquired Camilo.

"Yeah. So Hermione is known as a 'muggle-born'."

Camilo got a playful glint in his eye. "Hey, Pa!" Félix looked his way. "You're a muggle!"

Isabela looked uncomfortable. "I don't think we should use words like that, even as a joke. It feels disrespectful to Mirabel."

"Actually," Julieta began, "Mirabel wouldn't be a muggle, she'd be a squib because she has a magical parent. But I agree, I don't think it's a good idea to make distinctions between those of us with, and without gifts. Everyone's just as valuable in this family."

"So, are we going to talk about the 'unceptionals' then?" Camilo remarked. "What was so wrong with 'ungifted' anyway?"

"Yeah, I preferred 'ungifted' too," agreed Julieta. "'Unceptional' sounds insulting."

"But you have gifts, so I don't think you get to choose what we call ourselves!" insisted Félix. "I like 'unceptional'. It's just a funny poke at how it used to feel being an outsider in an incredible family."

"I don't like 'ungifted' either," Bruno agreed. "That would exclude me, wouldn't it? But 'unceptional', I can identify with. Even when I used my gift, I never felt exceptional."

"Okay, okay… how about you can call yourselves the unceptionals," said Julieta. "But the rest of us just call you 'Agustín, Félix and Bruno'?"

"So Abuela and I don't count now, do we not?" Mirabel said although it was clear from the slight giggle behind her words that she was only teasing. Everyone knew she was perfectly happy simply being a Madrigal.

This didn't stop Julieta from getting flustered, however. "You're miracle bearers, Mirabel. That makes you more exceptional than any of us!"

Camilo started to laugh at the calamity he'd created. "You know… I'm starting to think labels are more trouble than they're worth," he remarked.

And that was something the whole family could agree on.