The next morning all of them woke with a feeling of apprehension. The dorm had very much been divided in two, with Ophelia, Alexander and James on one side and Cassius and Scorpius on the other. None of them looked comfortable in the others' presence.
Dumbledore was waiting on them in the small version of a common room he'd created for them the night before.
"I thought we might begin with what happened. Mr Granger, perhaps you might give us your version?"
"Phee had the time turner, we're sharing one because we're taking too many classes and need it to get to all of them. Malfoy was saying some nonsense about the sperm donor to her and cast a hex. It went wild, I reached for Phee, I think Jamie did too. I'm not sure how we managed to end up here."
"Mr Malfoy, do you have anything to add?"
The boy sneered at him, "Only that it wasn't nonsense. I was merely pointing out that Granger's father was finally getting married to a real witch and asking if she'd like me to pass on her congratulations. She raised her wand first."
Dumbledore wondered what the future looked like when this version of a Malfoy didn't seem to feel like he even needed to pretend he didn't believe in blood purity in front of him. He also wondered if he'd be able to get through this experience without hexing him. The look on the Granger twin's faces indicated that this wasn't anything they weren't used to. Where had it all gone so wrong?
He thought of this time's version of Miss Granger, the girl was astonishingly bright, to hear that her life was so stunted because of other people's prejudice made him want to weep for the state of their world. Had the last two wars taught people nothing?
"Alright, Mr Malfoy, I think that's enough. Mr Granger, Miss Granger and Mr Potter, I think you should come with me. Professor McGonagall has agreed to oversee your education while you are here. Messer's Malfoy and Zabini, I shall return for you momentarily, to escort you to Professor Snape.
"Fine." Malfoy drawled, rolling his eyes.
The walk to Professor McGonagall's office was uneventful, for which Albus was grateful, his mind already whirling with next steps and theories.
"Come in and sit down," Minerva spoke, gazing over the students. "What year are you all in?"
"Third, Ma'am." James Potter spoke.
"All of you?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Very well. I shall request the curriculum from the other teachers for your year and we can see where you are. We will begin with transfiguration for today. What are your electives?"
"Care of Magical Creatures and Divination."
"Very well, Mr Potter. And you two?"
"Runes, arithmancy, care of magical creatures and alchemy."
Minerva paused, blinking slowly. "Hogwarts teaches alchemy in your time?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Well unfortunately it does not currently, I shall get you the curriculum for the others. I see you take after your mother in regard to your studies."
"You've always said so,"
"You know me?"
"Of course," Alex paused for a moment before glancing at his twin, both grinning impishly, "Aunt Min."
"Aunt Min!"
Ophelia's smile faltered, "You never held with the way mum was vilified. We see you quite a lot, you're one of the few, actually. Outside of Uncle Harry and the Weasleys, not many people want anything to do with us. Uncle Nev says it's best to ignore them but that's rather hard when people are clearly talking about our mother in the street."
"Oh lass," she murmured softly, taking in the defensive tension that appeared to be a natural state for the twins, each of them held taut as if waiting for yet another blow. How bad was it in their time that this was accepted?
Dumbledore settled in his office, the Slytherins deposited with a visibly unimpressed Severus and sighed. What was he going to do with this? They needed to go back, obviously but part of him wondered how unethical it was to meddle slightly. Perhaps they had an idea of when the hate had become the norm again. Perhaps he could fix it. The wizarding world had a painfully short memory if it had been allowed to rise again within the next decade.
His musings were interrupted by a knock on his door, Draco Malfoy bursting through it.
"I came to speak to you last night but no one answered." he blurted by way of greeting.
"No. I'm sure you are aware I had a slight situation to deal with."
"Who were those people, Professor Dumbledore?"
"That is not something I am at liberty to discuss Mr Malfoy."
"No, please Professor. I need to know. One of them looked like me! But they shouldn't have, Mother ensured I know the family tree backwards, it doesn't make sense!"
"Mr Malfoy, I'm sorry, truly, but I cannot answer your question, not without putting people in grave danger.."
"I'll contact my father!" he threatened slightly desperately, " I need to know who they are!"
"If you chose to contact your father Draco, there is nothing I can do to prevent it. However, you will get no answers from me."
He sighed as the boy stormed from his office, beginning to wonder if he was getting too old for this.