Chapter 1: The Time Turner
Time is a fickle beast, one that cannot be tamed nor bartered with. Many witches and wizards sought to become masters of time and in turn their own fates. Some sought to extend their time through the use of dark magic, such as horcruxes to extend their lives, giving them lives far exceeding that of any natural witch or wizard. Thomas Nott Sr. seemed to be like any other Hogwarts student, only that his ambitions exceded that of his peers as he had taken a keen interest in advancing his knowledge of witchcraft and like many others he sought to master time. So in his fifth year he began this tremendous undertaking. One that would shape the past, present and future of the entire wizarding world. He spent countless nights labouring away on a device he called "The Time Turner". This magical artefact was the culmination of years of labour on Nott's part. He became erratic in his blind pursuit of its completion. His classmates began to notice strange behaviour on his part, they called him Thomas "Tick" Nott because of his jittery mannerisms. He became a recluse, only leaving his bed chambers for food and to check out books on the subject of Time manipulation. His grades began to suffer as he seemingly missed most of his classes. He was summoned to the headmasters office to explain his erratic behaviour
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"Thomas", sighed Professor Dumbledore, "You cannot continue down this path. I have been informed by your professors that you have failed to attend class, that you are often sighted sneaking into the restricted section of the library and that your attitude towards your fellow students is one of disdain".
Thomas looked down at the floor, not once raising his eyes to meet professor Dumbledore's.
"I consider your father a friend, that is why I will let you go with a warning. It's not easy what you're going through and I want to help you if you'd let me"
"What do you know of sacrifice?" Thomas growled at Dumbledore, looking into his eyes for the first time.
"My boy, I've lost too. Many people that were very dear to me, your father included. But it was for the greater good and his death was not in vain."
Dumbledore looked at him and his expression changed, his once soft eyes hardened and it seemed as if he were looking at Thomas in a new light
"Mr. Nox, there are things we cannot understand and are forbidden for a reason. I advise you to stop immediately before a catastrophe happens."
"There's nothing you need to worry about, Professor." Thomas said quietly.
"I really hope so. You may go now."
After this discussion, Thomas attended class again and was able to make up for the seemingly impossible amount of class work and assignments he missed. No one was able to figure out how in the span of a few weeks he was able to make up months worth of missed assignments. This, of course, was thanks to his time turner. At first he was very careful about how and where he would use it. However, over time, Thomas started becoming arrogant with his invention and being careless whenever he would use it, until one day inevitably he got caught by Argus Filch of all people. He had been tinkering with the device whilst walking from the slytherin common rooms, deep below the heart of the castle. He stopped in front of the dungeons to fix a snag in the chain of the necklace when Filch, silently crept from behind. Filch was a Squib, he was born to parents who possessed magical abilities but none of those transferred to their son. For this reason Filch had been ostracised by many of the wizarding world and built a hatred towards all the students of Hogwarts. It was also due to the fact that he was a squib that he did not understand the importance of this magical device, and confiscated it from him.
'What's this then?" Filch spat as he snatched the time turner from Thomas, "A dark magic object, perhaps?'' He spat at Thomas
''That's mine!" Thomas growled back at him
''Not anymore'' Filch smirked, showing his nasty yellow teeth. Filch took the time turner and shoved it into his pocket. "On your way then, before I have you hanging from your thumbs!" Filch barked before turning away, Mrs Norris followed him with a purr of satisfaction. It seemed that she too enjoyed tormenting students. Nott was not going to allow his precious invention to be taken from him without putting up a fight, and so he decided to get it back no matter the cost. Thomas stalked Filch through the corridors of the castle, taking extra care not to be seen by Filch or Mrs. Norris. Filch made his way through the labyrinthian maze of Hogwarts, stopping occasionally to chastise students out in the halls. Thomas followed him up the stairs until they had arrived in the entrance hall. Large towering doors stood ajar, revealing the great hall, where students ate and first years were sorted into their houses. Thomas hid behind a pillar and heard the jingle of Filch's keys.
"Damn wizards" he heard Filch mutter under his breath as he jamed a key into the lock of his office. Finch entered, Mrs. Norris close behind and then the door slammed shut. Thomas paused for a few moments and heard again the familiar jingle of Filch's keys then an audible locking noise. Thomas looked down the corridor to ensure no one was watching and began walking towards the door. Out of the corner of his eye he detected quick movement and sharply turned towards a wall of paintings. In the middle of four small canvases, hung a large rectangular painting of an idyllic pastoral scene with cows lazily grazing in the distance. In the foreground, layed a pitchfork on the edge of the canvas, "Strange" Thomas thinked to himself, but quickly shrugged off his paranoia and continued towards the wooden door to Filch's office. Again he looked both ways down the corridors before pulling out his ebony wand. "Alohomora!" He whispered and with a flick of his wand the lock opened. Thomas slowly eased the door open and gently closed it behind him. Now inside Thomas could make out a dingy small room, faintly lit by a furnace. Situated in the middle sitted Filch's desk and lining the right there is a wall of filing cabinets with different labels on the front. The furthest from the door is marked "Punishments", the one closest to the door is labelled "Detention list". Thomas turned towards the desk but stopped at the sound of loud snoring emanating from behind a red curtain. "He's out cold" Thomas thinked to himself with glee, "Now I can take back what's mine!". What he did not expect was a set of yellow eyes staring at him and a low growl from a certain feline companion.
"Damn" Thomas muttered under his breath. He quickly aimed his wand at Mrs. Norris and breathed "Petrificus Totalus!". With a small thud the cat fell to the ground. Thomas again turned towards the desk and before he could utter another word, his wand was flung from his hand. Behind him was Albus Dumbledore, looking at him in disappointment. Thomas turned and realised that the jig was up, he was caught red handed. From the corner of the room, Filch woke with a jolt. "What's going on here?!" He bellowed as he walked to the centre of the room. His eyes quickly darted from Thomas to Dumbledore, then to the cat laying stiff on the ground. His eyes bulged with fear, "What have you done to Mrs. Norris?! I'll kill you!" He spat as he made his way to Thomas, no doubt he had every intention of hanging the fifth year from his thumbs till they fell off.
"Not to worry, Argus," Dumbledore assured the caretaker. "Mrs. Norris is quite alright" and with a quick swish of his wand the cat sprung back to life, hair raised and hissing loudly at Thomas. Filch ran over to her and threw his arms around the cat. She licked his face and began purring loudly, she too knew that Thomas was done for.
"I must say, Thomas", Dumbledore said with disappointment "I thought you would've heard my warnings. But now, my hands are tied". Thomas' gaze fell to the floor and his expression changed from one of jubilation to that of utter defeat.
''I will have a talk with Professor Slughord, but as for now it seems like expulsion is the only option on the table.''
At this, Filch gleamed and once again bore his nasty, yellow teeth. "You hear that boy? You're done! No more magic for you!" He chuffed at Thomas. He quickly ran over to Thomas's wand, which had been flung to the floor and handed it over to Professor Dumbledore.
"Follow me, Thomas" Dumbledore instructed the fifth year. Once they had exited Filch's office, Thomas could make out a nasty cackle from the room. Thomas grimaced, as he knew that he would never be able to possess the time turner again.
The long walk to Dumbledore's office on the headmaster's tower seemed to Thomas to last for over an hour. He was painfully aware of every moment it took to reach the gargoyle outside of the office. Thomas could not take his mind off of the concept of time. Every moment was excruciatingly long. It didn't help that neither of them said a word as they trotted through the long winding corridors as they made their way to the top of Hogwarts. Upon arriving professor Slughorn was already waiting for them.
"You are free to return to your post Ainsley" Dumbledore said to an old farmer clad in a green and yellow tartan kilt. "Thank you for hastily informing me of this situation, but I'm sure your flock could use tending to"
"Aye. Nae problem, Headmaster." Ainsley replied, quite proud of the aid he provided, "Always a pleasure to serve. I'm sure my coos are hungry. If there is anythin else ye need from me, don't hesitate to ask." And with one sharp look towards Thomas, the farmer made his way back to his painting outside of Filch's office.
"Ainsley told me something was the matter, but the details were fuzzy." Said Slughorn, with an inquisitive look. "What exactly is going on?"
"Thank you for meeting me here professor" Dubledore replied, "I assure you, all will be revealed momentarily, but first let us make our way into my office"
Dumbledore turned to a large stone gargoyle and said "Sherbet Lemon". At once the gargoyle began to rotate and a flight of stone stairs were revealed. "After you, Thomas" Dumbledore motioned to Thomas and with his head still down he made his way up the stairs. When he reached the summit and opened the door to the headmaster's office a few items in the room stuck out to him immediately. Past Dumbledore's desk stood a large orrery, a model of the sun surrounded by the planets and moons of the solar system which Thomas had encountered before in Professor Zotikos's class when they had discussed astronomy and the ways in which wizards of old had used the stars to guide them on long journeys across Great Britain. His eyes quickly shifted to a bowl illuminating a blue glow.
"I see you've noticed my pensieve Thomas'' Dumbledore said as he passed Thomas and made his way towards the large floating bowl. "I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind." He remarked. As he approached the pensieve, a glass cabinet opened and revealed a large array of tubes containing glowing strands. Dumbledore took out his wand and drew out a thin grey strand and placed it in a small tube, capped it with a rubber stopper and labelled it "Thomas Nott 1975". He placed the tube alongside the rest and closed the cabinet doors. Thomas' eyes once again darted to catch the movement of a red winged beast perched above a large claw-footed desk. "This is Fawx, he is one of my oldest companions. I'm sure you already know by now that he is a phoenix?"
"I've only read about them sir, I had no idea they were still around." Fawx studied Thomas once over, ruffled his feathers and closed his eyes, content to rest after his flight. Thomas' attention then turned to the portraits of previous headmasters and mistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames.
"Please, take a seat, Thomas," Dumbledore said gently. Nott made his way to the desk and sat in the chair in front of it. Slughorn followed looking very displeased, after all, he was one of his students and it is not a good look for a Head of House to have one of your own expelled.
''Mr. Nott, this is your chance to tell the headmaster how this is all a misunderstanding. I knew your father very well, he was the pride of the Slytherin house, so it is very hard for me to believe you would attack Mrs. Filch's cat'' said Slughorn, looking concerned.
"It's true though professor." Thomas replied "I was trying to reclaim my family heirloom"
"Merlin's beard Mr. Nott!" exclaimed professor Slughorn. "Why didn't you just tell Headmaster Dumbledore of Filch's wrongdoing? Not to worry though I will make sure your property is returned to you"
"Oh that won't be necessary Horace" Dumbledore interjected. "You see Thomas has yet to reveal the full truth behind his so-called family heirloom, have you Thomas?" Dumbledore looked at Nott with a knowing gleam in his eye.
"Whatever does he mean ?" Slughorn said worryingly.
"What does it matter, headmaster? It was not his to take? I created it! I spent months perfecting it!" Thomas barked.
"I told you that there are certain aspects of magic that no wizard should meddle in and you went against that advice" Dumbledore sighed. "Now tell me what exactly did you create?"
"Something only I could do." Thomas said defiantly "Not even the great Albus Dumbledore."
Professor Slughorn's eyes bulged, "Well, what exactly did you create Mr. Nott?"
''I believe our time is up, headmaster" Thomas said with a mischievous grin.
''As you wish, Mr. Nott'' said Dumbledore looking at him with his piercing blue eyes. "Return to your quarters. A carriage shall arrive for you tomorrow."
He left Dumbledore's office without saying a word.
The official story was that Thomas Nott was expelled after attacking Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, no one having any idea what he had created and how his invention would alter the very fabric of the wizarding world and shape the events to come.