Lily stalked through the corridors, knowing she needed to get back to the common rooms before curfew. Sure, she was a prefect, but tonight she didn't have duty and that meant following the rules. Her exploration of the castle's many secrets would have to wait.
She walked past the normally used corridors that headed to the library, choosing instead to take the winding path that avoided the commonly used broom closets. Possible deniability.
The library was empty when she entered, most people having retired to their common rooms already. No one was willing to cut it so close and get banned from the library in their OWL year. Lily smiled at Madam Pince, showing her the restricted section's pass that she had.
"Be quick, Ms. Evans," was all she said before she went back to her own work.
Lily nodded, docile and calm, but picked up her pace slightly as she entered the restricted section. Unlike the normal library which was arranged based on subjects and then alphabetically, the restricted section was a free for all, anything everywhere kind of place. Madam Pince didn't really arrange the books here.
She headed to the back, and rummaged behind the Horrendous Plants and their negative effects series. Pulling out the book behind it, she smiled in triumph. She had been testing out the boundaries on the library restrictions the past three weeks, and it had taught her one thing – wizards truly knew very little about muggles.
The enchantments in the library only guarded against any sort of magical interference, and any attempt to remove or conceal a book magically. Somehow, Lily didn't expect them to allow students to just carry books in their bag and out of the library without checking them out. She was still shocked about that. But it worked in her advantage.
Shoving the book into her bag, she moved further through the restricted section, weaving her way past the yelling books to the ones that could actually curse the owner if it wanted to. After looking around carefully, she knelt down and stuck her hand behind a heavy book without a title. Pulling out her second book, Lily didn't bother checking more than the title before putting that into her bag as well. Finally, she headed to the section where the fifth-year advanced studies books were kept and picked up Moste Potente Potions.
She didn't particularly need it, having spent most of her potions classes with Severus. She had learnt the basics of it very well, and it was like a mix of chemistry and cooking. Don't mix too much of something for fear of the food going bad, don't add more than three drops or the potion would explode. But she did need an excuse for being in the library so late.
Madam Pince had closed her book when Lily walked up to her.
"You are going to be late, Ms. Evans," she said, checking out the book slowly, unbothered by the curfew.
"Yes, Madam Pince, I know."
She still needed to maintain her calm. Sure, she had taken books out of the library without checking them out in the past three weeks, but not from the restricted section. This was a risk, but one she would have to take if she needed to get the information. She had been thrown into a game and she intended to win.
Madam Pince didn't say anything, passing the book to her and turning back to the library to shut it down. Lily didn't stay to watch. Quickly, she cut across the corridor to the painting of Basil Fronsac, giving him a muttered 'studious success' to pass him. The passageway behind him took her straight to the Grand Staircase.
From the Grand Staircase, she took the right and made her way into the abandoned wing where the painting of George von Rheticus hung. He wasn't in his frame, but Lily didn't let that bother her. She felt along the back edges of the portrait until her fingers caught on the latch to manually override the painting. It clicked, and the portrait swung open, until she could fit into the winding passageway behind it.
This one took way longer for her to get through, and by the time she stumbled out and made her way to the portrait of the Fat Lady, she was out of breath and late by over 15 minutes.
"My, you're out late, aren't you?" The Fat Lady said. "I thought you didn't have any patrol this evening."
"I don't. I lost track of time in the library," Lily replied, impatiently. "Fortis Bellator, now let me in!"
"Impatient as well," she tutted, but swung open and Lily scrambled in without so much as a thank you. Lily couldn't have cared less about manners or consequences at that point, all she wanted was to read the books she had taken and find out more about two things – the items of the Founders and Time Travel.
She ignored the greetings of her dormmates, choosing to smile distractedly at them instead. When she finally reached her room, she pulled her curtains closed and sat down on the bed with a thump. The evening's events hit her finally. She had stolen restricted books from the library and she had gotten away with it!
With an incredulous laugh, Lily removed her shoes and pulled the two books from her bag. Leaving her hair tied up, she opened the first one and leaned back against the pillows. She traced the title of the book The Terrific Text of Time Travel by Tyrene Travers.
Lily opened the book eagerly, and soon she was immersed in it.
There are three things a person should know about time travel:
One, it is unpredictable.
Two, never ever use it unless you are desperate.
Three, if you do use it, remember you risk the chance of wiping yourself from existence.
If you are still here, then let me introduce you to the wonders of Time magic. You may not find every spell or ritual, every instance of jumping through time or every person who has meddled with time, but what you will find is what you need most.
Chapter 1: The Issues with the Time Medallion
A child's imagination cannot be contained. It should be cultivated and grown, but the child should be taught the difference between fantasy and reality. Alas, all stories only begin when something that's not meant to happen occurs. And this story begins with a child who was never taught to separate his imaginations and his reality…