- - - Ginny - - -

Mama Ella is at the station waiting for us with Uncle Brian. It's... odd to see him looking so... sober and calm. He smiles at us and wraps us both into a quick hug. He and Dad don't look a lot alike. They both have bright red hair, freckles, and easy smiles, but Dad is wider in the shoulders, shorter than Brian, and he has green eyes instead of Brian's hazel.

When Brian releases us, Mama Ella steps up and gives us both a hug before saying, "Let's be off, Septimus is awaiting our arrival." She places an arm around Mia, murmurs something, and the two leave with a crack of disapparition. Uncle Brian copies his mum and wraps an arm around my shoulder.

"Shall we?"

I nod. "Yeah."

Brian apparates us to his home, where Mia is being enveloped in a hug by Papa Septimus while Mama Ella grabs onto me. Once we're both released, Mia sits on the couch and Pap Septimus immediately sweeps me into a tight hug. I love his hugs. They're firm and loving, even though he digs his fingers into my sides to make me squirm. He's always done that.

We all settle down in a chair or on the couch. Papa Septimus grins at me. "I might as well ask to get it out of the way." His grin widens as I groan, already guessing where he's going with this. "How did your O.W.L.s go?"

I knew it! Why must everyone be so obsessed with the blasted tests? "I passed them, I think. Maybe not History, but I tend to tune everything Binns says out. Defense I definitely passed, as well as Transfiguration and Charms."

"Potions?" Mia asks.

"Meh, I passed. Probably squeaked by with an Acceptable."

"Oh, you better hope so or you'll have one very snippy Snape on your hands," Mia says while smirking. Rude. She's not wrong, but rude.

I stick my tongue out at Mia. "It'll be fine. But! I don't have to worry about O.W.L.s again so," I change the topic away from what has taken over my life the last month, "what are we going to do for the summer?"

"That really depends on you girls," Brian answers. He pauses. "Well, we do have a Prewett get together. Arthur invited us as Fabien and Gideon will be there and he's heard they're friends with Hermione. That'll be sometime late July or early August."

Oh. Oh no. Great. The twins. And baby Bill, Charlie, and Percy. Mum. Dad. Maybe I can pretend I'm sick? Dragon Pox should do.

Mama Ella - like usual - seems to be reading my mind. "You surely aren't concocting a way out of going, are you, Ginny?"

"Me? What? No ." I swear that woman always knows what I'm trying to hide.

"You are much like your father, you know," Papa Septimus says gently. He reaches forward from his chair to grab my hand and I swear I feel tears start pooling in my eyes. Mia leans into my side in support. "I can definitely see Molly in your features, but your mannerisms?"

"That's all Arthur," Brian murmurs as he pats my knee.

Really? I only ever heard that I'm like Mum.

"Hiding away won't help you," Mama Ella continues and, like always, not holding back her punches. She reaches out and grasps my other hand. "We may not be the family you remember, but we are still your family." She smiles and squeezes my hand one last time before she stands. "Give us all a chance. Weasley's are faithful. The Prewetts are as well. We take care of our own."

Papa Septimus stands and says, "We'll let you two settle in." He holds out his hand and helps Mama Ella to her feet. "We'll talk more about your school year and the summer during supper."

"Well, that's telling me," I mutter to Mia after the adults laugh. She laughs softly and gives me a hug.

- - - Hermione - - -

My foot slides into my elbow crease and I breathe out while reaching behind my head. There's a noise downstairs. I hear… something? I'm not sure what it is, so I hold my mermaid pose, and listen through my breathing. The sound doesn't come again. Weird. I suppose I could have imagined it.

"Mia!" Or not…

I keep my hips square and continue to listen for Ginny's approach, but I don't hear her coming. Whatever it is, it can wait… or Ginny will come find me, I suppose. It isn't as if Brian's house is so large or my bedroom door is closed, Ginny knows where I am… right?

I release my foot slowly so it doesn't slam to the floor and eventually get up off my mat. Ginny hasn't called for me again, but it must be important. I can't imagine Ginny yelling for me otherwise. As loud as the Weasleys can be, Ginny doesn't holler for no apparent reason. Usually.

Grabbing a towel, I begin patting the sweat covering my exposed skin, and throw on an oversized shirt before making my way downstairs. Ginny and Brian are at the breakfast table reading the newspaper. Really? This is what she's yelling at me for?

I grab a glass of water and sit at the table. "What is so important that you're yelling for me?"

"Oh. There you are." Ginny finally looks up at me and slides the newspaper over to me. "It's Tom."

"What's Tom?" I see the front page image and headline and grimace. "Oh, bloody wanker."

"He's escalating." Ginny spreads jam on her toast and asks, "Isn't this early?"

"It is. He shouldn't be attacking magical families for another year." I don't hide my shudder at the image of the dark mark floating over the house of a murdered family. "If I remember correctly, it was Muggle raids, then Muggleborn families, before he went after the magical ones who defied him."

"I wonder what set him off early?"

I take another drink of my water before I say, "The more you know, the more you change, the more you change, the less you know."

Brian sets his cup down and frowns, "Things really are changing that much then?"

"From our original time." I shrug. "I don't recall everything, but there is a false end of the first wizarding war in 1981. At that point everyone believed the war to be over."

"Thirteen years later," Ginny continues, "Tom comes back from the nearly dead and starts the war back up as if it never truly ended." Ginny sighs and shakes her head. "I wish I knew what brought on this change. We haven't really done that much, have we? Except maybe the basilisk?"

"Did you say basilisk?" Brian asks as his complexion pales. Oh bugger. Right. He doesn't know about the basilisk or the Chamber and Ginny... I wince and Ginny winces and we share a look of 'oh shit' before Brian asks, "I don't want to know, do I?"

"Probably not."

- - - Ginny - - -

I stumble my way down to the kitchen, yawning widely. I'm still in my comfortable pajamas and my hair is a wild mess. I love summers. I love that I can sleep in. I love that I can stay in comfortable clothes all day. I love that I don't have to worry about make-up or making myself presentable.

I do not love summer homework.

Mia is already at the table with Uncle Brian and I flop into the chair that I have claimed as my own while we are here. My sister smiles at me and hands over a letter as she murmurs, "The owlpost has already stopped by for the day. We have our school letters."

Uncle Brian doesn't look up from his paper as he mumbles, flipping a page, "Let me know when you want to go shopping for supplies or if you want to meet up with any of your friends at the Alley."

I sigh as a plate of food appears in front of me. "Thank you, Mipsey," I murmur, but the letter is taunting me. I straighten and rip it open. Might as well get it over with.

I ignore the standard letter that has my supply list for the following year and instead go for the second, smaller parchment. I take a steadying breath and open it.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

blah, blah, blah

Candidate: GINEVRA WEASLEY

blah, blah, blah

Astronomy: (A)

Care of Magical Creatures: (E)

Charms: (E)

Defense Against the Dark Arts: (O)

Herbology: (A)

History: (A)

Potions: (E)

Study of Ancient Runes: (A)

Transfiguration: (E)

...

Oh hey! I didn't fail anything! I bounce in my seat with a squeal and the laughter from the others at the table have me looking up. Mia is grinning, elbow resting on the table and her chin on her palm, and Brian is looking over the top of his newspaper.

I hold up the paper, grinning. "I passed everything!"

- - - Hermione - - -

Brian amazes me more every day. We are going to dinner at the Burrow tonight and Brian says we aren't in a hurry, and can be fashionably late. I think it's his way of keeping Ginny's heart safe, knowing it will be hard for her to be around her family.

It's time to go and Brian sends me through the floo first. After a quick breath to calm my nerves, I step through the floo to the Burrow. Upon my exit I'm greeted by a cacophony of noise. There is a crying/fussing infant, arguing/teasing boys, and a toddler staring up at me with a huge smile. I immediately step aside for Ginny and Brian before crouching to speak with the little boy... Charlie or Bill? I think it's Charlie. "Hi there."

"I'm four years old!"

"Is that right?" The floo sounds behind me.

"Uh huh, I was three. Now I'm this many!" The boy holds up his hand, but instead of four fingers, he's holding them all up. The floo sounds again. I giggle and help the toddler fold his thumb down. "Yeah! This many!"

"That's right, you're four now." Brian says.

"Unca Bri!"

"Hullo Charlie," Brian says with a laugh when Charlie tackles his legs in a hug. Ginny helps keep Brian upright and grinning down at Charlie.

"Uncle Brian is here!" Bill is yelling at the top of his lungs, running into the room and jumping at Brian. Brian is laughing and hugging both boys and I think my cheeks are going to hurt so much tomorrow from smiling all the time. These boys are so freaking adorable!

A hand is suddenly thrust in front of me and I look up in surprise. "Hello, Hermione."

"Hello, Fabien," I greet as I accept his hand up and he pulls me into a brief hug before handing me off to his twin. "Hello, Gideon."

"How's your summer so far?" Gideon asks.

"Peaceful," I say with a smile then look at them both with a more critical eye. "How about you? What have you two been up to now that you're graduates?"

"Well…" Fabien sighs softly before he shrugs.

"Everything okay?" I ask with concern.

"Oh don't mind him, Hermione," Gideon reassures me.

I'm not fully convinced until I see the huge grin on Fabien's face. I give him a side eye and Fabien laughs, "We got accepted into the Auror Academy."

"Huh," I say without thinking, "I thought you two were Ravenclaws, not Gryffindors."

I hear a snort of amusement behind me, but I don't turn to see who it is. Ginny is beside me soon after so I don't need to guess who it was that was amused. Gideon huffs, "You do realize there is a war happening out there?"

"We do," I say before turning it back on them, "do you?"

"Exactly," Ginny agrees, "it's why my sister is comparing you to a Gryffindor. They're the type that will rush into danger."

We are temporarily interrupted by the announcement of dinner, but not for long since the talk continues throughout the meal. Every adult at the table contributes to the conversation, for or against the twins joining the aurors, some play devil's advocate. In the end, the twins are as convinced to join as they were when we arrived. Ah well, we tried. Sometimes there is no reasoning with stubborn boys.

Molly gives Ginny and me long hugs. The woman gives a soft sigh. "I appreciate your trying to talk sense into my hard-headed brothers, for all the good it did."

"They're clever, Molly." I squeeze back, but not even close to as strongly as she does. "Let's just hope they use those clever minds of theirs and stay safe."

- - - Ginny - - -

Our first, full year.

Our first, full year in the past.

Has it already been that long? And isn't that a doozy of a thought? My birthday is just a few days before me and Mia's anniversary of traveling to the past. We had a small family dinner for my birthday, I didn't want anything big. And thinking of my birthday, I wonder if we should do something for our first complete year in the past? Celebrate?

Yay we didn't die traveling that far back!

Eh, not the best reason to celebrate I'm sure. But it is certainly a reason.

I'm lying down on the couch in the living room, my legs kicking in the air behind me as I trail my fingers over the carpet. Mia should be down soon, ready to go to the Alley. Though I suppose we have to wait for the Black's who will be arriving in - I glance up at the clock - thirty minutes. I hate waiting.

Dropping my head onto the cushions I sigh and let myself go completely limp.

"What is it, Gin?" Mia asks as she walks into the room. She sits and I immediately lay my legs across her lap as I flip around onto my back. "Surely you aren't that bored?"

"No, not really. I just want to know what the Black's want to talk to Mama Ella about. What I wouldn't do to stay and have an extendable ear to listen in on that conversation." I sigh dramatically and throw an arm over my face. "Though, I'm not sure how to feel about Regulus and Black coming with us to the Alley."

"I think Sirius already moved out to live with James. The stories he used to tell Harry... Well, he said he ran away from home sometime in his teens and the Potters all but adopted him, so he'll probably go with them." Mia rests her arms on my legs, smiling at me as I shift around until I'm comfortable.

"Oh." That makes sense. The portrait of Walburga still gives me nightmares with her horrid screeching. "Well, it'll be interesting to see how everyone will get along. Dorthea. Regulus. Snape. Stebbins. Avery. Hopefully the conversations won't be stilted and uncomfortable."

Mia pinches under my knee and I yelp as she giggles. "We won't allow that. We'll be fine, especially without Sirius mucking things up. You know he acts that way on purpose, like he's on a stage acting out for the masses?" She pauses and tilts her head, but before I can come up with an answer for her, Mia asks a second question, "You're not still mad at him, are you?"

I shrug and rest my head back to stare at the ceiling. "No, I didn't know that, but that doesn't excuse what he's done. And... no, I'm not mad at him just... disappointed. From all the stories he and Remus told at Grimmauld, I was expecting more fun pranks not..." I wave my hand to encompass something I can't see, "... what we've seen.."

"You're right. It doesn't excuse what he's done." Mia sighs softly. "He told me that it really was supposed to be just a prank, a stupid one certainly, but he didn't mean for Snape to be killed. Honestly, that boy doesn't think things through. Like how it doesn't just affect Snape, that it would have hurt Remus. Still, Remus has forgiven him so I feel that I should too... I don't know. He's so different from when he's in front of others, he's almost like... well, our Sirius."

I sigh. Our Sirius. Well, our Sirius wasn't exactly... all there. And I wasn't as close to the man as Mia had been. Mum made sure of that. I wonder if Gideon and Fabien told her stories of the Marauders during their school years.

And I'm not sure if Remus would be the right person to judge anything relating to his friends. Well, no matter. I'm not the one who has to forgive Black as he didn't do anything to me. The only people who can or should forgive him would be the ones involved. But even then... not thinking something through isn't a good reason for what he did.

Did I overreact? Absolutely. Would I change what I did? Eh... probably not. But I'm not going to forget what Sirius is capable of - even if he was acting. His act, his emotions, has to come from a place of truth somewhere.

"Hopefully, he learned and he won't do something similar again." I shift my legs off Mia's lap as I stand, holding my hand out to help her up with a smile. Mia is much nicer than I am and doesn't hold onto grudges like I can. It's probably unhealthy of me, but Sirius Black just isn't important enough for me to give a damn. "Shall we go to the floo room? I'm sure Father and Mama Ella will want us there before the Blacks arrive." I chuckle. "Even if Papa Setpimus wouldn't mind because he'd be curious to see what happens."

"Oh yes," Mia says as she takes my hand, "we mustn't upset the harpy. Have to keep up the pretense of propriety. I'm really not looking forward to meeting that woman after hearing her painting screeching."

- - - Hermione - - -

Ginny. Dorthea. Stebbins. Regulus. Snape. Avery. And me.

Seven Slytherins shopping in Diagon Alley for school supplies… unsupervised…

What was I thinking when I agreed to this? I hadn't been drunk… I don't drink. I hadn't been high… I don't do drugs. Can I claim temporary insanity? Maybe? Possibly. Still, I'm glad I'm here.

Snape peers at Ginny as she all but bounces in place. My sister is vibrating with excitement. Snape's eyebrow rises and he asks, "What?"

"I passed. Potions, I mean. I passed my Potions O.W.L."

"Just passed?" Snape scowls. "Come now, Weasley, you should have done better than a simple Acceptable. After all the-"

Ginny interrupts him with a squeal and a hug. The boy goes rigid in her embrace, his face turns beet red, and everyone is either giggling at his predicament or outright laughing at him. I wonder if he's thinking about their feelings for each other right now. "I passed! Not just passed, but an E! I would have maybe, maybe squeaked by with an A, but I got an E thanks to you!"

Snape finally relaxes enough to pat Ginny's back, or maybe he's trying to ease her away. Of course, knowing Ginny that will only encourage her to hug tighter... at least for a moment or three. I smirk when I see her arms tighten. I knew it. Finally, after receiving a look of utter desperation from Snape, I join the hug fest. The look of utter shock and dismay he gives is worth the discomfort of accidentally getting an elbow to the boob. Damn, Ginny has pointy elbows!

I haven't told anyone what I think of when I cast my patronus. My 'happy thought' is Lucius Malfoy in fisticuffs with Arthur Weasley the summer before second year. In my version the fight isn't stopped: Arthur wins, Lucius loses, and is tossed out of the bookstore on his pompous arse along with his pointy-nosed ferret of a son, Draco. No one says our 'happy thought' has to be 100% accurate, just a very happy memory.

I may have a new memory. The look on Snape's face. Our once dungeon-bat, greasy-git of a professor, had a look of utter shock, panic, fear, betrayal, then pleased acceptance. Sure, the look flits through each one swiftly, but I think it will stay with me for some time to come.

I find I have wonderful new friends. There is the snobby yet relatable Avery. There is the taciturn yet surprisingly hilarious Snape. There is the bouncy yet dramatic Dorthea. There is the sarcastic yet sweetest Ginny. There is the understated yet chic - for the love of all things, call me Heidi already - Stebbins. Then there is Regulus… the most contradictory one of them all. He's proper to a fault, he's as snarky as Snape, as dramatic if not more so than Dorthea, as stubborn as any Weasley, and he does it all in style. Until he pouts like a toddler. When this happens, I kind of want to pat Regulus' head and send him to his room for a nap.

We have gone to nearly every shop along Diagon Alley, and a few in Knockturn Alley. Our shopping is nearly complete, but we have at least one more stop after this one.

"I'm bored."

"You're always bored."

"How can you be bored, we're shopping?"

"Precisely, we're shopping. This isn't particularly my favorite pastime."

"Then what is?" Avery smirks and Dorthea blinks at him… "What?"

"Did you really just ask him that?" Regulus is pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yes?" Dorthea is looking at everyone in confusion and I'm trying desperately not to laugh. I really am. I'd rather not have her ask me why I'm laughing. Ginny is hiding her face in my shoulder, her shoulders shaking with her amusement.

Stebbins is blushing and looking everywhere except for Avery or Dorthea. Snape walks away, but then we're in the Apothecary and he's more interested in his stinky bits and bobs… erm ingredients. Regulus sighs. "Perhaps if I drew you a picture, you'd understand?"

"You draw these types of images often?" Avery's smirk broadens.

Ginny gasps, "What, and you haven't shared?!"

"I meant metaphorically, honestly you utter delinquents."

"Hermione?"

"Nope," I shake my head, "I'm not drawing a thing. Nu-uh."

Dorthea pouts and turns to Stebbins who walks away to find Snape. Chicken. Avery finally takes pity on our friend and whispers in her ear. The girl turns beet red and gasps, "Avery! You can't tell me these types of things!"

"You wanted to know," Avery shrugs, "I just answered your question."

"Next time just say it's something you don't mention in mixed company." Dorthea scowls at Ginny. "Some friend you are."

"The best kind," Ginny agrees, slipping her hand in the crook of Dorthea's arm. "Now let's go get some ice cream."

"Oh, I'd really like some Tropic Isle Pineapple ice cream," Dorthea says dreamily.

- - - Ginny - - -

"How have you two been settling in?"

We're back in the headmaster's office, a few days before the new school year. I try not to, but my mind is still focused on the conversation at the Weasley's. Gideon and Fabien are completely intent on joining the aurors, not knowing they'll die in a few years.

"Pretty well. Everything seems to be escalating faster than expected," Mia answers.

I force myself to smirk and for the hundredth time, put those darker thoughts away in their little boxes. "But I think we're as settled as we're going to get."

Fawkes trills and I smile at the phoenix, the bright red and oranges of his feathers as soothing as his short call.

"So things are not going the same way as before?"

I shake my head. "No sir. Tom is acting faster, he seems a bit..." I glance at Mia and shrug. "I'm not sure, but from what I remember Dad saying, Tom kept up his smooth talking for years until 1979. He kept trying to get as many followers as possible. He seems to be skipping that step for whatever reason."

"It's difficult to believe all this change could be because of us," Mia murmurs.

"Just like the ripples that spread from a pebble dropped into a lake, a single action can have far reaching effects," Dumbledore answers. Vague, but it's Dumbledore, I'm not sure why I'm still surprised. He reaches out to pick up his tea cup that has been sitting on his desk for the past few minutes.

"So we caused a ripple?" I ask.

Dumbledore smiles. "Quite a bit more than one, my dear."

"Every action we take is another ripple and - since we're not supposed to be here in the first place - even if we did nothing, just our existence will cause ripples to occur," Mia murmurs as I reach out to hold my own tea cup in my hands.

"Precisely."

"I thought Time-Turners, or anyone messing with time, can't change the future? Like, going back in time causes the future we came from?" Am I going to cause my uncles' deaths? I tap my fingers against the china gently.

Dumbledore hums, but shakes his head. "That is not quite accurate. Think of the time-line as a rubber band. You can stretch it and it goes back to the way it was. When you go back only a few hours, you do not have time to make a lasting change that you will notice. The timeline is quick to straighten itself out. In this case, imagine that you two have stretched the rubber band as far as it can go before snapping. It still bounces back, but its shape will not be exactly the same as you first started."

"So... it is possible to change the future even if we go back a few hours."

"It is possible, but not always feasible. When a person goes back a few hours, it is best to remain hidden. There have been countless cases where a subject has gone mad upon seeing their future self. Usually when one goes back, the future you want to change has to do with oneself, so the future can not be changed."

"Oh," Mia says, perking up. "Since we don't have to worry about running into our past selves, we don't have to worry about being seen."

"Precisely." Dumbledore takes a sip from his cup. "The timeline will settle. While the future will not be exactly as you remember, there will be remnants of your past timeline that will remain unchanged. Certain events will still happen, even if you do not know what those are."

"This hurts my head," I mourn as I set the cup down, not bothering to drink any of it. Dumbledore chuckles and Mia winces in sympathy, before Dumbledore steers the conversation to the classes we will be taking this year.

A/N Elipsa - For anyone curious, the Blacks visited Mama Ella to discuss Tom and they trust her - as a Black - to not lie to them. It just doesn't come up again within the story.