CW: References to sexual assault and suicide.
One last hurrah for 1993. Sorry, not sorry.
December 19th, 1993
Snow crunched underfoot as the Slytherins reached the winter carriages. In the distance, leather-winged thestrals trotted down the path to Hogsmeade. Far beyond, at the edge of the carriage trail, ominous dark shadows hovered from above. Melissa shivered involuntarily.
"Hey Bennett!" She turned back, spotting a grinning George Weasley musically shouting, "Guess what I bought?" as he held up a book in his mechanical hand.
She recognized the cover immediately. "Last I checked you had a front-row seat to that chaos."
"Ah, but now I get to read about the whole thing from start to finish! Well, with a grain of salt, of course."
"Of course."
"We're doing a dramatic reading on the ride home. Care to join us?"
She forced on a grin, "For a thespian extravaganza? Count me in!"
"Excellent!" he crooned. "Would any of you ladies care to take part?"
Amy and Jacqueline giggled as they declined and climbed onto a carriage to join the other Slytherins inside. That left Melissa alone with George, following him back down the line to where Fred and Lee were waiting. Fred was holding a briefcase, -props for the show- Melissa figured, and focused instead on other things. "So, which of you is Narrator and who's playing Lockhart?"
Lee tilted his head. "That's the same thing, isn't it?"
"Dialogue versus Narration, my friend. Have to keep them separate, otherwise it's just one person doing everything."
"I'll be Lockhart!" Fred announced. He swished his cloak like a cape and raised his nose high. "The dashing hero of the story! So daring and dramatic!"
The group chuckled at his Lockhart impression. Lee then added, "I'll be the Narrator, then."
"And Mel and I can do the other voices," said George. "Unless we have other volunteers?"
"Doesn't look like it," Fred answered. He looked passed them to the group ahead in the line. "Unless you lot have changed your mind?"
Melissa turned around to see Neville, Justin, Ernie, Hannah, Susan, and Hermione, all shaking their heads. Hermione in particular was rolling her eyes. "Books are best read, not dramatised."
"I beg to differ," Melissa retorted. "Schools read out Shakespeare's books all the time."
"Most of his works are plays and sonnets. They're meant to be acted or sung! They're scripts!"
"Ah. Got me there. Still, this is Lockhart we're talking about. He acted out his books in class all the time, remember?"
"I-" Hermione stopped mid-thought. Her mouth closed into a scowl. "I suppose that may merit his books as an exception."
A Cheshire grin grew on her face. Oh, Granger, you are far too easy to annoy. "Does that mean you'll join us in our theatrical endeavours, Miss Granger? Play the simpering fangirl, perhaps?"
The scowl twisted with a shudder as Hermione forced out a, "No. Thank you." She turned her back to them, giving a physical end to the conversation. Melissa couldn't help but chuckle. A few more months, a few more annoying prods, and she'll have Granger's galleons in the bag!
Once the acting troupe got into a carriage, conversation shifted to holiday plans. "I'll be taking it easy. Spending time with family and all that. Plus a book-signing with Lockhart next week."
"I heard about that," Lee commented before adding his own plans for the holidays.
The Twins had a very different answer. Fred slapped the briefcase proudly. "We're doing a demonstration for the DMLE! We've got a whole lineup of potential products for them to use."
"And rake in the galleons in the process," George grinned.
The idea made Melissa wince involuntarily. "You cleaned up the bugs, right? Those spinning tops of yours are… kinda lethal."
Fred shrugged. "We recalibrated them and added different levels. They'll like having options."
"We also fixed the slinky so it doesn't bend more than a body can handle," George added.
"Well that's a relief! That hurt like a bitch!" Melissa shuddered. "And does it keep going or does it actually stop now?"
Fred gave an evil grin. "Care to find out?"
"Nooooo thank you!"
The group laughed, and the twins teased the idea more, trying to convince their rabbit-eared guinea pig to have another go at it. She adamantly refused, laughing all while.
Then the cold creeped in, and all laughter stopped.
Shivering, Lee looked out the window. "Is that-"
BAM!
The teens flung to the wall as the carriage got knocked into. A chorus of chilling, inhuman cries came from outside, mixed with the screams of children. The carriage bolted forward, the thestrals running fast until-
CRASH!
CRUNCH!
The wood splintered. Their bodies rolled as the carriage tumbled down the hill. It bashed harshly with loud thuds, interspersed with crunching snow. It seemed unending, until a final BAM knocked them into a tree, shattering the carriage open and sending them flying!
Melissa landed with a gasp of pain. Battered and shivering, she lifted her head -barely- to take in her surroundings. Her left arm was bent awkwardly. Better than the carriage, which had been smashed to so many pieces it seemed like- no- not seemed like, there were two wrecks among the trees, with more bodies on the ground than their paltry four, though all were barely moving.
The world chilled.
From above, a group of dementors swooped in. They moved about, searching among the wreckage. The children curled in on themselves- those that could move, at any rate. One dementor turned in her direction, and stopped when its hooded gaze locked onto hers.
It moved closer.
No! she wanted to scream. No! Not again! Stay back!
The dementor shrieked. The others followed its lead, coming towards her.
No! No! I'm not Pettigrew. I'm not a prisoner! Not anymore! Please! Just please! GO AWAY!
A light burst from the trees.
It launched straight into the dementor! The creature shrieked, moving away from the light. The light, animal-shaped, bared canine fangs, gnashing and pouncing at each dementor that dared to come closer. And tried they did, but the light was relentless. It fought viciously against them. Pushing back and back until, finally, the bastards fled!
When the coast cleared, the light came closer. The canine patronus, a coyote, sniffed at her, then nuzzled her in an act that filled her with warmth and light. She breathed in deep. Letting the feeling seep into her.
Then the patronus dissolved into mist. All that light and all that warmth, gone.
Still, it had given her enough energy to painfully push off the ground. She walked forward, the only direction she could manage, towards one of the bodies. The body was on top of a broken wheel (the wheel itself on top of a broken stump), with their face down and frizzy curls up. Granger, she realized. Her body was dangling from the stump, so much so that her time-turner had fallen to the ground.
Right beside another time-turner.
What?
Melissa looked down at her right hand. One hand. One. She looked back at the ground, seeing two time-turners. Two.
Okay. Not double-vision then.
There should have been better questions asked. Like, why did the dementors attack them? Is everyone alive? And yet, and yet, the second time-turner, the patronus, and the snow-prints near Granger's head, posed its own questions.
Don't look into the woods, came a conscious thought. A clever thought. She obeyed, and picked up the necklace under Granger's face. Walk behind the carriage where no one can see.
She did as her mind bid. Painful steps, moving round the broken remains of the carriage. Then, with the necklace around her neck, she managed to give it a half-turn.
"Brackium Emendo!"
Snap!
The gasp strangled under sharp pain as her bones snapped back into place. Her vision swam, overwhelmed by lightning shocks of pain shivering up her body. A slight recession of pain opened her throat enough for a true gasp. A breath out, a breath in, a swear out, a question in.
Why the hell did that happen?!
She let her breath catch up as her mind worked. Regardless of her (completely rational) fears, the dementors should not have attacked them like that! So why? It doesn't make sense!
I suppose I'll find out soon enough.
In the meantime, she has other wounds to heal.
Two dementors flew in fast from Hogsmeade.
They weren't even the ones on carriage duty! They just came straight at them, out of nowhere! The thestrals, spooked by the sudden attack, ran to escape the dementors, only to crash into the carriage ahead of them once the on-duty dementors joined in from the side. As the carriages rolled, Melissa noticed something odd. A flash of colour, a bright red stripe, marked the top of her carriage. It looked too slap-dashed to have any decorational meaning, and the other carriage lacked it entirely. In fact, after the carriages crashed, the dementors looked over the broken roof before moving on to the children closest to the carriage. They were looking for it!
Don't think about it! Don't ask. She breathed. Happy thoughts. You need a happy memory right now. One moved closer to her semi-younger body. From her hiding spot in the trees, she raised her wand and focused her mind. You win, and when this is over you will go home. HOME!
"Expecto patronum!" From her wand burst a spectral coyote. It raced forward, challenging the dementors in a battle she knew she would win. Emboldened with that thought, the coyote fought harder, stronger. It pushed them back, causing them to flee. Two went towards the school, and the other two went right back to Hogsmeade. Perhaps to get more reinforcements? Isn't that a terrifying thought?
The patronus burst in a puff of fear.
Shit! I better work fast and drop off the time-turner. She moved from her position, making a beeline towards Hermione. Only to stop short at the sight of sticky parchment on a tree.
MELODY, STOP!
Take the briefcase, a thestral, and one turn back at Hogsmeade station. You're welcome!
Her eyes narrowed. Of course this couldn't be over yet. Why am I even surprised? She looked about and, sure enough, the briefcase had flung out to a nearby spot among the trees. As for the thestrals, well, lucky for her they've never been a problem to find.
"Hey, hey, easy now." Carefully, she unclipped the broken slivers of carriage still attached to them. "Don't suppose one of you can give me a ride to the station, eh?" A snort came from the one with the least damage, and it bent low for her to climb aboard. "Atta girl. Alright," with a tap, she cast a disillusionment spell to match with her mount "let's fly!"
"Okay. One turn back for Hogsmeade Station. Here we go."
MELODY
Open the briefcase. They need a warming charm and some air. Take inventory while you can.
"What the fuck?"
Confused, she rested the briefcase on the ground and popped it open. There were many items inside. Mostly prank items and metal gizmos the twins have been working on all term. There was something else, though, that caught her attention. A glass ball within a gyroscope, the glass had a large hole at the top. Understandable since there was a mass of black snake coils inside.
"Weird. Okay." I am way too banged up to ask. "Calidum calorem."
The warming charm took hold. The snake writhed and seemingly purred under the heat. The pleasurable sound doubled. The reason made clear as two sets of blue eyes looked up at her.
"Greetings. Who are you?"
"Greetings, Speaker. We are-" "Aghilas-" "Azerwal-" "Where are our human brothers?"
"Not here. I was told to wake you." Why on earth did they put snakes in here?! Also what is up with their heads? They look like mini-unicorns. A cross breed, perhaps? Wait- haven't I met these two before? Nevermind that-! "We were attacked. I need your help to find out why."
The snakes hissed in indignation. She had to reassure them that Fred and George were alright (she certainly hoped so, since she hadn't thought clearly enough to check. Whoops!) Once assured, they answered in unison. "We will help you, Speaker. Lead us to the enemy!"
How cute, they talk like twins! "Follow me."
They snuck closer to the station, as near to the dementors as she could muster. Something had to have set them off. Something about that marking. But what was it? She wasn't sure. As the snakes slithered closer, she sat and waited. It gave her time to follow the instructions and take stock of what the Twins had inside.
-'Catch Coil' slinky,
-Storm Spinners - let's see these 'non-lethal' types. Tornado, Hurricane, Lightning Storm, Sandstorm (?) FIRESTORM? These boys, I swear…
-Shade Grenade - right, that's that launchable instant darkness powder. Catchy name.
-Disguise Hat,
-Voice changing potions - ah, neat, they have different types.
-Daydream Charm & Nightmare Jinx
-…Lightsaber with a wearable proximity shut-off. Well at least they're learning-
"Speaker! Humans are speaking to the fear monsters!"
She snapped out of her musings and turned fast towards the dementors. Sure enough, five students were standing in front of the monsters; and what an odd mix they were! The tall one holding a broom she pinned as Hugo Bradley, a fourth-year from Ravenclaw. Standing beside him was Pansy Parkinson. Across from them was a boy and a girl she couldn't see because their backs were turned, but the green piping of their robes was identification enough. The fifth and shortest of the lot was the curly-haired Gryffindor firstie who accosted Melissa earlier in the year, and she was pleading with the dementors in tears.
"You have to help us!" she cried. "That prisoner from Azkaban took over one of the carriages! There's a red mark on top of the carriage. Some kind of cursed mark the prisoner gave it to keep anyone from getting in and stop the students from escaping! You have to save them!"
The ghastly dementors nodded and flew off towards the school. Once it was out of sight, the crying girl smiled.
"Are you sure this will work?" the other boy asked.
Pansy scoffed, "It had better! Bennett's dodged everything else we've tried."
Well that answers who's been spiking my drinks.
"What happens now?" the Gryffindor girl asked. "The dementors can't kill her, right?"
The fifth witch answered her, "Oh, they'll do better than that. They'll leave her completely helpless; and when they do, it'll be my turn for revenge." She turned to face the younger girl with a dark smile.
Oh! Melissa sort of recognized her. That's the third year girl who always hangs out with the Ravenclaws. What's her name? Matilda, right? Matilda Runcorn -oh!
Oh. Shit. Now that makes sense.
"She won't even be able to scream for mercy, no matter what I do to her," Runcorn purred. "Say, Hugo, you heard the rumours of what she made Sam and Duncan do to Regina and Manon, right? Think you could bring some of your boys over for a little reenacting?"
Her blood went cold.
Bradley's eyes gleamed. "I think I could get some volunteers. You want in, Nott?"
Theodore Nott scoffed, "I have better ideas than to sully myself with a mudblood, Bradley. Though first we have to make sure the plan works. If the dementors don't give her the Kiss, we'll lose our chance entirely."
She started shaking. Those five, they were planning to- they've been trying to- Every fibre of her wanted to scream! Those- those evil, disgusting, little bastards!
"Speaker, I have an idea!" a small voice broke her out of the spiralling thoughts. "Give us the coils!"
The slinky? That makes sense. She took the slinky out of its case, watching in barely contained rage as the snakes looped themselves around each side of it, then vanished from sight.
Did those snakes just turn invisible?
The metal slinky rose from the briefcase, climbing higher, and stretching wider in the process.
THEY CAN FLY?!
Nevermind that, priorities!
She cast a wide ranging silencio on the students without their knowing, and grabbed a Shade Grenade. From above, the slinky stretched wider and higher, positioning itself overtop the group of five. Then it fell.
She tossed the grenade at them just in time. When the first coil touched the ground, it constricted instantly! The long coils snapped shut and encased the terrified five before they could even comprehend what was happening. As that happened, Melissa was hit with an idea. A brilliantly stupid idea. She pulled the time turner off of her neck and put the dial in her hand. Aiming her wand at the chain itself she focused her intent and whispered, "Engorgio!"
The chain grew from her hand, growing longer in the process as the loops got bigger. The time turner, miraculously, did not grow larger or explode in the process.
"Serpents, to me! Now!"
She ran into the darkness. With a leap she threw the chain at such an angle that the slinky flipped right into the chain. She thrust her head into what little space remained, waiting precious seconds until the snakes wrapped around her neck. Then, before any distant voices could investigate, she flicked the dial to a dizzying spin.
It was the middle of the night when six students suddenly appeared in the darkness of Hogsmeade station, not that any of them could be seen. Thanks to a few knock-out spells, she ensured that the other five couldn't see her either.
I just kidnapped them, didn't I?
Well, technically, they're safe in their beds at Hogwarts right now. Also, they just attacked her with dementors! So they can fuck right off for all she cared!
Still, that doesn't change facts. She needs to get them out of here, fast, or there'll be trouble! With a lumos, she walked over to the trees, hoping to find a message. She searched and searched, grumbling to herself as time passed. Thoughts of anger and revenge swirled inside of her. After everything, after everything she's been through! Has she not suffered enough? For these children to try this! To have planned beyond it with genuine rape and torture! This needs to stop! It needs to end! But how is she supposed to do that in a way that doesn't throw her right back into Azkaban? That's impossible!
MELODY
Actually it's super easy. Barely an inconvenience.
…Oh really?
Here's what you have to do:
It didn't make sense!
One moment they were at the edge of Hogsmeade Station, watching the dementors fly off to execute their latest (and hopefully final) plot against Bennett. The next moment, they were surrounded by darkness and ensnared by sharp ropes of some kind. They must have passed out because, the next time they woke, it was already night; and they were in the middle of the woods.
"They're awake!" a scratchy voice called out from the darkness.
"Good, good," a deep voice answered slowly. "Welcome, children. We've been expecting you."
A chorus of hissing laughter surrounded them.
"Where are we?"
"What's going on?"
"Somebody help us!"
"QUIET!" snapped the deep voice.
Bradley pushed back and forth, trying to wiggle out of the coils surrounding them.
"Careful now," a high, male voice called out in a sing-song voice, "if those ~move ~too ~far, your spines will ~break!"
The struggling stopped.
The scratchy voice growled out, "Where's the fun in stopping them, fool?! It's fun when they break their own bones!"
A hissing voice chimed in from another direction, speaking in indescribable words. Other hisses followed around the forest.
"Quite right, my friends," the deep voice answered. "We're here on business after all."
The one with the deep voice stepped closer. Through the dim cloud-covered moonlight, they saw the figure lean into a cane. Then, with his free hand, a fireball appeared! The light was blinding! Blinding, yet at least put a face to the voice. The man before them had a long, square-jawed face. Thick eyebrows peered from underneath a bowler hat, sitting atop dark eyes with a darkly amused gleam.
"I suppose you children know why you are here, correct?" Terrified silence followed. "Come now, don't be shy. I'm sure you can think of some reason, yes?"
Bradley was the first to regain his voice. "You can't keep us here forever! They'll know we missed the train and come looking for us!"
"Don't be so certain, young man," the man purred. "In this place, you'll see that we have all the time in the world."
"Time for fun!" the high voice giggled. "That one knows how to have a good time. I heard him talk about getting some friends together to defile the Devil's pet witch. I want a turn at him! Let's see how deep that broom can go!"
Bradley paled.
"Oh dearie, dearie, dear," the scratchy voice crooned. "Seems the witch-folk didn't know we were listening. Did they?"
A hiss answered.
"Circe help us!" Parkinson squeaked. "Rowle wasn't lying! They're demons!"
"What's it matter?" the scratchy voice said. "Would that have stopped you, little witch? Stopped you from putting potions and poisons in His pet's goblet?"
"She- she's in league with you!" she screamed hysterically. "She has to be stopped!"
"Really?" the deep one purred. "And what's so important that you five felt the need to rally together and to kill one of your own, hmm?"
Parkinson didn't answer, but Nott stepped in. "She's not one of us," his voice was surprisingly firm despite the fear in his eyes. "If anything she's been destroying our people since coming to our world! Do you have any idea how many noble bloodlines have died out or been damaged in the past year? The Averies, the Malfoys, the Crouches, the Lestranges, the -YOW!"
The forest laughed. "Does the witch-boy think we care about blood and bloodlines?"
"Heh. Humans. Simple-minded animals, the lot of them."
"True. Though that does make me curious." the deep voiced one stepped closer to the cage. Lifting his cane, he slid the narrow tip inside and used it to lift the youngest girl's chin. "Your reasons have nothing to do with blood, do they, little girl? What reason does a no-named child have to mix into this dark business, hmm?"
Strangely, the girl seethed at the dismissal. "My name is Romilda Vane you creepy freak!"
The man chuckled darkly. "A feisty one, aren't you? That doesn't answer my question, though."
The high-voiced demon laughed, and then shouted, "I know why she's here! She's the rapist girl!"
Vane paled. "...W-what?"
"Who?" the man asked.
"The rapist girl!" It cackled. "She's the one that brews a love potion for the red boy, and nearly has his best friend killed in the process."
"WHAT?! I would never- I've never done that!"
"Not now, pipsqueak! In the future! When did His pet see that happening? Four years from now?"
A hiss answered.
"Oh, right. That year makes more sense."
The deep voice man hummed in thought. "Ah. So you have a naturally black heart. I suppose that answers my question, then.
"No! No! I'm not like that! I'm-" her mouth continued to cry out hysterically, but her voice had been silenced. It was amusing for those that could see her face to watch it happen at varying angles. Interestingly, the other four prisoners were giving the girl disturbed looks.
The man walked around the cage, eyeing them gleefully. He stopped in front of Runcorn, flashing a full-toothed grin. "Now you are a reasonable addition to this party. Your cousin was a component of the Dream Demon's ritual, was he not? …Now don't be shy, my dear. Your heart begs for revenge, doesn't it? Thundering, aching for retribution for your cousin's fate?"
In a dramatic showing, Matilda had tears in her eyes. "Sam wasn't just my cousin! He was like a brother to me! When my dad went missing last year, he was there for me! And then Bennett-" she hiccoughed. "He didn't deserve to be butchered like that! And Aunt Janine, she killed herself after the funeral! Bennett didn't just kill Sam, she's killed my family!" She glared horribly, "And she deserves every bad thing that's coming for her! Mark my words!"
"Marked, indeed," he uttered. He removed his cane, and used it to lean closer to her. "I'm going to let you in on a secret, Miss Runcorn. …You're right."
"Wh- what?"
"You're right," he repeated. "Your Samuel didn't deserve to die. Don't get me wrong, he has earned his place in our realm easily. A black-hearted bigot and cruel beyond how any boy should be; but he didn't deserve to die. Not so soon. In fact, one could argue that none of those children deserved the level of torture and torment they received on Earth."
Matilda blinked back tears. "Then why did she do it?"
He levelled a flat stare. "Have you not been listening? That was the Dream Demon's ritual. Not the witch-girl's."
"You're lying!" she shouted. "I don't care what anyone says! I know she killed him on purpose! She's mad and evil and-!"
"ENOUGH!"
Fire blasted from his hand. It nearly hit the girl. Honestly, it was a miracle that he had missed. When the flames died down, the other voices chittered.
"It's like I said, boss, humans are stupid. The magical ones, especially."
He rolled his eyes. "So you say."
A pause followed. "We still have to deliver the message, boss."
"Indeed."
"What message?" Runcorn demanded. "I don't care what she says, I'm not going to-"
"No more words." He silenced the girl. "You all get to listen, and you will listen."
He walked around the group, like a shark out from the darkest depths. "Today has been a culmination of all of the annoyances and obstacles that have had to be carefully navigated for years. Do you have any idea how irritating you wizards have been? Violent bullies, kidnappers, Death Eaters, dementors, wannabe rapists; would-be assassins; it just doesn't end with you people, does it?! It wouldn't be so much trouble if the seer had dark enough inclinations to give proper retribution; but my white-feathered brethren have too much of a hold on the girl. Yet what comes from those soft reactions? Do you learn? Do you stop? No. Instead, you get worse. Plotting murder, rape, and soul destruction- the greatest sin in all the realms of Heaven, Earth, and Hell! It doesn't make you much different than the Dream Demon that got your cousin, does it? Put all that together, and one can't help but ask what level of mercy could you pathetic shitstains possibly FUCKING DESERVE?!"
They shuddered, staring on in wide-eyed silence. The man shook the rage and flames from his person. It was an attempt at composure, though it was hard to see if it worked or not.
"And the worst part- the worst part, is that your grievances are so obnoxiously pointless! Runcorn, perhaps, can be granted a small exception since yours stem from love and family; but the rest of you! What is your motivation in all of this? Blood purity? An uppity muggleborn up in your midst? What trivial, pathetic nonsense! That's what got you here, you realize? Pointless, pathetic, worthless nonsense!
"And it is worthless, make no mistake. Let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture, shall we? You, a group of children, have taken to war with Melissa Harmony Bennett. A woman whom has struck deals with Demons and Dark Ones, consorted with Kings, Gods, and Time Ladies, a soul who was born into being by the Angels of Heaven, has lived under the protection of our Lord Morningstar, and has achieved a closer relationship with the Master of Death than any mortal has had in centuries! Do you children think for a second that your petty and pathetic grievances are worth even an ounce of our time?! When our Masters are arranging the realms of life, death, and the worlds between in ways you cannot possibly comprehend? Do you think your simple lives can compare against the Masters of Time, Death, and Fate!" He paused for dramatic effect. "Not a single one of you."
None of them look rebellious. Good. They're listening. It's time to turn it up a notch.
Strange shrieks and cheers came from the beings hiding in the forest. With them came whipping winds and the sound of storms.
"And the Masters are displeased, you know. The Master of Death is powerful, and even his mercy has its limits. The Heavenly Host had to be dispatched to deal with your soul-eaters, personally. Even I pity those creatures to be faced against the wrath of angels. Then again," he laughed darkly, "my Lord has grown something of a soft spot for His pet, and He doesn't like those that try to defile His things. So He volunteered to bring you into our generous care."
The laughter echoed.
"Not forever, though," said the scratchy one. "Not this time, at least. Our Master has a message for you to give to the world. Any who try to interfere in our plans again have us to answer to. So listen close, witchlings. Listen and preach our warning against those that would meddle in our plans. Defy us, and become our gift for eternal torment!"
"For eternal fun!"
The group shuddered. The man smiled at the sight. "Exactly right. Harm that girl again, and you will be ours. Inspire others to harm her, and you will be ours. Refuse to dissuade your fellows from harming her, and you will be ours." He leered at Parkinson, then Vane, chuckling darkly as they flinched. "And I do hope you defy us. There are such sights I'd love to show you. So many, mmm, lovely expressions of pain and pleasure I can give you."
"We don't have to let them go just yet," a high voice added. "After all, we have all the time in the world."
"Quite right." A mist of dark blue smoke burst beside the coils. The children inhaled the smoke, causing their vision to blur. "All the time in the world…"
The edge of Hogsmeade Station was hit with Instant Darkness Powder. In that instant, unseen by all those present, a giant slinky full of children vanished in the darkness. At the same time, five identical, sleeping bodies were dropped inside. They'll wake up soon, Melissa figured, likely hoping that it had all been a nightmare. Which, thanks to the Nightmare Hex, was somewhat true. As for the rest… They could hope it was a dream, but they'll know. Oh, they'll know!
And now for the final touch.
Disillusioned, she placed her final message on a tree. She was in perfect sightline to Granger now. A few steps, an opened hand, and everything fell into place. She watched quietly as her past self stumbled towards Hermione. God, she's a mess. Good thing no one else is watching. Her healed wounds would be too difficult to explain away.
Once her past self vanished from time, Melissa undid the disillusionment. "Granger? Hey Granger, are you okay?"
A moan came from the down-face girl. "What happened?"
"Not sure. The dementors went crazy! I think something chased them off, though. Are you able to stand?"
Hermione attempted, but winced with a high painful cry. "It hurts!"
"It's okay. It's okay. I'm going to check on the others, okay?"
Hermione whined in pain again, but lifted her head to nod. "Good. I'll be right back. Oh! Your necklace! Here-" She slowly picked it up from the ground and placed it around Hermione's neck. "Wouldn't want to lose that." She gave Hermione a warm smile. "Just hang tight, okay?"
Hermione winced a smile back. "Thank you."
"No problem."
She walked back towards her own carriage, making sure to "stumble on a root", before crashing to the ground and letting sleep take hold. Safe in time-turned knowledge that they will be found shortly, and that everyone would be fine. As for Melissa, it was well past midnight as far as her body was concerned after so many jumps and roles to play, and she desperately needed the sleep.
And the alibi.
The ten students, so horrifically attacked by the dementors, ended up in the hospital wing and missed the train home. Instead, each took the floo to Kings Cross Station once Madam Pomfrey gave them the all clear. They all reunited with their families, and, aside from some trauma, returned home without incident.
On the Hogwarts Express, however, many students were troubled. Troubled by the attack. Troubled by the claims in Lockhart's new book. Troubled, in whispers, by news of a new rule to live by. Troubled- yes- but as word spread and comparisons were made, these new rules of life were accepted and, ultimately, obeyed.