AN: Happy New Year! And happy Valentine's day! (And happy every other holiday I've missed.) It's been a while. Much has happened. We had a few fake fire alarms at my school (one because teenagers are idiots, and the second because chemistry teachers aren't much better some days), the police broke up the school's Christmas party (rightfully so, no idea why the headmaster thought that would be a good idea in the first place), I went to Austria over Christmas where I experienced earthquakes, I've met a princess,… Life is really more exciting than it should be during a pandemic.

I was really worried y'all would hate me for the last chapter, but I've gotten such incredible feedback from you guys and there's been 74 (!) new reviews since then, which is absolutely amazing! Thank you for that! You are really giving me hope that this fic will one day reach 1k reviews!

I don't think anyone guessed the plot twist of last chapter and I am really kind of proud of that. It's not easy coming up with an original storyline these days when it feels like everything has been done before. I hope it was not too out of the blue, but there were some hints. Draco and Dumbledore have mentioned the need for a plan B quite a few times. In chapter 81 Draco tells Dumbledore that Voldemort knows about the time travel and that Occlumency is only going to take them so far and that they would need an alternative. Well, this was the alternative plan. Then there was chapter 63 (the one from the twins' perspective). That was kind of an interlude between phase 2 (year 4, basically) and phase 3 (things getting serious). I called that chapter a metaphorical preview back then and now you might understand what I meant by that. It deals with the theme of forgetting and also uses different POVs for the first time, which will obviously also play a huge role in the coming chapters.

Funny aside - I speculated that there would be about 20 more chapters in the AN of chapter 63… well, we are well past that point and there will still be a few more chapters. I won't speculate how many – I'm clearly not good at that.

Anyhow, we're in the endgame now. (Saying that felt as good as I thought it would.) Here's chapter 91 – read, enjoy and review :)

Platform 9 ¾ was usually full of life, the atmosphere reminding one more of a funfair than the first day of school. There would be wild chattering and squeals of joy at being reunited with friends. There would be sounds of all sorts of animals, the scraping of heavy trunks, and pure joy surrounding the scarlet steam engine.

When Astoria arrived at the platform, there was none of that. No excitement, no joy, no laughter. She turned around on the spot, only to crash into her sister.

"I'm not going," she announced at her sister's wide-eyed expression.

"Tory," Daphne sighed exasperatedly.

"Don't you "Tory" me," she said. "Mum and Dad are probably still on the other side. They can take me with them."

Daphne grabbed her by the shoulders with one hand, the other holding on to her trunk, turned her around, and pushed her towards the train. "Don't be ridiculous. We've had this discussion and our decision was final."

She sighed. Daphne was right. Of course, she was. But the dread inside of her was growing with every step they took towards the train and her fist clenched and unclenched around the handle of her own trunk. "This year will be a nightmare."

Daphne stopped pushing her for a second. "Yes," she admitted, then gave her sister another shove. "Get a move on or the train will leave without us."

Astoria reluctantly did as she was told. What point was there in going back to Hogwarts? Harry would not be there. Hermione would not be there. Ron would not-

An ear-piercing shriek brought her thoughts to a sudden halt.

Daphne had stopped pushing, which almost had Astoria fall backwards. She stepped around her younger sister and ran off.

It only took Astoria a second to steady herself and figure out what had happened. Among the sea of Slytherins she spotted her favorite Gryffindor. A moment later, Daphne had thrown herself at him, and locked him in an embrace that looked almost painful.

Astoria made her way towards them, a gentle smile forming on her lips. "It's good to see you, Neville."

Daphne let go of her boyfriend and he smiled at them. "I told you I would be here, didn't I?"

"I know." She shrugged her shoulders. "But these days you can't take anything for granted anymore. And we haven't actually seen you since… you know."

Neville's smile faltered a little. "Let's go and find a compartment. Then we can talk."

Astoria nodded, and followed the couple through a crowd that was thinner than it should have been. Not a single muggle-born among them. She fought hard to keep memories of previous Hogwarts Express rides at bay. To not compare this nightmarish version with what she was used to. Still, her thoughts remained occupied, and she crashed into another student. This time, it was not her sister.

"Watch it!" hissed the voice. It was cold, with an unfamiliar sharp edge to it, but still she recognized the voice immediately.

"You're alive!" she gasped. A wave of feelings crashed over her, momentarily overwhelming her capacity to do anything but gape at him. Her first and strongest reaction was relief, an unutterable joy. He was alive. He was not dead. But then the victim of her clumsiness turned towards her and a cold dread took a hold of her, battling the joy she had been feeling.

Grey eyes regarded her coolly. "Why ever wouldn't I be?" he asked.

Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. She'd never seen him so gaunt. She'd never seen him so pale. She'd never seen him so cold. Not towards her. "Draco? What happened?"

His gaze turned into a frown. "Should I know you?" he spat.

Astoria took a step back, feeling as if he had physically slapped her.

"Draco, honey, what are you doing with that blood traitor scum?" a nasty female voice said from behind Draco. Draco stepped aside and Astoria recognized pug-faced Pansy, who was wrapping her arms around Draco.

Draco huffed. "Blood traitor scum? I had hoped the school was finally done with those."

The two of them laughed and left Astoria behind, gasping for air. No. No. No. No.

Her heart lurched, her hands were cold and clammy. She grabbed her trunk, which she had dropped sometime during that encounter, and ran for the train.

As soon as she had entered her sister's compartment, she lurched forward, tumbling to the ground. A sharp pain shot up her knees as they hit the ground, but it was nothing compared to the pain she felt inside. She gasped for air, but still felt as if she were suffocating.

"Tory!" shrieked her sister and was beside her within seconds, pulling her into an embrace. "What happened?"

But she couldn't speak. Not over the piercing pain in her chest. Not over the sobs that escaped her. So, she just clung to her sister, letting it all out.

She had no idea how long they had stayed like that, huddled together on the compartment floor. When she came back to her senses, the train was already moving. She blinked and the world around her came back into focus. They weren't alone. Neville was there, of course, and so was Theo. They averted their gazes when she looked at them, but the worry was evident on their faces.

"Draco is on the train," she finally managed to say.

"He's alive?" Neville asked, leaning towards her. "Brilliant! How is he? Did you talk to him? We should…" he trailed off. Perhaps he had noticed that she did not share his elation.

Another wave of agony threatened to drown her at the thought of telling them what had happened, but she held on to her sister and thought that she might be fine. And Neville's hopeful gaze had served as a reminder that those were, in fact, good news. "He's alive but… I don't think he's himself anymore. He did not recognize me at all. He- he was with Pansy and… they called me…" she closed her eyes and shook her head. The memories of eyes that had only ever held love sneering at her fresh on her mind. His otherwise so gentle and soft voice, spitting vile and cruel insults.

Everyone just stared at her, mouths agape.

"He did not recognize you? What do you mean?" asked Theo, the first to find his voice.

"I- he- he did not recognize me. He asked me who I was. No, he asked me if he should know who I was, as if he couldn't be bothered! He needed Pansy to tell him. And she called him honey. Draco doesn't even like Pansy!"

"Maybe he was faking it," suggested Daphne. "We don't know what happened to him. Maybe it was the only way to get out of there alive."

That was a nice and comforting thought. But You-Know-Who was not that stupid. And the sneer… and his eyes. "No. He did not fake anything. He was so cold… so full of hatred."

"He… was hanging out with Pansy?" Neville asked. "And he called you something… is he one of them now? One of… you know… them?"

Astoria took a deep breath before she answered, better in control of her emotions again. "It could be. He called me a blood traitor and said that I shouldn't be allowed to attend Hogwarts." She got up from the ground, sitting down beside Theo. Daphne sat down on her other side, not yet willing to let go of her completely.

"How?" asked Theo, breaking a silence that had been growing heavier by the second. "Did they torture him? Brainwash him? Imperio?"

"Perhaps… But… He knew things," Neville said. "Things You-Know-Who would kill and torture for."

"You think he erased his own memories?" Astoria asked, glad that her more rational side was taking over.

"Either he did or someone else did it for him," he gave her a meaningful look, but Astoria did not understand what it was that he wanted to tell her. "I think this is more likely than torture or Imperio. Draco and Dumbledore must have had a backup plan in case he got captured. And I don't think You-Know-Who knows. Draco would be dead if he did. We would all be dead if he did. Harry, too. This whole thing would be over if he did."

Time travel. Neville knew. She had never gotten around to asking him about it, not with the chaos that had ensued after Shacklebolt's Patronus had announced the arrest warrant for Albus Dumbledore. And now, it seemed if what Neville said was true, it was too late. That knowledge was gone. Everything was gone.

"So," Theo started carefully, "Draco does not remember us?"

Astoria blinked away the sheen of new tears forming in her eyes. "The Draco we know does not exist anymore."

"What can we do about it?" Daphne asked. "Can we undo this?"

Astoria and Neville looked at each other. "I don't think so," said Astoria. "If he has been obliviated… I'm sure you remember what Flitwick taught us – it is permanent."

"And even if we could undo it, I am not sure that is a good idea. Not with Death Eaters taking over everywhere. He'd just end up in the same situation again," Neville added.

His sacrifice and the pain and fear he must have endured would all be for nothing, Astoria thought bitterly.

Theo looked at her for a few moments, then he said, "So, he has told you his secret as well? You and Neville know?" His eyes then wandered to Neville.

Astoria could not help herself. Bitter laughter escaped her. "Not as willingly as I would have liked. But I understand now. Why it was necessary. The fewer people know, the safer it is. Trust me, Theo."

Neville nodded along with her words. "He only ever lied to protect us. When You-Know-Who is gone I'm sure he'd tell you himself if he remembered. But for now, believe us when we tell you that you do not want to know. If anyone finds out that Astoria and I know…"

"If it helps, I don't know either," Daphne said. "But it's okay. The stakes are higher now. I understand that."

Theo seemed to accept that. Not that he had much of a choice. "But he is alive, at least. That is something. And we've become his friends once, I'm sure we can do so again."

Astoria frowned, remembering clearly the last conversation she had had with Draco. "I called Hermione a mudblood and thought that the school, hell, the world would be better off without people like her in it." "I tortured him." "I used an Unforgiveable." "You became a Death Eater when You-Know-Who returned?" Draco had been sure Astoria would hate him for the things he had done in the past. But he had recognized how wrong they were and had changed. That was why Astoria had not judged him for it. Why she did not hate him. He had moved past all of it, becoming a truly remarkable man, willing to give his life for what was right and for the people he loved. But loving someone who had recognized the errors of his ways and did everything he could to atone and loving someone who was on the wrong path… who believed others were worth less and should be tortured and killed for it… those were two very different things. And Astoria had never known the other Draco.

"Perhaps," she finally agreed with Theo. Perhaps Draco would learn the same things again, reach the same understanding he had had before. Perhaps he would one day want to be their friend again. One day. But if what little Draco had told her of his past was true, then one day was still a long way to go. "But I'm not sure if we'll want to be friends with this Draco. He hasn't just forgotten us. He is a different person. He is as good as a Death Eater. We can try to be his friends again, but we cannot trust him."

Neville nodded in agreement.

"I don't understand," Theo said. "Why would erasing his memories change his personality so much?"

Astoria froze – why were her friends so smart? What possible explanation could she give them?

"It is not a new personality," Neville said, and Astoria was glad she was not alone in this. And that Neville had more experience explaining away problems that were caused through time travel without outright lying to them. "That's who he used to be. Daphne, Theo – you both knew the old Draco. You two have lived with him and shared classes with him for years. You must have heard him complain about Harry. Every encounter between them turned into a fight. He convinced Harry to duel him only to get him into trouble for being out after curfew. He attacked him by conjuring a snake during Dueling Club. And you must have heard him call Hermione a m- a you-know-what. You must remember how he treated me. Or how excited he was when muggle borns turned up petrified."

Theo and Daphne looked at each other, neither of them looking particularly happy.

"I do. I had a hard time believing it at first," muttered Theo, "when he was suddenly so different. But once I accepted it… I was so glad I wasn't alone anymore, that I did not have to pretend anymore, I did not question it very hard."

Astoria grabbed his hand, squeezing it lightly.

Neville smiled at them. "I know that feeling. I was alone for the first two years at Hogwarts. An outsider. Even those in Gryffindor made fun of me. Draco used to bully me, but when he stopped and became my friend instead, I was so grateful that I accepted his first explanation without digging any deeper. I know that I would not be friends with any of you, that I would not be the person I am today, if it had not been for him."

Daphne gulped. "That's true for all of us, I think. I was never as anti-You-Know-Who as you guys. I certainly wasn't as pureblood-manic as Draco, but… you know. I didn't much question it, not until I became friends with you all. I'm not sure if I would be fighting with you guys if it hadn't been for Draco. I don't think I would have ever even considered joining the Order or becoming friends with Gryffindors. I remember the old Draco. I doubted his change of heart at first, especially when I found you and Draco in the forest with Sirius, but wherever I looked I only found good intentions. And we were on friendly terms even before he changed. Then life happened and the why did not seem all that important anymore."

"I cannot tell you what happened exactly," Neville continued. "Only know that it was very traumatic, and it opened his eyes to how wrong what he had been doing had been. But whatever happened to him in You-Know-Who's captivity… it undid that change. He does not remember the thing that made him change. The Draco we know and love, who made us feel less alone, who made us feel brave enough to be ourselves… he does not exist anymore." Neville squeezed his eyes shut. "That Draco is gone."

A new wave of grief rolled over Astoria and she curled up and against her sister, who pulled her tight. They spent the rest of the train right in relative silence, each lost in their own thoughts, each grieving for a lost friend.

Severus observed the students arriving in the Great Hall. A somber affair. The student body had shrunken significantly over the holidays, and the rift between the students could not have been more evident.

Hogwarts was no longer the save haven it used to be. Or rather, it was no longer perceived as such. As a Slytherin, Severus had been disabused of such notions early on during his own time at school. Bullying amongst students was largely ignored, dangerous creatures were roaming the halls, and the castle was not quite as impenetrable as Albus liked to think.

Now, all of the wizarding world knew. Three students had disappeared during a school event, one had never returned. The Dark Lord had risen to power again, and had – not for the first time – installed his own minions in key positions.

Minerva was overseeing the arrival of the first years, as she usually did. Well, she was when she was not glaring at him instead. Their decade-long friendship had turned sour the moment she had seen Severus' new wand in his hands.

He turned away from her and focused his attention on his wand. Albus' wand. It was a constant reminder of his betrayal. He rolled it between his fingers, thinking of its previous owner. He had murdered him in the original timeline. He had done something similar in this one. And still… and still Draco had trusted him. Draco had been fighting for Dumbledore's cause, he had seen Severus kill the man, and still he chose to trust him.

The time travel had explained so much that had previously puzzled him, but it had also created just as many new questions as it had answered old ones. Why had he killed Albus? Did this Albus know about it? Why would both Draco and Albus put their faith in him if they knew? Why had Albus attacked Draco? Severus had chosen to side with Draco, but had that been the right decision?

While examining Draco's mind, he had not lingered on these moments. They had not been important, not for the matter at hand. They were, however, important to Severus himself, and he wished he had had the time to talk to Draco about all of it. But as it was, he could not even talk to Albus about it.

Severus focused his attention on the students again. There was no use in pondering questions he could not answer. He had almost been looking forward to the diverting beginning of school and things regaining some sense of normalcy. But observing the students he knew that this school year would neither bring him diversion from his dark thoughts, nor any normalcy.

He wondered, not for the first time, about the fate of his students. If they were not on the Dark Lord's side, they would be killed for their insubordination, and if they were, they would be killed for cooperating with him. They were young and believed whatever their parents and friends told them. It was not fair that this would decide whether they lived or died.

Filius approached the High Table, his step faltering when he spotted Severus. His features changed, twisting into disgust before he managed something more neutral.

"Snape," he said stiffly.

Severus was used to being hated. He had been hated by his peers at Hogwarts, and the majority of his students despised him, which suited him just fine. But Filius and Minerva had been, after Albus, the closest thing to friendship he had experienced since Lily had cut all ties with him. Their animosity hurt. And what was worse, he had to pretend to loathe them as well, acting as if he preferred the company of the Carrows.

"Filius," Severus responded just as coolly. "Tell me, have you read the Prophet lately?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "Every day. Why?"

"Then surely you are aware that I am now headmaster at this school?"

Filius jerked his head in response.

"Yes? Well then, you will address me as such, unless you prefer to find employment elsewhere."

He could hear the Carrows cackle somewhere behind him.

He stepped around Filius, sitting down at the spot reserved for the headmaster of the school. He did not wait for a response and ignored the hissed "traitor" that he caught behind his back.

Soon, the ceremony began. Next to him, the Carrows were making crude remarks about the students. The other teachers were barely touching their food. The students were glaring at him. Longbottom and the Greengrass sisters barely interacted with anyone. And Draco looked like an Inferius.

This was going to be a long year.

TBC

What a depressing chapter. Hope you guys still enjoyed it, though. At least Draco is alive. Do you think he will regain his memory? Should he? Let me know with a review. And have a fantastic weekend!