Dedicated to BessHD12306 for the awesome cover!
TheFangirlWhoWrote - 'The updates are so slow yet this story is so amazing! Imagine every time you update, a beast is fed chocolate to calm it down. The beast can ONLY be calmed by chocolate. Now, if you were to update more often, we could just set the beast loose in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! We are the best! The beast is fans, the food is updates Help us, please, before we attack innocent men, women, and children!'
The very first thing that popped into my head when reading this was: 'Wonka, feed your imagination.' And, then I realized that you all were right. I'm sorry for the slow updates, but I can't update any faster - not until the beginning of June. School is taking up a lot of my time.
Song For This Chapter: Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches
Ch. 6: Turning Time
"Lana?" I looked around the Gryffindor table, eyes searching each set across from mine as they lowered slightly.
"Well," I prodded, and not too gently either. "Where is she? You can't just not tell me. I deserve to know!" I rose my voice slightly, glaring at Hermione as she buried her nose deeper into 'Magical Creatures And Where To Find Them'. I'd been here for two days, but no one had dared tell me about Lana - it was beginning to drive me crazy. And, I already had many things to go crazy about - like the fact today was November 2nd and just three days ago I could have sworn it was the beginning of April.
Beside me, I could sense Fred's body tense up. His hand curled into a small fist, and the whites of his knuckles brightened against the urge to say anything. I looked at him earnestly, the inner corners of my eyebrows knitting together in a pleading fashion.
There was a small moment's pause and then there was a small cough from beside me. Turning my head towards the sound, I saw Ginny biting her lip and lifting her eyes directly into mine. "Well, she.... her family moved her back to France. They have a family doctor there - and they wanted her to be close when she..." She lowered her eyes, focusing on her plate.
My eyes prickled a little and I pushed my untouched plate of food away from me, no longer feeling hungry. Fred lowered his hand on top of mine and gave me a sad, soft smile. "She's stable - but they want her to be there when she passes." His brown eyes softened, pools of honeycomb and chocolate that desperately wished to be soothing.
I yanked my hand away from his. Their words cut me like a dagger to the stomach. "First C-Cedric, now this?!" I shook my head, trying to deny all the things I was hearing. I'd thought Cedric had been seriously injured - but to find out he was... he'd died. And now Lana was dying too?
"I'm so sorry, Elle." Hermione closed her book and gave me a pitying gaze. "It doesn't look good for her."
I felt my cup shaking in my hand, and as I peered down, I realized it was my own nervousness causing it. Lana was dying - she was in France with her family waiting for her to pass on. This was crazy. "I have to go see her," I muttered lowly, not really making conversation, but admitting the pure truth.
Hermione's eyes snapped up to meet mine, but Ginny piped up before Hermione could protest. "No, you can't."
Raising a brow, I turned to Ginny and frowned. "What are you talking about? It's a family matter - Lana is like a sister to me, if she's dying the school has to let me go see her."
Hermione lowered her head and sighed. She reached up and scratched absentmindedly at the corner of her temple. "Actually," I detested the way her mouth formed the word, like a correction. "Umbridge has this school on lock down right now. People are scared after Cedric's death and Harry's claims about You-Know-Who." She looked towards Harry as he shot her a small look. "No offence."
"None taken." He quirked back, but by the way he said it I knew others were irritating him by the fact that they didn't seem believe him.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my long hair. "Just great." I rolled out my shoulders and took a long sip from my steaming cup of coffee. "Could today get any worse?"
Ron, who had been pale and quiet the entire time, nodded towards something behind me and frowned a little. "I guess we are going to find out - huh?"
"Wha-" I turned around and was met with the oh-so pleasant sight of Professor Snape stalking towards me, famous scowl on his lips. He looked more deranged since the last time I'd seen him - perhaps it was due to the presence of Umbridge at Hogwarts.
"Ah, Miss Granger - today you and I will be going over what you have been missing all school year - we will start by you taking your end-of-year exam. Meet in the dungeons at precisely nine o'clock." His coal eyes examined me closely, then he added as an after thought, "For every minute you are late, a point will be docked from your exam." Then, he walked past my table, and out of the Great Hall.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair, glaring at his back. "But," I pouted a little, shoving the depressing thoughts of Lana out of my mind for the time being. "I have Defense Against the Dark Arts at nine."
Hermione smirked a little and looked up at me over the rim over her book. "Well - let's hope you can be in two places at once."
You sneaky, sneaky know-it-all you. I muttered inside my head and begun to pick at my porridge once more. Lana's crumpled body flashed behind my eyes, and I begun to grow rather nervous towards how she was doing. Magic could only go so far, right?
Chewing, I debated inside my mind - see Professor Snape first, or get acquainted with Umbridge. Neither sounded particularly awesome, but I realized procrastinating the matter would change nothing. "Screw it - I'm going with Snape."
I pushed my plate away again and trudged out of the room, down to the dungeons to be tortured for the next seven hours of my life - then do it all over again once I reached the end of the day. Pausing in the middle of the staircase, I realized that this was what my days were going to consist of for the rest of the year.
How did Hermione do it? This is insane.
UNKNOWN POV:
"Ouch, what the heck?" I yelped, heart pumping a million beats a second. My head felt as if it had been split against a rock, my hands felt as if they were on fire. Where am I? My eyes searched through the dark room around me, voices were coming from the room outside, but I had no idea where I was. "H-Hello?"
There was no response.
Fumbling around, I felt my way through the darkness - using my hands as a guide out of the unfamiliar room - towards the unfamiliar voices. "Eh, hello?" I squinted a little, straining my eyes against the tiny sliver of light that was radiating from behind the closed door.
There was the sound of scurrying feet and suddenly the door was yanked open, and I was being crushed by arms and French murmurs of happiness and shock. Pulling away from the person slightly, I looked up at them to see my cousin, Gabrielle, burring her blonde head into the crook of my neck, tears streaking down her face slightly.
"Hey, Gabby, don't cry - I'm fine. Really." I smiled softly down at her. She looked up at my face with a mournful look in her azure eyes. She was so pretty for a young girl. "Come on, you know I'm not going anywhere."
Gabrielle beamed up at me, wiping under her eyes slightly and murmuring apologies in French. Clearing her throat, she stuttered a little as she mouthed out English words for me. "I-I thought you 'ad died. Eve'one vas praying for you. For safe passing."
Straightening up at her words, I brushed myself off and heaved a small sigh. "I'm not going anywhere. Not yet any way." I smirked down at her, mussing her hair slightly. "So - what day is it? I'm starved."
"It's Saturday - November 2nd, and you are in France, at the villa." A new, slightly regal voice spoke up, causing me to look towards the door way where Fleur was leaning against the door frame, beaming happily towards me. "Good morning, Lana."
ELLE
Coffee... Sounds... So... Good right now. "Elizabeth Granger!" Snape's voice snapped at me, causing me to lift my head off of my hand and shift away from my daydreaming. "Are you even listening to a word I've said?" He glared, voice never raising from his monotone sound. He was getting to be worse than the History of Magic teacher.
"Sure, sure." I yawned - waving Snape off with a small smile. "What did you say again?"
Snape rolled his eyes, snapping his thick textbook shut. "Miss Granger, I informed you five minutes ago that you could leave." Blinking slowly, I stared at him, my brain was slowly piecing together what he was saying. He stared at me blankly. "Get. Out." He hissed and thrust a finger towards the door, irritated by my blank looks.
"O-oh." I rubbed my eyes, ruining my eyeliner in the process. "Okay, Sir!" I grinned cheekily and shoved my book into my bag, and made my way towards the exit - but not before turning back to Snape with a a raised brow. "So - did I pass?" I'd watched him grade my final exam, and I was curious to see how I did.
Lifting his coal black eyes up to my light brown ones, Snape shook his head with a sneer and nodded. "Yes. Congratulations, Miss Granger - you are competent."
"Thanks, that means a lot." I sneered back. Gez - this guy could really use a girl or something - he's always so grumpy. Sighing, Snape sent me the most annoyed look he'd sported in a long time. It read: 'get-out-of-my-office-or-I'll-take-a-million-points-away-from-Gryffindor' or extreme diarrhea - but that was the less appealing option.
Turning on my heel, I vacated the dungeons and checked my pocket watch. "That's just dainty. It's already one pm." I moaned in displeasure and rubbed my eyes once more.
It took hardly any time to sluggishly drag myself towards the Gryffindor Tower, ready for a nap... or a nice long shower, to rest before I had to do that damned day all over again. The mere thought made me shudder.
"This year sucks so much," I whined to no one in particular. I missed my stalkers. "Well, time to start this day over again."
"Careful, Letter," there was a low chuckle close to my ear, accompanied by hot breath and the smell of musk and honey. "You don't want to be caught talking to yourself. People will start to think you're going mad."
I paused at the foot of the spiralling stairs that would lead up towards the Tower, knowing that's where I'd find my sister, but feeling a sudden calm at his presence that wasn't unwanted.
I carved a quick turn in the stone floor with my heel as I whipped around to face him, lifting my chin lightly to meet his eyes. Fred towered above me a good foot, more or less. His cropped red hair was tousled like ripples on the Black Lake. For a brief moment, I pictured running my fingers through it, smoothing it out, feeling the silky tresses under my fingertips. It looked nice. Different, of course, but flattering none the less.
"Have you grown since the last time I saw you?" I teased him, feeling the strain in my neck as I looked up at him.
"You taking notice, L?" Fred grinned and ran a hand through his hair. I watched in slight envy. "I changed a few other things since you were gone too."
I feigned a look of confusion and pushed past him. "No? I never noticed." I spared him a small look before giving The Fat Lady our password. "Hmm... Did you tone up a little? No, no that's not it..."
"Ey, what's to tone up?" He frowned a little, flexing a bicep. His smirk fell a little the longer I played dumb. "You really didn't notice, huh?"
Rolling my eyes, I pushed the portal door open and yanked on his tie, bringing him close to me. "Don't be daft, Fred - I noticed you cut your hair the moment you came with Hermione. I like it, a lot." Fred grinned down at me, sporting my favorite smile that crinkled the edges of his eyes. Leaning in, I kissed him lightly on the lips, running the hand not pulling on his tie through his short hair.
Just as I'd pictured, silk smooth and short. I could feel his body react as my fingernails tugged, gingerly, against his scalp before I pulled away.
There was a muffled cough behind us, and I dropped my hand from his hair, turning towards the snickering. Standing in the doorway was Hermione and Ginny, and in Ginny's hands was a suspicious black camera. Out of the lid, the camera spat out a polaroid.
"Hey!" I yelled, clambering through the hole to grab the picture, but Ginny was quicker. Holding it above her head, she giggled as I tried to grab it from her hands. "Ginevra Weasley - give that to me right now!" I hopped into the air - but she was too tall.
"Nope!" She cheered, shoving it into her pocket for safe keeping. "I need it."
Raising a brow, I let out a huff. "You need it for what?"
"Things." She sung melodically and swished her hands around as if it was some big mystery. "I'll tell you one day. Don't worry about it."
'Yeah, because that really reassures me.' I wanted to say, but instead I figured that acting as if it didn't bother me would, in turn, confuse Ginny. "Okay, whatever." I shrugged then glared at Hermione. "Mione - I need to ask you a question."
"About what?" She nodded, and folded her arms over her chest, waiting for me to go on.
Biting my lip, I looked towards the curious red-heads. "Well, it's a question about Quantum mechanics and how a branch of physics, which deals with physical phenomena at nanoscopic scales where the action is on the order of the Planck constant, could possibly -"
Fred raised his hands and grabbed Ginny's arm - pulling her out of the room. "Yeah, I can tell we are not needed here." He shot me a curious look, as if he knew I wanted to talk about something else with Hermione, but he wasn't sure what it was.
Shaking his head, Fred and Ginny dispersed, leaving the room open for my sister and I. "How do I use this thing?" I grumbled, yanking the golden chain out from under my tank top. "I forgot to ask."
Hermione paused, face turning concerned as she checked the hallways and around the perimeter of the Common Room before continuing the conversation. Umbridge really had everyone sketched out. This was already the most suspicious Hermione had acted in front of me the whole time I've known her.
Holding out her hands, I placed the time-turner into her hands and let her explain. "The maximum time you should ever turn is five hours." She whispered, placing the chain around my neck and pushing the gold medallion up close to my face. "You must never - ever - use the time-turner to kill and/or bring someone back to life. Those are the two main rules of traveling."
Furrowing my brow, I looked up at her but dropped my gaze. "Okay, it's not as if I'd do that anyway. So - how do I use it? That's the real question."
"Each turn is an hour. So, you turn it according to how far back you want to go." Hermione nodded and let go of the device, stepping away from me. "And remember, you mustn't let Umbridge know about the fact you are in possession of a Time Turner."
"Like I'd tell that creepy skank any thing. She already gives me the creeps and I haven't even been in one of her classes yet!" I joked, laughing slightly.
Hermione raised a brow. "Oh, really? But - you sat right next to-" Her eyes flashed a little as she shut her lips dramatically. "That really is strange. Well - I'll see you when you get back." She shook her head, not trying to focus too much on the topic.
Gnawing slightly on my bottom lip, I calculated the math in my head - five turns would zap me back to eight thirty in the morning, where was I at eight thirty? Frowning a little, I remembered being down at the Great Hall for breakfast - I met up with Snape at nine, so I would have to wait in the Common Room until I was sure I wouldn't run into myself.
"See you in five minutes." I saluted Hermione and she rolled her eyes at me, propping open 'History of Magic' and grabbing a roll of parchment.
One turn, two turns, three turns, four turns, and five. I muttered to myself, making sure not to over do it. Suddenly, the time turner spun frantically in hand and the room started to move around me, people walked to and fro, and the windows shown different shades of daylight.
All too soon, the spinning stopped and I was staring into the empty room around me. Grinning slightly, I poked my head around the staircase hall to see if Fred or Ginny were lurking in the shadows, but no one was there. "Trippy."
Tucking the time turner back under my tank top, I fixed my worn out hair and checked up faithful pocket watch once again. "Huh, I'll be damned - 8:30 on the nose." I smirked a little, but felt sad. Now I had to start the day all over.
Humming to myself, I yanked open the portrait door and slid out into the empty corridors, everyone was still at the Great Hall. Thinking it over, I decided the best thing to do would be to walk up all the stairs to Umbridge's class room, and get everything over with. Besides, my muscles were totally under used after all those months of laying dormant.
Slowly, I lifted myself - slightly unwillingly - up the stairs and towards the higher levels of the castle, dreading the lesson with Umbridge. From what I've heard, this was going to be extremely boring. Humming some indie music under my breath, I fought the feint throbbing from my calves, pushing myself up the stairs.
Swarms of students pushed past me, racing to class. Raising a brow, I pulled my pocket watch out and glanced down at the time. "Great, it's already eight fifty." I moaned a little and looked at all the stairs I had yet to climb.
"Elle?" A concerned voice called out from behind me. "What are you doing up here? I thought you were going to meet with Snape?" Ginny smiled softly, but the look in her eye made me think she was concerned for my mental state.
"Oh, I decided that I would talk with him after first block - I don't want to make a bad impression on the new professor on the first day." I lied smoothly, adding a polite smile to seal the deal. "What class are you off to?" I chatted, walking up the stairs with her.
"Divination." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Mum didn't want me to take it - after all the things Ron said. But, Dad thought it was a brilliant idea... so."
I grinned at this, thinking about how I had just seen Molly and Arthur recently - but after a little quiet thinking, I realized it was right before I'd gone to sleep for a few months. Nodding towards her, I motioned towards a propped open door. "Well, this is me. Have fun in Divination."
Ginny only rolled her eyes and continued on her way, making me chuckle a little."Ehem. If you would please join us, Miss Granger - then we could get started." A sickly sweet voice called out, making me turn sharply and duck my head in embarrassment.
Standing in the doorway was Professor Umbridge, beady little eyes staring me down as I stumbled into her class room under her burning glare. "Sorry Professor." I mumbled, not meaning it in the slightest.
Hermione gave me a small sympathetic frown and motioned towards the empty desk next to her. Walking towards it with every intention to sit down, Umbridge cleared her throat once more - making me cringe.
"Oh no, that won't do, dear." She tsked and motioned around the room with a small smile pulling at her lips. "Do you not see the order? You must keep within order. It's boy girl. Slytherin and Gryffindor."
I rose a brow at this, almost daring to question why, but - by the look on her face - she knew what I was going to say, so she spoke up. A little annoyed. "There is a disturbing amount of animosity between your school mates. We, at the Ministry, wish to see a brighter future for our young witches and wizards here at Hogwarts. So, promoting companionship is the first step."
I swear, if that phrase had come from anyone else's mouth - it would have sounded sincere, but from her it almost sounded like a threat. "O-okay." I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes as I tossed, a little too roughly, my bag into the chair next to Malfoy.
Umbridge took a deep, calming breath and huffed out, plastering a victorious grin onto her face. "Very well! Good morning class. Today, we are going to learn about the implications of tactical defense." She pointed her wand at the board and it begun to write terms for her.
As I read over the terms and took in my fellow classmates' faces, I realized that this was all there was to the Defense Against The Dark Arts class now. Stiffly, I raised my hand in the air, ignoring the scared look from Hermione as she tried to get me to stop.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Umbridge rose a plucked brow at me, seeming shocked that anyone disturbed her as she did nothing.
"Yeah, uh, what does this have to do with Defense Against Dark Arts again? I'm just a little confused." I said just as sugary as she talked.
Her fake smile faltered a little. "What ever do you mean, dear?" Her eyes seemed to dilate as she glared at me, trying to get me to back down or feel in some way scared of her. She was just a toad in pink. Hermione spared me a small glare too, not liking my irresponsible actions.
"Well, Professor." I paused, making sure to look at all the partly nervous faces that were turned towards me in distain. "Usually when one takes a DADA class, they want to learn how to protect themselves - but this is not really protection - just history."
Umbridge gripped her wand tightly, but managed to put a concerned, polite frown on her face. "Oh, dear, there are no dangers out there." I opened my mouth to say something, but she snapped a little, turning her back on me. "And, I will not tolerate hysteria in my classroom. If you insist to pursue these radical rumors, you shall meet me in detention - have I made myself clear?"
I didn't respond to her, but glared down at my book. A hundred retorts zipped across my tongue like the prickling sensation of sour candy. I forced myself to swallow them, knowing the begging and frankly frustrated eye Hermione was shooting my direction.
On the top of the list? Maybe the fact that I had just woken up from my very own Death Eater attack? I bit my tongue and forced myself to slowly copy the notes on the blackboard.
Umbridge was the devil. And, I knew just the pair who would help me seek revenge on the crazy coot.
Beside me, Draco snickered under his breath. "Know it all."
Shhheee's back - but for how long?
And - what's with the pictures?
Sorry for the long wait - I'll try to update soon, but I won't be seriously updating this story until June comes aroud - I'm just so busy! DX SORRY.
xxJess