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Chapter 8Chapter Text

Chapter 8

I leaned up against the Hogwarts Express in my spot. I honestly thought about making a mark on the ground after only years of doing this.

Most of the people that worked on this side of the barrier knew me. They also knew my spot. Sadly that also meant students knew my spot.

What started out as a simple idea to keep an eye out while pranking the students became just a fun ride and a chance to chat with my students before the year began.

I was greeted by second years up. The first years became easy to spot not just because of their age and size but the distance they kept between me and them.

For this year I finally got to bust out my basilisk skin coat. It was a beautiful black with an even darker black obsidian buttons.

It was black on black on black. With my shirt pants and shoes. Not to be recommended wearing it on a sunny day without the protection of cooling charms.

Hermione showed up with the Weasleys along with Harry. I found it a bit odd. Maybe a schism had formed. I didn't exactly want to get involved.

It was her choice to leave what she wanted to behind. I've known a few things like that to happen. The magical world just swoops muggleborns up.

Leaving behind the old life they knew. I thought about any interactions that may have made it happen because of choices I made.

The recommendation to drop Muggle Studies maybe. Then again maybe it would always be like this. It was getting harder to remember certain things.

The only real thing to come of the attack were the continued calling out of the Ministry. With the Sirius case and now lack of defenses for the Quidditch World Cup hosted here.

Rita was the one to write it, talking about deaths that hadn't happened. She really slammed the government.

While sensationalist she clearly still smelled blood in the water. It made me wonder why she would later bother with school children stuff.

Even if it was Harry Potter, and for the Triwizard Tournament. From the stuff I read it seemed strange she would stoop to that level.

I guess her journalist instincts smelled more from those stories than anything else. I hoped that she'd stick with stoking the flames for Sirius.

While teachers weren't required to own dress robes for the Yule Ball. I felt it would be fitting to while not wear dress robes to dress up.

I prepared a few outfits for any mood to strike me at the time. As a metamorph it was good to plan for those sudden moods.

While looking at the Weasleys it was weird to not see Percy with them. He had graduated and joined the Ministry right away.

He asked me to sign a letter of recommendation for his position under Crouch. In the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

I signed it, I knew about another schism that would happen in between the Weasley family.

Yes, with this year would come angst and tension. I also made the note that this year the Weasley's had arrived early.

It could have been due to the fact that their older children had come back and really made them all work on a schedule.

I found Bill to be a bit of a stickler for making sure one was never late. That may have been an effect of having been late because of the Weasleys' timing.

I remembered I wanted to speak with Hermione about something, and after seeing her again I was reminded of what.

She still stool high above both Harry and Ron nothing too noticeable if you hadn't been with all three of them for most of a year.

I approached the group, "Hermione may I speak with you about something?"

After leaving the group Hermione followed me to one of the secluded pillars, "What is it Professor?"

"How often have you been using your time-turner?"

She appeared confused, "Not that often only when I needed to make sure I had a spell down as far as theory was concerned."

"Can you give me more of a solid answer?"

"Well I used it in a way that I could test myself, I'd leave notes around the room and then leave for a short bit only to come back and answer it when I had forgotten."

"How long would you say you spent reliving those days?"

"Well I spaced them out, it was hard enough trying to use a separate room to sleep."

"You spaced it out, but you didn't use it long enough to forget your own questions and answers."

"Being realistic I didn't go back more than I was instructed would be stable."

"So, a week in three months?" That was way more than I expected.

"That sounds right." Hermione seemed to nod in agreement.

"How long do you think you used it in school?" I tried to get her to see.

"Well I had more time, after dropping classes you informed me about." She seemed to be adding things up, "Given the time we classified as a week from my summer."

"Are you having trouble?"

"No, I've got it." Her eyes seemed to be examining something in the distance, "Two weeks."

"Two weeks!?" I guess the math evened out but it was still a shock.

"Why are you acting like this, that makes sense for the amount I used it."

"Did they not warn you about time drift?"

"Time drift, is that a mind thing." She looked confused, "They gave me warnings about seeing myself, altering major moments, and not to go back for more than what was safe."

"Well it's not exactly a mind thing it's more of a physical." she didn't look like she liked the sound of that, "It's not like getting brittle bones from going to space, it's much less serious technically."

"Technically?"

"I'll just come out and say it so I don't make this more stress than it needs to be." I rubbed at my chin, "You still age."

"Of course I still age what…" Then it visually clicked in her brain, "I've aged during my uses."

"Only by about a month." I tried to lessen the blow.

"That's amazing!" Hermione leaped up and down in excitement.

"Excusmewhat?" This was not the reaction I was expecting.

"Does that mean my birthday has shifted?" She looked down at her hands flipping them over a few times. She seemed to be talking to herself now, "Could this affect the trace?"

"Probably however from your reaction I'm not so sure it's a good idea for you to be using that time-turner anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"Last year you said you wouldn't abuse it, suddenly I'm telling you it ages you and you want to start?"

"Don't you see, if I become old enough to get the trace off I can do spells outside of school and be able to get ahead on my work."

"I'm going to have to stop you there, I'm sorry I brought this up but if you plan on going through with it I'll have to speak with McGonagall about getting it off you."

"Wait don't tell her she'll take it away from me."

"Yes, that's the goal now."

"How can I study without it?"

"You can study fine you've been doing it for years before this."

"I didn't have as many classes as I do now."

"Trust me when I say, that if others could keep up with the same coursework as you can without the time-turner, you can too."

"If you try and take this away I'll scream."

"Really you're going to scream if I try and take it off you?"

"Yes!"

"Listen to yourself you sound like a junkie."

"A what?"

"You know someone who needs a fix?"

"I sound like a drug user!?" That seemed to really rattle Hermione. She then seemed to notice her own hand had wrapped around the necklace with the time-turner.

She opened her hand and the metal sides of the circle holding the hourglass seemed to have cut her palms.

She then grabbed again at the bottom where the time-turner itself was and tugged pulling outward.

The chain around the back of her neck snapped but that also drew a bit of blood. She held the time-turner out to me, "Take it!"

I did so, then put it inside one of my coat inside pockets. I conjured a piece of cloth and wrapped it around the palm of her hand tying it off at the back of her hand.

I conjured a smaller piece of cloth and with a sticking charm adhered it to the back of her neck.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she ran forward to hug my middle. She said a quick, "Thank you, Professor." before running back to the train tears still visible in her eyes.

I then had a thought to myself. I don't think it was a good idea to encourage prolonged use of the time-turner.

While she didn't have the same problems she did like before of being overworked and exhausted. She had chosen to drop it after having that problem.

This time she had just grown used to using it for the most mundane course work. This was another change I had made.

That realization made me question all the other choices I had chosen to make thinking they would be better.

I did not join the trio on their trip to Hogwarts. Instead I chose to visit my other students. I felt like I needed a bit of a pick me up.

I found the twins along with Lee Jordan in a compartment. I chose to join them in their merry attitude.

"Hello Professor, this might be the first time you've joined us on our trip to Hogwarts." Lee greeted.

"Is it?" I asked.

"It's because she clearly fears herself falling in love with us." The twins spoke one starting the other finishing the thought.

"Trust me that's not something I have to worry about." I informed them.

"That's true" Said one.

"Cause she'll only." Said two.

"Fall in love with just me." Said both.

"Maybe I'll fall in love with Lee here?" I joked back switching seats to sit next to Jordan.

"You would us Professor." They spoke, "I didn't even know Lee had veela blood in him." Fred or George added.

"Veela blood?" Lee questioned.

"You saw that did you?" I asked the boys making sure to not allow a blush through with my shifting ability.

"Don't worry we won't tell anyone, we wouldn't want to embarrass you." Maybe Fred spoke.

"That's right George." Definitely George agreed.

"Excluding Lee here right?" I made a face while thumbing to Jordan.

"He doesn't know the context."

"It's fine."

"I'm sure" I rolled my eyes.

"Speaking of the world cup" George changed the subject, "Look at all the gold we made from the bets."

Fred then pulled out a smallish bag that clinked clearly filled with money, "While not the biggest pot we managed to get a nice head start on a project we were thinking about."

"Ooh, what kind of project?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"We were thinking about opening a joke shop like Zonko's."

"Keep it on the down low though, we don't want Zonko hearing about the potential competition."

I mimicked my lips being zipped. I then left their compartment in search of others. I came across the trio but after a quick nod went on my way.

From the way Harry was looking at me as I passed I knew we'd be having words about this.

I chatted with a few students. Ginny about the cup who talked about the feint Krum pulled with the people she was sitting with.

I found Draco with Pansy having a bit too close of a chat in my opinion. So I did what any responsible teacher would do and stopped it right away. I slammed open the door.

"Draco Malfoy my goodness have you not a single shred of shame." He jumped as did Pansy, "With the window right there I didn't take you for an exhibitionist."

"We weren't even doing anything Professor Tonks." Pansy tried to explain.

"Whatever the case may be it was much too close for the behavior of Hogwarts students." I stuck my nose up into the air.

"What do you want Professor?" it was a breath filled question.

"I want you to save room for Merlin!" I was even grossing myself out on that, "Keep that distance for the rest of the trip if you are going to be in the same room."

"Save room for what!?" Draco asked beyond shocked.

"A person's distance in between you two."

"I understood the basic meaning, I'm just questioning your use of words." Draco sounded a bit disgusted.

"Don't fight with the Professor Draco." Pansey tried to stop something that wasn't much of a big deal. I guess she wasn't used to this dynamic.

"Perhaps I should speak with your parents about your carnal desires Draco, that might sort you out."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Consider myself dared!" I spoke as I ran away down the train.

I heard Draco try and break away from Pansy to give chase. She was successful in keeping him inside the compartment if the fact that he didn't get to me was any sign.

After the train pulled into the station I did my usual trip to the carriages ahead of the rest of the students.

Much like before I was able to see the thestrals pulling the carriages behind them. However I noticed that a rogue thestral had come to see the the hitched ones.

Then I did something that even I was a tiny bit surprised at myself for doing. I made my approach making sure not to startle the thing.

Then after giving it a few quick pats I mounted the skeletal horse like creature. It flapped its wings a few times in protest but after a few rubs I allowed it to calm down.

Then gently but firmly I brought my heels into the sides of the thestral. Fast as a gunshot it took off.

Then I was flying to the castle at a much faster pace than any of my other trips. By the time I got to the castle itself I had to make a few flybys.

It took a few attempts to slow down the flying creature enough to land. Outside waiting for me were some of the teachers who had come to see who had done what I did.

Snape was the first to comment though his tone wasn't too biting, "I thought you were scared of heights?"

"Not so much scared of heights or flying as I am afraid of falling off brooms."

"My what a splendid show!" Flitwick squeaked. Sprout checked me over and only slightly reprimanded me for doing something dangerous.

I then followed them all into the Great Hall and took my seat next to Snape.

He might have still been sore from last year but with the new year it seemed he was willing to clean the slate.

He had asked me about what had happened after the Quidditch World Cup. About the attacks and dark mark.

I told him about how there were masked people and how a house-elf had gotten Potter's wand at some point. I told him whoever it was used Harry's wand.

I also told him Bill's observation. How as soon as the mark was in the sky the initial masked attackers had run from the scene as if fleeing the dark mark itself.

After that he had left my room in a hurry seemly rubbing away at his forearm. It was odd how easy it was to forget that he had been a Death Eater.

Even if he was a spy for Dumbledore, he only became a spy after he had joined the dark order. It always made me sad that he threw himself away with that lot.

Now that Voldemort might be coming back it was going to be heartbreaking to see Severus dive back into spy work.

I don't think he'd be the same man I knew as my head of house or friend among professors. My theory was that he was giving us enough time before cutting himself off.

At least that was my selfish theory. It might have also been the same selfish theory on Charlie.

What if it wasn't that he cut himself off from me, but me from him because I knew he was going away to Romania.

Angst it seemed had infected me as well. I thought I had already dealt with this stuff when I was in school.

Damn infectious teenagers. I blamed them unfairly but hey better them than delving into self wallowing.

The sorting happened like every year. Dennis Creevy joined his older brother in Gryffindor. I think one of them tragically died before.

Seeing them grow up I promised I'd do my best to make sure that it didn't happen. I watched as Hermione crossed her arms with a look of disgust on her face.

Oh shit that was this year wasn't it. Things were really piling on for her. The time-turner felt heavy in my coat pocket.

She really couldn't have picked one of the worst years to learn about the house-elves in Hogwarts.

After everyone had eaten did Dumbledore start making announcements for the year. My palms started sweating.

I really had to be on top of everything this year to make things work. I had a few ideas. I had no clue if they would work but I'd do my best to try to get them to.

Dumbledore announced that quidditch would be canceled this year. As soon as the students heard about it they started protesting. The Gryffindor table most of all.

As soon as I heard it however I closed my eyes spun both my hands slowly around my head and took a deep breath soaking it all in.

The complaints had quieted down some and when I opened my eyes I saw Dumbledore giving me a bit of a look.

I then in an overly dramatic fashion with both hands outstretched to him gestured for him to continue.

Taking that cue Dumbledore announced that quidditch would be canceled and in its place would be the Triwizard Tournament.

He said that it would begin in October on Halloween. One student from each of the competing schools would be selected.

The chosen would be the best suited from each school. From some of the best schools in all of magical Europe.

The prize of winning would be one thousand galleons. He then said safety was a number one priority.

He then introduced Crouch and Bagman to the school. They would be the representatives from the Ministry during the tournament.

I let out a puff of air knowing what was to come. Sure safety. He went on to say that only students over seventeen could be eligible for the tournament.

I then let out a big sigh. Snape raised an eyebrow. I raised one back using my hands to indicate the school around us.

He seemed to pick up on the fact that yes, there had been some bad luck in the past few years.

He then wrists on the table lifted three fingers in a way that said, well what can you do.

It was in a Snape way that it could have meant something else, because he wasn't giving away what he was thinking with facial reactions.

I looked at the Gryffindor table as everyone was dismissed from the Great Hall to get some rest. Fred was talking animatedly to George. I think.

He kept indicating to the pocket in his robe where I knew he had kept his money. The poor fools didn't even know.

Dumbledore did not play around when it came to that age line he planned on putting down.

After every student had filed out I went to talk to McGonagall. I had informed her that I found out about the time-turner and that Hermione had given it to me to turn in.

I told her that I had seen signs of overuse and that I'd like this to be handed in quietly and with no fuss.

She seemed hesitant but relented saying she wouldn't make a big deal out of something that was already handled by another teacher.

Right, lesson plans. First years smooth sailing. I know what I want out of them it's worked well so far every time.

Second Years that's where it becomes more personalized with how to teach each class. They from what I remember of their first year, needed to improve on spell casting.

Third Years I needed to personalize for my two classes I ended up having. Half of them needed to work on theory and dark creatures. The other half the opposite.

It was probably my most split class as far as house learning was concerned.

Fourth Years this was the year where they started learning about the unforgivables. As fake Moody taught.

I did like the ideas behind the way he taught even as a fake teacher. The idea to show the impact behind each of the curses was a good reality for students.

However I don't think I needed to test it on a spider. Instead I wanted to go more muggle minded about it. Simulation and using their own imaginations against them.

Fifth Years needed their OWL's. I made sure to get them used to studying with theory work.

Sixth Years, I actually had a class this time. I trusted their work and trusted them to know how to self study next year would be the NEWT.

Seventh Years didn't exist for me. That was free time for me. That was until later.

On the first day of school proper. There was a minor incident. While we had put third year behind us as far as dementors it seemed that open season was back on for Draco and Slytherin.

I don't know what started it, I had hoped that after last year Draco would keep himself in line. What I didn't account for was the whole of summer break to reform his attitude.

Whatever had caused it I had to step in. Draco had thrown a curse at Harry. I wasn't sure what I only arrived in time to see the attempt.

I threw up a shield charm to stop the hex. Then disarmed Draco. "What on earth do you think you are doing Mr. Malfoy!"

"He said-" Draco tried.

"I don't care what he said, nothing he said should lead you to use a wand."

"You're always taking his side!" Draco cried.

"This isn't about sides, this is about you breaking the rules and throwing hexes and curses around." I put emotion into my voice, "Minus 20 points from Slytherin, now go and see Professor Snape about going to detention."

I'd know if he didn't. I then heatedly rushed out of the hallway and went to my classroom. I passed by McGonagall.

Two days after that was my first fourth year class. I had everything planned out I had gotten permission to do most of what I said would happen.

There was a bit extra. That I think would help solidify the lesson. I started out the lesson by telling the class about the Unforgivables.

"Which of you knows what the Unforgivable Curses are?" The layout of my classroom had to be changed for this lesson.

I put everyone's desk in a circle around the room facing the middle. With me standing in the center speaking outward to them.

Hermione raised her hand. "They are three curses that can lead to Azkaban just by using them."

"A nice solid textbook answer Ms. Granger." I praised, "1 point to Gryffindor."

Hermione seemed shocked that I'd award her 1 point. It was lost on me if she was shocked I gave her a point at all or that I'd bother with just giving one.

"What are their names, one at a time." Only Hermione raised her hand.

"Fine, if only one of you wants to volunteer an answer I'll just have to ask one of you by my choice."

I walked in the circle looking for those hints of weakness. Well not really but I made it seem like I was. I then stepped in front of Ron.

"Mr. Weasley, name one curse of the three."

"Um, the Imperius Curse?" Ron asked his answer.

"Is that a question?"

"The Imperius Curse, Professor."

"Good come to the center with me." Ron looked from Harry to Hermione who were on completely separate sides of the room.

He then got up slowly from his desk and walked to the center of the room. I conjured a glass pitcher. Then filled it with water. I then cast a compulsion charm.

Ron slowly made his way to the pitcher and started drinking. "What he's going through now isn't even the Imperius Curse." I explained, "What's going on is the stepping stone."

I then ended it. Ron looked at the pitcher in his hand and set it down. "You can return to your desk."

He did so. "What that was, was a compulsion charm a mere suggestion for the person to react to a specific object or action to take."

I then summoned a book from one of my shelves and did the same as the pitcher. "It is easier to resist than the Imperius Curse."

I pointed a Seamus, "Come on up here." He followed my instructions and when he got to the book though a bit sweaty he stood right where he was.

"This is what I would say, a third of what the Imperius Curse can hold over a person." I then waved him to sit back down, "Next curse."

"The Cruciatus Curse." Neville said in his softer voice.

"The torture curse." I nodded. I then walked up to my magical record player and hesitated, "For those of you with a weaker disposition I will ask that you either cover your ears or leave the room."

No one moved a muscle, "Remember if this becomes too much, you can leave at any time." I then put the needle on.

It was a custom record. While fake it was extremely realistic. I had recorded the sound of a pig squealing. I remember it being one of the most haunting sounds.

It wasn't of a pig being tortured just the natural squeal they made with a bit of audio tweaking.

"This is the sound of a pig being hit with the Cruciatus, I have obtained this through some contacts with the Ministry."

I pulled the needle off after it seemed to be really getting to the students. I let the silence sink in. They all needed a seconds rest. "The final curse if you will?"

"The Killing Curse." Harry had spoken up.

"Yes, identified by its green light it's killed every single living thing that it's come in contact with." I paced around in the circle, "That is except for one person."

I walked up to Harry I bent over so I was looking at him in the eyes, "And even he hasn't not suffered because of this curse."

"Now, there will be no essays or homework as I feel as though assigning something after today would lessen the impact of what I've taught you today." I looked around the circle of the teenagers in my classroom, "You are all dismissed."

As the students filed out Harry stayed in his desk, he nodded at Hermione and Ron and they too left the class.

"I need to speak with you Professor."

"Yes, Harry?"

"I need to talk with you about what happened before we came to school, on the Hogwarts express."

"I see." I grabbed a chair from one of the desks and turned it around to sit in front of Harry.

"I don't know what happened, but whatever you said clearly affected her." He looked around the room as if searching, "I think she's moved onto something else but I hope you don't make her cry like that again or we will have major problems."

"I feel as though that is a fair warning, I promise to try and not cause a problem involving that scenario again."

"I suppose that the best I can get, thank you for your time Professor." He then got up from his desk and left the classroom.