Sands of Time

Harry entered the boy's dormitory. Ron was sprawled across his bed doing some homework for once. Harry did a quick check for anyone else in the room before sitting down on his bed.

"Ron?"

"Hmm?"

"You remember Trelawney's prediction for my death? The real one that Dumbledore covered up?" Harry asked.

"Yes," said Ron. He looked confused as to where Harry was going with his questioning.

"I checked the forbidden book list today. Hermione's book isn't even on it. I think Dumbledore had it put on there, just so he could have the professors take it away from Hermione," Harry explained. Ron frowned at him.

"But why?" he asked. "And why would he let us take it back?"

"I don't know, but he's been acting oddly..." Harry trailed off. Ron shook his head stubbornly.

"It just doesn't make sense. Dumbledore wouldn't do that. He protects us. Next you'll be saying he's working with You-Know-Who," he said. Harry frowned.

"I'm not saying that, Ron. I'm just saying that Dumbledore's been acting oddly. Even Snape thinks so." It was the wrong thing to say.

"So even that git's opinion matters over mine?" said Ron heatedly.

"I'm not saying that! But he was right about Quirrell, and I saw him tonight, spying on Dumbledore, same as I was." There was a queasy feeling in Harry's stomach. He didn't want to lose his friend over this.

"You were spying on Dumbledore?" Ron's voice was very loud. Harry motioned him to lower it. "You were spying on Dumbledore?" repeated Ron in a lower voice.

"Yes. Not that I learnt anything, but I've got a detention with Snape to prove it," said Harry. Ron gave him a sympathetic look.

"Look, Harry. I know you think that Dumbledore is up to something and maybe he is, but can you imagine him ever doing anything bad? You told me once that the only way you got through the Chamber of Secrets was because of your loyalty to Dumbledore. So why don't we keep that loyalty and let Dumbledore get about his business." It was the most eloquent speech Ron had ever given. Harry was stunned and relieved. Even if Ron wasn't agreeing with him, at least it didn't seem like he was the only one developing a little maturity.

"Alright," said Harry. He got up from the bed. "I'll just let Hermione know what's going on." He entered the common room, but when he saw Hermione sitting at one of the couches measuring one of her essays, he just didn't feel like telling her. He approached her couch.

"Hermione," he said once he had made sure no one else was in the common room. "Do you think I could borrow your book, Useful Household Charms?" He felt silly asking for the Founder's book under that name, but that was the new title that Hermione had chosen. Hermione's eyes widened at his request. She smiled happily at him.

"Of course," she said, jumping up to get it. "I'm glad you're interested." She disappeared up the stairs to the girl's dorm.

"So am I," said Harry to the air. She was back in a few seconds and shoving the book in his hands. "Er, is it alright if I read this in the dorm?" If he sat out here, she was going to want his opinion and he needed to read uninterrupted, at least for tonight.

"Just don't lose it," said Hermione in a stern tone. He nodded and headed to the boy's dorm. The curtains around Ron's bed were closed. Harry said good night to Neville, who was in bed reading, then pulled the curtains closed around his own bed. He settled down with the book on the pillow in front of him and flipped to the most likely spot he could think of: Chapter 7.

Hermione had been right. It was very short, but what it said was fascinating, in a cryptic sort of way.

8/Feb/1091 - Godric came to visit today. I just barely managed to get Striker around my neck before he burst in. An adder around your neck really keeps Gryffindor at a distance. Perhaps I should recommend it to my Slytherins? I like to think that Godric and I are friends of a sort, despite our rivalry, but he must know me better then I thought since he homed right in on the butterflies in the corner. I put him off, but the whole encounter has made me nervous. I must do this soon.

9/Feb/1901 - The mason finally delivered.

13/Feb/1091 - The old writers are fools. Times of precedence they speak of! But they forget that wizards make their own time, and my time is now. I have told everyone that I will be working diligently on an important experiment - that one I did months ago on the various truth potions that I never got around to revealing to my colleagues or the world at large. Godric will be suspicious, even more so if I end up dead on my dungeon floor. Knowing Gryffindor, he'd just think it was part of a larger conspiracy. When did he get to be more paranoid then I am?

Rowena is the dangerous one. I have left no clues that I know of, but she has the uncanny ability of creating something out of nothing. I shall encourage Godric to pester her. She does not think so well when he is annoying her. Helga, I am tempted to inform. Maybe if it works I will. She would approve in some ways, in others...Perhaps I will not tell her after all. She is better left to her weaving.

Harry flipped to the next page. Nothing. He flipped back and looked down at the two pages written in a firm and elegant hand. Slytherin had been up to something. Something to do with butterflies, danger and perhaps, stone. He was tempted to think of the Chamber of Secrets, but that didn't explain away the butterflies and no one should have been safer in the Chamber then Salazar Slytherin himself.

Something that Hufflepuff might have approved of as well. Harry hadn't known Helga Hufflepuff, but he had known Cedric Diggory. There was no doubt in his mind that Cedric was a perfect example of Hufflepuff house. He asked himself the question again. What was Slytherin doing that Cedric Diggory would have approved us, at least partially?

He stared blankly at the page. Wild thoughts floated through his mind, and just as quickly were discarded. No wonder Hermione had found this chapter so fascinating.