Through The Dark Mists Of Time..

~The Prediction~

By Nitya

'That was a good meal.' Harry thought, as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. It was hours since he had eaten. He looked at his watch. The hands were just moving about in different direction.

'Of course!', Harry thought. 'They had gone back in time. His watch couldn't adjust itself to the change.' He had no idea what time it was. Before he could ask, Godric entered.

"Is everything fine, Rowena?" he asked as soon as he came in.

Rowena turned towards him. Even that simple movement she performed with a grace that characterized all her movements.

"Only three of them have arrived, Godric" she said. Didn't Malra say that there would be four of them arriving?"

Godric frowned. "Yes." He said slowly.

His mind went back to what Marla had said.

The Four of them- Godric, Rowena, Helga & Salazar had crowded into Malra's small, sweltering room, wondering what the important message, which she had received, was.

Malra always claimed to be able to read the future, but they had never paid any heed to her as all her predictions were very vague & had seldom been proved right.

But somehow, instinctively they knew that this particular prediction was true. They knew that some advanced magic (maybe even Dark magic) had been involved, as they could practically feel the vibrations coming from Malra, when she received the message.

"Four young students from the future,
Brought for us to nurture,
But not for long will they stay,
To the future, back they will go away,
Safe, while they are here,
Protected from danger far & near,"


And suddenly Malra's voice rose to a high-pitched almost hysterical frenzy. "Danger! Danger follows them here!"

Then she had made some incoherent sounds & spoken something in a language, which they hadn't been able to understand.

Helga had tried to soothe Malra down, but only the combined powers of all four of them had proven successful in bringing her back to normal.

After coming back to normal, she didn't have any idea of what she had predicted.

"What language were you speaking, Malra?" Rowena had asked.

"Language?" Malra had turned a bewildered face towards her. "I don't remember speaking anything, except in English."

She scrunched up her face, as if trying to recall something. "I remembering saying something about four students from the future. But after that, everything is a blur."

"You don't remember saying anything about Danger following the four students?" Godric had asked her.

Malra shook her head.

The four looked at each other, wondering if the prophecy Malra had delivered was indeed true or not. Helga had put an end to all their doubts by saying,

"It must be true. She couldn't have spoken in another language, without her being aware of it. If she did, it proves that some other force was at hand. Whether it was Dark Magic or not..." Her voice trailed away.

"I don't think any serious Dark Magic was involved, Helga." Salazar had said.

This was the first time he had spoken after Malra had made her predictions. There was a queer note in his voice.

"After all, Malra wasn't harmed. Anyway we better see about those four students who are arriving."

Saying so, Slytherin had walked out of the room.

"Godric?" Rowena's voice recalled him to the present. "What were you thinking of?"

"I was just thinking of the prediction Malra made." said Godric.

"That's what I was talking to you about." Said Rowena. "Didn't she say that four students would be arriving?"

"Yes, she did. But you can't rely on the predictions she makes. It's a miracle that some students have actually come from the future."

"Come now, Godric. Some of her predictions really have come true."

Godric just shrugged his shoulders. "Let's not waste our time arguing about it." He said. "What we need right now, is to explain to these students what they are doing here."

He turned to the trio. "I'm sure all of you are pretty non-pulsed as to what you are doing here. Well,-"

Before he could continue, Slytherin & Helga came into the room.

"Have they had some refreshments?" Helga asked.

Rowena nodded.

"Are you going to tell them?" Slytherin asked curtly.

"There's hardly anything to tell, Salazar." Said Godric. "We ourselves know only lit-"

Slytherin interrupted, "Godric, I want to talk to you."

Godric looked surprised.

"In my room." Said Slytherin & walked towards the door. "It can't wait." He said, before walking out.

Godric gave Rowena a puzzled look, before following Slytherin out of the room.

Draco, Harry & Ginny, who until now had been interested spectators to all the goings-on, were now startled to find themselves being addressed by Rowena.

"Come children." She said, "Helga & I will show to your rooms."

If they resented being called 'children', they made a good job of hiding it.

They followed Rowena & Helga out of the Hall, wondering if they would ever be told what had caused their sudden transportation to the past & why they had been transported.

~*~*~*~*~

Harry looked around his room. 'Wow! It sure is large.' He thought, taking in the gigantic, antiquated poster-bed, a huge mahogany table and a fireplace by the corner.

He opened the bathroom door & was astonished to see that it was bigger than the size of his bedroom at the Dursleys.

There was a huge bathtub in the corner, a washbasin, and a shelf for keeping toothbrushes, soaps..etc.

Harry was surprised to see that everything was quite like what it was in the future. He hadn't expected to see bath- tubs in the past.

He was just walking out of the bathroom, when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." he called.

Ginny walked in. Harry noticed that she had washed herself & tidied herself up. Her long red hair, which had previously fallen all over her face, had now been tied up into a high ponytail.

'She looks beautiful!' Harry thought. Harry was appalled at the thought which had flashed across his mind. He had never thought about a girl like that (except maybe Cho) and certainly not Ginny. What was he thinking? She was his best friend's little sister, for God's sake! Before he had time to analyze his thoughts, Ginny was speaking.

"So, how do you like your room?"

"Err..mm..It's okay." 'Get a grip.' He told himself sternly.

"Do you have any idea what brought us here, & why?" Ginny asked, seating herself on the bed.

"No." answered Harry.

An uncomfortable silence ensued. It struck Harry that Ginny might think that he was rude. He racked his brains for something to say.

Thankfully, the door opened & a house-elf came in.

"If Master Potter & Miss Weasley have refreshed themselves, The Great Four desire their presence at The Great Hall."

Harry & Ginny stood up. "We are ready."

~*~*~*~*~

Draco slammed the door of his room shut and sat on one of the chairs provided near the table. He brought his fist down on the table. "Damn it!"

The mirror hanging above the table said, "Temper, temper, temper."

"You keep your damned mouth shut!"

"My dear boy, why this anger?"

"Are you going to shut up or should I give way to my instincts & break you?' growled Draco.

The mirror relapsed into silence.

'Just my luck!' Draco thought, grumpily. 'Stuck God-knows-how-many-years in the past with that blasted Potter & his adoring fan, Weasley.'

He racked his brains to think of a reason to explain their sudden transportation to the past. It couldn't have been one of Voldemort's (Draco was another of those few people who referred to Voldemort by his original name) plans to kill Harry, because if it was, what was he (Draco) doing here?

His mind went back to that morning, before he had been transported. His father had said that he had something of importance to tell him. Was whatever his father been about to tell him, connected with today's incidents?

Draco knew that his father was right in Voldemort's inner circle. Maybe Voldemort had formulated a plan, which involved transporting both Harry & himself to the past, and once in the past, maybe he was required to kill Harry...

Draco's heart chilled at the thought. Sure, he hated Harry, but that hatred didn't go to the extent of killing.

Draco had actually admired Harry Potter, when he had defeated the Dark Lord. He had even tried to befriend Harry- On two occasions, one at Madame Malkin's robe shop & the second time, on the train. But Harry had repulsed him.

Angry & jealous, Draco had started hating Harry, and this hatred had increased each year, as he watched Harry's ascent to popularity.

Draco was sure he wouldn't mourn Harry's death, if Voldemort killed him, but he wasn't going to do it himself.

Draco felt a sudden surge of anger against his father. His father & the other Death-Eaters always groveled at the feet of Voldemort & did whatever he told them to do, even at the risk of their own lives. This time, his father had probably risked his son's life.

Draco had always disliked Voldemort & his brutal methods to take over the wizarding world. He couldn't understand why his father & the rest of the wizarding world cowered in fear before Voldemort. It was only because people feared him & were willing to take his side, that he had become the most feared Dark Wizard.

Draco knew that his father wanted him to become a Death-Eater, but Draco had other plans. He wasn't going to reform suddenly and become an Auror or anything, but he certainly wasn't going to be a Death-Eater, because that would mean that he was in Voldemort's power.

No, he would be his own master.

From his childhood, his father had tried to inculcate in him a fear of the Dark Lord, & had made it clear that Draco's destiny lay with the Dark Lord. Draco's only companions, in that huge mansion, apart from the other Death-Eaters' children, were the Dark Arts artifacts, which his father collected. His father had taught him how to use those objects since he had been this high.

Those weren't the only things his father had taught him. He learnt from his father that the Malfoys were one of the oldest wizarding families & also one of Voldemort's most devoted Death-Eaters, which entitled them to act as if they owned the world.(No sarcasm intended).

He was also taught that muggle-born witches or wizards were inferior to those of pureblood. In fact, he was taught many of Lucius's maxims, which explains why he turned into the kind of boy he was.

When he went to Hogwarts, his whole world turned upside down. There were many muggle-borns at Hogwarts and Voldemort, rather than being considered the greatest wizard, was hated & feared by all (Slytherins always an exception).

He was labeled as a bad guy by everybody, except by those from Slytherin. In fact, those from Slytherin practically worshipped him as he was Lucius Malfoy's son.

At first, he was confused as to how to act. Then, encouraged by his father & the other Slytherins, he accepted the bad guy image & even projected it.

His attitude was, He was already considered a bad guy, so why not live upto expectations? After all, wasn't that what his father wanted him to do? For a while, he had actually enjoyed it.

Most of the time, he was bad because it was expected of him to be so. But the antagonism he felt towards Harry was real. He wasn't rude & sarcastic to Harry & his friends because he had to, but because he wanted to.

He was so incredibly jealous of Potter that he had often spent sleepless nights devising plans to bring him down from the pedestal on which the other students had placed him. But that didn't necessarily mean that Draco had considered killing Harry.

For a moment, Draco felt a surge of hatred towards his father for placing him in a position like this without even explaining to him what he was supposed to do.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." called Draco in a surly voice.

A house-elf came in & bowed.

"If Master Malfoy has refreshed himself, The Great Four desire his presence at The Great Hall."

"Why the hell do you talk in 3rd person, as if Malfoy was somebody else you were referring to, & not me?" Demanded Draco.

The house-elf maintained a respectful silence.

"Ok, tell 'The Great Four' that I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"If you please, I have instructions to bring Master Malfoy to them, myself."

"Oh hell! Fine. Lead the way."

The door closed behind them.

~*~*~*~*~

Harry, Draco & Ginny entered the Great Hall led by the house-elf.

The Great Four were seated on the 4 tables, which Harry had seen previously. Godric was the first to speak.

"Hope all of you have refreshed yourselves?"

Before they could reply, Helga asked, "Did you find your rooms comfortable?"

Harry & Ginny nodded, in answer to both the questions, but Draco just stood there silently, staring at Slytherin.

"Well, I 'm sure all three of you must be wondering what brought you here." Said Godric, darting a glance at Slytherin. Salazar Slytherin just sat there, no expression on his immovable face.

"Wondering is too small a word." Said Rowena, smiling. "Dying with curiosity would be more like it."

Godric smiled & continued. "As you three are well aware, you have been transported to the past. But how you were transported & which year you have come from, is more than we can tell. Perhaps you could enlighten us on that point?"

"We've come from the year 2002." Answered Harry.

He felt an odd sense of unreality as he said that. It felt like a line from a sci-fi movie.

"2002!?" exclaimed Helga.

"About a 1000 years in the future." Said Rowena.

"What magic could have been so powerful as to transport them 1000 years in the past?" asked Helga wonderingly.

"Obviously magic in the future is very advanced." Said Slytherin in a dry voice. This was the first time he had spoken since they had entered the Hall.

"Well, it certainly is a considerable number of years you have travelled." Said Godric. "It must have required quite a high degree of skill & expertise. May I know what was the spell that you used?"

Harry, Draco & Ginny looked at him in surprise. "We didn't transport ourselves here!" said Ginny.

The Great Four turned bewildered faces towards them. This was the first time Harry had seen emotion of any kind on Slytherin's face.

"You didn't?" asked Helga. "But then, what brought you here?"
Harry felt that it would be foolish to say that it was a whirlwind, which brought them there, but he had no choice. "I think it was a kind of miniature whirlwind or cyclone."

"Do you mean to say that there was a whirlwind inside your house, which carried you here leaving behind all the other members of your house?" Slytherin spoke in a voice, which held incredulity & a thinly veiled sarcasm, though his face betrayed none of the emotions expressed above.

Harry flushed.

Ginny spoke quickly. "I corroborate what he said. It was a whirlwind, which brought us here." She stared defiantly at Slytherin.

"What about you, child?" asked Godric turning to Draco, before Slytherin could make any more sarcastic comments.

Draco didn't answer for a moment. He appeared to be deep in thought. He then came out of his abstraction to reply briefly, "Same thing."

Godric nodded. "I see. Well, coming to why you were transported & who or what caused your transportation, we are as much in the dark as you are, if not more. Travelling backwards or forwards in time is very complicated magic. Even we haven't been successful in inventing a spell for it. We are just In the experimental stage. Nobody is willing to try out the spell as it might result in them getting splinched or getting stranded in a totally different time with no means of getting back."

Harry was reminded of Hermione's time-turner in their 3rd year. How long ago it seemed. He wondered what Hermione & Ron were doing now. Godric's voice recalled him to the present (or should I say past?)

"So, until we are successful in inventing the spell, which will take you back to the future without any side-effects, (by side-effects I mean, getting yourselves splinched or landing yourselves in a totally different time) I'm very much afraid you will have to stay here."

Harry felt as if the ground had slipped beneath his feet. His mind was in a whirl. They had to stay here until the proper spell was invented, and God knows how long that would take! He was about to say something in protest, but before he could open his mouth, a house-elf (the same elf which had led them into the Hall) burst into the Hall.

"Master Gryffindor, Master Slytherin, Mistress Ravenclaw, Mistress Hufflepuff." It said, bowing to each of them hurriedly.

It was evident that something had occurred to disturb it very much.

"What is it?" asked Slytherin impatiently.

"Three more 'Young Ones' have arrived."

A/N- A bit of a disappointment to all you D/G shippers, isn't it? Don't worry I'm writing two D/G fics, which hopefully will be posted on Astronomy Tower and Ridikkulus soon!

And I absolutely forbid you to say a word about the prediction Malra made!