A Feather of Time

A Feather of Time Chapter Six: The Turning of the Tides

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

-Abraham Lincoln

***

Hermione's hand shook as she placed the time turner in Lupin's hand. Lupin instantly pulled it away from her, holding it up to the light and examining it. He muttered to himself, tilting his head back and forth. At last, he sighed and placed it back in Hermione's hand.

"There's no doubt about it, Hermione," he said, sounding very tired. "It's a time turner. Though what they would want with a time turner I don't know..."

"I think I do."

Everyone turned to Sirius, who was looking fixedly at the time turner. His eyes were glinting with a strange realization, and his face was desperately pale. "What is it Padfoot?" asked Lupin, coming to stand next to him.

"I...I saw something that I didn't tell you about," muttered Sirius under his breath, looking rather embarrassed. "Something that may prove to be very important. It would be...I just..." he looked around at everyone.

"Yes, Sirius?" Lupin looked concerned.

"It would be accusing someone thought to be innocent of a heinous crime," he whispered.

There was a very tense silence after this. Ron looked uneasily at Harry, who shook his head slightly and then went back to looking at Sirius. He could taste the strain in the room now; he could probably cut it with the knife Sirius had given him for his Christmas present last year. Sirius looked up, and his gaze inexplicably landed on Harry. Harry shifted restlessly under his gaze, but kept looking back. Sirius then looked back at the floor.

"I thought..." he gulped. "Right after Harry hit the floor, someone appeared in the room. He had regular Muggle clothes on, and his face...he looked so much like James..." Sirius broke off for a moment. Everyone stared at him, urging him to go on. "It was... or at least I thought it was...Harry."

A long silence followed this statement. "Me?" asked Harry quietly after awhile, looking up at him.

"Yes, Harry."

"What...what could I have been doing there?"

Sirius shook his head, as he obviously had no idea. Hermione, on the other hand, was looking thoughtful. "Harry," she began, watching him attentively. "Do you remember what you told me about time?"

Harry looked at her. "You mean two years ago?"

"Yes. What you said about you saving yourself?"

A light dawned in Harry's eyes. "Do you mean to say that..."

"Yes."

"But that's...that's impossible! How could I? Unless..." his eyes widened. "Oh."

Harry and Hermione simply sat there in wonderment, gazing at each other, oblivious to the outside world, thinking over what they had just realized. Ginny shifted.

"Umm...what exactly are you two talking about?" she asked, her eyes darting from one to the other. This immediately brought both out of their reverie.

"Right," said Hermione, looking slightly embarrassed. "In third year, Harry and I went back in time to save Sirius."

Sirius gave a little gasp. "So that's how you did it!" he said breathlessly, gaping at them. Hermione cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"Yes, it was. We went back to save Buckbeak, so that we could fly him to Sirius. Along the way, Dementors surrounded Sirius, Harry, Ron, and me. We had all been knocked unconscious by the cold when a Dementor bent down to administer the Kiss to Harry. Just before he did, a Patronus erupted from nowhere. It was only later, when we were back in time, that Harry realized what had happened, and came out of hiding. Harry saved himself."

There was a very profound silence after this. "So," continued Hermione, looking around. "I think that this time, Harry is about to do the same thing, only with Sirius. What if Harry did go back in time already, which is why Sirius is with us now? But he must then go back in time now, because if he doesn't, Sirius will disappear because he will not have been saved when Harry went back in time, because Harry didn't go back in time. The cycle would have been broken, and it would undoubtedly have domino effects across the whole time continuum. So Harry has already gone to save Sirius, he just needs to do it again, so that Sirius doesn't get killed by Death Eaters before Harry saves him, which he has to do because it has already happened. Does that make any sense?"

Everyone shook their heads. Hermione sighed.

"Basically, Harry has to go back in time to save Sirius."

There was a collective, "Ohhhh..." and Hermione shook her head and began to mutter something about no one understanding physics.

"When should we do it?" asked Ron, looking at his watch. Lupin gazed searchingly at Harry.

"What do you think?" he asked. Harry shook his head.

"I dunno...I think I should go soon though."

"Right," said Lupin, suddenly all business. "Let's all sit down now so that we can figure out a plan."

They all sat down, Hermione and Ron squished onto the armchair, and the rest of them squeezed onto various couches. Harry founded himself sandwiched between Ginny and Lupin, the former of which he did not think was an accident.

"So," said Lupin, looking around at the assembled company. "What we need is for Harry to go back in time to save Sirius. The only problem is that he cannot go back in time in this room. If he does, he will be seen not only by Sirius and Dumbledore, but also by himself, which would have catastrophic consequences. So, does anyone have any ideas about how he could get there?"

Ginny raised a tentative hand. "Yes, Ginny?" said Lupin kindly.

"Well..." she said, her voice surprisingly strong and confident. "If any of you happened to have an invisibility cloak, then it would work to go back in time here. Then, no one would be able to see you."

Sirius cut her off. "A good idea, Miss Weasley," he growled. "But there is a flaw to that plan." Ginny looked crestfallen. "No, no, it was a good plan, just not thoroughly thought out. If he does indeed put on an invisibility cloak, and time turns back to the time when we were being attacked, he would run the risk of landing on somebody. Not only that, but that somebody may be the exact person who was trying to kill him."

Ginny, though still looking dejected, nodded. Hermione's hand shot up. "Yes, Hermione?"

"Well, what if he simply went further backwards in time? I mean to say, how long ago were you two in here?"

Sirius checked his watch. "Approximately five hours ago," he said, much to Harry's shock and disbelief.

"Five hours?" asked Harry. Sirius nodded. "It felt more like five days."

Lupin gave him a sympathetic look, then turned back to Hermione. "So, Hermione, you are saying that if we turned back six hours or so, he would be able to safely appear here without dropping suddenly on anyone. And, if the Death Eaters were here before Harry and Sirius were, then he would be able to see how they set it up. If," he looked sharply at Harry. "He makes sure not to meddle with time."

Harry gave him a sarcastic look. Lupin smiled, and then gave a curt nod. "Right then, who should go with him?"

Harry started, and was on his feet in an instant. "What on earth do you mean?" he asked, stunned. "I thought that I was going alone. I don't want someone else to be in danger as well! I've already had too many people put in danger for my..." Harry's voice broke, and Sirius bit his lip. Sirius then came over and put a protective hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I was thinking along the lines of your sidekicks," said Lupin, his eyes dancing. Ron and Hermione gave him identical glares, which caused him to smile even wider. Ginny seemed to be trying to sink right into the couch. Either that, or disappear.

"This is a very large operation, Harry, and you need backup," agreed Sirius.

Hermione shifted. "I...I'm afraid that I can't go with him," she said, looking fixedly at Lupin. Ron gaped at her.

"What do you mean, Hermione?" asked Lupin, giving her a quizzical look.

"Today is July fourth, is it not?" asked Hermione. Everyone nodded. "Well, in an hour I have to leave. I'll see you all again at Hogwarts."

Ron stood up from the armchair. "What?" he asked, looking down at her. Hermione refused to meet his eyes.

"Ron, Viktor and I were going to..."

"VIKTOR?"

"Krum! Remember Ron?" Hermione looked up at him. Ron looked about to burst open with rage. "He asked me to go to Bulgaria with him?"

"And...did you say yes??"

"Well...I...yes," whispered Hermione, looking thoroughly miserable.

"HERMIONE!" yelled Ron. "DOES SIRIUS MATTER TO YOU OR NOT?"

"Of course he matters to me," she snapped at him, her cheeks burning. "But the only train leaves in an hour, I have to pack and everything, and I can't find--"

"So he matters more to you than Sirius's life??"

"No, Ron, that's not what I said!"

"That's what you bloody well meant!"

"Ron, you are reading between lines that aren't there!"

"Am I? Listen, if I suddenly went...went off...fraternizing with some...some...Dark Wizard's son...would you be happy?"

Hermione looked ready to burst.

"FRATERNIZING? DARK WIZARD'S SON? Besides...Ron...you?" she screamed with rage. "Just because Viktor goes to Durmstrang, it doesn't mean that he---"

"Maybe he just wants to know more about Hogwarts? Eh? Ever thought of that? That maybe your perfect little boyfriend is secretly plotting huge Death Eater activities? Maybe he thinks that because you are so smart, he can use you. To find ways of plotting the murder of hundreds of people!"

Everyone knew Ron had now gone too far. Hermione stepped up to him, so that she was looking straight up at him. She grabbed his collar and brought his face down level with hers.

"Don't...ever...say...that...again," she said, her voice a deadly whisper.

With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Ron half-standing, stunned, in the middle of the room.

***

Half an hour later, Hermione was back among them, and they were discussing the plan again. Ron made it a point to sit as far away from her as possible, an act that she seemed to have no objection to. Ron, however, was looking very uncomfortable, and kept shooting glances in Hermione's direction. Hermione was fixedly looking at the floor.

"So, if we can get a hold of Harry's invisibility cloak, we'll be set then." Sirius finished, nodding.

Harry nodded, gazing at the coffee table. Sirius opened his mouth, no doubt to ask what was wrong, when there came a scream from the kitchen. A high-pitched scream of terror. Lupin was on his feet immediately.

"Arabella," he muttered before running at top speed out of the door and into the hallway.

"Molly?" yelled Sirius, running at Lupin's heels. Ron and Ginny ran close behind Sirius, yelling for their mother.

Harry and Hermione shared a worried glance before dashing to the kitchen. Harry led the way through the hallways, following the echoing footsteps of the other four. At last, he and Hermione burst into a very silent kitchen.

Mr. Weasley had his arm around his wife, who was sobbing quietly into his shoulder. Charlie was hugging Ginny close to him, and Bill had a protective arm around Ron. Mundungus Fletcher was sitting next to Bill, shaking his head with his mouth open. Lupin was standing, his arms around Mrs. Figg, who was shaking uncontrollably. All of them had their eyes fixed on the wall. Harry and Hermione shifted their gaze, and found that all of them were looking at the wizarding version of a television.

Hermione's knees gave way next to Harry, who sank down and put his arm around her. The WWN (wizarding world news) was on, and they were on BREAKING NEWS. A man was up speaking now, and he looked deadly serious.

"The attack occurred fifteen minutes ago, and so far at least seventy people have been reported dead. Well-known scholar Urbanstine Ighan, author of 'When Lightning Strikes Twice', believes that this attack is one of the many that will come now that You-Know-Who has returned. As there is no evidence of this resurrection, most scholars are remaining undecided. However, when the Dark Mark appeared over the town this morning, many have changed their minds. It appears that this is the turning of the tides..."

The screen was now showing a ruined street. It was destruction like Harry had never seen before. Buildings had caved in, and more than one were smoking ruins. There were huge cracks in the street, as though an earthquake had just occurred. Bodies were everywhere, and Ministry wizards were hurrying from person to person, checking identities and life signs. Smoke rose into the air slowly, covering the sky and putting the small town under a tent of darkness. Harry watched as a piece of burning roof fell on top of a body. There was a flash, and then both roof and person were engulfed in flames. Harry felt sick, watching the horror take place. A straggly cat was wandering around the street, meowing pitifully. At last, the cat lay down next to its owner, who was being tended to by a Ministry member. Hermione choked down a sob.

Then, the camera panned upwards. There, right above a now-empty signpost, was the symbol that had haunted Harry's dreams for a year. The Dark Mark. A skull, with a serpent twisting its way out of its mouth. Harry shivered, and Hermione moved closer to him. Ron had detached himself from Bill, and was now sitting on the other side of Hermione, holding her hand. When the camera focused on it, Harry's scar erupted with pain. He clutched his forehead, rolling forward so that he could not see it anymore.

After a few moments, the pain subsided, and he looked up once more. They were now showing a plot of land that once had something on it, but now was nothing but burned grass. Someone was standing in the middle of what had once been a building, crying. It took Harry a few moments before he realized that it was a child. Harry felt tears sliding down his cheeks as the camera moved closer.

Harry could not imagine why anyone would cause such destruction. A shop sign swung eerily on its post, seeming not to notice that it now had no place to advertise. The writing on it was black with soot, and stood out clearly against the wood. He gasped. It was The Three Broomsticks. His mind went blank with shock. Hogsmeade was attacked? But the security...how could anyone have penetrated so deep into the wizarding society? Then his thoughts turned to the bodies. All those people...

Dumbledore had been right. Voldemort had returned. And now, he was back, stronger than ever, and willing to kill even more people to get what he wanted. What did he want? To rule the world? To purge the world of 'Mudbloods'? Harry didn't rule anything out, for with Voldemort, anything was possible.

Then, as the realization of the situation set in, new thoughts popped up in Harry's mind. What about all those trips to Hogsmeade that he would have had? Sirius had signed his permission form...he could have been a regular student...but now that had all gone down the drain. Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was awfully close to Hogwarts. He also began to wonder if any of his friends had been in Hogsmeade at the time. He shuddered at the thought of Madame Rosmerta, lying in the ruins of her once popular restaurant and bar. Dead. She was dead. Hundreds were dead.

Harry buried his head in his hands, and felt the weight of the world resting once more on his shoulders. He knew why Voldemort was attacking again. It was because of him. Harry had gotten away from him for a third time, and Voldemort was angry. So he took it out on all of these innocent people. It was his fault...all this death...his fault...

Harry stood up suddenly, causing Hermione to fall over. "Harry?" she asked in a wavering voice. He knew everyone was watching him, but suddenly he did not care. He ran up the stairs, knowing precisely what he was going to do. He dashed up and up, not even stopping to say hello when the twins stuck their heads out and grinned at him.

Three floors later, Harry threw open the door to Ron's room. Ignoring the feeling of just walking into a giant furnace, he scanned the room. He found Hedwig waiting for him on the windowsill, just as he had assumed she would be. He dashed across the room to her, causing her almost to take flight. "Hi Hedwig," he said quietly, stroking her feathers to calm her. "I've got a big job for you, and you have to do it fast. Can you handle it?" Hedwig hooted, ruffling her feathers. "Ok then. I need you to go back to the Dursleys' house, and find my Firebolt and my invisibility cloak. Can you do that for me?"

Hedwig hooted again, nipped his finger affectionately, and flew off into the bright afternoon sky. Harry then sat, heavily, on Ron's bed. Within moments, he had fallen over and was fast asleep.

***

Harry awoke to a sharp pain on his forehead. He sat up immediately, almost totally dislodging Hedwig from his shirt. Harry shook his head, trying to shake away the pain that Hedwig had just given him by pecking at him. Hedwig then flew across the room, and landed next to Ron's frogs. There, on the counter, were his Firebolt and his invisibility cloak.

"Thanks Hedwig!" he exclaimed, jumping up and grabbing both. Having both his needed tools in his hands, he dashed back downstairs. When he reached the kitchen, everyone was now gathered in little groups, discussing the attack on Hogsmeade. Harry ignored them, and dashed off into the side corridor. He could hear a four-legged something running behind him, and instantly knew that it was Sirius. He didn't want to have to deal with Sirius, so he sped up.

Unfortunately, Harry and Sirius reached the room at the same time. Sirius transformed back into himself, and then looked gravely at Harry.

"So, you are going now, are you?" he asked, looking slightly concerned.

"Yeah."

"Just remember," Sirius said suddenly. "Six turns." And he was gone.

Harry stood, looking at the door, more than a little shocked. He had thought Sirius was going to stop him, but instead he had given him the information that he needed. After getting over this fact, Harry quickly got to work. He grabbed the time turner and carefully put it around his neck. He then picked up his Firebolt with one hand, and threw the invisibility cloak around him with the other.

Now, he was invisible to anyone who happened to see him. Quickly, before he could change his mind, he began to turn the time turner slowly.

One...two...three...four...

There was a yell from the kitchen. Harry's head snapped around, listening for the words, while still turning the time turner.

Five...

"It's an owl! Move aside there Ron, it has a huge package attached to its leg."

"What does it say?"

"It's for Harry!"

"Let's open it!"

"NO! Ron, wait! Let Harry open it!"

"What does that say?"

"Good lord, the return address..."

Six turns.

The world dissolved.