Father and Son

~Chapter 19~
The Time-Turner

December, 1997

'Bloody hell!' Ron exclaimed as Hermione showed them the Daily Prophet at breakfast. There was a picture of two villages which were completely burned down on the front page. Some people on the pictures sat in front of corpses, crying. Others were talking to Ministry officials. The corpses were still splattered over the street, either bleeding or had burned black skin. It was a stomach-churning view, and Harry, as well as Ginny, immediately decided he wasn't hungry anymore.

'The Ministry assumes there have been Death Eater attacks on those villages,' Hermione informed them. She exchanged meaningful glances with Ginny, who sat across from her.

'A Christmas ball, right?' Harry snorted, glaring over to the Slytherin table. The Great Hall was buzzing with laughter and shouting of younger students, but the Slytherins were silently brooding among themselves.

'Of course they now all have an alibi. All guests at Malfoy Mansion claimed that no one left the ball before time.' Hermione sighed. 'Dumbledore wants to see Draco and me this afternoon. I suppose he needs an explanation to get Draco's report. It's rather handy that he's Head Boy.'

Ron glared at her. 'Draco?' he repeated.

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

'Did he tell you anything?' Harry asked Ginny.

'No, I haven't spoken to him, yet,' she replied. Hermione noticed that she was absent-minded. Her gaze lingered on David, who was having breakfast as well. Hermione guessed that she was worried about him. He'd looked sick and even paler than usually all morning. Hermione had wanted to speak to him, but he'd refused to say anything and gone straight to breakfast.

'Malfoy looks ill.' Harry had followed the girls' gaze and pointed out the obvious.

'You'd think some Muggle-killing would cheer him up,' Ron remarked, looking gloomily at his porridge.

Before anyone could react, Ron's porridge shot out of his bowl and straight into his nose. Hermione shrieked, Harry jumped up, startled by the sudden food attack on his best mate, and Neville, who sat next to Ron, nearly choked on his toast.

'Ron, I'm disgusted,' Ginny said in the most hateful voice, she could muster. The wand in her hand was shaking.

'Well, I would be as well,' a familiar mocking voice said. David was standing behind Ginny all of a sudden. 'Can't even eat properly, Weasley? Or is your nose just so big that the porridge decided to move in?'

Ron's answer was a coughing response which was accompanied by the sound of porridge still dripping out of his nose.

Hermione had noticed how well David imitated Draco when it came to humiliating Ron. The same irritatingly arrogant voice, the same self-satisfied smirk on his face... nobody would ever guess that this boy was Ron's nephew and not his declared arch-enemy. Although he rarely said anything against Ron's family or anyone's blood status - the only difference between his and Draco's demeanours when it came to Gryffindors.

'What's going on here?' Professor McGonagall appeared at the Gryffindor table with Snape right behind her.

'It's obvious, Minerva, isn't it?' The bat-like Professor sneered. 'Ten points from Gryffindor for behaving like a troll at the breakfast table!'

'Excuse me?' McGonagall exclaimed indignantly. 'Obviously Mister Malfoy used a spell on Mister Weasley!'

'It was me,' Ginny said defiantly, glaring at her brother.

'Ten points from Gryffindor again, Miss Weasley, for inappropriate use of magic,' Snape declared, looking smug.

McGonagall stared after Snape, who was making his way to the teachers' table. She made some indignant-sounding noise, glared at her Gryffindors and stormed off after Snape.

Ron coughed.

'Porridge?' Ginny offered with an innocent smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that day, David was sitting in Albus Dumbledore's office, feeling uncomfortable. He'd been to the Headmaster's office more than once during his time at Hogwarts, but it was Albus Dumbledore's presence that made it different. Dumbledore had died before he was even born, still he knew a lot about this wizard. Enough to feel more than honoured to sit here. Still, the situation was awkward. Hermione had feared David would give himself away in front of the Headmaster. And David didn't know if Snape hadn't already told Dumbledore. Looking into the old man's piercing blue eyes gave David the feeling that he could see through his façade anyway.

'The Dark Lord was more than unpleased, Headmaster,' the Potions Master snapped, turning away from the window, where he had stood.

'I told you not to intervene, Draco! It is your and my task to make Hogwarts, especially Slytherin House, loyal. You've just proclaimed that we failed to serve him here!'

David was furious. Snape knew that he wasn't Draco and couldn't know what Snape had told his father.

'He wanted to isolate Slytherin from Hogwarts! The other houses already mistrust Slytherin and if we fight on Voldemort's side, Hogwarts won't win. We just learned in Defence Against the Dark Arts that strength comes through unity! We can't betray Hogwarts!'

'As much as I'm pleased that you eagerly follow your Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons, I have to remind you that we can't let the Dark Lord think we betray him, either!'

'Severus.' Dumbledore tried to calm him down. 'I think Mister Malfoy has a point. We need the union of our houses. The question is: how do we protect Hogwarts without letting Voldemort know where your true loyalties lie?'

'Sir, you want to let the Death Eaters enter the Hogwarts grounds?' Hermione asked, flabbergasted.

'I have no choice, my dear! The Death Eaters will find a way into Hogwarts sooner or later. Tom Riddle knew more about Hogwarts' secrets than I'd like to admit.'

'But...' Hermione had put up her stubborn, determined face and David had the feeling she wasn't going to let this topic go.

'Miss Granger! If the Dark Lord notices that we're prepared for him and he doesn't come through the spells that protect Hogwarts, not only my life will be at risk, but also my position as a spy in his ranks!' Snape barked.

'And as an informer,' Hermione added, her face reddening.

'I told Professor Snape to point out the weak points that I left in the protection spells around Hogwarts. He wants Hogwarts, that much is clear. And if we don't suggest a way how he can enter Hogwarts, he'll find his own way and then we won't know anything about it. Now we know how he strikes, when he strikes, and he isn't in the castle. As long as we keep them out, we have the chance to evacuate all students who don't want to fight for Hogwarts.'

Hermione bit her bottom lip. David was sure she'd love to disagree with the Headmaster, but couldn't find a fitting argument, yet.

'Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger: The prefects have to be prepared. They are supposed to lead the younger students of their houses to the evacuation points. I will inform you of the whole plan as soon as I've spoken to my teachers. Make sure it all looks like a precautionary plan. Medora will continue to prepare the students in her lessons as well, so no one will notice we're preparing for an actual date.' The Headmaster looked at them seriously. 'I'm sure I don't have to tell you that this is all a secret until it comes to action.'

The Head Girl and Head Boy nodded in union.

'You may go, then.'

When they'd reached the door, Dumbledore addressed Hermione again. 'Miss Granger?'

'Yes, Professor?'

'I'm sure, Medora would love to hear about an army at Hogwarts.' He winked and, to David's surprise, Hermione gave Dumbledore a weak smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Have you talked to Professor Snape?' Hermione asked him when David entered their rooms later that day. She put her book about Time-Turners back on the stack next to her.

He scowled at her.

It hadn't been a pleasant talk with his Head of House. Snape had told him off as if he was a first year. After all it hadn't been his fault that Diana wasn't able to keep him from messing up a simple love potion! Not really...

'I told him what Diana and I did with the potion and he said he'll think about a way to reverse the effects of the potion. But he said that we probably need the Time-Turner to get me back into my time. As if we hadn't already figured that out!'

'Did he say anything else?' Hermione asked, looking concerned.

'No,' he lied, not looking at her. The potion hadn't been the only thing he'd discussed with Snape. After Hermione had told him about Dumbledore's Army once they'd been out of Dumbledore's office, David had come up with the idea to show them the Binarius spells. He hadn't told Hermione about them yet, because he wanted to ask Snape first. But Snape had had a real fit when David had suggested to show Inkspell or Dumbledore's Army the spells. Of course he'd been right. These spells were a mighty weapon for both sides and it was safer if none of each knew them. But still David had the feeling that he could help them defeat Voldemort with these spells. Snape had asked David if he knew whether Voldemort had been defeated by those spells in his time and David had to answer the question in the negative. Snape had smirked at him and the topic was closed as far as the Potions Master was concerned.

The portrait opened and Ginny, Harry and Ron entered.

'Inkspell has just spoken to me, Hermione,' Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

'Oh, because of Dumbledore's Army - yes, Dumbledore advised me to tell her in our meeting this morning.'

Ron's eyes nearly popped out of his head and Harry looked at Hermione, flabbergasted.

'Are you mad, 'Mione?' Ron exclaimed. 'We do everything to hide Dumbledore's Army over two years as good as we can and you just go and spill our secret to Draco bloody Malfoy?'

He immediately took a step aside, eyeing his sister whose eyes sparkled dangerously again.

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'I already told him, okay?'

'You told him?' Harry repeated.

'Yes, after all he's in the Order, isn't he? And Ronald he's your sister's boyfriend. For heaven's sake, stop treating him like he's our chief enemy!' Hermione told him off. David knew that Hermione was cross with his uncle whenever she called him Ronald.

'Oh, he's sticking his traitorous tongue down Gin's throat and now I'm supposed to forget everything he did? He's a Death Eater...'

'Ron...' Harry tried to stop his best mate, sensing that it might not be the best for Ron's health to continue, but Ron ignored him. His ears were reddened with rage.

'... why are you two suddenly best friends? A few days ago you wanted to kill him as well! What happened? Are you suddenly as fond of him as my sister? After all, you're already sharing a cuddly living room, why not share the bedroom as well?!'

'Ron!' Hermione and Ginny screamed at him in union.

David had the slight feeling that the situation was about to escalate.

'Oh, don't fool yourself, Weasley,' he snarled, striding towards him his wand drawn. 'Just because you can't satisfy a woman doesn't mean I'll do it for you!'

'You'

'Come on, Gin!' David took a gentle but firm hold of his mother's arm and pulled her after him, before she could hex Ron into oblivion.

He spent the afternoon with her, walking over the snowy grounds of Hogwarts, telling her about the Christmas Ball and listening to her talk about Dumbledore's Army. He was really interested in it; however, Professor Snape had forbidden him to join the DA. It would have been too risky for his father's role as a spy.

'I don't know why Ron's making such a fuss about it. You're in the Order after all. But he and Harry still don't trust you.'

'I'm a Death Eater, I wouldn't trust myself, either, if I were them.' David didn't look at her. What he'd just said was true. How could his mother, how could Dumbledore and Snape trust his father?

Ginny squeezed his hand, which she'd been holding for a while now. It was a strange feeling to hold his mother's hand. He looked at her sideways. She was beautiful with her red hair sprawled across her black cloak. It had started to snow and a few snowflakes were glittering in her hair and on the cloak. She smiled at him warmly, when she noticed him watching her.

'Do you think Granger and your brother will make up again?' he asked, seriously.

'They always do. But I think Hermione will be cross with him for a few days, and I won't be blaming her for doing so. How can he accuse her of cheating on him with you?'

'Well, I can understand his fear. After all, she is sharing a room with a pretty attractive wizard!' David said, smirking.

Ginny laughed.

'It's absurd to think that I would' cheat on you, he'd wanted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat. Since Draco Malfoy had done so in David's time, it was like lying to Ginny to claim his faithfulness to her.

He swallowed. 'It's absurd to think that I would even want to shag Granger if the most beautiful witch at Hogwarts is my girlfriend.'

Ginny raised an eyebrow, but she couldn't hide her mirth. The corners of her mouth kept twitching up.

'And I thought I was your girlfriend!' she said, with a faked naivety.

'You are?' he asked, playing along with her joke.

Ginny laughed again heartily. Then she stopped walking and turned towards him. Looking down on her, he saw her eyes looking up to him expectantly. His mind raced trying to escape what seemed inevitable.

After seconds of looking at each other, which seemed like an eternity to David, Ginny had obviously decided that she didn't need him to make the first step, and pulled his head down to her.

David tried not to think about the fact that this was his mother, who was kissing him. He pulled away as quickly as he could without her becoming suspicious.

'Ginny... do you trust me?'

'What do you mean?' she asked, bemused.

'I mean... I and Granger... that's just...!' He hoped she could understand the absurdity he wanted to express.

Ginny smirked. 'I know you would never cheat on me with Hermione. The fact alone that she's a Muggleborn would be reason enough for you.'

David was shocked at her sincerity. 'That's... I...'

'Don't fool yourself, Draco. I know how you've been raised. I know how you felt about me being a blood-traitor. And that I'm a pure-blood'

' is not the reason I'm with you!' David cut her off. He was sure his father would have disagreed with her as well. Draco had told his children many times that he would have married Ginny anyway, no matter what her blood status had been. And the fact that he was in the Order of the Phoenix and that he had taught his children that every witch and wizard are born equal was enough for David to protest.

Ginny's expression was sceptical.

'Ginny, I'm as much a so-called blood-traitor as you are! I betray my family and although I don't like to betray them - what you might understand - I feel that it's right to follow Dumbledore and not Voldemort.'

She was silent and didn't look at him.

'I want you to know that I wouldn't be shagging Granger because of you, not because of her blood. I'm not blind, she's a beautiful and attractive witch, but I wouldn't want to be with her instead of you in a million years.'

'She's a beautiful and attractive witch?' Ginny repeated, her eyebrow raised again.

'Yes, and a nag!'

'That sounds more like you,' Ginny said, smiling again.

They walked back to the castle, hand in hand, talking about how thrilled Professor Inkspell must have been to hear that there was a secret army at Hogwarts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After a few days the tension between Ron and Hermione had eased a bit. They weren't glaring and snapping at each other all the time anymore and after dinner that day, Ginny told David that they had made up again in the Common Room that afternoon. Hermione had obviously had enough seeing Ron's desperation at his Potions essay and had helped him with it. It looked like Ron had taken that opportunity to apologize to her and admit that it had been foolish to be jealous.

David was quite glad, because Hermione had been devastated the whole time, even if she hadn't shown it in front of Ron.

When they sat in their small common room together that evening, she was in an especially joyful mood, although they didn't make any progress finding a solution for his problem. When they decided to call it a night, David told her how it got harder and harder to fend Ginny off. Yesterday he had had to change in front of her after Quidditch training. He just wanted to continue and tell Hermione how hard he found it to play the Seeker position instead of being a Chaser when she started to laugh. He blinked, but she didn't stop. It was confusing to see her in such high spirits again.

'You let Ginny watch you change?' Hermione asked, between fits of laughter.

'What was I supposed to do?' He stood up from his armchair and walked over to Draco's bedroom, putting some of the books under his bed. 'And after all she's my mother. She's changed my nappies when I was a baby!' he added, scowling at her.

Hermione giggled and followed him.

'I'm sure I'll also change your nappies one day, since I seem to have lived long enough for you to know me,' she joked.

'I guess you have... you will,' David corrected himself.

'Hmm...' She leaned against the wooden doorframe, a wicked smile playing around her lips. 'Well, then it's probably no problem for you, either, to change in front of me. I mean, there's nothing I won't see anyway.'

David just looked at her for a few moments, blinking. Had she really asked him to undress in front of her?

'Like hell you will watch me change! Get out this instant, witch!' he shouted, indignantly, throwing a black pullover at her.

Hermione laughed, trying to escape the pullover. David shut his door with a flick of his wand, but he could still hear her roars of laughter.

He muttered something to himself along the lines of 'bloody witches' and 'what's so funny about that?' while walking towards the door to pick up his pullover. Bending down he noticed a slight silver gleaming a few feet from the pullover under his wardrobe. Stretching out his hand he got hold of something that made his heart jump.

He had found the Time-Turner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~