12:00, When the World Changes

12:00, When the World Changes

Chapter Two- For the Second Time...

"I'm Lily Evans. This is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew."

Out of the corner of her eye Hermione could see Ron flexing his fingers as if he wanted to strangle something, which was most undoubtedly Peter. Hermione elbowed Ron hard in the ribs and cast him a warning look. Everyone else was settling into the compartment comfortably. James and Sirius were already discussing Quidditch in one of the corners with Peter hovering on the edge of the conversation, sometimes mustering up the courage to say something. Draco had begun trying to work the Malfoy charm on Lily whilst Remus looked on amusedly. Ron's eyes kept flashing towards Peter almost in a kind of fury. Hermione elbowed him again.

"I feel like going for a walk, you want to come Ross?" she shot him a pained glance.

"Sure," Ron replied quickly, grinding his teeth. "Whatever."

They exited the compartment hastily followed by pathetic love jokes and kissing noises, which sounded like they were coming from James and Sirius. No sooner than Ron had slid the compartment door shut Draco burst forth from it. He fixed the two of them with a glare, which would have put a basilisk to shame. For a moment Draco stood with his mouth open as if he could not find the words for what he needed to say. Then he grabbed Ron by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall of the train.

"This is your fault Weasel!" he hissed. "What did you do?"

"W-what are you t-talking about Malfoy?" Ron gasped. It was difficult for him to talk since he had Draco's hands around his throat.

Hermione seized Draco by the waist, trying desperately to pull him off Ron. "Calm down!"

Draco released his stranglehold on Ron and stepped back. Ron stood panting with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. The three of them stood for a moment staring at each other.

Draco took a deep breath. "What exactly is going on here?"

"Who invited you out here anyway Malfoy?" Ron said angrily, massaging his own neck.

"You think I was going to stay in there alone with them?" Draco exclaimed. "Not a chance in hell."

"You didn't seem too upset about being there with Lily," Ron snapped back.

"Shut up both of you!" Hermione said loudly. "Fighting isn't going to solve anything."

"No," Draco agreed. "But it sure as hell makes me feel better."

"Keep your voices down! And stop using your real names," Hermione spoke urgently.

"About the names Hermione," Ron said in a forcedly calm voice. "What possessed you to call me Ross?"

"I have to admit I thought that someone as supposedly smart as you could come up with better names Granger. Draconis Szeer? Draco commented dryly.

"I did what that thing-the Intervener- told me too," Hermione folded her arms crossly.

"Please tell me that this is a dream. Somebody pinch me," Draco muttered. "Ow! It was just an expression of speech W-...Ross."

"Could you two just focus please!" Hermione exclaimed. "We need to figure out what we are going to do!"

"I'll tell you what we are going to do Granger-"

"Remember my name is Hilary Addams," Hermione said exasperatedly.

"Fine Hilary. We do nothing." Draco's voice was cold.

"How can we just do nothing?" Hermione exclaimed angrily. "It isn't everyday that an entity sends you back in time to do a job."

"Do a job? Herm-Hilary, we're talking about something serious here," Ron said anxiously. "Do you know how badly we are violating wizarding laws just by being here right now? We need to get out of this time right away before we go messing up anything."

"Don't look at me like I'm the bad guy here! I'll bet that I know a lot more about wizarding laws than you do. And virtually killing one of my best friends is not high on my list of favourite things to do," Hermione was almost shouting. "But do you know what this means? We have a chance to start over. To live again."

In her own head Hermione continued. "Another chance to make my life count."

"And if we stuff it up?" Ron asked. "What then?"

Hermione shook her head slightly. "But think of the things we know. Think of how many people we can help, like Sirius and Harry's parents."

"Ex-parents," Draco commented with a wicked grin.

Ron shot Draco a piercing glance. "And what if we aren't supposed to be messing with these things. What do we actually know about this "Intervener"? This whole thing seems a little off if you ask me."

"Well," Hermione replied irritably. "Since I don't get transported back through time by all-powerful beings too often I'm quite inclined to believe what the all-powerful beings say when I do."

"So what? Now you just don't care about your boyfriend?" Ron exclaimed hysterically.

"I never said that!" Hermione cried. "Besides Harry has already given his life to save the world. Do you really think that he would want us to sacrifice the world to save him?"

"We need to go to the Ministry right away! We don't know what we're doing." Ron urged, ignoring Hermione.

Draco snorted. "I personally would vote against that. I don't fancy being thrown into the nuthouse."

"As much of a git as he is he has a point you know," Hermione agreed. "What are the chances of anyone believing us?"

"Well then I guess that we just stay here then," Ron replied.

"So now who doesn't care about their best friend?" Hermione snapped.

"I never said anything about killing Harry," Ron snapped back.

Draco rolled his eyes irritably. "God, it's not like we're killing him! In case you haven't noticed he is already dead."

"Shut up would you!" Ron shouted at Draco. "Just shut the hell up! I'm sick to death of your bitching! You are just as stuck here as we are so couldn't you at least pretend to act like a decent human being for ten minutes?"

"Draco is right Ron," Hermione whispered tentatively. "There is nothing we can do for Harry. But we can make sure that we have a future."

"One little problem. If Harry doesn't exist Voldemort stays powerful. What do you two plan on doing when you have the Dark Lord at full power chasing after you and you've killed the only one who can stop him?" Ron asked, shaking slightly.

"It's a risk we would have to take I guess," Hermione replied with a shrug. "If it doesn't work the way we plan it to then everything will just end the same way it did before."

"Your morals are sounding a little shaky there," Ron exclaimed.

"It's just the truth," Hermione argued.

"Fine," Ron glared at Hermione. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Ron turned his back on the other two and returned to the train compartment. The door slammed closed after him.

"Don't expect any help from me," Draco exclaimed vindictively. "I was quite happy back in our own little reality where I died with everyone else."

"You will be helping us Draconis," Hermione snapped. "And why? Because I think you've forgotten, no one who exists in this time even knows who you are. You haven't got your daddy to threaten us with or your little cronies to stick on us either."

Draco sneered at Hermione before also turning his back and re-entering the compartment. Hermione followed with a sigh. As she entered the compartment Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans scattered over the floor. Hermione raised an eyebrow and James grinned roguishly. Draco stepped over the sweets and into a corner of the compartment, from which he cast out looks that could have killed.

"What in the world is going on?" Hermione asked.

"Well Remus, Sirius and I were playing catch," James began haughtily. "And our bag of sweets or "ball" if you will, kind of-"

"Broke?" Remus offered.

James nodded. "Exactly."

Hermione saw Lily roll her eyes, muttering what very well could have been "boys." Ron shrugged; still seething at Hermione and quickly joined the renewed discussion of Quidditch. Hermione sat down next to Lily, occasionally catching snatches of the boy's conversation.

"Did you see the last match?"

"It's a bloody brilliant broomstick, I'll tell you that!"

"You like the Chudley Cannons?

Suddenly the compartment door banged open for what seemed like the millionth time that trip. The jolly-looking witch who had talked to Hermione, Ron and Draco on the platform appeared, dragging a boy by the ear. Hermione slowly recognised the greasy black hair, sallow face and beakish nose of her former Potions master. His dark eyes were hostile as he looked around at the inhabitants of the compartment. The witch scolded Snape for a moment before leaving him with instructions to stay put. Everyone was introduced once again and Ron saw Snape's upper lip curl at the mention of Lily's name. Lily didn't notice, but left the compartment to find another of her friends.

"Not another Mudblood," Snape said, softly staring after her.

"At least she can keep her hair clean," James retorted, eyes dark with instant dislike for the newcomer.

Sirius looked at Snape with disdain. "Slimy git isn't the in look you know."

"I wouldn't think you'd be hanging around the Mudblood lovers," Snape mused.

"Just because your father is a friend of the family doesn't mean that I will hesitate to hurt you," Sirius snapped.

"I wonder what your precious mother would have to say about that Black," Snape hissed. "She's rather fond of me."

Sirius frowned. "I wouldn't say that was something to be proud of."

The air of the compartment became very tense. Hermione was watching Ron who seemed to be enjoying the argument. Draco was recovering from the shock of seeing his former potions master.

"How about you?" Snape snapped, looking in Remus's direction. "You're not another one of those sorry half-breeds are you?"

Remus began to stare out the window, cheeks colouring a little.

"Back off Snape," Sirius said loudly. "Get out of here."

"Make me," Snape replied.

James shrugged. "Suits us doesn't it Sirius?"

Sirius jumped out of his seat and quick as a flash grabbed hold of Snape's arms. James followed suit grabbing the other arm.

"Shove off!" yelled the young Snape.

"Why should we?" James asked. "No. Better yet make us."

Sirius and James counted to three before throwing Snape out the compartment door. The door closing again cut off a string of colourful language. Then, all of a sudden the train was pulling into the station at Hogwarts.

A voice echoed through the length of the train. "We have arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Crowds of students rushed out the doors of the train, chattering and laughing. Draco suddenly realised how short he was. Another familiar face appeared. That of Hagrid, who though looking younger was still at least a head and shoulders taller than everyone else. He was following a shorter but by no means short man who was dressed in a haphazard fashion in garments made of what seemed to be wolf pelts.

Hagrid bent down and the man said something to him. Hagrid shook his head for a second before beginning to round up the first years. When at last all the first years had been found Hagrid began to lead them down a steep, narrow path surrounded by trees. There were the usual expressions of awe as they rounded a bend and espied the castle. Hermione saw Snape trying to stay hidden at the back of the group.

"In the boats," Hagrid shouted, gesturing towards many tiny boats, which were bobbing at the side of the lake. "No more'n four in one."

Nervously everyone began to enter the boats. Ron was still glaring at Hermione and climbed into a boat with James, Sirius and Remus while casting death stares at Peter. Feeling a slight twinge of guilt Hermione followed Lily into a boat. Draco and Peter soon joined them.

"All of you in?" Hagrid called from his own boat. "All right then-FORWARD!"

All the boats began to move at exactly the same time making little ripples in the flat water. As they were approaching an overhanging cliff it began to sprinkle with rain.

"Great," Draco mumbled. "This is all I need."

"God you're a moody little sod aren't you?" Lily commented.

Draco didn't talk for the rest of the journey, unlike the four occupants of Ron's boat. They were exclaiming loudly, laughing and being generally disruptive. At one point Sirius almost fell into the black depths when James dared him to lean over and put his head in the water. However all the first years arrived safely at the other side of the lake. Hagrid led them up the stone steps of the castle and knocked on the gigantic wooden doors. Almost immediately the doors swung soundlessly open and standing at on the other side was a younger Professor McGonagall. Her face was stern as ever as she dismissed Hagrid. She showed the first years through the grand entrance hall and into a small room. Hermione saw her eye some of the first years critically, like Sirius with his wet hair.

"First of all, welcome you to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall," she began to speak. "Soon you will take your seats in the Great Hall. But first you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is the most important thing to happen-"

Hermione zoned out of a teacher's speech for one of the first times in her strange life. She had almost forgotten about the Sorting ceremony. A thought crossed her mind. What if they were not on the list to be sorted? Suddenly Hermione snapped back to attention as Professor McGonagall announced that they were to form a line and follow her into the Great Hall. She looked around herself at the other students. Snape was still skulking at the back near a group of nervous-looking girls who were all hastily fixing their hair. James was talking to Sirius, who was flipping his lake-wet hair around. Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that they had been doing that during the whole of McGonagall's speech. Ron was still standing near them and there were a few girls in the vicinity who were casting glances at Sirius.

The line began to move and Hermione could not figure out why she was just as nervous as she had been at her first Sorting. Draco walked nonchalantly behind her often looking forward to Lily. The first years entered the Great Hall and they could feel the eyes of the rest of the school upon them. James subconsciously reached up a hand to play with his hair while Peter seemed to be muttering to himself under his breath. Some of the first years were gazing at the star spangled roof in wonder, while others were wondering aloud as Professor McGonagall placed a patched wizards hat on a three legged stool at the front of the hall. As a tear in the hat brim opened Ron remembered his own relief at finding out about the Sorting Hat.

"I was ready to kill Fred and George for talking about a troll," he thought silently.

"All you little children

You think I'm just a hat

Give me just a minute

And I'll soon change all that

Because you cannot find yourself

The strengths inside your mind

Just put me on and let me think

I'll see what I can find

Just slip me snug about your ears

I'll look inside your head

You may belong in one house

Or the other one instead

You might find home in Ravenclaw

With those knowledgable and clever

Their unusual knack for learning

Puts them in front forever

You may belong in Slytherin

Where the rules are made to break

They're crafty and they're cunning

When their power is put at stake

Maybe you'd like Hufflepuff

Where they are good and true

If you are a friend in need

They'll watch your back for you

Or last of all in Gryffindor

If you are very brave

Able to keep on standing

When your whole life seems to cave

Come up here and put me on

I haven't got all day

Give me just a moment and

You'll soon be on your way

Now you couldn't leave this job

Up to just any hippogriff or elf

Cuz I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I know you better than you know yourself!"

The hat finished its song and bowed to each of the four tables occupying the hall. To Hermione it seemed that all the first years let out an identical sigh of relief. Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a long roll of parchment. Ron hadn't quite remembered what it felt like to have the whole hall staring at him. It was a rather unsettling feeling, which left him with a nervous ball lodged in his stomach.

"Now when I call your name you will come to the front of the hall, put the hat on your head and be sorted. Addams, Hilary!"

Hermione only just remembered to respond to her alias. She walked towards the front of the hall, realising how nerve-racking it is to be the first one sorted. She sat down on the stool with a heavy thud and placed the Sorting Hat on her head. Hermione had completely forgotten that she was eleven again until the hat brim slipped over her eyes and she realised that her feet could not touch the ground from the stool.

"Yes well aren't you the little mystery," a voice spoke in Hermione's ear. "Why are you not using your real name I wonder? Plenty of intelligence yes, plenty of courage. A streak of stubbornness. You have a strong will and you are very loyal. Ravenclaw wouldn't do you justice. Hmm yes I think that would be best. GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione stumbled down towards the Gryffindor table accompanied by cheers and whistles. She missed many of the next names, not even stirring when Sirius swaggered down from the hat to sit beside her and she received a few evil stares from other girls. Not even the spine-chilling cheers from the Slytherin table could pull her out of her thoughts.

"How did the hat know I wasn't using my real name?" she thought anxiously as Lily was being sorted.

Lily took her new seat at the Gryffindor table and the names seemed to fly by until Sirius was whistling shrilly when Remus was also sorted into Gryffindor. The next names called were new additions to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Ron glared when Peter's name was called.

"That hat must be bonkers," He muttered to himself as Peter was sorted into Gryffindor.

Both Ron and Hermione flinched, expecting the ominous whispers when the name "Potter" was called but of course none came. Soon the group of students waiting to be sorted grew thin. "Snape, Severus" became a new Slytherin and then it was Draco's turn. He wandered calmly up to the stool placing the hat carefully on his head.

"Mysteries, mysteries. You're the second student today who hasn't used their real name. It makes things a lot harder for me you know," the Sorting Hat whispered to Draco. "But there's no doubt about it. You're destined for SLYTHERIN!"

Finally Ron was called up to the Sorting Hat, which after much deliberation and complaints about him also not using his real name Ron breathed a sigh of relief as he was once again proclaimed a Gryffindor. The feast was eaten hastily and messily after a few more well chosen words from Dumbledore ("Let us eat!"). The food disappeared from the plates and a Gryffindor prefect began to round up the first years.

Once they exited the hall to start on their way to the House Common Room James's eye came to rest on Snape in one of the corridors just outside the hall.

He grinned wickedly at Sirius. "Shall we? Up for a little more revenge?"

Sirius nodded. James started towards Snape in the crowd. As James drew near Snape noticed him and tried to move himself further away but Sirius grabbed him, dragging him into a more deserted corridor. They began to shove the angry Slytherin back and forth. Hermione watched in horror as Ron joined them. Peter hovered nervously beside Remus who did nothing but watch. As the shoving became more violent Lily came onto the scene. A punch was landed.

"Cut it out Potter!" she yelled furiously.

Once again he just grinned. "Why should I? He deserves all he's getting."

Lily tried to intervene but found it impossible. Snape had begun swearing loudly at his tormentors. Ron stuck out a foot and tripped him up. Snape lay on the ground still swearing and Sirius began to advance on the fallen figure. Then Draco burst into the circle.

"Piss off the lot of you!" he exclaimed, offering a hand to Snape.

Snape took the hand and got back onto his feet. One of his eyes sported a bruise that was blooming spectacularly.

"Thanks," Snape muttered gruffly.

Draco was still casting icy stares at the three Gryffindors. "Don't worry about it. We Slytherins have got to stick together."

At that moment two prefects, one from Gryffindor, the other from Slytherin appeared from around a corner followed closely by Professor McGonagall.

"Well I never," she exclaimed. "Fighting like animals on your first day! This is not what I expect from my Gryffindor students. I am going to have to take points from Gryffindor for this and you shall all receive two detentions. As for you Slytherins I am going to have to take you to your Head of House who will deal with you both accordingly. Any more fighting and I will personally make sure that you are all suspended!"

Lily started to speak. "Please Professor, it wasn't their fault," she gestured towards Snape and Draco. "Those three attacked him and Draconis just stepped in to help."

"Whatever the reason, Miss Evans they were still fighting," McGonagall said sternly, before starting to lead the two Slytherins away, with the Slytherin prefect in tow.

As Draco glanced back, Lily mouthed the words "I tried," and gave him a sharp wink.

"You're all such prats!" Lily had begun yelling at Sirius, James and Ron back at the common room.

"Come on!" Sirius said in mock-exasperation. "He's a slimy git anyway."

"I suppose if you're into slimy Slytherins..." Ron commented.

James and Sirius started laughing loudly. The other people in the common room were starting to tire of listening to a first-year fight. Lily made a noise of complete disgust and disappeared towards the girl's dormitories. Hermione sat looking at Ron dumbstruck. She pushed herself up from her chair and pulled him away from the other boys.

"What has gotten into you?" Hermione said.

Ron kept looking past her towards the spot in the room where James, Sirius, Peter and Remus sat talking. "What do you mean?"

"You're doing it again," she exclaimed. "Christ, what happened to the you I knew yesterday?"

"What are you on about?" Ron said sounding annoyed.

"Why did you help them bully him?" Hermione asked softly. "I wouldn't have thought you would sink that low."

"Do you really want to talk to me about sinking low?" Ron exclaimed. "Remember that you are the one who is ready to kill your friend or boyfriend or whatever he was to you, just for a chance to finish living your own sorry life."

"Is it really so bad Ron? Is it really so bad that I want to grow up? That I want to have a life?" Hermione asked, eyes beginning to look misty.

"No," Ron replied. "Just that you are willing to do it at the expense of his life."

Hermione was getting irritable. "Stop acting like you are all high and mighty. It's not like you're never selfish."

"I know that," Ron snapped.

"If I am the one who is being so selfish then why are you over there with them?" Hermione asked. "Why are you over there laughing with Harry's dad like nothing is the matter?"

"Because that is all I'm going to do. I'm just going to live out my life here if I have to and not change anything," Ron said strongly.

"It's too late for that," Hermione exclaimed. "You're here now and that is already a huge change."

Hermione stormed out of the Common Room leaving Ron standing mystified in her wake. A few curious faces looked inquiringly in his direction. He ignored them and went back over to the laughing group of boys.

Draco had begun to get sick of the wild goose chase it was taking to find the Head of Slytherin House. He had stared at the back of both McGonagall's greying head and the prefects blonde one for at least half-an-hour now. Finally McGonagall gave up.

"I'll see your Head of House tomorrow. It is getting late," she turned to the prefect. "Show them where the Common Room is please."

The prefect nodded and all three of them watched as McGonagall briskly walked off. Draco thought that he had seen the prefect before but he couldn't quite place where from. Then they began to walk in the direction of the Common Room. When they reached the dungeon portrait the prefect knocked on it three times.

"Basilisk."

The portrait swung open revealing a candle-lit room with a roaring fireplace and comfortable chairs, which was decorated in silver and green. As Draco made to follow Snape through the portrait the prefect pulled him back.

"Not so fast," he drawled. "I've got a proposition for you."

Draco followed him into the darker part of the corridor.

"I saw what you did today, standing up to that Gryffindor scum. Doing things like that will earn you good friends around here," the prefect spoke proudly.

"Meaning?" Draco said impatiently.

The prefect roughly tapped him on the head with his wand. "Meaning you shouldn't be so bloody insolent to someone who is making you a special offer. Have you ever heard of Slytheris Drayce?"

Draco rubbed his head. "I don't think so."

"It is an exclusive Slytherin club. We look out for each other, make sure that the Gryffindors aren't getting the upper hand on us. Slytheris Drayce is strictly limited to the best, and brightest of Slytherin kind. I am offering you membership, although there are some conditions we will still have to discuss. My name is Lucius Malfoy."