A Life in the Past

Draco pulled Ginny back out of instinct. "It's okay," he said. "She looks like you, maybe he was mistaken." Draco knew his words would provide no comfort for Ginny, but he felt as though he had the duty of making her feel better. "He was never good enough for you," he said. "He doesn't know what he's giving up."

"You're so stupid," Ginny sobbed, sliding down the tree trunk. "You're impossibly stupid."

Draco sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. "You had it coming," he said coolly. "You're the stupid one."

"And you're so cold and insensitive," Ginny sobbed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I hate you, it's your fault it happened."

"I know," said Draco. "But maybe it was supposed to happen."

"What for?" asked Ginny.

"Because maybe you'll get something better," said Draco.

"Better than Harry?" asked Ginny.

"Even a house elf would be better than Potter," said Draco. "What do you see in him anyway? Big glasses, stupid hair, and that awful scar, what's so great about it all?"

"He's a wonderful person," said Ginny. "Unlike you."

"So what if I'm shallow, at least I've got looks," said Draco.

"You're unbelievable," said Ginny, staring at his smirking face. "Completely unbelievable."

"Thanks," said Draco. "I try."

"Why am I still here?" asked Ginny. "I should be on the other side of this tree saving Harry from that great cow."

"You want a reason why you aren't there?" said Draco. "Because you don't really want to be there."

"Of course I don't, Annabelle's there," said Ginny. "But I want to be there for Harry."

"No you don't," said Draco. "You're here with me."

"And I hate you," said Ginny.

"I don't think you do," said Draco. "Not really. Especially after the last time I saved you. You couldn't possibly hate me."

"Fine, I don't hate you," said Ginny. "But I don't like you one bit."

"And you're still lying," said Draco. "Stop lying to yourself; it's no good."

Ginny stood up. "I'm going to Harry," she said.

Draco stood up as well and took her by the shoulders. "No, you aren't," he said. "You're not going anywhere."

Ginny gaped at him.

"Get those dirty thoughts out of your head," said Draco. "I'm not like that at all."

Ginny sighed. "Good, she said. "Because for a moment there, I thought you were going to..."

"I don't even want to hear it," Draco cut her off. He looked over Ginny's shoulder at the place where Harry and Annabelle were standing only moments ago. "Potter and Annabelle are gone," he said. "There goes our ticket home."

"You complete idiot, it's your fault!" Ginny cried, her face bright red. Then suddenly, she calmed down as if stuck by a thought. "It's okay," she said. "I still believe we can get out through the cellar."

"What are you talking about?" said Draco, as though she was talking complete nonsense.

"Remember how I wanted to go back to the cellar?" said Ginny. "Come on, I'll have to show you." She pulled Draco along back to the door where they had come from.

Draco stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. "No, I will not move," he said.

"What the Hell, Malfoy?" said Ginny. "You've got to come."

"No," said Draco. "I'm going this way." And with that he turned on his heel and stormed off in the opposite direction.

"Malfoy!" Ginny called. "Oh, you stupid prat..."

"Are you coming?" Draco asked.

"No, I'm not," Ginny replied.

"Stop being difficult," said Draco. "You'll never survive alone."

"You're being difficult," said Ginny, making her way over to him. "Why can't you come with me? I know what I'm doing."

"No you don't," said Draco. "Why are you making this so hard? All we've got to do is get to Potter, who obviously went this way, you do the talking, and if need be, I'll do the punching."

"Punching?" said Ginny.

"Yeah, if his temper gets out of hand," Draco said, very matter-of-factly. "But I doubt that."

"I can't believe I've let it get this far already," said Ginny. "I know that Harry's here, or at least I think it's Harry, and I just let him get away."

"Hold on," said Draco. "That might not be Harry Potter. He might be like Annabelle, looks just like Ginny, but isn't Ginny; looks just like Potter, but isn't."

"Well then why was I so upset?" said Ginny. "That's probably not Harry. How could I be so stupid?"

"You were born that way," said Draco.

"Shut it, Malfoy," said Ginny, her face turning red. She kept setting up little insults for him, she had to stop doing that.

"You know what this means don't you?" said Draco, changing the subject. "We're right back where we started, we've no way out."

"We still have each other," said Ginny. "You know, you're really beginning to grow on me."

"Nothing's changed," said Draco, trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince Ginny. "When we get back to the present, nothing will have changed."

"All right," said Ginny, smiling to herself.

***

Ron and Hermione had decided they'd go for a walk outside on the castle grounds before supper and discuss just about everything that was going on in their lives, such as the problem with Harry and Annabelle, finding Ginny, getting back to the present, and most of all, how they felt about each other.

"The night after the Yule Ball in our fourth year really meant something to me," said Hermione. "The way you got so possessive. Nobody's ever acted like that over me."

"Yeah, well, seeing you with Krum was pretty bad," said Ron. "That stupid git. He couldn't even pronounce your name. I'll never understand why you stayed with him so long, especially since you lived in different countries."

"Ron... Actually, never mind, you'll never understand," Hermione sighed. "It didn't matter how far away we were, we really liked each other."

"I'm glad you didn't visit him that summer," said Ron. "Who knows what would have happened."

"We could've broken up earlier," said Hermione. "I would've been free all of fifth and sixth year if I had gone to visit him."

"Well in that case, I'm not so glad you didn't go to visit him earlier," said Ron.

"Or we could've stayed together," said Hermione. "It's surprising what effects time can have on people."

"Yeah, I'm beginning to really understand that," said Ron. "Look at the effect time's had on my family. We went from being rich beyond imaginable, to... well... poor."

"You aren't poor," said Hermione. "And at least you're happy."

"Yeah," said Ron. "But I want to know what happened. Why we lost all this..."

"We'll find out," said Hermione. "And we'll also find Ginny, and we'll get back to the present."

"Hopefully," said Ron, wondering whether he should tell Hermione about the gold he and Ginny had found in the trunk; he hadn't told anyone about that, actually, he'd almost forgotten.

"Well, I think we should get back inside for supper," said Hermione. "And Ron, don't worry about a thing, you hear me? There's nothing to worry about."

"Er, yeah," said Ron. "I won't."

***

The Weasley family along with Harry and Hermione sat in complete silence while they ate their supper. The silence, however, was not deathly uncomfortable silence, it was a happy sort of silence, in which Annabelle kept shooting glances at Harry, and Harry would smile back.

Ebenezer, however, was furious at Jonathon and Tobias for drawing on his face with women's make up, causing him to look very much like his mother. Nicholas and Nigel had laughed so hard when they had seen him, and wondered why they had never thought to do the same.

As soon as every plate was emptied, Alfred Weasley broke the silence.

"I have business to take care of with the Ministry," he said. "I will not be back until well past dusk. Have yourselves a good evening, I shall see you at dawn."

"What is this business?" asked Ebenezer. "Shall you require my aid?"

"Certainly no," said Alfred. "I shall manage alone."

Ebenezer looked very hurt indeed, and watched his father disapparate.

"Who would like to play Quidditch?" asked Nicholas. "Anybody?"

"I'll play," said Harry. "I haven't played in the longest time."

"Are you any good?" asked Nigel.

"I'm an all right seeker," said Harry.

"We'll see about that," the twins said in unison. "What about you, Wilfred?"

There was no reply as Ron had forgotten that Wilfred referred to him.

"Wilfred?" asked Jonathon, tapping Ron on the shoulder. "Do you want to play Quidditch?"

"Oh, yeah," said Ron.

"Right, then we're even, three on three," said Nigel. "It's Nicholas, Tobias, and I, against, Wilfred, Jonathon, and er... was it Harold?"

"Harry," Harry corrected him.

"Yeah, right," said Nigel. "Let's go."

And the six of them headed outside, leaving Hermione with a joyful Martha, a scowling Ebenezer and Annabelle, who looked as though she were scheming something.

Hermione smiled politely at Martha, who smiled back.

"This is a bore," said Ebenezer, frustrated. "I shall retire to studying. Good evening." He stomped out of the room.

"Poor Ebenezer," said Martha to Hermione. "He lost his work at the Ministry, has not been the same since."

"Oh, what did he do?" said Hermione.

"He worked for that good for naught Malfoy," Martha replied. "Honestly, that Malfoy, he cannot stand to see any person but himself happy."

"Oh yes, I know," said Hermione.

"He cannot stand us having gold," Martha went on. "He has made himself an enemy to our family ever since the day his father passed away. He has been after our gold like bees after honey. Cannot let us be, he cannot."

"Really?" said Hermione. "But before that, Weasleys and Malfoys got along?"

"Why of course, we treated on another as neutrals," Martha replied. "Never had a single problem, not until Julius Malfoy became the Malfoy in charge. They have always been a greedy family, but never like this."

"Oh, well it won't get any better unless you take action," said Hermione.

"What action?" asked Martha. "There is naught we can do; Malfoy has great power."

"Mother, please," Annabelle chimed in. "Hermione does not care to know. She and I shall find something interesting to do. Good evening." Then she took Hermione by the wrist and left her mother alone in the room.

"What was that for?" Hermione asked once they were out of the room.

"You have no right to be so nosey," said Annabelle. "I am helping you on this mission of yours, do not try to change destiny, and I shall see Professor Clockerton. If you decide to be nosey, I shall not see Professor Clockerton."

"You still haven't gone to see him?" asked Hermione. "But you said you'd go today."

"Yes, but I must first gain your trust," said Annabelle. "Come, let us find something interesting to do."

She began walking down the corridor, and very reluctantly, Hermione followed. Annabelle led Hermione into what looked like a library; there were shelves of books, and a table with chairs inside.

"Shall we spend some time reading?" Annabelle asked.

Hermione sighed. Normally, this would have been fun, but at this time, Hermione would have much rather been outside watching the others playing Quidditch.