Story: Backward Steps, Awkward Turns

Summary: The War is in full scale-Harry and Hermione are mourning Ron's death and the Death Eaters are being dominant. When one not-so-Death-Eater hits Hermione with a spell, it triggers her Time Turner to send the both of them back into the time of the Marauders-and Tom Riddle himself.

Elena: I know, it hasn't been too long, but long enough. I'm going to start characterising the Alexander Twins more. By the way, Kirstein Lucia means anointed one and light. DeLayna Kerreigh means dark child and bad influence. And I've sort of forgotten about Harry, so this is kinda half his chapter and half DeLayna's.

Chapter Seven: The First Talk

When Harry awoke, he was in a dark cell. His wrists were aching from the shackles, as well as his ankles. There was about a foot long chain separating him from the wall, but not long enough for him to look out of the door of his cell. He had found a brand new book in the corner of the room, with his name in it and Hermione's as well.

Curiously, he had cut his finger on the rusty shackle and wrote something and received a response from Hermione herself. He had been writing in the book for a couple of minutes, before he was interrupted by the creak of the door. He tossed the journal into the corner to play it safe. A loud laugh was heard and Harry could see a pale face peering into his cell, blonde hair tumbling over their shoulder.

"Malfoy-" He spat wickedly, glaring at the older man. Lucius grinned and unlocked the cage. He walked over and knelt in front of Harry, clasping his chin.

"Potter. I knew you would never amount to anything. A foolish father and a Mudblood mother. Mudblood friends and blood traiting lovers. Such a waste of life-as if you could ever defeat the Dark Lord." Harry lashed out, hitting Lucius in the face with his palm. The loud, resounding, shameful smack resonated through the cell.

"You ungrateful bastard!" Harry shrunk back, only to have a well placed kick to his stomach double him over.

"You'll never be of any worth, Potter." Lucius drew the keys from his pocket, and removed Harry from the chains, the shackles now holding his wrists together. He pulled the boy forward, smirking evilly.

"Never worth anything, Potter, although Bellatrix has been growing lonely." Harry looked horrified at what Lucius suggested, but the elder blonde grinned, before pushing the raven haired wizard up the stairs from the dungeons.

"And then, the Dark Lord will kill you, Potter. Torture you and kill you. And then my son will torture and kill that mudblood friend of yours."

"No. Leave Hermione alone! He better not touch her, I swear I'll rip him apart!" Harry struggled helplessly against the bonds, Lucius grinning evilly.

"Oh Potter. It seems that you are quite overprotective of her. Is it because she's all you have left? You've lost that blood traitor Weasley-" Lucius said, pushing him to the floor when they exited the dungeons, "-and you have nothing but her. A Mudblood, whom my son is probably hurting this minute." Harry spat blood out at Lucius' shoes, growling.

"You'll never get to me like you want to." He said angrily, his green eyes filled with hatred.

"Oh no. I'll leave that to Bellatrix." The Malfoy walked off, and a black head of hair peeked out into the hallway. "Hello, Potter." She greeted, a feral grin overcoming her features.

Hermione couldn't get a hold of Draco, seeing as he was trying out for the Gryffindor Team, and she really didn't care. So, she sat in the Library with Tom, Lily, Kirstein, and Adrian. Lily and her group were in the table beside them, Lily next to Adrian and Kirstein sitting across from her. Adrian was actually attempting to work on his project, but Kirstein's foot was easing up his leg and it was becoming a distraction.

She and Tom as across from one another, pouring over books and charts, transferring information to parchments and the like. Occasionally, Tom would point out something in the books and they would chat about their opinions concerning the information and write down their views. It was silent. Well, until Draco arrived from Quidditch practice.

"I see while I was at practice, you've set up a date with Tom." He commented, a smirk on his face and his blonde hair slightly disheveled. His grey eyes watched how Tom tensed and Hermione glared.

"No, stupid, we're doing our project. You were at sodding Quidditch practice, so you weren't thought of. Don't get conceited with me, Corescho." Hermione replied from her seat, a glare set on her face. He smirked again, pulling up a chair.

"I'll get anyway I want with you." He said in a dark voice, his eyes watching Hermione's. She truly couldn't tell if he meant that in a simply hurtful way or an interested one. However it was intended, Hermione didn't think of it.

"Whatever. If you're going to be of any use, here's a text." She shoved the book across the table, hitting Draco square in the chest.

"Why Parker, you'll bruise me!" Hermione sighed angrily, gathering her notes.

"Another time, Tom. Corescho." She slid her bag over her shoulder, before leaving the library. Tom glared across the table at Draco.

"I thought you'd have been nicer to her, coming to a new school, Corescho." He replied in a smooth voice, closing his text as well.

"Well, Riddle. You don't know me, so don't assume things. And you most certainly don't know her. We have a horrible, crooked past, Parker and I. I'd prefer for outsiders not to step into it." Draco smirked. He knew he would be digging himself into an even deeper hole with this lie, but it didn't bother him. After all, it was just the mudblood, he told himself.

"And this would be of use to me how?" Tom said, giving him a cool look.

"Don't hide yourself, Riddle. I know you're interested in her. I'm just warning you-we've had a past together. Something, I'd prefer no elaboration, broke us apart, which is why we're so bitter. I know I still felt for her for a bit. No telling what she feels." He lied. Hell, even if the stupid Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor, he was a Slytherin at heart. Tom slammed his palm on the table, standing.

"You better watch your back, Corescho. I've got friends that could do you justice. You're cruel-I don't believe you and Parker had anything, you're a downright bastard to everyone. As if she could ever love you. And even if I was interested in her, it would be none of your damn concern." And with that, Tom grabbed his books from the table, walking off. Noticing that Lily's partners had left, he pulled up a chair beside her.

"Hope I didn't disturb you, Evans." Lily blushed, but shook her head, her red hair flying around.

"No, you didn't." She turned away from her notes, looking at him with curious green eyes. "But what is it with you and Hermione?" She asked sincerely. Draco grinned at her.

"I don't know, I suppose animosity makes up for everything else that we've lost. On her account, maybe sanity." Lily gave him a half-hearted smile.

"So, I suppose if I wanted to be friends with the both of you, I couldn't. Seeing as you always fight and whatever..." Draco shook his head.

"No. Just don't talk to me about Hermione or bring her around with you when you talk to me, I suppose. Then, I'd be glad to talk to you." Draco finished, smiling. "I should be going-won't get much work done if I'm chatting with pretty Gryffindors." He gathered his things, not noticing the blush on Lily's cheeks, before also leaving the library.

"Am I really a pretty Gryffindor?" She asked herself, blushing.

"You are, although Sirius may think he's prettier." Looking up, Lily met James Potter's brown eyes. He smiled. Lily gave him a cautious look. "Who told you that you weren't?" He said suavely, sitting down.

"No one, Potter, it's just-someone told me that I am." Now, James was interested. He propped an elbow on the table and sat his chin on his fist, watching her blush lightly.

"Who?" She ducked her head, covering her face with her red curtain of hair. "Evans has gotten a fan club, now, hasn't she?" She shook her head.

"It was Draco Corescho." She said, blushing. James seemed calm, but inside, he felt like strangling said boy.

"Oh, him? He just came from trialing for Gryffindor Keeper, had the stands full of girls." Lily felt foolish at James' words.

"Right." She said, fully recalling his statement. Not a pretty Gryffindor. Pretty Gryffindors. It was plural. Maybe he had been talking to some other girl. "Well, Potter, I should be along." She hated that. How he would come along and he would try and make conversation with her and she would never know what to say, because she knew he was interested in her.

"Okay then. See you around." She nodded politely, before leaving the library. Throughout the hallways, she wondered where she would go. Hermione was probably in the dormitory, with Draco, no doubt, and Tom as well, arguing about. But, she sighed, she couldn't leave them there alone.

Opening the door, she saw that only Draco was in the Common Room, his feet propped up on a table as he did an assignment, a textbook open next to him. He looked up at her with a smile. She returned one, before knocking politely on the door to Hermione's room. Surprisingly, DeLayna opened the door. Lily smiled brightly.

"Hello, Layne! How are you?" She asked, as the dark haired girl let her in. Hermione was sitting on the bed with a stack of brownies, chocolates, and cookies.

"Wonderful, Lily. Come in, I was just about to go and get you!" She said. Lily plopped down next to Hermione, taking a chocolate and giving the girl a look.

"Frustrated." Hermione said. "Thought some girl time would help, so I got some kind person to nick this from the kitchens." Lily raised an eyebrow. "Okay, it was Sirius, but you can't help taking advantage of him willing to be at your beck and call when he's flaunting it around!" She joked. Lily stifled laughter and DeLayna grinned.

"That's our Hermione!" Lily joked. "Ever the Slytherin!" DeLayna eyed Hermione as they laughed.

"So, are you going to taunt me, Slytherin?" DeLayna said, poking Hermione in the shoulder.

"Nah, I'm gonna beat you up!" She said, punching DeLayna lightly. The girls laughed for a while, before straightening.

"So, Layne, how has everything been?" Lily asked, taking a cookie from the plate. DeLayna frowned, popping a chocolate into her mouth.

"Well, not so good. I've told Kirstein about making friends with you and she thinks that-don't tell anyone I'm telling you-but she thinks it's not good to hang around you. Because Lily is a muggleborn witch and because Hermione is friends with her, pureblood or not. And she says it's a shame to the Alexander name for me to allow you to call me Layne."

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "So, does that mean we can't talk to you anymore or something?" The brunette asked carefully. DeLayna shook her head.

"I just can't talk to you when Kirstein is around. I'll try and talk it out with her, but I don't think it's going to work out too well. Lily nodded.

"We understand completely, Layne. It's not a problem. But, does your sister know you're staying here with us?" DeLayna shook her head. Lily placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Layne, you shouldn't. Kirstein will be even angrier with you if she finds out." Hermione said.

DeLayna huffed. "I know. But I hate that-my whole life has been sheltered to only the friends that she wanted me to have. I never really had my own."

"We understand. But we will see you around, we promise. Even if you think that we won't." Hermione said. "But for now, you should go back with your sister. I don't want you in any more trouble than is needed." DeLayna stood, before hugging Hermione and Lily.

"I will come back soon. I promise. See you both later." And with that, DeLayna left. Hermione plopped down.

"What are we going to do?" Hermione asked worriedly, picking up another chocolate. Lily sighed.

"No idea. But, we're going to do something." And with that, Lily retreated to her room. At the moment, Hermione pulled out the journal. She hadn't tested anything in it, and opened it to see the word, 'hello' being written.

Harry? She had asked back.

Hermione, is it you?

Yes! Oh Harry, are you okay?

I've been caught. Voldemort has me and I'm still alive.

I wish I could come back. I can't let you face him alone.

Don't. It's too horrible here. Where are you?

Right now? Oh Harry, you'll never guess who just left my room!

Hermione...

Your mother!

What? You got sent back to that era?

Yes! And your mother is practically my best friend here!

Wow, Hermione. How-how is Sirius?

Sirius is a flirtatious mass of trouble as always.

I'm glad.

And Riddle is here as well.

What? That's impossible! That's two different time periods!

I know-he just is! If I knew how and why, I would tell you. But for now, I'm only worried about stopping him.

I'm just shocked, is all. What about Malfoy? He hasn't hurt you, has he?

Not any worse than he already has.

That-I'll kill him when he's back here.

Harry, don't. He's-oh, you haven't heard. He's in Gryffindor and I'm in Slytherin. He's furious at me for it.

What? You? In Slytherin? Are you sure it's not a completely different universe?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

Wow. Ah-Hermione, I've got to go. Take care.

Bye, Harry.

Bye- She noted that the writing slid across the page as if he had abruptly closed it. And with a startling realisation, she recognised his 'writing' as blood. She pulled her knees to her chest and lay her head on them. "Oh Harry. Please don't die on me..."

Chapter Seven: The First Talk