A Twist In Time

Miss Polly Had A ...

"It's a lot, I know," I said fiddling with the teacup in my hand as Merry watched Harry carefully. To be fair, he took it a lot better than I thought he would.

"So you're Alice's great-great-something-great-granddaughter?" he asked, looking at me in disbelief as he glanced over to Merry. "And ya came back to stop her son from destroying the future?"

"I'm so happy you're from a wizarding family, could you imagine how this would have gone down otherwise." I was being perky. And overly enthusiastic.

"Why did you come to me?" he asked, shifting in his seat as he glanced wearily at the floating pensive. I knew he wouldn't believe me without seeing what had actually happened. A little bit of persuasion via my memories had him eating out my hand.

"Can you imagine what would have happened if I went to the Black's?" I shuddered at the thought. I respected the fact that I was from the Black family, but they had never treated our family well, except for Sirius and Andromeda.

"Aye, I've heard some things about them from Alice, well before you know, she passed away." It must have been hard for him to have lost his sister. Especially considering he was a squib and missed out on the sort of life she had once she entered Hogwarts.

"You don't get to see your niece, do you?" I asked, feeling saddened by the fact that he was missing out on his family, outcast because he was a squib.

"Her husband doesn't ... he don't want anything to do with a squib."

"I know how you feel, Harry," Merry said and I was reminded of the fact that her father and brother were abusive over her lack of magic.

"You're not a squib, Merry. You wouldn't have been able to create potions without magic," I told her, reminding her of the fact that she'd successfully brewed a love potion.

"What are you gonna do then?" Harry asked, changing the subject as Merry flushed at the mention of her love potion. I turned to Harry confused. Hadn't I explained my plan to him? We needed a place to stay while I tried to figure out a way to get back into 1926. And I had approximately five months to figure it out. "I meant staying 'ere. Merry can't work in 'er condition, but it'll be expected that you work."

"Umm, I'll look for something within the week." I paused and glanced around the dull living room. The house above the pub was cosy. A two-bedroom house that gave him easy access to his workplace below. "I'm not sure I'm really ready to work yet, I've still got to finish my schooling."

I might have been laughing when Hermione packed those books, but I was thankful now. I was also under the impression that she knew something like this was going to happen.

"What about being a nanny?" Harry asked suddenly, his eyes lighting up as if he was struck by a thought. "I know someone that's after a young married-less woman to watch over five children."

"Five?"

I wasn't bad with children, I had eleven nieces and nephews between my five older siblings, but I wasn't sure if I was up for looking after five all at the same time, I'd once looked after all eleven of my nieces and nephews and almost tore my hair out in frustration.

"The youngest is three, born just before the war. Poor Martha, she left those children too soon. God bless them for Polly."

"Polly?" He couldn't be talking about the woman that brought us to his door, could he?

"I'll take you round to see 'er tomorrow." He nodded to himself and rose from his seat, looking between Merry and me. "My spare room's got a double ..."

"We don't mind sharing," I told him, helping Merry to her feet and following after him as he led the way to the spare room. "Thank you for taking us in, Harry."