A Twist In Time

Birthday Surprises

"There are things I want to know," Polly said, setting down at the table and frowning as the teapot floated after her. I didn't feel as if I had to hide these things from her now, the dishes doing themselves, the knitting of a blanket in the living room, using magic to get things done faster. The heating in the pipes. "The war obviously comes to an end if you're from the future."

"I can't tell you anything that will change the future, Pol. Yes, the war ends, but I'm not gonna tell you when or what happens and I don't know what will happen to your nephews. I never even knew they existed until I moved here. I've already changed things by being here," I said, running my hands over my face as I sighed deeply. "I was being so careful and then Merry knocked the time-turner and we ended up here. I can't get us back, Polly."

"Maybe you're meant to be here, maybe this is your future."

"It could be possible." I stopped to think about my family. Would they think I died if I never returned? What would be going through their minds? What would dad be thinking? Would he blame himself? "What will my family think, Polly? If I don't return."

"Wouldn't they be able to find you through history?"

"I guess, but wouldn't I change things? Tom's going to be born ten years earlier, that's going to throw a spanner in the works. He's not going to be on the same path? Have I messed this up?"

"I don't know, love, why don't we think of something else?"

"I need to plan Merry's funeral," I said bluntly, letting off the heaviest thing weighing down my mind.

"She's not dead yet, love."

"But she will be, Polly. There's no changing that. She will die and I'll be left alone with a baby," I said, waving my wand and pouring myself a cup of tea. It might have seemed lazy, but I liked watching the magic. It reminded me of home and how the teapot was always refilling itself as the family walked in and out of the house.

"Have you written to Tommy?"

Oh, Merlin, she knew about that. I bet it was Merry or Finn that told her, both of them knew I was writing to him.

"Every three weeks. I reply to his letters," I told her, not bothering to look at her as I knew the exact look she'd be giving me.

"Merry says you're happiest when writing to him."

"Where are you going with this, Pol?"

"Nowhere, just wondering why you replied? Didn't you say you were only doing it for Finn?" She teased. I could hear the smirk in her voice and as I glanced up, it was sitting there on her lips.

"Okay, I like writing to Tommy. Is that a bad thing?"

"No. I think it's a good thing."

Was it just me or was there a twinkle in her eye?

The letter in my hand was something I wasn't expecting.

My nursing career had only started in July and I'd been learning the role as I went to night classes, it had been about three months and the doctors were impressed. To be fair, I had been doing two-years of assisting in the Hospital Wing back at Hogwarts, knowing I wanted to be a healer.

To receive this letter now, on my eighteenth birthday was a shock.

"You okay?" Polly asked as she sorted Edward out as he threw his porridge on the floor.

"I've been accepted into the University of Birmingham under a nursing course," I told her, sounding astonished at the news. "I didn't even apply, Polly."