Turn Back Time

Chapter one: discovery

The wind blew cold, howling against the windows of the large cottage at the end of town. It was late into the evening, late enough that the crickets had already begun their shrill chirping, and the flowers had closed, the sun was beginning to set as the clock struck nine. The stars almost visible against the dark blue sky. The cottage lay on the farthest part of the older town along an ancient stone path mainly overgrown by weeds and grasses. If you were to move away the brambles along the old fence you might be able to make out the words "Mrs. Alloway's Children's Home". The Old orphanage started who knows how long ago still in use to this day in their small town, although it wasn't the best cared for place in the world. The brambles and weeds grew thick around and on the old house, moss on just about every stone surface the garden was well kept (enough) and the paint old along with the old shingled roof, but it was home to the children and a jolly good one at that. No child ever went to bed hungry, lacked sufficient clothes, or simple comforts; their head Matron was quite kind and caring, although she was getting up there in her years. Mrs. Alloway, a sixty so year old woman who cared for the children like they were her own. Everyone of those children, which there were twenty of, adored her.

On the fourth floor of this dear cottage laid the attic, this attic wasn't like a normal attic, stuffed full of boxes and dusted with cobwebs. This attic was furnished as a nice bedroom. It was a darker room done in black, silvers, and dark greens, you could tell just by looking around that this was the room of a creative person. Bookshelves and paintings just about everywhere, drawings of the children of the orphanage and the people seen around town. On the far side of the room was an extension out of the room that overlooked the lake behind the orphanage. It had a bed built into it. There sat a raven haired girl with a book in hand and classical music playing over the radio (to drown out the crickets, she was never quite fond of those). She was a very refined looking young girl, about eleven in age. Her piercing blue eyes and cold expression often times scaring off any potential parents. This certain pale skinned, raven haired youth went by the name of Guinevere Elissis Cassiopeia Black, she knew it was a mouthful but she enjoyed the sophistication of it. She was found on the doorstep of the large cottage as a tiny baby with her name written on a slip of paper and a locket in the shape of a moon. The kids knew not much of her nor did anyone, she liked it that way

"GWENNNYYY!!!!"came a small voice ringing as you could hear the stomps of someone approaching up the stairs to the attic. Gwen closed her book (Of old poetry) carefully, set it in her small trunk at the front of the bed, and switched off her gramophone. A small boy, about five years in age, came bursting in. He had wild dark brown hair, happily chaotic green eyes, a few bruises from the usual rough and tumble of a boy, and a large red burn scar on his shoulder partially hidden by his shirt.

"Yes tobias?" Responded the cool, calm voice of Guinevere. The boy lept onto her meticulous bed, causing her to rush to smooth it back out.

"I told you to call me Toby!" whined the small child.

"Your name is Tobias and that is what I am going to call you, Now what do you want, child?" Guinevere asked, slightly annoyed at the random late interruption from the loud small thing.

"Momma Alloway wanted me to get you, there's an old person here to see you".

"Great, just what I need, an adoption interview. At this hour the person must be crazy". She thought and rolled her eyes as she dusted herself off and she stood

"Yes, yes I'll be along shortly".

The young hurricane of a child bounded off her bed and ran out leaving a trail of dirt and leaves in his wake, she would have to clean that later. The pale girl stood and straightened her black dress, it was a simple sundress, she then started off downstairs. Once she arrived in the parlor, she saw her Headmistress the wonderful Mrs. Alloway who was joined with a man wearing the oddest clothes. He had silver hair and a long silver beard to match, crescent spectacles, an old but kind withered face, and dark grey.....robes?. The older woman, Mrs. Janet Alloway, had soft grey hair in a loose bun, some faint wrinkles, pale blue eyes, a warm smile. She wore a cream blouse and dark brown shin length skirt paired with a white apron stained with various food and paints. The woman smiled at Guinevere and motioned her over, she placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder moving her forward slightly,

"Dear, this is Professor Dumbledore, he wants to invite you to his school" the old woman's voice coming out like a classic melody. The man named Dumbledore nodded his head and held out his hand for the girl to shake. Guinevere looked at his hand skeptically, not returning the gesture.

" Apologies Albus, she's not very fond of hand shakes" Spoke Alloway's kind voice.

"No matter Janet" came the calm voice of the old man.

"What school do you come from?" asked the young raven haired girl quietly, something about this man was off to her and she couldn't quite tell what, that worried her. The old man chuckled at her skepticism.

"Hogwarts young one, a school for the gifted, special children".

"......Mrs. Alloway, are you trying to send me to a mental institution?" Gwen asked slowly up at the old headmistress.

"No dear child, just do listen to what he has to say please" Alloway implored softly. The three of them sat down, Dumbledore in an armchair, Mrs. Alloway and Guinevere on the old brown couch.

"Young Guinevere, have you ever been able to do things others couldn't? Even in the slightest?". Guinevere did not like this question, she didn't like being questioned at all really, but this was a little too close to the truth. She did not like having people just know things about her, it unsettled her.

"How so sir? There are many ways one can be different, please do specify". She spoke carefully and slowly watched his reaction carefully. Dumbledore's old eyes twinkled in amusement as the child spoke so reserved and dancing around the subject.

"I do believe you know exactly what I mean dear child. Anything truly spectacular, as people call it, magic." He explained. Guinevere looked at him with a calculating look in her gaze.

"....Possibly...I can make people do as I tell them to do, and when I really try, I can hear them say things that they did not say out loud" She explained calmly, her eyes watching his for any reaction. The wise old man watched her just as closely, with amusement I might add for her skepticism amused him greatly.

"I can feel it coming from you, you have great mental strength, incredible potential for magical capabilities, You are a witch young Guinevere. I implore you to join my school." Gwen looked at him while turning over this prospect in her head. She tilted her head slightly and asked,

"Why should I? Is there really any reason why I should go, or even better, why I should trust you?" She challenged him with her words, daring him to elaborate.

"I understand your skeptical nature towards this, and I have answers to both of you questions. For one, My school will teach you all kinds of magic that you aren't knowledgeable about yet along with strengthening what you already possess. Why should you trust me? Well I guess to start dear Mrs. Alloway trusts me, we've been good friends for many years". The kind Headmistress nodded, assuring Guinevere.

"This would be an incredible thing for you Guinevere darling, you'd be around children like you, maybe you'd make some actual friends" spoke the kind voice of Mrs. Alloway. The girl looked at her Headmistress thinking on how wrong she would be and that the old woman must have gone senile

"What is wrong with these people, they're just making an argument to stay here. Friends, I don't need that insufferable nonsense in my life, It's complicated enough as it is. Although this could prove to be quite useful...." Thought the young child....

"..What do I need to do in order to attend your Academy sir?" She asked carefully.

"You won't have to worry about anything, we will be able to supply you with the sufficient money to buy any equipment we can't already supply." Dumbledore explained as he stood. Mrs Alloway stood up also, pulling Gwen up with her.

"Alright it's quite late, Guinevere should be headed to bed now. When will she be escorted to Diagon alley Albus?" Questioned the kind voice of the Headmistress.

"I will be sending a professor to be picking her up and escorting her through her shopping next week on Friday. She will then be brought to the platform the next day. Please ensure she is packed by eight A.M." Albus Dumbledore instructed Janet as the headmistress led him to the door. He left sweeping through the door and Guinevere was ushered back up the stairs, which she gladly did, she needed time to process what the hell she was just told. The raven haired child quickly reached her room and laid down carefully, thinking of everything that just happened.

"That was....a lot...." She thought to herself. "I can do this, It will all be fine. It's just a school. Not much can go wrong...Right?"