Aleena Collins and the Secrets of Time

Magic Beans and Moving Pictures

Selene and I sat at a small table inside the Leaky Cauldron, sunlight streaming through the windows and casting a warm glow across the worn wooden floors. I was still half-asleep. Maybe it was because I was exhausted from yesterday's whirlwind of magical shopping, or maybe I'd just finally gotten used to this place. Either way, I woke up peacefully for the first time since... well, since everything changed.

As I buttered my toast, Selene broke the comfortable silence between us. "Well," she said, leaning back in her chair, "ask away then."

I blinked, mid-bite. "What?"

"You obviously have questions," she said with a small smile. "Go ahead, ask me."

I laughed, setting my toast down. "Okay, fine... Well, how does the whole time travel thing even work? I mean, I get that I time-travelled, but how exactly did I 'time travel' like that? How did I go from being 21 to 11 again? How am I suddenly a kid?" I raised my eyebrows at her, waiting for some kind of explanation that might actually make sense.

Selene leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "That's a good one," she admitted. "Okay, so, time travel is tricky and dangerous, but it was the only way this plan could work. The time travel itself is one thing, but reversing your age? That was necessary. You had to be at the right age to blend in with the students and experience Hogwarts as you should. But bringing you back as your 21-year-old self wouldn't have worked. You'd stick out too much, and to be honest, you wouldn't have been mature enough to handle all of this when you were actually 11." She paused, giving me a sympathetic look. "This way, you've got your 21-year-old experiences, memories, and emotional maturity, but in an 11-year-old body."

I nodded slowly, trying to process it all. "So, you couldn't bring me back to when I was originally 11?"

She shook her head. "No, the magic wouldn't have worked properly. You weren't ready back then for everything that's happening now. See, you've got the mind of someone who's already lived through 21 years of life, even if your body is 11 again. It was the only way this would work."

"And for the how part... well, sort of like a time turner device we can use. However, we are strictly forbidden from using it." Selene smirks with a glint in her eye.

I fiddled with my spoon, still trying to wrap my head around this whole time-bending concept. "Okay... I think that makes sense." I took a deep breath. "So, then, how did..." I lowered my voice to a whisper, leaning in slightly. "How did Voldemort survive? Or come back in 2024? I'm assuming it was him behind the murders when you told me about what happened in my time."

Selene's face grew serious, her voice quiet but firm. "Yes, it was Voldemort in 2024. He managed to survive, but... we don't know exactly how." She hesitated, her gaze flickering away from mine for a moment before she continued. "I can't tell you more than that right now. But yes, he survived."

I blinked, my stomach twisting at her words. "And... you said it had something to do with me?"

Selene met my eyes again, her expression soft but guarded. "We believe it's connected to you, somehow. But I can't explain that just yet either. I'm sorry."

I leaned back in my chair, processing the weight of her words. "It's okay," I said, offering her a small smile. "I suppose I understand. Or at least I'm trying to."

But really, I didn't. How could I? What on earth could I possibly have to do with Voldemort's survival?

I went quiet for a bit, swirling the remaining tea in my cup as my mind raced. "Who's 'we'?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

Selene stilled, her spoon hovering just above her bowl of cereal. "We... the ones who arranged all of this. The time travel, bringing you back—everything. Including me."