The Time Turner

An Unlikely Partnership

A week passed, and I wasn't any closer to a solution than I had been when I arrived in the Marauder's era. "Here again, I see. Did you not have any luck with what you were searching for?" Librarian Pince inquired. "Unfortunately not". I sighed, producing the many books from my messenger bag I'd checked out the day prior,and placing them directly in the librarian's waiting hands. "That's a shame". She said, before returning to her usual business, which consisted of her chasing after children with overdue fines. "I suppose it is". I mumbled, as I returned to perusing the shelves. Up on the highest shelf, I managed to spot a book on the repair of magical objects. I stretched my hand upwards to the farthest length my arm would allow. It burned under the strain of my arm, but I was so close. Pince was busy shaming a first year student who had an overdue book and all movable wooden ladders distributed evenly around the library, were all occupied. So, attempting to reach the book with the mahogany chair that I currently stood on, would have to be enough. "Look who it is". A voice, who I could identify as James Potter, whose owner couldn't have been more than a foot away, startled me, causing me to lose my balance. "Don't worry, I've got her". Volunteered the overconfident Potter who held out his arms as I experienced a familiar falling sensation. However, instead of being caught by James, I was embraced by the cold stiff floor, which was accompanied by a pulsing sting. "Whoops. My calculations must've been a little off". James said apologetically, scratching the back of his head. "A little off? Prongs, you missed her by a whole yard". Sirius teased. I gathered myself, and my bag from off the ground. "Well, I appreciate the effort, even though you practically made none". I commented, as I brushed myself off. "It was this book that you wanted, correct?" Remus pointed to the book on the highest shelf which I'd failed to collect myself. I simply nodded. I may have been tall for a girl, as this was one of the few traits I had inherited from my father, along with my brown hair, but Lupin was certainly a good bit taller than me. He was able to top shelf with ease. "Here". Lupin offered me the book, which I then tucked away for safekeeping shortly after thanking him.

"So, New Girl, what brings you here?" Potter asked. "It's Vivian, not, "New Girl"". "So, Vivian, what brings you here?" Potter rephrased his question. "Utilizing my knowledge, rather than using it to bully others". I said pointedly. Whenever I witnessed my Grandfather being tormented by James and Sirius, I felt helpless. I was a bystander, and I certainly couldn't be more than that. For, I knew the potential ramifications of becoming involved. Though I was unsure of the exact changes that would occur by messing with Father Time, I could easily imagine all the possible scenarios that played over and over in my head. For instance, if I were to intervene in one of the multiple moments that the Marauder's were bullying Snape, others might have joined in, permanently stopping them from tormenting Snape. The end of Snape's bullying could've prevented him from wanting to become a Death Eater (because he craved to be a part of something stronger) and he could've been the one to marry Lily. The rest of his life could've been filled with joy and family, as opposed to the one he actually lived, in which he only felt the pains of solitude and loneliness. My mother and Harry Potter would no longer exist. With Harry gone, Voldemort would've sought out my father, Neville Longbottom, and marked him with the lightning scar, making him The Boy Who Lived. But, Snape's life was filled with sadness. And I knew that for the sake of the future, it necessary for it to remain that way. According to the Butterfly Effect, one small misstep on my part, could trigger a series of events that would significantly alter the future. I needed to be careful. It was indeed better to be safe rather than sorry.

"This is the last place I thought I'd see you two. So I don't suppose you're here solely for the books". I crossed my arms, carefully examining their expressions. I recognized that glint in the corner of their eyes. It was a look that only George Weasley could replicate whenever the cogs within his head began to turn. My mother, who was more than familiar with George's mischievous plans, even claimed that the ability to detect when the Weasley boys (as of now, it applied much more to Uncle George than anyone else) were scheming something, was a skill that only the two of us, with the addition of Mrs. Weasley, had. They were up to something. That was a fact. James leaned on his side against the bookcase next to me. "I've got a proposition for you". He said. "No thanks". I answered immediately. I had no wish to partake in whatever task he was about to ask me to do. Unable to comprehend why I wouldn't want to help the most popular boys within the school, James appeared rather offended by my comment. "You haven't even heard what I was going to ask you". He mumbled in a child-like manner. "Alright then, what were you going to ask me?" "I was wondering if you would help us with a favor that involves Madame Pince-" "You pulled a prank in the library, and you got detention, didn't you?" I cut him off, knowing exactly where this favor was going. "And you want me to help you go to Hogsmeade, am I right?" I continued. "She's a clever one". Commented Sirius. "Why would I help you? We're hardly strangers. And I've seen the way Madame Pince reacts when someone returns a book so much as an hour late. I'd prefer if I didn't get involved". I crossed my arms, prepared for whatever reasoning they had. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Banks. I've heard that you've been looking into time machines. And more specifically, time turners". I felt their three pairs of eyes searching my facial expressions. Suddenly, the sides of James mouth slightly twitched upward, into not a smile, but a smirk. I'd given myself away. He knew I needed that information. Although he certainly couldn't care less about the reason why I needed further information concerning time turners, he certainly cared a great deal that he could use it against me. "Alright, you've piqued my interest. What kind of information do you have?" Growing up around Uncle Draco, Scorpius, and Uncle George, I was all too familiar with the art of manipulation. I could tell when I was being manipulated for one's own personal gain. This was one of those times. Though, James certainly didn't make it difficult for me to see his ulterior motive.