Turning Time (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Albus Dumbledore, pt. 2

On Christmas Eve, Lily padded down the stairs in a dress and tights, holding a stack of records. “Okay, I’ve got the Jackson 5 Christmas Album, this one’s just called A Christmas Album—that’s Barbra Streisand, and here’s Elvis’ Christmas Album.”

Severus shrugged, but Lily looked to Harry, the only other (supposed) Muggleborn.

“Jackson 5,” Harry suggested. 

“Jackson 5 it is.” Lily put it on the record player and set the needle on the record.

As soon as it started playing, Lily grinned. She turned and took Severus’ hand, and they started to dance. 

Harry and Raven, though awkward at first, followed their lead. 

“Jacob, have you got a moment?” Mrs. Evans called over the music. 

Harry shot Raven an apologetic look before going into the kitchen. 

“Can you chop these up for me?” Mrs Evans placed a cutting board, salad bowl, three knives, and vegetables on the counter in front of him. 

Harry was used to cooking; he had hours upon hours of experience of simply cutting up food, thanks to the Dursley’s. Mrs. Evans didn’t seem to notice the skill in his hands; she was frying meat as she observed the others. 

“So, what’s going on with Lily and Severus?” she asked, turning on the faucet to rinse a pan. 

Harry hesitated, then went back to the peppers. “What do you mean?”

“You know, do they fancy each other?” Mrs. Evans forced a gossipy smile. 

“No. They would’ve told me.” 

“Are you certain? You can tell me. It’d be just between us.” 

“I’m certain.” Harry put the peppers in with the rest of the salad. “Is that all?” 

Mrs. Evans soured slightly. “Yes. Thanks.” 

Harry went back to the living room. He was now aware of Mrs. Evans’ eyes pressing on them.

A half hour later, Petunia, Rebecca, and Mr. Evans filed into the room, carrying boxes of ornaments. “Time to decorate the tree!” 

“Hang on, I have the biscuits. C’mon, everyone, help yourselves.” Mrs. Evans offered one to each person. “Rebecca, this is your first time over, so I’ll explain; if you get the biscuit with chocolate in the middle, you get to put the star on the tree. Who was it that had it last year? Oh, Petunia, that’s right.” 

Everyone took a bite of their biscuit, then examined the inside. Severus presented his to the group. “I have it.” 

“Oh, how exciting!” Lily beamed at him. 

“Hang on, is this everything?” Mrs. Evans surveyed the boxes of ornaments. 

Mr. Evans sat down in his armchair. “I don’t know, it was hard to tell. We couldn’t get the light on.”

“Then I’ll go up with the kids to check.” She motioned to the four of them. “C’mon.” 

The attic was stuffed with bins, and ten degrees colder than downstairs. Mrs. Evans looked for a lightbulb while she spoke. “Severus, your family lives close to us, do they not?” 

“Er, yeah.” He glanced at Lily. 

“Where, exactly?”

“Spinner’s End.”

Mrs. Evans faltered as she unscrewed the lightbulb. She knew enough about the area to realize that Severus was poor. “Oh, okay, right by the factory.” She put the new bulb in, tone lighter than before. “Well, are you going to see your parents? Are they going to meet us?”