I woke up and didn’t open my eyes.

I was either going to be on the train with my Mother, father, Godfather, brother’s godfather, Neville’s mum and the man who sold my parents to Voldemort, when they were all 14. In which case, my life is over because a) I’ll be so embarrassed I might as well just die. And b) I have no idea what the freaking hell is going on.

OR

I’ll wake up in my bed and this will all have been some weird arse dream.

I blinked.

I might as well just die.

This ain’t no weird arse dream.

I opened my eyes properly, and I found myself casually lying across a row of seats as everyone else sat on the other side staring at me.

“Are you alright?” Sirius asked, he was the first to speak.

“I think so,” Apart from dying of embarrassment. Fainting in front of everyone is Harry’s thing, not mine. “This is awkward.”

“Well, you know how you had those black lines near your eye?”

“Yeah...”

“They spread.”

Alice passed me a mirror and my cheek had been covered in all these swirly things.

“That’s awkward.”

The train pulled in at the station, but of course it couldn’t be the station that I knew. It had to be some other one that was completely painted orange and blue.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Hagsmode station.” Lily said without hesitation.

Hagsmode.

Hogsmeade.

Really bitch? Really?

“What station are you used to getting off at?” Sirius asked me as we were leaving.

“Hogsmeade.”

“Hogsmeade?” Alice repeated in a whisper. She hadn’t heard the question thank god. “No one has inhabited there since you-know-who attacked; burnt most of it down. It’s just the shrieking shack there. They say people’s souls are trapped inside it. There’s always screams coming from it.” She looked at me suddenly. “You didn’t live there did you?”

“No, no. I had just heard of it, that’s all.”

“Phew,” Alice said in relief. “I thought that I’d mention that and then you’d been there and... I’m going to stop talking now.”

We caught different carriages than I normally get, and they had these kind of skeletal winged horses pulling them.

That’s cool too.

Rain started falling down as we walked inside and it was cold, but surprisingly soothing and it made me feel alive.

This is where it gets tricky. I’ve got to go inside and somehow explain everything to the teachers, who at this point in time, have never met me, and avoid a mental asylum.

Yup, I have no chance.

We walked into the entrance hall and a very young looking McGonagall was shouting at peeves, who was throwing red water balloons at people.  This is severe Déjà vu. She stormed into the hall, and slipped on a puddle of water, grabbing me around the neck to stop herself falling. I’m now like Hermione.

“Sorry Miss...” McGonagall looked at me. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“I’m-“

“Oh, you must be the transfer student from Beauxbatons!” she exclaimed. “Right this way.” And she pulled me around the corner.

“No, Professor, I’m not. I’m not from-“

“Don’t be silly, of course you are.”

“I would like to speak to the headmaster please.” I said loudly.

“I’m the deputy headmistress-“

“I know Professor, but I need to speak to Dumbledore. This is important.” I said desperately.

“The headmaster is busy addressing the school-“

“Can you just tell him I need to speak to him! I’ll be five minutes!” I said, the pitch of my voice heightening.

“Fine!” She snapped and stalked off. I was in that chamber behind the teachers table where I’d been at my sorting. It looked identical to the one I remember.

Hardly a moment later had Dumbledore stridden in looking twenty years younger, but somehow just as old.

“You wanted to see me before the beginning of year feast when I’m short on time?” Dumbledore said.

“Yep.” I said calmly.

“And you’re the girl from beauxbattons?”

“No. I’m from Hogwarts.”

“I haven’t seen you around before, and I know every student here.”

“That’s because I’m from the future.” I added.

“You’re from. Wait, what?” and for the first time I’d ever Dumbledore was speechless.

“I was casually walking around the HQ of the Order of the Phoenix. The one in the future, that is. And I ended up back here. Back in time. I know you in your future.” I smiled uncertainly. “I sound like a lunatic. Please don’t lock me away.”

On the contrary, Dumbledore frowned.

“You mean to say, You-know-who is still at large in the future? How far in the future?”

“Uhumm, about twenty or so years.”

Dumbledore seemed to age in front of me.

“He’s still at large.” He sighed.

“Well,” I added in. “He wasn’t ‘at large’ for fourteen years. I mean, he killed my parents, then tried to kill my brother and the curse deflected so he- I’m probably saying too much. I probably shouldn’t tell you the future.”

“So you’ve been to Hogwarts before?” he asked, checking his watch.

“Yup.”

“What house were you in?”

“Gryffindor.”

“Excellent.”

“Oh, by the way, my name’s Willow. Willow-“ then it got awkward because I tried to say potter and tree at the same time. “Pee. Uhmm, I meant Potter.”

“and how old are you?”

“Fourteen.”

“Your fourth year.”

“Er, yup.” It’s complicated enough.

“Well, go join your table. I’ll see you at Eight tomorrow morning.”

“Sure.” I said awkwardly, and I hurried off to the Gryffindor table.

“How do you know what house you’re in?” Lily asked suspiciously.

“Oh, they sorted me in the back room.” I said innocently, but then it made me think. Have I already been sorted, or has that technically not happened yet because I’m in the past. Then my brain hurt so I turned it off.

They sorted people; Dumbledore spoke; I was bored; I ate food; We walked up to our dorms and Lily kept walking behind me to make me lead the way but I made sure I walked with Sirius so I could say he led me there.

Alice took me upstairs and showed me a spare bed which happened to be the one I use in the future.

So, I’m not telling anyone apart from Dumbledore about the future because I could change every chain of events and end up not being born.

Oh Yay. Isn’t this fun?

---

“Hey Dumbledore.” I said as I walked into his office the next morning. “Have a nice holiday?” He stared at me. “Oh yeah, I forgot, you have no idea who I am. I forgot, we’re like biffles in the future. Sort of...not really...you like my brother and tolerate me. “I laughed awkwardly and he stared some more.

“So, Willow Potter, what is your story?”

“Well,” I said looking at him judgingly. “If you know the future would you try to change it?”

“I know enough about meddling to know what will be done cannot be changed.”

“Rightio then.” I said, and I started to explain my life in amazing detail, without mentioning names. I’m sure it didn’t make sense. “And so, I was at head quarters, and I flicked back and forth through time and it was weird and then a painting said I was stuck on my fourth try, and now I am. I don’t know how to get back home.”

“Okay,” he said flatly. I don’t like this Dumbledore.

“So, Professor Dumbledore, I’m a time traveller.”

“You mentioned.”

“Oh, you don’t care? Kay, bye-“

“I’ll work on how to send you back. In the mean time Miss potter, be careful. You can’t reveal who you are to anyone, it could jeopardise the entire future of everyone on Earth. It’s all up to you.”

“No pressure.” I muttered.

“Sorry?”

“Nothing.” I grumbled  and walked out of his office.

“Hey!” said a voice from nearby. Upon turning I realised it was Wormtail.

“Hi Peter.”

“We’re in all the same classes.” He said. “I got your timetable for you. We’re doing Divination – which is pretty crappy – and Arithmancy.”

“You do Arithmancy?” I asked. Hermione told me it was always complicated, and from what I’d heard, Wormtail was a dumb arse.

“Yeah, I love it!” he said excitedly smiling. As he smiled, he seemed to look more handsome than he had on the train. In fact, now that I looked at him properly, his hair was nicely groomed, he looked as if he showered and was actually clean. “Some of the stuff can be challenging, but I don’t mind a challenge.”

“Is it your favourite subject?” I asked.

“Yeah. My least favourite is Transfiguration. I’m rubbish, and Professor McGonagall isn’t kind about it.” He frowned. “She’s actually quite nasty to me. She’s always sweet to Remus, James and Sirius.” And in that moment I pitied Peter.

I’m not calling him Wormtail because it’s ugly. I’ll call him peter and not be reminded of the future.

We spoke until the bell rang and we walked down to potions where we had a teacher called Professor Slughorn.

“Hello James, Sirius and Remus!” He said brightly as they walked in. “Ah, and here’s Peter, trailing behind! And I haven’t seen you before.” He added to me.

“I’m Willow.” I smiled.

“Very well, nice to meet you. We’re getting straight into it today! Everyone have copies of their books?” there was a murmur of assent. “Now! We’re making the Forgetfulness potion today.”

“The forgetfulness potion?” I asked myself.

“We haven’t done then yet.” Lily smiled from beside me. “I love potions.”

I did the forgetfulness potion in my first year.

I threw the ingredients into my cauldron like second nature and I’d finished it beautifully.

“Very well done Miss..?” Slughorn asked.

“Potter.” I sighed.

“A Mr. and a Miss. Potter in the one room?” Slughorn laughed. “Beautiful potion by the way, is this your first time brewing it?”

“Er, yeah.” I said because it’s easier than explaining. The curriculum must have changed over the years.

This was bound to be an interesting day.