WHAT is open?

While everyone was in the kitchen, three pops announced the arrival of more people in the room. Aurora and Fred stood guard in the hallway to make sure that no one saw the new arrivals yet. While everyone from the future had scars showing their participation in the war, Bill’s and George’s were the most visible, and Aurora wasn’t sure how everyone would react to such a blatant display of war. 

“Are you on the fourth book already?” George asked. Aurora had filled all the Weasley family in on her plan, and told the others that they may bring them in around the fourth book when Bill and Charlie were officially introduced.

“Actually we have only finished the first,” Aurora answered. “There was a change in plans.”

“You want us to hear what happened with Ginny in her first year,” Bill was easily able to deduce. He saw the immediate aftermath of that year when the family went to Egypt after all. 

Fred pointed his wand at the book sitting on the table next to the three newcomers, “Geminio,” he muttered twice. “That's the first book, read what you can tonight, and hopefully you can finish in the morning before we start the next book.”

“We plan to start a little later in the morning, try and give people a little break,” Aurora sighed, “It was harder than expected, and sadly it doesn’t get much better.”

“You all are sharing a room at the end of the hall,” Fred said, pointing towards their door. 

Bill and Charlie both turned a glare on George and said at the same time, “No pranks!” George however just smirked and held his hands up, trying to portray a look of innocence. 

“The room won’t let him do too much damage,” Aurora giggled, “the rest is up to you to prevent.” With a quick peck to Fred’s cheek, Aurora turned and headed into the kitchen to join everyone else for dinner.

“Have a good night reading. If you need anything just call for Winky or Kretcher tonight. Or Picksie is available too if you are with everyone.” Fred said, before following Aurora. The three new Weasley’s all picked up a book and headed to their room to read, realizing that Aurora wanted them to stay out of sight for the night.

The chaos in the kitchen reminded Aurora of the summer before her fifth year at Grimmauld Place. Molly was bustling around the room serving food, while Lily and Alice shadowed her trying to help wherever they could. Instead of Fred and George pranking people, Fabian and Gideon were causing most of the mischief, however they were helped by the Marauders, with Frank assisting at times too.

Aurora was enjoying watching everyone when she noticed Teddy out of the corner of her eye. While for the last day, he had been maintaining a look similar to herself, he had apparently decided that he was no longer content and changed his hair to the bright teal that he was already known for among family, and his eyes changed to their natural amber color, matching Remus’. Remus, who had been holding the toddler, stared at him in shock, as Aurora raced over to the pair.

All eyes were suddenly on the trio, as several unsaid pieces started to fall into place. Ted looked more closely at the little boy, while Andromeda turned her glare on Remus.

“Andi,” Aurora said, turning the attention back to herself, stepping in front of Remus and his future child. “Yes, Teddy is your grandchild. Yes he is named after you, Ted,” she added to the man.

“MY COUSIN!” Sirius yelled. “She’s 13 years younger than you are!”

Aurora whipped around to stare at Sirius, he was the one person who she didn’t think would react badly to the idea of Remus and Tonks. “Siri!,” she said, astonished. “There might be a large age gap but they didn’t even see each other again till she was 20, and they didn’t get married till she was 22.”

“How old was Teddy when she died?” Andromeda asked, she didn’t sound mad about Remus, in fact she seemed rather detached, of course she had just learned that her daughter would die young, so Aurora could understand her detached demeanor. 

Aurora started tearing up, and reached for Teddy, needing him close to her. Sensing her mood, Teddy shifted his appearance back to look like her. “Not even a month old. She wouldn’t stay home during the final battle.”

“And from his name, I’m guessing that I didn’t make it through the war either,” Ted added. Aurora just shook her head. She hadn’t anticipated how difficult some of these conversations were going to be.

Everyone from the future knew the pangs of war, but they also knew that Aurora took so much of the blame upon herself. And having lost the most out of everyone they also knew how hard it was for her to talk about the war as well. So Draco stepped in to help draw attention away from Aurora and Teddy. “We can explain a little now if you want,” he said, “or you can wait till the seventh book and learn the full story.”

“Just know that Remus and Dora loved each other very much,” Hermione added, with a slight glare at Remus that only the werewolf saw. “And as much as Teddy was a surprise, he was very loved by both of his parents.”

Once dinner ended everyone split off into groups. Regulus walked over to where Sirius was talking with Aurora, James and Lily. “Can we talk?” He asked his older brother.

Aurora gave the two an encouraging smile and Sirius a small shove to get him moving.

Once Sirius and Regulus were away, Lily reached over to Aurora, putting her hand on one of Aurora’s, and said, “I would like to get to know you. Outside of these books.”

“I have a feeling that they don’t tell everything, do they?” James added. Aurora just shook her head. She hadn’t known what of her memories would be put into the books, but it really wasn’t that surprising that a lot of the day to day things had been left out. Outside of the crazy adventures, she thought her life was pretty boring.

“School was actually pretty boring,” Aurora chuckled. 

“Outside of all this craziness, you mean,” Lily asked. Aurora just nodded. 

“Other than most of the crazy things you are going to be reading about, I’m actually really boring. I study and I fly,” Aurora shrugged.

“Not the prankster that I am,” James asked.

“Not really,” Aurora answered. “After being bullied for so long by the kids in primary, the thought of pranking anyone always seemed so similar to me that it just didn’t interest me. Fred tried a couple times to get me to join in with him and George for some of the stuff they did, and while I didn’t help the actual prank part, I helped with the planning sometimes, made them a little more friendly and a little less cruel.”

Lily just smiled proudly at her future daughter, while James had a wry grin on his face; he knew that he and the other Marauders crossed the bullying line sometimes, and it was only within the last year that he had started to realize it.

Sirius took his younger brother into the room that he was sharing with the rest of his friends. For the first time in years he was alone with his brother again and neither one of them knew what to say to the other. Their mother had made it a point to keep them separated from each other when Sirius had returned for the summer after his first year; she didn’t want Sirius’ Gryffindor ways rubbing off on the younger boy.

Regulus starred at his older brother and with an almost silent sob, threw himself into Sirius’s arms. Sirius immediately clutched the younger boy to him.

“I’ve missed you so much Siri,” the younger boy mumbled into Sirius’s chest.

“I’ve missed you too Reggie,” Sirius replied, squeezing his little brother just a bit tighter.

The two brothers separated and went to sit down on the bed that Sirius had claimed as his own for their stay in these rooms, finally ready to really talk to each other, and to listen to what the other had to say as well.

Regulus decided to start the conversation with a bang, “I don’t want to join the Dark Lord.”

Albus had retreated to the bedroom that he was using for the duration of everyone’s stay here. He was running through things in his mind about how Tom would become a wraith in just 4 years. He had ideas of what Tom had done to increase his lifespan, his drunken conversation with Horus reverberating in his mind.

Yet it was the only thing that would explain the drastic change in Tom’s appearance over the last several years, as well as his increasing insanity. If he was missing pieces of his soul along with who knew what else Tom might have come across in his travels. Albus’ only hope was that these books would tell him the full story, and give a way for him to stop Tom. Although it appeared that he might not be able to defeat Tom himself this time.

While no one from the future had come out and said it, Albus was rather smart, and he could infer that there was a reason that the Potter’s were targeted specifically, and that meant there was probably a prophecy at work. Well, he could work with that, Aurora seemed to be a bright individual, all he had to do was make sure she didn’t stray too far from the light.

While Dumbledore was plotting in his room, Minerva, Fillus and Pomona were talking about what they had just read. No first year should have to be tested like Aurora had been. Plus there were a number of things that had been mentioned that would need to be changed in the coming years.

They all started making notes on what needed to be changed, starting with the points system. No child should be ostracized from their house just because a teacher was a little overzealous in their point taking. There also should be no way that one house won the cup 7 years in a row due to extreme bias.

Fillius also made a note on his parchment to have some of his goblin brethren take a discreet look at the wards on the castle. Several things that had happened in the last few years, as well as what had happened in Aurora’s first year should have never happened if the wards were working correctly at full power. He also made a note to have someone look into the supposed curse on the Defense position.

Minerva couldn’t help but look at her actions towards Aurora, and her what happened in the girls first year and wonder what had happened to her over the years. She knew from first hand experience how manipulative Albus could be at times, and how when he got an idea into his head it was almost impossible to change his mind, but it almost appeared as if she hadn’t even tried. She had let him place a toddler in what she knew would not be a good environment, what she suspected would be an abusive house. She had had so many talks with Lily the last couple years about her sister and the growing vitriol that Petunia had been spewing recently, and even worse the slap that she had given Lily before she had boarded the train to school this year.

Pomona didn’t know what to think about what they had just read, but based on what she had heard from the others about Aurora’s future years at Hogwarts, Hufflepuff house would not be painted in the best light. She had heard rumors of course about several of her students joining with You-Know-Who recently. And now she hears that not only are her Puff’s turning on a little first year but that even their house ghost was looked down on and Pomona made a large note on her parchment that she was going to turn her house around. No one would be slandered or shunned by anyone in her house ever again if she had anything to say about it. 

People were starting to file out towards their rooms for the night when Alastor pulled Kingsley and Amelia into his room with him. He had things he needed to discuss with them, and he figured that they all had things that they needed to talk out, the main probably being why they were all there.

Once ensconced in his room all three of them cast several spells on the doors for privacy. They knew that Aurora mentioned the room would keep things private when necessary, but none of them were willing to take the chance.

Amelia took out a piece of parchment that she was taking notes on. “So we know that the Malfoy’s, or at least Lucius, are marked Death Eaters.”

“It does appear as if Lady Malfoy is not 100 percent behind this decision however,” Kingsley stated.

“It also looks like there are at least 2 students due to be marked soon, if not more and only those 2 were brought to this room for personal reasons.” Alastor said.

“Three,” Amelia corrected.

“Three,” Kingsley questioned.

“I had suspected based on a few of the conversations, but several of them are rather good at hiding their thoughts behind masks,” Alastor nodded, in agreement with Amelia.

Kingsley took a minute to review the last few days and looking back saw some of the looks that the Longbottom boy and Diggory girl hadn’t been able to hide when looking at or talking to Barty. There had even been one time that Aurora had slipped and her bright green eyes glared at the younger Crouch boy for a split second before her mask reappeared.

“So at least three current students, only one of whom is close to being of age, are to be marked soon. And knowing how Voldemort works, it will probably be on Samhain, so 2 days outside of this time bubble.” Kingsley stated.

“Which means that we have 2 days after reading 6 more books to figure out how to stop a ‘ half-blooded madman with delusions of grandeur’, as the young Miss Potter put it,” Moody said matter of factly.

“But why us,” Amelia asked the question she and Kingsley had been wondering about since they arrived. She was only 2 years out of school, and Kings had only just finished his Auror training. She knew that most of her family would be killed in the next few years according to what she had learned so far, but right now she had no political power, wasn’t Lord Bones, or the Heir. She was still in her Auror training, and wasn’t even all that well thought of amongst the other Aurors because she was both a Hufflepuff and a female.

“We must do something in the future then,” Kingsley said.

With that thought, the three of them withdrew their privacy spells and the younger two adults left to head to their own rooms for the night. All three lay awake for several hours wondering about what Aurora’s other years at Hogwarts would bring and why she had such faith in 2 complete unknowns and what many considered to be a paranoid old man, despite his amazing arrest record.

Everyone was slow to wake in the morning. The last two days and the reading had taken a lot out of several people, and Aurora thought that everyone deserved a lie in. Fred was one of the first people up, along with the elder Bill and Charlie, as well as George. He knew that it would be a shock to see the new arrivals and he wanted to get the first look at some people's reactions, especially his parents.

George, after making sure that his missing ear was covered and that Fred’s hair was styled similar, old habits die hard after all, the four brothers sat down at the table, discussing what the 3 newcomers had already read. They were about half way through the book so far and had just finished reading about Aurora’s first quidditch match before calling it a night.

Aurora and Teddy were the first to enter the room, Teddy immediately running to Bill, asking where Victorie was. Others soon joined them, Fabian and Gideon being the first from 1977 to make their way into the dinning room area. They looked back and forth from George to Fred several times before giant grins broke out on their faces. They quickly sat down facing the door, ready for when their sister walked in, which they expected to be soon, they heard her and Arthur getting the younger Bill, Charlie and Percy ready after all.

Molly was the first one into the kitchen of the Weasley family from 1977 and let out a shrill scream at the sight in front of her. It was one of both surprise at the people in the room in front of her and surprise at the fact that Fred and George, when they were together and standing next to her brothers, looked so similar to Fabian and Gideon that they could have been quadruplets, and not two different sets of twins born more than 20 years apart.

Her yell however had almost everyone rushing into the kitchen behind her to see what was going on. Logically they knew that no one could enter the room, but they were in the middle of a war at the moment and everyone was rather jumpy.

Seeing the three new people in the room had the Aurors reaching for their wands, before they were slowly pushed down by Aurora as she passed them walking into the room, mumbling under her breath about troublemakers and early wake up calls, along with several unique curses thrown in there for good measure.

“There’s no need to hex anyone,” Aurora said around a yawn, as Fred handed her cup of tea, or at least they were assuming it was Fred, as there was now his twin in the room as well. “I can call people from our time to join us in here. Right now, as the 2nd book has a lot that affects the Weasley family I thought that I would bring Bill and Charlie here to learn what exactly happened.”

“And I’m just too amazing to leave behind,” said the twin who everyone was assuming was George.

“Or Fred is just miserable without you and I no longer wanted to listen to him whinge,” Aurora replied laughing at the look of betrayal on Fred’s face. “And don’t you three have a book to finish, off you go.” She quickly shooed them out of the room before anyone else could say anything, or ask any questions. Molly and the rest of the observers quickly filed into the room and started eating the food that was laid out on the table in front of them, while the others who hadn’t come running at her yell slowly trickling in to eat breakfast and were told of the commotion and the new arrivals while they relaxed for the morning.

Severus had seen Lily watching him last night and this morning as well. So he had spent last night and most of the morning avoiding being alone with her. He had a feeling about what she wanted to ‘talk’ to him about and he really didn’t want to hear it at the moment, or ever.

Severus also knew that the longer that Lily was allowed to stew and hold on to her anger the more explosive it was, and that there was only so long that she could go before she just let him have it, whether they were in public or in private at some point she was going to go off on him and it wouldn’t be pretty if it were public, and not just because the Marauders would witness it.

Still Severus persisted in avoiding Lily until the three new red heads returned and said that they had finished the first book. Since it was so close to lunch when they returned, it was decided that everyone would eat lunch first and then they would start on the next book.

Narcissa was the first to approach her sister. She and Lucius had talked the previous night and one thing they knew about Andromeda was that she would never make the first move, no matter how much she wanted to talk to her little sister. There was just too much bad blood between most of the Black family and Andromeda and Sirius, although it appears that the bad blood on Sirius’ end was just between him and his parents.

So Narcissa walked over to where her older sister was sitting with her husband, daughter, and her future grandson, and asked to talk. Her sister nodded, motioning for her to join her in the other room, this wasn’t a talk for other ears apparently, but what surprised her most was the quick hug little Teddy gave her, calling her “Aunty Cissa” before running off to his godmother again.

When they returned almost an hour later, it was approaching lunch time, and they were informed that right after lunch they would start reading the second book. The sisters though were much more relaxed around each other. They still had a lot of things to work through, but they had started, and hopefully they can go back to how close they were before Andromeda ran off with Ted, and before Lucius took the mark forever placing them on opposite sides of the war.

Everyone was both nervous and excited to start the next book, so they quickly finished lunch and went into the reading room. A new couch had been added to accommodate the new additions to the room, and everyone quickly made themselves comfortable for the next few hours of reading that they were going to be doing.

Aurora reached into Hermione’s bag and pulled out a new book. She took a calming breath before handing the book to Alice, who upon seeing the looks of the future Weasley’s and Aurora’s faces offered to be the first to read. However the title of the book gave her some pause. She glanced at Aurora again just to make sure that she was reading correctly. At Aurora’s nod, Alice steeled herself and read the title of the book for everyone.

Aurora Potter and the Chamber of Secrets