Staying
Please read Back In Time before continuing. If you haven't already done so. This is an alternate ending to Back In Time, so read the story to get the background of this new story. Thank you.
I was hiding in the woods. A few feet away. From where I was attacked. A year ago. Today. I was hiding there with Dumbledore. Waiting. Until the right time.
I had just seen the last carriage drive by. I watched it as it went by. Until it disappeared from view. Although. I couldn't really see the people inside. I thought I saw long black hair. Leaning against the window.
My chest constricted. At the thought. I closed my eyes. And took several deep breaths. Trying to slow. My racing heart. Trying. To calm myself down. The more calm I was. The easier this would be.
"Miss Potter? It's time." I heard Dumbledore's voice say.
I opened my eyes. Looking out in to the road. I nodded. Not looking at Dumbledore. Stepping into the quarter moon's light. Walking to the place. I was. When the attack happened. I took a deep breath. And turned around. So. That now. I was looking at Dumbledore. Who held his wand up. Then. He dropped it.
"Miss Potter? Is this really what you want? Do you really want to go back to your time, or would like to stay here? Don't forget, even if you stay, and you decide to change your mind, at some point, and want to go back home, we can do this again, in ten years. I'll let you think for a moment on this."
My breathing hitched. Did I want to go back home? Or? Did I want to stay back in time? Did I want to go back to death at every corner? Where danger lurks behind every door? Where every Year. Something goes wrong? Did I really want to go back to that? But. Death was here too. Voldemort was at large here. He was even more powerful here. Than he was in my time. But did I want to stay? Could I leave my brother. Family. And friends. Behind? Never to really see them again? Not like I would now. When my friends and twin brother. Where around the same age. If I stayed in this time line. I would be an adult. Before I saw them again. Did I want to do that? I don't even know what will happen if I stay. How will that affect the future? My future? My brother's future? What will happen? I didn't know? Did I want to stay? Or did I want to go? I had to make a choice. Right now. I couldn't wait. I had to choose. Do I stay? Or do I go?
"Miss Potter? It's time to choose. Do you want to stay here? Or do you want to go back home?"
I looked up at Dumbledore. I took and deep breath. And sighed. "I want to stay."
"Are you sure about this?"
I nodded. "I'm sure. As much as I would like to go back. I also want to stay here. I love it here. And. I don't know. I just want to stay."
I did. Even though going back is a good idea. I loved it too much in this time period. Even though I knew what was happening in 1996. Or. What was going to happen. War. I just didn't want to go back. I know. I said. A long time ago. That I would help my twin get through this upcoming War. I wanted to stay. And I didn't care. I should. But. I don't know if I should. Know what I mean? If that makes any sense.
"Just to let you know. There might be consequences to you staying. If you are really willing to take that risk, I ask you one more time, are you sure you want to stay?"
Of course there would be consequences. There are consequences with everything you do. Especially with time. Always. With time. And. I knew them with this. Staying would bring it. The biggest thing. I might not be born. Thinking about that. Made me shiver slightly. I didn't know all the consequences of me staying. But. I knew of that one. That I might not be born. Come four years from now. I don't know if I'll be born. I just don't know.
I nodded my head. "I know of the consequences. I might not know what will happen. If I stay. But. I'm positive that I want to. That I want to stay. I'm sure about this."
"Ok. If that's what you want Miss Potter. My offer still stands from earlier. If you do want to go back. We can do this in ten years."
"And. If I do decide to go back. I will take you up on that offer. But. Right now. Looks like your stuck with me."
"Yes. It seems like we are." He paused. "Now. I think it's time we made our way back to the castle. When we get there. You may go back to the Room of Requirement to get your things. And then meet me back in my office." Dumbledore said. Already walking back towards the castle.
"Yes, sir." I agreed. Making my way. As well.
***
"I'm staying. I'm staying in the '70s. I'm staying at Hogwarts for the next two Years." I thought. In front of the Room of Requirement. I opened my eyes. Once I heard the door. Materialize. I opened the door. Inside. was the trunk I was using. With all the stuff I needed. For the next two Years. Right next to it. I guess. Even the Room couldn't even pack my trunk. But. I didn't mind. I didn't mind packing my trunk.
As I packed. I thought. Thought about how I was staying. I would need a new story. But. That was easy. I would just say that I managed to convince my parents to let me stay. For the rest of my Magical Education. I still didn't know what I wanted to do. After school. It would be pretty awkward. If I didn't have any parents and other people. For my friends to meet. But. Hey. Who gives a fuck. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
***
I was back in Dumbledore's office. I had just put my trunk down. When Dumbledore snapped his fingers. A House-elf appearing.
"Lamby, please take Miss Potter's trunk back to Gryffindor Tower. She will be staying here for the next two Years." He told the Elf.
"Yes, sir." Lamby said. In a squeaky voice. Grabbing my trunk. And disappearing with a snap. I smiled. She reminded me of Dobby. He was a fun little House-elf. Even if he did almost kill my brother. I wondered where he was now. Was he with the Malfoy's? I knew Lucius had already graduated. Considering he was in his Fifth Year. When my parents and their friends. Started their First Year. So. Was Dobby there? If so. I feel bad. He always had to punish himself.
"Now, Miss Potter." Dumbledore said. Snapping me out of my thoughts. "Have you decided what you are going to tell your friends, about how your back?"
"Yeah. I was just going to tell them. I managed to convince my parents to let me stay. Easy at that." I shrugged.
"I guess that could work. Now, onto your classes. You did extremely well in your O.W.L.s. I assume you want to continue with all of your classes?"
"Um. Yes. But not Divination. I don't know why I took that class in the first place. I guess I thought it sounded interesting. But. I don't really like the class. So. If I could drop that. That would be great." I answered.
"That is fine. I never liked Divination that much either."
"I know. You're still the same way, twenty years from now."
"Yes." He paused. "Well, I think our little chat here was done. If you could please make your way down to the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. I think, once you reach there. The Sorting should be complete."
"Yes, sir. Have a great night." I nodded.
"Have a great night too." Dumbledore answered.
And with that. I made my way out of the office. And started my way down to the Great Hall.
Skipping. Yes. I was skipping. I was happy. Happy that I was staying. Happy that I would see my friends again. I mean. I'm sad as well. That I'm leaving behind a brother. A twin. And a whole bunch of really amazing friends. But. I felt like I had to stay. Like something was telling me to stay. So. I'm staying. And I'm happy about it.
***
I stopped in front of the Great Hall's doors. Taking a deep breath. And then. Grabbing the handles. And taking another deep breath. I opened the doors.
Author's Note: Hi, so I started writing this back in 2020, on Quotev, and am still writing it now. This story is also on Quotev and Wattpad under the same username. At this date, May 29, 2022, I have 28 published chapters. Those chapters will be uploaded fairly quickly, but after that, uploads may be a bit slower.
Thank you for choosing to read this, I hope you like it!