thought i saw your shadow under the door
just a trick of the light i've seen before.

Theo checked his watch for the fifth time whilst waiting for Pansy and Talia. The Fat Lady portrait stared at them in interest, until Theo scowled at her.

"Alohomora!" Draco foolishly tried to command the door to open.

"You fucking idiot." Theo laughed. "It doesn't work like that."

Assuming Draco had been insulting her intelligence, the Fat Lady flounced off in a huff, earning a laugh from Draco and a stream of apologies to the portrait from Blaise.

"Maybe we should send someone to go get them." Draco proposed.

"If we do, that someone will definitely not be you." Theo rejected Draco's idea, waving him off as he saw Pansy walk around the corner, Talia following in her wake easily.

"You two alright?" Theo let his gaze fall to Talia, who looked comfortable in Pansy's robes; like she'd been living in this decade for more than an hour.

"Well, I guess we have to be, I suppose." Pansy said sulkily, the events of this morning still deflating her arguably large ego. Theo knew there was no real malice towards Talia in her words, just annoyance.

Blaise gave the duo a thumbs up. "That's the spirit!" He encouraged, before giving the Fat Lady the password, which he had procured from Luna before they arrived. "Cherry pie." He stated confidently, the Fat Lady swinging open so the five could enter.

"Do you think we can just summon him? I'm not in the mood to go searching dorms." Pansy asked Theo quietly, her tone almost reverent. It was understandable when Gryffindor was put on a pedestal by their previous Headmaster — none of them knew what they were expecting.

"Accio Potter!" Draco tried, overhearing their conversation. The spell didn't work. And nobody was surprised.

All of them surveyed the Gryffindor common room, huddled together like a pack.

"It's pretty fucking boring." Theo spoke for them all.
"I was expecting fireworks. Something interesting. Why else would Dumbledore be obsessed over this house?"

"Dumbledore's still here?" Talia asked, almost in horror.

"Not exactly." Theo grinned, noticing her deflation of relief. "Malfoy, do you wanna tell her?"

"Not particularly." Draco shook his head, deferring to Blaise for help.

When all Blaise did was shrug, Draco answered stiffly. "Your brother ordered me to kill him." He faced Talia, although met Theo's eyes instead of hers. "I couldn't. Snape did it."

"And now he's dead too." Blaise filled in, his tone light as if the conversation wasn't about their dead professors. "Also the work of your brother."

"I'm starting to get the feeling nobody likes Tom that much..." Talia's sentence trailed off as she noticed three bemused pairs of eyes and one pair filled with humour on her. "What?"

"He did try and kill us because we didn't want to take the Mark." Theo tried to ignore the burn he felt at the mention of the Dark Mark. It stained its skin, the tar-like colour seeping into his bones, and it hurt like hell. It stung so badly that Madam Pomfrey had to reluctantly tell him scratching wouldn't help. He was stuck with the discomfort and agony his arm gave him for the rest of his life.

"He is a crazy person," Blaise mused, although he didn't look down at his arm like Theo and Draco had. His mother didn't force him to take the mark.

"He also asked me to kill our headmaster— one of the strongest wizards alive, apparently." Draco added. "And made me torture some people, give them a few cursed items..."

Talia glared at them all, her hand on her wand like she would consider hexing her fellow Slytherins at the slightest slander of her arguably snake-like brother. Theo steeled himself just in case, elbowing both Blaise and Draco to ensure they were on guard.

"Enough about Voldemort, we get it. We need to get Potter." Pansy snapped, looking to Draco for assistance. "You three go up to the dorms, we'll stay here and keep lookout."

Talia nodded reluctantly at the plan, but seemed to understand that she and Pansy had gotten the better end of the stick.

"What if we walk in on Scarhead naked or something?" Draco whined, stalling the group.

Blaise tugged Draco's arm, pulling him up the stairs. "Then we tell him to get down here and leave."

"Come the fuck on." Theo snapped, already standing by a dorm. With their luck, he thought, it probably wouldn't be Potter's. However, lo and behold, it really was Potter's dorm. Although Draco's fear had come partly true, and Theo found himself shielding his eyes with a scowl.

"Weaselette, Four-eyes. Mind putting some clothes on so you can assist us?" Theo greeted, Draco too shocked to do so, and Blaise too polite.

"Get out!" Ginny had screamed, throwing a photo frame at Theo, which he nimbly dodged.

"At least we know the Silencing Charm worked." Blaise commented, judging Ron, Dean, and Neville's peaceful faces. He lifted a warning finger to Draco, who was about to wake Ron up. "Don't, Malfoy. You can mentally scar Weasley some other time. We just need Potter."

"Bloody fucking Chosen One sympathiser." Draco muttered under his breath, although petulantly moved away; Blaise chose to ignore his comments as they kept coming. "I mean really, ever since you started dating that Ravenclaw bi- girl," Draco hastily corrected himself, when Blaise, Theo, and Ginny's deathly glares set upon him. "You've become much less tolerable, Blaise."

Blaise adjusted the watch at his wrist, barely flinching when Ginny pointed his wand at Malfoy's throat. "Malfoy, for the sake of your unhexed self, shut the fuck up."

Draco's eyes widened in fear, or maybe the memory of Hermione's fist meeting his considerably aristocratic features during Second Year. "You Gryffindor lot are bloody crazy." He muttered, although he backed away.

Theo had almost dozed off in the time it took for Harry to hastily shove his clothes on. He awoke to a careful pat on his shoulder, from Harry nonetheless. "Nott, whatever you need me for, we can do it later, yeah? You look tired and—" Harry's words were earnestly generous, yet Theo cut him off.

"I'll be fine, Potter. Let's go." Theo directed Harry to silently move out of the room, leaving Blaise to diffuse Draco and Ginny's fight.

"I really think you should though — you can even take my bed if you want. I just— it seems like you don't sleep that well." Harry ran a hand through his oddly messy hair, a gesture Theo once found infuriating. Now it was humorous, if anything.

"Are you saying I look bad, Potter?" Theo joked.

Harry practically tripped over his own words to correct himself. "No! You look, well, brilliant! But that's not what I was trying— That isn't what I meant! I just mean, Hermione's been doing a lot more research on Dark Marks lately."

Theo's interest was piqued. "Why is Granger learning about the Mark?"

Harry shrugged. "Said it was an extra credit project. Between you and me, I think she's trying to help your lot out. There's a lot of— Well, the media isn't exactly...taken with you guys right now."

Theo simply nodded in response. "Well no fucking shit, Potter. Defected Death Eater and all. How did you know I took the Mark though?"

Harry blushed at this — probably due to the manner they found out in. "At the battle...Hermione said she saw your arm. But it looked all gross. Not that your arm is- ugh." Theo could've laughed at Harry's bewildered state if he wasn't Harry Potter, and if this scene wasn't so pathetic to him. "What I'm trying to say is, it looks painful. And, I think you have eye bags. I'm no Healer—"

"Damn fucking straight. I would never let you anywhere near me whilst I was dying. I've seen your Potions grades. And Charms. And—"

"Okay, Theo, I get it. But you don't look like you're sleeping and pain does keep people up at night." Theo's gaze briefly flirted to Harry's scar.

"Thanks for the concern, Potter, but we aren't here to talk about the Dark Lord. I don't ever want to hear about him again, actually. Speaking of the tyrant, can you remember exactly what happened?"

Harry's brows furrowed at a question he assumed had an obvious answer. "Yes? Final battle? Flakey skin everywhere?" Harry shuddered at the thought, one he had been trying to repress.

"Whatever. The point is, none of us can remember anything from the battle to today. Do you know why?"

Harry shook his head. "No. But I've been wondering this myself. Everything seems hazy. I can't recall anything. I can get Hermione to look into it...?"

Theo refused his offer, massaging his temple with his fingertips. "I'll figure it out. So here's the plan." Theo remembered that they hadn't actually rehearsed a plan, yet he hoped everybody would play along. "You need to lie to McGonagall about something."

Theo was amused at the sight of Harry's eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. "Are you crazy?" He asked, aghast at even the thought of lying to his beloved Head of House.

"Probably." Theo stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pyjama bottoms. "But it's for a good cause."

They entered the common room to a dozy Pansy and a bored Talia. Harry greeted Pansy with a small nod, and Talia with a quirked eyebrow. "Who's this?" He asked politely, viridescent eyes appraising the new girl.

Talia lifted her gaze to Harry. "Talia." She was about to offer her hand, until she noticed the scar upon Harry's forehead. "What's your name?"

Harry was much more humble than Theo — not a trace of annoyance was detected at his anonymity, even after being titled 'Undesirable No. 1' the previous year. "Harry." He offered his own hand to shake, which Talia eyed tentatively, unsure of whether to take it or not.

"You...you're the Potter boy, aren't you?" Talia recoiled, as if she was disgusted by Harry's presence.

"We prefer the term 'Scarhead'." Pansy sleepily offered.

"Or four-eyes." Draco interjected, Ginny following him and Blaise down the stairs.

"Fucking hell." Theo groaned, waking Pansy up so she could try to help alleviate the situation. All he got in response was a few mumbled swear words and a shove.

Harry, confused, looked to Theo for assistance. "This is what we needed help with." Theo sighed. "Potter, meet Talia Riddle. Yes, you killed her brother. Yes, she is probably going to hex you. Yes, you should probably duck now."

Harry ducked as soon as the words left Theo's lips, saving him from a curse. Talia swore under her breath, causing Harry to cast an "Expelliarmus!" Draco and Theo scoffed at the use of such a basic spell, unaware of Harry's history with it.

"Does this feel like deja vu?" Ginny asked.

"You want me to lie to our Headmistress...for someone who just tried to kill me." Harry panted, the miniature duel with Talia more gruelling than he had expected.

"Exactly! So glad you're getting it Potter. Let's go."

Harry dithered, deliberating; everyone else in the room was impatiently waiting for his decision.

"Why can't we just use the Imperius curse?" Talia whispered to Blaise, who was standing closest to her.

"We don't do that." Blaise shut her down immediately. "For one, I don't want my wand searched. Two, we could very well be classed as war criminals right now."

"War criminals? But why? Which side were you on?" Talia asked with interest.

"Legally, your brothers. Mentally, or internally I suppose, Harry's. There's a lot more to it than just choosing a side, Talia." Blaise informed her, growing downcast at the reminder of his forced allegiance to the Dark Lord.

"Why would you ever side with...that?" Talia's eyes took in Harry's unkempt appearance; messy hair that never seemed to stay in place, Quidditch pyjamas that looked like the last time they had properly fit was Fourth Year, and a permanently dazed expression.

"He's a good person, as much as Draco would tell you otherwise. And he will. I'm sure he already is preparing for the talk." Blaise chuckled at Draco's scowl — even though he was across the room, Draco knew that they were talking about him. "But Harry, he fought for what was right. And he won. It's sort of admirable."

Talia's expression nor opinion of Harry didn't sway. "Couldn't you at least buy him some hair gel?"

If Harry heard Talia's comments, he didn't let on; he still eventually agreed with Theo's idea, even if his nod was somewhat wary.

"Are you sure he killed my brother? Maybe you've gotten them mixed up. He seems far too incompetent. Weak. Kind." Talia shuddered as if Harry's mildness was repulsive.

"Very sure. I saw him decompose in front of my own eyes. Nasty." Blaise glowered at the very thought. "As incompetent as he looks, he taught multiple students here how to defend themselves, which helped them in the final battle. Even I attended a few meetings. Dumbledore's Army was a big thing in our Fifth Year." Blaise thought for a few moments before continuing. "He may be kind, but he sure as hell isn't weak." He decided, his words more of a compliment to Harry than a reprimand to Talia. "I've seen him almost die every single year we've been here, at the hands of your brother, and he's still alive. He's still breathing, unfortunately for Draco, and he's still the same Potter that stole a flying car to get to Hogwarts when the barriers to the Platform had closed. And if you repeat this speech to anybody else, I will deny all of it and Theo and Draco will probably try to hex you out of your mind." He put emphasis on 'try' — he had seen Talia take down Draco at least twice today. "What I'm saying is, you don't have to be ruthless to be powerful. You don't have to be evil to win a war. You just have to," Blaise paused, trying to find the right words to complete his soliloquy.

"Have hope." Ginny chipped in, rather reluctantly.

"Fucking Gryffindors." Blaise murmured, although he inclined his head in agreement.

Theo fake sniffed. "Bloody poetic." Dabbing his eyes, he mocked rapture, having approached the others. "I don't agree of course, but Potter did kill—"

"Yes, I know who he killed. Stop saying it."

"Do you know who he killed, though?" Blaise raised an eyebrow. "The last time you saw your brother...I doubt he was the same being that Harry killed."

"Are you saying I don't know someone I quite literally shared a womb with?" Talia asked, rather politely for such a hex-happy witch, Theo thought.

"Yes." Blaise nodded. "That is exactly what I'm saying."

"Well, you're wrong." Talia ended the conversation stiffly, turning away from Blaise to face Harry. "Well? Are we going to see this McGonagall or what?"

Harry nodded quickly, probably eager to get the Slytherins out of the Gryffindor common room so he could finish whatever they had interrupted. "Best case scenario? She forgot last year too."

"What's the worst case?" Ginny asked.

"She finds out that Talia isn't from here." Harry spoke slowly, almost as if he was trying not to jinx himself.

"She won't." Talia insisted, fairly confident in her ability to lie through her teeth. "And if she doesn't, we can always use the Imp—"

"No!" Harry and Ginny synchronously exclaimed. "We are not using the Imperius curse on our Headmistress."

"Why not?" Talia snapped. "It's not like you're a 'war criminal' like these lot." Talia gestured to Draco, who scowled, Blaise, who saluted, and Theo, who waved as Talia mentioned them. "They won't care what you do."

"They won't care, but I do. And I am not cursing Professor McGonagall." Harry firmly denied Talia, with more patience than Theo would've granted.

Talia exhaled, clearly not used to being told she couldn't do something. "Fine." She grumbled. "Then you better hope that she's bloody forgotten everything."

"Lead the way, Potter. Malfoy, Zabini, go back down to the dungeons. Weasley, I don't really care what you do." Theo instructed the group, opening the portrait hole to shoo Draco and Blaise out. They left eventually, while Draco was muttering curses and insults that would make anybody's ears ring.

"To McGonagall's office!" Theo was the next person to go through the portrait hole. Talia and Harry followed behind him, the former somewhat disinclined.

"Is he always this cheery?" Talia muttered to Harry, aghast at Theo's upbeat whistling.

"Ah, no. I think he's slightly drunk." Harry rubbed the back of his neck, watching Theo's idle stroll. "I'm assuming it was a rough year."

"On the contrary, Potter," Theo called back, "I think everybody should start the day slightly drunk. It'd make everyone so much more tolerable."

"And we'd be stuck with a whole lot more alcoholics. No thanks." Talia answered for Harry, who was too uneasy to challenge her.

"Your loss." Theo shrugged.

Once they arrived, Harry spoke the password to the Head's office, allowing them all to pass through.

"Well, at least he's good for one thing." Talia murmured.

"Wish we could say the same for you."

"You don't even know me."

"I know. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make that joke."

"Are you 9 years old?"

Theo preened. "Do I look like a 9 year old to you?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." Talia shut him off.

"Mr Nott, Mr Potter." Minerva McGonagall's voice rang out loud and clear. "Is there a reason why you're standing in my office with your pyjamas on at 8am on a Sunday?"

"Professor, this is Talia Gaunt. She helped us fight in the final battle. We met her after...Gringotts." The lie rolled off Harry's tongue smoother than expected, yet his expression looked as if he was being forced to eat several rancid lemons. Theo looked as relaxed as ever, whereas Talia, in contrast, looked stiffer by the second at even the falsification of her fighting against her brother. "She enrolled this year but hasn't got a form yet.!Could you perhaps check your files?"

Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement, although her gaze upon Talia was suspicious at best. She left the office, presumably going to Filch. Theo knew he kept some of the students' files — that's why he had enlisted Perseus to plant a fake one whilst the rest were in Gryffindor tower.

Talia scanned the portraits on the wall whilst they waited. She nodded warily at an old Headmaster's portrait, and he inclined a reluctant head in return. When she saw Dumbledore's portrait, she didn't nod or smile or even acknowledge him, until he did her.

"Miss Riddle," Dumbledore greeted, his placidly wise voice echoing amongst the four walls. "I trust that you have a good reason for using a Time Turner."

"Why would I willingly travel to this time? No offence." She added the final sentiment, once the portraits began to stir.

"Then why are you here?"

"Shouldn't you know that? Powerful wizard and all."

"What I do know is, this is your brother's fault. As is with a lot of situations in this timeline."

"Fuck you." Talia sneered, resentment for her old professor embedded deep within her.

Whilst Theo burst out laughing, Harry was scandalised at the thought of telling his old Headmaster where to go. "I'm sorry, Professor." He apologised on the sulky girl's behalf when it became clear that she wasn't going to do it.

Dumbledore simply smiled, causing Talia's frown to deepen. Luckily for Dumbledore, McGonagall walked briskly back into the office.

"Well, there is record of a Talia Gaunt. Very well. Unfortunately, it escapes me whether you've been sorted or not."

"Slytherin." Talia responded for herself, with a polite nod to the Headmistress.

"She shall sit the year with you, Mr Nott, and you Mr Potter. I'm afraid the only vacant dorm is Miss Parkinson's. Is that all?" Theo sighed with relief, mostly at the fact that their spur-of-the-moment plan had worked, coughing to cover it up when his Headmistress gazed at him over the top of her spectacles.

"Almost. Professor, how are your memories of the last year looking?" Theo asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

McGonagall shook her head, frowning. "That's not of interest right now. You, go and get ready for the first day of classes."

"Got it. Thanks, Professor McGonagall." Theo took his leave, Harry and Talia in tow. Harry raced to keep up with Theo's long strides, whereas Talia slowed down, preferring to walk by herself.

"What was that?" Harry asked, referring to Talia's dismissal of Dumbledore.

"That was me telling a nosy git where to go. He's had it coming for a long time." Talia shrugged at Harry's expression, a combination of awestruck and appalled. "Trust me, Dumbledore is not the Dumbledore that he says he is. He's—"

"It's been a long morning." Harry cut Talia off, unintentionally rudely, yet Talia took it in her stride. It wasn't personal, okay, maybe it was personal. But it was mainly due to the fact that Harry couldn't bear the slander of his once-idol. "We can talk after class tomorrow. Bye." With that, Harry fled Theo's side, probably to retell the last 10 minutes to Ginny.

Talia rolled her eyes, but let him go without disputing the matter. "So? What are we doing now?" She asked Theo, ineffectively holding back a yawn as he led them back down to the dungeons.

"Now, we are going back to sleep. You're rooming with Pansy. Knock yourself out. There's a reason why none of the other girls will share a dorm with her." Theo's warning was pretty fair, in his opinion, but the wrinkle between Talia's eyebrows told him otherwise. "She's a nightmare to be around in public, I can't imagine living with her."

"Can't I just stay by myself?" Talia insisted she was more than capable enough to have her own dorm room, but her pleas fell upon deaf ears.

"No. Just stay out of Pansy's way, and you should be fine." were Theo's final words, leaving Talia alone in the Slytherin common room.

A kinder man would've conceded to Talia, but Theodore Nott wasn't kind.

all the places that return to,
all the faces that remind you.