THE ESSENCE OF TIME
~A WAR-TORN TRAVEL~

•••

WHEN EVANGELINE OPENED HER EYES, she was surprised to see that she was standing in the middle of Muggle London. Vintage cars were passing by, men walking around wearing old suits, and women wore dresses that were deemed fashionable at the time.

A honk took Evangeline out of her trance only to realize that she was in the middle of a busy road with cars almost crashing into her.

"WATCH IT, LADY!" The man driving the car yelled at her.

Taking her trunk, she hurriedly ran to the pavement avoiding any speeding vehicles. Once she reached the side, many civilians looked at her with suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as to why they were looking at her in such a way, only to realize that she looked like she just come out of a war, wearing a bloodied t-shirt, a torn-up jacket, and some jeans. But then again, she did come out of a war.

Blushing from embarrassment, Evangeline fastened up her pace and walked to a more secluded part of the city, stopping by a street that she was familiar with.

The Leaky Cauldron.

Evangeline thought with a smile. Walking towards the door, she opened it and was greeted by the warmth of warm air, the smell of fresh butterbeer, and the chortles of wizards who were playing some wizard's chess.

"Oh my goodness, child! Where did you come from and why do you have blood on your clothes and dirt on your face?!" A woman from beside her exclaimed.

Evangeline tensed up from the voice, looking at the woman who was a foot shorter than her, a bit rounded on the sides, sporting a dress with an apron and her curly brunette hair untamed.

"Oh hello, miss. I was wondering if you had a room for me here. I'm planning to stay for a week until the first of September." Evangeline asked, tucking her walnut-colored hair behind her ear.

"Oh, why of course, dearie! The name's Anne. What is yours?" Anne proclaimed, taking Evangeline's trunk out of her hand.

"Oh you don't have to take my trunk, Ann-"

"Nonsense." Anne waved her hand to dismiss her.

Evangeline smiled, "Thank you, Anne. I'm Evangeline."

"Well, Evangeline, I have never seen you here before. Your first year at Hogwarts?" Anne asked, taking Evangeline's trunk.

"N- yes, it is my first year at Hogwarts." Evangeline caught herself, she had almost told Anne the truth.

"That's odd, forgive me for intruding but I noticed your accent, dear. You have a British one like mine, why have you never been to Hogwarts?" Said Anne, walking towards the set of stairs.

"Oh um... I was homeschooled..?" Evangeline said, wincing at the lie she had came up with.

"That makes sense, now follow me, your room is up on the third floor, it has the simple stuff that you may need. For now, I must ask, what in the world are you wearing dear child?" Anne questioned, putting her wrinkly hand on the side of her hip.

Evangeline looked at herself and mentally sighed, "I may have um... I almost got robbed on the way here, I'm not exactly the best at directions and went down a different alley." She smiled sheepishly.

Anne narrowed her eyes at the girl before sighing and turning around to continue walking upstairs, Evangeline following closely behind. After a few more sets, they have finally reached the third floor.

"Your room is on the left side, number 394. Here are your keys, best not to lose them or you will have to pay extra. I must get going as the customers downstairs need attending to." Anne said, looking at Evangeline's image. "You also might want to take a shower, you look like you just fought a Hippogriff," Anne said, before leaving.

Evangeline let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding. Taking her trunk, her feet carried her to the room she was promised. Standing in front of the number 394. She took the keys that were given to her and placed them into the keyhole.

Her pale hands which had traces of dirt held onto the doorknob and opened up the wooden door. The room upon first glance was just like any normal room, it had a bed that was fit for one person, a wooden desk with a mirror in front, a chair, and a rug below the bed. What caught her eye though was the huge window in front.

Closing the door behind her, she placed her trunk at the side of her bed to examine the view. It held a beautiful image of Diagon Alley, witches, and wizards alike with their family and friends, roaming around, entering stores and streets.

A smile grazed upon her lips, she remembered the first day she went to Diagon Alley with her parents to buy her school supplies.

Oh, how much had she missed them. Turning her back away from the window, a caw startled her. Her eyes widened when she saw a fiery phoenix standing on the side of the door.

Furrowing her eyebrows, she stepped closer to it. "Fawkes?" She asked the bird. The bird answered with another, "Caw." Confirming her suspicions.

Letting out an impressed noise, Evangeline went to stroke the bird's head. "How in the world did you know I was gonna be here?"

Fawkes only looked at her, blinking twice.

"Right, you're a bird, you can't talk." She sighed. "I'm guessing you're here for the letter?"

Fawkes nodded his head.

Opening her satchel, she took out the letter that was in it, giving it to the phoenix. Fawkes took the letter into his beak and as soon as it reached him. A large light covered the bird and only then did the bird disappear, leaving nothing but only ash surrounding his place.

"Woah." Evangeline exclaimed, "Dumbledore, you weird man."

Looking around, Evangeline saw another door, she went towards it and opened the door, only to reveal an ordinary bathroom. Nodding to herself, she opened her trunk that was now lying on her bed and took out some clothes that she would need.

Sniffing her arm, she grimaced at the small stench, walked towards the shower, closed the door, and started to bathe.

•••

"Thank, Merlin. I haven't taken a proper shower in months." Evangeline exclaimed, brushing her wet hair and stepping outside the bathroom, only to be greeted by the same phoenix earlier.

"Fawkes? What are you doing here?" She asked the bird.

The bird chirped and motioned for Evangeline to take the letter out of its beak, and as soon as she did, Fawkes was gone, leaving once again nothing but ash in the air.

Coughing, Evangeline waved her hand from the smoke that the phoenix left. Looking down at the letter, it resembled the one that she had sent earlier, it sported the same "D" on the seal.

Sitting down on her bed, Evangeline opened the letter to find the handwriting of her old Headmaster.

Dear Ms. Moonlight,

I am delighted to hear that you are doing the greater good, even though it is a tough mission.

Evangeline rolled her eyes, it seemed as though the greater good was the only thing Dumbledore knew of.

I have informed the current Headmaster about your situation, leaving out the small details from where you are originally from. I have only told him that your parents were an old friend of mine and that you have been homeschooled because of the rising war

That's right, there was a war happening that involved Grindelwald.

and that your parents thought it would be safer to keep you in your home instead of Hogwarts. But now that they have changed their minds, they have decided to enroll you in Hogwarts.

Headmaster Dippet is thrilled to have a new student. It is no secret that Hogwarts don't get transfer students, the last known transfer student was around 217 years ago. Behind this letter is the list of the things you need to survive your fifth year. You will be sorted separately once you arrive at Hogwarts, our caretaker will guide you on where to go. Good luck.

Albus Dumbledore

Turning the letter around, she saw the list of equipment that she needed in her fifth year. Looking out the window, she decided that she might as well buy them today.

She was already of age, turning 17 a few months ago, but for her to accomplish this mission, she had to turn herself 15 again. Luckily, only her physical appearance changed and not her actual age. She was still 17, she only looked 15. Her magic cannot be traced by the ministry.

With a wave of her hand, her hair dried up and was put into a messy French braid, with a few strands around her face.

She walked towards the mirror and examined herself. The dress she was wearing had dark purple sleeves that went below her elbows, the clothing reached just below her knees, and a few buttons on the chest.

"I look good." She complimented herself.

Taking her satchel, she went downstairs to be greeted by Anne.

"Evangeline! You clean up quite nicely." She complimented her while scrubbing the table that was stained with beer.

"Thank you, Anne. I must go. I need to buy the things I need." Evangeline waved goodbye.

"Take care, Evangeline. You just need to tap your wand at the brick wall to enter Diagon Alley."

Nodding, Evangeline reached the brick wall and tapped on it the way she remembered. The bricks started to move and revealed the beautiful alley that she had come to adore.

Stepping inside, the bricks behind her closed up. It was now time to go shopping.

•••

Halfway through examining the shops, Evangeline mentally cursed herself, she didn't bring any money with her. In front of her stood the big wizarding bank that most witches and wizards in England went to. Gringotts.

Her feet moved her forwards, entering the place, goblins were seated at their table doing their work, some witches and wizards doing their business. She reached the middle of the aisle and the goblin that was on top of the desk, looked down on her.

"What is your business?" The goblin asked.

"I wish to access my vault, please."

"Name?"

The question made Evangeline freeze, she wasn't sure if she should tell the goblin her surname. She was sure that her grandparents and great-grandparents were still roaming around England. But then again, goblins had no care for the business of witches and wizards, so in the end, she decided to tell the truth.

"Moonlight." She gulped.

The goblin raised an eyebrow, the Moonlight family was well known. They have been around for centuries, a part of the sacred 29. They were also one of the most powerful families in the wizarding world, rumor has it that they are the descendants of Merlin, himself. Not to mention that one of the Peverall brothers married into the family, ultimately granting them access to the Deathly Hallows.

"Key?" The goblin said.

"Shit." Evangeline cursed under her breath, for a Ravenclaw, she was quite forgetful. Rummaging through her satchel, she snapped her fingers and the vault key magically appeared in her hand. "Here." She said, handing the goblin the key.

The goblin stepped out of the pedestal and went down to Evangeline's level. He was at least 3 feet tall. Evangeline followed the goblin into the cart where they traversed into the hundreds of vaults that were inside the bank.

After a few minutes, they finally reached the place. The goblin opened the door and shining gold was the only thing you could see.

The Moonlights were quite wealthy, even rivaling the Malfoys.

She took out a pouch that she enchanted, making it have infinite space, taking a large sum of money that she might need to survive a year at Hogwarts. She wasn't that bothered if her current family might notice the missing chunk of money in their vault. They had way too much money that they wouldn't even acknowledge the disappearance of it.

After her business, she thanked the goblin and made her way out of Gringotts.

•••

Evangeline had most of her stuff bought, the only thing that was missing was her books. Glancing at the shop, Flourish and Blotts was the place she needed to go.

When she opened the door, a ringing bell was heard, indicating the presence of a new customer. The bookshop had quite a lot of people, buying all their needs for when the school year started.

She started to look around for the books that she needed, checking off the list whenever she had the ones that were required.

While reading her list, she didn't realize that there was a person in front of her. Bumping into them, she dropped the stuff that she was holding, her books, quill, parchment, and some galleons spewed out on the floor.

"Shit," she mutters under her breath. Quickly became embarrassed as she felt the heat from her neck towards her face. Kneeling, she muttered "I am so sorry," and started to take all of her things that were on the floor.

"Watch it!" The person exclaimed, she froze momentarily and scrunched up her face.

Great, the person I bump into is a rude one.

Sighing, Evangeline continued to pick up her stuff, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you." She proclaimed, not wanting an enemy.

"Obviously, or else you wouldn't have bumped into me." The person scoffed.

After picking up her scattered items. She slowly looked up to see the person, her eyes stretched open to see who she bumped into. He was wearing a nice tailored suit, all in black with a few specs of dark green around his collar. His pale skin with a few black dots around his neck and face, a sharp jawline that could no doubt cut a tree in one clean sweep. His eyes were the color of lightning, and the silver mist of his pupils was noticeable. But the thing that stood out to her was his hair, he had the hair of a Malfoy.

Oh my God, it's Draco's grandfather. She internally screamed.

"Are you done checking me out? I know I'm handsome but I don't necessarily date pests like you." The Malfoy heir sneered.

Evangeline was insulted, her initial reaction was to slap him. Thankfully she had more self-control, she couldn't harm the young man as he was a part of Riddle's clique, and she had to be approachable if she wanted this to work. But then again, if she wanted to make her presence known, she could insult the heir, and no doubt would he tell on Riddle about her.

Smirking, Evangeline stood up and faced the Malfoy heir, "At least I'm not the one blending in with the sand at the beach." she scoffed, bumping into the heir with her shoulder.

He stood momentarily, shocked at her remark before scoffing and turning around "How dare you! My father wi-" but before he could finish, the brunette was nowhere to be found.

Sneering, the boy, stomped his feet and brushed his suit from where the girl bumped into him.

"Bitch." He muttered.

•••

After a successful shopping spree, Evangeline bought herself some new shoes and dresses, doubting Dumbledore's sense of fashion. Smiling at what she bought, she recalled the man she bumped into.

Must've been Abraxas Malfoy.

She remembered the stories that Draco used to tell her about his grandfather, he told her that when he was around 5 years old, Abraxas had died from dragon pox. Draco didn't remember much about his grandfather, one of the only memory he had with him was when Abraxas taught Draco quidditch.

The pair was sitting in the library, laughing about how Blaise got rejected by Miriam, a Hufflepuff in their year, a few minutes ago.

"I swear, he's never going to learn. Miriam likes people like Neville, sweet, calm, and reserved just like him. She would never go for someone as big and scary as Blaise." Evangeline snorted, remembering the terrified face of Miriam when Blaise cornered her.

"Merlin, I wish I caught that on film." Draco laughed, wiping some tears out of his eyes.

"Speaking of film, I saw a picture of you and some old man who looked like your father in your dorm earlier. Who was that if you don't mind me asking." Evangeline calmed down.

She went to the Slytherin dormitory to take her essay that Draco had stolen from her a day ago. He wasn't done with his Transfiguration essay and thought it was a good idea to steal Evangeline's and copy off her.

"Oh, the one where I was on his lap?" Draco asked and Evangeline nodded.

"That was my grandfather, Abraxas. He died a few months after that photograph was taken. Why've you asked?"

"Oh, I'm sorry about your loss. I got curious, I thought that that was your father but then I remembered that Mr. Malfoy hadn't looked that old when I saw him on the first day." She shrugged.

"Merlin no, my grandfather Abraxas died when I was around 5, dragon pox I think. He was a nice man and bought me toys and my first-ever broom on my third birthday. He taught me quidditch. I don't remember much from him since he did perish early, but whenever he and my grandmother visited, it was always a pleasant moment." Draco smiled fondly at the memory.

She pondered for a moment about Abraxas' features, There was no doubt that it was a Malfoy, he looked eerily similar to Draco. Even though their voice was alike, it only confirmed her suspicions once more when he heard the boy say that his father was going to hear about it. It runs in the family.

Shrugging, she waved her wand, and all the items that were lying on the table were now properly stored in the places she wished. Now all she had to do was to figure out how she was gonna spend a week in the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for the first of September to come.