PROLOGUE

THE ESSENCE OF TIME

DARK CLOUDS COVER THE ONCE-BEAUTIFUL castle that many witches and wizards have called home. The once bricked walls and cobblestone floors were now engulfed in splatters of crimson red blood. Screams of anguish and cries of despair echoed throughout the corridors, holding those who once breathed of laughter and joy, now lay motionless.

The war was over, bodies were everywhere, tears were prominent, and the savior who was chosen was now at rest.

They have lost.

Evangeline clutched the necklace that was hanging from her neck, the once soft hands now filled with calluses shaking from the sight that she was witnessing.

She had to stop it, she had to bring them back.

Glancing down at what's in the palm of her hand, the glint of the necklace was telling her to use it. She remembered how it came to her, how the necklace had called her name.

Another scream echoed through the hall breaking her train of thoughts.

I know that voice.

"PLEASE! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! I'M BEGGING YOU!" The cries of the woman pleaded with the person.

Evangeline widened her tear-stained eyes before placing the necklace back into her bloodied shirt. Running towards the sound, she made a sharp turn from the corridor and there stood a man dressed in all black, holding out a wand toward two students.

She moved closer, hearing the man cackle and tease the poor woman. "There's nothing else you can do Mudblood! The Dark Lord has won, Harry Potter is dead and you and your kind will be next!" Another laugh came out, "Avada Keda-" but before he could utter the curse, Evangeline whipped out her wand and petrified the man wordlessly. She hurried down the corridor to see the two pairs on the floor.

The woman was cradling a man, blood gushing out from the side of his head. The woman's left foot looked like it was broken, her right sleeve was torn and blood was flowing from it. As she moved closer, her breath stilled before yelling out, "Hermione!"

She sat beside the girl, looking at the boy she was holding. "Ron... please wake up!" Sobbing, she kept shaking Ron's shoulder, hoping that he would open his eyes.

"Merlin's beard..." Evangeline mumbled at the sight, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked down at her best friend. "Evangeline, you have to help Ron! He isn't moving! The Death Eater was trying to hex me but Ron pushed me out of the way so he got hit instead." Hermione explained, her voice staggering with every breath. "He hit his head and he hasn't moved since, please Evangeline, do something!" She begged.

Evangeline placed her fingers on Ron's neck, mentally saying a prayer to feel a pulse. A second came, five seconds passed, turned into thirty, into a minute, and nothing. Evangeline couldn't feel anything from the boy. She turns to look at Hermione with deep sorrows embedded in her pupils. Hermione began shaking her head in disagreement, saying a few no's before letting out the most gut-wrenching scream she had ever heard.

"NO! RON, NO! PLEASE! Not you too, don't leave me here alone, please! You can't go with Harry, stay with me! You cannot leave me here alone! I can't do it, I won't, I refuse to, you better fucking wake up you sick bastard!" Hermione continued to beg.

Suddenly, her head shoots up to look at Evangeline and then at her neck. "Your necklace, you could prevent this Ange-"

"Hermione-"

"NO! Listen! That necklace has been there with you ever since you were born! You have to use it! You have to save us!" Hermione pleaded.

"Hermione, it's too dangerous-"

"I don't care! You were with us since Voldemort was at the back of Quirrell's head, you helped Harry find the Chamber, we saved Sirius from the kiss, supported Harry throughout the fourth year, went to the Ministry of Magic, and tracked down the Horcruxes! It cannot end like this, I'm begging you. You can still stop it." Hermione's eyes stared at Evangeline's. As much as it hurts her to admit it, Hermione was right, after everything they've been through, they couldn't lose, not now.

With a deep sigh, Evangeline nodded, clutching the necklace beneath her shirt. Furrowing her eyebrows, she looked at Hermione.

"What about you?! I can't leave you here with a broken leg, a-and Ron! You guys could be found and killed!" Evangeline expressed.

Hermione offered her a pained smile, glancing down at the resting ginger before taking Evangeline's hand. "I have nothing else to lose, Ange. My parents don't know I exist, Harry's gone, Ron's-" She gulps, "Ron is dead. I'm not that opposed to the idea of dying when the people I live for have gone before me."

Evangeline shakes her head, "No, Hermione. I cannot leave you here. I am still with you! I am still alive!"

"It's only a matter of time before they kill you too!" They stare at each other, "Ange, he knows who you are, he knows of your family, and for some reason, he wants you, either by his side or underneath the ground. And we both know for a fact that I will not survive this war considering what I am. You have the power to stop this." Hermione pleaded once more.

"Hermione, I-" Evangeline pauses before taking a breath, "Fine. I shall do it, but only after I take you someplace safe." She said before standing up and taking Hermione's hand.

"I've got them." A voice from behind emerges.

Evangeline looked over her shoulders to see an exhausted man, his shoulder sagged, his posture un-even, he was limping from the gash that was in his left leg.

Evangeline let out a gasp.

"Draco!" She yelled before hugging him. "Yeah, yeah, missed me, Moonlight?" He chuckled lightly heartedly.

The very first person that she met at Hogwarts, they sat with each other the whole ride and laughed at everything and anything. Even though they were sorted into different houses, it did not stop their friendship from blossoming. Evangeline may not agree with most of Draco's beliefs but he surprisingly held back from the mean comments whenever she was near.

Draco had helped them escape Umbridge's office in their fifth year when they were about to help Harry's godfather. He lied to his family and told them he didn't recognize Harry, ultimately saving them from the Dark Lord. He also gave up his wand to Harry in hopes that he would win his battle against Voldemort.

"Malfoy." Hermione let out a breath.

"Granger," Draco nodded before widening his eyes and looking at the body of a once-alive Weasley, turning his gaze towards the shorter female, "You have to stop this Ange, I'll get Granger to somewhere safe and you gather all the things that you need to stop him." Draco holds her hands.

Evangeline looks down at their hands and lets out another breath, nodding her head, "Okay." She looks up at him, "You better keep Hermione safe, Draco. You better not let anyone hurt her or you will be hearing from me."

Draco smiled, "You look like an angry mouse, Moonlight."

Evangeline playfully hits him, she turns to look at Hermione and gives her a nod. She looks at Draco, engulfing him in another hug.

"Please stay safe, I'll come back, I promise." She says, escaping from the hug.

"We will, and you better come back, Evangeline, or so help me I will kill you myself," Draco warned.

She looked back at Hermione and Ron one more time and slowly started to walk away. "Evangeline!" Hermione yelled back.

Stopping in her tracks, she turned back once more to see Hermione rummaging through her enchanted bag and taking out a map.

"This might help you." She said, giving Evangeline the item.

"The Marauder's Map? Hermione, I can't-"

"Take it, please! It's safer in your hands." She said.

Evangeline smiled and uttered a thank you before turning around once again and getting stopped by a larger hand on her shoulder.

"Evangeline," Draco said. Evangeline turned towards him and said, "What?"

"Here," Draco took off a ring from his finger. "It's the snake ring I always see you looking at." He gives her the ring.

"Are you sure, Draco?"

"Of course I am. The password is 'Lilies'"

She smiled, "Thank you, I'll always keep it with me, the map too, Hermione. I'll come back when I'm done, I love you both." She said, giving Draco a peck on his cheek, and a wave to Hermione, before running towards the Headmaster's office.

Draco stood for a second, looking at the retreating figure before crouching down to help Hermione.

"She's gonna be okay, Malfoy," Hermione said, grunting as she put her arm over Draco's shoulder.

Draco let out a sigh, "Yeah, I know she would be."

Once they both got their balance, Hermione took out her wand to levitate the body of a once carefree Ron Weasley.

•••

Heaving and gasping for air, Evangeline finally reached the last set of stairs and is now standing in front of the Griffin statue that serves as the entryway for the Headmaster's office. Looking around the halls, Evangeline took a deep breath before muttering the password that Draco had told her, hoping that it would work.

"Lilies."

Surprisingly, the Griffin started to move, revealing another set of stairs that Evangeline had to walk on. She pondered for a moment, wondering why the password had been Lilies, she never took Snape for someone who liked flowers. Letting out a frustrated breath, she moved forward and started to walk.

Upon reaching the room, she looked around. Not much changed had happened from the last time she was in here. Except maybe for a few red items that were now in the colored black.

"Ah, Ms. Moonlight, I was wondering when you were going to appear." The hair on her neck started to rise when she heard the voice. Evangeline looked behind her to see a painting of her old Headmaster on top of the doorway.

"Professor Dumbledore." She breathes out.

"It has come to my attention that Hogwarts has fallen."

"Professor, I don't know what to do! Hermione told me I could save them, and Draco believed in me. Ron's dead, and Harry's-" She rambles before getting stopped by Dumbledore.

"Breathe, Evangeline. We have talked about what you must do if ever the war is lost. You know what must be done, you have the power to change him." Dumbledore stated the twinkle in his eyes was still there.

Even after his death, Dumbledore was still adamant about doing the 'greater good' as he liked to call it, even when it meant that innocent people were going to be in danger, just like Evangeline herself.

"You don't know that!" She yelled.

"I do, Evangeline. I know you can." Dumbledore assured her.

"What if I fail, what if I let everyone down, what if I make things worse, what will happen then." Evangeline sneered.

Dumbledore only smiled, "You won't, have I ever lied to you, Evangeline?"

Evangeline looked at Dumbledore with a bit of anger. Sure, Dumbledore had helped her countless times before, but Dumbledore and she disagreed on a lot of things, including the part where he sets out teenagers on suicide missions like this one when he could've done it himself.

She remembers the night Dumbledore had asked her to come into his office in her sixth year.

2 hours before curfew, Evangeline was in the library doing some last-minute revisions. She was wearing her Quidditch jumper and some sweatpants, she had just finished some practice earlier that day and decided to take some rest in the library, but then she remembered the exam that they were gonna have the next day.

While reading, a short boy, no older than 12 came running towards her, tapping her shoulder.

The Gryffindor boy was catching his breath, assuming he had run a long distance to find her. After a few breaths, he was able to let out a few words, "Professor Dumbledore is calling you in his office." He said.

Evangeline smiled at him, taking her wand that was on the table and waving it towards the boy. He suddenly gains the ability to breathe easily once again.  "Woah, thank you! What spell was that?" He asked.

Evangeline gave a small chuckle, "You'll learn it in your third year. Now I must get going, you best not run like that again, it is obvious that you are out of shape, and you may hurt yourself." She said, gathering her things before standing up.

The boy turned red, embarrassed at the fact that she called him unfit. "I will." The boy nodded his head. Evangeline turned to him and ruffed up his hair. "Thank you for the message." She said, walking towards the door of the library.

After a good few minutes and a very out of breath Evangeline, she was now standing in front of the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"Why does Hogwarts have so many stairs." She grumbled.

"Sour Pop."

The Griffin started moving, revealing the set of stairs she had to walk up again. "Bloody Dumbledore and his love for sweets, I swear he has diabetes." She said under her breath.

Once she entered, Dumbledore was sitting down on his chair, awaiting her presence.

"Ms. Moonlight." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Professor, you wanted to see me?"

"Indeed, take a seat, Evangeline. This may take a moment." And so she does.

"Evangeline, my days are numbered—"

'I knew it, it's the diabetes.' Evangeline thought, before focusing on what Dumbledore had to say.

"I'm afraid that by the end of this year, I won't be here to give any more help."

"What do you mean, sir?" Evangeline asks.

"I'm dying, child," Dumbledore stated.

Evangeline stared for a moment before saying, "Oh."

"And while this is a big thing to ask, I'm afraid it is necessary. The war is already upon us, and I am not a hundred percent certain that we will come out victorious. He is stronger than ever, Evangeline. And when worst comes to worst, I'm going to have to ask you a big favor." Dumbledore stared at her.

The blood rushing towards her head, she can hear her heart beating, getting faster with every second that passes by. She has no idea what he wants from her, but one this is for sure, it's something that she's not gonna like.

"What is it, sir?" She somehow manages to let out.

"When Tom Riddle wins, you must go back in time to cha-" he was interrupted by Evangeline standing up.

"No."

"Evangeline-"

"No! I refuse to meddle with time!" Evangeline angrily said.

"It is a must, Evangeline."

"Why don't you do it then?!" She scoffed.

"Evangeline, you were gifted with the magic to bend time in your own hands, you must use this gift for the greater good," Dumbledore stated.

"To hell with your greater good! Nothing good has ever happened to anyone who played with time."

"And that is because they weren't supposed to, Evangeline. You were chosen, you have the power. Time deemed you worthy." Dumbledore tries to convince the girl.

Evangeline let Dumbledore's words sink into his mind. It was true, she was only 4 years old when she had a dream.

A figure, shaped like a woman came to her, light surrounded her like a saint, and the white robes she wore flowed around her figure. She walked closer to 4-year-old Evangeline and knelt at her level.

"Hello, little one." She smiled, even her smile was blinding, Evangeline may have been young but this woman was the most beautiful person that she had ever seen in her entire life.

"Hello, are you an angel?" She asked her.

The woman let out a light laugh and shook her head, "I am not, however, I have something of yours." The woman reached out to grab little Evangeline's hand, placing an object.

"What is it?" Evangeline asked, inspecting the object.

She held it up to her face, it was a necklace. The chains of the necklace were thin and had a gold pattern. The main part of it though, was the clock that was embedded in a gold rim that swirled around it. In the middle of the clock, was a blue crystal that was shining, if you look into it deeper, it resembled what the stars of the galaxy look like. The clock was big enough that it fit into 4-year-old hands but rather small enough that it would be unnoticeable if you didn't look close enough.

"That, my dear, is the Chrono Crystal." The woman replied.

"Like my middle name!" Little Evangeline said excitingly.

"Exactly."

"What does it do?" Little Evangeline replied, still enthralled by the necklace in her hands.

"It allows you to travel through time-"

"Like a time traveler?!"

"Like a time traveler," The woman chuckled. "I'm giving you this necklace as you were the chosen Time Keeper, for generations to come."

"What do you mean, miss?"

"This was given to you in case anything goes wrong. I fear that the time is nearing, dear. You were born at the perfect moment. Disaster is coming, Evangeline, you will be the one to stop it."

"Huh? What do you mean disaster?"

"You will know when it comes, dear. Time is in your hands, you can redo the damage. Save your friends, your family, and yourself." The woman said.

"What's going to happen?" Evangeline asked tearfully.

"I cannot tell you, Evangeline. It will come when it does, and once it does, you will be there. Now I must go, that necklace mustn't get into the wrong hands, do you understand me?" She pointed at the necklace and Evangeline nodded.

"You protect that necklace with all your might. Do not let anyone else have it."

"Okay."

"I will be seeing you again, Evangeline, but for now, happy birthday." The woman smiled, standing up. Suddenly, the light that was once surrounding her, appeared once again, engulfing her by the second.

"Wait! What's your name?" Evangeline hurriedly asked.

"Time." And suddenly, she was gone.

Little Evangeline woke up to the necklace that surrounded her neck, ever since then, she had made a promise to never let anyone touch that necklace.

Reminiscing the very real dream she once had, she looked at Dumbledore with a sigh. "You better have a plan for me if ever that time does come, old man." She angrily points a finger at him.

Dumbledore smiles, pulling out a letter with a seal that has the letter "D".

"If that time ever does come, you will go back to the year 1943, a few weeks before Hogwarts starts. You will mail this letter to my younger self, he will be aware of everything and will aid you with your task." He gave the letter to Evangeline.

"And how do you suppose I can mail this to the younger you? I don't exactly have an owl in the 40's." Evangeline rolled her eyes.

Dumbledore chuckled, "I have it all sorted out, here I have all the things that you might need all packed up." He lifted his wand and along came a levitating suitcase with the famous "H" of the school in front.

"It has all the clothes that you might need, and your quidditch gear." Dumbledore winked.

Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows and eyed him suspiciously, "Why can't I have my clothes that I already have?"

"You might not have enough time to pack your stuff, Evangeline, assuming that you are in the middle of the war. You also cannot use your original clothes as you are in the year 1940s, they were different attire young lady." Dumbledore hummed.

Realizing that he was right, Evangeline scoffed, "I can't wear sweatpants can't I?"

"If you want to look like a proper lady from the 40's, I suggest that you wouldn't. But knowing who you are, that won't stop you." Dumbledore chuckles. "Now that we established this, I will hide your suitcase under the floorboard when the time comes. I expect you to go through with this plan, as the wizarding world lies in your hands, Evangeline. You may go and take your rest before curfew comes." Dumbledore told her.

Evangeline rolls her eyes and bids him goodnight before leaving the office. Not that she will ever have to go back in time and change Voldemort, she was positive that Harry will defeat him.

Now back at the present day, she shouldn't have been too trusting in Harry's abilities. She was deeply regretting her decisions now, knowing that they had lost. But Evangeline was not one to back out, she kept her word especially when the world was at stake.

"Let's just get this over with." Evangeline huffed, going towards the hidden compartment under the floorboard, using her wand, she lifted the hatch, and out came the trunk that Dumbledore had stored for her.

"Do you have the letter?" Dumbledore asked.

Suddenly, Evangeline's eyes widened, she did not have the letter, it was stuck in her dormitory. She looked up at Dumbledore who noticed her panicked state and sighed. Evangeline took a second to think, it's not like Dumbledore can rat her out, he was already dead. With a snap of her fingers, the letter appeared in her hand.

Dumbledore looked impressed, "Materialization, very impressive magic, Ms, Moonlight. No one has ever done that, not since-"

"Morgana Le Fay, yeah yeah spare me the information." She waved her hand at him to dismiss him.

"You are a powerful witch, Evangeline. I wish you all the best. Change him." He said, with a twinkle in his eyes causing Evangeline to sneer.

She hated those eyes. Sometimes, she fantasizes about stabbing in with a fork every time he stood up to give a speech at every event at Hogwarts when he was still alive.

"Thanks, I guess." She said, gathering her stuff.

She takes out the necklace under her shirt and stares at it for a good few seconds. Looking back at Dumbledore, he gave her an encouraging nod. Evangeline nodded back and started to turn the hands of the clock. She gives it a few turns and stops. The blue crystal starts to glow, and turns into a bigger light that engulfs her, looking at Dumbledore one last time, and suddenly. She was no longer there.

All that was left were blue particles and dust that surrounded Dumbledore's office.