The Missing Piece ||°Theseus Scamander °

°Reversing Time°

Startled by the letter, Lydia's hands trembled as she read the words penned by her former Professor. She looked directly into the eyes of the aging McGonagall, but her once warm smile now held a hint of uncertainty, unsettling Lydia even further.

"Well, my dear, I hope it is not too daunting a task that Dumbledore has bestowed upon you," said McGonagall, her voice laced with concern. "I believe in your abilities, but be cautious."Lydia, always reserved and quiet, nodded hesitantly, her mind shrouded in shadows of doubt. She had never fully trusted Dumbledore, sensing that he kept her in the dark about important matters."Don't you want to read the letter too?" she asked, her voice shakier than she intended, still confused by Dumbledore's cryptic mission for her."No, I don't think that would be a good idea. If Dumbledore wrote you this letter in confidence, it's probably not for the eyes of others, not even me," replied McGonagall, her eyes searching Lydia's face, unaware of the inner turmoil brewing within the young witch."My final task now is to escort you to the seventh floor. Dumbledore specifically requested you be taken to the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry."Lydia sighed, her mind a battleground between her desire to fulfill the task and her growing distrust of Dumbledore. She massaged her temples, trying to ease the building headache."I know the way, I'll find it on my own. You don't have to accompany me. You have more important things to attend right now," Lydia said quickly, her heart torn between the loyalty she felt for her professor and her gut feeling that something was not right."I didn't become an Auror for nothing; I can take care of myself, and I think I know what Dumbledore wanted me to do there," she added, trying to sound more confident than she felt.McGonagall's eyes softened with worry as she looked at Lydia from behind her desk."Now, if you want to, Miss Dow. You're right, I have a lot of things to arrange, but I hate to let you go alone," she said, her trust in Dumbledore clouding her judgment about Lydia's hesitation."No, No, don't bother. I can really go by myself," Lydia insisted, wanting to protect McGonagall from whatever dangerous path Dumbledore had set her upon."Very well, then. I wish you much success on your task," McGonagall said, attempting to muster a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. Lydia slowly got up, grabbed the package, and left the office, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. As soon as the Gargoyle closed the office behind her, her steps became faster until she almost ran.What the hell did this dead man ask of her? What more could she do to prevent this war? Nothing Dumbledore had written to her made any sense.Could she even bring herself to do that?She'd have to leave everything behind. Her friends who always stood by her, her job that she loved, her small apartment which she had furnished so lovingly.Did she want to leave all this behind?She knew the rules. If she would travel back, there would be no going back. She could never come back to her time.By now, she had reached the 7th floor.But what would she have here in this future if Voldemort won? She'd lose everything as well, even more. The Wizarding World would enter a dark age, and who knows what would happen to her and all those muggle-borns?She had to do it, what else could she do? Should she do nothing and watch Voldemort enslave the world she knew and loved? Never. She would never do that. She could never do that.She had arrived at the right corridor by now. Her footsteps slowed, and she walked almost reverently, her mind still entangled in uncertainties.She knew what Dumbledore wanted her to do. He wanted her to go to the Room of Requirements and from there to travel back in time to the year 1927.Quickly, Lydia walked past the bare and cold stone wall three times. The third time, a small wooden door appeared in the wall. Without hesitation, Lydia grabbed the door handle and entered the room.What she saw was hauntingly beautiful, yet eerie. It looked exactly like the Ravenclaw common room, but there was a dark aura surrounding it. The round room was filled with dim, blue-tinged lights that flickered like ghostly flames. Marble paneling adorned the walls and floor, but they were etched with strange, cryptic symbols that seemed to move as if alive.In the walls were bookcases supported by high, shadowy columns. Thousands of books stood there, their pages glowing with dark magic, beckoning to those who dared to seek their forbidden knowledge.The ceiling was enchanted, just like the one in the Great Hall, but instead of a clear night sky, it displayed an ominous, swirling vortex of dark clouds and haunting apparitions.Straight ahead was the heart of the common room, a huge marble fireplace that seemed to devour the cold air around it. In the flames, she could see flickering images of long-lost souls and grim events, adding to the room's unsettling ambiance. Above the fireplace was the painting of the founder of her house, but her eyes seemed to follow her every move with a sense of foreboding.In front of the fireplace were two huge, comfortable blue wing chairs, but their velvet upholstery seemed to have absorbed the sorrows and fears of all who had sat in them before. On the small table between the chairs lay a game of magic chess, but the pieces moved on their own accord, replaying a game that had been lost to time.Lydia now visibly calmed down, not due to comfort, but rather a surrender to the darkness that surrounded her. The old, book-smelling room felt like a haunted sanctuary, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.Now visibly less worried, Lydia sat down in one of the wing chairs in front of the fireplace. She removed the chess set from the table and placed the small package on top of it. Hesitantly, she opened it, revealing a golden time turner, a small card, and another sealed letter, all emanating a faint aura of ancient magic.Lydia carefully picked up the card and inspected it intently. It only showed the number 960 written in beautiful cursive blue ink, but to her, it felt like an invitation to step into the unknown depths of time and darkness.A riddle to others, perhaps, but Lydia understood directly. Not for nothing was she a Ravenclaw, and her mind was eager to unravel the mysteries that lay before her.She carefully put the letter, meant for a younger version of Dumbledore, into her left coat pocket and started to inspect the time turner. It was a beautiful golden hourglass in the middle of a wonderfully crafted medallion, adorned with arcane symbols and dark gems. Its beauty was undeniable, but it also carried an undeniable sense of danger, like a forbidden temptation whispering in her ear.But she could not waste any more time marveling over the beautiful necklace, so she started turning the hourglass.Once, twice, three times, it would take a while. But she was patient, albeit with the growing realization that she was about go through time.

As the golden hourglass turned, the world around Lydia seemed to dissolve into a swirling whirlpool of shadows and ethereal lights. Time itself twisted and contorted, like a twisted tapestry being rewoven before her eyes. The room of dark enchantment faded away, and Lydia felt herself being pulled into the depths of a time long past.

With each turn of the time turner, her surroundings shifted and blurred, and she could feel the weight of centuries pressing upon her. Visions of events from the past and future flashed before her mind's eye, some of them filled with hope and happiness, others with terror and despair. It was as if the very fabric of time was whispering its secrets to her, and Lydia felt a profound sense of both awe and dread.Suddenly, everything went quiet, and the world around her stilled. 

She had arrived, but where? It was dark, and Lydia's senses were overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings. As her vision cleared, she found herself standing in a dimly lit, desolate alleyway. The air was heavy with the scent of dampness and decay, and the sound of distant footsteps echoed eerily.

Lydia's heart pounded in her chest as she took in her new surroundings. She had traveled back in time, but to what point in history? Everything around her seemed worn and aged, the buildings sagging under the weight of time and neglect.She cautiously stepped out into the main street, her eyes darting around, searching for any sign of familiarity. The streets were dimly lit by flickering gas lamps, casting long, sinister shadows on the cobblestones. The sounds of horses' hooves and distant murmurs of people filled the air, but there was an unmistakable sense of foreboding.

As she walked, Lydia noticed the darkened shop windows with faded signs, and a chill ran down her spine. She recognized the place - it was Diagon Alley, but a Diagon Alley from decades past, trapped in a time when darkness held the wizarding world in its grip.

Lydia's once familiar and warm surroundings had transformed into a hauntingly beautiful yet dangerous landscape. The aesthetic charm that once attracted her was now overshadowed by a sinister aura. Darkened alleyways seemed to whisper secrets of treachery and betrayal, and she felt a lingering gaze from unseen eyes.

She knew she couldn't linger. The mission Dumbledore had entrusted her with was undoubtedly connected to this dark period, and she needed to tread carefully. She had to find a way to blend in, to become a part of this reality without altering the course of history. Gathering her cloak around her, Lydia ventured further into the alley, seeking refuge in the shadows. She had a letter to deliver, a message that might hold the key to preventing the rise of darkness. Her heart was heavy with uncertainty, her trust in Dumbledore now mingled with a growing sense of doubt. Yet, she knew she couldn't turn back. The fate of her world and everyone she loved depended on her actions in this twisted tapestry of time.