When the Clock Shattered

Chapter 5: "Toothpaste Wars, Time Revelations, and Slytherin Shenanigans"

“Ah,” Dumbledore said cheerfully. “The future has arrived. And with such style.”

Severus narrowed his eyes. “You knew?”

“Let’s just say… the castle whispered.”

Dumbledore gestured for everyone to sit. The students did—some nervously, some dramatically, and Harry and Draco as far from each other as possible without falling off their chairs.

“Now then,” McGonagall said sharply. “Explain. All of you.”

Hermione straightened her back. “We are from twenty-two years in the future. Something went wrong with a time-turner—”

“Actually,” Ron interrupted, Draco sneezed on it.”

“You were the one holding it,” Draco shot back.

Pansy sighed. “The point is, it broke. And here we are.”

“We’re not trying to disrupt anything,” Hermione added. “We just want to stay out of the way until it can be fixed.”

Dumbledore’s gaze twinkled. “And your names?”

They shared looks before nodding.

Harry spoke first. “Harry James Potter. I am the son of James Potter and Lily Evans”

Draco followed. “Draco Lucius Malfoy. Son of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black”

Pansy lifted her chin. “Pansy Parkinson. Daughter of Andrew and Tauria Parkinson”

Blaise leaned back. “Blaise Zabini. Son of Mrs Zabini and father unknown”

Hermione smiled. “Hermione Jean Granger. Daughter of the Grangers”

Ron, scratching his neck awkwardly, mumbled, “Ronald Bilius Weasley.  Son of Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett ”

McGonagall’s eyes widened. “Potter and Malfoy? And a Weasley?”

Lily’s jaw dropped. “I had a child with James Potter?”

Severus rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Saw that coming. You never shut up about him.”

“I did not!”

“You did. Constant complaints, but somehow his hair was always ‘stupidly perfect’ and his laugh ‘annoyingly charming.’ It was obvious.”

Dumbledore chuckled.

McGonagall sighed. “And which Houses were you in?”

“Gryffindor,” Harry said.

“Gryffindor,” Hermione added with Ron.

“Slytherin,” said Draco, Blaise, and Pansy in sync.

There was a beat of silence.

“You’re… friends?” McGonagall blinked.

Pansy smirked. “Some of us more than friends.”

Hermione turned pink and looked away. “We’re dating.”

“And so are Ron and I,” Blaise said casually, throwing an arm over Ron’s shoulder, who turned crimson.

Harry and Draco looked horrified. “We’re not—” they both began.

“Dating!” Draco yelped.

“In love!” Harry choked.

“Not even a little!” they said together.

Pansy gave Hermione a knowing look. “Denial looks so pretty on them.”

Dumbledore smiled warmly. “Well, now. That is… delightfully progressive.”

“Now, for the arrangements,” he continued. “Which house and year would you like to be sorted into while we work on fixing this?”

“Slytherin. Fifth year,” Harry and Draco said together, glaring at each other like how dare you copy me.

“Why,” Severus asked through clenched teeth, “would you do this to me?”

“You’re there,” Draco said.

“And you’re less insane and more mature than most mainly the Marauders,” Harry added.

“That’s debatable,” Severus muttered, as McGonagall covered a laugh.

“I’d like to be in Gryffindor,” Pansy said, “I want to know how the lion lives.”

“Same,” Blaise said. “But mostly cause Ron’s there.”

Ron nodded. “Wouldn’t feel right not being in the same house.”

“Gryffindor fifth year as well,” Hermione confirmed.

Dumbledore clapped his hands. “Excellent. Lily, would you look after the Gryffindors?”

Lily nodded. “They’re more mature than James and his crew ever were. Should be easy.”

Severus crossed his arms. “And let me guess. I am saddled with the Toothpaste Twins.”

“Indeed,” Dumbledore said, smiling brightly. “They’re your cousins now.”

“Old man,” Severus growled, “are you becoming blind? They’re seventeen. I’m twelve. They argue about oral hygiene and scream at each other like banshees. One has Lucius’s hair, the other James’s everything. I am two seconds away from drinking poison.”

“A reasonable argument,” Dumbledore said thoughtfully. “Mint versus cinnamon. Intriguing, really.”

Severus facepalmed so hard, it echoed.

“And what of their names?” Lily asked. “People will recognize them.”

“Use ours,” Severus said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “They’re Evanses and Snapes now. Cousins. Good enough cover.”

Dumbledore beamed. “Perfect.”

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Meanwhile, in Gryffindor Tower…

“Those little shits,” Sirius grumbled, rubbing bruise balm onto his shoulder. “Where did they even come from?”

“No clue,” Remus said. “But that spectacle-wearing one looks way too much like James.”

“Blondie walks and talks like Lucius Malfoy,” Sirius muttered.

“And the redhead’s definitely a Weasley,” Peter added.

They were all nursing wounds from earlier.

“Let’s prank them,” James said suddenly.

“And Severus,” Sirius added automatically.

“Not Lily,” James said defensively.

“Why not?” Sirius snapped.

“Because she’s my crush!” James argued.

“Oh yeah? Then why did you suggest pranking Remus’s crush last week?”

“Because his crush—!”

“Boys!” Remus interrupted. “Let’s just prank all of them.”

They all nodded.

And so, Operation “Future Payback” was born—with a giant roll of parchment, a list of names, and a box of suspicious fireworks.

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