A few hours later, what Hermione had predicted came true.

"Damn that beak-nosed git!" cursed Malfoy. He kicked angrily at the partial mock-up he, Ron and Harry had begun to work on. They had soon come to the conclusion that a mock-up was absolutely useless and agreed that Snape had set them up. Hermione had not gone back to the library but had sought out the boys and confirmed what they'd already figured out for themselves.

Draco was handling the news destructively, while Harry paced and brooded darkly in the corner of his room. Ron really wasn't terribly concerned and he just watched Harry and Draco and did his best to keep Hermione from apologizing again.

"Fine," Harry growled from the corner. Draco looked up a moment from destroying the mock-up. "If he doesn't want us bothering him, then let's just go and do something else."

"What are we going to do, Potter. We can't even leave the school grounds without an adult tagging along behind us." Draco flopped himself sullenly into a chair.

"Ron?" Harry glanced at Ron, asking a question with his eyes.

Ron stared at Harry, expecting a question, but one didn't seem forthcoming. "What?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders in frustration. "I know a way out of Hogwarts that leads right to Hogsmeade." Ron suddenly knew what Harry had up his sleeve and he couldn't believe that his friend was going to reveal such information to a Slytherin. Ron was about to protest, vehemently, but Harry indicated that it was all right.

"You do? Let's go!" crowed Draco.

"Wait a minute," said Harry. "If I show you the way, you can't tell anyone about it when we get back to our own time. You've got to swear, Malfoy."

"Well, that's not fair. How do you expect me to keep quiet about a secret like that?" Draco's scowl was back on his face.

"You either promise, or when we do get back, I'll ask Dumbledore to block it." Harry scowled right back.

"All right, I promise. If we get back to our own time, I'll keep the secret to myself and never tell anyone else." Draco smiled as his fingers crossed behind his back.

They quickly left the Gryffindor guest wing and followed Harry as he led them down stairs, through corridors, turning corners until they came to a familiar area. Ron held back, his eyes going wide. "That's Filch's office, Harry!"

Harry laughed. "It isn't, yet, Ron. Watch this." Standing to the right of the door that would one day lead into Argus Filch's depressing office, he began to touch, in sequence, a series of stones that were a slight shade darker than the surrounding stones. Draco watched carefully and realized it was a simple sequence. He'd have no trouble with this passage, despite the presence of Filch in the 20th century. What Draco didn't know was that this passage was one of four that Filch knew about that had been blocked by Dumbledore since Salazar Slytherin's basilisk had used it to access the upper halls when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened.

"Harry," asked Hermione. "Are you sure this leads to Hogsmeade?"

"It does. We'll wind up near The Three Broomsticks." The wall shimmered as Harry touched the last stone and they were able to step into darkness. Draco paused for a moment, but Hermione grabbed his hand and yanked him through. Doorways such as this didn't have a habit of waiting for those who hesitated. The wall shimmered back into substance once Draco had crossed the threshold.

"Harry, it's very dark in here." Ron's voice quavered.

Hermione and Draco both came to the rescue with the 'Lumos' charm. The passage sloped downward and then vanished in a sharp curve to the left. Harry charmed his wand also and continued to lead the way. Twists and turns continued, but that wasn't the worst part of the passage. The floor was dangerously slick. This made them more cautious and slower. At one point Hermione nearly took a rough spill but Draco caught her and helped her back to her feet.

After almost an hour, they finally came to the end of the passage. Blocking their way were sharp thorns and heavy vines twisted together. Hermione came to the rescue with a charm that parted the thick growth just enough to let them out.

It was still early in the afternoon and Hogsmeade was busy. The chief mode of travel was horse and carriage and then one's own feet. The Hogwarts Express station was behind them and the Three Broomsticks was just ahead.

"I hope they serve butterbeer!" Draco forged ahead now and the three Gryffindors fell into step behind him. He pushed through the door and they were soon met by a pretty woman with a long, blonde braid down her back and a pair of silver spectacles upon her nose.

"Hello my dears! What can I get you?" she asked.

"Do you have butterbeer?" asked Draco.

"Aye, that we do, young sir. Will there be four of those?" She received four quick nods. "Take any table you'd like and I'll bring your drinks straight away."

The young maid bustled off, followed by the open-mouthed stares of Ron, Harry and Draco.

"Oh just stop it!" muttered Hermione. She made her way to an empty table and they soon stumbled after her. A few minutes later the maid returned with their butterbeer.

"I'm Delouisa. Did school let out early today?" she asked as she placed their drinks upon the table.

Harry spoke up, "Our uncle is doing research at Hogwarts. We got bored." Harry took a galleon from his pocket and paid for the drinks.

Delouisa laughed as she took the coin from Harry. "I always thought school was rather dull meself."

For a few minutes they sipped their butterbeer and then Ron leaned back and sighed happily. "Oy it's good to get away from there."

Draco stared into the amber liquid. Hermione addressed him. "What's on your mind, Draco?" It startled him to hear his first name used by Hermione, yet he found he quite liked it.

"Just thinking about my family. My ancestors, actually. My... great-grandparents they'd be. I think." He took a sip of his drink. "If we got stuck here, d'you think I'd have to go live with them?"

"I doubt that," said Harry firmly. "Do you know how much that would mess up your family's history with everything you know about the future."

"I don't get that," snapped Draco. "Why can't we tell someone here about the Dark Lord? If they know, maybe someone could kill him before he even became trouble. My father would never become a..." he halted suddenly.

"My parents wouldn't be dead," Harry said sullenly.

Ron leaned forward. "Yeah, why couldn't we do that? We could warn Dumbledore!"

Hermione was the voice of reason. "We couldn't do that, Ron. We can't change time. According to much of what I've read so far, the theory that one can change the future can be done, but if one evil is done away with, a greater one can take its place."

"But that's a theory!" Draco said.

"I know, but would you want to take that chance?" Hermione shook her head. "I'm worried about just what our presence here has caused. We didn't even bother to change our names."

"Professor Snape said there was a spell that would take care of everyones memories of us." Ron reminded her.

"He said it wouldn't work on everyone. The headmistress will remember us and so will Professor Dumbledore." Hermione took a long sip of her butterbeer. "I expect if we can't get back home, we'll have to live someplace else. We probably won't even be able to go to Hogwarts."

"I just thought of something really awful," said Ron with a shocked look on his face, "We'd be stuck with Snape as our guardian. He really would be our uncle!"