It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 51

Severus nodded but continued to hold her hand, not an unpleasant activity, he was surprised to realize . . . he looked up to see Sirius watching him, without his usual smirk and raised eyebrow . . . Sirius simply looked between the two of them and then nodded before he turned his attention back to Albus' explanation of their activities.

X X X

"If all of this is really happening a second time, Albus," Pomona Sprout asked, after Albus finished his story. "What's to keep someone else from using this new 'Time Turner' to come back and change everything again? For the wrong reasons?  What if it's stolen?"

"Professor Sprout," Draco interrupted, before Albus could say anything. "I'm the one responsible for making the new "Time Turner" and in the future, after all of this is over and we've caught up with what I refer to, myself, as 'real time' and our four Muggle friends are returned to their present day, I will, personally, bury that machine so deep in the 'Department of Mysteries' that if it is ever found, no one will know what it was used for, or when.  And our lives will be ancient history. OR, if that option isn't really as secure as I would like, I'll destroy it . . . I made it, I can take it apart."

"Sounds like a plan, Draco," Harry smiled at him.

"That and the fact that only this group, plus Neville and Ginny, know about the 'Time Turner' and what's been done.  That small number will keep the secret of what really happened with our lives, and the changes to our history from the general knowledge of the rest of the Wizarding World."  Albus added. 

X X X

Draco hung back as the majority of the group drifted away from the table after dinner was concluded, as the Headmaster had asked him to stay for a few minutes.  As the Malfoys, Severus and Healer Treiber turned the corner leading to the stairs, Albus came up beside Draco and motioned him to have a seat, even as he settled on one of the chairs himself.

"This was a perfect example of why we need to be careful about the 'Time Turner'. Our Katie knew what dangers her husband was facing and he was doing his best to save his friends.  He did, indeed, die a noble death, " Albus said, sadness aging his face. "I think, though, that her understanding and acceptance of his fate is the exception, not the norm . . . you will need to destroy it, I'm afraid, Draco.  Also any  notes you may have made for its construction should be disposed of, for extra measure."

"First thing I'll do when we catch up and all is back on track, time wise,"  Draco agreed, nodding.

"For the greater good," Albus intoned.

"My thoughts, exactly," replied Draco. "Which is a bit backward, considering I haven't even built it yet - this time," he added, smiling.

"Ah, then you can start a short ' To do' list: invent, use, destroy!"  laughed Albus.

X X X

"So, by the end of today, the 'Time Turner' we used will be history . . . if you'll pardon the pun," Rupert added.

"Yes," Draco answered, looking down at his hands, clenched in his lap.  "It's for the best, for all of us."

Emma felt a tear slide down her cheek and quickly wiped it away.

"Okay then," said Dan, rubbing his hands together. "We're getting to the good bit, rigging the castle to thwart the invasion . . . why does this remind me of "Home Alone" on steroids?"

Rupert, Tom and Emma burst out laughing as the Wizarding crowd looked at each other, wondering what was so funny.

"You all have to watch that movie sometime!  Our director for the first two movies, Chris Columbus, had done a film about a eight year old who was accidentally left at home while his family took a trip from Chicago, in the States, to Paris.  By the time they realized he was missing, they were in the air on a non-stop flight and couldn't turn around to get to him.  It is a story of how he survives, using all kinds of traps when two crazy burglars try to invade the house.  Also, his Mother's frantic attempts to get back home are pretty funny, too.  You have to remember, Muggles don't 'Apparate', so it takes almost three days for her to get home."