"It must have been a Confundus Charm she used on him," Harry theorized. "Used on them all, She faked being a nurse, she faked being his niece."
"I've just checked in with the Ministry," Hermione said. "But there's no record of her. She's a shadow." As Draco said some spell, Nic turned away from the others, trying to hide the frightened tears streaming down her cheeks. She turned when a sudden hissing noise came from an oil lamp. "What was that?" Hermione asked.
"That's - I'm not supposed to be understanding - that's Parseltongue," Harry said.
"And what does it say?" Tyriq asked.
"How do I?" Harry sputtered. "I haven't been able to understand Parseltongue since Voldemort died."
"And nor has your scar hurt," Hermione countered.
"It says 'Welcome Augury'," Harry explained. "I think I need to tell it to open..."
"Then do it," Nic snapped. He did and the room turned darker, snakes emerging all around as well as a prophecy.
When spares are spared, when time is turned, when unseen children murder their fathers, when Phoenix falls by fire: Then will the Dark Lord return.
"A prophecy," Ginny whispered. "A new prophecy."
"Cedric - Cedric was called a spare," Hermione realized.
"When time is turned," Ron repeated. "She had that time turner, doesn't she?"
"She must," Hermione said.
"But why does she need Scorpius, Albus, Zeph, or Hadassah?" Ron asked.
"Because I'm a parent - who hasn't seen his child," Harry explained. "Hasn't understood his child."
"Who is she? To be so obsessed with all this?" Draco asked.
"I think I've got the answer to that," Ginny said, pointing up.
"I will rebirth the Dark. I will bring my father back," Tyriq read. Looking back to the prophecy, he read again, "When Phoenix falls." His gaze went to Nic who had grown terribly pale.
"No, she can't," Ran stated.
"How is that even possible?" Hermione said.
"Voldemort had a daughter?" Draco said, looking to Tyriq.
"I had no idea," Tyriq replied.
"No, no, no. Not that, anything but that," Harry said as Ginny took his hand.
.....................................
"Are you going to the meeting?" Tyriq asked, sitting down beside Nic.
"She's going to try and kill me," Nic whispered shakily. "And she has my children, my babies."
"I know," Tyriq replied, wrapping his arms around her.
"And I know, Zeph, he wouldn't let anything happen to any of them," Nic sobbed. "Even if it gets him killed and then if that happens Hadassah will try and kill her. Why my children?! Haven't I suffered enough?"
"Shh," Tyriq whispered, holding her tightly as she cried into his chest, her hands clutching his shirt so tightly her knuckles were white.
"Ty," Draco said quietly from the door. Nic tried to get control of herself, glancing over at Draco. "Sorry to interrupt, but I think I know how to get our kids back."
"Then I'm coming," Nic said, standing up to face him.
"Nic, you're in no state to do this," Tyriq protested, standing to face her. "Stay here, I promise I will do everything I can to bring our kids home."
"O-Okay," Nic agreed. "Please, bring me back my kids." Tyriq nodded.
"Let's go," Draco said. Tyriq nodded before heading out the door, kissing Nic's cheek quickly. Once he was gone, Nic fell apart again.
...................................................
"We found them!" Tyriq called, running towards Nic. "Albus managed to send a message to Harry. We know exactly where and when they are."
"I'm coming," Nic said dangerously.
"Okay," Tyriq agreed. Soon they were all standing in Godric's Hollow.
"Godric's Hollow, it must be twenty years," Hermione said.
"Is it just me or are there more muggles about?" Ginny asked.
"We'll find them," Tyriq whispered comfortingly, tracing shapes over the back of her hand in his. Nic nodded, unconvinced before they set up to go back. Soon everything shifted.
"So, has it worked?" Ron asked, looking around.
"Mum?" Albus cried, spotting Ginny.
"Zeph! Dassah!" Nic cried desperately, rushing towards them. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she hugged them tightly. "Oh my god." Tyriq joined in the hug, wrapping his arms around the three of them. "Are you both okay?"
"Something's wrong with Dassah," Zeph replied. "She hasn't woken up and I don't know why!"
"What happened?" Tyriq asked worriedly, taking her from him and laying her down on the ground.
"Delphi hit her with something," Zeph explained.
"What was the spell?" Nic asked.
"It was..." he thought for a moment, trying to remember.
"Crucio," Scorpius said, stepping towards them. "That's what she said." Nic paled.
"And how long has she been been out?" Nic asked shakily.
"Uh, maybe thirty minutes?" Zeph guessed. Tyriq looked her over, trying to figure out what to do.
"I think she might have just passed out from the pain," Tyriq guessed. "Then maybe the traveling in time screwed with her."
"What can we do?" Nic asked.
"Let me try something," Tyriq replied. Quietly he muttered something under his breath. Dassah's eyes fluttered opened.
"Hadassah," Nic cried, hugging her tightly. "Are you okay?"
"What happened?" she asked.
"Not now," Ron said. "Now, where's this Delphi?"
"You know about Delphi?" Scorpius asked.
"She's here," Albus explained. "She's trying to kill you, we think. Before Voldemort cursed himself she's going to kill you and so break the prophecy and..."
"Yes, we thought that might be it too," Hermione admitted. "Do you know where specifically she is now?"
"She's disappeared," Scorpius admitted. "How did you - how did you, without the time turner-"
"That's a long and complicated story, Scorpius," Harry interrupted. "And we don't have tine for it."
"Harry's right," Hermione said. "Time is of the essence. We need to get people into position. Now, Godric's Hollow is not a large place but she could be coming from any direction. So we need somewhere that gives us a good views of the town. That allows for multiple and clear observation points, and that will, most importantly, keep us hidden, because we cannot risk being seen."
"Maybe St. Jerome's Church ticks all those boxes, wouldn't you?" Harry suggested. Once inside, Nic sat down in a pew. Zeph and Hadassah sat down next to her and she quickly hugged them. In a few minutes, the children were asleep, laying against Nic's shoulders and she had fallen asleep with her head resting on Dassah's. Tyriq was pacing around while Ginny watched Albus sleeping in a pew. Harry stared out a window and Draco was talking to Scorpius in a corner before he came over to Tyriq.
"Are they going to be okay?" Draco asked quietly.
"I don't know," Tyriq replied. "I can't stop thinking that I...that I failed."
"Failed, how?" Draco countered.
"I'm their father, I'm supposed to protect them, but I couldn't," Tyriq said. "Hadassah is fourteen and she's already had to deal with something as horrific as the Cruciartus Curse. It was bad enough seeing Nic go through that. With my daughter..."
"I can't imagine," Draco sighed. "But you didn't fail, Tyriq. You do what you can, but one day they do have to grow."