"I'm here," Alli announced plopping down on a bench beside Hermione in the courtyard. Hermine looked up from a book.

"Okay, I have the book in here," Hermione said in a low voice opening her beige messenger bag. She reached inside and retrieved Dark Mythologies of the 17th Century. Alli looked over her shoulder nervously checking that no one was in earshot. Hermione placed the book on her lap and opened it to the Table of Contents. Her finger traced down the chapter titles one-by-one. Alli's heart beat anxiously against her chest. Hermione flipped through the pages and finally stopped on page 201.

The Legend of Potens Infinitum Tempora

Believed to be made from one of the darkest magical substances of our time is the Potens Infinitum Tempora. It is an ancient magic said to be founded by Walton Hackleberry, a wizard of muggle decent, in the late 1600s in Greece. The magical artifact was dismissed as legend when public records showed no indication of a Walton Hackleberry existing in Greece in that era. The Latin name directly translates to "powerful, infinite time" describing the power of this legendary object. Potens Infinitum Tempora, often shorted to the name Infinitum, is described as a glowing orb that hovers exactly 11 inches from the ground accompanied by a dull hum from surging power that draws one closer to the object. The legend goes to tell that the Infinitum is a powerful Dark object that has the ability to transport one to any place in time. It was said to only be handled by the most skilled of wizards for once the power of the Infinitum is used, a sacrifice is coveted.

"Time travel?" Alli whispered. She sat up and looked at Hermione. Hermione shook her head slowly.

"The only way to travel through time is with a time turner," Hermione said.

"Well, maybe not," Alli told her. Alli looked back down at the book. "Plus, it says here that it was dismissed as a legend. So, wouldn't that make people think that time turners were the only way to travel through time?"

"Possibly," said Hermione.

"Wait, when were time turners invented?" Alli asked her. Hermione shrugged.

"I don't know," she admitted, "Why?"

Alli looked Hermione in the eye.

"It doesn't matter," Alli said, "because this thing, this Infinitum, exists… and it's here in the castle."

It was Saturday. After a nice lunch in the Great Hall, Alli and Hermione met up just inside the library doors for detention with Colton. Alli couldn't help being slightly excited. She bounced on her toes as she looked around for Colton. Hermione touched Alli's shoulder.

"What's got your wand in a knot?" Hermione asked Alli. Alli stopped bouncing.

"Sorry," Alli apologized with a weak smile.

"Are you both ready?" said Colton's voice from beside them. His short, tousled, light-brown hair was gelled at the tips and slightly wet like he had just stepped out of the shower. Alli took a deep breath and sighed at the sight of him. Hermione gave Alli a sideways glance and cleared her throat. "Today, you will be shelving books by call number like a muggle library."

Alli reached into her skirt pocket to retrieve her wand but Colton shook his head.

"Without magic," he said.

"But…" Alli began.

"It's not difficult, Alli," said Hermione. Alli sighed. Colton gave Alli brief instructions on how muggle libraries worked and instructed her and Hermione to begin with a giant pile of books that had been returned. Hermione was quick with her work having grown up going to muggle libraries. Alli, however, was struggling. It was not the call system that confused her; it was the problem of being able to reach the shelves. Alli climbed another ladder and was leaning halfway off of the rung when she heard a chuckle. Alli looked over her shoulder. Colton crossed his arms and leaned against the shelf.

"Having some trouble?" Colton asked with a humorous tone.

"Just a bit," Alli said climbing down from the ladder. She had given up. "Do you feel like helping me out?"

"You're the one who got detention," Colton said.

"But, you're a nice guy, right?" Alli said walking over to him with the book. Colton smiled. "Don't you want to help?"

"I've finished." Hermione turned the corner.

"You're done already?" Alli said. She groaned.

"You're dismissed, Granger," said Colton. Hermione nodded once then looked at Alli.

"We'll talk," Hermione said to Alli. Alli nodded.

"Okay, bye."

Hermione turned on her heel and left leaving Alli alone with Colton.

"We're alone," Colton mused aloud. Alli looked around and noticed that they were, indeed, the only ones in the library. A familiar couch in a back corner caught her eye and she thought briefly of Draco. Colton reached over to Alli and took the book she had been holding out of her hands. He placed it on the closest shelf.

"It doesn't go there," Alli told him matter-of-factly.

"I know," Colton muttered, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

"You shouldn't do that. You're going to mess up the call system," Alli told him.

"I shouldn't do this either," Colton said. Then, he snaked his hands around Alli's waist, pulling her against him, and kissed her lips. "Especially because you're in trouble and this is your detention time, and – " Colton broke his own words and pressed his lips against hers again. Alli felt him breathe heavily as she kissed him back. She reached up and touched the back of his neck with her hand, running her fingers through his hair gently. Without warning, Colton picked her up and sat her on the edge of the table. Alli wrapped her legs around his waist. Colton trailed his lips from hers down to her jaw and then to her neck. She felt his hand move over her chest, down, touching the skin underneath her shirt. His other hand delicately moved to her leg. Colton kissed her again, his tongue tracing along her bottom lip. His fingertips ran down from her thigh to her knee and then back up the inside.

"Colton," Alli said nervously, "hold on."

Colton stopped abruptly and pulled away.

"I apologize," he said, his voice full of sincerity. Alli smiled at him. "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting that to— "

"No, it's just..." She looked over his shoulder at the familiar couch. "I don't want to do this here."

"I'm sorry," Colton said. Alli put her finger to his lips.

"Stop," Alli said. Colton raised his eyebrows and Alli smiled. "I said I don't want to do this here. Not that I didn't want to."

Alli saw a flicker of a smile on Colton's face as she pulled her hand away. She let out a deep breath.

"Tell me something," Colton said sitting next to her on the edge of the table. "Why were you in the restricted section last week?"

"Oh," she replied a bit taken aback. She had not expected this.

"I can tell this is important to you. Please," Colton said, "will you share it with me?"

Alli sighed nervously. She wanted to. She felt like she wanted to share everything with Colton now. Her feelings for him had become overwhelming; then, there was Draco. But, Draco was gone. She owed nothing to him. After all, he had lied to her. Colton had never lied to her. Colton wasn't meant to serve Voldemort. For all she knew, Colton could be the one she was supposed to be with, right? Right.

"Okay," she said with a sigh. Alli, then, proceeded to tell Colton everything from when he helped her get the key in Dumbledore's office that night until when she and Hermione learned that the glowing orb-like object hidden deep within the castle was a Potens Infinitum Tempora. When she had finished, Colton looked at her curiously.

"What are you supposed to do, then?" he asked. Alli shrugged.

"I'm not sure," she replied distantly. Alli turned to look away from him.

"Alli," Colton said. Alli looked back at him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Sharing everything with me."

"Oh," Alli said looking down at her hands. "You're welcome."

Colton placed his hand on top of hers. His thumb slowly smoothed over her fingers one-by-one. Then, his breathing shallowed as he whispered: "I want you."

"You've got to be quiet. We can't get caught," Colton whispered to Alli. Alli giggled again as Colton led her down the corridor towards the Hogwarts kitchens. Colton stepped into a shadowy corner where a pile of barrel sat inside a rocky crevasse on the right wall. He dropped Alli's hand.

"What the hell is this supposed to be?" Alli asked crossing her arms. Colton looked at her.

"The entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room," Colton said matter-of-factly.

"Wow," Alli muttered with disdain.

"Do you want to do this or not?" Colton said raising his eyebrows in an authoritative manner. Alli decided to keep her mouth shut. Colton smiled at her and turned back to the barrels. He pulled out his wand and tapped the middle barrel of the second-row multiple times at a moderately rhythmic pace. Then, stepped back. The barrels moved out and to the side revealing large hole in the stone wall. Colton looked at Alli.

"Come on," he said to her. Alli followed Colton through the wall and into a bright and cheery room decorated with wooden furnishings and potted plants with blossoming flowers. A portrait of a woman holding a small golden cup and toasting students was placed above the wooden mantelpiece delicately carved with dancing badgers. Alli walked over to one of the many small, round windows and saw that she was looking out of the castle at ground-level.

"It's pretty in here," Alli commented now looking at one of the many beautiful and interesting plants.

"Alli?" Colton called quietly. Alli looked over her shoulder to see Colton heading up a staircase in the back of the common room. She noticed her heartbeat quickening and her hands beginning to shake as she followed Colton up the stairs. Colton opened the door to his dormitory.

"Wait, Colton," Alli whispered. "Don't you have roommates?"

"Prefects get special treatment," Colton said as he pushed the door open. Colton's dormitory was unbelievably clean, bright, and looked extremely welcoming. A candle chandelier hung from the ceiling illuminating the room in a warm glow. The armoire and bedside table were made of the same wood as the furnishings in the common room. A succulent plant was in the corner of the windowsill, an armchair was beside the bookshelf, and a single double-size four-poster bed sat against the back wall. The light-yellow bedding and soft cotton sheets looked irresistibly inviting to her. Alli swallowed nervously as Colton took off his cloak and tossed it onto the chair.

"Are you okay?" Colton asked her. Alli nodded feeling warmth rise up inside her.

"Just…nervous," Alli admitted with a small laugh. Colton smiled and walked over to her.

"Don't be," he whispered tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. Alli bit her lip. "I love it when you do that," he said in a low, sultry voice. Then, Colton leaned down and kissed her. Alli kissed him back fiercely. He pushed her against the door, reaching behind her to lock it. Alli breathed in deeply as Colton moved his hands underneath her and lifted her up. Alli wrapped her legs around his waist and continued to kiss him. Colton moved her over to the bed and threw her down climbing over her on all fours. Articles of clothing slowly began to litter the floor until there was nothing left to remove. Alli took a deep breath and traced her fingers over Colton's muscled shoulders and bare chest.

"Ready?" Colton whispered. Alli pulled him closer and kissed him letting her teeth graze his bottom lip. She pulled away and raised her eyebrows.

"Are you?" Alli replied. Colton laughed and kissed her again using his hands to pull her up to him. Then, it began.

It is dark. Too dark. Fear is creeping up inside me. Then, I hear my name being called.

"Allison?"

My eyes search the darkness, but nothing is visible. Then, a light appears far away from where I am. It glows a bright blueish-white. It's so familiar.

"Allison?" My name is spoken again, closer to me. The light brightens and moves towards me. Then, he is there in front of me. Draco. It was Draco who was calling me. His gray eyes are bright, but empty of emotion. Fear has consumed him.

"Draco, what are you doing here?" I find myself saying.

"Soon," he replies.

"What?" I am so confused. The glowing light is beside me now. I look at it and I know. The Infinitum. Draco.

"I'll be waiting."