You can't change history...

The next morning at breakfast Hermione rushed through and hurried to find Mika. She spotted her just outside the dining hall. “So, where did you two go off to last night?” she grinned.

“Exactly what are you insinuating, young lady?” Mika tried to sound coy, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

“Oh, nothing. Only I saw how he was looking at you.”

“What do you mean? How was he looking at me? I didn’t notice anything.” Mika was surprised.

“Well, never mind. I was probably just imagining things,” she winked. They both laughed. “So, what are you doing today?”

“Actually, I am going to do some research in the library.”

Hermione became all excited. “Really? Can I help?”

“Have you done your paper for Ancient Runes?” the timelord folded her arms and gave her a stern look.

“Finished it yesterday.”

“And all your other homework?”

“Yep. Done.”

“Well, I don’t know…”

“Oh please, Mika! I’m sure I can help you. What sort of research is it?”

Mika smiled. “Yes, I do believe you could help me. I’ve heard you’re the most knowledgeable little bookworm in the castle!” she laughed.

“Oh don’t tease. I really would like to help.” Hermione thought for a moment. “Does it have anything to do with Professor Lupin?”

“Now whatever could you mean by that?” Mika frowned.

Hermione leaned closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I know about his ‘condition’.”

Mika looked truly astonished at this revelation.

“But how…”

“Professor Snape. He came in to cover for Professor Lupin who had taken ill. He insisted on giving us a two parchment paper to do on how to detect a werewolf even though we were nowhere near that part of the book yet. I think that was his way of getting back at him and letting the ‘secret’ slip. But don’t worry, I don’t think anyone else picked up on it.”

Mika was amazed. “You are entirely too smart for your own good, you know that Hermione Granger?”

“So can I help?” she pleaded.

“Well I don’t see how I could refuse!”

The two ladies made their way to the school library where they tried to do as much in depth research into werewolves and all possible known cures or relief spells or potions or charms as they could without attracting any undue attention to themselves. Hermione was particularly thrilled when Mika, because of her rank as ‘teacher’, no matter how unofficial she was, was allowed to go into the ‘restricted’ section. The young witch was like a kid in a candy shop.

At a nearby table sat a group of Second year students. They watched Hermione intently jealously as she worked with who seemed to be everyone’s favourite teacher; next to Professor Lupin that is.

“Look at her. She thinks she’s so smart,” said Mabel Lucia, a chubby blonde with loads of freckles covering her face.

“Teacher’s pet!” snorted her friend, Callum Jenkins. His father was a muggle from Wales. He had dark shaggy hair that was always in his face.

Sarah Ingersoll glared at both of her friends. “Shhhh will ya? They’ll hear you. Look at her though, acting as if she’s Miss Mika’s assistant. You know, they hang out together all the time.” She brushed back her long, strawberry blonde hair.

“Well Miss Mika did say that we were to consider her our friend. Maybe she really meant it?” said Mabel hopefully.

“Are you kidding? She’s a teacher. Teachers are teachers. They don’t mix with us students. Not socially,” Sarah sniffed. “Why should she be any different?”

“Cos she’s an alien?” Callum chimed in. Sarah popped him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “Ow!”

“Shhhhh!” came a fifth year student from the next table buried hopelessly in a pile of numerology books.

“Idiots,” Sarah hissed. “She thinks she’s so smart, that Hermione Granger. She’s not the only witch here you know.”

“Well why don’t you do something to show her up?” Callum suggested.

“Like what?”

“Well, you could find a really hard spell that she doesn’t know and learn it and then perhaps get points for Ravensclaw for being so resourceful and clever like she always does?” Mabel suggested.

“Hmmm, that’s not a bad idea. But what sort of spell?”

“I know. You can score points with Miss Mika by finding a time travelling spell. That would be sure to get some attention.” Callum braced himself for another whack. He didn’t know why he spoke out sometimes.

“Yeah, good idea for a change,” Sarah smiled. “But time travel? That’s one of the most guarded secrets in wizardom. Very few people even know the spells let alone can even do them.”

They trio settled down to think out their plans, never taking their eyes off Mika and Hermione.

***

After several a few hours of research, Mika looked at the time. “Rassilon’s Rod!” she exclaimed. “It’s nearly time for my lecture. Wouldn’t do for the teacher to be late would it?” she smiled. “You coming?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Hermione beamed.

In their hurry Mika forgot to put away the last of the ‘restricted’ volumes. Sarah Ingersoll did not miss this fact. As soon as they had left, she hurried over to the table where the two ladies were sitting.

“Hey, there’s some really wild stuff in here,” she said, motioning the others over. “I’m sure we can find something to show Miss Granger that she’s not the only one in this school with a brain!”

***

On the way to the dining hall Mika and Hermione quietly discussed some of the things they had found out. It wasn’t encouraging.

“Everthing seems to be more superstition and how to ward them off… or kill them,” Mika shuddered.

“We don’t want to do that,” Hermione shook her head.

“No. I’ll just have to ask Remus some pointed questions that only he would know the answers to. Perhaps if I can get to the bottom of how it works, maybe I can figure out what will help to counteract the effects of whatever it is specifically that causes them.”

Hermione was trying to understand just exactly what her friend had said when they ran into Ron and Harry.

“Hey where have you guys been?” Ron interrogated.

“In the library,” Hermione replied casually. “Mika’s been, um, helping me with some of my homework.”

They shared a knowing grin.

“Since when do you need help?” Harry looked at her with amazement.

“I don’t know everything you know,” she sighed.

“Coulda fooled me,” Ron exchanged a look with Harry who grinned.

Hermione decided not to get into their childish bantering and let it go there. “Are you coming to the lecture?” she changed the subject.

“Duh,” said Ron.

When they came to the dining hall Mika was amazed to see it was already nearly filled.

“Has Dumbledore called a meeting or something?” she asked, puzzled.

“Your lectures are very popular with the students, my dear,” smiled Mrs. McGonagal from near Mika’s elbow.

“My word!” was all Mika could say. She left the others to find a seat and made her way to the podium from which the Headmaster usually made his school announcements. She had decided that today, since nearly the entire school were there, she would lecture on the most important thing of all about time travel: the dangers.

***
Mika looked out over dining hall at the eager young faces who were ready to hang on her every word. Never before had she held such power. Never before had she felt so nervous. She cast her eyes to the back of the room where most of the professors all stood as well. It seemed that only Snape was not there. And Lupin.
Mika smiled. “Today, guys, I think we’ll do things a little differently today. We’ll have our usual question and answer session but first I want to speak of something very important. The number one rule of time.”

Everyone seemed to sit up a bit straighter as they responded to Mika’s more serious tone.

“Time travel, ladies and gentlemen, is a very dangerous business. The Time Lords realised this immediately when they developed the ability to travel through time and the Great Lord Rassilon, a very wise and powerful, and the first of the Time Lords, put every safeguard in place he could think of to prevent time from being tampered with. Rules were laid down and they were meant to be followed under penalty of dispersion.

“But the number one rule is that history cannot be changed.” She gave this a moment to sink in, then reiterated it. “No matter what you think, there is no way to change what has already occurred. When you travel in time, you can only observe or participate. You cannot change anything.”

Mika examined the faces in front of her as she spoke. “Now I know what each and every one of you has probably been thinking ever since I arrived here at Hogwart’s and you learned that I could travel through time. ‘Why doesn’t she go back and do this, or do that?’ The answer is simple: I cannot. It is impossible for me to go back and change anything.”

Her eyes came to rest on Harry’s. “Don’t you think that if I could I wouldn’t go back and prevent Harry’s parents from being killed?”

Harry’s eyes welled up, Hermione, seated next to him placed her hand on his arm.

She looked next to Neville. “Or Lord Voldemort from coming to power and doing all those horrible things?”

“Or a little boy from being bitten by a wolf?” Mika looked towards the back to see Remus Lupin just coming to a stop inside the crowded doorway.

“The truth is that I can’t do it. I’d give anything if I could fix those things but it is impossible. Even if I were to say, stop Voldemort, another wizard would have risen to take his place and he or she would have done the same things. The fact remains, that the end result will always be the same.”

“It’s a hard truth, I know, but things happen for a reason, and nothing can deter that end result. Even if Voldemort were stopped, something would have killed your parents, Harry.” She looked straight at him, and somehow he knew that she was right. “They would have been in a car accident or fallen ill but it was just their time. It just so happens that in this particular scheme of things Voldemort killed them. And you were always meant to live and perhaps go on to do great things.” Mika smiled softly.

“But,” she said loudly, pulling them out of their reverie, “this doesn’t mean that from time to time, no pun intended, that things don’t get a little out of whack. Things happen to cause rifts in space, folds in the universe or eddies in the space time continuum.”

Cries of “What’s he doing there?” and “Who’s Eddie?” rose from the crowd followed by soft laughter.

“You guys are quick!” Mika laughed along, quickly casting a glance at Dumbledore as if to ask ‘how’m I doing?’. “That’s where I come in. These anomalies are detected and I am sent out to ‘fix’ whatever needs fixing.”

“So you’re sort of the time police?” asked Colin Creavey.

“Exactly. It’s not that common for stuff to go wrong, so mostly I just wander around helping people who ask or need it.” She just caught Dumbledore’s wink. “But I am not changing history, I am merely participating. The end results are the same as they always would have been, I am just there instead of someone or something else.”

A hand shot up. It was Draco’s. “So if what you’re saying is true, then why do we do anything if it’s all pre determined? If it’s all going to happen anyway, what’s the point in even living?”

“A very good question Mr. Malfoy. The thing is, it’s not history until it has happened. Until then, it’s just the future. And no one knows the future.” She caught the quick glare of contempt Mrs. Trelawney shot at her. “I mean we can see glimpses of what may come every now and then. Anyone with a time sensitive mind often sees bits of the future before they happen. I myself have experienced such occurrences. But no one can ever be sure exactly what the future brings. So dream and plan and live your lives to the fullest and never ever let go of the most important things in life for they are what make it worth living.”

“You mean things like hopes and dreams?” asked Neville.

“And friends,” Pavarti chimed in.

“And love,” said Pansy Parkinson dreamily, her eyes fluttering towards Draco.

“Especially love,” Mika said softly, her violet eyes locking onto Lupin’s. He smiled and blushed. “For in over 2000 years of travel throughout time and space, that’s the main thing that has always remained constant: love. Oh sure there are other basic needs like…” She scanned the audience indicating that she was looking for suggestions.

“Shelter?” said Seamus. Mika nodded and continued looking for another answer.

“Clothing?” Parma called out.

“Food!” announced Crabbe to everyone’s amusement. Draco elbowed him to be quiet.

“Nearly all living, sentient beings need some of all of these things. There are some exceptions such as the Andalothians who are super intelligent shades of the colour blue. They don’t need much of anything. But all living things no matter what or who they are, require energy. Just as food is the energy for our physical beings, so love is the energy for our souls.”

“If you happen to have one,” Hermione cast a heated glance over at Malfoy.

Mika glared at both; a chastisement of Hermione and a warning to Draco not to rise to the comment. He settled for sticking his tongue out at her.

Mika figured she’d better start wrapping this up before things got out of hand. The students here were among the brightest in the world, but they were still just children and as such had a limited attention span.

“Any questions before we wrap this week’s lecture up?” she asked the room.

Heads swivelled as everyone glanced around the room to see where the next question would come from. No one seemed to be able to think of anything to ask.

“Very well then, until next time,” she dismissed the class.

As the students filed out of the room, a small crowd formed around Mika to speak to her more personally. There were always a few of these ‘groupies’ after every session.

Ginny Weasley stood by her side. “Why do you do it?” she asked suddenly. Mika looked puzzled. “Why do you wander on your own everywhere? Haven’t you ever wanted to settle down and have a home and a family like everyone else?”

All eyes turned to Mika. This was the other major question that was on everyone’s mind.

Mika thought about her answer for a moment. “I don’t know really. I suppose one reason is that I really have nowhere else to go.” Mika’s voice softened. “You see, I have told you all about the planet I came from, but the truth is that I left there over 2,900 years ago and I’ve never been back since. I wasn’t welcome when I was there and I wouldn’t be welcome now.”

The students fell silent. Mika smiled wanly. “I don’t belong on Gallifrey where I studied, I don’t really belong here on Earth. The Tardis is the closest thing I have to a home. But I suppose another reason is that I enjoy helping people. I want to feel needed and useful; like I’ve some purpose in this universe other than just to merely exist and take up space. I think we all want to feel useful.” Heads nodded in agreement.

“But why aren’t you welcome on your home planet?” asked Luke Stargazer, a Hufflepuff first year boy.

Mika sighed. She had known that question would be next.

“Well you see, I am different from all the others of my kind. Not much, but enough that their small minded prejudice prevented them from accepting me into their society. I was cast out on my own. So no matter where I go, even back where I was ‘born’, I don’t belong.” Mika fought back the tears and tried to smile.

“Well, you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay,” Pavarti cried out, tears in her eyes.

“Yeah,” others around her agreed.

“Cos we love you no matter what!” Neville threw his arms around Mika and hugged her tightly. All those near her did the same and soon there was a tremendous group hug going.

Mika brushed away her tears of joy and hugged them all back. “You guys!” she said trying to laugh away the emotion. “You’re going to spoil me! I’ll have to stay forever at this rate and then I’ll get in trouble with my boss!” Everyone laughed.

Ginny came up and gave Mika a hug too. “But you didn’t say if you wanted to settle down,” she reminded her.

“I suppose I’ve never really thought about it, Ginny. I mean, I’ve been doing this for so long, and a ‘normal’ life just never occurred to me. I suppose if the right circumstances were to come along, I might just do that. If they let me, that is,” she said aside.

“You mean if the right guy were to come along then you might settle down with a home and a family?” asked Neville.

Mika shrugged. “Maybe, Neville, maybe. Now you guys run along and do your homework,” she smiled, patting Colin Creavey on the head.

They made their way out, jabbering excitedly amongst themselves. Mika was finally on her own when Dumbledore and Mrs. McGonagle approached.

“A most enlightening lecture, Mika,” said Dumbledore. “The respect you command of the children is truly amazing. I am glad you agreed to share your time with us.”

Mika blushed. This was high praise indeed. “If they take nothing away from my ‘lectures’ it’s that meddling with time is dangerous. Do you think they understood that?”

“I certainly hope so,” said Minerva. “But Albus is right, you were terrific!”
“Thank you.”