Echos across Time and Space
Book 2:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone
An: FINALLY! Getting Chapter 4 done was a hurtle and a half. Now I get to do the fun (for me) part. Welcome back all, to EaTaS. The future of this series looks bright and I wont keep you anymore! R&R!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the characters. So the lawyers aren't necessary
In a grassy field in another plane of existence much unlike our own yet at the same time exactly like our own sat 2 beings of immense power. One an ever changing female and one robed in silky black with a hood over his face but who was quite obviously a male. The particular field they were in was covered in chess board, some of them played while others remained blank. Both these 2 people seemed oblivious to that fact though, choosing instead to focus on the game board between them.
The black robed one sat back as his lightning bolt shaped king piece and his otter shaped queen piece trapped his opponent's snake shaped king piece in a corner in check.
"An interesting situation Ms Thread" he said in a whispery tone "But how, may I ask, do you plan to make this work without dear Mr. Clock's help?".
"Mr Sythe, should know me a bit better then that by now, I've already asked Mr. Clock and Madem D for permission to er...bend the rules a bit" 'Ms. Thread' said cheekily. "
'Bend the rules'? " 'Mr Sythe' responded sounding highly amused "My dear Ms. T, this is throwing the book at the judge and opponent at the same time."
"Yes I know" Ms. Thread said with a smug grin on her ever changing face.
Silence followed this statement but it wouldn't last long. 'Ms Thread' knew her friend and opponent was studying her and choose to wait him out.
"Will this new scenario get me my prize?"Mr Sythe asked finally with a sigh.
"Of course Mr Sythe!" Ms Thread said sounding annoyed that he'd ask such a thing "The man cheated all 4 of us in one way or another. We don't want him getting away with it. I believe this is the best scenario to deal with him. It humiliates him badly on top of him facing you."
"Alright, Alright, shall we get to this then? This will probably take 3 more boards" Mr Sythe said with another sigh.
"Another 2 boards actually. Once we finish the first scenario the timeline shall right itself again. Mr. Clock will only be involved a tiny bit. Anyways, once the 2nd scenario is finished we can come back to this one to finish it on its intended path" Ms Thread said as an explanation "I am growing quite fond of your current king Mr Sythe".
"I think we all are Ms. Thread" Mr Sythe said with a slight chuckle "Mister Potter is a good man with an even better head on his shoulders. Perhaps an even better one now since he finally won the girl from that annoying pest".
Ms Thread nodded smiling fondly at her opponent's king piece and then called out "Mr Clock! Could you please suspend this game until we can get back to it?!".
The entire chess bored flashed blue and silver and then faded to gray.
"Thank you dear!" Ms Thread called again as she and Mr Sythe moved to a new game table.
This game, she knew, wouldn't be played against each other, rather one of them would be playing one set of events and the other would play a different set of events, much like what the Mundane mortals called Dungeons & Dragons (in her opinion it was one of their more brilliant inventions).
The one game bored split into 2 separate tables which both sat at. Looking down she watched as the normal chess bored vanished but left several pieces in the forms of a trunk, a stag, a doe, a bat, a tabby cat, a dog, a wolf, and several other pieces.
"Great!"she chirped cheerfully looking up at her 'Dungeon Master' happily "I get the first scenario! I do hope you have good things for me Mr Clock!"
Sitting before her was a man who seemed to be aging alarmingly fast and returning to a young age just as fast.
"I fail to find your enthusiasm for this task inspiring Ms Thread" he rasped, as if he had not used his voice in quite a while.
"Such a party pooper Mr Clock!" Ms Thread said pouting.
Mr Clock shrugged and motioned to their bored.
"Shall we start?"
"Indeed"
At that moment in England James Potter, age 11, was settled in the library with his mother reading one of his new school books silently. Something was going to happen today, he knew it. He didn't know what or why but something told him he should be hanging around one of his parents until at least noon.
He had told his mother and she was quite happy to spend time with him. She and his father often told James that if he had a feeling about anything he should act on it.
"Potters," his father, Charles, had once said "have the good fortune to be in the right in most cases when following their feelings."
So here he was, following a strong feeling to spend time with his mother in the Potter manor library.
Suddenly a gentle ring echoed in his head. He knew it was the wards and he looked up. While not the main controller of the wards of the manor, since he was only the Potter heir (the only one) he could still feel them. His Father said it was training for when he had full control (which he hoped would not be for a long time as it ment the death of his parents).
Returning to the present he watched as a strange trunk appeared in the room just as his father rushed in. Of course he would be concerned, there was a mad man and his murderous thugs running loose. James got up and walked over to it intending to examine it.
"Hmm, it doesn't SEEM dangerous" he said out loud.
It was at that moment he noticed a note on it and moved closer to read it.
"Dear James Potter and family" he read aloud "We realize you live in a time of conflict with the one who calls himself Voldemort, so we apologize for the sudden intrusion of our trunk in your home but we are afraid that its a matter of necessity.
You see, I am Harry James Potter and my girlfriend is Hermione Jean Granger-Potter. Yes, I am the son of James Charles Potter. No dad I will not tell you who mom is, I will only say you will meet her soon. A word of advice though, try to be nice to her AND her best friend, especially her best friend. If you try to split them apart from each other bad things could happen.
Forgive my boyfriend, he seems to be getting off track. We are from 28 years into the future. This trunk has come to you, more specifically it has come to James because there are some choices that have been made in our past that have messed up things pretty badly for us. We believe these choices have been made because the right people don't have the right information and this has lead to a second war with Voldemort after 14 years of peace.
This trunk contains an entire living space that Harry and I made from a multi compartment trunk, but more importantly it also contains 7 very important books on Harry's life as it's been so far even going into depth about the peace and the second war.
We decided to have this trunk appear to all 3 of you because we want James to sit and listen to these books with others we have chosen (mom being among those people) but we didn't want you, Grandma and Grandpa, to panic when he suddenly disappears for an entire summer. You needn't worry about adult supervision either, Among the people we've chosen to join dad are the following: Arthur Weasley (from 1989) Minerva McGonnagall (I like to call her Aunt Minnie), Poppy Pomfrey who, despite my hatred of her hospital wing, I adore, Amelia Bones, now former hear of the DMLE, and Uncle Fillius. So there will be plenty of adults in the group to keep order.
As for the books, I have made a schedule (she does this all the time, its usual for her). Reading all the books will take a while, but if you spend only the summer vacations reading them with the others it should only take until the summer before your 5th year. The first 3 are short so you can spend this summer reading all of them, then next summer book 4, and continue the process until they're all finished.
That is, if Grandma and Grandpa say its ok.
We ssincerely hope you do, this could make things a whole lot better for everyone.
With all our love,
Harry James Potter
Hermione Jean Granger-Potter"
The room around them was silent for a moment.
"James?" his mother began slowly.
"I'm fine, and yes it's real, not a joke. I can feel it" he said quietly trying to reassure his parents.
Truthfully James didn't know quite what to think of all of this. On one hand he was elated, in the future he loved a girl so much that they had most likely married and had a son together. On the other hand he was sad and angry at himself. Where was he that his son had to fight that madman?! 'There's only one way to find out' a soft voice echoed in his ear whispered.
Turning to his parents with his decision made he caught his parents looking at each other as if silently conversing with one another. They quickly turned to him and his father stepped foreword.
"Son, go pack a bag, your mother and I feel this is important enough that you can go missing for the next few summers ok?" Charles said calmly.
James whooped for joy and went to go pack his bags. Upon returning he found his parents waiting with a bag of their books from the library.
Hugging them he thanked them for this opportunity to get to know his future son early in his life. As he desended into the trunk he had no way of knowing just how much his life was about to change nor that all over the time stream this trunk was appearing to some of the best people he would ever have the pleasure to know for the rest of his life
A girl with bright emerald eyes and dark red hair followed her hook nosed best friend into the trunk wondering who her future husband was. She knew she would have to have a long talk with him about starting off as friends first
Her best friend, however, knew he would have competition. He was prepared to fight for her.
He never guessed how much his opinion was about to change
2 handsome black haired grey eyed boys, one 11 years old the other 9 year old but otherwise mistaken for twins, glanced at each other then at the trunk before gathering clothes and heading into its depths
A young boy with numerous scars across his face and sandy brown hair bid farewell to his parents and opened the trunk that had appeared to him and jumped into it.
A 13 year old boy with a round face and kind eyes held his new 14 year old girlfriend's hand as he opened the trunk in his room
His brown eyed short haired girlfriend followed him into it.
Two 11 year old boys, twins, with flaming hair and bright blue eyes instantly opened the trunk and dove in trying to hide away from an angry mother after playing a prank on her.
A 10 year old girl with short curly mousy brown hair and dark brown eyes narrowed her eyes at the trunk that appeared right in front of her but moved foreword reading the note before nodding and opening the trunk walking in her new wand cautiously held up
A healer blinked as the trunk appeared in her office at the start of the summer holidays Drawing her wand she waved it over the trunk and then proceeded to read the note on top of it.
Nodding she walked over to her fire place and called an old friend.
Said friend came through her monocle perched on her eye as usual and upon reading the note she sent out three owls with messages. One to her boss saying she was taking the summer off, one too her niece saying she could spend the summer at her best friend's house if she got all her homework done and had her house elf with her at all times and the last to her direct subordinate saying she had something to do and that he was in charge for the summer.
When she was done she and the healer moved towards the trunk.
Arthur, Fred and George Weasley and Minerva McGonagall and Fillius Flitwick were seated in Minerva's office. The 2 boys were glaring at the floor, Arthur was shaking his head sadly.
It was only the twins' first year, granted the last day of it, but they had been causeing mischief every week. Arthur loved that the twins were naturally trying to enjoy themselves but it had been Hogwarts policy since its founding to call the parents of the child for any rule breaking. The policy was rumored to have been set down by Salazar Slytherin after a student had dunked Helga into the lake, making her nearly drown as Helga hadn't been able to swim.
Arthur was dragged out of his musings when a trunk suddenly appeared on Minerva's desk. The twins immediately moved foreword a little eager. Reading the note on it they looked at each other and grinned.
"Dad, Professors, it seems someone is messing with time"
"And that someone wants us all to hear a story to fix the future."
"To make it better"
Arthur watched in half amusement, half worry as his twins talked off each other. Taking out his wand he waved it over the trunk and nodded.
"Its as they said professors, I don't find any dangerous hexes or curses on it besides top level security spells that seem to be keyed to us all."
"Dad" Fred said looking at him seriously "the note also says not to alert mom about this so its best if we just go in"
Arthur frowned but shook his head saying "Well I don't have to tell your mother what exactly I'm doing I should..."
"It says you're already covered dad. A letter was sent to mom and your work saying we are at summer camp and you decided at last minute to be a camp councillor" George said looking back at the note.
Minerva and Fillius were whispering to each other and they nodded getting up and going to the front of the trunk.
"Well we're going. I have the oddest feeling it is very important" Minerva said looking at Arthur.
Sighing Arthur nodded and got up.
"I do too, alright boys, up and in you get" he said helping the boys into the trunk and following them in with Fillius and Minerva following him.
James was examining a pair of portraits just by the entrance of the trunk where he had walked down a narrow but elegant spiral staircase into an overly large sitting room. Several minutes ago a trickle of people had come cautiously down the staircase. But before they could say anything to him a note had appeared in their faces telling them to wait for the rest of the people so they had simply sat down.
James, bored of waiting had gotten up and walked over to the portraits he had noticed on his entrance. They appeared to have not been activated yet but he could see one of them was what could only be described as a replica of what he might look like around age 16 or 17. Though the plaque under the portrait said "Harry James Potter, July 31st 1980-?".
'1980?' James thought to himself 'that's only 9 years away'. Shaking off his shock he looked at the other portrait, a pretty brunette. Under it was a plaque marked 'Hermione Jean Granger-Potter September 19th, 1979-?'. So this beautiful woman was his future daughter in law. 'I must have taught him well' James thought to himself. Both the portraits were set on what must have been the great lake at Hogwarts.
"So...this is my son"
James turned to the pretty red head that had come in wit the the oily haired one. She was examining Harry's portrait with an interested smile.
"He's quite a handsome fella. I think, when we're old enough of course, I would love to make him a reality" she said turning to James holding out her hand.
James smiled brightly, he certainly liked this girl, she was clearly smart and friendly.
Shaking her hand he responded "Me too"
Her friend had been watching them looking a little sad but resigned. James noticed and smiled politely holding out his hand to the boy trying his best to be friendly.
The boy stared at it a bit and just when James thought he wasn't going to, he hesitantly grabbed James' hand and shook.
By that point he noticed that others had arrived and there was a ring like the gentlest gong of a church bell.
"Oh good, you're all here finally" said a female voice above them.
All eyes turned to the female portrait. Her dark brown eyes were smiling at the occupants of the room. Behind her Harry Potter had his arms wrapped around her waist and his chin resting on her right shoulder eyeing James and the boy's joined hands with amusement.
"Now that everyone is here" Harry said kissing Hermione on the cheek "Shall we all introduce ourselves? Just your name and year it was when you came in here for now. I'll start, I am Harry James Potter and my original self is currently in Spring 1998."
"Hermione Jean Granger-Potter" Hermione stated "As with Harry my original self is currently in Spring 1998"
They both looked amused at the wide eyed looks they were getting.
James chuckles and finally said "I am James Charles Potter from Summer 1971."
"Well what do ya know. A fellow firstie!" the oldest grey eyed boy exclaimed "Sirius Black from the Summer of 1971, now don't let my last name scare ya. I don't much like my family, 'sides my lil brother here anyways".
"R-Regulus Articulus Black" the younger grey eyed boy said shyly "S-Summer of 1971"
None of the younger ones noticed the adults pulling out their wands at Sirius's name. Nor that the wands had vanished with the adults looking to Harry who shook his head and wagged his finger.
"I'm Lily Evans from the start of summer 1971" the pretty red head said next.
"I'm Severus Snape from the same time as Lily, my best friend" her companion said quietly.
"Remus Lupin..." the boy with the scared face nearly whispered "S-Summer 1971..."
"Frank Longbottom" the round faced 13 year old boy said cheerfully "Summer of 1971"
"Alice Smith" his girlfriend said squeezing his hand "Summer 1971"
"Giddeon and Fabion Prewett" said one of the red-haired blue eyed twins.
"Summer 1971" said the other "But honest we probably don't belong here"
"We were honestly looking for a place to hide from mum after pranking her" they said together.
They all turned to the adults plus 2 additional red haired twins. Said twins were sparkly eyed at Giddeon and Fabion tackling them in hugs.
Arthur looked torn between wanting to hug them himself and pulling Fred and George off of their uncles. He finally settled on the latter.
"Come now boys" he chuckled "at least introduce yourselves first"
"Oh right!" Fred exclaimed "Well we're Fred Giddeon and George Fabian Weasley"
"From 1989" George said "We hugged you because..."
"Hold on" Harry interrupted them turning to the 2 sets of twins "Before you 2 say anything further I need to say they by the time Fred and George are in school you 2 are dead. You both died at the end of the first war with Voldemort in 1981 I am telling you this you 2 not too be mean but because throughout the books you're both only mentioned once. Molly...doesn't like talking about it".
"R-Right, and Molly is our mother" George continued.
Giddeon and Fabian were exchanging looks. Molly was 10 in their time. That ment they had only lived until they were 21. They only had 10 years left to spend with their family.
As the introductions continued Harry and Hermione smiled. A change had already been made, they could see it in Giddeon and Fabian's faces.
"Ahem" the healer that had come in said "I am Poppy Pomfrey, Hogwarts Healer. I too came here from the start of Summer 1989."
"I came with her. I am Amelia Bones, new Head of the DMLE" said the monocled woman.
"Ah then we are all from the same time, that makes it easier" Minerva said "I am Minerva McGonnagall, Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor at Hogwarts".
"Fillius Flitwick" her short companion said "Head of Ravenclaw and Charms teacher at Hogwarts"
"And I am Arthur Weasley, Fred and George's father" He said looking at Giddeon and Fabian in amusement.
The blue eyes of the twins sparkled with promises of talks later, as they all turned to the young 10 year old girl watching them all silently.
"I'm Delores Umbridge from the start of Summer 1975..." she said quietly.
"Right, now that that is out of the way." Harry said sitting up from leaning on Hermione "there are things that need to be changed in your future..."
"What needs to be changed?" Regulus asked quietly.
Harry smiled at the young boy "That's the reason Hermione and I would like you to read these books. They are about me but they give an in depth look at how bad corruption runs in the Wizarding world"
As it looked like Severus, Frank, Alice Delores and Regulus were all about to object Harry held up his hand to silence them.
"Will you give it a chance please?" he said.
The 5 of them looked at each other and then at him and nodded.
"Good" Hermione said "Now as for this trunk, Harry and I designed it to meet the user's needs. You need only ask us for something. Such as a cup of water"
As a goblet of water appeared next to Fillius Harry continued "Or you could ask us for an entirely different room, such as the dining room"
With those words the occupants of the trunk found themselves seated at a table in a dining room that could have been mistaken for a ball room. Then in the blink of an eye they were back in the sitting room.
"Woah, that was neat!" Giddeon said looking around in wonder.
"There's a room like this at Hogwarts called the Room of Requirements. I wont say exactly where it is but I will say its on the 7th floor" Harry responded.
"As fascinating as this is" Severus said looking around "We know the basics, we can find out later. Can we start the book now?"
"You make a good point" James said.
"One more thing" Harry said as parchment and quills appeared in everyone's hands "If anyone things there's something that should be talked about in depth write it down for discussion later, that way you avoid long pauses in the books."
They all nodded and Severus picked up the book...
"Harry Potter and the Philosepher's Stone, Chapter 1...The Boy who lived"
AN: A few supprise guests here and there. Delores was added several weeks after the chapter was written, thankfully Zero san didn't get too far into editing. The reason for Delores' inclusion will become apparent more towards book 3, BUT we have 7 books to get through first. On that note. R&R
Ada1229~