A/N: This is the FINAL rewrite of Chapter 1. I can't take it anymore--every time I write a story I leave it because it sounds so bad in my head. I am so sorry for doing this but in all honesty, I'll never be able to rest until the beginning hits home run (or, at least, close to it). So thanks for being patient and please stick around--if I get it right this time I WILL update.

This story takes place when Harry is 18--everything before is strictly canon, this is just what happens after the series ends. Hopefully this might clear up any confusion.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns every snippet of Harry Potter, even what rests in the figments of my imagination.

Fate.

It's an inexplicable, unstoppable, and completely irrevocable force. Whereas physics can define and predict the natures of the world, Newton's law cannot apply to this beautiful, yet terrible power. Its wheels and cogs start to turn the moment a wondrous being is conceived--the moment mother earth wishes to bring another creature into this unfair and cruel world.

No one is exempt from fate's twisted mind--all of God's creatures and all of His men are bound together by one common, underlying principle: they all have a destiny, whether it be benign or unjust, and as hard as humans try they will never be able to predict and control what has already been formed since the beginning of time.

It's a force that is unseen (although Divination thinks otherwise), unpredictable, and definitely something not to be reckoned with. What's done is done; the power of predetermination holds judgment over the axis and wheel that is life.

A foolish man thinks he can overcome this predicament, but the wise man simply bows his head into submission. As William Shakespeare says, "What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide."

However, as incredible as this force may be, there are some (rather narrow-minded) people in the world who think it is fabricated; it's merely a simple solution for all of man's hardships and shortcomings, an excuse to blame all of the pain and suffering threaded in man-made society on a wondrous deity up in the heavens. Man wishes to find the easiest way out, yet:

If fate is contrived, then how else will one be able to explain the greatest force in the world, more powerful and terrifying than any God in the sky? For to speak of fate is to speak of love.

And love, no matter how hard people try, cannot be made.

Harry Potter was lying on a cold, hard surface. "That's funny" he thought, "Last time I checked my bad wasn't uncomfortable." With his eyes still shut, he thrust out a hand and groped around in search of his glasses, but all his hand felt was more, smooth marble. Oddly it reminded him of King's Cross. With a smidgen of panic beginning to form at the pit of his stomach, he opened his eyes.

The high and arched glass dome ceiling glittered majestically as the morning sun's rays hit it in all of the right places; the headmaster's office was beautifully illuminated--oddly shaped silver instruments glittered in the light, licorice snaps jumped belligerently in their bowl, and a small fire that Harry knew would contain Fawkes the Phoenix was steadily burning--yet the headmaster's chair was empty. He closed his eyes.

"NO!" His mind screamed, "I must be dreaming. There is NO WAY I am in Dumbledore's office, absolutely no bloody way. He's dead. He's dead. This is all just a dream. I'm going to wake up now."

But deep down, Harry knew he was conscious.

All of the endless possibilities infiltrated his mind. What was going on? How on earth did he end up here? Harry swore he went to bed back home, next to Ginny...He remembered yesterday's events perfectly. He woke up at the crack of dawn, went to the auror training headquarters, had lunch, visited Ron and Hermione, and returned home where he and Ginny watched a muggle movie on the telly...and then he went to bed. If every event was crystal clear, then why didn't he have any inkling of what happened afterward? How did he get where he was now?

The smidgen of panic grew into the size of a quaffle. What if this was some cunning trick the leftover Death Eaters were playing? After Voldemort was killed not all of them were captured. A few were able to flee the Hogwarts castle and seek refuge far away in some foreign country. Harry knew that the auror department was trying to find and imprison all of the remaining followers, but so far they had only been able to find the whereabouts of one--somewhere far in Transylvania. What if Harry's mind was being injected with this false images? Where were Ginny and the others? They needed to be safe!

"Relax, Harry" said a soft, twinkling voice.

Albus Dumbledore entered the office, but not through any door. It seemed he had appeared out of thin air, but wasn't apparition unable to be performed within Hogwart's castle walls?

It took a while for the sight of him to register with Harry. He couldn't really take in the fact that a man he saw die was standing right before his very own eyes. Dumbledore looked as healthy as ever--in fact, one might say he looked radiant. Not one hand was blackened, and from the short distance Harry saw Dumbledore's blue eyes--which were so much like his brother Aberforth's-- twinkling with immeasurable happiness. Yet again, Harry was reminded of King's Cross.

The shock finally settled in and disbelief flitted itself across Harry's face.

"Pro..fessor?" he asked tentatively, "Is that really you?" He couldn't believe it. No, he wouldn't believe it. This was some hoax made by a Death Eater, or better yet this was part of the auror training program! They were testing him, yes, that must be it! What a genius way to test his skills too--unknowingly and during his sleep. Of course it must be part of the training, they would need to see how well he reacts to such bizarre circumstances!

Dumbledore had a knowing kind of smile. "It's really me Harry, and no auror is planting some false idea into your head. Please, trust me on this. I don't have much time."

Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't want to accept that it really was Dumbledore, and that he really was in his office, because that would mean a whole plethora of questions that would need to be immediately answered.

"Please, Harry. I beg you." His tone was pleading, urgent. It reminded Harry of when he begged for Snape on that fateful night atop the Astronomy tower, which led him to speculate once again. Dumbledore was dead!

"I understand that this must be difficult for you Harry, but please, this is the most imperative duty, even more important than the task of defeating Voldemort." Now Harry was simply dumbfounded. What could be more important than when he had to kill He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? His whole life had been dedicated to it, and he had shed more blood and tears than anyone who had participated in the war against Voldemort. What nerve did Dumbledore have, saying there was another duty to fulfill and that it was more important than the one Harry had already completed? What sheer audacity he had possessed! He took Harry from his warm bed and now he was lying there, on the cold ground, his mind racing with endless possibilities as to what was going on and the steady wave of panic was growing bigger and bigger. Harry felt anger surge through his body, but he knew he ought to stay calm. Curiosity was getting the better of him and he let the old man continue.

"Now, let me say first of all: Harry, I am so proud of what you have accomplished. You saw how palpably content I was back at the station, so I won't waste any more time congratulating you again. You know everything now, save for what I am about to tell you.

"Harry, have you always wondered why, all of a sudden during their 7th year, Lily decided to finally accept James's constant dating proposals?"

Harry struggled to form a coherent thought. The shock had still not surpassed, but he tried with all his might to elicit a sentence. "Um, well I suppose...from what I've seen in the pensieve, James...deflated his head a bit."

Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle in his eyes growing brighter. "Yes Harry, but...knowing James's personality, why did he deflate his head?"

"I dunno, I guess he finally matured or something?" Harry was exasperated. Why was Dumbledore talking about his parents?

"You're probably wondering what's going on, do you?" Harry nodded vigorously, to which Dumbledore responded with a laugh. "Trust me my wonderful dear boy, but alas, you're not a boy anymore but a man! You shall find out in a matter of minutes, and hopefully I won't be such an irksome bother much longer."

"You're not being a bother, sir...I'm sorry I seemed so caught off guard." Harry felt slightly ashamed.

"Don't be. I would react in the same in your situation, but I daresay the shock you received is only a fraction of what is to come." Harry looked up into his eyes. They were twinkling so much they seemed to blaze, uncannily similar the fire that Fawkes would reborn himself in.

"Harry, the year is September 1st, 1977. (A/N: I think I got it right...? Could someone correct me if I'm wrong?) Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The current Head Boy and Head Girl are James Potter and Lily Evans." Upon hearing this, this time Harry's eyes grew to the size of quaffles and his jaw opened and fell to the floor. He was in a massive Time Turner!! He was going to meet his parents!! He couldn't believe it; it seemed all to good to be true; it wasn't real, he was merely dreaming. He didn't even think such a Time Turner could exist.

"I have performed perhaps some of the most complex magic I have ever done in my entire life--yes, we have used a Time Turner, but it's not a regular one; I've extended its abilities beyond anyone could have ever thought to do."

Harry sputtered, "but...professor!!! How on earth...?"

"You see Harry, after your third year at Hogwarts, Ms. Granger left the Time Turner in my possession and with a few experimental tinkering, I managed to enhance it even further. It took me back years and years and I could stay for as long as I wanted, and then I could return to my time whenever I pleased. Due to unnatural curiosity, and since I wanted to aid you in finishing Voldemort as much as I could, I traveled forward in time and found out all of the events that would take place after you would go home for the summer. I interrogated myself--I was disguised of course--and trust me, it was the most mind boggling experience...I cannot put into words how strange it was to talk to myself in the future. I found out everything that would happen and with this knowledge I set about doing everything I could to make sure we all followed the chosen path. However, due to my curiosity--which, as you know, was later my downfall--I traveled once again, but this time into the past. I ended up in this year, but I traveled a few months earlier than where we are now. Using another number of disguises I went to the school and met myself once again. This time, I questioned my old self about James and Lily, and learned about their hatred towards one another.

"Harry, as crazy as it sounds, James never liked Lily. All those stories of him pursuing her, all of the rejections, and ever when you saw Snape's memory your 5th year--those were all made up. It's a hoax. James hates Lily, and she equally returns that emotion. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but they are the most unlikely pairing I have ever seen.

"Harry, it is up to you to live out the 7th year you never got to experience. It is your fate to get Lily and James together. Unfortunately, I have no idea how, but only you possess the secret and skill that can unite them."

Harry didn't think his body could take in any more shock. All he felt was numbness--the knowledge of his parent's relationship was now being crumbled into a billion tiny pieces, destroyed as if it were the locket that had screamed when it had taken the Sword of Gryffindor. It couldn't be true...hadn't James devoted most of his Hogwarts career to asking Lily out every, single, day?

He now understood why this task was more important than defeating Voldemort; if he didn't get his parents together, then he would never exist. Harry nodded.

"But Professor, what about Ginny? And Ron and Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys, and work..." the panic returned.

"Don't worry my dear Harry! Part of the beauty of this Time Turner is that YOUR present time is frozen in place! It allows you to travel as you please, and the only person affected is you and the people in the time in which you travel to! When you get back, you'll be able to pick up as you left before--you'll wake up in your bed and live life the way it was. And I trust you won't ever tell anyone about this experience too, so this is a secret you can surely keep to the grave!"

Harry nodded. Of course he'd never tell anyone about this. It was too maddening.

A sudden terrifying idea popped into his head. With a weak voice, Harry spoke: "Sir, won't Lily and James notice if there's a kid who resembles James so much he could be his twin, except that he has...Lily's exact green eyes? They're not dumb...they're the heads of the school for a reason. I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to appear out of nowhere and say 'Hey guys, I'm your son!' Isn't this supposed to be...gradual?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, yes. I was hoping you'd mention that." He withdrew a sack and emptied the contents of its pockets, and a small glittering vile fell out to the floor. It did not break, although it appeared to be made of glass. A swirling, colorless substance was dancing within the walls of the bottle. Harry picked it up; it felt cold to the touch.

"I have also done some tinkering with Polyjuice Potion. What you are holding right now is the only one of it's kind in the world, one of my inventions. Yet some more complex magic had to be permed to achieve this brilliant potion. I don't really have a name for it. Unlike the Polyjuice potion, it keeps the drinker transformed for a full 12 hours. Once the contents are empty, it replenishes by itself so you never have to brew another batch. But, Harry, this is my only warning: you must, and I repeat must, drink this every 12 hours. If not, you'll immediately be transformed back into yourself.

"Don't let anyone catch you drinking this--it's a very sketchy potion to posses, and certainly unexplainable."

Harry felt as if all his energy was draining from his body. It dawning on him bit by bit of what he was about to do, and whom he was about to meet.

"Sir, who will I be transforming into?"

"Well Harry, I thought I'd make this a bit fun for you." A mischievous glint appeared in his eye, something Harry had never really seen before. Oh no...he thought; knowing Dumbledore, this would probably not make him thrilled in the slightest.

"You see, instead of making you British, I decided to make you Russian." (A/N: Of course!! Hehe =P)

Harry simply stared. He had GOT to be kidding...there was no way in the blistering fires of Hell he was going to be a Russian for a year...He didn't even speak any Russian. Plus, wouldn't people realize he had a British accent instead of a Russian one..?

Dumbledore, sensing Harry's thoughts, quickly added, "Your name will be Dimitry 'Dima' Alexandrovitch Kuznetsov. This genius potion will make you have an accent, will enable you to speak the language, and will obviously change your appearance.

"The Dumbledore in this time period will not know what I know now--he, or rather I, does not know who you are and what you really represent. I will be meeting up with you once in a while to check up on you. I have timed my short visits so that no one will see us speaking. It's been very tricky coordinating my arrival so that no one will see you, but that does not matter. This duty is of utmost importance. Please Harry, you must get your parents together before the end of this year comes about. You don't understand the horrific consequences if you do not fulfill this task. It's your destiny Harry--the fate of the world lies within your hands. Make sure you use them well."

"Oh, and one more thing...Harry, since this is 1977, it also means that Voldemort is still alive...his threat looms over the entirety of Great Britain, and a shadow of fear has been perpetuated amongst all of its inhabitants." There was a sad gleam to his eyes.

Harry felt red-hot anger boiling up from the pit of his stomach. Tears of fury began to well up in his eyes. After all that time he spent, searching for the evil that is Voldemort, and after finally killing him, he had to live in a time where he was still alive? He was shaking with rage. Although he knew his efforts were not futile in the long run, he did not want to spend another waking moment reliving the terror that was You-Know-Who. "Please Harry, please calm down. I understand you're angry, but you must understand that this is essential. Do not dwell on the fact that Voldemort currently exists--dwell on the prospect that you will finally meet your parents!

"Now, quickly! Take the potion! Lily and James should be here any minute, waiting to introduce themselves to you! You will be lodging in the Head Dorms in order to keep a sharp eye on them. Obviously you'll be sorted into Gryffindor, but pretend as if there is no more space in the common room so people won't think it's strange you're not in it." He smiled wistfully. "And... Good luck Harry." He placed a hand on his arm and squeezed it for comfort, as if doing so Harry's nerves would calm down.

Alarmed at the prospect that everything was happening so quickly, Harry opened his mouth to ask, "But Sir..."--however, with a flourish of his wand Dumbledore vanished on the spot, leaving Harry staring at an empty office. The air suddenly seemed cold, as if a draft had blown in the room from where Dumbledore had disappeared.

Left utterly confused and not knowing what else to do, Harry quickly took a gulp of the potion; immediately the effects began to take place once the liquid slid down his throat. His body started bubbling violently, his heart started pounding as if he had just played the most intense game of quidditch, and his head began to hurt. It seemed as if the transformation would never end. Whereas the Polyjuice Potion's effects happened instantly, this seemed to go on forever. Fire burned and raged throughout his entire body, and the flames finally finished their course after what seemed like eternity.

Harry didn't know that he had squeezed his eyes shut until he realized he couldn't see. Upon opening his eyes, he discovered that he was a lot taller, and a lot more muscular. His torso, arms, and legs seemed massive compared to his actual figure. The potion had changed his clothes as well. He desperately wished to find a mirror so he could be able to see what his face looked like, but there didn't seem to be mirror in Dumbledore's office. However, the vile provided a great reflection, and Harry could see what his new face looked like. His hair was short and light brown, and rather tamed in comparison to his original black unruly mess. His eyes were small and blue and lacking every brilliance that Lily's green eyes possessed. The potion had done well. He was unrecognizable. If Harry didn't know any better, he would question why there was a stranger standing exactly where he was.

Out of blatant curiosity Harry uttered "This is unbelievable." A hand flew up to his mouth the moment he spoke. His British accent had been replaced with a thick, Russian one, and Harry's voice was so much lower than what he was accustomed to.

The door flew open. A younger looking Dumbledore emerged with a smile intact. Harry wasn't glad that he was oblivious to this plan; he wished Dumbledore hadn't been so vague when he rushed through everything. A bit of anger surged through his new body, and Harry willed himself to stay calm. However, since he was about to introduce himself to his parents, he couldn't exactly succumb to tranquility.

"Hello, Mr...Kuznetsov?" Harry nodded. "I'm afraid I can't pronounce it correctly." Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sorry, I haven't brushed up on Russian in a while. My name is Albus Dumbledore and I am the school's headmaster. Welcome! I'm glad you could transfer here--this is a wondrous and beautiful environment and I hope your last year is made worthwhile.

"The Head Boy and Girl will be here promptly to properly introduce you to the school. Where is it exactly that you come from?"

Harry replied nervously, "err--" but was cut off when the doors opened once more.

James Potter and Lily Evans were standing right in front of him.

Well there ya go! I hope it's good, I'm still not liking it but it's a hell of a lot better than what I had before. There are still some awkward patches but honestly I've spent so long writing this (longest chapter I've written yet!) that I was too tired to proof-read efficiently. Please review , I'd appreciate it TONS!

With much peace & love,
Michelle (: