Prologue
The Visitor
Author's Note: I got this idea from many other time travel and dimension travel fanfics. This is a H/Hr story. This is a very short chapter. Next chapters will be at least 10,000 words. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the characters belong to JKRowling and the publishers of the Harry Potter books.
Harry entered their bedroom, his footsteps lite, and a tray of food in his hand trying not to make any sound. He quietly set it on the table beside the bed. He wanted to treat his wife to breakfast in bed as today is her birthday. They made love all night long; she called it "The Birthday Shagathon". He couldn't help but smile at her antics.
He gingerly sat on the bed and looked at his sleeping wife. Her stunning breasts moving rhythmically as she breathed in and out. "How can she be so perfect?" thought Harry as he looked at her "And how in Merlin's name did I get so lucky" his eyes roaming over her naked form. He knew he doesn't deserve her, but he swore to himself that he will always try to make himself a better man for her. He would strive to make her happy for she is the only thing that mattered. Through all of his crappy life filled with hatred, loss, death and betrayals she was the only constant and the best thing that has happened to him. She is one of the very few who loved him for who he is. She even sacrificed her parents and so much more for him. He didn't understand how she can love him even though he put her through all this shit.
"Because none of it is your fault you noble dolt!" said Hermione softly but firmly cutting out his line of thought, "and you do deserve me and much more."
"How did you know what I was thinking?" he inquired as he was startled out of his musings.
"I know you Harry Potter. Better than anyone, better than you know yourself. I don't know what would it take to convince you of that Harry, but I won't stop until you believe that" she said propping herself on her elbow and looking at him with those beautiful brown eyes.
Harry just smiled and leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips and whispered "Happy Birthday love" and he took the food tray and placed it in her lap, "I got you breakfast."
"Oh Harry! Thank you!" she exclaimed and dug into it.
He was smiling and silent as she ate, thinking how happy she made him being here.
"You sure wore me out last night Harry! I never ate this much for breakfast" she said drinking the pumpkin juice he handed her over.
"I didn't hear you complaining last night" threw back Harry taking the tray and setting it on the table, "If I remember correctly you said 'More Harry! More'" he continued with a smirk as he leaned into her.
"You are shameless!" she said swatting away his arm as it tried to touch her breast.
"Oh but you love me" he said as he claimed her lips.
Hermione let out a moan as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth intensifying the kiss. Her fingers went to his hair as she pulled him closer and lost herself in him. They made love again. For some reason it felt more intimate, more beautiful and more satisfying than ever.
"I love you" said Hermione resting her head on his chest.
"Love you too" replied Harry running his hands through her hair and suddenly remembering something he asked urgently, "What time is it?"
"Don't know, don't care" she murmured into his chest.
He tried to reach for the night stand beside the table and took his watch which she bought him for his birthday. Looking at the time he heaved a relaxed sigh and absently said "It's just 10:30. We have plenty of time"
"Time for what?"
"Er, Mione I forgot to tell you, but we have a lunch reservation today"
Extracting herself out of his arms and sitting straight up she asked "What? When?"
"At 12:00"
Leaping out of bed "Harry Potter!" she almost screamed, "You are telling me this, now? We just have one and half hour. I need to shower, have to tame this stupid hair and get ready."
Taking her robe she turned to him and said "Out. Get out. Go and get showered in the other bathroom. And don't even try to argue. It's your fault that you can't shower with me" she continued as he tried to protest "Now Harry!"
He knew better than to argue with her. So he got out of bed and took the tray and went on his way.
"The food was absolutely delicious!" said Hermione plopping down on the couch as they apparated back to their home Grimmauld Place, "Thanks for taking me there Harry"
"I am glad you enjoyed it love" replied Harry wrapping a hand around her, "And it was the least I could do to take you out on your birthday"
"I love you" said Hermione tipping her head up and looking into his green eyes.
Planting a kiss on her soft lips he whispered "Love you too"
They fell silent for a moment or two. Snuggling closer into his chest she asked "Do you feel it too Harry?"
"Yes. It feels like something is going to happen. In the past whenever I had this feeling it never was anything good. But now something says it will be different" sighed Harry.
"What bad is there to happen to us anyway? We have no one except each other. We have been at home for the past 6 months doing nothing. I hate it but I don't want to go out either" ranted an anguished Hermione now visibly upset, "All our loved ones are gone or those we thought were friends betrayed us. Ministry wants us to work for them but what is the point of it when they still refuse to acknowledge their stupidity. I thought we'd be happy once Voldemort is gone. All I see is pain Harry. You keep the nightmares at bay. But..but.."
She broke down and started sobbing into his chest. He wrapped his arms around and drew her closer. He didn't know what to say to her. He felt the same way. Still, his heart said there is hope. He didn't know why. But he knew things are going to change for the better. He didn't know how. This reminded him of his childhood. He remembered the little boy who was starved, beaten and thrown into the cupboard. The boy who was unloved, unwanted. Even then that boy, for reasons that evaded him, never gave up hope. It wasn't in vain then and he had a gut feeling that it won't be now.
"Shh love. It's going to be okay" he tried to sooth her. He has to be strong for her.
"I don't know Harry. You have no idea how much your love means to me. But this is not the way to live. I thought we would change the world" she said her sobs now subsiding, "Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly happy that he is gone and relieved that you don't have to carry that terrible burden. But, at least we had our friends when we were fighting. Now we have no one. Nobody should live like this Harry."
"You are absolutely right love" he murmured, "But I don't know what to do. If there is anything to make this right, I would do it. All I want is you to be happy. There is nothing more important to me than your happiness."
She moved a bit and looked up into his eyes with shining eyes "Oh Harry! I love you so much."
"I know love" he said trying to smile a bit, "And I mean what I said. I would do anything."
"Even if it means fighting Voldemort again?" a male voice out of nowhere asked.
This startled both of them and in a instant they were on their feet wands drawn looking around.
"Who is it?" demanded Harry.
Suddenly there was bright light engulfed the room. It was so intense they had to shield their eyes and Harry stepped in front of Hermione shielding her. As the light lessened in intensity finally it settled into a human form.
"Who are you? Answer me" barked Harry.
"I am not here to harm you" the form replied.
"Like hell you aren't. How did you get past the wards? How did you find us? This house is protected by Fidelius" shouted an angry Hermione coming to stand beside Harry. "Show yourself. Why are hiding in the light?"
"There is no place I can't go" this stranger replied softly "No wards can hold me and I have no form. I am everything and I am nothing"
"That's it. Stop this bullshit. Tell me who you are" hissed Harry
"I have no name. I simply am."
Harry had enough and fired a stunner which simply dissipated into the light.
The stranger laughed softly and said "You cannot harm me Harry Potter. No one can. I am here to help you."
"Okay. Let's say you are here to help us" said Hermione cautiously "But who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is the offer I have for you."
"And that would be?" snarked Harry
"First you have to answer the question I posed at the beginning" said the stranger. "Are you willing to fight Voldemort again?
"What do you mean? Going back in time?" asked Hermione.
"You are a smart woman Hermione Granger. But that is not the offer I have for you" he said "You have heard of parallel universes, yes?" at her nod he continued "I have the power to send you to another universe where both of your skills and intelligence are needed. It is a place where your loved ones have lost you and will cherish you."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other at this offer hope rekindling in their hearts. But how can they believe him. What if he is here to harm them and just bidding time with some crazy theories?
"It might sound crazy but it is not my dears" he said as if he read their thoughts.
"Fine. But why?" asked Hermione.
"Because their world is in need of you. There is no one who knows how to defeat him. And they are rapidly losing their strength and the will to fight."
"Why does it have to be us…again?" asked Harry.
"You see Harry Potter; every world has people who are like focal points. You two are among them. It is the things that happen to you, the things that influence you and the decisions you take shape that world" the stranger explained "And these foci do not change with universe. Every universe has you. And it shapes according to the things that happen in your lives."
"What happened then in this universe you are offering us to send to?" curiosity gripped Hermione.
"It was in a way opposite to what happened here. Harry Potter was murdered when his parents were out of the house. So his parents survived. And without him to rescue Hermione Granger was killed by the troll in her first year."
"Wait a tick, it was Quirrell possessed by Voldemort that let the troll in. If Voldemort killed me successfully why would he want the Philosophers Stone? " questioned Harry.
"It isn't just your mother's protection that defended you against him Harry Potter. You are powerful, more than any other wizard that has ever walked on this earth. When he killed you in that world, the magic that exploded from you destroyed most of his power. He didn't become a wraith like in this world. He still had his body but lost his power and strength. His body barely held itself against the onslaught of your magic. That is why he possessed Quirrell."
"But Dumbledore brought the Philosophers Stone to Hogwarts only to test Harry. If there was no Harry why would he hide it in the school?" asked Hermione.
"Old Albus thought he could lure Voldemort out with that and capture him. Of course Voldemort proved to be too cunning for that and escaped albeit without the stone."
"Stupid Old bastard" cursed Hermione. She never forgave him for how he manipulated Harry's life.
"What about Hermione's parents?" inquired Harry.
"They are alive and well but with a hole in their heart with her loss" he replied "They are somewhat happy now as they were blessed with another little girl three years ago. And oh yes she is magical, although she hasn't showed any signs yet."
"What do you say love?" asked Harry turning to Hermione "I am thrilled that we will get to know mum and dad but what if we lose them again? I don't know if I have the strength."
"Assuming this, whoever this person is telling the truth" indicating to the stranger Hermione replied "Now that we know how to defeat him, maybe we can make sure they aren't harmed. Isn't this we always wanted, a wholesome family?"
"Do you think so? If you have the faith, then I am willing to do whatever it takes love" he said with conviction and much love in his voice.
"Alright then" smiled Hermione. "Is there anything we need to know before we go there?" she asked the stranger.
"A wise choice my dears. And yes you must be very careful with Dumbledore and Harry Potter you need to relieve him of the Elder Wand. You don't have to duel him to take it. Just will it come to you and it will answer you. It belongs to you" the stranger addressed the duo. "And this Voldemort has only 5 horcruxes. He didn't turn Nagini into one as he didn't have enough power left in him after he was stripped by you. He never reached his original power level even after many dark rituals. So he did not dare."
Holding his wife close Harry said "OK then. Let's see whether you are telling the truth or not, shall we."
"Good Luck. May you find the solace you seek" said the stranger as the both of them were surrounded by a bright, warm light.
AN: Please read and review and tell me if you like the setup of the story. I will update once I receive some feedback.