Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and will never own Harry Potter. All characters in this piece are fictional and all references to real places are merely coincidence.
"I still don't see what the problem is," a short man in his mid-twenties began quietly, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I don't see any problem with the potion at all and the spellwork is flawless." He ran a pal hand through his raven black locks revealing a small lightning bolt shaped scar, or rather a tattoo of a lightning bolt. The actual scar had faded a few years back.
A woman which probably stood at five and a half feet shook her head, long blond curls swung too and fro. "I do not know enough about potions to validate the accuracy of it and the spell work is fine. It is just the runes. The placement is way too risky. There's no way to ensure safe passage or even survival!" She sighed and reached for her drink. "I cannot approve its continued use, but I will allow it; five times, tops. Do you agree, Ron?"
The redhead to her left nodded soundly. "Hermione's right, Harry. This is pretty dangerous. Not quite as dangerous as breaking into Gringotts, twice might I add, but it is at the top of that list of the craziest things you've ever wanted to do." Smiling slightly he tried to lighten the mood before getting serious again. He sat hunched over, pensively studying the assorted pieces of parchment scattered across an old oak table. Hazel eyes squinted in the dimly lit light.
"Its def risky, but I know you'll do it anyway. Chrono runes will cause a problem due to their nature and abundance…" He trailed off and ruffled through the papers again before pulling out a page will arithmetic problems drawled all over it. "Five times means five different people at five different times; five years, five months, and five days apart. Timing is everything and you have to face it Harry. You have shit luck with timing. Don't even get me started on the reversed Thorn rune. I see why it has to be there, but you're just asking to be killed with that one."
Harry scowled. "There's nothing wrong with my timing and I mad sure to include Gytu in there. The Powers aren't going to strike me down for fixing what they messed up in the first place. It will work! We just need to figure out who we are going to send. I don't want to risk you two again so I need to think of four o-"
He didn't get any further than that before Hermione voiced her objection. "Not happening. Were coming whether you want us to or not. You must know by now that would never allow you to do something risky with out us. We bound to each other so we would always remember. You will not take this from us now. How can you even thi-"
"Drop it, 'Mione." Ron said firmly. "He understands. The three of us are going. We need two other people; our people." Motioning to the nearest waiter he pointed to each of there drinks. "Do you have anyone in mind?"
The brunette shook his head negatively. "No, not yet. I'm more worried about when I am going to send everyone back. Obviously I will be sending myself back as the spell has to be cast in Parseltounge, but I need to figure out when we will send each person back."
"Because of our soul bond it will be pretty hard to hide a connection from relatives and friends with someone that we've never met before. I should go back the furthest because I'll be in the easiest position to hide it, already being in the magical world and all. 'Mione can't be sent back until she's at least eleven. She won't be able to explain it so she should need to hide it for the least amount of time. A month or two at most."
"Wait just a minuet, Ron," Began the blond witch as she took a sip of her new drink, a calculating look in her eye. "Does the time difference have to take place in the past?" At his questioning glance she continued. "What if he waited the allotted amount of time in the present…Would he be able to send us all back at the same point in time?"
The man in question narrowed his eyes in thought. "Theoretically yes he could, but the bond would drive him mad before the required years were up. He wouldn't be sane enough to walk, let alone remember how and when to cast a spell he invented thirty years ago."
An uneasy silence fell over the trio. Each taking their turn to mull over what they had just been talking about, they sipped at their drinks before speaking. They had been here for hours and by the looks of the waiters and staff it was nearing closing time. "So…I'm thinking Draco Malfoy and one of the twins."
"No, you can't separate the twins. They'd go mad. They have a mental link. And I will not take that insufferable pureblood anywhere."
"Both twins?"
"I'd kill myself. What about Neville and Ginny?"
"I can't take her back she lives with me. Neville, yes. Ginny, no.
"I like Fleur personally-"
"Absolutely not! I will not deal with a veela older with more hormones in a teenager's body. It's like asking for trouble."
"Both of you stop!" Harry interrupted. "Look, don't worry about it. I'll work all this out in a few years when it counts. For now just relax and enjoy the last of your drinks."
Before a silence could fall over the table again Hermione threw back her chair and stood up as fast as she could. One hand flew to her mouth and the other flew to the mug she had been drinking out of. Her eyes were wide in disbelief. "Harry James Potter you di-"
She never got to finish her sentence. She disappeared long before that. "You know she's going to kill you, right mate? If I don't kill you first that is."
Harry smiled happily at his best mate. I know you won't. You knew what I had planned all along, didn't you?" At his friends nod a rather somber look fell over his features. "It'll be hard on you for five years. Forgive me?"
"Already have mate, cheers."
He had accepted his fate and now Harry had to do the same. Closing his eyes he leaned his head back in the chair and sighed, imagining the life that won't exist. "Thirty-five years and this will never happen."
Authors Note: This is my first story so it's a little short. I will probably update once ever week. Does anyone have any preference on who is sent back with them? They won't be introduced for a few more chapters so its fair game right now. Feedback is welcome!!
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