Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
This fic is a response to Iglsorlndo challenge called "Harry Gets a Snake". It involves a Slytherin getting Harry in some way. The character I was given was a challenge as he was from the past and I know very little about him. But, I'm a person that thinks way outside the box with stories and comes up with unusual ideas. (If you read my last challenge inspired fic, Promprific, you'll know).
Summary: Harry has a mishap with a time turner when he attempted to go back and save Sirius from the veil. Instead, he wound up meeting Sirius's great great grandfather Phineas who's eager to get to know him.
A Question of Connections
Year 1889
Harry could just hear Hermione's rant echoing in his ear, even though he was no longer in the same time period as she was. Harry stared down at the little golden hourglass in his hand. A desperate desire to save his godfather from the veil had driven him to sneak it away from Hermione's reach. She hadn't understood. None of them did. He needed his godfather to be alive, and the only way he could do that was to go back in time and prevent him from running off to the Ministry.
It backfired of course. He was no longer standing in the same living room in Grimmauld Place facing a smiling Sirius Black. He was instead standing in the living room in 1889, facing his grim looking great great grandfather. Harry wasn't sure how long he was standing there in the silence with the man. Neither of them had spoken a word. Harry expected Phineas to cry out or faint at the shock of a young boy suddenly appearing out of no where; then again, this was the magical world, so such a thing wouldn't have caused a wizard to faint. Still, Harry desired some reaction from him. He didn't dare make the first move. He wasn't quite sure what to say.
After some time, Harry decided it couldn't be avoided. He turned to the grim looking man and opened his mouth, but Phineas beat him to it.
"Peculiar. Very peculiar," he said.
"Sorry?"
"I asked for Fenton, not some scrawny, four eyed adolescent."
"What are you…I don't think you understand," Harry started. "I'm—"
"Not Fenton," he growled.
"No. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He briefly wondered if it was wise to tell him his name. Phineas fingered his mustache.
"Harry…Potter," he said slowly. "Never heard of you. Where do you come from?"
"Ah—"
"And what's that in your hand?"
Harry attempted to hide it in his pocket, but Phineas lifted his wand and pulled it out of his hand. Harry hoped he thought of it as a simple toy and not some magical device.
"A time-turner. How fascinating," he said quietly. Harry's heart sank. "That is explains why you're not Fenton."
"Who's Fenton?" Harry asked curiously.
"Never you mind. Tell me boy, when exactly are you from?"
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Give me back my time-turner, and I'll tell you."
Phineas gave him a wicked grin. "I think not. First give me the story and you can have this silly trinket."
As much as Harry wanted to use his wand, he forced himself to refrain from doing so. Clearly, Phineas was faster with it.
"I'm from 1995," Harry admitted.
"Ah, the far future," Phineas said curiously. "And what would bring you to your past?"
"Well it's not my past. It's more like my godfather's…I mean, I was trying to save someone."
"Hold on! What's this about a godfather?"
Seeing how sharp he was, Harry knew he had to be more careful. Hermione had warned him before that a wizard could easily and unintentionally alter something he or she shouldn't. If he started spilling information about his future great great grandson, it was possible he might not even be born.
"Spill it boy!" Phineas cried. He tightened his grip on the time-turner. "Or watch your only ride home crumble."
"My godfather," Harry started. He saw no reason to reveal Sirius's relationship to him. "He died and I was trying to—"
"Go back into the past and change it. Is that right?" Harry gave a brief nod, then held out his hand.
"May I have the time-turner back, sir. It belongs to my friend and I really need to get back."
"Why didn't it work?" Phineas asked curiously.
"Sir?"
"Why did you come back so far?"
"It belongs to my friend," he confessed. "I guess I haven't quite gotten the hang of it."
At that, Phineas actually had the nerve to laugh.
"I think not my boy. I think you came to the past for a reason. I think you came specifically for me."
"No. It was a mistake. And I shouldn't have tried to do it."
"But you were desperate. Ha. We all get desperate. Just a moment ago, I was desperate to have Fenton get ahold of that traitorous son of mine. Named after me, and yet he still renounces our pure-blood allegiance. You're not like that are you? Which side are you on? Are you of pure-blood?"
"Sure," Harry lied, not wanting to get in deeper with the man. He had to get him to release his time-turner so he could return home. A large spark from the fireplace interrupted them as a head came bursting through the flames. It was a young, nervous looking man who seemed as old as Stan Shunpike.
"Fenton!" said Phineas loud enough to make Harry jump.
"Sir," said the young frightened man. "I'm sorry I'm late, I—"
"Never you mind. I will no longer be needing you boy. I have a new boy who's going to help me, and his name is Harry Potter."
Fenton turned in the direction of Harry who merely stared back.
"Sir, are you—"
"Yes, I'm sure. Now be gone! Be gone!"
Fenton quickly slipped his head back into the flames and disappeared. Phineas turned to Harry with a wicked grin.
"You'll help me boy, won't you?"
"I already told you, I have to get back."
"You think I care about that? Do you? I've got your ride home or have you forgotten!" He shook the time-turner in his tight hand. "Besides, I think you're lying."
"Lying about what?"
"Sir," Phineas corrected. "I am a headmaster you know, and as headmaster, I wish to know more about the future."
"How can I tell you about the future, if you think I'm lying?" Harry challenged.
Phineas looked Harry up and down. "There's something about you that tells me you are. I believe it started when you mentioned your godfather. Why would some common boy accidentally show up here, in my house? No. There is a reason. It either has to do with you or your godfather. There's some connection."
"There's no connection!" Harry cried, desperate to stop him from thinking on it. He could never let him know the truth.
"We'll see," Phineas stated slyly. "We'll see if it really was a mistake for you to come this far. In my opinion, it is your duty to help me. "
"I don't think so," Harry argued.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not a pure-blood."
All the air seemed to leave Phineas at once. He looked as if Harry had suddenly slapped him across the face. Slowly Phineas got to his feet.
"Not a pure-blood? Not a pure-blood?" he questioned angrily. "Don't tell me you're some distant relative of mine! Not from that worthless, faithless son of mine."
"No, I'm not related to you," Harry countered. "I already told you it's a mistake that I'm here."
"And I told you you're lying! There is some connection, and until I find out what it is and what my future holds, you shall not leave here."
Phineas stared him down, preventing Harry from trying to sneak his wand out for a good curse. And now he could hear Hermione screaming in his ear. If she knew what kind of trouble he'd gotten into, she'd never forgive him. He just had to get Phineas to trust him enough to let him go. A little fabrication of the truth might not hurt.
"Alright," said Harry calmly. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
"Yes, sure you will," he said skeptically. "Come with me."
He reached out and grabbed Harry's wand arm and pulled him along toward the hall. Though it was also considered improper to curse a wizard when his back was turned, Harry was going to break that rule. Unfortunately he couldn't since Phineas had such a tight grip on his arm. Harry was getting the feeling he was being taken to some hidden dungeon, but to his surprise, Phineas led him to the kitchen.
"My wife isn't here at the moment. Out visiting relatives for the weekend while I'm trying to get some work done. A headmaster can hardly take a vacation. Sit over there where I can see you."
Harry sat at the table facing Phineas who remained standing. He pulled out his wand causing Harry to tense. He didn't point it at Harry, he pointed it off to the side and gave it a flick. Harry turned and saw a silver tray with glasses and a pitcher levitating toward the table.
"You must be thirsty after such a long trip."
"No thanks."
"It's not alcoholic boy."
Harry shook his head and Phineas glared.
"You know, it's not usual for me to allow anything less than pure-blood into this house, and you happen to be in the finest one at that. The honorable Black family abode."
"Yes sir."
"You wanted me to trust you. How can we establish trust if you cannot take what your host has offered you."
Harry bit his lip. If he was going to fabricate the truth, he needed to establish some issue of trust with the man. Reluctantly he nodded and Phineas began to pour the drink.
"A special punch of ours. A welcoming treat just for you."
He handed it to Harry who pretended to take a sip. There was no way he was going to drink anything given to him by such a sly devil.
"Well?"
"It's good," Harry lied. "Really."
Phineas seemed satisfied and made to pour himself a drink.
"Only the finest in this house lad, even without the spirits. Now tell me, what school do you take to in the future? You look to still be of school age."
"I'm fifteen. I go to Durmstrang."
"Durmstrang?" Phineas questioned.
"Yes."
"That's a lie," he countered.
"Sorry?"
"You wouldn't be in London if you go to Durmstrang. You must come from my school, Hogwarts."
Harry nearly choked. He had almost forgotten that Phineas had been the headmaster of Hogwarts.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," Harry quickly said.
Phineas raised a curious brow, but said nothing of it.
"You are from Hogwarts aren't you? Tell the truth."
"No, I'm not."
Phineas frowned, then set down his drink. "You know, I'm very disappointed. How do you expect me to allow you to go home if you won't give me straight answers? I know you're afraid the future will be rewritten if you don't keep silent, but I assure you no change will come. I simply wish to know who you are. You should see it as an honor. I don't usually waste my time with non pure-bloods, but seeing as you've landed here, I'm giving one a chance."
Harry said nothing. He wasn't about to be goaded into sharing anything he shouldn't. He knew he was already angering Hermione by taking the time-turner. There was no need to add on to it with carelessness that could change the future.
"But I am telling you who I am. I do come from Durmstrang."
"Then what are you doing in London?"
"I was staying with my godfather, up until his death."
Phineas narrowed his eyes curiously.
"That much, I gather, is possible. So, you're telling me that you don't know about Hogwarts?"
"Never been."
"And there are no connections between us? No reason why you ended up in my house?"
"No sir."
Phineas leaned back, observing him curiously, but Harry was sure he'd gotten away with it.
"Very well. Finish your drink."
"I think I've had enough," Harry said as he pushed it aside.
"So have I," Phineas said under his breath. Before Harry could react to his words, Phineas raised his wand. A jet of red light hit him squarely in the chest, knocking Harry back into his seat. His eyes rolled and his head lolled back then fell forward and hit the table. Phineas gave a wicked laugh.
"You think I'm so stupid do you boy. I know your game. You're lying. You know something about me. There is a connection. And you know something about Hogwarts."
Phineas downed the last of his punch then stood and walked behind Harry. He brushed back the hair over his forehead and saw the scar.
"No family resemblance. But, you are someone I should get to know."
Phineas stole Harry's wand and pocketed it. Then he looked at the time turner in his hand and fingered it gently. He decided to hang on to it, so pocketed it as well.
Alright, part one is out the way. I plan for this to be a three-shot, so two more chapters to go, if not three more. I'm kind of writing as I go. Normally, I plan my whole story out, but seeing as this was written for a challenge and is short, I'll go this way. I hope Phineas is in character enough. I never knew him very well. Anyways, review if you please and stay tuned for the next chapter which I can't promise will be pleasant.
