Future Comes to Past (FCP)
By: moonlightbear
Summary: Little Alyssa Dursley is bored and decides to read a book, but when she reads a particular sentence out loud, she finds herself in a mysterious room with her cousin Harry and several others. Oh! And don't forget seven books to read!
Author's notes: This is a companion piece to my other story called Alyssum May Dursley (AMD) and can be found on my profile under stories I have posted. FCP series will act as a sequel to AMD once AMD is finished.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my character Alyssum.
Prologue: Dec. 26, 1997
Alyssum May Dursley's holiday season has been one of the most interesting, yet the year as a whole has been the most boring thus far in her short life of ten years. Back at home she usually spent time with the few friends she had, wrote a ton to her cousin Harry, had tea at Mrs. Figg's, baked with her mum, and avoided her father (though this only started a few years earlier). Unfortunately this year, since the last week in July, she hadn't been able to do any of these things… Except for the last one. About six weeks after Mr. Diggle and Ms. Jones took them away from home, they made it a permanent rule that little Alyssa and her father stay in separate rooms.
You see, Alyssa was born with the same talents as her Aunt and cousin. She was a witch. It wasn't until the middle of her cousin's third year, when he was thousands of miles away, which made her parents accept her for what she was. She had done something extraordinarily abnormal that they normally blamed Harry for, but they couldn't that time and then they looked back at several odd situations that had occurred around her, and they realized what she was. Her mother was quite upset at first, but nothing compared to her husband. If he was horrible to Harry, he was if nothing else, worst to his own daughter.
The rest of the school year was quite horrible. Her father questioned his wife's faith to him, during Alyssa conception and wouldn't stop until a paternity test was done. When it came back positive, their marriage was no longer on the verge of separation, so he turned his anger towards the little girl. Thankfully, only a few weeks after this occurred, Harry returned home with news of his godfather, an escaped mass murdering convict, who wanted to keep in touch. Once Harry found out about his baby cousin, he told his godfather, who in turned became very good pen pals with Alyssa. This insure her safety for the most part for the next two years and she dissolved into tears, but tried to remain strong for her cousin, who she knew missed Sirius so much more.
The following year had been one of the worst, and when summer came around again, the interesting wizard that had visited, before her cousin's sixth, was dead as well. She knew he was really important, her cousin had been telling her so since the first time he came home after going to the wizard's school. That summer, this last summer, she had packed her bags, knowing she might not come back home for a long, long time.
Since that day in late July, they've only moved three times. The first was to make sure they were not followed. The second was because of making quite the scene, as well as quite a bit of underage magic. And the last time was because they played host to Potter-Watch, and although there was no sign of the death eaters knowing where the broadcast had come from. It was always best to be safe than sorry.
They've been in this particular house for over a month. From what they knew of the place, it was an old muggle vacation house that has been unused for years. During the first week Alyssa explore every inch of the place, the second week she spent mostly with Mr. Diggle and the radio, and with Ms. Jones in the kitchen. The last two week she's spent mostly by herself reading whatever was around, listening to the radio constantly, or playing a random game of Wizard's Chess with her brother. Dudley had a like/ hate relationship with the game because he liked the game and the way they moved by themselves, but hated it because the pieces didn't really listen to his instructions much. "I should be on B4 you dolt! I've been playing this game longer than you, haven't I?"
Although yesterday was Christmas, it was not the happiest holiday. Her parents refused to come out of their room and her brother felt it his duty to deal with them. Ms. Jones put some music on, and made hot coco, while Mr. Diggle danced to his heart's content and decorated the house, but it just wasn't the same without her mum, and brother. Today went back to the boring humdrum of nothing. Alyssum looked through the attic again this morning and found a trunk that had been hidden behind some boxes before. She rummaged through the trunk, pushing aside a large, gray, dusty piece of cloth; some old photos, with an old lady in one, a young couple in another, and a young man; as well as some old newspaper clippings, and at the bottom was an old thick book. It was a mission for her! She decided she was gonna read the book and figure out what all the junk in the trunk used to be for. It was a game and something to keep her occupied.
She took the book down stairs, and sat behind the living room couch. Her guardians like this spot most as it was seeable from any spot in the room as well as the perfect view from the kitchen. "What did you find this morning dear?" Ms. Jones asked.
"A book. I'll tell you about it once I'm done, promise!" Alyssa replied.
"With all your reading, I'll eat my own hat if you're not in Ravenclaw!" She laughed.
Alyssum giggled and then asked, "Do you even have a hat to eat?"
"Then… I'll eat yours!"
"But I don't have any hats either!" She said with humor in her heart and then added, "But you could take my dad's gray one! It's awful!"
"It sounds like a plan, my dear!" Hestia laughed, and then went about her business, as Alyssa settled in for a long read. Alyssa often read in a very odd way that annoyed most people. Her grade school teachers gave her detention for disrupting the class whenever they were supposed to read to themselves. When she read something she understood perfectly, she'd read out loud, like she was telling a story. If she was confused, or extremely interested in something, she often murmured, mumbled, or whispered the words in front of her. Although, whenever she was studying really hard, or didn't care at all what she was reading, she was very quiet, but the main reason is because she'd often had a headache coming on. Most of the time she interchanged between the three and rarely realized she did this until someone pointedly tells her so.
She read, in her special way through three chapters before breakfast and the continued for several more chapters. This book wasn't like the others she had found in the house, and she didn't realized just how different it really was until a quarter after eleven, when she whispered the words, "In praeteritum futurum creare melioris venturi ignota." A strange breeze swept past her and she looked up startled. "Ms. Jones?" Alyssum called out nervously.
"What is it, dea—Dedalus!" Hestia exclaimed. The funny little man jumped in surprise, dropping the radio, and barely rose to his feet when a bright light engulfed the ten year old. She squealed, clutching the book tightly, and shut her eyes in terror.
After a few moments of silence, Alyssum sneaked a peek. "Oh, no…" She whispered, as she found herself in a room she'd never been in before. There were chairs and couches around the room, a large table beside her, another smaller table with lots of snacks in the corner, a kitchen behind her, a huge fireplace in front of her, and seven open doors around the room. Each door looked like it led to a bedroom and there was no way out. Slowly she loosened her white knuckle grip on the book, and as she took a step to explore her surroundings two more people showed up.
Her cousin, Harry, and his friend, Ron, were an odd site to see. Both were soaked to the bone and her cousin's friend had a pretty sword in one hand and a broken necklace in the other. "Hermione!" Harry called out, but then looked around wildly.
"What the bloody hell happen? Where are we?" Ron exclaimed, as he too looked around the room.
"Lyssie?" Harry blurted out, as he noticed her. He rushed to her side and asked, "Are you ok? What happened?"
"Oh, Harry, I'm really really sorry! I-"
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Wha—" Harry said turning away from his little cousin, and scanned the room. "Hermione!"
She was curled up in a heavy blanket sound asleep on one of the couches by the blazing fire. The other three occupants of the room rushed to her side and tried to wake her. It took quite a few shakes and several minutes of calling her name, before she awoke from her dead like sleep.
"Wha… Who are you… Where did… Where are… What's going on here?" Hermione mumbled to clarity, as she really woke up. Standing up, she advanced on Ron, who looked slightly terrified. "And you! Why are you here?"
"Harry?" Said a new voice, as Hermione started to argue with Ron.
"Ginny?" Harry called to the red headed girl, who appeared in the kitchen.
"But I came back!"
"Oh really! How did you find us? Just decided to pop us into this room, did you?"
"No, no, I didn't…"
"He came back before that, Mione! He saved my life!"
"Saved your life?" Ginny and Alyssa asked at the same time.
They were both ignored. "I don't care! I went after you! Calling for you to come back and you just—"
"I know, I'm sorry!"
"SORRY!"
"You left them! How could you?"
"Not now Ginny!"
Ginny opened her mouth to yell some more, but got distracted by the newest person in the room. "Where'd my sandwich go?" A handsome man, with dark hair asked curiously. He had appeared in a chair about three feet away from the snack table. "Ooo that looks good!" Obviously, food was all he had on his mind. Once he had a tea sandwich in each hand, he watch as Hermione continued her assault on Ron, with an amused smile.
Hermione was now hitting every inch of Ron she could fine. "Stupid git… can't believe…"
"Hey, Reg is that you?"
"Wha… Wha… Don—don't call me that…" A similar, yet younger, dark hair fellow said to the first. Regulus did not look so good; he had a haunted look in his eyes, as they traveled around the room.
"Enjoying the show?" Sirius asked lightly. He wasn't particularly concerned about the squabble by the fire because of the demeanor in which the two were fighting. They were harmless to each other, if not entertaining for him. As for his brother, well they were brothers and if not for their parents' favoritism, house prejudism, and all the Voldemort business, they'd probably be very close. And since neither influence was here, why should he show any hostilities. Besides if these other people did decide to come at them, hopefully his brother would stick by him.
"What's going on?" Regulus asked, trying to hide his expression.
"Apparently, the red head did something to upset the girl, there…"
"No, I mean us, here? Why? What's going on?"
"And you just think, showing up with the sword and a dead -, we come and hug you and welcome you back with open arms!"
"Well, Harry—"
"Oh, yes, YES! I'm sure Harry, that he… Oohh! Harry give me my wand!"
"N- no!"
"Give it to me! Where is it!"
"Why would—" Ron started.
"Why would he have your wand?" A boy with messy black hair and glasses asked.
"James!" A girl with red hair and green eyes ran to him. He hugged her and pushed her behind him, in order to protect her from the people he didn't know and held his wand out at them.
It was at this moment that Hermione actually looked up and around at all the people in the room. "Oh my!" She exclaimed.
A young Remus Lupin was rubbing his eyes and sitting up; he seemed to be taking a nap when he arrived. James and Lily were standing just off to the right of the large dining table. Another couple, who seemed ready to attack, was standing in front of one of the bedroom doors nearest the fireplace. A dishevelish blonde hair man stood by the fire, looking horribly frighten and upset. He was mumbling to himself. The two brothers still were by snack table. The older one grabbed another tea sandwich before heading over to his best friend who he just noticed. The younger brother had just sat down and was turning a book he had in his hand around, as he read the back cover. Just behind the couches was a woman with long flowing blonde hair, who had a simple dreamy gaze over her eyes as she stared peacefully at the ceiling, and paying no attention to anyone. Behind her was a young man who seemed to be trying to sink into the shadows; it was obvious he wasn't thrilled to be here.
Hermione also noticed the others who stood right next to her. Harry and Ron didn't surprise her as much as Ginny, Alyssa (the cousin Harry has told her about), and Neville (who was literally sitting under her and Ron in a chair, as they had fought, he looked positively terrified at be caught in the middle). Before she went to bed, she'd been in a tent, in the middle of the Forest of Dean, and now she was here. It was a lot to take in, and everyone seemed to be doing the same thing.
"You alright Neville?" Harry asked, lending a hand.
As Neville rose to his feet he said, "Yeah, it's just… those two scare me more than the - do, when they're like that."
"Who?" Ron asked.
"The -…" Neville looked puzzled, and then opened his mouth as if to yell, but nothing came out. "Weird…" He murmured a moment later.
"Why can't you say whatever you were going to say?" Ginny asked, and then she opened her mouth and her lips moved in the same way as Neville's did, but she didn't make a sound. "That's so odd…"
"Well at least I'm not the only—" Neville never finished his sentence as another person arrive.
"Oh! Hello everyone…" Luna Lovegood replied, as she appeared right in the center of the smaller group of people she knew very well.
"Luna!" Ginny and Neville exclaimed in relief, and the distress man by the fire widen his eyes. "Luna! My baby, my Luna! You are here?"
"Yes, daddy… I am fine, it's ok…" She replied, in her usual dreamy voice, as her father hugged her.
The Trio turned to Ginny and Neville for an explanation, who mouthed, "Death Eaters kidnapped her last week." This time, when they mouthed the information, it was voluntarily because they didn't want Xenophilius to get any more upset. The Trio looked troubled, but glad she was safe now.
"Look, I'm happy for that whole reunion there and now that you seem not to want to curse the boy. I really think we need to know what's going on, and who brought us here." Said the man of the couple by one of the bedroom door, closest to the fire.
There was a moment of silence; all were waiting for the person responsible to step forward. At this Alyssa, who was the youngest in the room, stepped closer to her cousin and he unconsciously put an arm around her. "No one knows?" The woman of the couple asked. "Well, who was here first?"
This time the room erupted with sound as most of the occupants started pointing fingers at the people they saw when they first arrived. It was shortly narrowed down to the Trio and the little girl who seemed to want to disappear. "Well, I was asleep…" Hermione told them.
"I didn't plan this," Ron explained. "Harry's cousin was here before us."
Harry hadn't said anything; instead, he had turned to Alyssa, getting down to her height, and talked to her calmly. She was nearly in tears as she responded to him. "I did mean to… it just happened… we were in an old muggle house! It was supposed to be a muggle book! I didn't know! I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!" Everyone that was nervous of an attack, or this being a trap of sorts, visibly relaxed… It was just some kind of accidental magic.
"Hey, it's ok, we'll figure it out." Harry told her kindly and they hugged.
"Hi Alyssa, I'm Hermione. Maybe you can tell us about what happen, while I look at that book. It was the one that…" She didn't need to finish because Alyssa was nodding fiercely and practically threw the book into Hermione's arms. "Thanks."
"Okay Lyssie, tell us everything you can remember." Harry told her, and she began her story.
How she was bored and explored the house, finding the trunk and the book, and her new found mission. Taking the book to the living room to read, "And you know how I do that." She reminded her cousin, he nodded understandably. "So when I said the incantation, it felt all weird and I called for Ms. Jones, but before they could do anything I was here!"
By this time the two couples, Remus, the older brother, and father and daughter were sitting in the provided chairs and couches. The younger brother was still seated at the snack table looking over the other books he found as well. The young blonde woman and the man in the shadows were still in their spots as well, and no one seemed to notice them.
"That sounds about right Alyssa," Hermione started to explain. "Half the magic comes from the book it's self, the other half comes from the person's, who reads it, want or need. Whether they know they have a want or need, or not."
"But I didn't… I was kinda bored, but… I didn't want this!"
"The spell it's self is important as well. It loosely translates into: The future comes to past to create a better future through unknown means. We're obviously the future, and they're the past, but I'm not really sure what the unknown thing is…"
"You're from the future?" The red hair woman asked kindly. "What year?"
"Eighteen years…" whispered the blonde hair woman.
"1997." Harry answered and was curious to find out, "What year did you come from?"
"1979, it was the day after Christmas."
"Us too!" Ginny provided.
"Is anyone here named Harry Potter?"
"I'm James Potter, why?"
"Why?" Harry asked at the same time.
Everyone turned to the one who had spoken first. "It's these books, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', there's seven of them."
"Really?" Harry asked, going over to the younger brother.
"Only the first has words—"
"Maybe that's the unknown part, Harry! It's different for every person and for our group it's books!"
"Wait did you say 'Harry'?" Remus asked. "As in Harry Potter of the books? And you're from the future?" Then he looked pointedly at his best friend and his wife.
"Are you?" The husband asked.
Harry face flushed to a pink color at being put on the spot, and nodded.
"Hello, I'm Luna Lovegood, and this is my father Xenophilius."
"Ah, we're finally doing introductions! I'm Sirius Black, and that's my brother Regulus there with his nose inside a book!"
"Well, uh, I'm Ron Weasley, and this is my sister—"
"Who can speak for herself, thank you very much! I'm Ginny Weasley, by the way."
"Frank and Alice Longbottom, it's nice to meet you all."
Neville bit his lower lip nervously before introducing himself and the previous couple dropped their jaws in shock. That didn't last long before Neville's mother rushed over to him and started to fuss about him and his recently acquired scars.
James and Lily also went to their son after they introduced themselves, and Lily was quite adamant about Harry getting warm. He was still ice cold from his adventures before the room, and Lily also took Ron's health concerns upon herself as well. James watched them closely as the rest of the introductions were made. "I'm Hermione Granger…"
"Remus Lupin."
"I am… Corina Hasser…" The blonde mentioned quietly, still looking dreamily at the ceiling. Several people turned on the spot when she talked because they didn't even realize she was there.
"Corny? Is that really you?" Xenophilius asked.
"Mum…" Luna mumbled as a small smile rose up on her face.
The same smile floated onto Corina's face as she said, "My little filly horse, is that you? You're so old…" But the look on her face told everyone that did not seem to matter. "You are Pulchritudinous, Sweetheart." She told Luna as the three reconnected.
Realizing she was one of the last to introduce themselves, she looked down shyly, shuffled her feet, and said, "Um, err I'm Alyssum Dursley…" She didn't expect anything, and was pleasantly surprise when her Uncle came down to her level and lifted her chin.
"Are you one of Petunia's kids?" He asked with a kind smile that reached his eyes, as they sparkled behind his glasses. It was apparent he had taken it upon himself to talk to her while Lily continued to fuss over Harry and Ron, who were both particularly red face, but rather dry.
"You know my mom?" She asked him.
"Of her, yes. Your grandparents told us last week she had married… uh, Vernon Dursley, I think."
"My dad…" She confirmed biting her lip, and then added, "I have a big brother too!"
"Is he a-?"
"No, only me…" She mumbled.
"Are they okay with that? That you're a witch?" He asked her.
She was silent for a moment, trying to find the best answer to his seemingly simple question. She bit her lower lip and shifted her gaze slightly, "Everything is okay, now."
At that moment Lily entered into the conversation, "Well, no matter how my sister will act towards you being a witch, I'm sure you already know you are always welcomed at our home! And by the way you and Harry know each other, it seems you have taken that opportunity a few times at least."
Alyssum wasn't sure what to say, but she did have to as Harry began to speak. "M-mum…" He stumbled over the word, looking pale. "There's something I need to te—YOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
Harry changed faster than you can blink, from a white, sickly, pale to an angry, raging, red, and he stared at the back of the room just over his mother's shoulder. Nearly everyone was having their own conversation, as families were being reconnected, but this outburst drew everyone's attention to two people. Harry and the last person who had yet to introduce themselves. Everyone knew who it was the moment he stepped out of the shadows; even Alyssa who had only seen a badly drawn picture by an eleven year old, knew who he was.
Severus Snape stumbled backwards at Harry exclamation. He was nervous. He knew he was out-numbered, even with Regulus who came to stand by his side. James and Sirius joined Harry once they realized who it was, but Hermione was the first to jump up at Harry's yell. She jumped in front of him and snatched her wand that he withdrew. "NO! No Harry! Stop!"
"GIVE THAT BACK! You know what he did, Hermione! You know he-" But whatever he was going to say went into silence. "What the Hell! He-" Harry seemed to try and repeat himself, but it didn't work, and he was turning an odd shade of purple. "WHO'S SILENCING ME!"
"HARRY STOP!" Hermione exclaimed, as now she and Ginny held him back. "Remember the spell, 'to create a better future'! To change their future, our past and present, Harry! The spell would only bring those who could, would, and want to change the future! Look who's here and who's not!"
"That's true, Harry!" Ron added to agree with Hermione who glared at him.
At these words, he searched the room for missing people. On his left was his father with his mum and Alice Longbottom hovering over him incase Harry tried to charge Snape again and James followed. The same seemed to occur on his right with his god father, and Remus and Frank in his path. Ginny and Hermione stood guard on him, while Ron and Neville, looking unsure, stood behind him. Alyssa had gotten out of her angry cousins way and was standing by one of the large armchairs. The Lovegood family was off to the right watching the commotion in action, and then there was Regulus and Severus standing at the back of the room, by the kitchen.
"What are you talking about Hermione? There are dozens of people who should be here, most importantly Dumbledore! But he's not, so you can't be right!"
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore has always done all he could to stop him. I don't think that will ever change. He doesn't need to be here because there are several here that he trust and will believe what they tell him. No, what I am talking about is there are certain people who should be here, to read about what they have done in the future and be able to go back and fix them, that are not."
"You're talking about - aren't you?…" Harry paused and then tried to repeat himself but more silence followed.
"Who?" Several of the people from the past asked.
"He's talking about -" Hermione tried to explain, but silence cut her off. "This is so weird…"
The trio tried several words to reveal the person, but the only one that worked was, "Scrabbers, my pet -" As whatever caused this muting cut Ron off from saying, 'my pet rat.'
"You're talking about a pet that should be here?" Alice asked skeptically. "Are you sure you didn't hit your heads? Maybe you need to lie down?"
"No! No, it's a long story…" Harry explained.
"Obviously, not one we're allowed to tell you…" Ron mumbled, moodily.
"Yeah, like when I said -" Neville added.
"It would be part of the spell to keep the unknown things unknown until they are known would it not? The books will tell us everything…" Luna concluded.
"Well if reading stops all this beep, beep, beep stuff then let's go for it!" Sirius declared and several others agreed, not being too happy that the future people knew so much but they didn't.
"Well Severus, you were right. The day my brother wants to read is the day the world has gone crazy. You were so very right." Regulus whispered to his housemate as they took seats as far away from Harry as they could, and Regulus passed the book around.
-Holy ba-jeezes this is the longest chapter ever! But hey all the introductions and reasons and hows and whys are now out there and we can start the reading of the books! Woohoo! Have fun and please review, it makes me happy!-