Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; it all belongs to J K Rowling
A/N: Slightly AU from books, nothing major, may get peoples ages / years wrong, sorry about that everyone! Slight character bashing but nothing unjustified.
Chapter 1
Harry grumbled under his breath as he walked the long winding path to The Three Broomsticks. Today just wasn't his day, several hours into the journey and the train gave an awful jolt, that's when the chaos began. He didn't even know how he managed to end up face down on the train tracks, the last thing he remembered was an array of spells merging towards him, and far, far too many of them, were a sickly shade of green. He should be dead. What happened to his friends…he didn't know, Ron and Hermione had been at a prefects meeting, and he, he was alone in the train compartment.
He'd opted to sit alone despite his friends efforts, Harry didn't mind Neville, Ginny and Luna, but seeing them…they just brought up memories he wasn't ready to deal with. Sirius was dead, it was his fault, and he'd dragged them all into danger for nothing.
The two hour walk along the tracks until he finally caught sight of Hogsmeade, hadn't brought the reassurance he had expected. There was no search party, no Aurors swarming the place, no Order members desperately trying to find him, nothing, it was…normal. The train didn't even appear to have any damage, and he'd felt the huge explosions, heard the screams of the students, and the smoke…the train had been on fire. How had they repaired all of that? And then act as if nothing had happened…
That answer, unfortunately, had been beyond what he could've guessed, what he could have imagined. Picking up the paper Harry had almost fainted, reading the date, 1st September 1976, no wonder there was no search parties, he hadn't even been born! At least it had gone some way to explaining the different shop fronts and the old fashioned clothing proudly displayed in the windows, not that it helped his situation. My parents sixth year, fate hates me…what the hell am I supposed to do?
Trusting Dumbledore would've been something he did last term, but since he learnt the prophecy…he just didn't trust him. For a man who went to great efforts to keep him safe, it never seemed to work. And the Dursleys…anyone could see that was a bad arrangement, he'd known nothing but neglect, and then to be thrown into Hogwarts and his fame, it was a wonder he hadn't suffered a mental breakdown. Families across the country would've jumped at the chance to take him in, leaving him with relatives did have some merit, but if someone, anyone had bothered to check up on him…child services should've been involved years ago. No, if this Dumbledore learnt of how…important, he was to their war effort he'd be in hell; there was no chance he'd tell Dumbledore where he was from. Explaining how he ended up here would draw too much attention as it was, even if the headmaster was his best chance of researching a way back. Some things he would just have to do on his own.
After the time turner incident in third year Harry had decided to do some research into time travel, travelling back two decades was supposed to be impossible, not to mention anyone caught with knowledge of the future, caught messing with time and effecting major events, such as aiding an escaped convict, were supposed to serve a life sentence in Azkaban. He'd be locked up and dosed with veritaserum, this was the first war, and he was at the centre of it, hell, they'd probably throw him in front of Voldemort and hope for the same outcome as the first time round. Considering he'd just been hit by multiple killing curses and was now back in time, it wasn't exactly something he was eager to try.
Sighing and looking around, the sky had darkened hours ago, and Harry doubted he'd be able to pass the gates and meet Dumbledore until tomorrow. He could take one of the secret passageways, but these people were in the middle of a war, they were not going to take kindly to a stranger breaking in. Especially one who couldn't answer any of their questions, not that his appearance didn't already give his relations away, he probably shouldn't use his real name either if he wanted into Hogwarts, and he could hardy go anywhere else. Ministry would lock me up and I can't afford to stay elsewhere and rent a flat or something, besides, I need access t the library. It wasn't the largest one in Britain for nothing.
Eventually he'd come to the decision of posing as a halfblood, a homeschooled student who's parents had recently been killed, or missing, parents who happened to be unspeakables, that would at least provide some cover to the lack of any records of him. Harry didn't know much about the Unspeakables, but no one did, as long as he didn't draw their attention to the point where they started investigating him, he'd be fine. They would be overrun by Death Eater reporting's and research just now anyway, he'd slip under the radar, there were far better things to do than research a potentially lying teenager.
Casting a quick glamour to turn his hair brown, and paying Rosmerta the fare for a nights stay, Harry settled in, sleep was an unlikely prospect, but he had to do something. Scribbling a letter and signing it Harrison Smith, it was a pity Hedwig wasn't here, he was forced to borrow an owl and send it on its way, it wasn't a far journey and with any luck, he'd get a response back tomorrow.
OoOoO
Surreal, that's what 1976's Diagon Alley was like. Old fashions, old broomstick models, old everything. Back in time and the only objects he possessed was his wand, a bag of owl treats he'd purchased a few weeks back for Hedwig, and his money pouch.
Thanks god he hadn't listen to Hermione's rants, after hearing about the prophecy Harry had quickly deduced that his chances of surviving the war were slim to nothing. He had no training, no special powers, no anything…sure he was more powerful then the average person his age, but no more knowledgeable. And given the prospect of dying within the next few years, he'd decided that he may as well be comfortable, material goods wouldn't make him a happy, normal teenager, but they made life easier, or more…fun. Well, that's what happens when you know and fund the Weasley twins.
But now all he had was his pouch, filled with more Galleons than he really needed, or would have required. He'd even brought an extra few hundred Galleons because the fate of his Firebolt hadn't been discovered. It was the first present Sirius had given him on memory, and he had hoped Umbridge hadn't destroyed or broken or Merlin knows what to it. But there were no guarantees. Technically, Harry hadn't even decided if he'd use it, or buy a new one and keep the broom as a reminder of his lost Godfather.
But now the money would go on books, clothes, potions equipment...everything. And then the school fees, those would be expensive. The trip to Gringotts had assured his fears in that respect, the goblins would do anything for cash, and he needed a bank account and a name change. After dumping the majority of his gold in a new bank account, total amounting to one thousand two hundred and thirteen Galleons, six Sickles and 2 Knuts, and keeping about a hundred Galleons for his shopping, Harrison James Smith left. The goblin records at least got rid of some suspicions, walking into Hogwarts with nothing, not even a bank account or name, would've been beyond suspicious. Plus it had the added effect of changing his name on the Marauders Map.
To be honest with himself, Harry knew that it was inevitable, he would meet his parents, he could hardly avoid them, and where he was sorted…either Gryffindor or Slytherin. He hoped for Gryffindor, not only was it his old house, but he could really get to know his parents, Remus…Sirius. And avoid the rat completely, or try to. This was not going to be easy; his friends must be having a fit back home. They probably thought he was dead, or kidnapped, they could be dead…loath as he did to admit it, the chances of all the students surviving unscathed were low. If those Death Eaters spotted any students they would be struck down, whether they be a new first year, or a pureblood, those people just didn't differentiate. If your in the way, your dead. Shaking his head in an attempt to dispel those thoughts, Harry set out.
OoOoO
Two hours later Harry was carrying several large shopping bags as he walked down the street, it was just after lunch now and the number of shoppers were slowly picking up. Much like his own time, they huddled together, constantly watching over their shoulder for an attack or loose Death Eater, while casting odd glances at him. It was a far cry from normality, but a very welcome change, at least now eyes wouldn't constantly follow him. Back in his time, people practically worshiped him, they expected him to save them, pinning all your hopes on a sixteen year old boy wasn't exactly the best of moves, but that was what they'd done, what they would do.
Shifting his bags to his other hand, he wished he could shrink his stuff, but how his trace would react, could the ministry tell…best not try. Harry had managed to purchase a new casual wardrobe along with a his school uniform, a standard trunk and potions package including cauldron, and tracked down the correct books for the subjects he planned to take. The only real problem he had now was his appearance; he was practically a carbon copy of his father, to much of a coincidence to ignore.
The Hair Dying Potion hadn't been hard to find, sure he'd had to walk into a shop filled with makeup and bags to get it, but it promised to be permanent until his hair grew out, along with a pile of other properties such as making his hair straighter, quicker to dry after a shower, and resistant to cauldron fumes. Why Hermione hadn't bought him one…or anyone…it might be designed for the female population, but it worked fast, his hair was now brown with blond highlights, not to mention it actually sat half flat. That was something no charm he'd tried accomplished, and should set him and James Potter apart some. Harry bought a few spare as well, everything could be reversed, and it saved him having to owl for more when his hair grew out a bit.
A change of glasses was also in order, or contacts, if they had them yet. The round frames were virtually identical to his fathers, and he hadn't had his prescription updated since just before primary, it had to have changed by now, most people had glasses updated every year or two. Hell, the Dursleys could have vastly improved his eyesight if they'd bothered to treat him properly, but now he'd have to wait till someone invented an eye-sight correcting potion. Or discover an old version.
He really should change his eye colour, but charms weren't permanent, and potions would eventually wear off. The price of the potions didn't help either, he needed to keep his Galleons, for all he knew, he could be stuck here permanently. Harry doubted it, but if he was stuck here for three years or something he'd need to conserve his cash. If he could get coloured contacts then he wouldn't have a problem, but a trip to muggle London might be required, the wizarding world was hardly up to date with muggle technology.
The last purchase he made was of a Thunderstruck Broom, it wasn't nearly as fast or fancy as anything in his time, but flying was one of his favourite de-stressors, and he'd need it considering what he was planning. The Cleansweeps were also out, but really there wasn't much between them, judging by the fact he didn't recognise the Thunderstrucks' company, they must have folded due to competition.
Heading towards the Leaky Cauldron, it was time to check if Dumbledore had replied, hopefully he'd be able to set the next part of his plan into motion without to much difficulty.
A/N: First chapter done, this is a side project, a bit of fun while I make progress with To Justify the Means. It won't be the best thing I've ever written, but it's alright. Probably will be reasonable long, I have no intension of abandoning it, don't worry :) just cause it's a side project doesn't doom it to fail. I know Harry should be…panicking more, but I'm a reasonably new writer, this is the best it's gonna get. Updates will be at random times, no consistency, it just varies on my workload (I'm a student). Review if you want, if your flaming don't bother
Some Promises, I will NOT:
Have someone else from Harry's year be sent back in time
Have anyone work out Harry's real identity
Have Dumbledore realise who he is, will have a normal student-teacher relationship