***Hogwarts***
In the Great Hall the next morning at breakfast Umbridge was again sitting in the Headmasters chair. Breakfast was reaching its conclusion as the owls started to deliver the mail. Hermione dropped a few knuts into the pouch of the owl that brought her newspaper. She opened it and got a big grin on her face as gasps were heard around the room.
"Did she get it in?" Ron whispered. In answer Hermione turned the front page to him so he could read the head line then turned it back to read the story for herself.
The headline screamed "Terror Grips Hogwarts" below that was Rita's article.
This reporter was given an exclusive interview with an insider at Hogwarts just last night. It seems that all is not well at our beloved school. Last evening during dinner four students mysteriously vanished when a storm erupted in the ceiling of the Great Hall. My source says it was a perfectly clear evening outside but inside the ceiling clouded up and after a gale blew out the candles a bolt of lightning split and struck all four tables. One student from each house disappeared.
Delores Umbridge, High Inquisitor and acting Headmistress, immediately called for all students to search the school to find the prankster. If it weren't for the interference from Minerva McGonagall that is what would have happened. Instead she insisted that it couldn't be a schoolboy prank and that the Aurors needed to be called to investigate the disappearances. It was only after Madam Umbridge decided Dumbledore had kidnapped the students that she agreed to call in the Aurors.
They arrived and investigated yet found no trace of Professor Dumbledore or of the four students. Madam Umbridge then sent all the children to their dorms and locked them in. None were allowed to contact anyone from the outside. She even ordered the Aurors not to notify parents that their student went missing. I was wondering what she was hiding when I was told who was on the list of missing students. Harry Potter is missing from Hogwarts!
Delores Umbridge has been spouting horrific slander about him since the end of the tournament. She even convinced Minister Fudge to use a full hearing of the Wizengamot for a case of under aged magic where Potter allegedly used the Patronus charm in front of a muggle. They tried to ignore his testimony that there were dementors present but luckily another witness had sensed the foul creatures presence. I looked over the court documentation and it was never mentioned who the muggle was but I found out from the other witness that it was Mr. Potter's cousin. The same cousin he lives with that already knows about magic. That means the trial was a complete farce.
I have these questions for our Ministry. If the dementors are under your control what was one or more doing near Mr. Potter? Was the trial a set up just to try and discredit him or chase him out of the wizarding world? What are Cornelius Fudge and Delores Umbridge hiding from us? Is You-Know-Who really back and did he take Harry? Are they ignoring good evidence? I call for the two of them to be investigated in the disappearance of Harry Potter. I call for their left arms to be bared. I call for truth and justice.
"That should certainly stir the cauldron." Fred chuckled from behind his own copy of the Prophet.
"And they got the facts straight." George added, "That in itself is a rare treat."
Hermione had just finished reading the main article when there was a scream of outrage from Umbridge at the teachers table.
"Hermione you're brilliant and beautiful." Ron commented from behind the paper he was reading.
Only Ginny could see her blush and smile. Ron didn't realized what he had even said. After breakfast the group got up and made their way to first class. Hermione's arithmancy was along the way to Ron's Divination class now that he had Firenze. He paused by the door to tell her he'd see her later. Instead of talking though Hermione kissed his cheek and turned into the class. Ron didn't move for several moments. Ginny bumped him when she caught up to him.
"What did you expect her to do after that comment at breakfast?" she giggled.
"What comment?" Ron asked.
"You don't even know what you said do you?" Ginny laughed.
"No, what did I say?" Ron was getting desperate.
"You told her she was brilliant…" Ginny stopped when Ron interrupted her.
"I always tell her she's brilliant." he hissed.
"…and beautiful." she said as if he hadn't interrupted at all.
"I said that?" He asked and Ginny nodded, "Out loud where everyone heard it?"
"You did mean it didn't you?" she asked concerned.
"I did mean it but… I didn't mean to say it out loud." Ron gasped, "What if she hates me for saying that?"
"She just kiss your cheek Ron, I don't think she hates the idea that you like her for more than a friend." Ginny shook her head in disbelief in the thickness that enveloped her brother's brain.
"Oh, right. Cool." Ron grinned, "Do you think she'll go out with me?"
Ginny just rolled her eyes and moved off to her own class, "You better get moving or you'll be late."
At lunch Umbridge was in a right state, "I will know who leaked this information. Whether it is a teacher or a student that person will be removed from the premises."
No one said anything as fifty owls swooped in and every single one was carrying a red envelope. Some were already smoking. Students were laughing as the owls flew by bombarding the toad with letters. Umbridge didn't see anything because she was behind a mountain of screaming letters. Even the Slytherins were laughing at her.
Outside the hall the students were loitering in the entryway as more and more screaming letters were dropped on the already buried teacher. None of them wanted to miss seeing this. Ron and Hermione were holding a quiet discussion at the back near the stairs.
"I can't do it Ron." Hermione said, "It has to be a pureblood even if you are a blood traitor its better than a mudblood. This could be the best chance we have to unite the school."
"What do I say." he asked, "You're the brilliant one. I'm just the sidekick."
"You are not." she admonished, "Harry and I would ever call you that. You are an integral part of our family. Where would Harry and I be without you?"
"Better off probably." Ron grumbled but agreed to speak, he climbed a few stairs to be above everyone, "Can I have everyone's attention?" They all turned to him as Fred and George shut the doors to the Great Hall, "Thanks. You all heard the prophecy yesterday. Fates forked tongue spoke that was the lightening. Four souls reaped, whoever it was took one from each house. Unity will light the way or light will fall to darkest way. Several of us think that means we need to unite as a school or Voldemort will win. Now I know some of you Slytherins and possibly others would like to see that happen. But do you know what it means for him to win? Well let me tell you. First off no one will be safe. Look at how he treats his closest followers. I understand he likes to use Crucialtus and Avada Kadrava to punish those who don't succeed at a mission. That's even if they've succeeded fifty times before. How many of you can say you never make a mistake? Then he allows his followers to be held in a prison until he sees fit to pull them out. He's been hiding out for the last fourteen years and where were his followers? In Azkaban with the dementors that's where. And where was he? No one knows. Why won't he tell us where he was? Why is he so afraid of a child? What has Harry ever done to him? Oh yeah he defeated him as a one year old. And now he has outwitted the most evil dark wizard four more times. How many people can say they faced Voldemort's wrath five times and survived? Possibly a few of the inner circle could, but no one else. Once he decides to kill someone they might as well buy their marker."
"What are you getting at Weasley?" Blaise Zabini called.
"I am saying we need to unite against Voldemort." Ron said, "Prepare the way for the four to return. It's possible that they will only be returned when we can unite. We don't know for sure but it is one option."
"Return?" Pansy Parkinson asked, "How can they return they were disintegrated by lightning?"
"I have faith in Harry that he will return." Ron said, "I've seen him get out of some really weird stuff and if anyone can survive it will be him. And Harry doesn't leave anyone behind. He brought Cedric back even though it was too late to save him."
"You're saying Harry will return and Draco will be with him?" Vincent Crabbe asked.
"Yes that is what I believe. And if they are gone for good then it's up to us to save the world." Ron stated.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin unite?" Michael Corned said, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Not just Gryffindor and Slytherin." Ron said, "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff have to be a part too. United takes all four houses, no one is excluded. Everyone will have a part to play."
"So do you think you are going to lead us?" another Slytherin yelled.
"I'm starting the ball rolling. If anyone should lead us it should be the head boy and girl." Ron said, "Unless they want to put it up for a vote and allow nominations."
The head boy was from Ravenclaw and he decided to speak up, "I guess after last night we have to believe it was a real prophecy. But uniting the school is not going to be easy. And if Potter is going to return and get credit for it all why should we do anything?"
"Harry never takes credit for what he does do, why would he take if for what he doesn't do?" Ron asked incredulously, "Do any of you know why he was hurt at the end of our first year?" many shook their heads and Ron continued, "He saved the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort. He never boasted about that. If anyone asked him he gave equal credit to Hermione and me even though we didn't get to actually face Voldemort with Harry. Second year we all know he saved Ginny from Slytherin's monster. He didn't make a big deal and he gave Hermione and I equal credit. Hermione figured out the clues to know what the monster was and I was trying to dig a hole through the rock that caved in because of Lockhart. He won't take credit for things he hasn't done. And if I'm wrong about them surviving then it is still our duty to unite to fight evil."
"You don't have to make a decision right now." Ginny stood by her brother, "But you need to think about it."
"Are you the one that leaked the information to Skeeter?" someone else asked.
"I was not." Ron answered truthfully, "But whoever did that was brilliant. I do wish I had thought of it."
"What about Umbridge?" another asked.
"What about her?" Ron said, "Malfoy was one of her pets and what did that get him? He's being treated no different from Harry who is her most hated student. I do believe she'd even turn on her own mother to save herself. You can't trust in her to take care of anything or anyone."
"Are Harry and Professor Dumbledore right?" another asked, "Is You-Know-Who back?"
"Yes he is." Ginny said, "I was outside in the hall when Professor Dumbledore interrogated the fake Professor Moody. He admitted that Voldemort was back. The only reason the information isn't getting out is because Fudge had the man kissed by a dementor before anyone else could hear the evidence."
"Why are they hiding the truth then?" the Head Girl asked.
"If you were Fudge would you want to say You-Know-Who got a body back while you were Minister?" Ron asked, "The man can't string two words together without help. He's an ostrich hiding his head in the sand, hoping the danger will just pass him by. And look who his advisers are. Lucius Malfoy is a death eater and he's got Fudge in his back pocket. I'm sure You-Know-Who doesn't want anyone to know he's back until he's ready to attack. That makes good strategic sense."
"They're coming." Fred called, "Scatter."
By the time the teachers had opened the doors levitating an unconscious Umbridge the entryway was empty. Later in the hall near Gryffindor Hermione pulled Ron into an empty classroom.
"You were brilliant." she hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I think you even convinced the Slytherins."
"I hope so." a red faced Ron looked at the ground. After a few moments he looked up at the girl he had finally admitted to himself that he fancied, "Would you go out with me?"
"As in girlfriend?" Hermione asked her voice rising a bit.
"Yes." Ron held his breath.
"I'd love to." she smiled and he leaned in to kiss her gently. That was the way the twins and Ginny found them a few minutes later.
"Awwww… look at that Forge she's rewarding him." Fred said.
"Yes she is, but what for Gred?" George asked.
"Couldn't be that speech he gave could it?" Ginny asked.
"Well he did admit to everyone that he thought she was brilliant." George pointed out.
"He admits that every day." Fred said, "But yesterday was the only time he's told her she was beautiful too."
"So do we consider it a belated reward?" Ginny asked.
"That holds every possibly of being true." Fred concluded.
"Can you take your stupid talk somewhere else?" Ron grumbled, "I'm busy here."
"Hermione is too but we don't hear her complaining." George pointed out.
"Just shut up." Hermione mumbled her face buried in Ron's shoulder.
"Sorry to break this up but we need to make some plans." Fred said, "Brilliant speech by the way Ronnie. I didn't know you had it in you."
"I just said the truth." Ron shrugged.
*** the four ***
"Can you tell us where we are?" Harry asked the red headed woman as she led them down a corridor.
"I'm sorry but it's not my place to tell you that." she said.
"Ok so how about who you are." Harry pushed.
"Not the right time yet." she grinned at him.
"Not making any progress yet scar head?" Malfoy called from behind.
Harry scowled and the woman laughed, "I'd forgotten what an annoying prat you are at this age Draco. But don't worry the time is close at hand for all the questions to be answered. That's where we're going right now. How are the headaches?"
"Fine." Harry started to ask another question but got interrupted.
"How can it be fine?" Ernie asked, "I feel like my head is splitting open."
"Me too." came two more complaints from behind.
"Is it better than it was?" Harry asked.
"Yes." they all answered.
"Then its fine." Harry said, "It will continue to get better you just need to get your mind off of it."
"You must not have the headache I have." Draco drawled.
"Some people deal with pain better than others." the woman snickered, "Harry could have a broken leg, multiple lacerations, broken ribs and a concussion and he would tell you he was fine."
"You do know me well." Harry stated, "But how?"
"Not that again." Draco complained, "She isn't going to tell you. Quit asking already."
"He's nothing if not persistent." Terry spoke for the first time on the journey, "I bet that's how you always get through everything isn't it. You just don't know when to give up."
"Never give up." Harry said, "It's just not an option. Things will always work out. Just not usually the way I'm expecting them to."
The woman chuckled, "That's the understatement of the century."
"Ok." Harry gave in, "Never the way I'm expecting them to."
"Here we are." she sighed stopping by a door, "Now this is going to be very weird but no one is going to lie to you in here. When I let you in you'll see four chairs at a table just inside the door take them right to left in the order you are walking."
"Why?" Draco demanded.
"Because I told you to." the woman laughed, "This is going to be so much fun."
"For us or for you?" Harry asked.
"Me mostly." she grinned, "Let's go."
She opened the door, motioning them in and they took the seats as she told them too. The rest of the room was filled with chairs but no people were present. Once they were seated she went to a door and opened it. She then turned and took a seat opposite Harry and one seat to his right. Soon people started streaming into the room. Several times Harry thought he recognized someone only for them to disappear into the crowd. Once the rest of the crowd was seated the last five came in. Of those five the first two looked to be related to Terry and Ernie. The second two made all four of them nearly faint. It was two men that looked like older versions of Harry and Draco. Most amazing of all instead of being nasty to one another they were laughing and cutting up. A man behind them reached out smacked each of their heads.
"What did you do that for?" the Harry look alike glared.
"Settle down." the man said, "Time to be serious and if you make that joke I'll hit you again."
"Fine." Harry look alike said and turned to sit across from Harry.
The man who had smacked their heads looked a lot like Arthur Weasley. He took a seat next to a woman with brown hair pulled into a messy bun. Harry kept thinking everyone look very familiar. One possibility of what had happened popped into his head. It was so farfetched that he tried to push it back out but it wouldn't leave.
"Have you figured it out yet Harry?" the red headed woman asked.
"Figured what out?" Draco demanded. Terry and Ernie looked puzzled too.
"That they've brought us into the future. These are our older selves and she is Ginny." Harry said.
