Harry wandered aimlessly through the woods. He did not know how long he had been moving, nor where he was going. He just knew that he wanted to keep going.

His mind clicked back and forth between what he had heard and seen. He was told that he had somehow ended up in the year 1981. If this was true then…no, he thought. This can't be, he mused. He was trying to convince himself that what he heard was wrong. He thought back to Snape's and how he had fallen through the floor.

But what is really the floor?

He remembered that the potion was white, so white in fact that it looked like liquid light in the cauldron. He wished that he had Hermione, as she would have known what to make of it all. He had never heard of a potion that allowed people to travel in time.

But then again, there are a lot of magical things you don't know about.

He was debating within himself, trying to make sense of it all and only ending up with a headache. He wondered who he could go to for help. If he was indeed in 1981, then some of the usual suspects were not there. Ron and Hermione would only be infants now. So would he, for that matter.

Wait.

Harry's mind was now racing. It now occurred to him that if he was really back in 1981and if the day was really what he had been told, then in just over 24 hours, he would earn his scar, his parents would be killed, and Voldemort would be forced from his body.

He began a debate within his mind. He was trying to decide if he should change history and save his parents. He knew that it would be a selfish thing to do, and for the most part, he was against it. But, something in the back of his mind told him that it was the right thing to do. He realized that if he chose this path, then there would be no room for error. Voldemort's powers would not break, and he would not have to resort to using one of his Horcruxes. The one good thing about him traveling from the future is that he knew what the Horcruxes were for the most part. He would also have the help of Dumbledore and the Order, back when they were at their full glory.

Dumbledore.

Harry knew that whatever it was he needed to do, he would need help. If he was really in 1981, then he would need no more help that Albus Dumbledore. The hardest part would be convincing the man that he was really who he claimed he was.

000000

Apparating to Homemade village, Harry waited in the Shrieking Shack until he saw a lantern bobbing down from the castle. He had lucked out. Dumbledore was going down to the village for a drink. It was just before midnight and the man had come down alone.

Exiting the old building quickly, Harry went and stood in front of the Three Broomsticks. He stood right by the door and could hear the sounds of laughter coming from inside. Dumbledore reached the building and hesitated for a moment before going in. He peered at Harry curiously before attempting to walk in.

"Albus Dumbledore," said Harry, causing the man to stop in his tracks. Harry turned to him as Dumbledore made his way out of the pub.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "How may I help you?"

Harry noticed that there was coldness in the man's voice and his hand was inside his robes, undoubtedly on his wand. Harry knew that he would only have a few words to convince Dumbledore of what he was saying, before the man attacked him. "I know this might sound strange," Harry began, "but I know you. I'm from the future." He thought about what he had just said, and about how he would react to hearing such news. He had hoped that by telling Dumbledore the truth he had not disrupted some cosmic law and that the universe wouldn't blow up.

"From the future?" inquired Dumbledore. He surveyed Harry. "You look to be too young to be drinking. Alas, what has become of our youth?"

"No," Harry pleaded, "please. You have to believe me. You were Headmaster at Hogwarts, when I was there."

"My dear boy," said Dumbledore, now sounding more impatient, "I am afraid that you are mistaken. I remember every student whom I have ever taught, and I can say that you are not one of them."

"Please, you have to believe me," Harry said, trying to will Dumbledore to believe me.

"I am afraid that I have other matters to attend to, now if you would," Dumbledore said, trying to brush past a frantic Harry.

"Wait!" he exclaimed. "I know about the prophecy," he said, and he made sure to lower his voice so that no one else would hear.

Harry was shocked by what happened next. He watched as Dumbledore made his way back out from the doorway of the pub. He removed his wand from inside his robes, moved very swiftly. Grabbing Harry by the collar of his robes, he practically threw Harry into the space between two of the buildings. He then pinned Harry up against the wall and pointed his wand at his face.

"How do you know about the Prophecy?" he asked. There was a cold fury in his eyes that was also etched in every wrinkle on the man's face.

Harry found himself to be quite scared of his mentor at this point. "I know about the prophecy, because it's about me," Harry said. Dumbledore did not let his grip up any. "My name is Harry Potter. I'm the son of Lily and James Potter, I can prove I'm from the future," he tried to reason.

Dumbledore let Harry go. He did not stop his wand from pointing at him. "Explain yourself."

Harry scrambled to his feet and gathered himself quickly. "I know the prophecy, word for word," Harry said. He repeated the words of the prophecy back to Dumbledore whose expression was unreadable. When Dumbledore did not speak for a minute, Harry continued. "The person who overheard the prophecy was Snape. If I wasn't at least a part of the secret, then how would I be able to say out loud that the Potters live in Godric's Hollow? You like the Muggle candy Lemon Drops. I-"

"Enough," said Dumbledore, holding up his free hand. "If you are," he began slowly, "who you claim to be, then you will submit to testing by Veritaserum?"

"Yes," Harry said quickly.

Within an hour, Harry and Dumbledore found themselves hulled up in Dumbledore's office. Harry noticed that Dumbledore had taken great care to make sure that no one, not even the ghosts had seen Harry. This gave him hope that Dumbledore was starting to believe him.

The effects of Veritaserum were very much like being put under the Imperius Curse, but with a few differences. The Imperius Curse gave you a feeling of euphoria that made you feel as though your mind was nothing more than a piece of clay, ready for the molding. Veritaserum, however, kept your mind sharp. You could think all you want about resisting its effects, but by the time the thought was done, you had already answered the question.

Harry was not surprised by any of the questions that Dumbledore

"Do you believe me?" Harry asked, feeling the effects of the potion wearing off.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes," he replied. "Yes, I do. However, your traveling back here has raised a few concerns."

"Like what?" Harry asked, though he had a good idea that he knew what they were.

"Though you have arrived here by accident, you have nonetheless come from some 17 years in the future. This means that you have knowledge of events that have yet to happen. You know the fates of many people, am I correct?"

Harry paled. He did in fact know 'how the story ended' for several people. He knew for a fact that in 17 years time, Albus Dumbledore would not be alive to sit there in this office. "Yes," Harry said simply.

"Outside of those who must know," Dumbledore began, "you must be kept a secret. People would kill for the information that you possess."

"I agree," said Harry.

"Now, what exactly do you wish to accomplish?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "First and foremost, I'd like to find a way back to my own time," he said. "I also thought that I would like to…save someone."

"Ah," said Dumbledore in his ever knowing tone. He knew that this was coming. "And who is this someone you'd like to save?"

"Well…" Harry began nervously, "it isn't actually just one someone, its two people. My parents."

"Yes," said Dumbledore and his eyes went out of focus. "If we are given the chance to do things over, why not right past wrongs?"

Harry noticed that Dumbledore was staring off at some point beyond Harry's shoulder. Harry knew that Dumbledore was probably thinking of his family, whom Harry had heard a lot about since the old man's death. "Sir?" Harry interrupted, bringing the man back from his daze.

"Sorry, Harry," he apologized. "If you should ever live to be as old as I, try not to have so many regrets."

Harry did not know how to take this. He just stared back at Dumbledore.

"Have you thought this all the way through? Changing any one small event could change the future in a drastic way."

Harry wanted to laugh out loud. He knew that what he wanted to do would mean dire changes for his future. He went on to explain what would happen when Voldemort came to attack his family. He explained about how the Dark Lord had split his soul and became broken when he tried to kill Harry.

"So you're motives for doing this are purely personal?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, and no," Harry said. "I know how it sounds, but I think that with me knowing what I do about Voldemort and how to defeat him, he can be stopped now. This way, I get my parents back, and the world loses Voldemort."

"Hmm," said Dumbledore out loud. "I understand completely what you are saying. Yet, I find fault in what you are saying. You wish to save your own parents and none others. You realize that by saving them, Voldemort will have seventeen more years to become stronger and destroy more lives. You also realize that though you have the method of his destruction, you have no means by which to do it. This is a selfish decision."

Harry had not expected this. He thought Dumbledore would be against it, but the man had come out so vehemently.

"And yet," Dumbledore began, bringing Harry from his thoughts, "it is a decision that I must admit, that if I had been given your circumstances, I would do the same. You will have the backing of the Order of The Phoenix."

"Thank you," said Harry, and he meant it from the bottom of his heart.

"There is one task that you must do," Dumbledore said, and Harry leaned forwards.

"You must be the one to tell your parents of Peter Pettigrew's betrayal. You and you alone have the task of telling them who you are."

Harry sat stunned. It had been hard enough for him to try and convince Dumbledore of who he was, but to try and tell his parents that he was their son from the future, would prove to be a near impossible task.

"I will have you set up for the night," Dumbledore began, holding up a hand to stop Harry from protesting, "at the Leaky Cauldron. You are not to leave. I will be in contact with you soon."