TITLE: Beforewards

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Don't forget to leave a review.

SUMMARY: At Kings Cross, Harry meets someone other than Dumbledore. That someone sends Harry back in time to change things. Can Harry, with his future knowledge and new mentor, change his future for good? Or will this time travel not have the desired effects?

CLARIFICATIONS:

'Merlin talking to Harry in his head'

'Harry talking to Merlin in his head'

CHAPTER: 2

"Good summer then?" Ron asked when the adults were pulled into a whispered conversation with his 'rescuers'.

Harry shrugged, "I suppose. Wasn't as bad as last time-"

"Harry! How can you say that, you were attacked by dementors!" exclaimed Hermione and Harry rolled his eyes while locking his hands behind his head and leaning back into his chair. Of course, Harry had been referring to the last summer in his own time. But they didn't know that.

"Anyway, other than the dementors, it was actually alright. The Dursley's left me alone, and I got a load of stuff done."

'Didn't we just.'

Ginny leaned forwards, "Like what?", but Harry only shrugged again in answer, which made Hermione stare at him suspiciously.

"Is the charms homework a part of that, 'cause-" started Ron, but he was cut off by a gasp of indignation from Sirius. They all turned to see Sirius, Remus, Moody, Tonks, Shacklebolt, Diggle, the Hogwarts professors and Dumbledore staring at Harry with shock and surprise. It was Sirius who spoke up after a few moments.

"Since when can you use wandless magic?" he asked in just above a whisper.

'Careful here, Harry. Just say something vague enough to pass.'

"Since about two weeks ago." He looked around at their expressions; Dumbledore pensive, Snape incredulous, and everyone else looked in the middle of shock and awe, "I had nothing else to do, so I just started learning it-"

Snape sneered, "'Just started learning it.' Not even you, Potter, with all your magical ability, can 'just learn' wandless magics."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Just because you can't, Snape."

"Professor Snape, Harry."

"Anyway, I started learning the theory of it from a book I brought back from school. And then one time I accidently turned my lights off with it and no Underage Magic owl came, so I just assumed they couldn't trace it and started to do it with more spells."

'Dumbledore is trying to access your mind. He doesn't believe you, or them.'

'What should I do then?'

'Perform some, show Albus that you can do it.'

At that moment Hermione leaned across to him, a familiar excited gleam in her eyes, "Can you show us some, Harry?"

He almost laughed at his luck and nodded lightly. He gave a small flick of his wrist and once again transfigured Moody's peg-leg into a concrete block, luckily the old Auror was leaning on the table else he would have collapsed onto the floor.

"Potter." he growled as Sirius and Remus stifled laughs. James had done that once also, although, not wandlessly, "Put it back."

"Of course, Mad-Eye." and with another flick of his wrist the wooden leg came back, but this time had little snitches flying about on it, Ron, Sirius, Remus and the twins laughed loudly at Moody's disgruntled expression.

McGonagall and Dumbledore turned back to Harry and the Transfiguration professor spoke up, "Mr Potter! That is very advanced Transfiguration! Past NEWT level."

"Indeed. How long have you been able to perform feats like that, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, an amused twinkle in his eyes as Moody tried to get rid of the snitches to no avail.

"I dunno. Since I started wandless magic. It's easier without a wand." Harry said truthfully. It was, and Merlin had informed him that was because wands helped wizards control their magic, and the stronger the wizards magic, the harder it would be for the wand to control it.

"Really? Interesting."

At that point, Harry stood and made a show of stretching out his arms and yawning, "Sorry, guys. I'm just really tired. The rooms upstairs, I take it?"

Ron nodded and jumped to his feet, along with Hermione, "Yeah, come on, Harry."

Harry nodded to Dumbledore and McGonagall, fist bumped Sirius and clapped Remus on the shoulder. He then allowed Ron and Hermione to drag him out of the room.

When they got to the familiar bedroom where Harry had spent most of his previous school year and fifth year summer, Harry went straight to his old bed, next to Ron's, and dropped onto it. He looked over to Ron just in time to see him proclaim that he too was tired and with that he slammed the bedroom door in a very disgruntled Hermione's face. Harry snorted as heard her stomping back downstairs.

Ron flopped onto his bed in very much the same way Harry had and sighed, locking his hands behind his head and staring up at the ceiling.

Silence took over them for a while before they heard multiple footsteps coming upstairs again, from Merlin Harry knew it to be Hermione and that she had recruited Ginny to try and help her in the boys room.

Harry chuckled and gave a point of his hand to the door, the frame glowed blue before settling back into it's normal colour. Ron looked at him sideways, confused. But then laughed his ass off when Ginny had gone to smash her way into the room, and evidently ended up on the floor. Hermione must've caught on for next she yelled from the other side of the now locked door.

"Harry James Potter, open this door right now!"

Ron snickered as Harry smirked over at him, "No can do, 'Mione. Sometimes it just happens, nothing I can do."

As Hermione shrieked angrily and Ginny swore a lot, Ron yelled back, "Have a nice night though, girls!"

At this Harry joined Ron in the laughter, but unlike last time, didn't almost poo himself when Fred and George chose then to apparate into their room. Clearly to prove to Ginny and Hermione that they could do something that they couldn't. Especially Hermione.

Fred and George both dropped themselves on vacant wooden chairs and propped their arms upon their knees, "Why, Harry, it appears that your magical prowess has become something of legend."

As Ron finished swearing at them both for, "Scaring him shitless!", Harry just rolled his eyes.

"Well-"

"-that's what the mighty-"

"-the powerful-"

"-the gorgeous-"

"Not so sure about that last one, brother o' mine."

"Quite right, George old boy."

Ron squinted at them from his bed, "What are you two on about?"

They chorused together, "McGonagall, of course!"

Harry sighed and looked over at them, "What did she say?"

"She happened to mention that she herself had not been able to complete that sort of Transfiguration until years after her own NEWTs."

"Dumbledore said a similar thing."

'Well, it's good to know that Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall appreciate my efforts.'

'I'm sure it is.'

"And then ickle Ginevra mentioned of how very hilarious it would be if you charmed the Judges robes bright pink tomorrow-"

Harry propped himself up on his elbows, "Tomorrow?"

They all looked at him funny and it was Ron who answered, "Your trial. Y'know, the Magic thing."

Harry nodded and looked at them sheepishly, "Oh yeah. Forgot about that."

Ron snickered, "That's probably a good thing. Means your not nervous."

Harry shrugged, "I'm not, at least, I don't feel like I am."

George and Fred suddenly perked their heads up in alarm, "That sounds like mother dearest."

'They are correct, Harry. Molly is going to want to stick her head in here, so unlock the door.'

Harry nodded, more to himself, and unlocked the bedroom with a snap of his fingers, "Yeah, you guys might want to go now."

The twins nodded and apparated just before Mrs Weasley stuck her head in their door, "To sleep, now boys please. Especially you, Harry, you have a big day tomorrow."

Harry and Ron grunted their agreement, rather reluctantly, and stripped off into their PJ's before getting into bed.

After a while, Harry could hear Ron's snoring, but he himself could not get to sleep. So he chose to speak with Merlin instead.

'Merlin?'

'Harry.'

'Yeah, Hi. I'm thinking about tomorrow.'

'I can imagine you are. Tomorrow holds endless possibilities.'

'It does?'

'Of course.'

'What kind of possibilities?'

Merlin chuckled, 'The kind you have to work out for yourself.'

Harry rolled his eyes, 'Do you think that I could change things at the Trial then?'

'I do.'

For a moment Harry didn't communicate, just laid there.

Until...he got a thought. A brilliant, incredible thought.

He sat up, rigid, in bed, 'Merlin!'

'What is it, Harry?'

'Okay. I definitely want to get off of the Underage Magic bullshit.'

Merlin stayed quiet so Harry continued, 'I think we should also see about how far we can get Fudge, or the rest of the Wizengamot, along to seeing that Voldemort has really come back.'

'I agree.'

'Yeah. Okay. That's about it. Got any other ideas?'

Merlin didn't say anything else but only sighed, 'Let us go through how we are going to get you off of the Underage...bull.'

Harry smirked.

Harry awoke at half-past five the next morning as abruptly and completely as if somebody had yelled in his ear, although, someone had.

'Goodness! I have been yelling for at least ten minutes.' Merlin called out in his head.

Harry snarled slightly, a sound that made Merlin laugh out loud, and Harry looked around their surroundings.

For a few moments he sat on the bed, immobile, thinking about the hearing in a few hours time. Of course, it was scheduled for three hours, but Harry and Merlin knew that they would skip an hour and have it before the entire Wizengamot. Harry glanced down at the clothes that Mrs Weasley had clearly placed on his bed. The same as last time, a normal t-shirt and jeans. He could almost laugh at the casualness of it all.

He stood and then ran his hand over the PJ's he currently donned. They had discussed last night on what they were going to do and what Harry should say, Merlin had been the one to come up with the idea that Harry should wear Heir to the House of Peverell and Potter robes, all in black as well, to make him look even 'scarier' than he did already (according to Merlin), apparently it would also remind the members of the Wizengamot that Harry would be joining them as the Head of two powerful Houses in two years.

Of course, in Harry's time, he hadn't known about any of that 'Lord' stuff, something that made Merlin want to throttle Dumbledore and the Dursley's, but he had happily explained it all. It was good to know that if all went to plan and he could kill Voldemort this time around, then he would have enough money and a good job to keep him going.

'Very nice, Harrison.' Merlin commented as Harry stared at himself in the floor length mirror. He was right, he did look rather scary and dangerous. He wore pitch black chino trousers with a black button up shirt emblazed with the Potter and Peverell crest and over that he wore a black robe that travelled to his knees which was also embedded with the Potter and Peverell crest. He finished it with black oxford shoes, the kind that he had seen muggle businessmen wear.

'Do something about your hair, though.'

'Like what?'

'Heads of Houses tend to keep their hair long enough so that it can be tied into a low ponytail. Perhaps you should also do that.'

Harry nodded and waved a hand over his hair, imagining what he wanted it to look like. When Harry looked up again, he saw that his black hair had gone back neatly. He rather liked this look, actually, it made him look a lot like Sirius.

He smirked and turned towards the door, but not before seeing Ron. His best friend was lying sprawled on his back with his mouth wide open, fast asleep. He sniggered and crossed the room, not surprised when Ron didn't even stir, he closed the door softly behind him.

He walked quietly down the stairs, passing the heads of Kreachers ancestors as he went, and into the kitchen.

Obviously already knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Remus and Tonks were going to be there, as they were last time, Harry was very surprised and stopped dead in the doorway when he spotted Professor Dumbledore next to TOnks, showing her how to pour hot water from a muggle kettle into her mug.

All were fully dressed except Mrs. Weasley, who was wearing a quilted, purple dressing gown. She leapt to her feet the moment he entered, eyes wide.

"Harry," she said as she approached, eyeing his dress wear, "Did you not see the clothes I had put out for you?"

Harry inclined his head as he dropped into a seat opposite Dumbledore, who was also eyeing his clothes with a very amused look on his face, "I did, Mrs. Weasley. But I thought that it would be best if I attended the trial today in clothing that would perhaps...intimidate...certain members of the Ministry."

"A wise choice, my boy." said Dumbledore quickly, before Mrs. Weasley could get a word in.

Harry shot a smirk at Dumbledore, "Yes, I thought that it would be." He was again, surprised, when Dumbledore smiled back with a knowing glint in his eye. Did Dumbledore already know about the change of destination?

With apparently Dumbledore's word being enough not to argue, Mrs. Weasley set about other things, "Breakfast." she said as she pulled out her wand and hurried over to the fire. Harry turned to Tonks, who was keeping her eyes anywhere but Harry.

Apparently their first impression this time was much different, "Tonks, right?" he asked her and he smiled when she blushed again and nodded.

"You're an Auror? Like Moody and Shacklebolt."

She looked up, surprised that he had remembered that, even if it was from the day before, "Yeah, I am. But not really like Mad-Eye..."

Harry snorted, "No ones like Mad-Eye." Harry then raised his chin and peered into the right corner of the room.

'Moody's over there, isn't he?' Harry thought to Merlin, who laughed.

'Well done, Harry. I was wondering how long it would take you.'

Harry rolled his eyes, aware of Dumbledore watching him stare into the corner with a small smile.

Harry cleared his throat and said loudly, "I bet your a better Auror though, Tonks. He seems to me to just be a barmy old codger-"

Harry quickly put up a shield charm by waving his hand as Moody shot up from his position and threw off his invisibility cloak, shooting harmless hexes at him while Harry laughed and Sirius shouted with joy.

"Alastor! Leave the poor boy alone, he's got a very stressful day today!" said Mrs. Weasly as she placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of Harry. Remus nodded along in agreement, but he also had gained a small smile.

"He is no boy." Moody muttered as he gloomily dropped in the seat next to Dumbledore. Dumbledore and Moody sat there and watched Harry as he laughed lightly and then dug into his meal without ceremony, sneaking glances with Sirius who was doing the same while smirking at him.

Dumbledore cleared his throat after a few moments of silence and everyone looked to him, including Harry, who had a mouthful of fried eggs, "I am going to be taking you today, Harry. The hearing is in Amelia Bones' office, she is Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the one who will be questioning you."

Harry swallowed his eggs and waved his fork towards Dumbledore, "What's she like?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as Harry started wolfing down some of his bacon, "A very nice and fair women, a Hufflepuff I believe."

Harry nodded and finished his plate off as everyone else looked on. To be honest, everyone else (excluding Dumbledore) looked more nervous than he was.

Harry looked up, and flinched, for show of course, when he saw everyone staring at him, Dumbledore chuckled merrily and flipped out his pocket watch.

the old man stood and Harry followed his actions, "We will be going now, I think, Harry."

Mr. Weasley peered at the magical clock on the wall, "Now? You've got another two hours yet."

Dumbledore nodded but Harry cut in before he could, "Time waits for no witch or wizard, Mr. Weasley." he turned back to Dumbledore and held out his arm, "Shall we, sir?"

Dumbledore chuckled and looped his arm around Harry's.

Harry felt the familiar pulling of apparition as he and the Professor vanished in thin air from Grimmauld Place.