Chapter 2

The two of them, Harry and Hagrid, stayed inside the cabin for most of the rest of the day. Hagrid may have had a terrible history of cake making but, as Harry found out, He could prepare rabbit just fine and so the two of them ate together and talked for most of the day.

It dawned on Harry that, aside from the first time they had spoken and Hagrid had liberated Harry from the tyranny of the Dursleys, this was the longest they had spent together. Not only in the three years that had passed here in this ever-more-likely-not-a-dream-world but in the seven that had passed for Harry.

It was early evening by the time Harry finally got around to leaving, the conversation having dried up and Harry having had quite enough tea for the rest of the month. They said their goodbyes and they both thanked each other for the company before Harry departed and began the journey back to the castle.

As he passed through the entrance hall, the noise from the great hall was near deafening. It had never seemed so loud from inside, but here, it was surprising and Harry picked up the pace to get through it quickly. Back up the stairs he had come down earlier and along some corridors and he found himself back at the Fat Lady's painting. Ah, that's a problem. I don't know the password.

"Hey there" he started, giving her the biggest smile he could manage.

"Hello there. Password?" she smiled back.

Damn it. "I... seem to have forgotten it. I don't suppose..."

"You know the rules, Mister Potter. No password, no entry."

"Aww, come on! Just this once?"

"I'm sorry, but no can do. This is a prestigious position, you know. How am I expected...?"

To hell with this, he thought to himself before just walking away from her mid-rant.

He walked down the corridor just far enough so he thought she wouldn't be able to see him anymore before he stopped and leaned on the wall, crossing his arms. I guess I'll just wait. It can't be that long before someone comes.

It was only a few minutes before he was deep in thought again, something that he never really had much time for before now. Life had moved quickly during his Hogwarts tenure, from the death of Quirrell or the slaying of the basilisk all the way through to witnessing Dumbledore's death and the chaos that had soon followed.

Life had moved even faster after that; an entire year had disappeared in seemingly no time as Ron, Hermione and he had broken into Gringotts, had been captured by Snatchers and then escaped the Death Eaters and the destruction of the Horcruxes.

I've never had time for myself, never had time for Ginny, and never had time for Sirius. I missed out on so much and maybe that was my fault. He pictured those he was closest to. I need to make more of an effort.

Assuming I'm not really dead.

He was broken from his reverie by the sound of a girlish giggling, followed by the sound of footsteps. He couldn't see them just yet but there were voices he recognised amongst the gaggle of girls headed his way. When they rounded the nearest corner and saw him, one face in particular stood out in the way she smiled his way: Parvati Patil. With the exception of Hermione, all of the other girls from her dorm were in attendance: Lavender Brown, Fay Dunbar and Sophie Roper.

"You alright, Harry?"

He nodded to the twin.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just waiting for a Gryffindor. Would you believe I forgot the password?" He smiled at them.

Lavender laughed before Parvati playfully slapped her arm to stop the giggling.

"Come on, then. I guess we'll let you in, Neville-I-mean Harry." Lavender threw his way.

The reference to their forgetful house mate and the implied, but playful, insult wasn't lost on him. He looked her in the eye and said "Do you think you could hold my hand? I'm not sure I know the way."

Lavender stopped giggling immediately as she blushed, turning a colour a Weasley could be proud of, something her friends did not fail to notice as they began to laugh at her.

The group made their way into the unpopulated Gryffindor common room, ("Shivery nippers," "Oh, I bet they are!") the girls staking a claim on the best settees while Harry made his way straight to the Boys' dorm stairs.

Parvati called after him, "Harry, Fay wants a kiss!" but he pretended to not hear her. As he climbed the stairs he thought again of how surreal it all was.

I talked to Lavender. I think I did a good job not freaking out there.

He entered the dorm room, stripped off the casual clothes he'd been wearing and jumped into bed, not caring about putting on his pyjamas. It was still early; it was likely his dorm mates were still eating dinner, and he could be well asleep by the time anyone got back, and didn't he need it!

What happens when I go to sleep?

Do I die? Do I wake up in the forest? Or is this it? Am I stuck here?

Sleep took him quickly and, as far as he was concerned, the morning came just as quick with its answer to his questions.

Déjà vu. That was the best way to describe it. Not only living a day as his younger self again but now waking up and staring at the same four-poster bed curtains. The early morning sun did not quite shine through the window yet, just like the day before. The boys sharing the dorm room were all asleep. He would say it was the same day again except this time he woke in just his underwear, no clothing.

So this is probably really real, then. Well… Let's make the most of it.

He rolled out of bed, walked across the dorm, grabbed a towel and made off to the Gryffindor boys' showers. Shower time is thinking time, after all, and he had thinking to do.

The itinerary then. First, say hi to everybody. You ignored them all yesterday and hid with Hagrid.

Second, explain to Ron and Hermione what has happened.

He stopped, blinking for a moment.

No, that's a terrible idea. Hermione will either think I'm crazy or believe me and worry like mad. It's important that this be kept a secret and the chances of Ron keeping his mouth shut for four years...

Harry smiled.

If I told him now, he wouldn't last the day.

So, second then. Horcruxes? There's the diadem in the room of requirement. It should stay there until I know what to do with it. I suppose I could go get the sword but Dumbledore said he'd write to me when he wanted me to go see him- probably shouldn't bother him before that.

Basilisk fang? There's an idea. A trip down to the chamber to grab a couple fangs would go a long way. One at Sirius' place. One here. Seems fine.

Third, write to Sirius. Actually, first, write to Sirius. I'm not wasting any time with friends, not again.

He turned off the shower, made his way back past the other boy's rooms to his dorm. He got dressed in full robes and, like before, began the journey down to main hall, this time with his bag full of books over his shoulder.

Fourth, Dumbledore's Army. Everyone did so well in the Department of Mysteries before with only a couple of months' practice. Well now we have a year and I'm a better teacher.

Fifth, Snape. I probably need to learn Occlumency this time. I'm not going through the headaches again. He's an asshole but so would I be if I were responsible for the death of the only person I've ever loved. How do I build that bridge though?

Before entering the great hall, he took a little time to grab a timetable off a small table near the door. It had the dates, times and names of all the tests the students were expected to be taking over the next week or so. He had already been given permission to miss them, and that wasn't something he was going to give up easily, but it was still helpful knowing. He still had classes this week, and he would need to know which he wasn't expected to show up for due to conflicting exams.

When he entered the hall for breakfast, it was almost empty. Just a few early risers. Harry took a seat at the table, helped himself to some bacon and toast before retrieving a quill and some ink from his bag. He wrote down what he had planned so far on one piece of parchment before setting it aside to dry and pulling another piece out.

Padfoot,

Hope you're doing well.

Everything here is good.

I know I don't need to say it but keep in touch.

I want to tell you about all you've missed.

He really didn't know what to say. What would Sirius like the most? What would make him smile?

Give the 'griff a treat from me.

Take care and stay safe,

Little Prongs

Harry imagined Sirius reading it, a smile on his face, maybe a tear in his eye, making Harry tear up a little too. Sirius was the only family Harry had ever had and now he had that again.

He took the letter, rolled it up and stuffed it into his bag. When he was done here he'd make a trip to the Owlery and see another old friend before classes started.

Or tests? He was exempt from those at least but should probably attend his lessons. Ron was already prone to jealousy. The last thing Harry needed to do was to rub in the redhead's face how special Harry's circumstances were by not attending his lessons.

By now the hall was beginning to fill but none of his closest friends had made an appearance just yet. Harry grabbed his things along with some bacon for Hedwig before going to leave the hall. Just before he got to the door Hermione walked in with Ron in tow.

"Harry! Ron's out of the hospital!"

"Congrats, Mate. How you feeling?"

"Thanks. Rough. Harry, you do not want to break your leg." He said with His usual style of emphasis.

"Ron, I had to grow back an arm." He replied, almost laughing.

"You always have to one-up me," Ron said, a smile clear on his face "I'm gonna sit down, now," and with that, he half-hobbled over to the Gryffindor table.

"Harry, are you alright today?" Hermione asked, turning to him. The concern was clear on her face; he had been acting unusual since yesterday and they both knew it.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Look, something has happened…"

"Something?" She interjected.

They were still just inside the hall doorway and students were passing by now in both directions.

"Yeah, something." He leaned into her ear and spoke as quietly as he could while still being heard over the growing din of a hundred hungry teens eating.

"It's a Boy-Who-Lived kind of something."

She gasped and her hand shot up to her mouth.

"Don't worry though. I'm fine. Everything is fine. Dumbledore is on it. As soon as he has information, I'll tell you, okay?"

"Yes, okay. But are you alright?" She looked him in the eye this time, judging his response.

"Yes. Thank you for caring," he replied, without breaking eye contact. "Now, I have a letter to send to our new dog friend."

She just nodded and smiled at that.

"And Hermione? Don't tell Ron just yet. He needs to focus on his tests."

She nodded again, looking over to the table where Ron was sat, already stuffing his face.

"He has a tendency to panic about things. Go get some breakfast, we'll talk later."

With that, they went their separate ways.

Harry made his way up to the top of the westernmost tower, walked into the Owlery and took a look around. The Owlery had a high, white ceiling that followed the dome of the outside of the tower, the upper reaches ringed in perches and nests for the various birds the school kept on site.

A blur of white descended on him before taking a place on his outstretched arm. Hedwig, the snowy owl, was larger than he remembered. Maybe it's just that I'm smaller? She had wide, round, piercing yellow eyes and a gleaming speckled white coat. She was gentle, too; a normal bird of her size would require a leather harness on the arm to stop her talons digging in but, like most of the animals in the wizarding world, she was unusually intelligent and in her case, incredibly affectionate.

"Hey, girl. How have you been?"

After landing, she gave a small hoot before leaning in and pecking gently at his face, giving him her best effort at a kiss and he stroked her back and neck in return, relishing in the soft, warm feeling of holding her again.

"I've got a treat for you," he said, picking a strip of bacon out from the hand she was perched on. He held the gift in front of her and watched as her predatory nature showed itself. Her eyes widened as she focused in on her prey, she spread her wings slightly for balance and pounced on the unsuspecting crispy victim.

After she had eaten the first piece, he gave her a second and then let his eyes wander around the room looking for a Hogwarts owl. He wouldn't send Hedwig to deliver the letter he had written, He'd been warned from doing that before. She was too easily recognisable and, if intercepted and the letter read, might accidentally lead the way to Sirius, as unlikely as that might be.

He gave Hedwig another stroke, allowing her to nip at his ear once more before encouraging her to return to her spot in the upper reaches of the tower. He called down a large owl with a foul look on its face and strange, tufty-eared feathers. "Hey there," he said, catching the bird on his arm and providing it with its own piece of bacon, the last he had brought.

Holding the beast, he retrieved the letter from his bag one handed, rolled it a little tighter and tied it to the owl's leg using one of the strings that the room provided. "I know the letter is addressed to Padfoot. It's actually for a man named Sirius Black, okay?"

The animal just looked him straight in the eye, looking thoroughly put off, before giving him a slow blink in what he hoped was confirmation. The owl hopped, turning on his arm, before with a few powerful beats of his wings, it was out the nearest window and gone.

Harry looked back up at Hedwig to see her looking, perhaps, less than impressed. "Sorry, girl. You know you're my favourite!" and she gave a little hoot back to him with a little hop.

Before leaving the Owlery, Harry took a knee and had a look at the timetable he had grabbed earlier. The first exam was history of magic.

Always look on the brightside, I guess.

Digging through his bag he retrieved the list he had written earlier.

Write Sirius. Done.

Get Ravenclaw's diadem.

Get basilisk fang.

Reform the D.A.

Learn Occlumency.

Well, Occlumency can wait. Last time around it wasn't until Voldemort was back and making moves i started getting visions, so no rush there. That and I do not want to talk to Snape if I can help it.

I've got a couple hours. Trip to the chamber? I could grab the diadem first? Two birds with one stone.

Probably dangerous to do it alone though. If the diadem gives me any trouble, I'll need help. And if by some fluke I stab myself with a fang, I'd hate to die in the chamber alone. After everything I've survived, that would just be an embarrassing way to go.

If the students are all busy then who do I ask? Lupin? He'd do it, sure, but he probably has a class to teach.

I'll just get the help I got last time. I need Fawkes.