A/N: Here's the next chapter of Backward With Purpose by Deadwoodpecker with my commentary. Please read the original, it is mind-blowing! Enjoi…
Backward With Purpose: The Headmaster
Everyone was still pondering over Snape's words as Remus read out the title "The Headmaster".
Harry Potter opened his eyes to find himself in a room he had not seen for well over a decade. Dudley's second bedroom looked remarkably the same, and Harry felt a strange sense of vertigo. He dug the heels of his hands against his eyes, and sat up straight. The moment of disorientation passed and he laughed out loud. They had done it! He, Ron, and Ginny had actually sent their memories back in time.
"They did it… they truly did it," Snape muttered, still unable to believe that three of his most talentless students had managed such a difficult and obscure potion.
"No need to sound so shocked, Severus," said Dumbledore amusedly as Sirius laughed.
He looked down at his small hands with wonder. He stood up, tore off his clothes, and stood naked in front of a mirror. He was eleven years old again! He laughed until tears streamed down his face.
"It would be just like them to ruin everything by reacting oddly," said Severus causing everyone to scowl at him.
Aunt Petunia chose that moment to bang on his door. "Get ready! You'd better not make us late. You're lucky we're even taking you to that… that place."
He was eleven years old and heading off to Hogwarts for the very first time the second time around.
"Man that's weird to hear," Sirius muttered eliciting a laugh. Everyone was much calmer now that the time-travelers were in no immediate danger.
Everything was the same. The same breakfast, the same headlines on the newspaper Uncle Vernon read at the kitchen table, the same vacant expression in Dudley's eyes and the scream he gave when he saw Harry staring at him. The car ride was the same, and Uncle Vernon shouted the exact same words he had before.
And in what felt like no time at all, Harry was standing alone in front of the barrier to platform 9 ¾. He waited around, hoping to catch sight of the Weasleys. He felt some anxiety. The efforts may have placed him exactly where he wanted to be, but his wife and best mate might have had trouble.
"I hope he's wrong," said Molly worriedly.
"—packed with Muggles, of course," He heard Mrs. Weasley say, and spun around. There coming toward him was his favorite family in the world; they looked just as frazzled, but it was such a beautiful sight that Harry had to turn away to compose himself. He schooled his features, trying to look a little lost, and hoped that his anxiety would not be misinterpreted.
The Weasleys all looked touched that he thought so highly of them. Percy felt slightly guilty that he'd not believed Harry and hoped that he wouldn't be such a prat in the other timeline.
Percy strode forward rather pompously and disappeared beyond the barrier. The twins, after giving their mother trouble, did likewise. Harry watched them go, and hoped he didn't look like a maniac. He couldn't seem to stop himself from grinning wide enough that his cheeks felt like they were about to split.
"Excuse me," He said a bit shakily. "Do you know how to get through the barrier?"
"First time?" Mrs. Weasley asked kindly. "It's Ron's first time too." She gestured to her son, as if Harry did not know this boy almost as well as he knew himself.
Ron grinned, and when his mother looked away, winked at Harry. Harry grinned back.
"When are they going to tell us, do you think?" Molly enquired of Dumbledore.
"As soon as they have the time, I expect," said Dumbledore smiling. Christmas or the summer at most, unless Miss. Wea- pardon me, Mrs. Potter spills the beans, though I very much doubt that."
"I can't wait until they do!" said Bill grinning. "I can't imagine our reactions!"
"Best to do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous," Mrs. Weasley was saying. "Go on, you go first."
He passed through the barrier and immediately set off to find the empty compartment at the end of the train. His head swiveled back and forth; he drank in the sight of so many people he'd known and lost. Lee Jordan was there with his tarantula. Angelina Johnson screamed when he thrust it toward her while Katie Bell and a fifth year whose name escaped Harry looked on and laughed.
"I've lost my toad again, Gran," he heard Neville say to his formidable looking grandmother.
"Oh, Neville," she sighed. Harry covered his mouth to hide his grin.
"Imagine knowing everyone's reactions placing bets on it!" Sirius whispered to Remus and Tonks grinning.
"You would think of that," Remus said laughing. "As if we didn't cause nearly enough trouble as it was."
He still struggled with his trunk, and was just about to levitate it when George came up.
"Need help with that?"
"Please," Harry said.
"Oi, Fred! C'mere and help," George called. Together, the three of them lifted it up. When Harry paused to wipe his forehead, Fred gasped.
"What's that?" He pointed at Harry's forehead where the lightning scar was highly visible.
"Blimey!" George noticed the same thing.
"It is!"
They stared at Harry, their mouths gaping.
"You're Harry Potter!" They said in unison.
"Er, yeah, that's me," Harry replied.
They kept staring at him, but left when Mrs. Weasley called them. Harry, feeling a bit overwhelmed, threw himself down on the seat, making sure he had a good view of the Weasley family.
"He would feel overwhelmed about that," said Tonks grinning.
He stared at Ginny, and she must have felt his gaze, because she lifted her eyes to him. Even from here he could see that she was crying. He wanted to jump off the train and hold her, but forced himself not to by taking deep breaths. He remembered very clearly what they had decided. They could not do anything at all suspicious, not until the time was right to tell them all.
"And blow their minds away," said Sirius grinning.
"Ron's been acting odd all day," he heard Percy tell his mother loftily. "I think he's nervous about Hogwarts. But don't worry, Mum, I'll take care of him. It's my duty as a prefect."
"Oh, I'm sure it's just school nerves," Tonks said and Percy flushed and grinned reluctantly.
"Oh, are you a prefect, Perce?" Fred asked with an air of great surprise.
Percy again grinned as he remembered the old teasing; it did not seem quite so annoying in hindsight.
Harry laughed as they mocked their brother, and ducked his head when they mentioned meeting him.
"Are you sure it was him, Fred?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "How could you tell?"
"Oh, I remember this," Molly said smiling. "I remember thinking it was such a shame that he had to board the train all by himself."
Sirius and Remus smiled at Molly in gratitude that she'd taken in Harry when he had no one to look after him.
"His scar," George said. "It's really there – like lightning."
Ron found Harry a few minutes later just as the train was pulling away from the station. "Anyone sitting here?" He asked slyly.
Harry laughed. "Nope, just me."
His eyes fell on Wormtail, and he was glad to see that Ron had not made good on his threat to murder him as soon as possible. While it would've made Harry quite pleased to think that the man who had betrayed his parents to Voldemort and had, in the other time, murdered Daphne Greengrass and Dean Thomas, Wormtail had to live until Sirius could be freed.
"That rat destroyed too many lives, then and now," Sirius growled out looking murderous. Remus and Snape looked equally livid.
He and Ron chatted idly for a time. Harry could not help but be impressed by Ron's ability to dissemble.
"You've got a big family," Harry observed.
"Yeah, they all went to Hogwarts, too," Ron replied. "My little sister is going to turn eleven, so next year she'll be at Hogwarts too. She cried all morning about it, actually. Says she wishes she could be with us too. But if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's a bit glad to have Mum and Dad around for one more year."
Molly and Arthur smiled at this.
Harry gave him a grateful look. So Ginny had been crying, but Harry'd bet a hundred galleons that she was crying for completely different reasons.
"This is Scabbers," Ron held up the snoozing rat. "He's not much; he used to be my brother Percy's rat. Ginny almost killed him today, isn't that right, Scabbers? He was sleeping – he always sleeps – and she accidentally stepped on him," his face darkened. "At least Ithinkit was an accident. She might've thought that I'd stay home if my pet was hurt."
"I hope she hurt him bad," Sirius laughed cruelly as the others smirked.
Percy had just come to the realization that he'd kept Scabbers as a pet for close to nine years and felt bile rise up his throat.
Harry had to hide his laugh. He hoped she'd hurt him bad. "Poor Scabbers," he said solemnly.
The lunch trolley came and went. Harry once again bought plenty of snacks, although this time Ron threw his sandwiches out the window and ate chocolate frogs like there was no tomorrow.
The Weasleys chuckled at Ron's appetite.
Both he and Ron chatted idly, careful – very careful – not to say anything at all odd. While Scabbers had only been a rat until their third year, they could not afford to let Peter Pettigrew, betrayer of friends and murderer of Muggles, hear anything suspicious. They knew very well that they walked a very narrow path.
"If Voldemort were to find out about the time travel, the result would be catastrophic," said Dumbledore solemnly.
They were also well aware that they'd be visited by old friends who had no idea who they were, so it did not come as a surprise (although Harry's stomach gave a jolt) when Neville Longbottom, last seen dead on the flagstones of Hogwarts, opened the door and poked his head in, so shy that he did not meet their eyes.
"Have either of you seen a toad? I've lost mine."
It was lucky that his eyes were averted, for Harry had a huge lump in his throat, and he could tell by the look in Ron's eyes that he was thinking the same.
"No," Harry said softly. "Sorry."
"Thanks, then," Neville disappeared.
Ron took several deep breaths, and glanced at Wormtail swiftly. "He scared me, popping out like that. I didn't even hear the door open."
"Me either," Harry winked. "I wonder what our classmates are like. He seems a nice enough sort." That didn't nearly cover it. Neville had been a champion and fearless when it came to defending his friends.
"Did you read that correctly, Lupin?" Snape sneered. "Longbottom, a 'champion'?
"I did not make any mistake, Severus," he replied coldly. "I only wish you would give Neville a chance; he merely lacks confidence."
Snape scowled but didn't reply.
This time around his life would not end in murder; he would not leave Hannah a widow less than a year after their marriage. He'd work with plants, have a bunch of round-faced babies, and live to be a doddering old man, and Harry would never, ever have to watch him die.
Everyone felt sorry for the man who was yet a boy.
Harry shut his eyes.
He and Ron sat in silence for a long while; Harry suspected that his best mate had fallen into the same morass of disturbing memories that he had. Ron drew his wand after perhaps an hour and made vague flicking motions, while glancing hopefully at the door again and again. Harry knew what he was waiting for: Hermione.
"This should be interesting," Arthur said grinning. "They didn't get along very well for the first couple months or so," he informed the others.
She did not disappoint them. A short, bushy-haired, buck-toothed girl huffed in with Neville on her heels. "Have either of you seen a toad?" She asked bossily. "Neville's lost one."
For a moment, just a moment, Harry saw her on fire. He firmly pushed those memories away. "Er, sorry. We still haven't seen him."
"She was burned alive!" Tonks gasped, as everyone looked horrified.
"Oh, are you doing a spell?" She asked eagerly. She plunked down on the seat opposite Ron, next to Harry, and focused all her attention on the wand in Ron's hand.
"One of the brightest students I've ever had," McGonagall smiled.
"Uh, it's not a very good spell," Ron said. His hand was trembling a little. "My brothers, Fred and George taught me it."
Harry watched in amusement as Ron stuttered through that useless little rhyme the twins had taught him long ago just to torment him. Struck with inspiration, he eased his own wand out of his pocket and sent a wordless Stinging Hex at the treacherous rat.
The effect was immediate. Wormtail sprang up, hair raised, and ran squeaking around and around the compartment. Hermione, who had looked skeptical as soon as she heard the beginning of the rhyme, looked on with her mouth agape.
Everyone laughed cruelly at that.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," Ron muttered. "He was supposed to turn yellow." It took several minutes and all three of them to catch the rat. "Sorry, Scabbers," he said. If Harry didn't know him as well as he did, he would have had no reason to doubt his sincerity. Hermione didn't even look at all suspicious.
"Well, he has certainly improved his acting skills," Arthur said smiling.
"As long as he doesn't use it to lie to us," Molly muttered.
"Well, that wasn't a very good spell, was it?" She asked haughtily. "I think you hurt the poor little thing."
"Nah," Ron said. "Look – he already went back to sleep!"
"Pity," Remus muttered. "Useless, talentless, rat…"
"I'm Hermione Granger," she announced. "And you are?"
"Ron Weasley."
"Harry Potter."
"Your best friends," Tonks interjected smiling.
"Are you really?" She sat up straight and stared at him, her eyes wide. "I've read all about you. You're in theGreatest Wizarding Events in the 20thCentury, and all sorts of other books. The Chosen One who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"
"What?" Sirius exclaimed. "Since when is the prophecy common knowledge?"
Everyone was aghast, staring at Dumbledore for an explanation. He sighed.
"I do not have the answers," he said softly. I assure you, however, that I would, under no circumstances, give out the prophecy to anyone and, unless they have altered the timeline so drastically, I alone possess the complete prophecy." He glanced briefly at Snape who was white.
This is very disturbing, he thought warily.
What thehell? Harry nearly fell off his chair, and exchanged startled glances with Ron.
"Oh, honestly, don't you know?" Hermione asked, tilting her nose in the air. "If I were you, I'd have read everything I could about it. Everyone knows that you were the prophesied defeater of You-Know-Who."
"Oh, ha ha," Ron, obviously thinking very quickly, gave a shaky little laugh. "Of course he knows. Everyone knows."
But how? Dumbledore felt drained.
"Yeah," Harry nodded, trying to look as though this was not completely new to him. "I was just surprised, that's all." Damn right. Since when was the prophecy common knowledge? His insides twisted with anxiety.What else had changed?
Hermione sniffed. "Good." She looked Harry up and down appraisingly. "I don't suppose you know the entire prophecy?"
Did he? "Er…"
"That's all right," she said, but looked disappointed. "You probably wouldn't tell me if you did. It's such a big secret."
Everyone sighed in relief as Dumbledore's assumption was confirmed.
Hermione chattered on for a while. Harry attempted to pay attention to her, but his thoughts were whirling and whirling inside his head. It was imperative that he speak to Dumbledore. Tonight, if possible.
"Yes, they would do well to inform me at once," Dumbledore mused.
"So modest," Sirius muttered and Remus and Tonks were hard-pressed to stifle their laughter.
From that point on the entire trip became much less pleasant, and not only because Malfoy had made his appearance, attempted to cozen up to Harry, and had taken exception to being rebuffed. Draco Malfoy had turned out to be not quite the arse Harry had expected, but that didn't mean that Harry liked him any better. He was still a foul bigot, just not a foul, bigoted murderer.
"I am thankful to hear that," Dumbledore murmured as Snape let out a sigh.
Ron and Harry were much more subdued when they got off the train and got in the boats. Seeing Hagrid had alleviated some of the tension, and seeing the excitement on so many of the faces of Harry's classmates – including several who had died in ways that plagued Harry with guilt – did more. But it was with a heavy heart that he sailed across the lake, and trudged up the stairs; it was not until Professor McGonagall, sane and upright, opened the door for them that Harry once again felt the fierce resolve that had driven him for the last four years.
McGonagall and the rest were left wondering what exactly had happened to her.
Harry walked beside Ron into the Great Hall, and did not have to feign wonder. So many people here that he had thought lost! Dumbledore chatting, Snape scowling, and countless others alive and merry. It was almost too much.Always and always,he thought.
"Well, the timeline didn't alter enough to give you a pleasant disposition," Tonks said to Snape cheerfully as the rest snorted or chuckled.
Snape gritted his teeth and remained silent.
He desperately needed to talk to Ron. They had a lot to discuss (the prophecy, and how to let Ginny know about the change), and to plan (the finer details of the prank they were to pull on the Potions Master). He only hoped that they could detach themselves from the horde of first years long enough to make a break for the Room of Requirement. Harry felt almost naked without the Invisibility Cloak.
"I am sure I will return it to him at the first opportunity," said Dumbledore chuckling.
"Potter!" Professor McGonagall stared at him, her mouth a thin line. "I suggest you allow yourself to be Sorted!"
Ron snorted and pushed Harry forward.
"This will be most interesting," Dumbledore said leaning forward. "I have no idea how the Hat will react."
He put on the Sorting Hat, feeling a bit nervous about the Hat's reaction. He had no idea how it would react, and Dumbledore's portrait had been almost as clueless. Voldemort had destroyed it after he'd used it to suffocate Neville Longbottom.
"That vile, bastard!" Sirius muttered.
Ahhhhhh. It seemed to Harry that the Hat had sighed. He could almost feel it in his brain.This is something… something beyond rare.The Hat seemed not to be particularly eloquent when faced with something that surprised it. Harry felt the mad urge to laugh.More rare than surviving a Killing Curse at the age of one?He thought, knowing the Hat would hear.
Everyone chuckled wryly at this.
The Hat was silent for a long time, longer than the first time, and Harry began to shift uncomfortably in his seat.Don't you dare put me in Slytherin,he warned it.
I ought to. I really ought to. I can see all the cunning in you, although of a different sort than I usually see. The ambition, the drive, is there as well, even if it is to prevent what happened… before. Not to mention the thirst to prove yourself.
"I am sure it is merely toying with Harry," Dumbledore assured everyone.
Please.Harry felt as though he'd reached a new low, begging a Hat.
I think you're right.The Hat finally murmured.It all comes down courage, doesn't it? I don't think I've seen the like in many a year.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat shouted.
Harry was far too relieved to notice that there were far more speculative glances than applauding hands this time around.
Everyone wondered at that change. Dumbledore felt uneasy.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
"Blimey, Harry, that was close!" Ron threw himself down on a plush armchair that the Room of Requirement had manifested. They'd taken a brief detour to retrieve the wretched tiara Horcrux from the Room of Hidden Things. It had taken longer than expected, but Harry held it in his hand. "You were up there for almost fifteen minutes!"
"Voldemort hid one of them at Hogwarts!" Remus exclaimed in horror.
"I shall search for this Room of Hidden Things the first opportunity I get," Dumbledore vowed, his eyes furious.
"You were up there for almost ten," Harry said sourly. "At least we're in Gryffindor, mate."
"That was way too close," Ron agreed.
"Speaking of close, we can't stay long."
"Percy would hang us," Ron smiled fondly. "You know, I'd almost forgotten how pompous he was."
Percy hoped they wouldn't be too hard on him for abandoning the family.
"Is," Harry said quietly.
"I can't believe we actually did it, Harry," Ron said seriously. "I wasn't sure…"
"We're here," They grinned at each other madly, and Harry once again felt on the verge of tears. But he forced himself to not get too complacent. Having everyone back was amazing, but they had to move forward with purpose. "But what exactly have we done?"
"That is the question, isn't it?" Dumbledore said softly.
"I have no idea," Ron shook his head. "It seems like a small sort of change, honestly. And Hermione said that no one knew all of it, so the you-being-a-Horcrux thing is probably safe."
"I cannot imagine why that change would have occurred, though" Remus said thoughtfully.
Everyone was baffled by the mystery.
Harry shuddered. "Can you imagine what Voldemort would've done if he'd known?"
"I don't want to imagine it," Sirius muttered.
"No," Ron said. "And I don't want to think about that. But… it makes me wonder what else has changed. Makes me wish we'd come back a few days earlier, maybe we could've figured some of this stuff out."
"Without being here and worrying about Quirrell," Harry agreed. He made a face. "I'm glad I didn't have to be around the Dursleys that much. It was kind of cool to realize that, yes, they really are total arses. But any more of them and I'd feel sick. I've got to put up with it over the summers."
Dumbledore sighed at the reminder of Harry's childhood.
"Yeah," Ron looked thoughtful, and Harry had to laugh. "What?"
"Just that I never saw that expression on your face until atleastsecond year last time."
Everyone laughed and the tension was broken.
Ron threw a pillow at him.
"We're going to have to wait until we speak to Dumbledore," Harry turned the conversation back to more serious matters. "You can write a letter to Ginny tonight, though, and give her a heads-up."
"Yeah, that's what I reckon too," Ron replied. He looked down at his watch. "We've got to go. They'll be suspicious if we don't turn up soon. Not to mention we've got to nick those Dungbombs from the twins."
"They haven't been there one full day and they're already planning to break rules!" Snape snarled while McGonagall's nostrils flared.
Sirius, Remus and Tonks grinned and hi-fived while Percy and Molly looked disapproving and Arthur tried not to smile.
"Let us not jump to conclusions, Severus" Dumbledore said amused.
They rose to go, but Harry halted. "Is it bad to be looking forward to all the trouble we're going to cause tomorrow?"
Snape snarled.
Ron snorted. "No. Is it bad to be having impure thoughts about an eleven year old girl?"
Everyone chose to ignore that in the interests of their sanity.
Harry laughed. "It's better than thinking the same about a ten year old."
"We've become very perverted, Harry."
HPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Dear Ginny,
I'll bet you're surprised I'm writing you already! The Express was amazing. We saw loads of cool people. By 'we', I mean Harry Potter. Yes, The Harry Potter, the one you want to marry. He's a cool bloke, and he asked me if that red-haired little girl (you, in case you're too thick to realize it) was my sister. I think he fancied you. Anyway, this girl Hermione Granger came in and started talking all about that prophecy. She asked him if he knew what it was, and I don't think he did.
We tried our very first bit of magic, too. We meant to turn Scabbers yellow with that spell Fred and George taught us, but instead it hurt him, and he ran squeaking all around the compartment. I thought it was funny, but I didn't want to hurt the rat's feelings, so I didn't laugh.
Harry and I are in Gryffindor! I was hoping that would happen, but it took the Sorting Hat – yes, it's a harmless hat, we didn't have to battle a troll at all – about twice as long to Sort us as it did everyone else.
Anyway, I've got to go wash. I smell like Fred and George!
Ron
P.S. Say hi to Auntie Muriel for me (and try to steal her tiara!)
"A very good code," Dumbledore said smiling.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Time marched swiftly the next day. Transfiguration and Charms went well, Harry had to say. He'd been quite nervous about being in a first-year class, pretending not to know spells that he'd mastered sixteen years previously. There was a fine balance between looking suspiciously genius and suspiciously stupid, but Harry thought he'd done all right.
"I don't think anyone would be suspicious if he acted stupid," said Snape snidely.
Ron, walking beside him on their way to Potions, looked disgruntled. He'd been a bit more lax than Harry, and had tried to impress Hermione. Harry had wanted to laugh at the look on his face when she'dstillmanaged to turn her match into a needle before he had.
Everyone had to laugh at that while McGonagall looked proud.
"Cheer up, mate," He said in a low voice. "She'll always keep you on your toes."
"At least we get to torture Snape now," Ron muttered.
Snape scowled while Remus, Sirius and Tonks all grinned in anticipation.
They filed in with the rest of their classmates, and Ron managed to find a seat next to Hermione without making it look intentional. Snape, black cloak billowing behind him, made quite the entrance, and glared at those who were too thick to realize that he was not a teacher to annoy with unapproved chatter.
What happened next startled Harry.
It was word for word identical as the last time. Snape attempted to humiliate him, of course, by pointing out his celebrity status. The thoughtful crease in the Professor's brow, however, Harry was pretty sure was different. He then was practically interrogated by the man, and asked questions that he knew for sure that no other first year student (besides Hermione, of course) would know.
"That is very wrong of you, Severus," McGonagall said reprovingly.
Snape said nothing but thought why Potter thought he was looking at him differently. Certainly, four years ago, he had taken one look at him and knew all he ever needed to know.
His own reaction to it was different. Not on the outside, Harry made sure to fidget and say 'I don't know' a lot. But his emotional reaction was quite different. The first time around, he'd felt badgered, confused, and furious. This time, he felt an odd sort of kinship with the man. Snape had lost the one person he'd cared about: Harry's mother. The fact that he'd lost her years before she'd died was immaterial. The loss had devastated him, had turned him bitter, and he'd been broken. But when all was said and done, and Harry had viewed his memories (too late, far too late), he had realized that Snape was quite possibly the bravest man he'd ever met.
Everyone looked stunned at this compliment, Snape perhaps the most.
He was so lost in thought that he nearly forgot to give Ron the cue. He elbowed him sharply.
Ron stood up immediately and shouted, "What the bloody hell is wrong with you, you greasy git?"
"Yeah!" Harry stood up too. That probably would've done it, but they had to be sure that Snape would be furious enough to want to them expelled, and have enough ammunition to actually make a case of it. "Slimeball!"
That's why they each reached into the pockets of their robes, pulled out a handful of Dungbombs, and threw them on the floor at Snape's feet.
"I will have them expelled for this!" Snape thundered. "I don't care if they are bloody time-travelers or Merlin himself!"
Everyone tried to hide their mirth. Sirius and Tonks weren't even making the effort and were holding on to Remus as they shrieked with laughter.
The reaction was immediate. The other students lurched to their feet, covering their mouths and noses, and ran for the door. Hermione, retching and glaring at them, followed suit.
Snape did not move. He stood in front of them, staring at them, and his face grew angrier and angrier by the second. The room seemed to grow colder.
"I would take points from Gryffindor," he spoke without moving his lips. "But youwillbe expelled for this. Come with me, the Headmaster has that happy authority."
"So predictable, Snape," Sirius grinned, wiping tears from his eyes.
Harry and Ron marched in front of him, and glad of it because neither one could help smirking. Snape had fallen right into their hands. No matter how brave he was, and how much Harry had regretted not trusting him, it still felt pretty good.
"I bet it did!" Bill said smirking.
"Ugh! What's thatsmell?" The students rushed to get out of the way and stared after them. Harry could hear Snape growling threats under his breath.
It seemed to take no time at all to get to the familiar gargoyle.
"Lemon Drops," Snape hissed. It jumped aside. "Up. Now."
Snape pushed them roughly out of the way and pounded on the heavy door. "DUMBLEDORE!"
"Enter," Dumbledore's voice. "What is it, Severus? Is it Qui—Ah."
"What was it about Quirrell, Professor?" Percy asked curiously.
"I suspected him of wanting to steal the Philosopher's Stone," Dumbledore said quietly. "I had no idea he was possessed by Voldemort, however.
Everyone who hadn't known the entire truth gasped.
Harry stared at the floor, marshalling his thoughts and fighting back tears. He hadn't seen Dumbledore alive for an entire decade, and he was their absolute best chance. He, Ron, and Ginny had become pretty powerful, but Dumbledore was formidable, both with his wand and with his mind. He could tell them where the holes in their plans were. He could make it air-tight. Harry hadn't known how much of a relief it would be.
"Harry thinks very highly of you," Remus said smiling.
"I am honored," said Dumbledore softly, not quite meeting his eyes.
He peeked, and saw Dumbledore's face as he heard a slightly exaggerated (although it wasn't really necessary, what he and Ron had done was damning enough) version of events from Snape. He did not look angry, but he did have a look on his face that Harry couldn't read.
"I am in for quite a shock," Dumbledore said chuckling.
"We both are," Snape muttered resentfully.
"The Weasley boy called me a greasy git, and Potter called me a slimeball, right before they threw the Dungbombs," Snape said with relish.
The Marauders, Tonks and Bill chuckled yet again.
After a long, long moment, Dumbledore said very quietly, "Look at me."
Ron, who'd been shaking with silent laughter for the last several minutes, stopped and looked up. Despite the fact that they pretty much knew that they weren't going to be in serious trouble (well, they knew that they wouldn't be expelled), Harry could see apprehension on his friend's face.
"You do have that effect sometimes," McGonagall said smiling faintly.
"You've done serious damage today," Dumbledore said to the both of them. Several portraits on the walls agreed. "Bring back corporal punishment, and send them back home with bloody backs," Phineas Nigellus suggested laconically. Snape appeared to agree whole-heartedly.
"Enough, Phineas," Dumbledore held up a hand to silence the portrait of Sirius' ancestor, and Hogwarts' least popular headmaster. "The two of you have shown blatant disregard for authority, caused the Potions classroom to be evacuated, disrupted class, and did it with Dungbombs, a substance banned at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please explain to me why you did this."
"You're letting them explain?" Snape asked, horrified. "Just expel them and be done with it!"
Snape scowled yet again, ruing his luck.
"Severus. I see no possible explanation that would save them from being expelled," Dumbledore seemed a little sad as he peered at Harry.
"I cannot imagine how disappointed I would be at this point." Dumbledore said.
"I do," Ron said loudly. Snape looked ready to murder him, but then he pinned a glare on Harry so malevolent that Harry actually took a step backward.
"You knew it could go both ways, Dumbledore," Snape sneered. "This only proves it. We've got another Dark Lord, not a bloody savior!"
"What?" Sirius exclaimed outraged. Everyone looked startled.
"It appears there is a certain ambiguity in the prophecy," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
Harry and Ron exchanged uncertain glances and Harry had a sneaking suspicion that the prophecy was very, very different here.
After that moment of confusion, Ron laughed out loud.
"And not to forget the loyal follower," Snape said. Dumbledore said nothing, but appeared to be deep in thought. "It explains much. The reason why he'smarked as an equal!"
"It seems I have confided the prophecy in you, Severus," Dumbledore said, smiling at Snape. "I assure you, it does not pose any danger," he added hastily, looking at Sirius's less than happy expression.
This time, Harry laughed. It burst out of him, he couldn't stop it. He felt bitterness and incredulity, and that's where part of the laughter came from, the part that also wanted to cry. The majority of it, however, was simply because it wasfunny. Ron laughed with him, and Harry feared that they both sounded quite, quite mad. He couldn't wait to hear Ginny's reaction.
Everyone smiled sadly. Sirius knew what it was to have everyone think the worst of him all the time. He fervently hoped his Godson never had to go through that kind of persecution.
With an effort, Harry stopped. He wiped his eyes, adjusted his robes and, feeling more confident, met Dumbledore's eyes. The brilliant blue eyes did not have even a trace of the familiar twinkle (in fact, Dumbledore looked concerned, perplexed, and quite angry), but Harry felt comforted nonetheless.
"We did it so we could come up here and talk to you without suspicion," Harry said.
"Yeah, sorry about the things we said. And about the Dungbombs," Ron chuckled. "I don't really think you're a greasy git."
"And I don't think you're a slimeball," Harry added.
Everyone had to laugh at this.
"They're lying!" Snape shouted, outraged. "Dumbledore, don't listen to them!"
"Well, yeah, you're a bit of a greasy git," Harry heard the fondness in Ron's voice, but he didn't think the other two did because they found themselves thrown into rapidly conjured chairs and tied there with ropes made of what looked like liquid magic. Harry settled himself more comfortably.
"They seem to be enjoying themselves, don't they?" Tonks put in gleefully.
Snape muttered under his breath.
"You are trying my patience," Dumbledore said coldly.
"Nice wand," Harry said pointedly.
They know about the Elder Wand, Dumbledore thought apprehensively.
"They're both mad," Snape said, sounding triumphant. "That's what the 'bent' line meant. Potter's unhinged, and he took Weasley with him."
"Hold a moment, Severus. Why on earth did you want to see me without anyone knowing?"
"We're not mad, Professor," Harry said. He'd started to tremble a little.
"Yeah, but you've got to promise to listen to us," Ron added.
"I do not believe you gentlemen are in any position to make demands. Speak quickly."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ron asked Harry.
"Yes," Harry said. They both turned to stare at the wand Dumbledore held. He was not pointing it at them, but they both knew that Dumbledore was very,veryfast.
"I would not harm them without due cause," Dumbledore interjected calmly.
"He just might use the Elder Wand on us," Ron said.
"Isn't that just a fairytale?" Bill asked incredulously as everyone else looked gobsmacked.
I suggest you continue reading Remus, Dumbledore said heavily. "I am sure it shall be explained."
"Oh, honestly," Snape said scathingly. He turned to Dumbledore. Harry had to admire the shuttered expression on the older man's face that masked the surprise he must be feeling. Absurd pride bubbled up inside him.
Dumbledore looked touched.
"Explain," He said again, but in a different tone. It was a mixture of danger and confusion.
"We're from the future," Ron said cheerfully.
Snape pulled out his wand, rushed over to stand in front of Ron, and pointed it straight at his head.
Even Snape couldn't help chuckling at this.
"Stand down, Severus," Dumbledore said. He had risen from his chair. "I'm almost certain the boys are mad. But they knew that I have the Elder Wand and Iwillknow why."
Snape's wand clattered to the floor. "You have theElder Wand? Isn't that a fairy tale?"
"No," Dumbledore said. "The Deathly Hallows are very real."
Everyone looked stunned.
"Yeah, and you have another one, don't you?" Ron smirked. "Where's Harry's Cloak?"
"James's, I mean, Harry's Cloak is a Hallow? It is The Cloak of Invisibility?" Remus didn't think he could handle anymore. Sirius, at his side, was opening and closing his mouth like a fish.
Dumbledore sat down heavily. "Why?"
"You're still asking for explanations when these two should have been expelled ten minutes ago and sent on their merry way," Snape said, but he still looked unsettled.
"I think if he asked 'how' he'd get a truthful answer and a reason for the 'bent' line as well," Harry said quietly. They'd had their fun, and now it was time for the truth.
Dumbledore's brow furrowed.
"We used the Tears of Merlin," Harry continued. The wizard lifted his head up sharply.
"Impossible, the Tears of Merlin is just a fairy tale," Snape said.
"Yeah, just like the Deathly Hallows," Ron told him.
'True," said Dumbledore as the others chuckled.
"It is possible, Severus," Dumbledore's expression was absolutely unreadable. "But I am not yet sure if I believe them. Prove it."
Harry closed his eyes, wishing that he did not have to do this, but the portrait of the man sitting in front of him had told him that this was what he must do, if Dumbledore required incontrovertible proof.
Dumbledore thought he knew what was coming and attempted to not pay attention to the next few lines.
And with all the gentleness he was capable of, he said, "You see Ariana in the Mirror of Erised. And the family you lost. Your father, dead in Azkaban, because he avenged what the three Muggle boys did to your sister. Your mother, who died accidentally because of your sister. Your sister, dead because she got in the middle of a duel between three boys. Your brother, who has never, ever trusted you since then. They all stand there before you, smiling, and you know that they've forgiven you for your mistakes. And there's someone else there. You also see," he licked his lips. "You also see a man who never existed. A kind Gellert Grindelwald –"
"Preposterous," Snape said faintly, as the others looked at Dumbledore with pity, sympathy and disbelief on their faces.
"ENOUGH!" Snape shouted. "What is this vile madness you're sprouting, Potter?"
Harry could not bear to see the pain on Dumbledore's face. He looked away.
"Why?"
It had worked, Harry thought. Or Dumbledore thought he meant to torment him, and was asking why he would do such a thing. But Harry placed his bet on the latter, and so gave the same answer he had given the portrait four years ago.
"The price was too high," Harry told him.
\
"You won?" Dumbledore asked sharply.
"No, they lost," Molly said weakly.
"No," Ron said firmly. "Harry defeated Voldemort. But we lost everyone else except for my sister. She's here too. Well, not here. I expect she's at the Burrow."
"Dumbledore?" Snape asked.
"Severus, what Harry said could only have come from my own mouth. I have to believe him."
"I'm sorry," Harry said. "Your portrait –"
"My portrait?" Dumbledore interrupted. "I did not survive?"
Everyone looked down.
"No, Snape killed you," Ron sad bluntly.
Remus read over Sirius's mutterings having read the explanation ahead.
"I wouldnever –"
"You would if you knew that Dumbledore was dying, surrounded by Death Eaters, and by his own command. Fenrir Greyback was there, as well as Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry replied. He looked away, remembering that death, and how it had shaped the years of the Horcrux hunt, and how things might have been different if he had only known. This time it would be different. He turned back to Dumbledore, who suddenly looked very, very old. "Please tell me the prophecy. I already know there are differences."
"Finally, we get to know the differences," Remus said.
"What was your prophecy?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry told him, and his voice only shook a little when he stated the part that meant he was a Horcrux. He knew this time, though. It wouldn't be too late.
Dumbledore sighed and told everyone the prophecy that he'd heard more than fifteen years ago, now.
"It is… very similar," Dumbledore said. "The one in the here and now is this:The Chosen One with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have terrible power the Dark Lord knows not… he has been bent for always and always… and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives."
"'Bent for always and always,"' is due to the time-travel, said Dumbledore softly. "Though I cannot imagine what happened to make the power 'terrible'.
Harry started to cry. Not sobs, not like the kind he'd experienced in the months after the final battle, not great gasping things that shook his entire body and made him feel worse. But tears slid down his face rapidly, and he knew without having to look that Ron did the same thing.
For always and always.
Everyone looked down.
Snape was surprisingly tactful, although Harry thought he might be too stunned to speak.
"Imagine that!," Sirius said sarcastically, though without any real malice. Snape didn't bother to reply.
He and Dumbledore said nothing until the two men who had been Bent for always and always had composed themselves.
"Sorry," Harry said shakily. "That was unexpected. Very unexpected."
"Which part?" Dumbledore inquired.
"His prophecy sounds an awful lot like ours, but with the bits about his questionable loyalties taken out," Snape said, but it didn't sound like he really meant it.
"Bent doesn't mean mad," Ron said. "That's the name of the spell that went with the potion. The Bent Reality spell, although I suppose it's more of a charm."
"What does it mean?" Dumbledore asked. "'Bent for always and always.' Do you know?"
"Yes," Harry breathed. "We were Bent for always and always." It felt very personal, speaking of this.
"And what, precisely, is 'always and always'?"
"Everyone they lost," Molly said softly.
"It's you," Harry said simply. "And you, I suppose. And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Bill and Fleur Weasley. Charlie Weasley. Percy Weasley. Fred and George Weasley. Hermione Granger. Neville Longbottom. Dean Thomas. Remus Lupin. Dora Lupin. Teddy Lupin. Luna Lovegood. Colin Creevey, Cho Chang, Cedric Diggory, and Viktor Krum."
"Angelina Johnson, my brother's fiancée. Katie Bell, Lisa Turpin. All Ravenclaw students, most Hufflepuff students, most Gryffindors. Even some Slytherins. Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Professor Burbage, Professor Trelawney, and Professor Vector," Ron continued. "Dobby the house-elf. Firenze and Magorian, the centaurs. Rufus Scrimgeour and Cornelius Fudge."
"Ted and Andromeda Tonks." Each name felt like a weight on their soul, but they continued until they listed all the names they could remember. Dumbledore looked horrified and Snape looked arrested.
The readers were not faring much better. They listened horrified and stunned as Remus continued to list the names, his voice getting softer and softer.
"Emmeline Vance, Elphias Doge, and Amelia Bones," Harry paused. "There are many, many more. People we never even knew who were targeted and killed. I don't even know how many countless Muggles. Almost the entire generation… Professor Flitwick spoke the eulogy at the mass memorial ceremony, and he said that the entire flower of a generation had been lost. The statistics came later. Some forty percent of the entire Wizarding population was either killed or incapacitated, and that does not include the Muggle-born children who were not allowed to go to Hogwarts; that number is unknown, their bodies never found. All of Hogwarts was awash with blood.The price was too high."
"That's beyond horrible," Bill whispered gripping Fleur's hand convulsively.
"But zere is one good zing," Fleur said softly. "I wil become a Weasley." She gave a tremulous smile and kissed Bill. Bill looked taken aback for a moment before responding with fervor, ignoring the wolf-whistles from Sirius and Remus.
Molly had tears in her eyes as she and everyone else congratulated the happy couple.
There was a very long moment of stunned silence. Snape's face was completely gray, and Dumbledore had his head in his hands.
"Always and always is our anthem," Ron said. "It's hard to explain."
"It means love, and all the people we love who wewill not lose again!" Harry realized that he was almost shouting. The slender ropes that had bound him had fallen away, and he had risen to his feet without even knowing it.
Dumbledore was at a loss for words, but his eyes shone with fierce pride and hope. Even Snape looked moved; he was gaping at Harry. Ron stood beside him, just as erect, just as proud.
"Do you…" Dumbledore began. "I have my suspicions… but do you know what the rest of the prophecy means?"
"Whatever you're thinking, you're probably right," Ron told him.
"A bit of his soul was stuck in me. He couldn't die unless… well, unless I did," Harry said. Knowledge too late then, but not now.
Everyone was again saddened by the reminder.
"Harry survived the Killing Curse again," Ron said proudly.
"So he's definitely made a Horcrux?" Dumbledore asked. "I suspected when I saw you after he murdered your parents."
"He made more than one," Dumbledore corrected himself softly.
"What's a Horcrux?" Snape asked, lost. Dumbledore explained quickly. "So that's what Regulus knew… He said something very odd before he disappeared…"
"Regulus was hunting Horcruxes?" Sirius looked horrified. He turned to Snape for clarification.
"He came to me one night speaking very cryptically about a mission he was about to embark upon. He said I may never see him again but told me that he would not have died in vain… I was concerned but there was not much I could do," he finished, his voice quite unlike himself.
Sirius nodded his thanks.
"No," Harry said. "He did not make a Horcrux."
Ron laughed bitterly. "He madesevenHorcruxes, counting Harry."
"Seven!" Remus exclaimed. Everyone looked horrified.
"Oh, Merlin," Dumbledore breathed.
Harry withdrew the tiara from the inner pocket of his robes. "We have one, and we know, roughly, where the others are. I think I might be able to Apparate either of you to one of them, and the others won't be too difficult to manage."
"Harry, I think I need some time," Dumbledore said quietly. "Give one week. Please. I need to think about all that you've told me."
"I am going to regret that," Dumbledore said smiling wryly.
Harry understood. He put the tiara back in his pocket, surprised that he was allowed to do so. Dumbledore was overwhelmed, he could tell. He remembered very clearly how he'd felt when he'd learned that Voldemort had mutilated and maimed himself beyond all usual evil, and how that task had seemed so vast and impossible.
"Professors, if I may add one more thing," Harry said tentatively. "There is one name that was not on that list we gave you, a name very important to me."
Ron stared at Snape. "You're not going to like it."
Ooh, I'm going to enjoy this," Sirius said grinning in anticipation.
"I don't think I could possibly be more surprised than I am right now," Snape murmured.
"Yeah, you can!" Tonks said cheerfully.
"Yeah, you can."
"My godfather, Sirius Black, currently imprisoned in Azkaban for crimes he did not commit," Harry said grimly.
"You were right, Weasley," Snape said after a moment, his lips very thin and his eyes wide. "I wouldn't think that you, Potter, would forgive the crime of Lily and James' betrayal."
Sirius growled and Remus laid a calming hand on his shoulder.
"I didn't," Harry assured him. "My dad, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew were all unregistered animagi. They wanted to keep Remus company when he changed. When Sirius hunted Wormtail – Pettigrew – down after he sold out my parents to Voldemort, Wormtail was the one who killed the Muggles. He transformed into a rat and escaped through the sewers. And I assure you that I did not forgive him."
"Harry killed him eventually," Ron said helpfully. "Harry caught Pettigrew right after the effing rat tortured Minerva McGonagall into insanity."
Everyone was outraged at this revelation. Dumbledore's eyes were ice cold.
"Just when I thought that filthy animal couldn't sink any lower," Remus said murderously his face terrible.
"Let's hope we can find him before he commits that crime," Dumbledore said.
Ron laughed. "Oh, we know exactly where he is. He's down in my dorm room right now, probably chewing on my sheets."
"I need to sit down," Snape said.
Dumbledore shook his head, as though clearing cobwebs, an unguarded gesture that Harry suspected he allowed few to see. "We need to think of an excuse, Severus. They were right. There will be no expulsion. But we can't allow them to get away with it. None of the teachers would believe it, and I suspect everyone in the whole school knows exactly what happened."
Snape was silent for so long that Harry began to fear that he would insist on expelling them.
"As much as it would please me," he muttered sulkily.
His fears were unfounded. "I suspect that students have been brewing illicit potions," he said carefully. "I know of several that would inspire madness, I suggest the Confuzzle Draught. They will have detention with me every Saturday for a month. And twenty points from Gryffindor, ostensibly because they were stupid to take a potion they didn't know, but really because in a few minutes they will be greeted as heroes in the Gryffindor common room."
"Don't we know it!" Sirius smiled reminiscently.
"Snape knows how to keep us humble," Ron said.
Everyone chuckled at that, the tension dissolving slightly.
Harry laughed. "He always did."
"That's the end of the chapter," Remus said.
Excellent," Dumbledore said. "I suggest we take our leave for the evening and assimilate what we have learnt so far. We shall meet here again tomorrow. I suspect Mad-Eye and Kingsley would not be averse to joining us."
Everyone said their goodbyes and retired for the night.
A/N: As always, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed.
