A/N: Just a short thank you to all who sent in reviews for parts 1 and 2. I forgot to include this at the start of Chapter 1.
Chapter 2 – The Next Morning
Harry2 hardly slept the rest of the night. His mind was too busy thinking how he was going to fix the mess he and Harry were in. He had had a plan all worked out before leaving his own time, but that was now in tatters.
He had to think of a way for Harry and himself to go to Hogwarts, and not let anyone find out about it. Add to that the problem that he was going to need help, because he couldn't do it alone. Harry could only help him so much, and even if he got Hermione to help him, as smart as she was, she was still only eleven years old.
He knew that regardless of how old he was emotionally, he was still considered a little kid, and that people would treat him as such. So who could he trust with his secret that wouldn't betray him to the Ministry? Not Dumbledore for certain. Even if he didn't turn him in, he use blackmail to get him to do what he wanted. (For the greater good of course.) Hagrid? No. He knew Hagrid would never turn him in, but the half giant couldn't keep a secret to save his life. (or anybody else's for that matter) The Weasleys? No. Too close to Dumbledore. What he needed was someone with no ties to the Ministry, no ties to Dumbledore, and who didn't hate the Potter family.
He was still thinking who he could trust when it hit him. Bloody hell! he thought. Why didn't I think of it before? The Goblins" They certainly had no love for the Ministry of Magic. They didn't particularly like Dumbledore, and the Potter Family had always treated them with respect whenever they had dealings with them. Plus with his knowledge of the future, he could offer them the opportunity to make a huge pile of money in exchange for helping him.
Okay, he thought, one problem solved. Now how do I get to Hogwarts and stay there hidden? He asked himself. Well, getting there isn't the problem, and getting in isn't a problem. But staying undetected is.
Harry2 continued to try and think of an answer to this when he heard Harry stir. "Morning Harry," he said. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Better than last night," he answered, "Thank you again for fixing my ribs. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here."
"Yeah well, if I hadn't been here it wouldn't have happened in the first place." Harry2 replied. "It didn't the first time around. You would have just slept through the night and gone to Kings Cross tomorrow."
Harry shrugged. "I'm used to it. " he said, and then looking as his clock said. "I better get downstairs to cook breakfast."
Harry2 stood up. "No you're not. I'm going downstairs instead, and I'll make breakfast for my family." Harry2 said. "And when they start to complain…..actually maybe you should come downstairs with me. I'll put an invisibility charm on you so they don't see you, and that way you can see the fun."
"What are you going to do to them?" he asked
"Oh, nothing fatal, or permanent, don't worry. I'm just going to put the fear of Merlin into the three of them so that hopefully they'll never say a cross word to you again, let alone raise a hand." Harry2 replied. "I think it's time to call down some thunder and lightning and zap the whole lot in the arse."
Harry grinned. "That I want to see!" he said.
"Thought you might. Here," Harry2 waved his hand and Harry seemed to disappear. "You Okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, but this is weird. I can feel my arms and legs and everything else, but I can't see them." He answered.
"That's why they call it being invisible. Just keep a distance from me because I can't see you either, and I don't want to walk into you by mistake."
Harry2 changed his clothes to look like Harry's pajamas, and then opened his door. The Dursley's were still asleep judging by the snoring sounds coming from their rooms, but he knew they would be waking up shortly. He and Harry went downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Have a seat Harry while I make something to eat." Harry2 said as he got out a skillet. "Bacon and eggs with toast and juice?" He asked.
"Sure," Harry answered. "What are you going to make for the Durselys?"
"Porridge. No milk, no sugar, just thick lumpy porridge." He said with a smile.
"But they all hate porridge," Harry started to say.
"I know." Harry2 replied with another grin, and waving his hand again, he filled a pot with water and put it on the stove to boil while at the same time bacon and eggs flew out of the refrigerator and into the skillet to cook. A few minutes later the water in the pot was boiling and he put the oats in to cook.
In all he cooked 6 eggs, half a pound of bacon, four pieces of toast, and two large glasses of orange juice for the two of them. Harry couldn't finish it all. "Don't worry about it," Harry2 said, "You're just not used to eating that's all. When you get to Hogwarts, you'll be able to eat all you want, and you'll soon be eating normal portions."
Harry2 got up, and with a wave, Harry's plate was cleaned off and back on the shelve above the sink. Then he heard a noise upstairs. "Showtime." He said to Harry. "Better get over into the corner so nobody walks into you.
Harry2 saw Harry's chair pull out then push back in. He dished out his relatives breakfast, and put a plate on top of the bowls to keep it hot. Then sat down again to finish his own. He was almost done when the three Durselys walked into the kitchen.
"Boy!" Vernon Dursley shouted. "What are you doing?"
"Eating my breakfast Uncle Vernon." Harry2 said innocently. "Yours is ready as well." Pointing to the bows on the table.
Vernon looked down at the bowl on the table. "What is this?" he asked lifting up the plate.
"I decided to make you porridge this morning. You're too fat as it is, and Dudley," he said gesturing to his cousin, "is worse. His arse is wider than the channel."
Vernon Dursley's face went from red to blue, and then to purple all within seconds. He balled up his fists and started towards the boy in front of him but Harry2 held up his hand and shouted.
"ENOUGH!"
Vernon froze, his arms and legs snapping together.
Petunia started screaming.
Dudley, in a rare moment of reason, (even a stopped clock is right twice a day) decided to do nothing. Instead he waited to see what his mother and father would do to the freak.
"Aunt Petunia, be quiet and sit down. Nobody can hear you anyway." And to his surprise she did stop screaming, but remained standing. Harry2 looked at her and said. "I said sit down," and then gesturing to Dudley, said "you too."
They both sat, never taking their eyes off Harry2. He then turned to his uncle and said. "I should really thank you for last night Uncle Vernon," he began. "You see, when you broke those two ribs, one of them punctured my lung, and between the pain and the trama, it caused my magic to break free. If I hadn't been a wizard, I'd have bled to death in the night."
Dudley's eyes went wide. He knew his father had pounded the little freak last night, but didn't think he had hurt him that badly.
"But it also did something else." Harry2 continued. "It unlocked my ability to do magic without my wand. All I have to do is think about what I want to happen and it does." Then with a wave, he released Vernon from the body bind. "So here's how it's going to be Uncle. I'll only be here 2 months out of the year, the rest of the time I'll be at school. However, when I am here, you three will leave me alone, and as long as you do, I'll leave you alone. In fact, I'll even provide my own clothing and meals so it won't cost you anything."
Vernon started to started to sputter, but Harry2 held his hand up. "I'm not finished." He said, shutting Vernon up. "If you ever lay another hand on me, or ever try to," he waved his hand yet again and Vernon found himself hoisted high up into the air by his ankle so that he and Harry2 were looking at each other eye to eye. "I'll make what you did last night look like a slap on the wrist. Understand?"
"YES! YES!" Vernon yelled.
"Good." Harry2 said, and with a crash Vernon landed on the floor of the Kitchen.
Then turning to Dudley he asked, "Dudders, do you like your tail?"
Dudley didn't answer. Instead, Harry2 saw a pool of urine starting to pool under his chair.
"Nothing to say Dudley? Oh well. I guess you'd prefer to sit there in a pool of your own piss." Harry2 said with disgust, and with yet another wave, (and a big puff of blue smoke to show off) Dudley turned in a pig. Petunia started screaming again.
"Oh do shut up Aunt Petunia." Harry2 said to her. "I'm just making a point," and with another wave, Dudley returned to normal. "Next time Dudley, it will be permanent. Also, if you know what's good for you, you'll to tell all your little, friends to leave me alone when I'm outside as well. Understand?"
Dudley managed to say "Yes!" before getting up from the table and running, (waddleing really) up the stairs where he locked himself in the bathroom.
"Very good. Now, I'll be out most of the day, as I have things to do and places to be. I should be back about 4pm, then I'll be in my room for the rest of the night. What you do is up to you." He started to leave, but then stopped and turned back to Vernon. "Also Uncle Vernon, you don't have to take me to Kings Cross tomorrow, or take Dudley to the Doctor. When I changed him back, I took the tail away, and I'll get to the station myself."
Harry2 strode out of the kitchen and up the stairs with Harry quietly trailing behind. After they got in their room Harry2 closed the door, and put another silencing charm on the room before doubling over in laughter. "Merlin I've wanted to have been able to for that for a hundred years!" he said to Harry, who he saw, after he removed the invisibility charm, was laughing just as hard as he was.
It took the two of them nearly fifteen minutes to calm down enough to speak.
"That was brilliant!" Harry finally said.
Smiling, Harry2 said. "Normally I don't approve of muggle baiting, but they're an exception."
"Muggle baiting?" Harry asked.
"Using magic on muggles who can't defend themselves from it." He explained. "It's actually against the law, but they deserved it."
"Last night you said that what you did coming back in time was also against the law. Is muggle baiting worse?" Harry asked.
"No Harry," He said softly. "What I did, coming back in time is worse. Much worse. For both of us."
"But why," Harry asked. "You didn't have to hurt anyone to come back did you?"
"No, nothing like that." Harry2 answered. "It's much worse because traveling back in time because you want to change things, is one of the few crimes in our world that still carries the death penalty."
Harry gasped.
"And in most cases, it's justified." Harry2 added. "It's an extremely dangerous thing to do, because even the smallest change in the time line can have drastic effects, and the farther back you go, the greater the danger to the time you came from."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Okay, think about this for a moment. You know about World War I and II right?"
Harry nodded.
"Who was the leader of Germany in World War II?"
"Hitler." Harry answered without having to think about it.
"Right. Now Hitler was also a soldier in the first World war. He was a corporal in the German Army, and he was wounded in the leg near the end of the war."
"Okay," Harry said, "but what that got to do with traveling in time?"
"Hitler was what we call a nexus, or a pivot point in time, and depending what happened to him or what he did, things could go one way or go another. Follow so far?"
"Yes."
"Now obviously he survived his wound, but what would have happened in the world if he hadn't? What if he had been killed, either by the war or someone going back in time to kill him before he started the Second World War?"
Harry thought for a moment, then said. "Well, the second war wouldn't have happened, and all the people who were killed wouldn't have been."
"Right," Harry2 said. "Go on."
"Well, they would have lived. So that would have been better, right?"
"Maybe, and maybe not." Harry2 said. Knowing how it would sound to the boy.
"How can you say that? How can you say it's a good thing that all those people died?" asked Harry.
"Harry, I didn't say that." Harry2 said. "WW II was one of the worst tragedies in human history. There were over 50 million people killed on all sides. What I want you to think about is what those 50 million would have done if they had lived, and what effect they and their children would have had on history. "
"I don't understand." Harry said.
"It's simple." Harry2 said. "One of the people that died during the war could have grown up to be a leader that could have started a war far worse than WW II, and instead of killing 50 Million, it might have wiped out all life on the planet, and all because of one event. The death of a relatively unknown soldier 70 years before. Do you understand now?"
Slowly Harry began to get it. "But then isn't it just as dangerous for you to change things? Couldn't they get worse?"
Harry2 sighed. "Yes, it's possible they could be worse this time around, but in all honestly, I don't know how."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"The second war with Voldemort lasted over twenty seven years before he was finally defeated, and by the time it was over, more than three quarters of the magical people of Britain were dead, and muggle Britain didn't fare much better. Voldemort went after their government leaders. People like the Prime Minister, the Queen and her family, anyone or any place he thought was important to them. His goal was to plunge the entire country into complete anarchy, and he di…he did."
Harry2 said, his voice breaking.
After a few moments, he went on. "The population of Britain when the war started was just over 55 million people, and when it ended, it was under 25 million. It took us 100 years to get back to the point we're at now. So I don't think my changing things could make them worse."
"But it's still illegal. Why?"
"Because they believed when the law was made that it was better to live with what was, rather than what might or could be, and that trying to change the things that were, held too many risks." Harry2 answered. "I don't know Harry. Maybe I'm just being arrogant to think that I can create a better world, that what I'm doing is for the greater good. But I have to try. I'm the only one who can."
Harry was silent for a long time. He thought about all he had just heard. Finally, he went over to Harry2 and said, "I'll help you any way I can. I don't want to grow up in the world you just told me about."
"Before you agree to help, there's one last thing you need to know about the laws I've broken." Harry2 told him.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"If the Ministry of today, of this time, finds out what I've done, they won't just come after me, but you as well."
"Why me?" Harry asked, "I haven't done anything."
"No, you haven't. At least not yet."
"Huh?"
Harry2 smiled sadly. "They'll see me being here as proof that you'll break the Temporal Constructs law in the future, and they'll do everything in their power to prevent that from happening."
Harry looked at his doppelganger for a few moments. This was something he had never considered. Finally he said. "I'll still help. Any risk is better than the world you described."
"Thank you Harry. "
oooOOOooo
Half an hour later, Harry, with Harry2 under the invisibility charm this time, were walking down Privet Drive to the edge of the wards.
"How are we going to get to Diagon Alley anyway?" Harry asked quietly.
"We're going on the Knight Bus. You have the wizarding money I asked you to bring?"
"Right here in my pocket." Harry answered. "Along with my wand. Just like you asked."
"Good,." Harry2 said. "We'll need both."
"Why?" Harry asked. "I mean I understand the money, by why my wand? I don't know even how to use it yet."
"You have to stick out your wand to call the bus to you. But before you do, is there anybody looking us?"
Harry looked around, and seeing no one said. "No, there's nobody on the street."
"Good." Harry2 replied and with a flash, Harry2 re-appeared, only looking like a thirty something adult with brown hair, and a goatee.
"Harry? Is that you?" He asked.
Harry2 smiled. "Don't worry, it's me. I'm just wearing a glamour, or disguise. I also changed your hair color. This way we can walk around and look like father and son, or an older wizard escorting a younger one to Diagon Alley for the first time. Far better than a lone boy going around alone. Especially when we go into Knockturn Alley."
"Knockturn Alley? Hagrid never told me about it. "
"Well," Harry2 began, "he wouldn't."
Harry's confusion must have showed on his face because Harry2 said. "Knockturn Alley is not the safest of places. It's full of dark wizards, hags, and worse things. NEVER go down there alone. You might not come out if you do."
"Then why are we going there if it's so dangerous?" asked Harry.
"Because I need a wand, and It's the only place I can get one that's not registered with the Ministry."
"Oh," Harry said, "the makes sense." Then remembering the bus he asked. "So how do I call the bus again."
"Take out your wand and hold it out like you're calling to a taxi cab." Harry2 told him.
Harry did as he was told, and within seconds there was a loud BANG, and sitting in front of him was a huge double decker, purple bus. One the front was a sign saying 'KNIGHT BUS'.
The door opened, and a man stepped off saying. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Rodney Bell, and I will be your conductor today."
"Hello Rodney," Harry2 said. "Can you take us to the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Oh course Sir. Step right on board."
Harry and Harry2 got on board the bus and waited for Rodney. "That will be One Galleon, and ten Sickles please Sir."
Harry paid the fair for them both of them. Something which made the conductor look at them questioningly.
Harry2 saw this and said, "Harry is muggle born, and doesn't know how our money works. It's completely different from the muggle type." He explained. "Headmaster Dumbledore thinks the best way to learn is by doing, so he's paying for everything on our trip."
"He's a great man that Dumbledore. I wish I had someone to help me out the first time." Rodney said. "Let's go then."
"Hang on Harry." Harry2 told him. But before Harry could ask why, the bus lurched forward and disappeared with another loud BANG.
oooOOOooo
They arrived outside the Leaky Cauldron fifteen minutes later, with Harry swearing that he's never willingly get on the Knight Bus again.
"It's takes a bit of getting used too." Harry2 said with a chuckle, "But I know what
you mean. It can be a bit much. Brooms are far better."
They crossed the street and entered the old pub, hoping that there wouldn't be too many people there this early in the morning. There weren't, and so they made their way to the lane in the back with no trouble. "You remember what bricks to tap Harry?" Harry2 asked.
"Yes." Harry replied. "Good. Then get out your wand and tap the bricks to open the archway for us." Harry2 told him.
Harry did as he was told and the bricks came to life and parted to allow them to enter Diagon Alley.
