Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or world of J K Rowling. I just wanted to put my own spin on things.
Author's Note: Finally I found the story again. I didn't loose the file, just misplaced it in my head. Suddenly I found it again and wrote it down. This short story is almost at its end. I never intended this to go on for more then a few chapters, so I'm glad I've found the ability to continue it. I hope all of you who have favorite or followed this story like this chapter.
Please if you have the chance, review it for me. I'd like to hear what you all think. Enjoy.
Chapter 4
Second Chance
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Future Harry (Point of View)
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It was two weeks since the washroom experience. Harry had followed himself around Hogwarts, too classes and the grounds. He would watch from the shadows as he, Ron and Hermione repeated the things he did a month prior. Sometimes he would just sneak off through the secret passage to Honeydukes cellar in Hogsmeade to mull over all that had happened. Occasionally he would take a thing or two from the storage, leaving some Galleon's behind. Always making sure he did this on busy occasions so as to not tip off Mr. or Mrs. Flume, Honeydukes owners.
Harry took time to make a new plan. Hopefully one that would result in both Harry's enjoying the experience. He was unable to keep the cloak for too long. Remembering he needed it at some point when he discovered the name of Peter Pettigrew on the map. That name, that man, that would change everything when he saw it. The unexplainable occurrence that set the quickly approaching events that followed it.
He knew he didn't have much time left but also knew how empty his past self felt around this time. How, even when surrounded by people who loved him, couldn't understand him. Told him it would be all right, but what did they know. They had family, they didn't have the man who he thought had killed his family and was hunting him down. The man who was killed by that man, suddenly present himself through a magical map that tells no lies. Nobody could of understood what mixed emotions and the longing for answers plagued his mind in those last few days. It was also when his past self lost the map to Professor Lupin.
That's why, when Harry sat in an empty classroom making his final touches to his plan, that even Hermione would deem acceptable. Harry knew that this was only going to work if he didn't slip up. Yet though he tried hard, he couldn't remember this happening. It wasn't like the boys washroom. Not one memory of a meeting with himself existed. How that was possible was lost to him. He must have done something. So why was the memory of the event not there? Yes he had Obliviated himself that time, but obviously his spell wasn't strong enough. The lingering moments he had felt weren't strong enough to blind his drive to find Serious Black, but it was strong enough to cause a serious case of abnormal wet dreams, which left him panting when he awoke. Ron thought they were his usual nightmares, but they weren't, they were anything but.
Now was the time. Harry waited for the perfect moment. He had to think far ahead. There was another moment that he knew he was alone from the other two. A time when he was most obsessed with the Marauders Map. A time where he had snuck away to an abandoned classroom which he knew, even Peeves never ventured.
So he waited in the shadows, this time without the cloak. Knowing his other self had it safely tucked away under his robs. He watched as Ron and Hermione wondered away after getting into another row about how Hermione always had to show Ron up in classes. Hermione simply stating that if he had studied and stopped copying her work, then he might have a better chance at doing the spells properly, to which Ron scowled and said something that lead him to follow her quickly away while apologizing profusely.
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Past Harry (Point of View)
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Taking his chance, Harry rounded a corner, checking for the all clear. Quickly he took the Invisibility cloak from his robes and pulled it up and over his head and sped away from the oncoming crowd that were headed back to their common rooms.
He needed to hurry. Teachers began to patrol the halls soon now that classes were over with. It took about half an hour to find a classroom that he knew would be deserted and were only used for the first years in the early part of the year for practical studies.
Rounding another corner Harry found the deserted classroom near the dungeons, in which the light was cast dim, and the room echoed with each foot step.
"Lumos", Harry spoke as his wand tip lit up, cascading shadows about the room.
This was a perfect spot to look at the map. He sat on one of the large oak tables and leaned against the cold stone walls. Then pulling out his wand he pointed it to the large folded parchment in his hand and said.
"i solemnly swear that i am up to no good" and with that the map presented itself to Harry as the writing in black ink read.
"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers. Are proud to present. THE MARAUDER'S MAP"
Harry smiled to himself. These four helped him so much through the year they had no idea. Then he opened the map to search once again for anything abnormal or out of place.
To his astonishment he located himself, but wait! What was this? He couldn't believe his eyes. There sitting in an empty dungeon was Harry J. Potter. Yet in another part of the classroom was another Harry J. Potter.
"This isn't possible" Harry said to himself. The map has never lied to him before. As far has he knew it, it was actually incapable of lying. It told the truth just for the fact it could at times. So how was this possible? Two Harry J. Potter's?
"Is this a joke?" he said aloud.
"I'm afraid not" came the most familiar voice that he had ever herd. At first he thought his dad, but no. It was him. He watched dumbfounded as another Harry presented himself to him. He couldn't believe this was happening.
"But" Harry replied.
He quickly looked down to the map and sure enough, there were two Harry J. Potter's floating name's side by side.
Harry then cautiously got to his feet and made for his wand. Yet the other Harry did not. He did not seem to care to defend himself. He just stared at him.
His instincts were to attack this other Harry, yet the way he looked, he seemed to want to say something more. Harry's curiosity got the better of him. Wand now raised and pointing at this other self, he asked.
"Who are you? How is this possible?" he waited for a reply.
"I am you Harry. But I've come from the future. I've come to help you; there are things you must know. Maybe things that can change what has happened for the better if you'll allow me to show you." He said.
Harry realized only now that his mouth was agape. This was so surreal, but he felt his unease lessen as he just stood and surveyed this other Harry. How was this happening? How was this possible?
"Ok talk" Harry commanded. "What can be so important that my future self would want to talk to me?"
The other Harry smiled a smile that Harry knew only too well and began. He talked about his Godfather, about his innocence, about a fight that was to happen, about the time turner. He talked about what was going to happen and how for him at least, how it ended with Serious on the run and Peter on the run to find Voldemort.
The information presented to Harry floored him. So much of these questions that were in his mind were answered but the least possible information provider. Himself.
"Ok so if this is all true. How do you expect to change anything? I'm more lost than ever. I'm more alone than ever." He said with dismay.
The other Harry walked forward and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"It's the truth. The things I've said. Yet there is something that I didn't figure out until all that was done and finished" he said to Harry.
"And what's that?" Harry asked.
"That I needed someone that would never leave me, and love me forever no matter what happened" he said.
"That's impossible" Harry frowned; "Nobody stays with you forever. They all eventually leave you."
"I won't" the Harry before him said.
"What?" Harry said as he looked up from the ground and found his lips connect with the other Harry's.
He made to pull away but the other Harry held fast, then he felt himself give in. Yes this is what he needed. Someone who would never leave him, would love him forever and someone who would forever be with him through all of life's challenges.
Harry pulled the other Harry towards him and increased the kiss, as an unfamiliar feeling of fulfillment filled his body.
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Cliff hanger, YAY! However it is necessary. Forgive me.
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Stay in tune for the next and final chapter "Inexplicable Understanding"
