260 Going on 16
By SciFiFantasyWriter1
Disclaimer: I own nothing of any recognized characters or universes within.
Hermione Granger is played by Emma Watson
Emma Granger is played by Lucy Brown
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Chapter 10
"It's such a beautiful day to be outside," Hermione declared with a grin as she, Harry, Neville, Luna, and Nym strolled out of the front gate of Hogwarts heading towards Hogsmeade.
"No doubt," Harry agreed. "We should go camping."
"Where could we go camping at?" Neville asked. "All there is around here is the Forbidden Forest. That is forbidden."
"Oh the forest isn't so bad," Luna said. "You just have to know how to twist the nipples of the nargles to get them to protect you."
Neville had his arms wrapped around the waists of Luna and Nym. He gave Luna an affectionate squeeze. Nym had managed to score a permanent appointment to Hogwarts working part time as an Auror Academy tutor and part time helping Lily-Hermione teach Defense.
"Harry, love," Hermione said. "My idea of a fun time isn't sleeping on a ground filled with magical snakes, roamed by giant poisonous spiders, and Merlin knows what else."
"Hermione, can you honestly see me letting any of those things take away your enjoyment of experiencing camping?" Harry asked with one raised eyebrow.
Hermione looked at her boyfriend's face to see if he was playing with her or being serious. She decided he was being serious.
Hermione admitted, "No I can't. We can go camping."
"Do you guys want to come along?" Harry asked Neville, Luna, and Nym.
"Sure, sounds like fun," Nym answered while Luna and Neville nodded agreement. "When do you want to do it?"
"Tonight," Harry answered.
"Are we using a magical tent or a non-magical tent?" Hermione asked curiously.
"It's a surprise," Harry said with a wink and a grin.
"Why do I get the feeling we are in for something truly bizarre?" Nev asked.
"Because you know your god-brother quite well by this point," Luna said.
Harry just let out a sound that was half chuckle, half cackle.
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"Where is the tent?" Hermione asked as she and her friends arrived in a clearing fairly deep into the Forbidden Forest relative to the edge of the woods nearest Hogwarts.
"We aren't going to be using a tent," Harry said as he produced four identical looking shrunken objects from his pockets and enlarged them to reveal identical looking back-packs. "You will find a book at the top of your back-packs called Bushmaster. It teaches wilderness survival skills. You can read it fully later but right now it's more for referencing diagrams. I will teach you what you need to know to build our shelter and survive. I will get you started on the shelter before I go hunting for our dinner."
The three witches and Neville had opened their back-packs to find identical items in each including a hatchet, ropes, survival knives, magnesium fire starters, army field dining ware, water thermoses, first aid kits, and so on.
"Harry, as interesting as I find this all and I hate to sound like the ignorant pureblood of the group…but why do we need to know this stuff?" Neville asked. "We can always use magic."
"In the future I am afraid to tell you there will be methods to suppress the magic from a being," Harry foretold.
"Harry, I know you are brilliant but how could you possibly know that? Wizards and witches have been trying to make those kinds of spells for eons," Nym said.
"Because Harry traveled back from the future," Luna said knowingly.
This caused Neville and Nym to stare at Luna for a moment before turning their attention to Harry.
"Is she telling the truth, Harry?" Neville asked.
"That would explain a lot," Nym mused.
"I won't lie to you three. Luna is correct. But I would appreciate you not spreading that information around," Harry replied.
The group of friends had long ago accepted the fact that Luna had some Seer abilities in her bloodline. Her unusual behavior was meant to mask this fact.
"Bloody hell," Neville said. "When did you come back from?"
"I was 260 years old when I came back this last summer," Harry answered.
"You knew," Nym observed while staring intently at Hermione's features analyzing Hermione's reaction. "You knew he was from the future."
"Of course," Hermione confirmed. "Harry and I have few secrets from each other."
"You keep secrets from me?" Harry asked teasingly.
"Puh…lease, You are Mr. Mysterious," Hermione pointed out.
"But you still love me," Harry said.
"I do," Hermione said. "I wonder why."
"Minx," Harry growled as he pulled Hermione onto his lap and kissed her.
Hermione settled into Harry's lap while he wrapped his arms around her. The five youths had settled into sitting on the ground in the clearing shortly before when it appeared the discussion would turn lengthy.
"The biggest question I have is why did you come back?" Nym queried.
"The future I was living in didn't have Hermione in it. She was my first love but she was taken from me before we ever fully got to explore our feelings," Harry explained.
"How did she die?" Neville asked quietly. "If you don't mind me asking," he added.
"It was Ronald," Luna provided the answer.
Hermione shivered in Harry's grasp at Luna's answer.
"He was jealous when you two got together wasn't he," Neville said knowingly.
"Yes. Before graduation," Harry admitted.
"That combined with the other shit you pulled it is no wonder you didn't want him and Ginny around this year," Nym said. "You know Harry you are a surprisingly romantic guy. So the 244 years after Hermione…did you hook up with anyone?"
"I'm not a monk, Nym," Harry answered.
"Anyone we know?" Nym asked curiously.
Hermione and Harry exchanged looks.
"I would want to know if I was in their place," Hermione admitted. Harry nodded his agreement. "He had relationships with both of you," Hermione said while indicating Nym and Luna with nods of her head. "He also was involved with Fleur, my mum, several other witches, and a beautiful alien."
Luna giggled at this revelation.
"I don't know what is funnier about what you just revealed. By that I mean I don't know what would blow Nym's mind more. The fact that she had sex with Harry Potter and doesn't even get to remember it, the fact that he slept with mother and daughter, and the fact that Harry slept with an alien are all pretty unusual occurrences," Luna mused.
"I think I'd like to focus on the fact that I slept with Harry bleeding Potter and can't remember it," Nym practically growled.
"I would be upset too," Hermione admitted to her boyfriend as he glanced at her. "I can't believe I am suggesting this but why don't you give them memories of some of your love making sessions with them," she suggested.
"That sounds like a great idea," Nym agreed.
Harry looked at Neville and winced.
"I think you should discuss that idea with Nev," Harry said.
"Given that I often turn into Hermione for Nev I think he can give us this," Nym said.
Neville looked at Hermione and his expression was horrified. Hermione, Luna, and Nym just broke out into hysterical giggles at Neville's expression.
"You boys didn't think she would do that without clearing it with Hermione first did you? Hermione is one of her best friends," Luna pointed out.
"Men can be so obtuse sometimes," Hermione said when it became obvious what they did think.
"Go ahead and share the memories, bro," Neville said as he shook his head while looking everywhere but at Hermione.
"While they do that I think you and I should have a chat," Hermione said to Neville. To Harry she sent, "I think Nev and I need to clear the air before this gets too awkward."
Harry sensed Hermione engaging Neville in a telepathic discussion. At the same time, Harry began sending both Luna and Nym memories of several of their better sessions of making love. After he hit 150 years of age Harry had begun to delve deeper into soul magic and memory magic. He had discovered that the human soul stored information about everything that being experienced throughout their life including information that being was not consciously capable of perceiving. Lovers in particular actually experienced the sensations, the emotions, and everything else their partner experienced during sex. A telepath of Harry's power could reach into their own soul and decipher this collected information on a conscious level. Harry conveyed these experiences to Nym and Luna. When he was done the two witches were leaning against Neville gasping for breath.
"Merlin…that was…that was intense," Luna declared.
"What she said," Nym added.
"Damn Harry…I've never witnessed memories doing that before," Neville said.
"They experienced the sex from the perspective of the versions of themselves as if they were there having the sex," Harry explained. "I've had 260 years to study the female form, Nev."
"Teach him," Luna said while indicating her boyfriend.
"Hey," Nev protested.
"Nev, we love you but I don't think there are many men alive who have the experience Harry does. Please learn from him," Nym pleaded.
"I can't resist that expression," Neville said earning him a heated kiss from Nym. Luna turned her boyfriend's head and added her own kiss. When Neville had gathered his wits enough he asked, "But how can you teach something like that?"
"I have methods. We'll start later. Right now we need to get this shelter built and I need to go catch some dinner," Harry stated.
Harry could transfigure several life-like aids to teach Neville and also use a bit of telepathy to convey such carnal skills. Neville could receive the skill transfer so that he had it at a subconscious level but he would need to practice properly to consciously master those skills.
"Let's get to it," Hermione agreed.
"What did you say to Neville? He looks much happier," Harry observed.
"I simply pointed out that if circumstances had been different I would have most likely jumped his bones. He is a pretty attractive wizard," Hermione answered.
"No wonder he is happy," Harry replied.
Harry left after he had gotten his friends started on building the hut. With the books he had provided them they should be able to finish the hut themselves. Harry took only a survival knife with him when he left camp. He returned an hour and a half later carrying a small deer.
"What is that?" Nym queried as she inspected the animal.
"It's a draerie isn't it," Neville said. "My family had one once for Christmas. It was a domesticated draerie."
"However did you catch that with a knife? I assume you didn't use any magic," Hermione said.
Hermione recognized the magical creature from her study of magical animals. The draerie had magical abilities of concealment that made it incredibly difficult to catch the wild variety without resorting to some pretty complex stealth spells yourself.
"That's a hard question to answer. I think I have become so used to stealth spells that even when I don't desire to use any magic all I have to do is desire not to be noticed for me to move through my environment undetected. So I probably used some magic but it wasn't overt. It was instinctual. I carved a spear with my survival knife and then killed this draerie," Harry explained as he started cleaning the draerie. "Nev, Luna, would you two start gathering firewood. We need both logs and sticks though more logs than sticks. The sticks are just to get the fire going. Hermione, would you start gathering some local herbs that will go good with this meat?"
"What do you want me to do, Harry?" Nym asked.
"I could use your help with preparing this draerie," Harry answered.
"Sure," Nym agreed.
Soon the group had their dinner cooking and Harry showed them how to prepare clean drinking water with the supplies he had given them in their back-packs. He wasn't having them completely rough it. He had provided sleeping bags among their supplies and they had done a good job of building the shelter.
The couples sat around the fire later that evening after having enjoyed the meal they had prepared.
"That was pretty damn good," Neville admitted.
"Learning to survive doesn't have to be unpleasant," Harry said. "Although I will admit it can be tricky at times."
"What made you get into survivalism in the future?" Nym inquired.
"Before technology saved humanity the economic system was strained so badly by severe overpopulation that people were not able to afford the basic things they needed to survive. The governments had to step in to help out," Harry explained. "Eventually technology saved mankind by allowing us to colonize other terraformed planets. But before that people were forced to become self-sufficient in order to survive. They were growing their own foods. The smart ones raised their own livestock. The rest were forced to live off of the synthetic meats and meat substitutes."
"Synthetic meats," Neville said. "What are those?"
"Meat grown in a lab using science," Harry answered. "It never had a brain. It was essentially like planting a seed for a plant."
"That sounds disturbing," Neville commented.
"It was to some but it was actually quite humane," Harry admitted. "I never cared too much for it myself but that could just be because of my upbringing. I was raised on meat that once was attached to a brain. I found it very hard to change. I raised my own livestock. Those who were born after the era of using synthetic meats didn't seem to have much trouble."
"What type of animals did you raise?" Luna asked curiously.
Luna couldn't see every detail about the future. Some scenes and events she could see in detail but most she couldn't see anything of.
"I raised some beef, some rabbits, deer, a few pigs, bison, and some chicken," Harry answered. "Though, I had to use magic to protect the pigs and chickens when the really nasty viruses hit those species."
"The world sounds like a much darker place in the future you are describing," Neville commented.
"It was darker," Harry admitted. "But with the darkness came such fantastic advancements in magic and science."
"Can you give us some examples?" Nym prompted.
Harry projected a hologram over the fire which showed the finalized design of his starship.
"This is my starship I am building, the Arrow," Harry announced.
Harry then proceeded to summarize the ship's capabilities and showed the location of the various systems he was talking about.
"That is bloody awesome," Nym declared when Harry had stopped talking. "When will it be finished?"
"In three months and five days," Harry answered. "I will take you to the build site sometime and let you see it being built."
"Will you take us for a ride when it is done?" Luna asked.
"Sure," Harry agreed. "We can make a weekend out of it and I can show you some of my favorite vacation spots."
"Wicked…I never thought about vacationing on another planet," Nym said.
"What about encountering other species? Won't they be curious about a race they have never met before?" Hermione asked.
"Well remember what I told you…many have already visited us," Harry pointed out. "They visit in secret."
"So a lot of them know about us," Hermione surmised. "Will they start openly revealing themselves on Earth when visiting if we encounter them out in space?"
"I'm not sure. I guess it depends on the species. But it will happen anyway so I don't think it is a problem," Harry answered.
"Harry…how many alien species can humans have sex with?" Luna asked curiously.
"That's a good question, Luna," Nym said.
"Well the number of species we can have sex with is a lot greater than the number of species most humans find attractive. There are very few we can reproduce with unaided," Harry explained.
"So we can have hybrid children with other species?" Neville asked.
"Yes. In fact I fathered several such children. Let me give you an overview of the species commonly considered attractive enough to have sex with by human society," Harry said before projecting holograms of members of each species both male and female along with some of their traits that made them different from humans.
As he had described the various species Harry had indicated which of the species he had partaken of sex with.
"Blimey…some of those aliens were too gorgeous for words," Neville admitted. Glancing at his girlfriends he added, "Sorry."
"Nev, we have told you time and time again that we don't mind you admiring other women," Luna assured. "As long as we benefit when you get worked up," she added.
"Yep," Nym confirmed. "And they were bloody fit!"
"Which ones did you reproduce with?" Luna inquired.
"Only a Kryptonian," Harry answered. "Kara of the House of El," he added.
"What happened with her and those children?" Luna asked.
"My children are with Kara. She knew how I felt about Hermione. Kara and I were happy together but I spent so much time pursuing a way to return to this time period before I ever met Kara. Kara knew this. She never asked me to stay. It was actually the science of her people that pointed me in the right direction for my quest. She gave me a gift of all the technology of her kind. So I gave her the only gift I could. I might have stayed if she asked and I'm so glad she didn't. I cloned myself and gave my clone all of my memories. I was able to engineer my clone with one difference from me. He didn't have the burning desire to get back to this time and Hermione that I have had," Harry explained.
"How did you manage to do that?" Neville asked. "I would think if he had all of your memories of your time here and the time since then pursuing travel to the past that he would want to see it through just as much as you."
"Through telepathy it is possible to lessen the emotional impact of certain memories, especially when those memories are inserted telepathically as copies. His soul was a perfect copy of mine or as close as perfect as it is possible to get. Because of that closeness we act as anchors for each other in this plane of existence," Harry explained. "It also allows one of us to experience what the other is experiencing at any time we choose across the boundaries of time."
"You are Horcruxes for each other," Hermione whispered but the other three heard it.
"What's a Horcrux?" Nym asked.
"A soul anchor created with black magic," Harry answered before going into a little more detail for the benefit of the three not in the know. "And not exactly, Hermione," he added. "I learned how to do what I did with my clone through the magical framework constructed by Colron. The effect is similar to a Horcrux but without the negative side effects. It could only be done because he was my clone and shared all of my memories. Only minor changes could be instigated after the creation of this effect such as removing the emotional significance of certain memories and experiencing different lives post-creation of the connection. Though really we are both experiencing everything the other is experiencing. The experiences generally just get shunted past our consciousness into our essence/soul where they are stored. Think of it as a back-up. We have to make a conscious effort to experience consciously what the other is experiencing."
"Fascinating," Hermione mused.
"Is a Horcrux why Voldemort didn't die that night in 1981, Harry?" Neville asked his god-brother.
"You are very perceptive, Nev," Harry complimented. "Yes, that is how he survived. Tom Riddle created multiple Horcruxes. I have retrieved two of Riddle's Horcruxes and cast an enchantment on them which theoretically will destroy Riddle's soul if I activate it. The enchantment is supposed to further fragment any soul fragments linked to the fragments I cast the enchantment on until the fragments dissipate due to entropy. There is a thirty-three percent chance that if I activate the spell that all of the fragments will not be destroyed but will be ejected from their container and scattered to locations that I do not know about. That is why I want to gather all of the Horcruxes and destroy them myself before resorting to that spell. It is a tool of last resort should I fall. The spell will activate within two minutes of my death unless a new controller takes over. I have shown Hermione how to take control of the enchantment."
"Can we help you hunt the Horcruxes, Harry?" Luna asked.
"If you would like," Harry agreed. "But you are going to need to wear body armor and follow my directions."
"We can do that," Nym assured while receiving nods of confirmation from Luna and Neville.
"Harry, you mentioned Colron," Luna said. "Who was he? I have never heard of any magical theorists by that name."
"No, you wouldn't have. Colron used different names when he had to appear in public. But he generally tried staying under the radar," Harry replied. "Are you three familiar with the tale of The Three Brothers?"
"The Deathly Hallows," Luna replied. "Yes, very much so," she added. "Daddy is a hunter for them."
Harry and Hermione exchanged looks before Harry caused the Hallows to appear in his hands. The shocked expressions of Neville, Luna, and Nym were almost comical.
"Bloody hell…you're the Master of Death," Nym said in sudden realization. "I didn't think they were really real."
"A Sumerian Necromancer named Colron created the Hallows," Harry explained before giving a brief outline of the true nature of the Hallows.
Hermione hadn't revealed that she currently held a second resurrection stone and a second Hallow invisibility cloak. When Harry had traveled back in time he had done so bringing back the Hallows from his timeline. Another set existed in the timeline he had traveled back to. Harry's younger self had already possessed the invisibility cloak. Harry had been working for a couple of centuries in the future to reproduce the Hallows. He had managed to do it but they didn't have the saturated ritual magic that Colron's artifacts did. Harry knew what Colron had done to get the Hallows that way. It would take time and sacrificial magic, some of which Harry had never cared to venture into.
Because of this ability to duplicate the Hallows, Harry had been able to duplicate the Elder wand that Dumbledore possessed. It was relatively simple to then switch Dumbledore's wand for the duplicate. Dumbledore's new duplicate wand had the same abilities as the one Hermione was now using but it just didn't have the energy reserves to pull off a lot of what Hermione's wand could. Dumbledore might notice but there was no likely way he could tell what had happened.
Luna once again showed her intelligence and insightfulness when she asked, "Was there a second set of Hallows due to your time travel or did the two sets merge?"
Luna looked like she already knew the answer.
"Two sets," Hermione admitted. "I have all but one component of the second set which we will collect when we retrieve the Horcruxes."
"You're telling us Voldemort made one of the Deathly Hallows into a Horcrux?" Nym asked with a tone dripping with incredulity.
"Yep," Harry confirmed. "But I don't blame Riddle for not knowing. He was muggle-raised so probably never heard the tale of The Three Brothers until much later in life. It would be next to impossible to recognize one of the Hallows as something special without having heard the tale or without having been the creator of the Hallows."
"Not to change the subject…but there is something I have been wondering, Harry," Nym said. "Why didn't your relationships work out between Luna and I?"
Harry sighed before sharing a look with Hermione.
"You knew they would probably ask," Hermione pointed out.
"I did," Harry agreed. "Each of those relationships lasted for decades. Luna was killed during an attack by some black magic users when she was shopping in Diagon Alley. Even after Riddle was defeated there were still black magic terrorists. Nym, you died before your time because of the residual effects of a curse you were hit with while in the line of duty. The residual traces of the black magic were never fully treated. The healers of the time just didn't know all the side effects of the curse. It was a new curse."
There was silence among the five friends at this news.
"So I haven't been hit by this curse yet?" Nym asked.
"No you have not. And you never will be if I have anything to say about it. The wizards who cursed you are now dead. The wizards who cursed both of you," Harry clarified.
Harry suddenly had two witches hugging him tightly.
"You're a great friend to have, Harry," Nym whispered.
"And you smell nice," Luna added with a grin as she pulled back followed by Nym.
"Thanks," Harry said with a fond smile at Luna.
Nym didn't voice it but she was curious to see if she and Harry would have stayed together had she not died young. Luna was wondering the same thing.
"If we were together for decades why didn't we have children with you?" Nym inquired curiously.
"Those were far different times for society. Marriage no longer became what was essentially a social obligation because people were rushing into marriages and divorces became so common that marriage was thought pointless by many. Several reform movements broke out. On the magical side witches and wizards lived a lot longer than non-magicals. We could afford to wait longer to get married and have children," Harry explained.
"That is kind of horrible," Neville suggested.
"At first it seemed that way. But couples that remained together and strong after decades of being together…if they decided to get married those marriages lasted," Harry answered.
Harry and his friends continued to discuss the future long into the night.
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"Harry," Hermione called from where she sat in her favorite cushioned seat in the living room of the Headmaster's Quarters.
Hermione was reading a book while the laptop sitting next to her graded the papers from her students. Hermione loved that laptop. Harry had gifted Hermione with an artificial intelligence (AI) program which was mimicked after her own personality and consciousness. The AI performed most of what Hermione would have had to do for work as a teacher. Hermione just gave lectures occasionally and demonstrations in class. A large portion of the time she let a golem do a lot of that. This left Hermione free time to pursue her interests.
"Yes, love," Harry prompted as he came into the room and sat down next to Hermione.
"There is something I have been wondering. Why if you can travel through time haven't you saved your parents?" Hermione asked.
Harry was silent as he thought of his response. Hermione gave him that time. She knew the subject was going to be a difficult one for her boyfriend.
"At first I told myself it was because they would cramp my style. I've lived as an adult for much longer than they have. I have far more life experience than they do," Harry explained.
"That sounds perfectly understandable. Then what did you conclude?" Hermione queried.
"That I would be really awkward around them," Harry admitted. "And that I wasn't sure if they would approve of the way I live my life."
Hermione took Harry's hand and said, "Alice approves. Alice told me I was incredibly like your mother. I approve of you. Sirius approves."
"You are the only one of those three that knows the complete truth about me," Harry pointed out.
"And I still love you. I know your parents will too. In fact," Hermione said as she drew forward and brought her mouth close to Harry's. "I love you even more knowing everything that I know."
Hermione kissed Harry lovingly before drawing back.
"I will bring my parents back with me to the future," Harry said resolutely before he gestured in front of him. A space was cleared of furniture and two tables appeared. On those tables two bodies appeared. As Hermione marveled at the inanimate forms of James and Lily Potter, Harry requested, "Would you please ask Sirius, Alice, and Remus over. I will be back shortly."
Before Hermione could even respond Harry was gone. Then a second later he was back and his hands were filled with brilliant balls of light which shimmered through a range of changing colors. Hermione summoned the three requested individuals before watching as her boyfriend placed his palms against his parents and pushed their souls into those bodies. Alice, Sirius, and Remus showed up within a minute and watched as Harry chanted and passed his hands slowly back and forth over his parents.
"Are those more golems?" Sirius asked.
Just then Harry stopped chanting and the eyes of James and Lily Potter snapped open. They sat up disoriented.
"No, they are not golems," Harry answered.
James spotted Sirius first and he said, "Sirius…how did you get so old?"
With tears in his eyes Sirius let out a bark of laughter and rushed to embrace his friend. Lily Potter had never been accused of being a dummy. Her eyes analyzed the obvious age of Sirius, Remus, and Alice. Then her gaze shot to the young man who looked so much like James but with the same shade of eyes as her own.
"Oh, Harry," Lily said as she rushed forward and embraced her son.
Harry wrapped his mother in an embrace as she hugged him for all she was worth.
"Harry," James said with a severely startled tone to his voice. He too quickly realized what was going on. "How long has it been?"
"Fifteen years," Alice answered as she stepped closer.
James came over and hugged Harry too. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"What happened? Were we hit with some kind of coma curse?" Lily asked as she wrestled her emotions under control.
"No, I pulled you forward through time," Harry answered.
"That does explain a lot then," Remus mused into the stunned silence.
"Yes it does," Alice agreed.
"How is that possible?" James asked his son. "Everything I have ever heard about time travel said that only Merlin was able to travel great periods of time through time."
"That would be incorrect," Harry replied. "Merlin was the only one who advertised his abilities. Have a seat," Harry requested as he conjured enough seating for everyone wandlessly which made James and Lily do a double take.
"How far back have you come in time?" Remus questioned.
"Two hundred and forty-four years," Hermione answered. "He was 260 when he came back."
"Mum, dad, this is my girlfriend Hermione Granger," Harry introduced as he took Hermione's hand.
Hermione and Harry were sitting in a love seat between the love seat his parents sat on and the couch Sirius, Remus, and Alice sat on surrounding a coffee table.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hermione," Lily said.
"What she said," James added.
James was very proud that his son had managed to become involved with such a beautiful young woman. Lily was also proud of her son's achievement in the same department as her husband but also noticed intelligence in Hermione's eyes which pleased her even more. Harry radiated intelligence and power to a degree not even Dumbledore had managed.
"I am very happy to meet you both," Hermione answered.
"I think the best place to start would be for Remus to summarize events since that Halloween night up until last summer. Then Alice and Sirius could add their perspectives from last summer until now. Last summer is when I came back by the way. Then I will summarize what happened in my original timeline from last summer until I came back and what I have done since then," Harry suggested.
Remus took his cue and began. It took several hours.
"Bloody hell but you have led an interesting life," Sirius told his godson when the story was over.
"Sirius, that was just the summary," Hermione pointed out. "The details make it all the more amazing. Harry doesn't like to brag. He was downplaying a lot of what he has done. He let me see memories of a lot of the events he has described. In fact I have taken notes on Harry's life in his past timeline and there are memories you can view linked to events in those notes. They are on our personal network."
Harry appeared surprised by this revelation for only a moment and then gazed fondly at his mate.
"Well that will save time answering questions," Harry mused as Hermione brought out her laptop and showed everyone the location of the notes.
The security on the laptops would mean only those who were authorized to look at the computers could.
"Are those computers?" Lily asked in surprise.
"Yes," Alice confirmed. "A lot has changed since 1981, Lils," she told her best friend.
Harry had never heard the nickname used for his mother before.
"But these computers are more advanced than even what the non-magicals use today," Remus pointed out. "Your son is the reason for that."
"We can have a technology discussion later," Harry said. "I think mum and dad have been through enough for one day. Dad is probably pretty exhausted from dueling Voldemort."
"Yeah, I am pretty beat," James admitted.
"We have quarters prepared for you this way," Harry said while indicating a door that materialized at the back of the Headmaster's quarters where Harry and Hermione spent most of their time living.
Sirius, Alice, and Remus said their goodbyes to James and Lily before the remaining quartet went into the back apartment.
"So you're the Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Lily asked her son as James went into the bedroom to lie down.
"Technically dad is," Harry answered. "But yes, I am pretty much the Headmaster."
"I'm sorry but this is just so weird. I mean you are far older than I am. Just a few hours ago you were a baby," Lily said.
"I know, mum. Tom Riddle stole a great deal from the Potter family. He almost wiped us out. He's going to pay for that dearly," Harry assured. "Just sleep on it and maybe things will be clearer in the morning."
"Good advice," Lily said before hugging her son.
Harry and Hermione left the back apartment and headed into their own.
"Did you just create that apartment back there?" Hermione asked.
"No," Harry replied. "I told you I had everything planned out for retrieving them. I did mean everything. That apartment has been there with the door concealed."
"Oh. Ok. So how do you feel having your parents back?" Hermione queried her mate as they entered their bedroom and began preparing for bed.
"Like mum pointed out things are going to be a bit awkward as we adjust to the new nature of our relationship. I'm not a little boy anymore," Harry pointed out. "But I'm definitely happy to have them back. What did you think of them?"
"Well your mum is only a few years older than me really. I feel like we could be good friends. I liked them both. Alice, Remus, and Sirius looked so happy to have them back. It would be nice if they could take over some of the duties as Headmaster and DADA professor," Hermione mused. "Mind you I don't think we should suggest that anytime soon."
"From everything I've heard about them I don't think they will mind that," Harry replied. "All the lesson plans are already made out. And I have the means ready to make them appear the expected age."
A few minutes later Harry and Hermione were in bed. Before they went to sleep Hermione proved to Harry that the fact his parents were staying with them wouldn't change their sex life at all. They made love until both fell into a sated sleep.
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James and Lily sat down at the breakfast table where Harry and Hermione were sitting and began dishing themselves out some food.
"Did you sleep well," Hermione inquired.
"I slept fabulously," James admitted while Lily nodded. "Being exhausted tends to have that effect. How did you two sleep?"
"We slept great," Harry assured. "We were also pretty tired."
Hermione barely kept the smile off of her lips.
"Yes, I imagine you did," Lily suggested knowingly while sharing an amused look with her husband. "So Harry…I noticed you glossed over briefly your time with my sister and her family," Lily said conversationally.
"How did the Dursleys treat you son?" James asked.
Harry was silent for a moment as he chewed the food he had in his mouth.
"To be honest I haven't really given them much thought in this timeline. When I came back I made sure they wouldn't give me trouble," Harry admitted. "They were not very nice people. Rather than explaining everything I will just give you copies of some of my more…livelier moments growing up with the Dursleys."
"We appreciate that," Lily answered. "What are your plans for today?"
"Normally we just spend our Saturdays relaxing either here at the school or we go out somewhere," Hermione answered. "But today we will show you two how to use the laptops and cell phones we have set you up with. Sirius, Remus, and Alice will then show you how things have changed since 1981 out in the world. Otherwise you can do whatever you would like."
"That sounds like a good plan," James agreed. "Do you know what happened to the house at Godric's Hallow?"
"It was turned into a national monument. The Ministry annexed it without informing Harry. So legally you still own it," Hermione explained.
"Who is the current Minister? Given the idiots that have been elected in the past I would like to know whose idiocy we will have to contend with now," James said.
Hermione and Harry shared an amused look.
"We must have forgotten to mention that yesterday. The Minister of Magic would be my godfather," Harry answered.
James and Lily gaped in astonishment at that revelation.
"Bloody idiots," Lily swore. "The wizarding public elected Sirius Black Minister for Magic!"
"He has actually been a pretty damn good Minister so far," Hermione admitted. "He has probably grown up a bit since 1981."
"Azkaban will do that to a person," Harry pointed out, sobering the conversation.
"This new time period really will take some time to get used to. Whatever happened to Severus Snape?" James queried. "I'm not sure you two would know the name."
"Actually we knew Severus Snape," Hermione replied while sharing a look with her boyfriend. "He was our potions teacher for several years and our DADA instructor for part of one class."
"Dumbledore employed Severus as an instructor here," Lily said with raised eyebrows and disbelief in her tone.
"Snape was the one who revealed part of the prophecy to Voldemort," Harry said darkly.
"Really," Lily said as her expression darkened. "I guess I never believed he would truly sink that low."
"That isn't the worst part," Harry added. "Snape asked Riddle to spare you, mum. Snape told Voldemort that Snape wished to keep you as a pet."
"That little shit stain," James said with hatred clear in his tone. "I'll obliterate him. Where is he now?"
"Dead," Hermione answered. "He made the mistake of dueling your son. Snape tried using Harry to demonstrate something in DADA intending to inflict great pain on Harry during that duel. The reason Snape stopped as our instructor of Potions was because he was incapable of brewing with only one arm. Harry blew Snape's arm off when Snape tried sabotaging Harry's potion."
"How did you manage to keep from getting in trouble for that?" Lily asked, noticing the vicious look of glee on her husband's face at Snape's fate.
"I cast a ward on my cauldron which prevented tampering with extreme prejudice," Harry answered. "Snape then planned on gaining retribution in his first class as our DADA instructor. It was also his last class. I can show you both incidents."
Harry produced a projecting pensieve and placed copies of the two memories inside before allowing his parents to view the memories. When the memories were done Lily looked conflicted while James looked satisfied.
"Once he was my friend. But he stopped being that friend a long time ago," Lily admitted. "I really don't know how to feel about Snape's fate."
James didn't say anything verbally but took Lily's hand and offered her a comforting look. James may have been feeling a lot better about Snape's death than his wife but he was smart enough not to verbalize that fact.
"How about you start showing us how those laptops work," James suggested.
Lily was grateful to her husband for the change of subject and showed it with a squeeze of his hand.
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"I thought I might find you here," Alice said as she stepped into the alcove within the abandoned wing of the fifth floor. The spot had been one of Lily's favorite haunts when they had been in school. "Budge over."
"You're a bit…shapelier...than when we last sat here together," Lily pointed out.
"Are you calling me fat, Lils?" Alice demanded with mock indignation in her tone.
"Shove off, Alice," Lily replied. "Everything is just so different now."
"I know exactly how you feel. I have been out of my mind this entire time…or rather trapped within it," Alice said. "The last I can remember up until last summer was 1981 as well. At least you have James," Alice said sadly. "Knowing what I do now about Harry I almost wish we had died in '81. Then maybe Harry could go back and save us like he just did you and James. With the way we were examined in-depth by the healers I don't think Harry could fake us being us in the state we were in if he did rescue us."
"Oh Alice…I'm so sorry about Frank," Lily said while hugging her best friend. "Maybe someday Harry could figure out how to fake you being you."
"It's ok," Alice said after a few moments of silence. "I am slowly learning to live with it. Remus has been very helpful. The man has been a rock for me in these times."
"Remus had a major crush on you in school," Lily admitted.
"He did?" Alice said with true surprise.
"Oh yeah," Lily assured. "I found out once I started dating James. They used to tease him endlessly about it. It was really rather cruel of them to do so since you were with Frank at the time. Though I don't think Remus would have asked you out if you had been single. His confidence is shot to hell because of him being a werewolf."
"His confidence was shot to hell," Alice corrected. "Your son used some futuristic telepathy techniques to lessen the emotional impact of all of the put-downs Remus has received over the years. Remus is a changed man. Still…I know he wouldn't put the moves on me so soon after I woke up and essentially lost Frank."
"You should put the moves on him. Remus is a good man," Lily suggested.
"I know he is. It's just…so soon after everything with Frank. Just a few months ago my memories tell me I was happily married to Frank. Now he's in a permanent vegetative state. Technically I'm still married to Frank. What would Neville think?" Alice said with her anxiety clear for Lily to see.
"First of all…I know you loved Frank. You will always love him. Neville seems very mature and probably knows this. You should discuss this with him if you still doubt. You can't be expected to be alone forever. You are essentially a widow. When is the last time you had sex, honey?" Lily asked, already suspecting the answer.
"1981," Alice admitted.
"Yep…it's about time you get back on that hippogryph, Alice," Lily advised.
"Maybe you are right," Alice reluctantly replied.
"Of course I am," Lily answered. "I'm me."
"There's the Lily I missed," Alice said wryly. "We have both been given a second chance at life thanks to your son."
"Yeah…he is something special, that's for sure," Lily agreed. "So what do you think about Neville's two girlfriends?"
Alice was silent for a few moments as she thought about the question.
"At first I was not very happy. But I have gotten to know both Luna and Nym. Both are really great witches and both really care for Neville. I know their solution to their mutual feelings is a little unorthodox but it isn't unprecedented in the wizarding world. I won't interfere in my son's love life. They are doing what makes them all happy. Their happiness is all I care about," Alice explained. "What do you think?"
"Obviously my normal impulse as a woman isn't positive but I will reserve expressing anything more than that until after I have observed how they behave as a trio and until after I have gotten to know all three of them," Lily said.
"Lils…we've become so wise," Alice said with a slowly forming teasing grin.
"I know," Lily said with a matching grin.
"Come on Lils," Alice said as she stood. "Let's go bug the elves for ice cream."
"Do they still have rainbow surprise in this time?" Lily questioned.
Grinning Alice announced, "That and many more new flavors Lils."
"I think I might like the future," Lily admitted.
For the two best friends it was like nothing had changed even though a lot had.
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Rev 0 Posted 12/28/2014
Rev 1 Posted 1/10/2015 (Error Fixed "That isn't the worse part," Harry added. Pointed out by Goku90504.