A/N: Hey its been awhile I think, a month or two at least probably. Anyways things have been hectic and such but I finally had the time and such to get the ball rolling again. This one is a bit short and something that gave me some trouble to make. I mean I just wanted to go straight to the first task but this chap allowed me to put something out there that I wanted/needed to. I haven't read the comments yet but I will before I start on the next chapter. Which will be longer because 'duh' its the first task.
Beta for this chapter was ErebeaHallow24.
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Before he could ask, Harry was shoved outside of the shop and into Diagon Alley. Giving one last look at Harry, Ollivander spoke in a soft sad tone. "Please take care of that wand Mr. Potter, though I didn't make it, it's still an Ollivander wand". Closing the doors, Ollivander left Harry to his own devices.
Harry looked at his wand, then at Ollivander's, then at the wand again. First time travel, then the chaos in his mind, afterwards the mystery from Gringotts, and know this. Harry dearly hoped for no further surprises, but deep down he knew it wasn't meant to be.
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Gryffindor Boys Dorm, November 23
It was early morning, the sun wasn't even up yet and Harry was sitting at his desk. Before him sat a piece of parchment containing a short list of goals, it read.
Goals
-Survive the first task
-Read about my wand
-Read letters from vaults
-Find time to drink mind healing vile
-Speak with Draco
-Owl Sirius after first task
-Get a date with Ginny
Sighing, he turned from his desk and looked toward his trunk at the foot of his bed. After leaving Ollivanders he had wandered around Diagon Alley for a while before heading back to Hogwarts.
After dinner, Harry made his way to his Head of House to inform her that he was taking the next day off in order to train for the first task, which was being held the following day. He had placed the notes on his wand inside his trunk along with the letters from the Founder Vaults. He originally wanted to just get his list of tasks over with, but had realized that rushing often brought him horrific results. His current situation was a perfect example; he had rushed back in time without something even remotely resembling a plan, and now he was stuck with a makeshift list of short term goals while he was winging everything else.
By now a faint light could be seen on the wall opposite him. Turning, Harry could see that the sun had begun to rise. Leaving his chair behind, Harry stretched and yawned loudly, he had been doing that a lot lately. Placing the parchment in his secure trunk, Harry left for a hot shower and later breakfast.
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Gryffindor Common Room, November 23
Coming down the stairs, Harry saw Hermione seated at their table. She was working hard on what looked like Defense Against the Dark Arts. Deciding to say hello, he sat down across from her and waited until she was finished.
Twenty minutes later Hermione hadn't paused in her writing a single time. It was a feat both terrifying and amazing, but Harry's patients only went so far. He cleared his throat once, only for it to be tuned out. He tried a second time with the same result. Finally on the third try she jumped in her seat and gave a loud squeak, her eyes wide. The only way Harry could have described it was adorable.
"Harry? What are you doing up?" She asked after calming herself down slightly.
"Sorry Hermione, I just couldn't sleep is all." She gave him a sympathetic look. "Worried about the first task?" Harry just nodded his head. "I'm sorry Harry, I wish I could help. If only we knew what the task was..." At this she sighed softly and with a last glance at Harry she went back to working on her essay, though there was a considerable lack of her usual enthusiasm in her work.
Harry smiled at her worry. Getting up and walked over to her, he wrapped an arm around her. "It will be ok Hermione. It can't be as bad as facing a Basilisk, over one hundred Dementors... or watching Ron eat." They both laughed at that and he saw her smiling finally. "See, just smile and everything will be ok." She shook her head in amusement "Harry, only someone like you could face the unknown without fear." "Only because I've had plenty of practice" Harry said slightly smugly. Deciding on being playful she adopted a haughty tone "Well since I have nothing to worry about I'm going to focus on more important things, like working on my essay". She couldn't keep up the act and started giggling. Now it was Harry's turn to shake his head. "Alright, Hermione. Have fun in class I'll be around getting ready for tomorrow, and before you ask yes I got permission this time." Satisfied she turned away and returned focus back to her essay. Releasing Hermione of his one armed hug, he gave her a small kiss on the head and turned away intent on visiting Dobby not even realizing what he had just done.
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Hogwarts Great Lake, November 23
Collapsing onto the ground, thankful that it hadn't snowed or rained in the past few days, Harry laid himself down under one of the leafless trees. Visiting Dobby was a wonderful but highly exhausting idea. It had been like a mixture of sugar high child and an obsessed fan. Thankfully he had been able to distract Dobby with a task. Hopefully the person came soon, because Harry was ready to go to sleep.
An hour passed and just before Harry succumbed to sleep's sweet embrace he heard footsteps coming closer. Pushing his upper body up he turned his head and saw Draco coming down. Stopping a foot away the pair simply stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence until Harry broke it. "Sooooo... that really you Draco?" Only response that Draco gave was a tackle and a punch to the face, and in turn Harry rolled over and being on top of Draco gave a punch of his own.
After minute or two of struggling against each other, it finally occurred to Harry to draw his so, Draco froze in place. "What the hell Draco, I came to talk not fight". Using his free hand, Harry wiped the blood from his lip. "Well?". Draco straightened his back, crossed his arms, and gave Harry the most childish pout ever. "You stabbed me, I'd have thought I'd have the right to beat the crap out of you, at the very least!"
It took a minute but when it finally clicked Harry felt guilty. "Sorry Draco, if I told you about it you would probably have chickened out." Lowering his wand and placing back into his pocket, Harry mentally made a note to get a wand holster. "Alright five free shots anywhere you want." Draco hesitated at first but after he realized that Harry was completely serious he showed no mercy. The first was another punch to the face, which broke the bloody lip open again. The second was a kick to the knee cap, which had hurt like a mother fucker as Harry fell to the ground. The third and fourth were jump kicks to each shoulder. The final shot was the worst, a taboo amongst men; a kick to the nuts.
One would think this was drastic but Harry realized he was actually getting off quite easy with Draco, considering what he had done.
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Deep Inside Gringotts, 2005
He saw books and papers everywhere, but what caught his attention the most were the stones set in a circular pattern in the middle of the room. The stones had various markings on them, which Draco could only assume would be runes. Finished looking around, he thought it was time to get to business. "What is it exactly you need me to do, Potter?"
Handing him a piece of paper, Harry turned back to one of the books, "Put the stones like they are in the picture, then draw those lines exactly". While Draco was doing that Harry was pretending to read a book. He already knew what he needed to do. He had memorized everything before hand, but all of that didn't matter if he couldn't muster the resolve to get the job done. His thoughts were interrupted sooner than he had expected however. "I'm done Potter, now what?". "Stand in the center." Was Harry's only response.
Giving himself another minute, he finally spun around and spotted Draco in the center of the ritual site, waiting patiently. Briskly walking up to him, Harry was planning to give Draco a final chance to back out. "Draco, this has a roughly 40% chance of work for me, and only 10% chance for you. Do you still want to do this?" Giving credit where it was due, Draco didn't even flinch when he answered "Yes". Lowering his head, Harry gave a loud sigh. "I was afraid you were going to say that".
"Come on Potter what's the matter, we got a -" With a sudden feeling of pain, looking down Draco saw a blade in his chest, "sorry" was all that Draco heard before he fell to his knees. Harry had made certain to aim for a spot to make it as quick and painless as possible. Turning on the spot, he ignored the body. He didn't want this sacrifice go to waste.
"Tempus volo. Tempus est necessarium." Bright lights flashed from deep within the stones, and he could hear a hurricane wind howling throughout the room, though none could be felt. "Cum solvit pretium sanguinis est-" the blood from Draco began to move from within the body out onto the floor and split evenly to each stone "-past da mihi" With those final words he felt cold and his mind was numb. Before he even realized it, he saw black. Leaving his body to fall and his heart to stop.
Unknown, Unknown
Looking around Harry saw nothing but white. Up, down, left, right, in front of him, behind him…; it all was white.
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Hogwarts Great Lake, November 23
Groaning, Harry tried to stand up but instead decided to lean against the tree. Seeing Draco out of breath, he couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny Potter?" He said irritatingly, He wanted him in pain not laughing. "Its just that out of all the years we've known each other, it took going back in time to for you to finally be able to kick my ass". At this Draco began to laugh with him.
After that things went much more smoothly, and they chatted for a bit. Draco apparently made it back around the beginning of the summer after third year. With the whole summer devoted to planning and preparing, Draco took some much appreciated initiative. Going to the bank he made a secret account and slowly started siphoning off all the family accounts, though in small amounts as not to be spotted. He wrote down all the hidden contacts that his father had gathered, and even copied his blackmail journal, among many other things of course. To say that he had been busy would be an understatement.
When Harry told Draco about his journey, he was a little disappointed but had understood with all the bullshit that was going on. "Only you Potter" was his sole comment. With that they got up, thankfully Harry no longer felt any pain, and agreed that since it would be risky to be seen with each other and not fighting they would use Dobby as a go between.
"By the way Draco, I'm surprised Dobby is still willing to help with you involved and all". Draco smiled slightly at Harry as they made it to the Hallway where they'd split ways. "You'd be surprised what an apology can do….. and a bit of candy doesn't hurt". Harry just looked at him in astonishment. "You...bribed Dobby? With candy?" Draco laughed. "The little guy has a sweet tooth, one that'd put most first years to shame". With that Draco departed for the snake pit before dinner. Shaking his head, Harry could only think. 'Who knew?'
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Hogwarts Boys Dorm, November 23
Harry wasn't feeling good, he hadn't eaten all that much since appearing almost twenty five days ago. Having at most a meal once every three days. He was sure the only reason why he hadn't passed out yet was that Dobby would appear randomly to give him food, and for some odd reason he didn't mind eating the food given to him by Dobby. Hell he even ate that soup in the Leaky Cauldron, but anytime he eats with everyone else in the Great Hall he just lost his appetite. Deciding to put that up on the already cramped shelf in his mind, Harry climbed into bed thinking on what to do about the ill tempered dragon he was scheduled to face tomorrow.
A/N2: Now class can anyone tell me the translation of what Harry said when he did the ritual?