Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
-Ezekiel 7:25
Author's Notes: The timeline was inspired by "The Seventh Horcrux" by Melindaleo
Chapter Eight
Destiny Redefined
Before Harry left the graveyard, he sent Wormtail away. If the Maurader had been living there for two decades, there really could be no harm in allowing it to continue. Besides, if he had any more questions, he would return and question the rat.
He stepped off the street and onto the sidewalk. After Godric's Hollow, he went to the Ministry in search of Cronus. When he approached the entrance to the Department of Mysteries, the door had not opened for him as it did before. He had to conclude that either Cronus was not part of this timeline or he simply didn't want to see him. Since he hadn't met anyone else there, he came to Grimmauld.
Harry now wearily stood on the street outside 12 Grimmauld Place. In the two months he had been gone, Ginny had really let the place go. The yard was overgrown with bushes and grasses, no wizarding toys littered the ground, and the windows were filled with grime.
As he entered the gate, he noticed someone standing at the front steps, who noticed him at the same time. Harry pulled his wand out and approached cautiously. The stranger came into view. It was Michael Corner, dressed in the traditional Auror uniform, but as Harry came closer, the uniform was not the established dress code. Instead, it was what the Head of the Auror Department would wear… what Harry was supposed to be wearing.
"Michael, why are you wearing…?"
Michael didn't give him time to ask the question. He cast a spell in Harry's direction. It narrowly missed him. Upon first mistake, Harry cast a shield around him as Michael charged him, a look of determination on his face.
"Harry, just give it up and come quietly," Michael said, poking the shield with his wand. "The Minister wants you alive."
"Why wouldn't Kingsley want me alive?" Harry asked.
"That's right, you've been gone," Michael said, laughing. "There's a new minister now, and he's going to provide peace."
"What happened to Kingsley?" Harry demanded.
"Oh come now," Michael replied. "Did you really think he'd be able to stand up against Dudley in your absence? Kingsley is dead."
Harry's mind raced 100 kilometers a second. Kingsley was dead, but at the hand of Dudley? Surely it wasn't his cousin, he had changed for the better soon after he had returned from hiding. And what was this about Michael, wearing the head Auror robes when that was Harry's position?
The shield broke. Someone from behind wrapped their arms around Harry's neck. They squeezed and no air could reach his lungs. His wand dropped to his feet. Harry struggled as Michael came closer, raising his wand. Harry immediately reacted , using the brick wall of a person to his advantage. He quickly kicked up, knocking Michael over, his wand shooting off a spell.
Harry stood there, holding Michael's wand. The spell from Michael had hit his captor, who turned out to be Cormac McLaggen. They both lay in the front lawn unconscious. Harry threw the extra wand into the bushes and picked his own back up.
He needed to get inside to make sure his family was all right. As he approached the door, no welcome mat was placed on the ground. The door was slightly ajar and Harry slowly pushed it open all the way. The smell of decay greeted his nostrils as he looked inside. He could tell no one had lived there for a very long time.
He calmed what would be a panic attack. There were no familiar friendly portraits of his wife or his kids or his family. On the wall instead were the crude house-elf heads and the sleeping portrait of Mrs. Black. Someone had pulled the tarp across her. As he journeyed into the hallway, he found the decaying skeleton of a house-elf on the wall, positioned upon a set of antlers from a creature he couldn't identify. He guessed it was Kreacher, who had come to die and wanted to be displayed on the wall with the former servants. The smell was intoxicating and Harry tried not to gag.
So what if there's no on here? Harry thought. It simply meant that in this new timeline, Harry and his family lived elsewhere.
"Let's check this back room, Ron."
Harry ducked out of sight as he heard the voices. He peaked around the corner into the hallway. Walking away from him, he recognized Ron and Dean, both dressed in their Auror uniforms as well. They walked into the furthest room. Harry followed them quietly and positioned himself outside the room. He wanted to walk in and greet his friends, but the incident outside caused him to pause.
"I didn't think we'd find him here anyhow," Ron said.
There was a sound of a bed shaking. Ron must have sat down on whatever bed was in there.
"I can't really believe that it finally happened," Dean said. "I never thought Dudley would do this. If you are starting up the Order again, I'd like to join."
Ron was hesitant to answer. "I'm not sure what's going on yet," he replied. "It's been so quick. We always feared that he might try something like this, but we didn't think he was capable of it, you know?"
"Is it true Dumbledore suppressed his magical abilities when he was a child?" Dean asked.
"It is," Ron answered, "but that's the only way the Dursleys would even take Harry in." Ron sighed. "And that's what made Dudley snap when he found out. He killed Vernon and Petunia when they were in hiding."
Dean whistled unbelievingly. "It's rubbish. Even if we found Harry, I wouldn't have the heart to bring him in. He was my dorm mate, for Merlin's sake."
"He's my best mate," Ron added. "I'd sooner help him escape than capture him. I just wish he wouldn't have run off without…" Ron paused. "What the bloody hell are you doing, Dean?"
"I don't want to hurt you, Ron. Please, just put your wand on the ground."
"Have you sold out?" Ron shrieked. "You were just setting me up? I can't believe it, Dean, after everything we've been through."
"I'm tired of fighting," Dean admitted. "I lost my whole family in the first two wars. I just want it over with. Dudley is promising peace."
"You do know what he's calling himself now, don't you?"
"Ron, sit down. It's too late. I've made up my mind."
Ron ignored him. "He's claiming himself Voldemort, the Dark Lord incarnate, the name of the same wizard that is responsible for your family's deaths!"
"SHUT UP!" Dean bellowed. "If you don't shut up, I will kill you!"
"KILL ME THEN!" Ron shrieked. "I will not go quietly…"
Harry had heard enough to decide that Ron was still one of the good guys. He burst into the room and cast the stunning spell. Dean had no time to even consider what has happening. He was lifted high, slammed into the wall, and fell hard upon a bedside table, smashing it into splinters. Harry stood there and looked at Ron, who appeared baffled and delighted at the same time.
"I had him, you know," Ron answered. "Just one more second."
"You're welcome, mate."
Ron grinned wide and embraced his friend. With several pats on the back and a couple good-to-see-you proclamations, they parted and stood in the room, looking at the fallen Dean Thomas.
"So Dudley's the new minister?" Harry asked.
"Without you here, he wasn't afraid to take over."
"And he's calling himself Voldemort?"
"He was always fascinated with the bloke."
"And the Order has reformed, I assume."
"The day after Duddykins took over."
Harry shook his head. He had hoped that the wars were over and peace had finally found them. By interfering with destiny, he had made things far worse than before. As he figured things out, he would have to attempt to change it all back.
"Mione's been on my case to find you," Ron said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Mione, my wife?"
"Oh, Hermione," Harry answered. "Since when do you call her Mione?"
Ron gave him a strange look. "When haven't I called her Mione?" He knocked on Harry's head, remarking that he must have taken a good blow to it. "Anyway, let's get back to the Burrow. It won't be long before more of Dudley's boys get here."
Harry grabbed his wrist, dreading the answer to the question he was about to ask. "Ron, how's Ginny?"
"Ginny's fine, she's been worried sick about you," Ron answered, pulling Harry towards the exit. "Now hurry up. There's not much time."
