Chapter 11 - Welcome to the Past

"Happiness depends upon ourselves." - Aristotle

"I must say Ms. Potter, you lifeline is rather interesting."

"Interesting? Don't you know me, Headmaster?" Harry frowned.

"Yes, now I do, thanks to this," Dumbledore held up the evelope, "Which I must say is very facinating that is has been written by myself."

Harry still couldn't get it, "I don't understand what you are saying. Maybe if you spoke in proper english instead of that messed up version of english that you use." Dumbledore cocked up an eyebrow at Harry's snappy outburst, "Golan could you please bring me the most recent Daily Prophet, please."

A nurse walked in and handed over the newspaper to the Headmaster with a slight smile towards Harry, "Who's that?" "Madame Golan, current head nurse at Hogwarts, she is the one who looked after you." Dumbledore leaned over and handed the Prophet over to Harry, "Read the date."

Harry set her green eyes down and read the top right corner of the paper, 'September 5, 1978'. Staring open mouthed at the peice of paper, Harry looked back up at Dumbledore, "Wha-How-?"

"Human mouths are rather nice nests for house fly reproduction, they have the perfect conditions. The mouth is moist, warm-"

"What's the meaning of this?" Harry held up the paper demanding an answer.

"Simple, Ms. Potter, you travelled to the past." Dumbledore said with a small smile.

Harry sammered open mouthed at the aged man before her, "Travel—Travelled to the past!"

"Yes, Harry, it seems that my future self sent this evelope with you to give to me some information also." Dumbledore was still smiling, much to Harry's expense.

"How can he know such a thing?" Harry asked.

"Time travels in a loop Harry, lets say that you came here and gave this letter to me, which gives me great detail on exactly what to do, then you left back to you time in the future, but I will grow naturally until it comes the time that you left to come here form your time. I would then, to keep the timeline the same, write this letter and tell my younger self in the past what to do in this letter." Dumbledore looked out the window, "Don't you seem to be missing something?"

Missing something? Harry thought.

Excalibur! How could I forget!

"Where is she?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

Turning back to Harry, Dumbledore smiled and held up his finger, pointing behind Harry, "You did wake, but then started walking, we did try to get you out, but your eyes were glazed over, as in some sort of trance."

Harry frowned, "My eyes were open? Are you sure?"

Dumbledore nodded, "You were talking and sometimes screaming, and you were moving about, as if searching for something."

Harry frowned, walking back to where Excalibur was laying on the floor, and picked it up, "Why didn't any one pick up the sword?"

"It wouldn't let us, each one of us who tried to pick it up found the sword to heavy." Dumbledore walked up beside Harry and looked at the sword, "It may show the heavy burden on you shoulders, Harry, I am going to do my very best to help you with that weight."

"How?" Harry seethed Excalibur.

"I have read that you have had some experience teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, right?" Dumbledore got that dammed twinkle back in his eye.

"I just formed a club last year, that's all." Harry looked at Dumbledore, curiousness written in her eyes.

"I do believe that is enough experience." Dumbledore smiled, "How would you Harry, like to teach DADA to sixth and seventh years, hmm?"

Harry frowned, "Don't you already have one?"

"Alas, since the defence teacher I had employed for this job has retired, I have been on the lookout for a new one, but have been unable to catch one in my grasp. So I have been teaching for the past few days, but since I have headmaster duties also to keep, I believe that you can help me."

"But —" The headmaster cut her off, "It also says in this letter that you did do such a thing, so you have no matter of say in this, unfortunately."

"Great, when do I start?" Harry sighned.

"So eager?" Dumbledore cocked an eyebrow.

"May as well get it over with, since I can't do anything." Harry looked over at the window and into the misty fall outside.

"Remember, time is not something to meddle with. Follow me, we have to get you some robes, I doubt that these will do." Dumbledore started walking out of the room as Harry followed.

"I have to go to my office, where I have some business with some students to attend to, then we can discuss your new job here." Dumbledore said while walking back to the Headmasters office.

They reached the gargoyle and Dumbledore said the password, which was still a candy, 'Chocolate Frogs', and they walked up the staircase to the door. Dumbledore opened the door and stepped in, revealing the troublemakers.

Sirius! Damn, why didn't I see this coming?

Sitting around Dumbledore's desk were Sirius, Remus, Peter and Harry's dad, James. Harry just cocked an eyebrow at them and smiled, "Trouble again?"

They just stood and looked at her with a questioning look. Harry took this time to look at them more carefully. Sirius was just as she had imagined, tall with black eyes and perfectly combed hair. He also had this mischievous glint in his eye that must have been taken out when he was sent to Azkaban. Peter was just small as ever with a scrunched up rat face and a whimpering small voice. Harry also took in that he was also rather fat. James was just like Harry when he was a guy; just James was a bit taller and had hazel eyes, which right now had a worried glance in them. Harry took it that they were rarely caught with the evidence. Remus, well Remus was Remus. He was still the same height with the straight brown hair and flecks of grey; his intelligent brown eyes took in her stature.

"Boys, I have been informed that you have played a part in the Welcoming Feast, hmm?" Dumbledore smiled at them, "Even thought I might find it amusing, it is still a serious take at the image of this school and the new students. Thus you must be punished for your actions."

Protests rang up and Dumbledore held up a hand, "You shall be serving detention with Professor Greenwood tonight and for the rest of the week." Dumbledore stopped them again, "Yes I do understand your reason of protest, but such a large prank must have large consequences. Do you understand?"

"Yes, headmaster." They all looked down and strolled out the door and into their dormitories.

"Well now that is over with, I believe that I have some papers for you." Dumbledore said rummaging trough his desk.