Memories
Harry rushed down with Hermione to the nurse's wing. The crowd of gawkers had died down over the last day not due to a lack of interest but from the heavy auror guard. Mad Eye Moody headed the team of four aurors assigned to Aurelius, and he refused entry for trivial reasons. To his somewhat biased judgment, only the potential loss of a limb was a reason to seek medical treatment. Several students had feigned illness to get into the medical areas and Moody turned them away. Harry and Hermione were waved through by Sirius Black but not before Moody cast multiple spells to make sure the two were not poly juiced assassins.
Harry entered the wing to the sound of laughter. Abeforth Dumbledore, rarely seen at the castle, was recounting a scandalous tale about Albus Dumbledore, a pair of goats, and a smarmy carnival barker. Ariana looked on bemused and busied herself with measuring out a healing draught. The oddest sight was Aurelius. Harry had only seen the boy in pain or anger. He was laughing now, full belly laughs that bought tears to his eyes and a smile on Ariana.
"And that's why the Dumbledores are banned from ever returning to the County Fair!" concluded Abeforth.
"The male Dumbledores — the female ones don't act like idiots all the time." Ariana said.
"That's true. Ariana was never banned." Abeforth said. "Lad, are you sure you still want to join our family. It is not all Chief Warlock, Mugwump, muckety muck - you know."
The young man hesitated but nodded. "I have never had a family where I felt I belonged. I know I haven't done the right things in life. But if you would have me." He sounded like a lost little boy, far younger than his true age.
"We don't know yet if you are a Dumbledore - but if you are, then you will be welcomed." Abeforth said.
"Even though I tried to kill the Headmaster?" Aurelius said with a tinge of doubt.
"Who hasn't wanted to kill Albus Dumbledore at some point? You are certainly not alone in that." Abeforth said.
Ariana handed the boy a steaming concoction. "Here, drink that - it will strengthen you."
It was an odd dynamic, for Aurelius to cling to the Dumbledore siblings like that. Harry could see the gratitude in the boy's eyes as Abeforth and Ariana fussed over him. He has never had that, Harry realized. Never had a shred of affection as a child. He was desperate for family. He was desperate for love. Aurelius would do anything for it, which was how Grindelwald easily turned him into a weapon against the Headmaster, and how Abeforth and Ariana befriended him so easily.
Harry had a strange insight. If you take a boy, starve him of all hope and hide him in darkness, what would happen when you bring him back to the light? He would be pliable and open to manipulation. What would he do with freedom - would he go crazy and out of control? Would he rebel against those who imprisoned him?
Harry's vision blurred and he saw a twinkly eyed old man in fancy robes, proclaimed the greatest wizard since Merlin, who spoke many words while saying very little. Of course that boy would not be allowed any freedom. No, he would be controlled - doled only bits and snatches at a time, held in a cage with trusted guards, to be guided and used. Harry shuddered. Was that what happened to him? Beaten and abused, stripped of his parents, bereft of any friends. Was he merely an echo of Credence Barebone?
"Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione.
"I'm fine." Harry replied. He needed to shake this off. Vision or not, there were more important things than his personal happiness. He walked in to speak to Ariana.
Harry did not care to interrupt the family reunion. He gave a discrete wave to his godmother and she excused herself. Abeforth was still telling more stories about the past to a very receptive Aurelius. They walked to her office, and Hermione followed them as well.
"What is it Harry?" Ariana said after she shut the door.
"Godmum, tell me about Grindelwald's death. Who killed him?" Harry asked.
"He was an older gentleman - tall, well-dressed and kind."
"Do you have any idea who he was?" Harry said.
"No, just that he was a foreigner. He had an accent - but I was thirteen. I had never left my little village and I certainly didn't know where he was from."
"Nurse Dumbledore, do you have anything that might be a clue?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I have this." Ariana took out the heavy gold necklace. Even in the morning light, the rubies glittered brightly.
"I think I have seen a necklace like this before in my books." Hermione said. "Does it have powers?"
"It regulates my emotions. It keeps my magic under control." Ariana said.
"I know where I have seen this before! Veelas wear this necklace." Hermione said. "They can use this to reduce their auras."
"Veela! Grindelwald has tried to attack the Delacours directly. How old was the man?" Harry said.
"Perhaps in his 60s." Ariana said.
"That's the connection. It was the Delacour family that killed Grindelwald." Harry said.
Harry sat in the Room of Requirement. He had discovered the room in Second Year, when his classmates had accused him of being the Heir to Slytherin simply because he could talk to snakes. In the two years that followed, it was a sanctuary, a place he could hide away from the glare of his titles and rank. Hermione, with the help of Crookshanks and Hedwig, had been the only one to discover his safe haven.
Hermione was here with him. She deserved to be, Harry thought. He had only known her for two months, but he felt more comfortable with her than anyone in the school, even those he had known for all four years. She had stood him in the First Task, and had uncovered Umbridge's crimes at the Ball. Even now, she waited patiently, rather than trying to probe him for more details. Harry knew that he could trust her, and that counted for a great deal.
He finished casting multiple privacy charms. The room had changed to hold a large ornate oak table with multiple comfortable chairs. He was holding Hermione's hand when the door opened. Ariana Dumbledore walked through accompanies by the Potters and the Delacours. Fleur had come with her parents, but Sirius and Nymphadora Black were watching Gabrielle, Rose and Jack.
Harry gestured for the adults to sit down. Ariana sat at his left, and Hermione at his right. Harry began. "I called you here today because we have discovered something important." Ariana took our her necklace. "Have you seen this before?" The question was directed at the Delacours.
Apolline Delacour gasped. "That was my mother's necklace. I remember it from the pictures of their wedding. But how do you have it?" she asked.
"It was a gift I received in 1899." Ariana said.
"Madame Delacour - what happened to your mother and father?" Harry asked.
The confusion on Madame Delacour was obvious. "I — I don't recall." Her face twisted in shock, and she grabbed her head in her hands. "My mother died when I was young. Very young. But my father. He disappeared, and he told me something. But I cannot remember."
Monsieur Delacour and Fleur tried to comfort the befuddled witch. Fleur hissed. "Harry, why are you doing this?"
"Because the truth is painful. Madame Delacour's father travelled back in time. He gave the necklace to Ariane right before he killed Grindelwald. He disrupted the time line. Credence Barebone or Aurelius Dumbledore was supposed to have met Grindelwald in the 1920s. He couldn't because Grindelwald was dead. Only when Grindelwald returned, could Aurelius fulfill his destiny — so he jumped in time 70 years later. So instead of Grindelwald being dealt with decades ago, he and Aurelius are both now in our time." Harry said.
"I remember my mother now. Her name was Oriane. She was killed when I was 2 - by Grindelwald's knights. They bombed Paris near the end of the war." Apolline said. "My father never fully recovered. He mourned her for his entire life."
"Your father went back for revenge. But he did not know that Gellert Grindelwald could revive himself. He also had no idea about Aurelius and his destiny." Harry said.
"But this is incredible." Fleur said. "There are time turners but they go back for a few hours. How could he possibly go back a hundred years?"
"The evidence fits though. A time stream can be disrupted but it attempts to heal itself. If your grandfather killed Grindelwald, then that would cause huge ripples. All our lives, possibly the entire magical world might be different." Lily said.
"I am sorry. I cannot recall anything else, Lord Black." Apolline said.
"Your memories have been affected. We cannot remember anything about our past lives but Death can. I have seen flashes of the other world in my Cloak, and through Aurelius." Harry said.
"My father gave me a pensive. It is at Potter Manor. It might have my memories." Apolline said.
"Please get it, Madame Delacour. We need to know the truth." Harry said.
The Potter House Elf returned with the pensieve soon after the orders were given. The look of apprehension on Apolline's face was understandable. Harry used his occlumency to calm himself down. The Delacours would view the memories first but he wondered what it would mean for him. With a gulp, Madame Delacour walked into the pensieve, accompanied by her husband.
As they waited, Lily and James huddled together. The Potter family looked sad, Hermione thought. She wanted to comfort her boyfriend but he paced back and forth. Hermione didn't understand the magical world - not completely - but she did understand Harry. Behind his veneer of calm, something greatly bothered him, and she didn't know how she could reach him.
The Delacours returned ten minutes later, their faces pale and wan.
"What did you see?" Harry said.
"You were right - Lord Black. Apolline's father, the Comte De Montesquieu did go back to 1899. He had created some sort of ritual with the help of the French Unspeakables. He expected to die after killing Grindelwald." Monsieur Delacour said.
"How are the worlds different?" Harry asked.
"Grindelwald fought a long war from 1930 to 1945. That was the First Wizard War. Voldemort rose much earlier in the 1970s. That was the Second Wizard War." Apolline's eyes were red with tears. She looked at Harry somberly. "I am so so sorry. You were the Boy Who Lived. Voldemort attacked your family when you were a baby. Your parents died, and you killed him."
"And what happened to me? Did anyone know?" Harry asked.
"You disappeared for ten years. No one knew where you were." Apolline answered.
The tears broke through Harry's occlumency. It is all true - the visions. Voldemort had slain his mum and dad. He defeated him, but was sentenced to ten long and hard years - to be abused, and forgotten.
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"I know it iz very sad but you are still a hero." Fleur said.
"It is much more than that." Lily said. She hugged her son tightly as James looked on awkwardly.
"You have seen this before." Apolline said.
"Yes, Death has shown this to me - twice now. And she showed me more." Harry gently released his mom and wiped the tears away from his face. "I didn't know what was real and what was false. But it is clear now. Our world isn't real - it is a distortion. In the true world, I grew up as an orphan. My sister and brother were never born. And I know what happened to me." Harry said.
"Harry, even if that is true, you should see the memories. Perhaps there is something that could help." Hermione said.
"You are right, Hermione. Madame Delacour, could we look into the pensieve?" Harry asked. She nodded. Harry took Hermione's hand and jumped in.
Hermione looked at a dark castle, high up in the mountains. She saw several wizards wearing thick overcoats and derby hats hiding in the shadows as they crept closer to the fortress. She turned to whisper to Harry.
"You can speak normally, Hermione. They can't hear us. We are in the memories of the Delacour family."
An enormous bolt of lightning struck down, and several wizards died, as they were electrocuted. The remaining wizards retreated, as lights could be seen from the highest tower of the castle.
"Where are we, Harry?"
"That is Nurmengard Castle. Grindelwald must have built us in the 1930s. These memories are probably from Fleur's grandfather, the Comte."
The scene shifted. They were outdoors under a blue sky. There were rows of white chairs on either side of a golden white carpet. White and gold flowers, golden balloons, and white ribbons decorated the festive grounds and the carpet ended under a white wedding canopy, held up by 4 poles, adorned with green vines and red roses and topped with a crown of white flowers. A wedding march played as wizards and witches began to fill the seats. Hermione noticed that the wizards on the right side were all gorgeous and bore a close resemblance to Fleur Delacour.
An elegant tall man waited under the carpet, his aristocratic face bearing a huge smile. A veiled woman strode down the carpet, in a lovely white and gold dress. She flipped off her veil, and kissed the man in the face, as the crowd roared their approval. The priest chuckled and began to recite the vows.
"That must be the Comte and Apolline's mother on their wedding day." Hermione said.
Harry and Hermione found themselves in a ragged city, with men and women darting around mostly empty streets. Everywhere there were signs of fear and desolation in the faces of hungry children and frightened adults. A klaxon rang, and people rushed home. They were next to a giant arch with friezes of soldiers on every side. Twelve large avenues radiated from the arch into long boulevards as far as the eye could see.
"Harry, we must be in Paris. This is the Arc de Triomphe, where the French would march after victories."
"There doesn't seem like much to celebrate now." Harry said. The city was deserted with only a few night patrols. Far off, they could hear the faint sounds of muggle gunfire.
"Harry, Paris was occupied for most of World War II. If there is gunfire, it could be the liberation." Hermione said.
Slowly the city began to wake up. Lights flickered on, and citizens crept out, singing and humming. Then Harry saw him. His white hair and mustache stood out in the dark sky and he was flying, not on a broom, but rather a platform. Dark wizards on brooms accompanied him, but all eyes were on Gellert Grindewald.
The wizard raised his right arm and motes of fire sprang from the Elder Wand. The specks grew and grew into blue globes of flame, rushing to meet the ground. They smashed into buildings and streets, setting fires and sowing chaos. Faster and faster, Gellert swung the wand, shooting the sparks in wide arcs. Harry and Hermione took cover. The songs turned into screams as Paris began to burn.
"I don't remember the Germans destroying Paris in the history books." Hermione said. "Could this be a different history?"
"Maybe he targeted the wizards only." Harry gripped his wand.
"There is nothing we can do. This is a memory - it already happened." Hermione said. They watched an enraged Grindelwald rampage through the city. No one would save his victims.
Harry and Hermione exited the pensieve. They saw memories involving Grindelwald, but none of Voldemort. The Delacours were affected far more by the European war than the British one, and they saw the Comte de Montesquieu's experiences during the fighting.
"What did you see, Lord Black?" Apolline asked.
'I saw a failed attack on Nurmengard. I saw a wedding — your father and mother. And I saw Paris burning." Harry said.
"My mother died in Paris. Grindelwald set the city on flame when it was clear he had lost." Apolline said.
"I am sorry, Madame Delacour." Harry said. "There was little of Voldemort - can you tell more?"
"I do not know much — I was in France and the bloodshed was in England. But I know this. Voldemort was as dangerous and perhaps even evil than Grindelwald. He murdered whole families and forced people to betray their friends. Grindelwald wanted to conquer Europe. He fought like a general, conquering cities and countries. Voldemort wanted power over everyone, and would resort to dreadful things to gain that control." Apolline said.
"So the Second Wizard War was as bad as the First one?" Harry asked.
"Perhaps worse. It was confined to Britain mostly, so it affected less people. Before you defeated Voldemort, England was in a state of terror. They were so afraid of him they would not even dare to use his name. He was a sadistic bastard, willing to torture and sacrifice even his followers." Apolline said.
"Wonderful." Harry said. A thought struck him. "Do you know if he had returned from the dead in that world?"
"I did not even knew he was alive. There were rumors of course but most people believed you had killed him. If he had come back, then perhaps he was already plotting in the shadows. Certainly the Beauxbatons School had no knowledge of any danger in England." Apolline said.
"Even if he was in the shadows — he would only be there for a reason. I have met Riddle. He enjoys dominating others. He wants others to kneel before him. He became Minister in this world because he wants power." Harry said.
"What should we do, Lord Black?" asked Monsieur Delacour.
"For now, I would ask that you not speak of this, not even to Madame Bones. I need to think about how to confront Grindelwald and Voldemort. I can't face them in open battle, and both of them are very powerful - certainly stronger than I am. They have both returned from the dead, and we don't know how to stop that." Harry said.
"Harry, what about the Hallows?" Lily asked. "Is there any way to use them against the Dark Lords?"
"Possibly. Although the Elder Wand in Grindelwald's hand may neutralize that. But it may be our best shot."