To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, perhaps Weasley bashing, possible time paradox.
'What if we fail again?' Hermione thought, horrified. 'What if one of us suddenly vanishes from the sight and is gone? Oh well, if it's me, I won't even know it, but if it was Harry, I wouldn't want to be alive without him.' She cast Harry an unobtrusive look, tears welling in her eyes at the mere thought. 'Oh well, in the worst case, I could still go back in time, even if I wouldn't know what to do without him.'
She was brought back to reality, when they entered the founders' quarters.
HP
Harry and Hermione introduced Minerva to Rowena, Helga and Salazar, before they motioned her to take a seat on one of the sofas that had replaced the ancient sofa, which they had used so often in the past.
"We have taken our NEWTs in Alchemy, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Music, Magical Arts, Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Healing, Divination, Magical Chemistry, Laser Magic and Magical Technics," Hermione explained, giving Harry a thoughtful look. "That doesn't necessarily qualify us to teach these subjects," she added, reasonably.
Harry nodded in agreement. "I would neither feel comfortable teaching Music nor Divination, and I don't think that it would be adequate to teach something like Laser magic or Magical Technics in this time," he added, sighing. 'Even if Magical Technics is what interests me most,' he thought to himself.
"Well, let's commence from the beginning," Minerva replied in apparent excitement. "We don't have Alchemy classes at all. Would you be willing to teach Alchemy, for example, to the NEWT students?"
"We could," Hermione said, pensively, "however, we should not teach more than let's say five students, and it should be under certain conditions, for example, for the five students who received best marks in their OWLs."
"Agreed," Minerva replied with apparent eagerness. "I shall speak to the headmaster about it."
"There is no need to speak with him," Godric spoke up from the portrait, smirking.
"And why might that be?" Minerva asked, strictly. "He's the headmaster after all."
"Not anymore," Godric admitted, grinning broadly, "because I just dismissed him."
"You dismissed the headmaster?" Minerva and Hermione enquired, simultaneously, causing Harry to chuckle at their similar, horrified expressions.
"Either Harry and Hermione or you, Minnie, would better be able to lead the school than him," Godric announced, matter-of-factly.
"Godric," Harry groaned in annoyance. "You know that Mione and I need to become the heads of Evans house."
"Minerva?" Hermione spoke up in a soft voice, "would you be willing to become the headmistress, or do you prefer to teach Transfiguration?"
Minerva smiled. "Thank you for asking," she then said. "In fact, I'd prefer to continue teaching Transfiguration and remain the deputy headmistress."
"Very well, then Harry and Hermione will just have to share both the headmaster's and the head of house positions," Rowena spoke up from the portrait, matter-of-factly. "Since you share the positions, one of you could still teach Alchemy and the other just a few classes of Magical Arts."
Harry and Hermione hesitantly agreed. "Minerva," Harry said in a firm voice, "please help us over the beginning, as neither of us has any experience what it means to be the headmaster or headmistress let alone teach classes."
"I suggest," Minerva replied, smiling, "that you take over the headmaster's position right away and only take over the head of house position and begin to teach Alchemy at the beginning of the next school year. That gives you some time to get used to everything."
They agreed on the suggested solution, and Hermione began to scribble notes onto a parchment of what else they had to do during the following six months.
"Harry," she spoke up, thoughtfully, "do you think we could somehow make my mother do enough accidental magic for her to receive her Hogwarts letter? She would become a first year at the same time as your parents."
Harry looked at his wife, wide-eyed. "If that's possible, it would be just amazing," he blurted out in delight. "Let's try anyway."
"Sal and I will think of something," Godric promised in apparent amusement.
"What do you know about your mother?" Salazar enquired, giving Hermione a sharp look.
Hermione cast Harry a questioning look, causing him to quirk an eyebrow in silent question.
"She loves books," Hermione replied, shrugging helplessly.
"Do you know where your grandparents are living at this time?" Harry enquired.
Hermione nodded, smiling.
"That's easy then," Salazar stated, grinning, only to promise, "We'll think of something."
"Don't make them do anything criminal," Minerva told the ancient wizard, who merely raised an eyebrow in return.
"Thank you, Sal and Godric," Hermione replied, smiling, and Harry could sense her excitement through the bond.
HP
During the afternoon, Harry and Hermione made plans how to most efficiently implement some features of Magical Arts into Hogwarts. By the time Minerva returned to invite them for dinner in the Great Hall, stating that Albus Dumbledore had already vacated his office and his private quarters, they had already decided on a few spots to implement their work.
"We intend to imply some magical arts into Hogwarts," they informed Minerva and explained how they wished to add ceiling paintings with the respective house symbols as well as cats and birds to the five common rooms. "The birds will have a cooling function when necessary, and the felines serve to soothe the students' mood," Hermione explained, smiling.
"Other than that, we plan to equip the entrance hall with a ceiling painting," Harry took over. "We haven't decided on the motive yet, however, we wish to integrate dogs into it as a safety feature. Perhaps, we could still find some other places to add canines to the ceilings or walls."
Minerva smiled, even if she did not seem overly convinced. "I didn't even know that such a thing was possible at all," she admitted, smiling, when Hermione and Harry assured her that it was not only possible but extremely useful indeed. "Perhaps some dogs, cats and birds in your new office would be worth considering," she then suggested, and the newly made headmaster and headmistress immediately agreed.
HP
During dinner in the Great Hall, Minerva introduced them to their colleagues as Merlin and Morgana and the successors of Albus Dumbledore.
Only Theresa and Poppy Pomfrey were present as well as a very young-looking Pomona Sprout and Filius Flitwick.
"Everyone else has returned to their families over Christmas," Minerva informed them, smiling.
"Oh well, Professors Trelawney and Slughorn are in the castle, however, they never attend any meal during the holidays," Theresa added, grimly.
"Trelawney?" Hermione blurted out in obvious surprise.
"Cassandra Trelawney, the Divination teacher," Minerva explained, grimly. "She is going to retire at the end of the school year though."
"That's good, because from that point onwards, we won't have Divination as a subject anymore," Harry added, decisively. "Either you are a Seer or you aren't, but there is no way to learn how to become one."
"Exactly," Hermione immediately voiced her opinion.
"Thank Merlin," Minerva added, causing Theresa and Poppy to chuckle.
"I'm sure we're going to miss the never-ending fights between her and you," Poppy said, grinning.
'I'd love to tell Theresa who we are and why we know her so well,' Harry thought to Hermione.
'Then let's do that some time in private,' Hermione replied, casting him an unobtrusive smile. 'We're not Nicholas' subordinates but have our own personalities, and we've finished our apprenticeships anyway.'
'You're right as always,' Harry replied, returning a small nod of appreciation at his clever wife.
HP
After dinner, they accompanied Minerva to Godric's old office, which looked much more modern than they knew it from the past, almost like they remembered it from Dumbledore's office in their old future - except for Fawkes' perch and the glassy devices on the shelves, which were missing now.
'Oh right, Fawkes was his familiar in our old future, but he will never become his familiar this time around, because he belongs to us,' Harry thought to his wife in absolute amusement.
'Yes,' Hermione agreed, smiling.
"Well, this is your office now," Minerva informed them. "I trust that you're familiar with it?"
"Yes, we know it from the years of the founding of Hogwarts as well as 1601 and from our old future," Hermione replied, casting the witch, who had been her favourite professor during the year, in which they had attended Hogwarts as first-years, a broad smile.
Harry conjured a perch like the one that Dumbldore had used in his old future, before he called Fawkes. "Is this to your liking?" he enquired, smiling when Fawkes immediately made himself comfortable on the perch, looking down at the Sorting Hat, who was sitting on his traditional spot, on which Godric had kept him in his office.
"Hello Sopho," Harry greeted the Hat, smirking, as he recalled Boy's prank on the ancient artefact.
"Hello busybody apprentices," Sopho replied, haughtily fluffing his brim. "I could use another refreshment potion at your earliest convenience."
"That you will get," Harry replied, "provided that you do us a few favours with the upcoming Sorting for the next school year."
Sopho nodded in apparent understanding, causing Minerva to stare from the Hat to them in apparent surprise.
They all stared at the painting of Godric in surprise, when the founder suddenly began to speak from the portrait and told Minerva everything about their prank on the Sorting Hat.
"Godric, what happened to your portrait?" Harry asked, horrified upon noticing that it was so completely scratched that he could barely see his friend.
"That was Dumbledore's cat," Godric informed them, causing everyone to stare at the new portrait of Albus Dumbledore in disdain.
"We will remedy this," Harry decided and waved his hand around the room.
An instant later, a life-size portrait of their four co-founders replaced the single portraits of the former headmasters.
"Well done, Harry. That's much better," Godric was the first to speak, and Hermione and Minerva immediately agreed.
"I wouldn't want Dumbledore to spy on us anyway," Harry replied, matter-of-factly, before he motioned Hermione and Minerva to take seats. "I believe that we have to discuss what the headmaster's work entails, as neither Hermione nor I have a clue," he added, sheepishly.
"I suggest that you go on and bond the house-elves to the two of you," Minerva suggested. "That is the most important if you don't trust Albus to have your best interest in mind. As to the paperwork, I will show you a few things tomorrow."
HP
First thing on Christmas morning, Harry and Hermione made their way to the house of Hermione's grandparents. Invisibly, they popped right into the house and explored the living room to decide on an exact plan, glad to realise that everyone seemed to still be asleep.
'Everything looks just like I remember it,' Hermione thought, looking around the house in amazement. 'I can't wait to see Mum as a little girl.'
Noticing a pile of presents under the large Christmas tree, which occupied the centre of the room, she pulled the copy of the book 'Hogwarts: A History' out of her robe pocket, which she had bought for that purpose on the previous day. It was wrapped in colourful paper, and Emma's name was written on the tag. She smiled, as she placed it next to the other gifts under the tree.
Harry, who had quietly observed his wife in apparent amusement, let his eyes wander over to the opposite wall, which was completely covered by bookshelves that reached from the floor to the ceiling. Hermione followed his gaze and lost herself in memories of herself being a little girl who had seen fit to summon three books out of the highest shelf using accidental magic to look at all of them at once. 'That was on a Christmas Day around twenty years into the future,' she thought. 'I wonder if it will even occur this time. If Mum knows that she's a witch, several things might happen completely differently. Perhaps, she won't even marry Dad this time around. What if I won't even exist in this new timeline though?' She was completely lost in thoughts, when Harry's thoughts suddenly penetrated her mind.
'The bookshelf over there is the exact spot,' he thought to her, grinning, just when the excited voice of a child from upstairs penetrated their ears. They quickly transformed into the unobtrusive forms of two flies, choosing a comfortable seat on the top of a photo frame on the wall opposite the bookshelf.
HP
They still had to wait for almost thirty minutes, before a very excited girl ran into the room, followed by her parents. They observed the girl unwrap her presents for a while. 'Perhaps, we should do it, before she unwraps Hogwarts: A History,' Harry thought to Hermione, who replied positively.
'Emma reminds me of Hermione, when she was ten,' Harry thought in amusement, while Hermione invisibly flew down onto the floor and transformed into her human form. An instant later, the bookshelf on the opposite wall caught fire.
"No!" Emma's mother was the first to shout, and her husband swiftly ran to fetch the fire extinguisher.
However, Emma looked up from the present she was just unwrapping and glared at the fire, looking extremely upset. With a loud "Nooo!" the flames vanished into thin air, and the bookshelf was as good as new. Staring at the shelf in apparent relief, Emma let herself sink onto the floor and let out a loud sigh.
'That went well,' Hermione thought to Harry. 'Let's leave.'
HP
From Hermione's grandparents' house, Harry and Hermione made their way to muggle London, where they spent a few quiet hours walking through the snow, holding hands.
Only on time for Christmas dinner, they returned to Hogwarts and joined Minerva and their colleagues in the Great Hall, surprised that no students seemed to have remained at Hogwarts over the holidays.
"Albus is gone from Hogwarts?" an older wizard, whom Harry and Hermione recognised from Harry's visions as Professor Slughorn, spoke up in apparent shock.
They were equally shocked, however, when the professor announced, "In that case, I will retire as of today."
"May we ask you to remain at least until the end of the school year?" Hermione asked in a soft voice, while Harry's thoughts went haywire.
"I don't think so," the older wizard replied, smirking. "If you saw fit to dismiss Professor Dumbledore on the spot, you surely won't need a Potions Master either."
"That's fine," Harry said in a firm voice. "Please vacate your rooms by tonight. Just tell us one thing." Seeing that Slughorn looked at him in clear expectation, he asked, "Have you taught Tom Riddle how to make Horcruxes?"
'What are you playing at?' Hermione thought to her husband, when Slughorn muttered something incomprehensible and hurriedly took his leave. 'We're not exactly Potions Masters, and even if we could teach classes, Poppy and Theresa will need someone to brew their stock.'
'Are you a time-traveller witch or not?' Harry thought back in amusement. 'Tonight, we're going to visit our friends in the past. I'm sure Sal will be able to help us take the Potions Mastery as soon as possible. As we don't visibly age due to the elixir, no one will be the wiser.'
'All right, under one condition,' Hermione thought back, making Harry quirk an eyebrow at her in silent question.
'When we're back, we're going to remain in this time for a few years,' Hermione thought back. 'Working in the headmaster's office would give us the opportunity to look after one or two little ones,' she added, smiling.
'You want children?' Harry replied, wide-eyed.
'Don't you?' Hermione returned the question.
"Of course," Harry blurted out aloud, giving his wife a bright smile.
"How convenient that our new headmaster and headmistress are able to converse telepathically," Theresa spoke up, looking at them in apparent amusement.
"Sorry," Harry and Hermione apologized, simultaneously.
"Perhaps it's time for me to retire as well," Theresa added, sighing.
"No, please don't," Harry replied, quickly.
"You are very much needed here," Hermione added in a soft voice.
HP
After dinner, Harry and Hermione invited Minerva and together, they visited Poppy and Theresa Pomfrey in the hospital wing.
Knowing that the two healers were bound to their healers' oaths, they did not ask for an oath to keep their secrets but simply told them about themselves and about their connection to Theresa and Poppy in their former future.
"Poppy was so extremely happy to have you back that we believe it would be better if you remained at Hogwarts in the first place," Harry finally said, only to add, "provided that you wish to remain."
"Let me just add that you were a wonderful teacher and enabled us to become the apprentices of the ancients in the first place," Hermione added, smiling at the older witch.
"Well, in that case, I'll just have to stay I suppose," Theresa muttered, returning the smile.
"A wonderful decision, and I appreciate it as well," Minerva said, warmly.
HP
When Harry and Hermione went to bed that night, they felt much more reassured than during the previous days.
"Everything seems to be going well so far," Hermione breathed, when she cuddled close into his arms.
"That's true," Harry agreed, thinking, 'The only thing that I don't have a clue what to do about is Voldemort. What are we supposed to do about him?'
For the first time since their arrival in their new present, he had a vision, as soon as he drifted off to sleep.
tbc...
A huge thanks to the kind reviewers, who are still interested in this story. Please let me know what you thought about this chapter and what you expect from the new future.
Next chapter: "Fate's threat".