Harry then knew it wasn't like the memories just appeared. It, in a way, felt like it was always there. His mind had just hidden it, and Truth revealed them. Memories of talking to a snake named Sasha and crying when she had to leave him.
He recalled thoughts of rage when he was younger. He felt the hate his younger self felt for his relatives. Strategies for leaving that seemed way too advanced for his average brain. He was cunning, he was ambitious, and he was knowledgeable.
He hated being treated the way he was. He disliked impulsiveness; he was the smartest in his classes. He had hidden that after realizing the Dursleys would punish him. He had spent days on end in the library reading just for fun.
Most of what was taken from him appeared to be thoughts. His personality had been completely ripped from him. He remembered reading History of Magic, remembered knowing the answer to Snape's question. The sorting hat had been right; he would have done great in Slytherin.
Harry looked back up at Truth. He didn't know if he wanted to cry or scream. "Who?" Even though Harry hadn't said anything else, Truth knew what he referred to.
"Albus Dumbledore. It was all for the greater good; in his eyes, who you were was a good sacrifice. Too bad he died before he could see your failure. You failed because of him." Harry decided he rather scream, the rage having overridden the emotional pain.
And he did, he screamed. It was a loud heartbreaking thing, a cry of unfairness and anger. Harry felt violated, robbed. The most crucial part of himself, manipulated into what Dumbledore wanted. He would make the man pay; he swore he would. The darkness of the thought shocked him.
Fate must have had caught his errant thought because she opened her mouth to comment. "Harry, revenge is sweet when it is done. But not long after, it becomes sour. Trust me, Harry." Harry thought it would be wise to listen; it didn't make the darkness in him happy.
"Also, I should tell you one last thing...The Horcrux was destroyed when you died." Harry had learned what they were. He had been on a mission to destroy them to defeat Voldemort. It all seemed useless now; he was dead.
The news that one was gone still made him feel a little better. It was the most horrifying bit of magic he'd ever seen. But he didn't know how a Horcrux could be destroyed with his death. All he knew was that Voldemort had caught them soon after Ron abandoned them.
He was caught by Death Eaters, and they dragged both him and Hermione to their master. He didn't know what happened to Hermione because soon after, Voldemort cast the damned spell. And Harry ended up here.
"What Horcrux?" He asked Fate. Her face twisted in confusion, then realization.
"Oh, Harry...You didn't know? That man held more from you than I thought." She was shaking her head; she was shaky. Like she was preparing to say something, he just wanted her to spit it out.
"What don't I know?" Fate nibbled at her lip; the gnawing showed she was hesitant to say. "Tell me!" He had shouted it; he didn't want to be lied to anymore. He regretted it immediately, especially when Truth's eyes went red.
"Watch it human, remember who has the power here." He had almost forgotten about him. He kind of just blended in with the environment. But now he was apparent, hovering over Fate like some kind of dark presence.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout..." Truth's eye faded from red, more of an orange now. Harry imagined he would be pursing his lips if he had lips. Fate closed her eyes, sighing wildly.
"It's alright, Harry, you've been through a lot. I forgive you, but I cannot reveal what you want to know. I believe my dearest sister Destiny would not be thrilled. If you already do not know, you were meant to find out for yourself."
Harry was, of course, disappointed, but he wouldn't make another scene. He felt like Truth wouldn't be as forgiving the second time. So, he just nodded to her. He was glad to see a smile on her face again, no matter how forced it was.
"I'm sorry to say goodbye to you, but it is time for you to go. I wish you well, Harry..." He was alarmed; he had no idea what she meant.
"What do you mean? Where will I go?" She smiled, the lines on her face taunt. Fate was most likely annoyed with him by this point.
"Never in my life have I ever met a human being so- Oh, Harry, you must continue. I've given you all I can, now you must do. I trust you'll complete your destiny. After that, your free." Harry was still befuddled; she never told him what his destiny was.
"But what is my destiny?" His curse green eyes stared at her black ones; he was determined to know.
"You must defeat Voldemort..." With that, she snapped her fingers, and everything went dark.
Severe pain in his head and a hand smacking the door woke him. He felt he hadn't even opened his eyes, the only light leaking from the bottom of a door.
"Up. Get up." A nasal voice hissed, followed by another smack.
"Now!" He could recognize that voice anywhere. It had been ingrained in his head for fifteen plus years. What was his aunt doing slamming on a door? Then he noticed he was in a cramped space, one also easily recognizable.
The cupboard under the stairs. The last time he had been in here, he didn't even know about Hogwarts. Had he been sent back in time? He supposed that he shouldn't be surprised since he just died and had a lovely chat with some celestial beings.
He hears someone large storm down the stairs, stops, and then runs back to the spot right over his head. Indeed Dudley, no one else sprung to his mind.
"WAKE UP, WE'RE GOING TO THE ZOO!" Those words made him remember what day he was brought to. Dudley's birthday, but why? Why specifically now? They could have sent him back to any point in time, but they choose to send him here.
He supposed he shouldn't question beings literally named 'Fate' and 'Truth'. A sudden surge of anger rose out of nowhere. Why back to these horrible muggles? He pushed the offense down. He felt he hadn't caught a wink of sleep and didn't want to deal with the fresh feelings just yet.
He grabbed his glasses and put on the smallest pair of Dudley's clothes he could find. It still hung off him like a curtain. He opened the cupboard door, having to squint because of the difference in light. He glided into the kitchen, unusually graceful.
A horse-like woman turned toward him from her fawning over a chubby boy. Her face pinched when she saw him. Her blond hair delicately curled, a pink tint on her thin lips. Her pale eyes were full of hate like she looked at a piece of dung on the road.
"Why don't you just cook the breakfast and try not to burn anything." A nasty sneer on her face, along with the sour tone. She didn't even regard him after, turning to 'Dudkins' once more. Dudley had a snarky grin on his face, one Harry so wished to slap off.
And oh Vernon, not one bit different. Maybe a tad bit more of that dark bushy mustache, a little less grey. But he was still a big, beefy man. And the unpleasantly purple tone of skin, which only darkened when he got angry. He sat at the table right near them, reading a newspaper.
'Oh, how I missed this.' An errant thought, Harry chuckled. Petunia must have heard because she turned right back around. The whole house had a similar vibe, perfection. Everything had to be perfect. And the kitchen was surely not spared from the scrutiny of Petunia.
Not a single speck of dust was allowed; Harry had the calluses to prove it. The garden was held to the highest standards, though. It was people's first impressions, and Petunia always said the first impression was the most important one. He was drawn back to the fact he laughed when Vernon spoke.
"Something funny, boy?" There was no urge to speak up. The Gryffindor bravery didn't even try to manifest itself. He just shook his head; no need to enact revenge now. The Dursley's went back to doing a fine job of acting like he didn't exist.
He made sure their eggs were a little undercooked. Maybe if he was lucky, they'd get salmonella. He wouldn't cross his fingers though, Potter luck always tended to evade him when he most needed it. Dudley, of course, started complaining about his present amount.
It was like watching a memory all over again; the only difference was that now he knew. He wouldn't make any of the same mistakes; he swore upon it. Maybe he'd make new ones, but at least they'd be his own choice. Not the manipulation of an old man.
Harry overheard the Dursley's talking about Ms. Figg and her broken leg. He didn't even add when they said if they left him, he would break everything. He knew they would decide to drag him off to the zoo once again. Some things just couldn't be changed.
This will get better I promise! I can't believe so many people hopped on this already! I guess this community is more active than I thought...
-Lemon Nugget