DECLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter nor its characters. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 4

Tales of Another Time

It was the weekend before the Christmas. Most of the students were staying at the castle, as it was safer than outside. The ministry had crated a strict regulation for travelling measures, so the Hogwarts train would only be available for the end of the year. Floo Travel was closed with a few exceptions. Side-apparition was forbitten, and Portkeys were only given by the ministry after a long procedure of permissions and security checks. The previous Hogsmeade trip had been cancel for 'security reasons', and after long discussions, the Board of Governors were able to provide a visit to the village for student's off age. This had the oldest students, excited to finally be leaving the grounds of the school, and getting some shopping before the Holidays.

It had been a lonely year without the Weasleys, but the Ministry had an eye on Arthur, fir being part of the Order, and kept track on every family member in the country. Ron and Ginny were being tutored at home and self studying, and a ministry employee went to evaluate them once a month. As understanding as it was, what bothered Harry the most was that Ron hadn't write him even once. And he was able to send posts, because he kept in touch with Hermione, but it was never directed to him. It was like summer never occurred. All empty promises of helping found the Horcruxes, but as soon as going against the Ministry was involved, they turn around with their tail around their legs.

He suppose Umbridge would kept the locket and will never be destroy. It didn't matter that he find the other three. That one would still be out of his hands. It was bad enough that he was stuck at Hogwarts, the D.A. was completely dissolve, no one wanted to get into trouble. And Hermione had told him to 'leave it in the adult's hands', while she concentrated on her NEWTS.

It has been the loneliest year of his life. He was no longer the Poster Boy for the light side. After Dumbledore's dismiss, everyone had gone into panic and thought there was no point in turning to a seventeen years old boy. Instead, he was completely ignored, dismissed like a little kid, and force to attend classes like all the others. No one would listen to him about Voldemort, no one told him anything, and he just sat back and stared as they fought each other. And that is when things went to wreck.

Rufus Scrimgeour had taken the power and crated his own version of Nazi Germany. He was like a lion, and not only because of his mane. He ruled with fear and complete control. He distrusted anyone who had ever worked with Dumbledore and disbanded the Order. There was no contact about them, unless strict business. Sadly, it wasn't so much the control of the order, as their own members felt lost without Dumbledore and decided to give up and follow the ministry's ordeals. Scrimgeour believe that he was the one responsible to lead everyone into safety, it had to be the ministry who will defeat the dark side.

Tired of having to confront 'imperio allegations', many were capture and first and interrogated later. It was a danger to simply be wandering around the streets, as you could be considered to be up to no good. If one was not going directly to work or home, they were consider possible enemies. Most procedures needed explicit permission from high rank ministry employees, which was vey difficult to get. Out side of Diagon Alley, aurors patrolled the streets checking all the merchandise. They were allowed to force someone into reveling all their belongings on their person at the moment. Anyone whispering or having private conversations in the open, were considered to be planning an attack. Entrance to the ministry had higher defenses, most communications were controlled and impossible to do. However, the dark side must have had their own methods because they still got away with a few things.

The amount of aurors and Death Eaters had increased, because they had constant battles out in the open, a great amount of death and injuries, and the war keep going. Kids at Hogwarts were suffering for their lack of communication with their parents, whether be light side or dark side. It didn't matter anymore

It was worst than when Umbridge had Hogwarts under her control. While withing the castle they could act as they wanted, there was no much contact to the outside world. Harry never had a family who sent him letters, so he didn't feel it as much. But the pure bloods, used to have their parents answer at any second, felt like string of life support being cut among them.

As the weekend approach, the older kids were finally allowed some contact with the outside world. As long as their parent's requested permissions, and after a content check on their persona, they were allowed to see their kids at the village. Around twenty Aurors surveilled the area, making sure no one contacted Death Eaters.

It was a snowy day, a warm charm on his cloth wasn't enough to protect one from the freezing breeze that make one feel like their ears were about to fall off. Hagrid's last birthday present was perfect for the occasion, a great fenghuan feathered coat, woven with enchantments and charms in every fiber.

Neville kept tripping over his long double-sided coat. Seamus carried a jar with blue fire, and every few minutes it needed being fueled, he overpowered it a few times, and almost burned himself. Dean at his side, kept throwing shield charms and protecting spells at his robes. At least Dean didn´t look quite bad as Seamus. The burns and ashes on his faces were barely visible in his dark features. Seamus, on the other hand, was spotting patches of baldness in his head. His cloth had been was ragged as most spells dissolved after continue reaction to fire. This led him to start shivering and fueling more the fire. A couple of the Gryffindor girls were using multi-colored and decorated scarfs and hats, gushing over their shopping. Hermione was nowhere in sight, probably in a corner on the library studying the new ministry laws and applying for apprenticeships for the following year.

Everyone kept to their own business and didn't pay any mind to Harry, who walked to the stationary shop to get some supplies. A shadow moved behind the building, a hooded student. Inside the store, Harry looked through the window and recognized Draco´s blond hair. In his hands he carried his Nimbus 3000. It was rusty, he had lost last Quidditch game against Slytherin, since then he had been bragging about bringing the new Super Veloz 96 broom for the next game. It seemed like he was about to keep his promise against them. Next game would be the first week of January, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Harry had given up the Capitan Position to Corman, but he was still the seeker. He wasn´t up for training a bunch of inexperience kids, must of the team had graduated or left school, and the current team consisted of third and fourth years.

From afar he saw Neville meeting with his Grandma, Zabini was getting some packages from her mother been inspected by the aurors. Susan Bones was by the Three Broomsticks, meeting with whom he believe to be some distant relatives, probably to organize some of her departed aunt business. Behind the Hogshead, Erick McMillan had gone with Seamus and Dean on their way to get some sweets. It seemed everyone had some to be with.

As he bought his new set of quills, ink, and parchments, he looked again at the windows and saw Malfoy Sr. by the fountain, signaling his son to approach. He has a broom shaped package in his hands, what seemed like a box of sweets, and a couple of letters. Aurors around him were looking at him with intrigue. He hadn´t been seen in public for a long time and no illicit nor suspicious activities were connected to him. However, because he had been found at the ministry the time Voldemort came out, even though a year later had been absolve of all charges; they still kept an eye on him.

Malfoy had been mostly quite regarding the war that year. After his fail attempt at Dumbledore last year, he had try to avoid at all being involved in the death eaters business. Most didn't realize this, as well as no one either believe he had even disarmed Dumbledore. They truly believe he could be a death eater one day, but Harry knew different, he could see his change. As much as he hated him, and he still was an insupportable prat, he hadn´t wanted such mission nor been so involve in the war. It seemed like he regrated ever taking the mark, rushing too soon into it without really understanding what he was getting involve into.

Now, Malfoy Sr. was another story. If he hasn't been seen, it was because he was acting behind the scenes, and was very smart to hide his alliances. But he would do anything to take care of his son and wouldn't publicly denounce him by praying his alliances in public. Neither would he give his son any new missions that he wouldn't be able to accomplish. Through his visions, he knew Voldemort had praised Malfoy for his partial achievement, it gave is some lenient, but he wouldn´t if Malfoy really failed at a mission. For now, he was allowed to proceed with his studies and graduate, to prepare better so later on he could be a proper death eater.

But it seemed like the rest of aurors wouldn't see eye to eye with Harry. Malfoy was about to receive a hug from his father, as soon as just after there was a hand on his shoulder, three aurors approach to question them. They were very loud, and everyone could hear them.

One of the aurors was wearing purple robes embraided with yellow. He was tall and robust, but Harry couldn´t see his face. His hair was long copper waves, reaching below his shoulders, barely shorter than Malfoy Sr's. The Second one seemed to be woman. She had a slender figure but firm position. She was wearing light blue robes with moon patterns, and some white cloth thing wrapped over her head. The last auror to approach was wearing black under red opened robes, he had dark skin and military-short black hair, and he seemed to be in charge.

"Lucius Malfoy, after your last trial and been absolved from all charges, you have been under probation. As stated in your release, any contact with suspected death eaters will be seen as a intent on going back to your old ways."

"Suspected death eater? This is my son, you moron. I am meeting with my son for the first time in four months, like any other parent here present today." Malfoy Sr. was replied trying to contain his anger. His hand, however, had going to his right pocket to retrieve his wand. His posture signaled being on alert at any sudden movement from the aurors, and he was ready to defend himself and his son.

(Gawain Robards)

"As second in command to the head auror, I hereby command you to hand everything in your current possession for a protocol examination."

"You got no right!" An undignified loo crossed his features. "I am Lord Malfoy, from the Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy. I have followed ministry protocol to extend a visit to my son in the only occasion available, given your strict security measures applied to this nation. You have no evidence nor reason to accuse me of any crime. It is disrespectful to treat me as a low class citizen for no apparent reason. This can create a feud between my family and the ministry."

All this was said with his head up high, his aristocratic features bring and air of power and respect. But the purple-robed auror spit at his feet in response.

"You, lousy scum death eater deserve no respect. No name change what you are, and you are not fooling anyone. No money can change the destiny that awaits you."

By then, Malfoy had also taken out his wand, but his father has pushed him behind to cover him from any danger.

"Accio" the aurors tried summoning the packages, but where soon found with a silent barrier crated by Malfoy Sr. Other aurors around the village have come, ready to intervene. But they were not the only ones paying attention to the confrontation. Parents and students have left their tasks aside and were ready to act. It was clear some wanted to flee or hide. Neville, seemed to want to leave the area, but had Collin at his side, and try to protect him.

As the auror throw an immobilization spell at Malfoy Sr., he sent a hex back at the auror pushing him away. The leader auror reversed the spelled at point the wand at his throat. "Sonorous! An attack to a ministry employee is considered a felony, Mr. Malfoy, you are under arrest. Take him!" All aurors launch forward and three death eaters appeared on their side, throwing their own spells and supporting the Malfoys.

Taken by surprise, two of the three aurors were stunned, but the leader hold them back. Other aurors came around and they started battling. Spells, hexes and curses were flying around. They kept colliding between them. People were dodging and getting out of the way, and the village and shops were receiving the damage. Soon after, the stationary shop he was at got on fire. A girl at her side, some sixth year Hufflepuff he didn´t know, screamed and started blasting the walls in order to scape.

The destruction of the structure of the shop started to collapsed. Harry and a the shop owner backed to the office doorway, while others try to cross the demolition with shield charms. Once in the back, the shop owner revealed a back door that was still intact. Once out, they were they had to quickly create a distance from the fire heat, which lead them to the middle of the battle.

Harry saw a blond head hiding behind the fountain, and from a window reflect, he saw Malfoy lifting his sleeves and reaching his arm, were the dark mark should be. Aurors had also sent patronus requesting back up. Barely a minute later, the village was filled with aurors and death eaters battling everywhere.

Spells flew side to side, students were running to get out of the rage, finding protective spots. Harry kept throwing shield charms around him, and a few tripping hexes so some fell out of the way and he had a path to go. He seriously considered disillusionment himself, but he thought walking invisible between a multitude and a battlefield was more dangerous than exposing himself. After all, he wasn´t a target at the moment.

He was almost reaching the path back to Hogwarts, but it was block by a group of aurors throwing killing curses without looking. He saw a green light striking a student, he couldn't tell which. Not even the aurors seemed to care about the student's safety. To his left, there were two men battling, moving and swaying every second more into his direction. He was soon to be in the middle of the crossfire. When a spell came brushing his ear, Harry ducked, rolled, and as he stood up on the other side. He was short of breath as he stood, and as he turned around, he saw green light going in his direction. From his exhaustion and a sore ankle, just did, he tried to back away, but he wasn't fast enough.

The Killing Curse hit him straight in the face, blinding him by the intensity of the light. And the pain his ankle had just a second ago, vanished. All sight and sound disappear. All sense of time and place was gone. In the middle of blackness, silent, and nothingness, he started hearing the scream of a woman. Little by little ha came to his senses, until he opened his eyes to find himself with Ron's and Hermione's faces.

"And that's when I realized I was at the Hogwarts train with thirteen year old versions of my friends. You were the only one who looked the same, and I knew I had to talk with you."

AN: Well, I had a little bit difficult deciding how to do this chapter. I had a few thing to explain regarding this timeline, but didn't wasn't to give anything away. It is only to understand Harry better, but this timeline will no longer exist. A few characters we will see again in the new future in the new timeline. An important thing here was Draco. He was attack without having committed any wrong. I want Harry to feel "sorry for Draco?". Not exactly sorry for him, but see that he isn´t always the enemy and at least be open to hear him out. That is why he is not so hostile to him in the new timeline. At least subconsciously, as shown before, he wasn´t even aware he was calling him Draco. Also, the ministry was no good. That is also very important for Harry´s character. He needs to criticize this world so he can change.

Well, I hope you liked it. I am happy that I keep getting more readers. Please leave a review, I would love to hear your opinions on the story. Have a great day.

MasterHarryRiddle