Merlin's Book

December 1994

"I'm taking Hermione to the Yule Ball" Harry said at breakfast one morning to Ron. Hermione was in the library something about needing a book of Runes and after the first task the trio was almost back to normal. Ron was still a git but Harry knew it wasn't his fault he had such bad insecurities. He also knew no matter how many times Ron messed up he would always come back.

"Wa?" Ron said through a mouthful of food. He was staring off into space. If Harry had to guess he was looking at Fleur. Harry and Hermione had caught him up on everything, well mostly everything. They had told him about the book, at least what they knew. Harry filled him in on Crouch Jr, the graveyard and of course the horcuxes but he left out the part were Fleur married Bill. Harry just didn't have the heart to tell Ron he was ogling his future sister in law. It was better that way.

"I'm taking Hermione to the Yule ball." Harry repeated before continuing. "I have to take someone because I'm a champion and we have to open the ball. I'm taking Hermione before someone else asks her." Harry had been thinking about this for a while. He remembered how pretty she was at the ball and he wanted to have her on his arm this time. They had been spending more and more time together and he had even started to help her translate Merlin's book. So far they had the first poem translated and she was working on the rest. It was a pain staking process but at least they were making progress. Harry had decided he would figure out the book first and how he got here before talking to Dumbledore about the horcuxes. That could wait until after the new year as it shouldn't take as long to track them down this time since he knew what and where they were. He didn't see Dumbledore the way he use to, back when he was alive, Harry had a whole new understanding of the man now but Dumbledore was still the only one that could help Harry find and end the horcuxes.

"Oh… now who am I suppose to ask? Girls are…" Ron didn't finish his sentence and instead just shuddered.

Harry chuckled and then had and idea and grinned. "Why don't you ask Lavander?" Ron made a face of discussed and Harry had to agree.

"Maybe I'll go stag" Ron mumble through a mouthful of food. Harry thought this was the best idea he'd ever heard but didn't want to say it.

"I'm gonna go check on Hermione, you coming?" Harry said standing up. He grabbed an apple and put it in his bag for Hermione she'd missed breakfast at this point and he wanted to make sure she ate something. Ron grabbed another bite of his eggs and stood up to follow Harry.

The two boys found their favorite book worm nose deep in a large textbook on ancient runes at the back of the library. Next to her was a group of girls giggling and Harry could see Krum standing one aisle away from Hermione. He had forgot Krum hung out in the library to get to know Hermione and he didn't like it. He saw Krum take a deep breath and walk towards her table and then the girls near by giggled. That was when Harry froze, what would he do if Krum beat him to the punch? Would she say yes? Would he have to take someone else? Who would he ask? Ginny? He did date her in sixth year but she's just a kid now and they had broken up for a reason, he didn't want to dive back into that relationship. He wasn't sure what he would do.

"Hey Krum!" Ron said and waved. "Do you think he'll give me and autograph?" Ron whispered to Harry. He had completely forgot about Rons fanboy crush of Krum! He could kiss Ron. He had no idea what he had just done but Harry couldn't be happier.

Krum turned to look at Ron, he looked like he was about to walk away when he saw Harry standing there and Harry rolled his eyes at his friend. Krum headed over and nodded his head at Ron, he was never a talker. "You know him?" He asked Harry.

"Yeah, unfortunately he's my best mate" Harry geared and elbowed Ron in the side. "We saw you play at the World Cup. You were amazing and Ron was wondering if he could get your autograph" Harry continued seeing this as a way to distract Krum from asking Hermione out.

Krum turned to look at Ron and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… well. You were great I mean, you don't have to do anything.." Ron trailed off and looked away out of embarrassment but when Krum held his hand out Ron grin and started rummaging through his bag for a quill and paper.

"You fly good, Potter" Krum said looking at him.

"Oh, thanks! You too, but you already know that, you pulled that wronki feint off without hesitation at the cup," Harry said back Krum just nodded and signed Rons paper.

"You know the girl who flys outside?" Krum asked. Harry had seen others out flying for fun but he had seen mostly other guys. Sometimes Angelina would come out and Ginny would often join her older brother as well.

"The Brunette?" Harry asked thinking of Angelina. Krum just shook his head. "The red head?" Harry asked smiling. Oh this would be so much better then him taking Hermione to the ball. Ron would loose his mind. So would Fred and George for that matter. When Krum nodded Ron froze tucking his new autograph away. Harry laughed, "Yeah, that's Ginny. She's great but watch out she's got 6 big brother" Harry winked at Krum who just nodded.

"She flys well" was all Krum said and then he left forgetting about asking Hermione out. Harry had a feeling he was headed to the quidditch pitch.

"Why do you think he was asking about Ginny?" Ron said angrily.

"Dunno, mate. He didn't do that last time," Harry said honestly. "Hey Hermione, find anything new?"

"Oh, hey guys, I did actually look at his," she said passing her notes over to Harry. Ron was still staring off where Krum had been.

Written on the paper was the poem at the beginning of the book they had figured out already:

Take back what time took

The answers hidden in this book

The pieces fall into place

Happy times await

Harry still didn't understand this part. Take back what time took, happy times await… how was the year Voldemort came back to life the "happier" than the year he was almost defeated?

Harry looked under neither the poem and noted new notes in Hermione's hand writing.

The owner of this book must only wish for a happier time and find themselves there.

That was new information.

"Hermione, what does this mean?" Harry asked.

"Well I just finished that section, I'm not sure what is means yet I'm working on this next section here. So far it's talking about how you move through history not time? Whatever that means, and because of this the timeline splits off. It's still very vague but interesting!"
"What's that?" Ron said finally coming back from whatever he was thinking about.

"Hermione was working on the translation, she's doing fantastic," Harry replied never looking away from Hermione. Smile blushed at the compliment.

"Well I also found this, which I think is way more helpful but it took a while to find," she said pulling out another book. This book was much newer then the first, it was titled, "Merlin, the Man, the Myth, the Legend". Harry chuckled at the title, he wondered if the title was supposed to he a joke or not. "I didn't think to look into this because it was in the fiction and folklore section of the library, like I have time to read fairy tales," she rolled her eyes and continued, the irony was not lost on Harry. "ANYWAY, this is all about the different legends and stories about Merlin. This one," she opened the book to a colorful page with a painting of an open book on one side. "Is a legend about a special book he kept. It says he wouldn't let everyone touch the book and he called it his book of prophecies. This story claims that every time he would make a prophecy he would have to consult the book but he never let anyone read it." She shut the smaller book.

"So you think this is his book of prophecies?" Ron asked

"Maybe… the biggest problem is all of them talk about him going mad after using the book." Hermione said looking at Harry.

"Well of course they do. Every wizard knows Merlin went mad from the future, he was always trying to fix a problem that couldn't be fixed and he'd go bonkers because of it. Its in all the children tales," Ron laughed. Harry had the weirdest moment of deja vu since going back in time, was Ron once again saying the fairy tales he grew up with were true stories and Hermione and Harry had been slaving away at something that was common wizarding knowledge? It was the Hallows all over again.

"Come again?" Hermione said

"Well you know, the books your mum would give you as a kid to help you learn to read, Merlin's Muddled Mix-upsI" Ron said looking between Harry and Hermoine who had no idea what he was on about. "You know the stories. Merlin would open his book and say the magic words and be teleported back in time to fix a problem before it happened except it never worked out. Oh come on they were great books!"

Harry and Hermione shared a look of both confusion and amusement, yep this was the deathly hallows all over again. Harry spoke up first this time, "So you've heard of this book of prophecies and his time travel?"

"Well yeah, every kid has…" Ron looked at him, "every wizarding kid that grew up with magic did. They were great books. He would open his book say "Bippit Bop, change the clock" which isn't a real spell and he would be back in his body in a previous time where he could change the future because he knew what was going to happen but it technically hadn't happen yet. But it was his muddled mix-up so he always got something wrong and would have to go back more than once."

"That must be what this means about moving threw history instead of time!" Hermione said instantly. "Harry you moved through history, not time that's why you're 14 again. None of the things you remember will happen unless you do the exact same thing again. You won't ruin anything if you change it because it did happen yet. There will be no paradox!"

Harry just blinked at her. There was no paradox so either he repeated everything or changed everything. He was in a new timeline. A new timeline where all of his problem had, once again, been found in a children's book. He really needed to start reading kids books