Chapter 10

• Fate •

Harry groaned, the world around him slipped back into normal and his head started pounding. He looked around, and took a few quick breaths he felt a surge of adrenaline, that had been interesting. Something was wrong, it was night. It was suppose to be day – two hours give or take a few minutes, but bright outside so that he could get away without anyone seeing him, everyone was in a class now.

Pulling the invisibility cloak over himself he started to leave the common room when he heard something and turned. Hermione was standing at the top of the stairs, yawning. She mumbled something, looked around and went right back into the door. Harry heaved a sigh of relief but turned again when he heard something else. Harry, well, himself several days prior came stumbling out the door holding his hand to his head followed by Neville. Ran out of the dorms being very loud.

"It was Ender I'll bet." Neville was trying to remove his shirt.

Harry almost laughed out loud, it was Sunday morning, Ender had paid them back for fooling around in class by putting a series of spells on them, it hadn't exactly been pleasant the whole weekend.

"Do you think he would really do this, he is a teacher. Maybe it's the twins." The past Harry spoke while itching his arms violently.

Neville, who was very unlike his usual self, seethed under his breathe. "It was him alright, remember what he said when we did that last week, that he would make sure we didn't forget doing it. I sure wont now."

This was when Harry had received another surprise. Several people walked into the common room all at once. Hermione and Zabini came out, wrapped in robes while at the same time Wood and Professor McGonagall walked into the common room from the hallway.

McGonagall wasn't even paying attention to the room, she was very perturbed. "Oliver, this is the sixth time this morning I am telling you this, it is against the rules. Period. And even if I could make an exception, he has already broken more rules than every other first year combined."

Oliver never gave up, he had been hounding McGonagall for the past week to get Harry on the team. "You were there, you saw what he did professor. He jumped out of the Bloody window without..."

"I'm warning you Wood, I do not want to here that sort of language."

"... he jumped out of the window without anything then, after summoning a broom from 100 meters away he pulled out of a 15 meter dive. And, at the same time he passed off a wand to a teacher. I've never seen someone pull out of a 7 meter dive on a Cleansweep. He did the impossible on a broom, that's what we need the impossible, If we want any sort of a chance to win the Quidditch cup this year. Let me try, if he cannot show that he has enough talent to be on the team then I'll quit the team without a thought."

"You'll do no such thing." McGonagall's eyes grew wide.

Wood heaved a sigh of relief. "Then you'll at least five him a chance to prove he can do it?"

Everyone in the room was silent, he remembered hoping that she would say alright, he really wanted to be on the team. McGonagall looked up, finally noticing everyone in the room. "Alright... Harry, you have permission to try out for the team, it's Friday night. Now, no rule breaking, if you break a single rule then you will ruin any chance you have for getting on the team this year. Understand?"

Harry watched himself agree gleefully remembering everything that had happened since then, he had completely forgotten the tryouts on Friday and blown his chances for the team and they had a seeker for this year. Harry hoped that maybe he would be able get on the team next year. No one had said a word since the tryouts, not many people had spoken to him at all.

McGonagall turned to leave and Harry followed her out the door so no one would see him leave. Just as he left out the door he remembered something and turned back to himself. That instant he felt it again, staring right into his own eyes he shivered, it had been an awkward feeling but somehow he had briefly saw himself. At first he thought it was some weird sort of Deja-Vu but now he knew the truth.

It took only a few minutes to get to a secret passage that led to Hogsmeade. Before he left the grounds he checked the Marauders Map to insure that he wouldn't run into anyone on the way out. Something caught his attention, besides the few people that were just getting into their common rooms two people were in the hallways, rather close to Harry. Albus Dumbledore and Peter Pettigrew. Harry crawled out of the passage and quietly made his way down the hallway to see what was going on.

"... not to question him, it's one of the only things I've ever asked of you. Just wait a little longer, be patient-- I keep wondering, what reasons do you have to question him? You already know where they've stayed hidden these past several years and you found nothing there. Sirius has moved somewhere were he cannot be revealed, I don't see how Harry could have any relevant information."

"If I am sure of anything I am sure of this, I can get information out of him. He'll have to endure the truth though, that Sirius was the one that did it. I've been through this before through the courts, and I was proved guiltless, by Judge Crouch himself."

"Yes, you were cleared of all charges weren't you? And by Barty Crouch, he sure has made his way in the world lately hasn't he? Now, with what's happening to the minister and all, he's next in line I believe?" Peter nodded, slightly guarded. "Yes, and with that terrible illness that just keeps getting to the ministers in the last few years it doesn't seem we'll have long to wait. Let us hope that he lives longer than the four who came before him." Dumbledore lost his smile but didn't frown, he seemed to have no emotions whatsoever.

Peter's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, he has become a popular figure in the ministry. But there are still those who do not support him or his cause, you being one of them, is there a reason for this?" Harry could see his beady little eyes studying Dumbledore intently.

Dumbledore knew exactly what he was doing, he smiled and chuckled. "I guess I'm just an old stick in the mud. I see politics as the sports of an old man and he needs years of politics before I could ever even think of supporting him. He also wants to change things drastically, I follow a much slower and safer path. But I digress... Peter I've had a sudden thought, I'll allow you one session with Harry, there you must get all the information you need because after that you needn't ask for my answer will always be the same."

Peter's eyes lit up and he smiled. "Thank you Albus. That will be all I need. Tell me, what made you change your mind so suddenly?"

Dumbledore smiled again and his eyes twinkled, slowly moving around the room. Harry could have sworn they came to rest on him for a few moments. "Ah Peter... Fate has a way of making its own decisions, and this path has already taken it's course."

Peter, now finding himself very confused, shrugged his shoulders. "You know Albus, the longer I know you the less sense you make."

Dumbledore chuckled and turned to leave and again Harry felt that he was being watched by those sparkling eyes. Harry backed away from the area and made his way back to the confines of the passage, extremely confused. Sirius wasn't still at the shack, but that was wrong, when Peter had found out he had gone there and found Sirius... but he already knew....

Harry closed his eyes, trying to think, he needed to know where Sirius was. He needed to talk to him in person, tell him what was to happen and stop it from happening. Paka – he could help. Harry moved through the walls until he neared the owlery where he carefully continued through the halls. When he entered the owlery he looked around, Paka didn't spend much time in here, hopefully he was here now.

He clicked his tongue, waiting for Paka to respond and again. Maybe Paka wasn't here. Another moment passed and Harry heard his familiar call. Good, he was here. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and looked around for a parchment to write to Sirius with. He pulled the invisibility cloak from himself and let Paka come to rest on his shoulders.

"Parchment and a quill..." he whispered to himself.

Someone, rather loudly was coming up the stairs. Harry grabbed the invisibility cloak and, brushing Paka of his shoulders, pulled it over himself just as the door opened to reveal Ron. Ron stopped and stared right at Harry, he must have seen him.

"Harry? How did you get here, I've just left you. You said you didn't need any Quidditch pointers and wanted to try and get some more rest. How did you get here so fast and how did you get an invisibility cloak?" Harry moved away from the spot he has stood, maybe if Ron didn't receive an answer he would leave it be, think he was imagining. Of course, that was not the case. Ron closed the door behind him and looked to where Harry had been. "I'll block your path of you don't explain yourself, you'll not be able to leave."

Ron was going to ruin everything. He knew about the invisibility cloak and it wouldn't take him too long to figure out the Harry he had just seen was not the same one he had left in the common room. Why didn't he just sod off? Ron, always getting in the way and now he was going to get Harry in a lot of trouble.

Perhaps he could trust Ron, at the moment it was his only real choice. After contemplating for a minute he pulled the cloak away from himself. "Ron, I need you to help me and not mention this to anyone, even me. The person you left a few minutes ago was me but not me. I came back to stop something terrible that happened in the future and I need to make sure I don't have anyone knowing I am here. Can I trust you to keep silent about it?"

Ron looked at him for a long time before finally nodding. "Nothing happens to Ginny, right?"

Harry shook his head. "No, why do you think that something would happen to her?"

Ron spoke, his voice cracking slightly. "Peter has been to our house several times over the last week. Ginny wasn't allowed to write you about it and she told me not to tell you because something would happen."

Harry sighed and nodded his head. "Well, I already know what happened so what you told me is alright."

Ron looked at him for a moment before speaking again. "Will you do me a favor?" Harry looked at him, a little surprised. "I've got a letter, for Ginny but I can't send it to her because they are watching everything I send to her. Will you give it to her when you see her?"

"How do you know I'll see her?"

Ron smiled, relieving a great deal of the tension in the room. "There are only two people away from Hogwarts that you would do something like this to save and you told me it wasn't my sister. So... that would leave your godfather, and you've been staying near our house so that must mean he is there too."

Ron wasn't so daft all of the time. "Alright, I'll give it to her."

Pulling a letter from his inner coat pocket he handed it to Harry. "Take care, and don't get caught."

Harry was surprised and thought it over as he found a quill and parchment and wrote out the letter to Sirius. Ron was treating him rather well and he sounded so sincere when he told him to be careful... Calling Paka he attached the letter and stroked his feathers. "Take this to father and wait there until he has a message to return to me." With a cry Paka took flight, swooping out the window into the early morning. Harry hope Sirius would understand the message.

Taking to the walls once again Harry left Hogwarts, this time without checking the map, he didn't want to be caught by some other surprise. When he neared the end of the passage he took out a chocolate and begrudgingly dropped it into his mouth, no one needed to see him outside the school.

The change was quick and when it was done he hurried out to the street. "Hold up your wand above your head..." Sirius had told Harry about every form of transportation he could remember, the Knight Bus being the quickest if you didn't want to use Floo powder. When it did appear Harry almost fell back, it just seemed to appear out of thin air.

A friendly looking old man stepped off the bus and looked around for someone besides Harry, when he saw no one else present he looked down. "Ye be a wee bit young for ridin' der Knight Bus, aren't ye? Ye isn't running away from de folks are ye?"

Harry shook his head, he had planned everything... "No, I don't look my age at the moment. How do you think I got a wand and called the bus if I was a ten year old? I was at a party and somehow ended up like this, don't quiet remember at the moment."

The gentleman smiled. "Names Henry McDuffie, welcome to the Knight Bus, transportation to anywhere in de world. Where might you be going lad?"

Harry pulled money from his bag and handed it to Henry. "Ottery St. Catchpole."

"Ah... A fine little town that is Mr...."

"James Glass." Harry shook Henry's hand.

"And whereabouts' shall we drop you off Mr. Glass?"

"Just at the edge of town, I'll walk the rest of the way, I'll need it to clear my head." Perfect, it was all working out just right.

"Will do Mr. Glass." Henry led Harry to an empty bunk. "I'll wake you before we reach your stop, go ahead and get some rest, we've got a long ride ahead.

Harry looked at the house, he had been dropped off by the Knight Bus almost 20 minutes ago and now he was sitting across the street from the Weasley house. It was almost 8 AM only one light was on in the house so Harry just waited.

A sudden jolt woke him up, at some point he had fallen asleep sitting at the base of the willow tree. He heard someone approaching from somewhere but he kept his eyes closed. "You know Harry, laying about isn't going to prove Sirius's innocence."

Harry smiled, relieved, but still kept his eyes closed. "Yes, I know, but this spot is so very comfortable."

"No hello? Not at all surprised I am here?"

"Hello Virginia. How are you this cold winters day? You don't walk particularly quiet, I could here you coming before you even saw me. You don't seem particularly surprised to see me either-- are you?"

"I suppose that you've run away from school for a good reason."

"Indeed I have."

"And I suppose it has something to do with the letter that you sent to Sirius."

Harry finally opened his eyes, utterly shocked. "And how do you know about that?"

He saw her smile slyly. "I have a reply to it, though it doesn't make much sense to me. Sirius told me you would probably show up today."

"Why did Sirius send you the reply?" Harry asked, confused.

"He sent a note to me explaining everything. He said that Paka didn't know where to go, so he wrote me and said that you would probably show up sometime today."

Harry hopped to his feet. "Let's see it. Oh, and I have a letter for you too, from Ron."

"Ron knows you left school?" Virginia gasped.

"Well, uh... technically I haven't left school. I'm still there right now."

"You haven't left, does that mean there are two of you?" Virginia asked, somewhat puzzled .

Harry nodded and smiled. "No more questions about that right now. I'm a little hungry, do you think you might be able to nick some food for me?"

"Do you have one of those chocolates that make you look different?" Harry nodded. "Alright, I can get you more than a little food then. I'll take you home for lunch and maybe dinner."

Harry took one of the random glamour chocolates into his mouth. Virginia smiled. "That's much better, your hair was getting much too long, you almost looked as though you lived on the streets. Now let's go, mum will love to meet any friends I ever bring home. What should I introduce you as?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Uh... Jonathan."

Virginia pulled out a parchment and handed it to Harry. "Here, this is what Sirius wanted you to have."

Harry accepted it then pulled Ron's letter from his pocket and handed it to Virginia. He read Sirius letter. Though it was a little confusing to anyone one else it was very straightforward to Harry. Stay – Sirius would come. That was all it said, the rest was just confusing sentences. Virginia was happy with whatever her letter from Ron had said, it must have meant a lot to her, she was even happier than she had been when she said hello to Harry.

"Well, let's go." Virginia pulled Harry towards her house.

Mrs. Weasley appeared as they neared the front door. "Sad news Virginia, your brother had to leave for his studies, he's gone now. That also means we have an extra plate for lunch, would your friend like to join us?"

Virginia smiled brightly. "Yeah mum, do you think he could stay for dinner too, his grandparents had to go do something without him."

"Alright, I don't see any problem with that. Tell me, what's your name dear, I've not seen you before."

Harry started to say something while at the same time searching for some sort of an identity. Virginia seemed to have already thought of everything though. "He's visiting his grandfather for a few weeks. I've played with him a few times when he was just visiting for a day. His grandfather seemed alright with him visiting for dinner and maybe even staying the night, that is if it's alright with you."

Mrs. Weasley looked between Virginia and Harry. "Your grandfather was ok with it?" Harry nodded. "Alright, he can stay... In Ron's room. If he does spend the night, it'll not be in your room."

"Mum!!!" Virginia turned bright red.

Harry looked at Virginia and then to Mrs. Weasley, he didn't know what was wrong. Why did it matter where he slept? He didn't need a bed, he had slept nearly everywhere from caves to trees, sleeping on the floor wasn't a big deal, he didn't need a bed to sleep in a bed. Well, whatever she thought was necessary.

Harry smiled brightly. "Ok Mrs. Weasley, I can sleep n his room if you want." He wasn't sure exactly why but he tried to seem as innocent as possible.

"Go and wash-up so we can have some lunch."

Mrs. Weasley was the nicest mother Harry had ever met, she was always out of the way and attentive when she needed to be. Harry had brief moments when he imagined that his mother might be just like Mrs. Weasley. She allowed Harry and Virginia to run around the house and have a pillow fight and didn't say one word, Harry could have sworn she even would have played too, but she was busy doing other things.

Dinner was small but filling and very good. Virginia's father returned late, an hour after dinner was finished. He groaned about a headache he just couldn't seem to magic away, that he had been working the work of two people writing Auror procedures and testing illnesses. Virginia waited until he sat down for a few minutes before dragging Harry in.

"Dad, meet my new friend, Jonathan. Jonathan, my dad."

Mr. Weasley smiled and nodded his head politely. "Hello Jonathan, it's nice to meet a friend of Ginny's, she's not had a close one in quite some time. Are you new around here?"

Harry shook his head and let Virginia explain his story again. Mr. Weasley listened and then turned to Harry when she was finished. "How long will you he here then?"

Harry wasn't sure, no more than a few days- it really depended on Sirius, so he shrugged his shoulders. "Don't really know."

"You don't talk much do you?"

Harry smiled, he didn't feel like talking much right now, his head was swimming with thoughts of the future. "There isn't much to be said."

Mr. Weasley studied him for a long time before saying anything. "You seam to be much older than you look. Who taught you to act in such a way, your father?"

Harry shook his head gently. "No, a close friend. He's been with me since I was you and taught me much of what I know." Harry watched as Mr. Weasley studied him again.

"Well you sound much more mature than you should be. Maybe it's me but I think that you should be a kid, have fun while you can still be a kid."

Harry didn't want to be a kid it would mean that he would have to let his guard down, be normal and he didn't like being like others. Maybe just once in the while it was fun but he didn't want it to be what he was. "I like the way I am, I don't mean to be rude at all but I don't want to be a child."

"Oh, no offense taken at all, and I didn't mean to offend you at all, I am sorry to even mention it. Now, I've got to get to bed, I've an early wake up call. Goodnight everyone." He stood and left the room.

Mrs. Weasley took he and Virginia to bed leaving Harry to think about what he was doing to tell Sirius when he came. That he was supposed to die in 4 days? And that the rat, Peter Pettigrew, would be the one to do it. He didn't feel like sleeping and so he just laid, staring at the wall, thinking until early morning when he went onto the balcony to watch the sunrise.

Mrs. Weasley found him asleep on the balcony late in the morning. "Wake up Jonathan dear, your grandfather is wondering why you are so late to breakfast." Harry barely heard the words but as they settled into his head he sat up sharply.

"My Grandfather?" He gulped, unsure what to think. As far as he knew it was only Virginia that knew anything of the story they had supplied.

"Yes dear, now hurry and wash-up then get down stairs." She turned with a smile and went downstairs.

Harry hurriedly washed up— who was this stranger that claimed to be his grandfather? He hurried down the top flights of stairs and slowed as he descended the last. Was it Sirius? Could it be? As normal as he could muster he walked into the dining room. An older man sat watched him walk in and studied him for a minute. Harry studied him as well, his hair short and balding, filled with grey. His teeth aged and crooked. Harry stared right into his eyes and this man, who was supposedly his grandfather, winked – twice.

Harry heaved a silent sigh of relief. It was Sirius, somehow he knew the little cover story that Virginia had told everyone. "Hello grandfather, I didn't know you would come so early."

Sirius smiled, almost too slyly for an old man. "Your grandfather is full of surprises and always seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve."

Virginia was biting quietly further down the table not making eye contact with anyone but Harry noticed a smile spread across her face when Sirius spoke.

The rest of the conversation was mostly questions Mrs. Weasley asked about Harry and Sirius's life. Everything was basically the truth accept the mention of who they played the parts on and why they were moving about so much. After breakfast Mrs. Weasley excused herself while Sirius, Harry and Virginia went outside. As soon as they were out of view of the house Sirius let up his happy demeanor immediately.

"Harry, what are you doing here? What was so important that you had to leave school and see me?"

"You living?"

"Harry, I don't plan on dying anytime soon." Sirius looked a little disturbed.

This was the point. Well, it was best to get the truth out and worry about the consequences later. "But you will die, in three days... It already happened for me, on Thursday evening you were burned to death in a fire. I found a time turner and came back to make sure it wouldn't happen, I couldn't let you die."

Sirius stepped away from Harry. "You traveled in time?" Harry nodded, getting a little defensive.

Sirius shook his head. "How could you do that? Time travel is very, very serious business, Azkaban serious. Why would you do something like that? I cant believe..." Sirius closed his eyes and quieted for a minute. Virginia just stared at Harry, unsure at what exactly was going to happen. "I'm sorry, what's done is done, lets just make sure I don't get killed, if we have to deal with the time travel problems will do it when it comes up."

Harry nodded, somewhat relieved, that was the closest Harry had ever seen Sirius get to getting real angry at him. Slowly he recounted the tale, of Birdie and Peter, the Veritaserum, him waking up in the hospital and finding out everything that had happened.

Sirius listened quietly, nodding and thinking about everything that Harry had said. "I burned to death in a fire Peter started? Will, it certainly isn't the most pleasant way to go is it? At least I didn't feel it." Harry was relieved Sirius took it so well, he was always one to make a joke of anything. "Yes, well let's see that it doesn't happen this time around."

"You know, it's a good thing I knew were you would go, I think Paka didn't know what to do with two of you in different places."

"How did you know Sirius?"

"Well, Harry, I've known you all your life, and you don't think you could get away with anything do you? You're the most predictable person I've ever met, aside from James. :

Harry didn't feel so good about that. "Am I really predictable? How could you say that, given that I've just traveled back in time to save you."

Sirius found a spot to sit.
given that I did die you had to figure out a way to save me. Your only two option would be either to stop it from happening or raise me from the dead, and, given that necromancy is the most difficult magic that exists I don't see you doing that. That eaves you with stopping it from happening altogether and the only real possibility you know of that was at all feasible would be time travel – So, it wsa really quiet predictable that you at least try it, your chances of succeeding weren't good, but you did it. Coming here was much easier to predict given that I knew enough of the facts to make the guess as to were you would go."

Harry felt crestfallen. "But Sirius, if I'm predictable it means I am weak."

"You know Harry, it's only a weakness if you allow others to use it. Besides, they have to know all the relevant facts to know what you will do. And one thing you were always good at was keeping secrets from others, even me."

Harry smiled, feeling much better. "Still am."

Sirius laughed, stood again and then put his arm around Harry and Virginia. "I'll leave you two alone while I find some proper housing while we are here. Virginia happily agreed but Harry was reluctant to let him go. He disappeared behind a tree, leaving a trail of paw print behind so Harry followed Virginia.

"I want to show you something I found. Bill told me what it was and I want to show it to you."

• Edited 2004.09.18 •