Chapter 13:

Meeting HufflePuff's Heir

Harry followed Nicholas and Dumbledore back to the main camp, where there was a giant command center. Dumbledore strode in first, and Harry was amused to note that most everyone treated Dumbledore the same way that Harry himself was treated in the future. It was obvious that all of the troops held the man in awe. Harry followed docilely, so as to not call undue attention to himself. He wanted to refrain from performing too many Memory Charms. Dumbledore led him to the center of the command area, where Harry saw another witch and wizard poring over a map.

The witch looked up as Albus approached and smiled warmly, "Albus, love, I think that we have located Grindelwald. To the best of our spies ability to determine, he is taking refuge in this fortress." She pointed to a fortress on the map.

Harry looked down to the map, and nodded in approval at the detail that the map showed. Albus replied to the witch, "That is very good news indeed, Hilda. I have very good news as well." Albus pointed to Harry. "This young man right here may be the answer to our prayers."

Hilda and the other wizard that was standing with her looked Harry over. The wizard asked, "How do you expect a wizard so young to help with a battle of this magnitude, Albus? He shouldn't even be out of school, yet."

Harry smiled, "That is true, grandfather, but that has little to do with the current situation that we find ourselves in."

The wizard seemed as if he was about to retort, when he paused and turned to Albus, "Did he just call me grandfather?"

Nicholas chuckled from behind Albus, "He most certainly did, William. If the story that this young man has presented us with is true, which I believe it is, he is your grandchild from the future."

William Potter continued to stare at Harry in complete shock. Hilda snorted, "Preposterous. No child of his age could withstand traveling through time like this. Very few wizards could cast such a spell, and no one could cast such a spell on another individual."

Albus nodded, "I would tend to agree with you, my love, but I think that you should hear the young man's story. After hearing what he has to say and seeing a taste of his abilities, I have no reason to doubt that he is being completely truthful with us."

Hilda motioned toward some chairs that were across the room, "Let's hear it, then."

Harry took a deep breath, "I am from the year 1997. In my time, the reigning Dark Lord goes by the name of Voldemort. His real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. He is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts a few years ago in your time. He is Salazar Slytherin's Heir."

Hilda gasped, "How do you know about the Chamber of Secrets?"

Harry smiled, "The Chamber of Secrets will be opened again while I am at school. I went into it and defeated the Basilisk contained therein."

Albus smiled, "So, that's what was in the Chamber. I have always wondered what kind of creature that Salazar had imprisoned in that place."

Hilda interrupted him, "Enough of that. I want to know what you are doing back in this time, when it is strictly forbidden to interact with witches and wizards of the past."

William nodded, "I would like to know that myself."

Harry sighed, "Voldemort is seeking a way to defeat me in the future. So, he has come back to the past to attempt to alter the course of events and find a way to be rid of me."

William asked, "Why does he want rid of you?"

Harry answered, "Because I am the only wizard alive that can defeat him."

Hilda snorted, "That's a little arrogant. Where are we?"

Harry replied, "With the exception of Dumbledore, dead."

Hilda gasped, "So, Albus is the only one of the Heirs to survive the war with Grindelwald."

Harry shook his head, "No, Nicholas and my grandfather both survive. You, on the other hand, I don't know about. I have never even heard of you. I didn't even know that you existed."

William asked, "What happens to me and Nicholas?"

"You die just after I am born. I would assume from old age, since no one has ever told me that you were killed. Nicholas and Dumbledore decide to destroy his Sorcerer's Stone after Voldemort tries to steal it during my first year at Hogwarts. He died as soon as he ran out of Elixir of Life."

Hilda asked, "Why hasn't Albus dealt with this Dark Lord? Surely he can't be as bad as Grindelwald."

Harry snorted, "He makes Grindelwald look like a boy scout. Voldemort's power is insane. I have already seen him defeat Albus in a duel without even breaking a sweat. Then, he dueled and killed me after that."

Nicholas jumped in, "Whoa, hold it. What do you mean, he killed you?"

Harry shrugged, "Well, I didn't actually die, but he hit me with the Avada Kedavra Curse."

William protested, "No one can survive that curse."

Harry smiled, "That's what they thought in my time as well. I've done it twice, and Voldemort has done it once. Not everyone can be killed by it."

Hilda asked, "How do you kill someone that can't be killed by Avada Kedavra?"

"I wish I knew, then I could finish Voldemort. For now I will be happy with just forcing him to return to our own time without altering anything." said Harry.

William asked, "Why is he here?"

Harry let out a large breath, "Voldemort knows that he can't defeat me as things stand, so he is trying to remove the protection that I had when I was a child, so that he can kill me when I am too small to defend myself. He thinks that if he kills Dumbledore in this time, then I will have no one to protect me when I am young. Then, he will be able to dispose of me, and he will be able to take over since I am the only wizard with the power to handle him."

William asked, "Just how powerful are you?"

Harry grinned, "I can do things that most witches and wizards can only dream about being able to do."

William persisted, "Like what?"

Harry disappeared and then reappeared. "Does that give you an idea?"

Even Albus seemed to be surprised, "I'm impressed, Mr. Potter. Very few wizards are capable of true invisibility."

Hilda gave Albus a look, "What do you mean very few? The only two living wizards that are capable of it are you and Grindelwald."

Dumbledore smiled, "True, but there have been several that have been able to do it over the years."

Hilda replied, "Only descendants of Merlin."

Harry laughed, "Which I am, so I don't see a problem with it."

Hilda asked, "What do you mean? You're not a descendant of Merlin, are you?"

Harry pointed at William, "He's my Grandfather, and we are the Heirs of Gryffindor. Godric was Merlin's Great-Grandson, so that makes us descendants of Merlin as well as the Dumbledores."

Albus chuckled, "You certainly are well informed, Mr. Potter."

Harry replied, "I should be. Your future self made sure of it."

Nicholas smiled, "It appears so. Since we have determined why you are here, I think that we need to begin to worry about what you are going to do now that you are here."

Harry nodded, "I know. I have to be very careful of my actions. I came back to prevent Voldemort from altering time, but I don't want to inadvertently alter it myself. That is why I will have to be performing Memory Charms on all of you before I leave."

Hilda drew her wand and pointed it at Harry, "I knew that we couldn't trust you. You just want to gain our confidence so that we will submit to a Memory Charm."

Harry snorted, "I'm afraid that I have to burst your bubble, but I don't need you to submit to a Memory Charm. There is little that you could do to stop me from casting one on you."

Hilda advanced threateningly on Harry, "I have my wand drawn and aimed at you, while you do not even have your wand in hand. I am in control of the situation."

Harry smiled, "Really. We will have to see about that." Harry waved his hand and suddenly Hilda's wand jumped from her hand into Harry's. "It seems that the tables have turned and now I am the one holding a wand while you are without."

Hilda stared at her hand in shock, "How did you do that?"

Harry flipped her wand back to her, "I don't need a wand to perform magic. In fact, I don't even have a wand anymore. Voldemort destroyed mine in our last battle."

William cleared his throat loudly, "Hilda, I'm surprised at you. I would have expected one of us men to give him the macho attitude. Now, if you will stop with your little contest, I believe that we have a battle to plan."

Hilda looked sullen for a moment, but finally nodded and then sat down. William turned back to Harry, "Well, young man, what exactly do you plan to do to help us?"

Harry shrugged, "All I know about the final battle with Grindelwald is that Dumbledore is the one that ultimately defeated him. I am prepared to get Albus inside that castle, and then insure that Voldemort does not interfere in any way. The rest of you should be able to handle the rest of the battle. I will have to perform Memory Charms that erases any knowledge of me before Albus and I leave for the castle. I will perform the charm on Albus after he has defeated Grindelwald, and I have sent Voldemort back to our own time."

William stood up, "Then, let's get back to the map, and figure out how we are going to do this."

Harry stood up beside him, "Let's do that, Grandpa."

William smiled, "I like the sound of that. I haven't known you long, but I hope my son is as good a man as you seem to be."

Harry smiled, "Oh, he was. You don't have anything to worry about in that respect."

William clapped a hand onto Harry's back, and then they walked over to the Situation Map. Hilda, Nicholas, and Albus followed. It took about thirty minutes for the five Heirs to hammer out a plan to handle Voldemort.

Once they were finished discussing things, Harry turned to Willaim and Nicholas, "I'm afraid that it is time for the two of you to forget me."

Nicholas held out his hand. Harry shook it. Nicholas said, "Good luck, Harry. I hope all goes well."

Harry smiled, "So do I."

William cleared his throat, "I don't think that I will ever get another opportunity to tell you this, Harry. I'm proud to know that I have a Grandson like you."

Harry's eyes brimmed with unshed tears, "I'm glad that I got a moment to know you, Grandfather. It was more than I ever truly hoped for."

William smiled, "Having a grandchild was more than I ever hoped for." The two Heirs of Gryffindor clasped each other in a manly hug, and then Harry stepped back from the older wizard.

"Goodbye." Then, Harry waved his hand at Nicholas and William. Both of them suddenly had a dreamy expression flow over their face, and Harry beat a hasty retreat from the room.

Albus and Hilda followed. Dumbledore asked, "What will they remember, Harry?"

Harry replied, "They will remember all the plans that we made minus the things that pertained to me. They think that they are supposed to lead the frontal assault, while you and Hilda are going to infiltrate the castle to deal with Grindelwald."

Dumbledore nodded, "I suggest we get moving. They will have the troops moving shortly then."

Harry took one last look back towards the camp, "Goodbye, Grandfather." Then, he turned and headed for the castle of the evil wizard Grindelwald.

Dumbledore and Hilda smiled at each other and hugged before following Harry towards their destiny.

A/N: Hopefully, that explained how Harry was going to get around altering time. Thanks to all of my readers.

Katepotter13: The update has arrived. Thanks for the review.

Jbfritz: Here's the next. Thanks for the review.

Lourdes1: Yes, it is. Thanks for the review.

Lucugirl07: Yes. Not much, though. Thanks for the review.

Bos1016: I like the time travel aspect of a lot of the stories myself. Thanks for the review.

Broadsword: No, they are not irrevocably changing the past. Although they could be altering it. Thanks for the review.

Cutiegurl2288: Sorry, but the next couple of chapters are going to be short, but there will be some longer ones later. Thanks for the review.

Dragonstorm316: I'm sorry, but the lengths are the way they come out from the framework. I didn't plan the length of a given chapter. Thanks for the review.

SPASH Panther: Yes, he is, but I'm not going to bother mentioning it. Thanks for the review.

PlasmaFyre: You're going to see the whole battle. Thanks for the review.

Lunawolf: Harry will depart as soon as Grindelwald is defeated, so it shouldn't change any aspect of the war. Thanks for the review.

Maria: Seventeen, after this one. Thanks for the review.

Phred doesn't like you: HA!HA!HA! Thanks for the review.

Yugioh/Potter/Pokemon fanatic: He got to meet his grandfather. Thanks for the review.

Aalikane: No problem. Thanks for the review.

FairyDust29: Memory Charms. Constant Vigilance. Sorry, I slipped into Mad Eye Moody mode for a moment. ;) Thanks for the review.

HermioneGreen: The future is going to be altered, but don't panic. It can be fixed. Thanks for the review.

Mugglenet27: I agree. Thanks for the review.

Athena kitty: Wait and see. You'll ruin too much of the story with those questions. Thanks for the review.

Blip-dragon: Thanks for the review.

Boscolova408: Both. Thanks for the review.

HappySnakesRule: I don't care if it was soppy. It was sweet. Thanks for the review.

Volleypickle16: I'll do my best. Thanks for the review.

Cur03: I hope so. Thanks for the review.

Goddess of war and wisdom: Not exactly. There will be a slight bit right before he returns the second time from the past. Thanks for the review.

Lady Melime Alasse: I didn't add any more to that part of the story, because I was anxious to get them back to Hogwarts. Thanks for the review.

Me: Memory Charms. Memory Charms. Grindlewald is going to be dead, so he can't exactly alter anything. Thanks for the review.

Sillypaulie: Not yet. We still have a ways to go. Thanks for the review.

Steve Jester: The Order will explain what was going on in Harry's absence after he gets back. Thanks for the review.

Hart-break: I think that he would pretty well have to be extremely powerful. Nothing that I have done is outside the realm of possibility. Rowling has already allowed him to do wandless magic, and survive the Killing Curse. Thanks for the review.

Potter and the Weasley: Memory Charms. Thanks for the review.

Plasterwork: Memory Charms. Thanks for the review.