Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to him or his story. Anything you recognise, I probably don't own.

Times Past

Chapter 4

Once the Order had been returned to their normal species, life progressed rather normally at Grimmauld Place. Harry was having regular Occlumency lessons with Dumbledore and progressing quickly, perhaps because this year he truly wanted to learn. However, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't block Dumbledore out completely. The old wizard always found a weakness and slipped in easily. Although Harry knew he was facing one of the most powerful wizards ever, he was getting frustrated when he failed to do what was wanted every lesson.

Harry put this out of his mind and turned to face Dumbledore. The next lesson was about to begin and so he concentrated on doing what he had been taught, schooling his emotions and calming his thoughts. As usual, Dumbledore struck without warning. Harry could sense him, in a strange sort of way – none of the usual six senses were involved at all.

Harry began to feel triumphant, for normally Dumbledore would be past his defences by now. Quickly, before it could stand out he pushed the triumph back, becoming calm and blank once more.

They stood like this for around five minutes, the professor and the student facing off, never breaking eye contact. Abruptly, Dumbledore began talking. His subject varied, from the grave matters of the Order of the Phoenix to how he was hoping for sunny weather on his next holiday. Harry ignored him. The words weren't important and so, he let them wash over him, letting his mouth automatically add small comments – "mhm-hm" and "okay." Eventually Dumbledore signalled and Harry let down his wall, grinning hugely.

"That was very good, Harry," said Dumbledore, smiling happily. "Congratulations. I would award you house points, but, alas, it is not yet the school term. "

"Thank-you, sir," said Harry. I did it. But… now what? "Professor? Before I started, you said something about a journey – or visiting somewhere or something. And you said I couldn't know more until I'd learnt Occlumency. Does that mean I can know now?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I suppose so. When your parents were in sixth year our regular Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Desidus, took a year off to travel around the world, visit other schools and so on. When he came back he was considerably inspired and went on to teach for another seven years."

"Um, Professor? What does that have to do with this?" asked Harry, wondering if the Headmaster's mind had wandered off to somewhere else.

"Let me finish, Harry," said Dumbledore sternly. "As I was saying, obviously we needed another Defence teacher. It took a while, as it was difficult to find someone on such short notice, but eventually we found a teacher, one of the youngest professors ever. Professor Harry Granger."

Harry looked up, shocked. "One of Hermione's relatives taught at Hogwarts?"

"No, no. Keep listening. It was only when your father reached his seventh year that the resemblance truly struck me. James looked amazingly like Professor Granger had. Or, as I realised recently, Professor Granger resembled James. Can you see where this is going?"

Harry shook his head, utterly confused. A teacher who looks like my Dad and has Hermione's last name just turned up at Hogwarts? Weird.

Dumbledore sighed. "After teaching for one year, Professor Granger disappeared. All attempts to find him have failed, although I have suspected for some time he is right under our noses." Dumbledore stared at Harry, as if he was about to start another Occlumency lesson. "Only one thing remained. The letter that had prompted me to accept him as a teacher in the first place. Don't you see, Harry? Professor Granger was not from our place or, as I now know, our time."

Harry gaped at the headmaster. Now it was falling into place. Harry Granger had come from another time to teach at Hogwarts. And who would look exactly like James Potter? Why, of course, his son, whose friend's muggle name would not be recognisable in the wizarding world.

Dumbledore watched him gravely. "I see you have figured it out."

"But… why now?" asked Harry.

"Recently one of my friends – an inventor in fact – created a way to travel between long periods of time. Time turners will only go back a couple of hours at most and so, are not usually too damaging. However, in going back to your parent's time, you must remember many things, the most important being, of course, not to tell anyone what will happen to them. So now the question is: Do you want to go?"

Harry blinked. Of course he wanted to go. But - to see them like that and not be able to warn them, to see them treating Wormtail as a friend… he would cope. Harry could tell that if he didn't go he would regret it all of his life. He nodded.

"And you will not tell them anything?"

"No, sir."

"Good, good. Here is your aging potion – you will still look similar to James, but not nearly as much. It lasts for about eight hours, so remember to drink it again when you need to. Once you have everything packed, come and see me."

"Er… Professor? Am I the only one going?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Currently, the spell only works for one person. Now go pack," said Dumbledore.

"Yes, Professor." Harry walked out of the kitchen and headed up to his bedroom. The packing didn't take long as, although he had been there more than a week, most of his belongings were still in his trunk. Just as he was packing the last few things, Ron came in.

"You're packing?" he asked. "Why?"

Harry hesitated. What was he supposed to tell Ron and Hermione? "Er…"

"Well?" asked Ron impatiently. "Why are you packing?"

Harry shrugged noncommittally, his mind racing. Why hadn't he asked Dumbledore how much he could tell his friends?

Um…" This wasn't working. Casting caution to the wind, Harry decided it would be better just to tell them now, rather than have them constantly asking about where he was going.

"Okay," said Harry, "I'll tell you. Just get Hermione first – I don't want to have to explain twice. It's rather… complicated."

Ron shrugged and walked over to the door, where he stuck his head out and yelled, "Hermione!"

Harry blinked. While not exactly what he had meant, Ron's shout had the desired effect, for after about a minute, Hermione had arrived at Harry's room.

"What?" she asked, glaring at Ron.

"Harry's gonna tell us where he's going. Unless of course you don't want to know…" Here Ron trailed off, looking at her quizzically. Hermione ignored him.

"You're going somewhere?" she asked, watching Harry carefully. "When? Where? Does Dumbledore know? Why?"

"Just let me explain," said Harry, trying to get in before Hermione could get fully started. Harry took a deep breath and began.

"I'm packing to go to Hogwarts."

"But we're not going back for another two weeks," interrupted Hermione, still watching Harry as if he was about to jump out the window.

"Let me finish," said Harry, exasperatedly. Quickly he outlined what Dumbledore had told him. Once he had finished Ron looked as though he thought Harry was making it all up and Hermione was scrutinising him closely.

"But, Harry," she said slowly, "time travel is almost illegal. I told you what McGonagall had to go through to get me the time turner in third year."

Harry shrugged.

"Since when does Dumbledore worry about rules?" asked Ron, looking at Hermione as if she was mad. "If he wants to do something, I don't think the Ministry's going to be able to stop him."

Hermione frowned, then nodded.

"And I had to learn Occlumency first," said Harry, eager to press his advantage. "That's why Dumbledore's only letting me go now – he says I've mastered it."

"Well, you must have gone back before," said Hermione. "I suppose that if you didn't go now, you'd be changing the past."

"Something like that," agreed Harry, glad he had been able to explain everything. He'd only just realized that once he was in the past he wouldn't be able to talk to Ron and Hermione until he arrived back. Ron wouldn't be there to cheer him up; there would be no Hermione to work everything out. As he was pondering this, Hermione suddenly sat up. Muttering something, she ran out of Harry's room, towards her own.

"What happened there?" Harry asked Ron, bewildered.

"She said she was getting something," replied Ron, looking almost as confused as Harry. Simultaneously, they shrugged.

After a couple of minutes, Hermione returned, clutching a small package. Ignoring the strange looks she was receiving from Harry and Ron, she set it down on the bed.

"Uh, Hermione," said Harry. "What's in the package?"

"Open it," she replied, watching him with worried eyes.

Harry did so, to find a strangely familiar mirror. He looked at Hermione, to find her holding another of the mirrors, one that was exactly the same as the one he had just been given. Still confused, he wondered absently what they were.

"What is it?" Ron asked, just before Harry voiced the same question.

"Well, you know how Harry won't be able to speak to us or anyone from the present while he's back then? I think the mirrors might still work."

While Hermione was explaining, Harry inspected the mirror. Suddenly, it struck him. The mirror was the one he had been given by Sirius – the mirror he had later destroyed.

"So, you're saying that I'll still be able to talk to you?" said Harry, desperately trying to ignore the memories the mirror provoked.

"Yes," replied Hermione. "I'm fairly sure it'll work – the only thing we can do is try, though."

"But… I broke it."

"And I fixed it," said Hermione briskly. "Reparo can work wonders. I thought you might want to take it with you, when you go."

"Where'd you find –"Harry paused, trying to force the name out, "Sirius' mirror?"

"We found it while we were cleaning," said Hermione, now speaking carefully and avoiding Harry's eyes. "I think it was Ginny who actually came across it."

"Oh," said Harry. Pushing aside the mess of emotion mentioning Sirius always brought up, he glanced at Ron, who was looking at the mirrors as though they were dangerous. Hermione followed his line of sight, and soon saw Ron's expression too.

"Ron?" she asked. "What's wrong with the mirrors?"

Ron shrugged before saying, "Fred and George used to have ones like it. They'd leave it sitting under the kitchen table – or somewhere else where you can't see it – and then they'd shoot spells out of it at everyone. We all learned to duck, very fast," he added quickly, grinning slightly.

Harry grinned back, trying to conceal his nervousness. Checking his watch he said, "I better go now. Dumbledore wanted to see me at three o'clock."

Hermione nodded, while Ron began to look curious. "Harry," he asked, "how long will you be gone? I mean, will you just appear back seconds after you left, or will you be gone for the whole year?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno. Suppose I'll find out soon though."

"Good luck, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "Just have fun."

"I'll try," said Harry.

Dumbledore sighed. Perhaps he should have told Harry everything about what he had to do but, while it was in his past, it was still Harry's future and so must not be tampered with. Resolved, Dumbledore set himself to do what he must, the one thing Voldemort would not expect.

I'd just like to say thanks to my reviewers: guesswho (fi), Siri Kat, juggling stars, Tanya J Potter, sweethoneyno1, babyjayy, VEronica, Tatra Megami, Lil Miss Potter, Maisha, star estrella, Khenna, Jude, Nagini Animagrus, o0o FeBrEeZe o0o, the boot and boredanddelirious.