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 5

Harry dragged his trunk down to where he would meet Dumbledore pensively. Until Hermione had handed him that mirror, he hadn't really thought about the fact that he wouldn't be able to see his friends for an entire year. Summers were bad enough, when he was unable to talk to them – he wasn't sure how he would cope for an entire year.

"Hello, Harry," said Dumbledore, as the Gryffindor heaved his trunk through the doorway. "I suppose you're ready?"

"Yes, Professor," answered Harry quietly, still wrapped up in thoughts of Ron and Hermione. I'm still in the same house as them, he thought angrily, anything to ignore the loneliness that was already starting to set in.

"Alright then. Here is the device – it is called a Deporro. I've already set it to 1976, August 20th. It is also set to take you to just outside Hogsmeade, near the Shrieking Shack. Once you arrive it will automatically set itself to five minutes after the time now, so –" he peered at his watch. "You should get back at around four past three."

Dumbledore smiled, before handing over the Deporro and a sealed envelope. Carefully, Harry took them, surprised at the Deporro's lack of weight. Although it looked as if it was made of metal, it weighed almost nothing – Harry was sure that if he let it go it would remain floating in the air. The Deporro looked a bit like Hermione's time turner, yet slightly more modern. It was two overlapping hourglasses, placed within a circle of silver metal. On the silver ring was a thinner golden circle, which looked as if it could be moved. Harry reached out a hand to touch it, before pulling back – who knew what a magical object could do?

"To use it, just twist the hourglasses so that they are on top of each other. That will take you to the date shown on the outer ring. The letter is the one that I received from Professor Granger – the letter that convinced me to accept him," Dumbledore explained.

Harry looked at the Deporro scrutinisingly. If he squinted, he could just see a slight indent that could be writing on the rings. However, if he tried to focus on a particular part it soon faded away, leaving what looked like blank metal.

"Are you ready?" asked Dumbledore gently.

Harry shrugged, before grasping the Deporro with both hands. Cautiously, he pushed the two hourglasses together, until they were almost overlapping. With one last look at Grimmauld Place, he pushed them together, bracing himself for a portkey-like sensation, closing his eyes involuntarily. When nothing happened, he opened them and looked around curiously. He was no longer in Grimmauld Place, but, instead, was standing on a hill, near a broken down house. Harry recognised it immediately as the Shrieking Shack - obviously, the Deporro had taken him where it was supposed to, but had it taken him to the right time?

Slipping the device into his pocket, he levitated his trunk behind him and then walked down the hill towards Hogsmeade, searching for something that could show him the date. Eventually he found an old Daily Prophet lying on the ground. Harry picked it up, half-dreading of what he would see. Pulling himself together, he scanned the page, searching for the telltale date. Finally, he found it. Sunday, August 15th, 1976.

It had worked. In truth, Harry didn't know what to think – after all, he would be seeing his parents and Sirius, as well as Lupin and Wormtail. Harry pushed those thoughts aside; he would deal with the Marauders later.

Reaching the main part of Hogsmeade, Harry wandered into The Three Broomsticks. Sitting down, he gestured to a much younger Madame Rosmerta, who finished with the customer she was serving and walked over.

"So, young Potter," she said. "What would you like today?"

Harry, who was about to simply order a Butterbeer, paused. She had called him 'Potter'. How could she know? Harry shook his head.

"My name is not Potter," said Harry slowly. "I'm Harry Granger."

"Really?" Rosmerta asked, looking interested. "Oh yes, I see, you do look a bit different. But, honestly, you could pass for James Potter's twin!"

"I assure you, I have never met this… James Potter?" After all, thought Harry, it's true. "I was actually wondering if you rented out rooms. I need somewhere to stay for a week or so."

Madam Rosmerta looked at him strangely. Harry ignored her – it was probably just thanks to his resemblance to his father. "I've got a few rooms upstairs," she said, "they cost 10 gallons a night. Would you like me to show you to one?"

Harry hesitated. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to stay so close to Hogwarts. Shrugging it off – after all, Trelawney had stayed at the Hog's Head – he nodded as she gestured towards the stairs. Standing up, he followed her upstairs, where she showed him to a room. It was a well-made room, rather similar to where he had stayed in The Leaky Cauldron. Thanking Madame Rosmerta, he gave her the 10 gallons, before flopping down on the bed. In truth, he wasn't sure if he could believe that he was really here. Being about to see Sirius again seemed too good to be true. And to meet his parents… he couldn't wait.

Thinking about this reminded him of his friends, and the mirror. It would be good to talk to them, to find out what they thought. Harry walked over to his trunk and rummaged through it until he found the mirror – as well as the aging potion. He pulled them both out and held it in front of his face, trying to remember how to work the mirror, before considering the potion. Harry grinned. Maybe first he could take the potion. Before he could change his mind, he drank from the little bottle. Almost immediately, he felt like he had just had a massive growth spurt within thirty seconds. He looked into the mirror, grinning when he saw his new appearance. Quickly, he put the potion away, looked back at mirror, and said clearly, "Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."

Immediately, the mirror fogged up. Harry went to wipe it clean, but before he could touch it, it was completely clear of any mist. However, instead of Hermione or Ron, someone else's face was in the mirror. A face that looked eerily like Harry's…

"Sirius? Why didn't you just use the fireplace? You know the more we use these the better chance we have of getting caught." Finally, James caught sight of Harry's face. "Hold on, you're not Sirius. What've you done with him?" James shouted, pulling out his wand and aiming it at the mirror.

Harry blinked. Even if he had expected to meet his father instead of Ron or Hermione, this wasn't how he would have expected it to go. They would have been surprised at first, but soon would have started talking and become friends. It wouldn't have begun with James accusing Harry of kidnapping his best friend. As Harry saw James open his mouth to say a curse, he quickly said, "Wait, there's been a mistake. I haven't–"

"Stupefy!" yelled James. Immediately, Harry dropped the mirror, although he wasn't even sure if the jinx would make it through; After all, it never hurt to be careful, especially when milliseconds later there was a hole in the roof. Warily, Harry picked up the mirror, keeping it angled towards the roof. If he looked carefully, he could see the surface of mirror – now blank, nothing more than an inoffensive looking glass.

Harry sighed. Not only was he unable to talk with any of his friends, it was likely he had also biased his own father against him, perhaps irreversibly. All he could do was hope that he wouldn't be recognised at Hogwarts, by James or anyone else. Anyone else? Who else would be able to guess? Harry pushed the thought aside and surveyed the hole in the roof. He certainly couldn't just leave it there for Madam Rosmerta to find.

"Reparo?" said Harry uncertainly, pointing his wand at the hole. It made a half-hearted attempt to close over, before settling at almost the same size as it was originally. Harry glared at it. "Reparo!" Immediately, the hole closed over, leaving a patch of ceiling that looked newer than all the rest. Harry shrugged. There was only so much he could do – and at least the rain wouldn't get in.

Grinning, Harry rolled into bed. Tomorrow he would go see Dumbledore, and apply for the Defence job. Tomorrow… he would be back at Hogwarts.

After avoiding Madam Rosmerta's questions about all the noise coming from his room, Harry had set off towards Hogwarts, using the secret passage in Honeydukes since he wasn't sure how to get to the school and had been given at least seven different sets of directions. Harry slipped into the sweetshop, and then down into the passage in the storerooms. Walking along, he tried to work out what he would tell Dumbledore – as well as what could be in the letter. As he was about to give in to his curiosity he came to the end of the tunnel and climbed out of the statue. Brushing himself off, he turned and began walking towards Dumbledore's office.

"Hey! Who're you?" A far too familiar voice came from behind Harry. He turned back, towards the direction of the voice.

"I am Harry Po- Granger," said Harry, cursing himself for stuttering over his name. Watching Filch, he continued. "I was told there was a vacancy for the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. Would you happen to know where I could find the headmaster?"

"Here," said Dumbledore. Harry grinned inwardly. Why had he even considered making it into the school without Dumbledore knowing? "What was it you wanted? I'm afraid I missed the first part."

Harry calmed himself – it never hurt to be prepared – before answering. "I am here to apply for the Defence job."

Dumbledore looked at him shrewdly. "Well then, I suppose you had better follow me. Thank you Argus."

Quickly, the old wizard walked off, with Harry following behind. As they walked, Dumbledore ignored Harry, as if the latter no longer existed. Eventually they reached the gargoyle, looking as ugly as ever. Dumbledore faced it and said "Cockroach Cluster." Harry grinned. Obviously, some things never changed. The gargoyle stepped aside, and Dumbledore gestured for Harry to go up ahead of him. Harry did, very aware of Dumbledore's eyes on his back. Finally, they entered the office. As Harry stepped through the doorway, he could immediately tell he was being watched. For once, all the portraits were awake, and all were scrutinising Harry with suspicion, although none more so than Phineas Nigellus.

"Sit down," said Dumbledore sharply, jerking Harry out of his reverie. "Firstly, what is your name?"

"I'm Harry Granger, sir," replied Harry, relieved he hadn't stuttered as he had with Filch.

"And how old are you? You don't look a day over sixteen." Dumbledore and the portraits watched him carefully, as if they could tell whether he was lying just by looking.

"Seventeen actually. And a couple of weeks." Harry forced himself to remain calm – he'd have no chance otherwise. "My… friend, who told me about the job, asked me to give you this." Harry pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore. The headmaster took it and read it silently, while Harry focused on his emotions. To let them out now would be to invite disaster.

"It says here that you practice Occlumency. Is this true?"

"Yes," said Harry, but before he could finish, Dumbledore attacked. Harry remained as calm as he could, reminding himself that if the present Dumbledore was unable to breach his defences, a younger Dumbledore would have no chance. He could feel Dumbledore's thoughts, but resisted the urge to strike back – it wouldn't do him any good to anger the headmaster when he first met him.

Finally, Dumbledore stopped pushing at Harry's barriers. "Would you just step outside for a minute?"

Harry nodded and did as such. He sat down on the stairs, wondering what Dumbledore would be doing. As he waited, Harry played through the worst-case scenarios in his mind. Before Harry could get too depressed, the door opened, revealing Dumbledore, whose eyes, for once, were slightly dim.

"Well," he said, "You're hired… Professor Granger."

Thanks to my reviewers: Mikito, babyjayy, kiwiknight, spottery, minnie-mae, anonomous, boredanddelirious, PrOnGs Da GrEaT, juggling stars, Siri Kat, Itty bitty evil kitty of doom and goddess of darkness3.