Author's Note:
Thought I'd take a stab at writing a "Harry goes back in time fic", after all the really good ones that I've read. I recomment The Paradox of Existence and The Return of the Prodigal, just to name a few. Also thought I'd take a stab at writing something "romance", I like reading it, but never really tried writing anything of the sort. Although, the romance probably won't come until later on. Oh yeah, it'll probably HP/SS - my favourite pairing.
If you see any discrepencies with the book, please tell me, I don't have them on hand - in this little blurb, I had trouble remembering what Trelawney was like, apart from the multitudes of scarfs and perfume. And if anything's not clear and you want more explanation, please do tell me. I dolove any constructive critism!
Now, on with the story! Hope you enjoy!
Oh yeah, if there's any thing similar, I'm sorry - I really wasn't trying to steal anyone's ideas!
NOW EDITED!
Disclaimer:
Obviously, I own nothing but the plot, and whatever crazy character/name/whatever I come up with.
Prophecies
He was late. And the professor would have his head as soon as he stepped into the classroom. Regardless, 2 minutes late was better than 3 minutes late, and so he ran like the devil was after him. However, he did not plan on being stopped bythe fraud of a Seer and having a second prophecy told to him. First day of classes, and he was late, no doubt the consequences being points taken from his House and a detention, possibly even that night. Being a sixth year student, their dormitories have been changed to double rooms, which were picked by lot. As luck would have it, with only 5 boys in his year, he was stuck having his own room, although, he was thankful for it as it allowed him the privacy to put up any silencing or locking charms should he ever have a nightmare or needed time off for himself. Of course, it was because of this exact same reason that he was now running late – he had forgotten to set his alarm after the Opening Feast last night and his friends couldn't break in to wake him up.
Skidding around a corner, Harry Potter crashed into a heavily clothed woman. Groaning from his spot on the floor – the crash caused both him and the woman to stumble backwards and fall – he looked up and was horrified to find that the person he ran into was none other than Professor Sybil Trelawney. He quickly scrambled up, debating whether to flee the spot under the excuse that he was late for Professor Snape's class or to help the Divination teacher up. However, his dilemma was answered as Firenze the centaur stepped out of the classroom just a few steps down the hallway.
"Harry?" Firenze had came out to investigate the noise, "shouldn't you be in class right now?"
"I'm on my way!" Harry quickly grabbed his bag from the floor, thankful that it didn't burst open from the impact, and made to run again, only to be stopped by a strong grip on his arm. Trelawney had stood up, all her usual airs of divination gone, replaced by a semi-hard demeanor. Harry had only seen her like this one other time, in his third year when the professor made a true prophecy about Wormtail.
"Er...."
"The Saviour of the World is not who he seems. Born of the present yet lived of the past, he will return to guide his own self. Neither Light nor Dark, he is his own counsel. Upon his return, he must choose, and it is from these choices that his and his enemy's fate will be decided."
Like last time, this prophecy was stated in the same harsh tone. Upon finishing, Trelawney gave a gentle shake of the head, already back in her usual wishy-washy style.
"Oh, my heavens, child, it was forseen that we would have this accident today!" Barely suppressing his urge to roll his eyes, Harry simply nodded and began to edge away, wishing to head off to Potions. However, he was soon stopped by Firenze this time.
"Just a moment please, Mr. Potter," Firenze had an unusually grave face on, "I'll give you a note excusing you for being late to Professor Snape's class. Promise me that you won't tell anyone about what you just heard, absolutely nobody! And I'll need to see you as soon as you can find the time. I trust that you know the way to my rooms?"
Harry dumbly nodded as he followed Firenze into the new Divination classroom. It still had the appearance of being inside a forest, but now there was an area that clearly stated that Trelawney worked in the same room. The current class was second year Hufflepuffs, and they stared in curiosity as to why the famous Harry Potter was in the room with them. Quickly scribbling a late note, he passed it to Harry, warning him once more to tell no one about the incident earlier.
Bewildered, Harry could only nod – he didn't trust his voice at the moment – and left the classroom, resuming his mad dash to the other side of the castle before he had ran into the Divination professor. He made it to Potions without another other spectacular events. Snape barely glanced at the offered note before ordering Harry to take a seat. Aside from his usual snide remarks, nothing out of the ordinary happened in Potions, nor any classes for the rest of the morning. Indeed, Hermione – and later, Ron, after being informed by Hermione – was curious as to why Harry was late that morning, but with the way everyone had been acting around him lately, walking on eggshells, he was able to brush aside their concerns with minimal effort. However, it did not stop him from wondering why or what the new prophecy was about. Luckily, all the teachers were simply going through the NEWT objectives and guidelines, so it did not require much attention. He knew the prophecy was about him, that much was clear from the "Saviour of the World" bit, but he could not understand a word of the rest of the prophecy.
Over the summer, ever since members of the Order had spoke to the Dursleys for him, he had a pretty easy time. Because the members showed up every few days without any pattern or warning, the Dursleys gave up on trying to force him to do chores. The first time they had done that – they had kicked him outside saying he was not allowed in until the whole lawn was perfect – Tonks had conveniently overheard the orders and it took all of Harry's strength to prevent her from hexing the whole family into oblivion. Since then, Harry was free to do as he choose, his friends could call – even visit, to the horror of the whole family – and for the first time ever, summer was actually bearable. Everyone tried their hardest to keep him busy to stop him from brooding over the death of Sirius, and so he had a lot of company over the summer, almost to the extent of too much.
"Well?" the three close friends had sat down at the Gryffindor table for lunch, and now Ron was interrogating him, "Are you ever going to tell us what happened this morning?"
"I told you," Harry said with mock exasperation, "I forgot to set my alarm, slept in, and luckily ran into Firenze who was nice enough to write me a late note!"
"Yes, but there something else bother you, Harry," Hermione added, "you weren't paying much attention in your classes this morning."
"Oh come on Hermione, first day of classes, the same boring lectures about our NEWT, who needs to hear them? The exams aren't until next year anyway!" Ron interjected, opening the start of yet another argument over school.
Harry simply rolled his eyes and shrugged. He wanted to eat his lunch as fast as possible and with the two arguing, he could do so in peace without any interruption. His plan was to get out of the Great Hall as soon as he felt full enough and find Firenze and get him to explain what the prophecy was about. It sounded important, and truth be told, he still hadn't told anyone else of the prophecy Dumbledore told him back in June. Of course, he hadn't had much time to think for himself during the summer months, between homework and the Order members checking on him as well as receiving his OWL results.
On that last topic, Harry was amazed at what he got overall. He was fairly confident that he would receive an O for Defense, and he did. However, he did not expect an O in Charms and the E in Transfiguration was another pleasant result. As he expected, he failed both Divination and History – the former being a complete waste of time anyway, and the latter, he barely wrote anything for his exam. What amazed him the most was his O in Potions. He still wasn't sure whether Dumbledore or McGonagall pulled some strings or other or if he truly did well on the exam. Of course, the written question on Polyjuice Potion was a plus, as well as not having Snape breathing down his neck for the actual potion making. If anything, he was rather shocked to find that he was beginning to like Potions, not that he would admit such a thing to anyone.
Lost in his own thoughts, he was unaware that he had finished his lunch and was simply mashing the crumbs and bits into a mushy mess. However, a loud snort from Ron broke him from his reverie. Quickly downing the last of his pumpkin juice, he muttered a short farewell before dashing out of the Great Hall before anyone else could catch up with him. Hoisting his bag up his shoulder, Harry trotted towards the direction of Firenze's rooms. Upon reaching the heavy oak door, he hesitated. He wasn't sure if it was a great idea to talk to the centaur now instead of after dinner. However, Firenze did say as soon as possible. Taking a deep breath and fearing for the worst, he raised his hand to knock on the door.
Before his fist even made contact with the wood, the door opened and a gentle "come in" was called out. Harry hurried inside and closed the door behind him. This room was very similar to the Divination classroom, made to replicate the interior of a forest. Firenze was sitting in the center of the clearing, reading signs from the fire he had started before him. Gesturing for Harry to make himself comfortable, Firenze slowly doused the fire.
"You are probably wondering about the prophecy, am I correct?" Firenze turned his shockingly blue eyes to look into Harry's green ones.
Harry nodded with slight enthusiasm.
"You probably know that it's about you, but not the meaning of the prophecy itself."
Another nod came from Harry.
"What I tell you now must never be known to anyone else." Firenze waited for Harry's agreement before continuing, "In less than two months time, you will have to make the biggest sacrifice of all – to leave all that you have behind and start a new life."
Harry gasped at the news, "But – but why?"
"The fates have been determined, my boy, I am sorry. But for your sacrifice, you will meet and know those you love but never had a chance to know."
Harry blinked slowly, and asked in a timid voice, "My parents?"
"I cannot tell you any more than that, I'm afraid. But believe me now, from now until the end of October, train as best as you can. Learn all that you can learn here and now, classes be–," here, Firenze gave a soft smile, "damned. Because once you leave, you will no longer have the resources that you do now. I will write you a note and talk to Madame Pince personally to give you unlimited access to the restricted section of the library. I trust that you will not abuse this privilege." Firenze gave Harry a long stare.
Harry fidgeted slightly under the clear gaze before answering, "No, sir."
Firenze nodded, "Of course, your professors will be concerned at your lack of effort in class, perhaps you might want to work on an alibi or excuse of some sort first. But apart from that, I have told you all that I can. Good luck, Harry Potter!"
Firenze reached out a hand, which Harry took and shook firmly. Harry then picked up his bag and slowly walked to his afternoon classes, thinking about what Firenze had said. He came to the conclusion that he would be going back in time, to the time of his parents, with no way of returning home. After all, the prophecy did state that he was "born of the present yet lived of the past", and together with what Firenze said about leaving everything behind and not having the same resources as he would now, it made perfect sense. He decided to take Firenze's advice to learn everything he possibly could and "classes be damned" indeed. He wasn't the Saviour of the World for nothing, after all! His mind made up, his next course of action would be to visit Firenze again after dinner to see when he'd be able to have access to the restricted section of the library.