Temporal Flux

Chapter Ten: The Raven

Jared packed up his school bag with some supplies for the campout. He wasn't too worried about being outdoors; rather he was more concerned about being in close quarters with Ron and Harry who were watching him carefully after they had returned from Quidditch practice. Hermione was doing the same thing. Jared was being as quiet as possible and trying to draw as little attention as possible. It wasn't working.

"Are you done?" asked Harry as he watched Crookshanks pad his way into the dorm room. "He's been coming over a lot."

"I guess he likes me," said Jared with a shrug as Crookshanks rubbed up against his shins. He didn't really have it in him to tell Crookshanks to go away. Ron strolled in, drying his hair. He took one look at Crookshanks and Jared and shook his head. Jared didn't bother to ask what was wrong. It was a good idea that he didn't tell Ron that he was his son. At this point in time, Jared somehow doubted that Ron was thinking about having any children. Jared decided it was best to stay out of Ron's way.

"We should get down soon," said Harry. "Hermione's waiting for us. Come on, Ron."

"Give me a sec," said Ron as he buttoned up the front of his shirt. For a fleeting moment, Jared remembered sitting on top of a hamper, watching his father getting ready for the day. Ron always buttoned up his shirt last. He didn't wear ties that often for work. The only thing really missing was Ron's aftershave that Hermione would eventually get for him. Jared shook his head and picked up his bag. Crookshanks followed him out.

Ron and Harry quickly joined Jared on the stairs. Hermione was patiently waiting for them on one of the soft cushiony chairs. She glanced down to see Crookshanks, practically refusing to leave Jared's side. "Why are you always with him, Crookshanks?" asked Hermione mildly. Crookshanks meowed at her, but really couldn't give an answer. "And why do you let him?" she directed to Jared.

"Like I said, I had a part-Kneazle when I was growing up. He died when I was five, but we had a lot of fun together. We spent one afternoon hiding my father's chess pieces," answered Jared.

"He must have not been too happy when he got back," said Hermione as she got to her feet.

"No, he wasn't particularly thrilled," agreed Jared. "He couldn't really yell at me or our part-Kneazle. I was two and he was just old. My mother wouldn't let him. Let's go down for breakfast. I'm starving."

They all trooped down to the Great Hall. Almost everyone was a touch nervous about going off and camping out. One could have easily predicted that the house that was going to have the most trouble would be Slytherin, and this would have been a very correct assumption. They spent the most time grumbling about it because Professor De Luca simply didn't give anyone enough time to prepare for the outdoor conditions.

Pansy was the first of the Slytherins girls to voice her complaints. Now most of the girls from the other houses agreed with her, at least mildly, but she was such a horrible person that no one was about to support her or her whining. Draco moaned over having to sleep on the ground, but really had nothing to threaten with.

The house that was handling the campout best was Gryffindor. Harry was used to not sleeping in the best of conditions. After living with the Dursleys for years, he had developed the highest tolerance to discomfort out of all of the Gryffindors. Ron was used to sharing his living space with more than one person. Dean, Seamus, and Neville had about the same amount of tolerance. Besides, the boys had spent six years living together in one room, so they didn't seem much of a difference.

Hermione was all right with the campout. It was Lavender and Parvati who had problems. Neither girl ever had to sleep on the ground before because they had come from wizarding families. Hermione's father had taken her out camping on more than one occasion and argued that the campout would be an excellent learning experience for everyone.

Meanwhile Jared kept to himself, except for giving some looks towards Ginny. She knew what she was going to have to do as soon as the sixth years left. She had kept the picture in a safe place as well as keeping a visual memory of it in her mind. Jared and Ginny couldn't look at each other for very long because of Ron's suspicious glances.

Professor De Luca walked into the Great Hall with a huge grin on his face that made all the sixth years very uncertain. "Good morning, everyone," he greeted jovially.

"What's so good about it?" said Ron out loud, which was followed by many murmurs of agreement. He said exactly what Jared was thinking.

"It's a beautiful day and there's not a cloud in the sky. That's something to be happy about," replied De Luca without dropping his grin.

Jared shrugged his shoulders. Harry had an odd feeling of déjà vu as he glanced at Jared because he was wearing the same expression as Ron. In fact, Jared was unconsciously leaning the same way. Harry was sitting next to Ron, but across from Jared. He glanced at Ron for a moment, then at Jared. Wearing an expression of utmost confusion, he turned his head and saw that Ginny was staring straight at him. She had the expression of a cat that had swallowed a very large canary and didn't have any trouble getting it down. Her look was reminiscent of either Fred or George.

If that didn't make Harry suspicious, Jared also sat next to Hermione. Harry blinked to refresh his eyes as he glanced at Ron, then Hermione, and finally Jared. Once again, he stole a glance at Ginny who gave him a smirk and Harry probably just imagined her nod of confirmation. "Harry, are you all right?" asked Hermione, noticing the look on his face.

"I'm fine. Just fine," replied Harry automatically. Jared stared at him, too.

Ron wasn't paying much attention. "Leave him alone, Hermione," he told her. Jared was more in tuned than Ron and knew that there was something wrong. Ginny cleared her throat at that moment to get everyone's attention.

Professor De Luca went over the rules of the campout before they could get their gear outside. The school was providing tents that each of the houses had to put up. The rules were as followed: the houses would compete for both house points as well as grades, any sabotage would not be tolerated, and the boys and girls were to not to mix in each others' tents. These rules left too much room for other things to happen.

Jared was the first one to the section marked off for the Gryffindor boys, followed by the others. The boys stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, but then eyes fell on Ron, simply because he was a prefect. Ron grabbed a bucket. "I'm going to go and get some water for everyone," he volunteered.

"I'll go with you," offered Neville.

"What about the rest of us?" asked Jared.

Ron studied the rest of the boys and asked, "Dean and Seamus, you guys went to the World Cup before, and so you do know how to pitch a tent?"

"Sure we do," answered Seamus as Dean nodded with him. "We'll pitch the tent."

"We should go out and get some firewood," pointed out Harry as he glanced at Jared who nodded slowly.

"Meet back here as soon as possible," said Ron as everyone depart in their respective directions. Hermione and the other Gryffindor girls met up with him and after a brief chat, Hermione went with Ron and Neville to get water. Lavender and Parvati choose to assemble the tents with Seamus and Dean.

Harry took the initiative and led the way, purposefully leading Jared as far away from the others as possible. Jared followed him silently for five minutes before he noticed that Harry wasn't picking up any wood. He stopped and noticed that they were just entering the Forbidden Forest. Of course, Jared had been in there before, but was feeling more nervous because Harry was deliberately walking in. He was the one who had warned Jared numerous times about going into the forest. "Where are we going? Aren't we supposed to be picking up fire wood?" asked Jared in a whisper.

Harry didn't respond. He merely continued with Jared slowing down behind him. As soon as they could no longer hear any voices, Harry stopped and pivoted suddenly, causing Jared to stumble back. His heels tripped a root as he fell back. However, Harry's hand grabbed his wrist just in time.

"I asked you before about Hermione by the tree," said Harry in a deadly calm voice without releasing Jared's wrist. In fact, he tightened his hold. Jared visibly winched. "You said that you were in loved her. I want to know exactly who you are right now."

"Let me go," hissed Jared through his teeth. "I didn't do anything wrong. And you're wrong. I said I loved her. I didn't say that I was in love with her. Ron is. Not me. I love her, and so do you. We just don't love her the same way."

There was a puzzling look on Harry's face as he reluctantly released Jared from his grasp. "I have a feeling I've met you before," admitted Harry slowly. "Everything about you seems so familiar, but it's different. All mixed up."

Jared sighed. Harry was so much calmer than Ginny, but how was he supposed to explain himself? "What is it about me?" whispered Jared. Maybe, Harry wasn't noticing as much.

"You look so familiar…but it's impossible," answered Harry as he focused his eyes on Jared. His eyes were taking in all of him. "But it's your eyes. They look a lot like Hermione's."

"That's because they are hers. I got them from her. The hair and skin coloring, too." Jared held his breath waiting for Harry's reaction. His green eyes because as large as saucers as he started walking around Jared.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Harry after a minute and on the second time he walked around. "How?!" Now it was Harry's turn to stumble back, but Jared stopped him.

Jared decided to put all the cards on the table. Without Ginny there, he needed someone to cover for him and only Harry could do it. Jared had no choice, but to break up the trio. He started to speak in his natural voice, complete with his accent. His voice didn't vary much from his father's, "Listen to me very carefully and stop yelling like that. You're going to draw attention to us. They'll think I'm attacking you or something."

Harry's mouth opened a bit as he stared at Jared. "You sound exactly like Ron!" It had never occurred to Harry that he sounded like his own father, too. Most of the time a person's voice sounded different in their heads compared to how everyone else hears them. "But you're something that Hermione would say."

"My parents are the last people who should be coming here right now," said Jared calmly. "Now, are you willing to listen to me?"

"You've got my attention. Completely."

"There's too much to explain right now. And they'll be expecting us to come back with the wood at any moment, so I'll make this as quickly as possible."

"Why don't we collect the wood while you explain yourself?"

"Fine."

As they collected the wood, Jared summed up almost everything that had happened. He mentioned that Ginny knew, but was very curious as to how Harry figured it out. "How did you know?"

"I didn't," admitted Harry as he stooped down to get a piece of wood. "I was wondering about what you said at the tree. Don't worry I didn't tell Ron or Hermione. I don't know how Hermione would have handled it, but I'm pretty sure that Ron would have been angry."

"Thanks. I don't know why I say the things that I do. I'm very impulsive and a smart mouth. My mother says that I get it from her."

"Well, that explains why you called Ron a freak, but if he's your father that doesn't make much sense."

"He was accusing me of stuff. I got defensive and it was just so easy to antagonize him. I didn't know that they'd start fighting like that. But he was being stupid." Jared sounded very petulant and stubborn. Harry sighed because he could see a glimmer in Jared's eyes that was nearly identical to Hermione's whenever she was insistent about being right about something.

"How do your parents stand you in the future?" muttered Harry, picking up another piece of wood and handing it to Jared.

"I have no idea…my dad wonders how he does it, too," answered Jared with a clever grin. "I don't think they realize how annoying their little quirks were until I started exhibiting them. My dad was so annoyed with my commentary until my mum pointed out that I got it from him."

"Among other things, I'm sure," agreed Harry. "You'll have to switch back to that accent you're using."

Jared gave him a long look before he spoke, "Are you going to keep my secret for the time being?"

"Answer me one question about the future," said Harry and Jared nodded. "Now it's something I'm just going to take a guess at, but I was wondering where I fit in all of this. What's in the store for me?"

"You'll live," answered Jared with a smile. "You have to. We'll need you later on to protect me."

"Why would you need protection?" asked Harry.

"Let's just say that some events will take place that will force my family into hiding. You won't be with us. You'll be our Secret Keeper because you're my parents' best friends and you're also my godfather." Jared gave Harry a wider grin.

"I become your Secret Keeper?" asked Harry with alarm. "What happens?"

"I can't say anymore than that. Let's head back. There are more important things we have to deal with right now. Aunt Ginny's taken over researching Magnus' identity right now, but there's no telling if she'll find anything."

"You're right, but if this man's after Ron or Hermione, wouldn't be easier to tell them?" asked Harry. "You wouldn't have to say that you were their son, just that you're from the future."

"They wouldn't know enough to help us. Ron's not trained yet to handle it. Hermione's diary is already helping us. They're not going to handle it very well. I know those people. I come from them."

"Hermione has a diary?" asked Harry with genuine surprise. "I didn't know that."

"Let's head back now," suggested Jared as he turned back. "I don't like being here longer than necessary. Someone warned me about this place."

"Who?" asked Harry.

Jared smirked at him and replied, "You did."

A raven watched from above with its beady little eyes. He saw the young couple-to-be walking together from the water source. The red head was still growing. His body was lanky and skinny compared to the muscle he would eventually build. The brown haired girl walking next to him, was blossoming into womanhood quite beautifully. The raven had never really seen her up close before.

"So, where did Harry go?" asked Hermione as she pulled a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"He and Jared went to go gather the wood," answered Ron.

Hermione gave him a worried look, "You mean you let Harry go alone with him?"

"You're the one who kept saying that you didn't think that Jared would hurt Harry, are you saying that you've changed your mind?" asked Ron.

Hermione threw her hands up in the air. "Never mind," she muttered.

"Now what?" asked Ron exasperatedly.

"It's just that you don't like Jared. What do you have against him, Ron?" asked Hermione.

"Why do you like him so much?" demanded Ron. "If you like him so much, then maybe you should be around here."

Hermione felt frantic at that moment. "What gives you the right to be jealous?" she said in a harsh whisper. "And I asked you before, why do you come after me the moment you think someone's remotely interested in me?"

Ron's face was red. "Why would I be jealous? You're right. Do whatever the Hell you want," he responded angrily.

"What's going on with you two?" asked Jared as he and Harry came up to them. They had dropped off the wood already. "Where's Neville?" asked Harry.

"He took one of the buckets back already," replied Hermione as she ran her fingers through her hair. Jared looked at his parents, then at Harry.

He didn't see the raven that was watching him. The raven took off at that moment. The black bird flew high into the air until it was up to the mountains. They were the same mountains that Sirius Black used before as shelter when Harry was in the Triwizard Tournament. The raven changed into a man that did not match the picture that Jared had sketched.

"Looks like his mudblood whelp has shown up. What to do next?" he said to himself as he paced back and forth. "In order to stop the brat, the only way to go is to kill the mudblood bitch. Yes, that would be best, but not before he realizes what he is about to lose. I can't kill him. I want to feel it. I need him to feel it."

"I wonder what happened," whispered Jared to Harry as they watched the tension between Ron and Hermione. "Is it something I did?"

"I think so," answered Harry in an equally soft whisper. "You ever think that you're the reason why Ron's going crazy. Do you know what it looks like when you spend so much time with his sister and Hermione?"

Jared gave him a brief quizzical look before a dawning realization hit him. Sometimes he was just as oblivious to his actions as Ron. "Oh. I didn't know he was mad at me for that. But, he doesn't have to be. I mean she's—well, you know what she is to me. That's just sick."

"They don't know that," retorted Harry. "And I thought you were supposed to be really smart."

"He doesn't really change much. He doesn't like it when any man looks at her a certain way. She's kind of learning how to ignore it."

"Well, they're going to be at each other's throats, if you continue to do what you're doing."

"Fine, I'll stay out of the way."

"Just stuck with me for now."

Jared gave Harry an appreciative look. "You should have told me sooner," went on Harry. "I'm pretty sure that I would have sworn to protect you long before you ever came."

"Thanks, Harry. But what about them?"

"I'll take care of it," Harry assured him. "Just stay out of the way for now."

Jared nodded and went into the tent as Harry approached them. "Are you ever going to finish bring those buckets?" he asked with a smile. He was having a hard time not smiling at them. It was exactly the same grin that Ginny had been wearing earlier.

"Yeah, we were just coming," called Ron as he carried two buckets. He had taken the one from Hermione, despite her resistance. "Are you all right, mate?"

"Fine," replied Harry. "Why are you asking me that?"

"You went off with Jared by yourself," answered Ron. "Hermione was worried."

Hermione's cheeks were bright red as she exclaimed indignantly, "I was not!"

"Nothing happened. Jared and I gathered the wood and brought it back. We'd all better get back and make sure everything's ready. Tomorrow's going to be a hard day. Professor De Luca will be inspecting the work we've done. So, we should get moving," urged Harry.

Harry was absolutely right. Something was about to happen that would change the course of events already in motion. The raven was already waiting for the next day, which was going to be a very hard one for everyone, especially Ron and Hermione.


AN: The raven's references to Hermione and Jared are less than kind. Harry now knows, but the next part's going to be hard. Jared maybe in more trouble than he realizes. We have yet to see what Ginny yields in her research. We are getting pretty close to one of Jared's parents figuring out who he is, but not before he annoys them even more with the assistance of his favorite aunt and godfather.


Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story belongs to me and cannot be posted anywhere else without my permission.