Celebwen Telcontar: Well, this is to make up for the lost time.
Balrog: She doesn't own anything but the plot. And the wives and children, of course.
Petunia Dursley opened the door when the bell rang.
"Yes?"
"I am known to you, and I would like you to meet my wife and daughter. This is Antigone, and this is Atalanta."
"It's nice to meet you. Who are you?"
"Actaeon of Ithaca."
"Ithaca? The little Greek island?"
"Yes, Ithaca. I have lived there for some time."
"That explains the Greek accent. May I have your surname?"
"I didn't have one in Ithaca, and you'll understand in a moment. May I come in?"
"Of course, of course! What a fool I am. I'm sorry for the mess, but we've been redecorating of late."
"Oh, no problem at all, Mrs. Dursley, no problem at all."
"Father, is this the mean woman you told us about?"
"Hush, Atalanta. I'll answer all of your questions in due time, my daughter."
"Alright. Would you like something to drink? Wine, tea, porter, a beer maybe? We don't have anything fancy, I'm sorry to say. This caught us at a very low moment."
"I'll have a glass of wine, if you please,"
"Wine. And Atalanta will do fine with wine also," Antigone said quietly, slightly smiling.
"Children should not have alcohol," Petunia said.
"Oh, dear. We always give the children wine at meals. The water where we're from isn't safe. It makesus sick, and sowe never drink it. Wine is so much better for you," Antigone said. Petunia got up and got the drinks, Vernon in the kitchen dealing with several things at once. The woman was sure she had seen Actaeon before, but from where? His eyes were so vibrant green… They reminded her of her sister's eyes.
"Who was that, Petunia dear?"
"A young couple that seem to know us. The man... I know him from somewhere, but where?"
"Let me meet them. What are there names?"
"Actaeon, Antigone, and Atalanta of Ithaca."
"No surname? That's odd… Almost funny, if you ask me."
"Now that you think of it, his eyes are like… like hers, if you know what I mean."
"The boy had those eyes too. We haven't seen him in three weeks, so I should hope that he is gone for good."
"It'd be nice…" she whispered wistfully. By then, the drinks were finished being poured, and she was going out into the living room again.
"Mrs. Dursley, before we get on, I'd like to tell you something. I have somehow skipped time, and have gone back in time for twenty-six years, or three weeks your time. You knew me as Harry Potter, though now I am married to my wife, born in Troy and raised with Paris, Hector, Cassandra, Polyxena, and the like. She knew King Priam, and his wife Hecube—"
"OUT! OUT! I WON'T HAVE YOUR KIND IN MY HOME! OUT! OUT!" Petunia roared, throwing a small ornament at Actaeon, who fended it off easily.
"Antigone, Atalanta, go out and stand near what used to be the horses. I'll take care of this," Actaeon cried in Greek. Petunia looked like someone had struck her across the face.
"Did you just speak Ancient Greek?" Petunia breathed.
"Yes. Do you know it?"
"I studied it in school. I loved Greece, and its history… but… you…"
"I could recount my time in Greece for you. Personally there would be no argument if someone asked me to go back. That land is my home, no matter how long I spent on the seas or with the Greek army besieging Troy."
"You were in the Iliad?"
"Yes. I fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War. I knew Odysseus, and became severely claustrophobic when I was in the Trojan Horse for over three-quarters of a day. Believe me, you wouldn't like it in there; the smells were atrocious, body odor, wet wood, salt, and the fact that some of us had to… how do I put this tactfully?"
"You don't have to. I get the point. Can you come back sometime and tell me about it? Sometime when Vernon and Dudley are gone? They wouldn't appreciate a good tale of Greek literature and adventure. I've read the Iliad and the Odyssey so many times that it is burned into my brain, but I would love to hear it firsthand. Homer can be so… I hate to say dull, but…"
"Petunia, what was the ruckus about?" Vernon asked in the doorway.
"I overreacted to something. You wouldn't understand."
"I see. Well, young man, I suppose if she feels you to be trustworthy, I can trust you as well."
"At the moment, I must return to my family, and find the people whom I must recount my tale to first of all. I would be pleasured to spend time with you, but alas duty cries out to me."
"Poetic, isn't he, Vernon?"
"Bah. Poetry. Just like that Ilidyssey stuff you read."
"Iliad and Odyssey!"
"Whatever."
At that moment, Actaeon and his family were in the transfigured automobile, and driving to Hogwarts. He didn't trust himself to Apparate here, because he didn't remember enough of the countryside to be of any use. When he got to King's Cross station, he Transfigured the Porsche back into a team of horses and a cart, then had the black horses run and take to the skies, a glamour charm on them making them look like a Porsche to Muggles.
When the team sprouted wings and flew off towards the Burrow, the image of the Porsche vanished, and the horses and cart had an invisibility spell placed on them.
Albus Dumbledore was getting ready to try sending a letter to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Severus when the office door opened. In stepped a man looking somewhat like Harry, only he was older and had longer hair. A scar ran across the man's face, from his eye to his chin, and his hands were gnarled with hard work. The wand the man carried was an oak wand, the tip radiating special power. At his side a blade was sheathed, and he carried a broad bronze shield. A woman and a girl were at his side. As soon as he stepped in, a tall redhead with the same equipment, more battle scars, and a woman stepped in, followed by a man who looked remarkably like Severus and a woman who looked like Hermione, carrying a small child.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore. My name is Actaeon of Ithaca. You knew me as Harry Potter, though."
"You... how did you... You must have traveled through time. Who are the others though?"
"This is my wife, Antigone, and my daughter Atalanta. The woman near Tithonus... err... Ron, is his wife, Deianira. Kilissa... Hermione, is holding her daughter, Harmonia."
"How did you wind up with Greek names, spouses, and children?" Albus asked.
"We stayed in Ancient Greece for twenty six years. Severus stayed in the same town and time for four years."
"Dear Merlin! What time frame did you stay in?"
"This scar is from the Trojan war. We took part in the war, and destroyed Troy. Severus and Kilissa weren't there, Kilissa keeping a tavern and Severus arriving after we had left. We spent ten years on Circe's island, and she gave us new wands: Argo oak, sacred oak from the prow of the Argo, and a hair from her own head."
"I see. Well, I am lacking a Defense teacher and a Potions Master. Severus, would you kindly take up your former place as Potions Master? Harry... or Action?"
"Actaeon. I'll gladly take the position of Defense teacher, if you want."
"With you having just returned from Ancient Greece, I may ask you to teach some of the students how to fight the Muggle way."
"Is there such a thing as an Anti-Magic ward, where magic can't be used within the perimeter of a certain area?"
"That might be possible. If so, what would you do?"
"Use ancient Greek Muggle technology. If you would hire a Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, I would gratefully teach an Ancient Greek Muggle Weaponry class with Tithonus."
"That might be good. What kind of weaponry would you use?"
"Spears, swords, bows, and shields. Also how to keep your head in battle, how to keep your pain from incapacitating you, how to care for your horses, ancient Greek field medicine and wound tending—"
"Meaning?"
"How to stitch up your own wounds—without anesthetic. How to keep you from dying after the battle is over and the victors have returned. How to keep your own weapons and how to use multiple weaponry techniques, used for the best possible quick deaths of your opposing force. If you leave a wounded opponent, he will be trying to kill the person who wounded him. Never leave a living enemy at your back."
"Very sensible, Actaeon."
"Indeed."
"Your request will be granted."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Please—call me Albus. You two are now Physical Defense and Physical Trainers. Hermione er... Kilissa, is there any position you desire?"
"Personally, I have often been fond of Charms. But Muggle Studies, in the Greek times, would be a highly coveted position."
"Excellent idea, Herm...Kilissa. The position will be required of all, same as the Physical Training class. The Greek Muggle Studies will encompass all other non-militant walks of life; such as garments, cooking, et cetera. We will live as a Greek city-state, with Actaeon, Kilissa, Severus, and Tithonus as the monarchs. What about you, my dears? Would you like to join Kilissa teaching the people these days how to sew and cook in your time?" Albus asked Deianira and Antigone. They nodded, and the deal was sealed.
Celebwen Telcontar: Well, how did you like that? A long one just for reading! There's an extra long one coming up next!
Balrog: Thanks! An extra long one so I can yell at you extra long for making it extra long!
Celebwen Telcontar: I have a bucket of ice water, and I know how to use it! Please review people!
