Time Gone Bye part 11
By imaginaryfriend101
Whoa… chapter 11, been a long time coming but here it is
"Speech" and /thoughts/
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The leaky cauldron is know to all parts to the wizarding world, For some it is the place where they where first introduced to the world of magic, to others it is a lively pub and meeting place. And unfortunately to quite a few it is also considered the rat hole that the vermin crawl into their world from. But to Harry Potter, Boy-who-lived and time stranded teen, it was turning out to be the setting for his best Christmas ever.
Oh sure the Christmas's at Hogwarts where great, but he always felt isolated in the empty castle and when the rest of the school stayed for the Yule ball it just felt like another school day. But here, at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry got to see different people everyday… and not one of them gawked at him.
Harry shook his head as he waved his wand causing a long stream of decorations become attached to the wall/it takes me being in a different time for me not to be recognised/ he thought to himself.
"Good job Xander" Tom the Bar keep said as he clapped a hand on Harry's, otherwise known as Xander to the rest of the world at the moment, shoulder. "Haven't seen the old place this shiny since… " He said with a toothless grin as he looked around the decorated room, when he had asked Xander to put up a few decorations and make the place more festive he had never expected this. Festoons of colour and pretty shapes covered every blank space on the wall, and even some of the paintings… well the ugly ones anyway. "Well since never actually" Tom continued with a chuckle
Xander ducked his head in embarrassment, he supposed he had got a bit carried away, but he wanted to make his first Christmas special, the Dursley had never allowed Harry to put up any of the few cheap decorations they had, that just showed how 'much' festive cheer they didn't have. Xander broke himself from his dark thoughts as he offered "I can take some down if you want sir"
Tom turned Xander round so they where facing each other with the most disapproving face he could muster, "One, don't call me Sir, me name Tom to you and everyone else" he stated "and two, who said I wanted you to take them down, you've done a good job"
"Thanks sir… erm Tom" Xander replied shyly
"Good lad, now it's time for every employee favourite time, pay time" Tom said with a grin as he passed a pouch of coins to Xander.
"Thanks Tom" Xander said easier this time, he always got a sense of accomplishment when he got paid probably due to never having no money growing up, ruddy Dursleys, it was better then house points any day.
"Now get, your shift ended five minutes ago unless you want to work a bit more" Tom said with a good natured grin
Xander laughed "No thanks Tom, got to get a few Christmas presents" Xander said as he quickly left just hearing Tom call from behind "Be back by Five, your working the Bar this evening" Xander knew that Tom just wanted him trained up so he could work on the bar at night when it was most busy but before he could call back he was out the door.
Xander hurried across the dirty alley and tapped the correct brick opening Diagon alley before him, spread out in all its ornate glory. This is what he liked best, the freedom to do as he wanted, to never ask permission to do something simple like fly, to be another face in the crowd, something he could never do in his own time.
/This is the best Christmas Ever/ he thought with a Happy smile as he made his way to the Duelling chamber to get in a bit of practise.
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Xander stood at the bar as dried a glass in his hand using a towel, he could have used a charm but this gave him something to do in the mostly empty bar. He was interrupted from his vital task by a familiar voice.
"Hi can I have a butterbeer please" the voice said in a rush as Xander turned to face the owner, he glanced up and met the eyes of his customer and had his suspicions confirmed.
"Xander!" The voice cried shocked
"Hi Morganna" Xander said barely above a whisper "One butterbeer coming right up"
Morganna stood in shock as her former boyfriend reached down into the cooler beneath the bar, pulled out a bottle of butterbeer, flicked off the cap and placed in on the bar in one smooth motion. "That'll be 3 Sickles and 5 Knuts please" he said in that same voice barely above a whisper
"Er… here you go" Morganna said uncertainly as she handed him the money "So …erm… you work here now?" she asked to start a conservation
"Yep"
"Just over the holidays right?"
"Yep"
If Morganna was upset by his abruptness then she didn't show it, well she is a Slytherin after all. She reached across the bar and grabbed his arm, stopping him leaving and forcing him to look at her.
She took a deep breath "Look, Xander, I… I just wanted to say that I sorry if I hurt you" Now she started she couldn't stop and it all came out in a rush "Me and Bill, we just happened, one minute we're discussing prefect duties, the next we we're…" she faltered
"Snogging?" Xander suggested
"Yeah" she paused to recollect herself "I never meant to hurt you" she said as she leg go of his arm
"I know" he said quietly "You cant help how you feel"
An uncomfortable silence settled between them, which was only broken as a Red headed head boy snuck up and grabbed his girlfriend around the waist from behind "Hi babe"
"Bill" Morganna shrieked turning in his arms to face him, then was dawning dismay realised who was behind the bar, she turned back round to say something and found… nothing, an empty bar.
"Hey where Tom, I'm gagging for a butterbeer" Bill moaned
"I… erm… don't know?" she said in honest surprise, then a smile passed across her face as she realised that that uncomfortable situation had been avoided "Come on, it's a nice day lets go to Pendragon park" she said as she got her stool and started dragging her current boyfriend out of the door to the entrance to Diagon Alley.
"Okay" Bill said in bewilderment
She pushed him through the exit before turning back to give the bar one last suspicious glance, and then she too left an empty bar to give no witness to the disembodied voice.
"Finite" and with that word the body of Xander Jackson, formerly known as Harry Potter faded back into view.
"See you around Morganna"
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Journal Entry
Just a quick note, saw Morganna today, she was going on a date with Bill. Luckily I avoided an awkward situation by disappearing… literally.
I don't know how I should feel about them, I mean I'm sad that me and Morganna didn't work out, and I kind of feel a nasty happiness that them two wont work out. But most of all I feel angry, not because Morganna cheated on me, (well not all) but because that she lied to my face about it.
I've listened to too many lies in my life.
Thankfully my basic Occulmancy training helps me keep a handle of my emotions, and lets me focus on more positive things like the New Year eve party that Tonks has invited me to. I'm going to head to the 'Tonks Treehouse' early on the day after tomorrow to meet Alan and Tonks so we can exchange Christmas presents, I hope they like my gifts, unfortunately I didn't have much money to spend so bought them Muggle items and charmed them myself.
Well talk to you soon.
Harry Potter
AKA Xander Jackson
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Xander tumbled out off the fireplace at the Tonks Treehouse and collided with someone causing them to fall on top of him and land in a large heap on the floor. "I hate Floo travel" he moaned.
"Well if you land like that it's no small wonder" said a Familiar voice
"Mr Tonks!" Xander jumped up as if burned, "I'm sorry Mr Tonks, I didn't know you was there, I-"
"Xander, please relax, it was an accident, no harm done" Daniel Tonks as he pulled himself to his feet "I used to have the same problem coming through the floo, I was crashing and tumbling into anyone or thing when I shot out of it. It's how I met my wife in fact."
"Oh…" Xander mumbled
"Well I don't think you came to talk and would much rather see my daughter, I'll just go see what's keeping her" Mr Tonks said as he left the room and went into the hall. Leaving Xander to have a look around the living room, and all the photographs arranged the room. There were a whole series of pictures on one walls of the Tonks family growing up, He was focused on one picture where what looked like Tonks was only five with green hair and eyes, trying to eat an ice cream cone when he felt someone approach behind him.
"Hello Tonks"
"Sweet Merlin you've gotta tell me how you do that one of these days"
"No can do Tonks" Xander said as he turned round "Trade secret"
"One day I'll find out Mr Jackson" Tonks declared as she waggled a finger at him
Xander gave her a mock bow "I don't doubt it Ms Tonks… But not today" /I'll tell her myself someday when this damnable oath is finished/
"Glad you could make it" Tonks said as she pulled him into a hug, "But I didn't expect you so early"
Xander shrugged "I got off work early, so I thought that I'll come early, unless your not ready, I can come back later if you want"
Tonks grabbed his arm "Don't be silly, I just didn't expect you, we're still getting ready ourselves" Tonks looked like she had just realised something "Come on, lets hide in my room before we're dragged into helping"
Xander didn't have a chance to say anything as he was dragged into her room, which was in a word pink, "Err…"
"Sit down" Tonks said as she gestured to the bed, which was pink.
"Thanks"
Tonks bounced onto the other side of the bed "Now onto the best bit… Presents"
Xander laughed "I wondered how long it would take you to get onto that"
She reached under the bed she was sat on "I know I put it here somewhere, Ah-ha, here it is!" she cried in triumph as she pulled out a box and handed it to Xander. "This is from me, Mum and Dad put in a bit towards it, you know…. in thanks for…" she trailed off
"Its okay" he said softly as he reached across to gave her an uncertain hug
"Thanks" she said as she returned the hug, "now here… open your present" she pushed the, yes pink, wrapped box into his lap.
He disentangled his arm from around her to began to unwrap the box, slowly like he always did, savouring his present.
"Tch, not like that… like this" Tonks reprimanded as she ripped the paper off the box to unveil a Wizarding Wireless, "I remember that you said that you didn't listen to music much so I thought that you would like this so you could"
"Thanks, you're going to have to show me how to work it"
"Course" Tonks said with a smile not moving from her position, then her expression turned serious "Now where's my present"
Xander laughed "Here" he said as he pulled something out of his robes and handed it to her "It's not much but I hope you like it.
She ripped off the paper in record to uncover a yellow T-shirt with the words Weird Sisters written across it in Black, "Cool, it matches by hair and eyes at the mo, how did you know… your not a divinator are you"
"Nothing like that… now change your hair to red and your eyes to blue"
Tonks shot a look of betrayal at him /I thought he didn't care what I looked like/ she thought to herself
"go on trust me"
Tonks shrugged /I'll slog him if he try anything/ she thought as she scrunched up her nose and concentrated… "There done… do you prefer this better" she said with an eye roll.
Xander just pointed to her lap with a smile, she followed to where he was pointing to find her new T-shirt , she looked back at him to rebuke him when… /Wait-a-minute/ she thought as she started back at the T-shirt which had changed to Red with Blue writing "Huh?"
"Cool, huh" Xander said with a smile "I charmed it so that it will change colour to match your eyes and hair… it's not great, it can only do a few shades"
"What about if I turned my hair… Pink, and my eyes… yellow"
"Then it would change to those colours, although it would look a bit strange"
Tonks smiled as she held the shirt in her hand /He really doesn't care what I look like/ she thought as she gave him a tight hug "Thank you" she whispered against his chest
"It's only a T-shirt" Xander said in bewilderment.
/Men/ Tonks thought in exasperation as she leaned back to look him in the eyes "Thank you for being my friend, thank you for not caring that I can be anyone I wish, and thank you…, and thank you for caring about me"
/That's just what I always wanted/ he thought "Your welcome" he whispered "Everyone deserves someone to… care for them".
Tonks slowly licked her lips as she realised how close they were "Does that include you?" she asked softly.
Before he could answer the Door swung open "Hey guys, your dad told me you were in here… oh I'm not interrupting am I?" Alan asked from the doorway in greeting causing two different thought to pass through the pair heads.
/Dammit Gut, just a few more seconds, that's all I wanted, anything more that that would have been a bonus/
/Thank you Alan, Sweet Merlin I cant believe I almost did that… I almost kissed her, and I can't do that… I think/
"It's okay Alan, Tonks was just thanking me for her present" Xander said as he pulled himself away from the bed where Tonks was sitting to address Alan "I hope you've got me something good…"
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It was several hours later when Alan finally managed to pull Xander from a group of men talking about how effective Fudge was as a minister, and into a quiet corner away from everyone. "Okay now will you tell me what happened"
"Bout what" his friend said evasively
"About you and Tonks and what I walked in on"
"Nothing"
"Nothing" Alan said in disbelief "So 'nothing' is the reason that most of the Girls are shooting me murderous looks… what happened"
Xander shrugged
"What happened" Alan repeated
Xander sighed "I almost kissed her"
"Then what?"
"You walked in"
"Oh man I'm sorry, if I knew…"
Xander stared at him confused "What do you mean"
"I mean, I'm sorry I ruined your chance with the girl who can be anyone you fancy"
"Tonks is more than that" Xander exclaimed
Alan smiled "Good, Tonks is my friend, I would hate for you to be messing her about" he said causing Xander to shake his head in confusion "Look I don't see what the problem is" Alan said "I mean, you like Tonks right"
"Yeah of course, she funny, smart, pretty, she a good friend" Xander answered
"And, don't tell her I told you this, but I'm pretty sure she like you too"
"Really…?" Xander asked in disbelief /Tonks like me…/
"Yeah so…"
"So…?"
"So ask her out, take her to Hogmeade, date her, or whatever you crazy kids are calling it these days"
"It's not that simple" Xander muttered
"Why not… it's not anything to do with that Morgana is it?"
"No, nothing like that"
"Well I don't see what the problem is"
/How about causing a paradox in the time-space continuum/ Xander thought with an eyeroll
"Look, I know you was burnt by Morganna" Alan said "But you got to get back in the saddle, and I have a good feeling about you two"
"So it get the Gut seal of approval?" Xander asked with a smile
"Damn straight Skippy"
Xander sighed "I'll think about it"
"Good" Alan said pleased that his friend was at least thinking about it "Now come on, there a party going on" A thought seemed to strike him "Hey do you think there any of those mini sausages on cocktail sticks left?"
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It was two day before Hogwarts started again when Xander nervously stepped through the nondescript wooden door off to the side of the entrance of the ministry. "May I help you?" a secretary called out from behind a plain wooden desk
"Yes, I'm looking for Marty"
"Hmm…" the Secretary said as she shifted papers on her desk "I'm afraid he's not available at the moment but can I take a message"
"What… oh just tell him that Xander Jackson came round for a chat"
The secretary looked up at him "Is that Alexander Harry Jackson, the temporal exchange student?"
/Temporal Exchange Student… well that's one way of putting it I guess/ He thought as he nodded
"I thought you'll be taller, Very well, please sit over there and I'll inform Marty that you're here"
Xander made no complaint as he went and sat down, it wasn't five minutes later that the man of the hour, Marty, came out "Xander good to see you, what brings you here" he said in welcome
"I actually needed to talk to you about something personal" Xander admitted
"Very well, come this way" Marty said as he made a gesture to the secretary that Xander missed telling her to cancel all appointments.
"If you're busy I can come back later"
"Not at all, I've got time"
"But the secretary…"
"Tells everyone I'm busy so I can get a moments peace" Marty lied, "So Mr. Jackson, what brings you here to the department of mysteries"
"Its kind of personal" Xander admitted
"That's alright son, just tell me what wrong" Marty urged
"Well… there this girl"
Marty refused the urge to smile "Really… so what about this girl"
"Well, we like each other, and I was wondering if it was okay for us to… go out"
Marty lean back in his chair, normally time-travellers were discouraged from seeking relationship incase of the 'fry' paradox, becoming ones own Grandfather. But in Xander case, he wasn't from a distance future, according to Xander, he was already alive at the time. And having a positive love interest might help him from falling for the lures of Dark magic that the Department of Mysteries intelligence showed that he had begun to study… the defence of anyway, but you couldn't be too careful.
"If you really like her, then go for it" Marty said "But be careful not to give away any secrets"
"Really? I thought that you'll be against it"
"You cant deny how you feel" Marty said simply
"It's just that… I know her… from my own time I mean"
"Ah…And that's the crux of the problem isn't it, your afraid of changing the timeline"
Xander nodded
"Well Mr. Jackson, do you know if your future lady friend had a boyfriend in your previous time" /Hmmm… this time-travel makes for interesting sentences/
Xander paused and thought about it "Err… I don't know" he said in surprise.
"So how do you know that you didn't go out?"
"Err…" Xander muttered as he tried to get his head round that idea
"Look Mr. Jackson, all I can give you is the same advice that we give every time-traveller that stranded. 'Live your own life, make your own choices, and be happy, just make sure you don't create a paradox'"
"That's it" Xander couldn't hide the disbelief in his voice
"Hey" Marty said defensibly "There good words to live by no matter what time your in"
"How will I know if I would create a paradox?"
Marty shrugged "Sometimes" he said "Its worth the risk"
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And that it… chapter eleven finished
I decide to spend all day writing this, till I finished and including a lot of breaks I took me a day to write it. Sorry for the wait but I wanted to get all my exams out of the way before I even started writing the next part of this
Hope the wait was worth it
Imaginaryfriend101