Begin again: revised

(Harry)

I sat up with a start, only to hit my head on the ceiling. Wait, that's the stairs in the Dursleys. I went back, but how far? Suddenly memories flooded my brain; I was seven and today was my birthday. I got up and made my way to the kitchen. They were all there, all alive and healthy. Aunt Petunia told me to make breakfast and I did.

I said nothing, as was the standard of the time, and watched them with horrified awe. "What are you staring at freak," Dudley said rudely. I said nothing in reply, but Vernon still punished me by sending me out to work in the garden.

Once outside, I hatched a daring idea. Checking to see if they were watching, I apparated away to Hermione's house. Once there, I transfigured my clothes into something more presentable and knocked on the door.

(Hermione)

I woke up and sat up quickly. As I looked around, I saw the walls were unscathed from the death eater attack. Quickly running into the kitchen, I found my parents sitting there having breakfast. I ran up and hugged them tightly. They were real, they weren't another dream.

"Hermione, what is it dear," mom asked.

I didn't say anything at first, just held on to them.

"Hermione, did you have a bad dream," asked dad.

I nodded, "It felt so real."

They wrapped their arms around me, saying comforting things. After breakfast, I heard a knock on the door. Mom went to answer it and called back, "Hermione, you have a guest."

Coming into the living room, there he was; the one person who was my rock in the storm, Harry Potter.

"Hello Hermione."

"Hi Harry." I completely forgot my parents were there till my dad cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," I said to my parents. "Mom, dad this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is my mom and dad."

"A pleasure to meet you," Harry replied holding out his hand. This was kind of ridiculous because Harry already had met them.

"So Harry, why are you here this early in the morning," asked dad.

"I happened to be in the area and decided to visit my friend Hermione." I could tell he was lying, he lived a good hour away by car. I excused my self to go upstairs and get dressed.

After I got dressed, I heard a knock on my door, "Come in."

Mom came in and asked, "Since when are you comfortable around a boy in your nightgown? You don't like going swimming in your bathing suit without a large T-shirt to wear."

I shrugged, "I didn't think about it."

"So can we trust you two to behave while we're at work?"

I looked affronted, "Of course! That's just wrong mom."

She chuckled, "Maybe, but I had to ask." She told me they were leaving now and to have fun today.

(Harry)

Mr. Granger was giving me the third degree, asking how I knew Hermione, which I told him I had met her at the library. This seemed to be the right thing to say as he relaxed slightly. Once Mrs. Granger came down, they left to go to their practice.

Hermione came down and ran over to hug me, she was crying. "It really did happen didn't it?"

I ran my fingers through her hair, "Yes it did. Do you know who those creatures were? And why didn't they help us before?

She straightened up. "They looked like the four heavenly kings from Chinese mythology."

"Come again?"

"They represent the four compass directions, among other things, in China. I don't know why they didn't get involved beforehand."

We sat on the couch for an hour before she said, "Where did you get the nice clothes? If I remember you never wore fitting clothes while at Hogwarts."

I smiled, "I used a bit of wandless magic to change them."

"Dumbledore's memories?"

"Yes."

We sat in silence, holding on to each other comfortably. Hermione scooted closer and said, "The best thing about this is that we get more time together."

I kissed the top of her head, "Yeah. I might be out of touch for a few days though."

"Why?"

"I'm going to get some things from my vault and find a better place to stay than the Dursleys."

She said nothing, she didn't have to. We had grown so close that we rarely ever needed words. We sat enjoying the relative innocence of our lives at this point. About lunch time, we made some sandwiches and stayed close to each other.

"Do you know exactly how far back we were sent," asked Hermione.

"Today's my seventh birthday. That's about all I know."

"Happy birthday then."

"Yep, my new favorite birthday."

"What was the old one?"

"Hagrid showing up with my Hogwarts letter, right at midnight."

We laughed, I told her about what happened when I received my letter. We cleaned up and began to look for something to do.

"Why don't we go to Diagon Alley," suggested Hermione.

"I don't know love, how long until your parents come back?"

"Another four hours, at least."

"Ok."

We transfigured our clothes into something inconspicuous and apparated to the Alley or actually just inside the Leaky Caldron's protections. We made our way to the bar and Hermione asked, "Excuse me, can you open the gate to Diagon alley? My parents dropped us off and we don't have a wand of our own."

The person, Tom, nodded and took us to the entrance. We thanked him and made our way to Gringotts. Walking in and arriving at an open teller I said, "Hello I need to speak to someone regarding my account."

"Name?"

"Harry Potter."

The goblin looked at me for a minute before indicating us to follow. We entered a room that was empty except for a desk and a few chairs. A goblin sat at the desk and motioned us to sit.

"Mr. Potter, if you could simply press your thumb here," indicating a piece of parchment, "we will begin."

I did as I was told and we got right down to business. "What can I do for you Mr. Potter?"

"I need to access my accounts, but I am not currently in possession of my key."

The goblin nodded, "I see. That is easily done." He scribbled something in a ledger and a key dropped into existence. "Anything else?"

"Just to visit my vault thank you."

We made our way down the carts to my vault. Once there gathered a good deal into a few pouches and we left. After finding a place that had muggle fashion, we proceeded to have an enjoyable time finding the right thing for me to wear.

(Hermione)

We were laughing like old times, simply enjoying being alive. We got a trunk that could be shrunk, so as to not alert anyone we could do it wandlessly. We picked up several books of interest, as I had drawn up a list to identify what we wanted and so it would appear as if we were here because we had been sent.

While we were walking around Harry said softly, "Look."

I saw Mrs. Weasley with Ron and Ginny. I wanted to run over and hug them, but they didn't know me yet. We quickly walked towards the exit and found a place to disapparate from. Once we arrived back at my house, Harry said, "I've got a few things I need to do, I'll see you in a few days."

I nodded, "I love you."

"The same here, from the day I realized what love meant." With that he was gone.

(Harry)

I apparated outside the cabin I stayed with Remus after Sirius's death. He lived here so no one would be hurt when he transformed. Walking up I knocked on the door. After a minute, Remus opened the door and looked at me curiously. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Playing innocent, I said, "I was told to give you this." After handing him the letter, I started to walk away. As I rounded the corner he called, "Wait!" I wanted so badly to turn back and give him a hug, he was the one who taught me the true definition of caring, but I needed to do other things, so as soon as I was out of sight, I went to my next stop.

(Remus)

I raced after the child, but I couldn't find him. Whoever had addressed this had sent it to Moony, and there were only four people who knew it, three were dead and one was in Azkaban. Returning to my home, I sat down and opened the letter.

Dear Moony,

Included in this letter is a potion that will render you harmless during your 'monthly cycle'. Though the stag is dead, the dog and the rat still remain. The dog would never betray the stag, but hid the secret in the rat. The rat went to the snake and told him the secret, because the snake was perceived to be bigger than the dog and stag.

The snake attacked the stag and raven at the hallow's eve. But for the sacrifice of the raven, the cub remained and the snake fell.

The dog tried to save the cub, but a man forbid him. The dog, drowned in grief, sought the rat for revenge. The rat; fearing the dog, screamed out for the dog's condemnation before destroying the street and fleeing.

The dog, sorrow in his heart, could only howl in his grief, but all anyone heard was a laugh.

The rat fled to a home where he would be safe, with a name similar to the weasel, they would let him await the snake's return.

Head to the Weasel family home, where they burrow and seek the rat.

The cub

The letter showed whoever sent it, knew of his condition. The stag, dog and rat were references to James, Sirius and Peter. What really got me was the comment about the raven, the only people who knew that were James, myself and Lily, whose form was a raven.

The last part about the family with a name similar to a weasel, could that be the Weasleys? It would be a good place to start. If this letter is accurate, then Peter was the secret keeper, not Sirius. Then suddenly things made a lot more sense. Grabbing my cloak, I apparated to the Weasleys, hoping that this was accurate.

Because if it was, retribution would fall.

(Harry)

I walked up to a large manor, the Longbottom estate. I was here to see one person in particular. I saw him sitting outside playing by himself. As I walked towards him, I heard a commanding voice say, "What do you want here?"

"I have come to see Mister Neville Longbottom, I wish to speak with him." I could tell that that whoever it was, they were close by. Finally I heard, "Follow me." A figure separated from the shadows and started walking forward. Once I was in earshot of Neville, who was being watched over by his grandmother, my escort said, "This young man has come to speak to Master Longbottom."

Both Neville and his grandmother were interested. "What are you called lad," asked his grandmother.

Bowing I replied, "I am just a lowly servant sent with a gift for Master Longbottom and yourself." She gestured me forward and I laid a piece of paper in her hand. "The one I serve says this potion will reverse the effects of long term Cruciatus curse if taken within ten years of long term exposure." Turning to Neville I placed my hands on his head and after a few minutes released it. "The other gift I am to give is to heal your mind so that you may function within the world."

As I began to walk away, his grandmother called, "Please tell me your name and that of who you serve, for you have done us a great service."

I bowed low and said, "The one I serve is the needs of the one, my name," as I rose and brushed aside my hair, "Is Harry Potter." With that, I vanished out of sight.

I stayed a few minutes longer to see if anything had happened. The next words that were uttered were, "I remember my parents voice!" I could feel tears in my eyes and I wasn't the only one. Mrs. Longbottom held Neville tightly while ordering someone to send the potion to St. Mungo's. She rocked him back and forth as he kept saying the same words over and over.

Before I started to walk away, Mrs. Longbottom said, "Thank you Harry Potter, you have done us a great thing, you have given us our family back." Smiling, I left the property. I need to make one more stop before returning to Remus.

I appeared at Azkaban near his cell. The entire area stank of unwashed bodies and body waste. I walked over to his cell and called, "Padfoot."

He looked at me and said, "I'm sorry Prongs, I should have stayed with Harry. Dumbledore told Hagrid to take him, I wanted revenge on the rat. I'm sorry."

I sighed, "Padfoot, I don't blame you. Take my hand and let me block these nightmares from you. Blackfire would want me to." Sirius reached out his hand towards me, ever so slowly. I could feel the dementors coming, they felt his hope and happiness. "Padfoot hurry! Take my hand before they arrive!" Sirius jumped the last two feet to take my hand. I quickly repaired his natural mental wards and reinforced them. I quickly vanished before I could be discovered.

(Daily Prophet)

MINISTRY IN AN UPROAR! PETTIGREW FOUND AFTER SIX YEARS!

Peter Pettigrew, once considered the last death of the last war, has been found by Remus Lupin. Pettigrew had become an illegal Animagus who could turn into a rat at will. Under questioning, it came to light that he had been a secret death eater, blew up twelve muggles and was the Potter's secret keeper.

With this new information, the case of Sirius Black has been reopened. Testimony from Black has further confirmed the identity of Pettigrew as both the secret keeper and the one who blew up the street of muggles.

This reporter wonders how such a large miscarriage of justice can be done, and how many others fall under this same situation.

NEW CURE FOUND FOR SUFFERS OF LONG TERM CRUCIATUS DAMAGE!

The Cruciatus curse now has a new remedy. Today it was announced that the Longbottoms, who have been hospitalized for six years, were released to their family today. Apparently the Longbottom family has been studying the curse and ways to remedy it for quite a while.

"We received a message from someone who was aware of our need and they provided a basis for it," said Mrs. Longbottom earlier today.

The entire family has gone to a private place to help in the recovery of the two aurors. This is both an encouraging and disappointing day.


A/n: I have a thing for Chinese/Japanese mythology.

Old Nick: Thanks

Krabby Patty: I had to kill them all so there would be no reason to stay.

Captuniv: Not quite right, I considered doing it that way, but rarely does Harry go much farther back. I wanted to do something different.

Bobboky: No prob.

Locathah: Read author note. As to why they didn't interfere earlier, they are creatures of great power and responsibility. They simply never took notice of the state of things until a great loss of life was done.