A/N: Sorry so much about leaving for so long! We went to Boston and I
wasn't here last Friday to update. Unfortuneately, that might be happening
a lot this summer because we have a lot of things to do. Please bear with
me! I won't leave it by any means so just be patient and I'll update when
I'm able!!! hides
Chapter 3: Finding Answers
"I know," Harry said for the fourth time. Lupin unlocked his front door and Harry levitated the no longer struggling Death Eater into the room.
"I was just trying to bring you up to speed," Lupin replied amiably.
"I brought myself up to speed, no thanks to you," Harry said simply.
"So I've heard," Lupin said. "What is it exactly that you're planning to do?"
Harry grinned. "If I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret."
"So you're not planning to tell me anything?"
"Nope," Harry assured him. "Don't take it personally. I didn't tell Dumbledore anything either." Suddenly his eyes narrowed at the other two men. "I hope you're not planning to confuse me with that other Harry. Because I am not a child."
"Harry's not a child," Sirius snapped.
"Your love of him is touching," Harry said. "But as long as you know I'm here, I want to get a few things straight. You will never--I repeat, never tell me to do something and expect me to do it. You will never know what I plan to do before I do it. And, most importantly, you will remember that I am not of this time or this dimension and do not play by your rules. I am not your Harry and, odds are, you will not see me unless it is completely neccessary. Speaking of which, I will take my leave of you. I have nothing that needs done here."
"Where do you plan to go?" Sirius asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "I'm a big boy now, Sirius. I can take care of myself."
Sirius scowled. "I am fully aware of that. Believe me, I am fully aware. Do you mean to sleep in some old Muggle hotel while you could spend the night here?"
"If I spend the night here," Harry said slowly. "Then I will be forced to live under these rules out of common cutesy and dispite popular belief, I still adhere to that. I will not live under these rules and I will not stay here. I can fend for myself. I've been doing it for 10 years now."
Sirius looked a little annoyed.
Harry found he didn't care. Right now he needed some time to wrap his brain around what had happened and what he planned to do. He mimed tipping his hat to them and left, leaving them with the floating unconscious Death Eaters. He flicked his fingers when the door was closed the door behind him and heard the spell leave the Death Eater. He hit the ground with a thud. Harry found himself smiling slightly as he heard Sirius curse.
He waved his hand randomly and found himself on a street in Muggle London. He stop smiling and put on a grim face, which was never hard for him. He was not at all pleased with the day's events thus far.
He was back! Back in this miserable excuse for a time and this miserable excuse for a world. He didn't want to be back here. Not again.
He trudged down the street, looking blankly at the buildings on either side of him. Now that the day had slowed down enough for him to think about it, he realized that he wasn't happy at all about the previous arrangement and wanted very much to simply go home and let this time worry about its Death Eaters.
But he couldn't. Last time he could, but this time he couldn't. He just couldn't make himself. Something had changed in him in his last visit, he was not ashamed to admit, and now he couldn't just walk away when someone was in trouble.
He cursed viciously, startling a Muggle as he walked past. He took one look at Harry's long black robes and tried to walk as far from him as possible. Harry hardly noticed.
Why did these things always happen to him? Why didn't this Harry ever come to his time to make his life easier? Idiot.
Harry tried to remind himself that it wasn't this Harry's fault. But that wasn't true, Harry thought bitterly. How could it not be his fault? Surely if this Harry was fighting in this time, he, Harry, wouldn't be in this time! That must be why he was sent back!
That brought another unanswered question. Why was he back? Surely he hadn't fallen through another portal! He wouldn't have awoken on an identical bench! He would have been sprawled out on the ground if anything. He probably wouldn't have slept through it either. There must have been something...
Harry sighed and stuck his hands dejectedly into his pockets.
There was something in them.
There was something there.
Something small and round.
Something that felt suspiciously like...
Closing his eyes, Harry concentrated. Flashes of went through his mind quick as lighting. He opened his eyes with a nod. Reaching into Draco's pocket, he pulled out a small round talisman.
Harry stared at the talisman in confusion. Clearly he had forgotten to take the talisman out of his pocket and since he cleaned his robes by magic, he'd never lost it.
Frowning at the small round object, Harry thought hard. What did it do, exactly? All Harry knew for sure was that it had allowed him to see through the veil, not go back in time.
But he wasn't back in time. His time hadn't changed when he had changed the past. This was some sort of...alternate dimension.
Harry was thoughtful for a moment. He waved his hand to dismiss his mental musings. It was pointless. He had more important things than to waste time asking questions without any real means of knowing the answer.
He placed the object back in his pocket and felt around for something else, something he remembered putting in there from his last trip.
There.
He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the Remembrall. The white whisps floated around lazily, retaining their white shade. He rememebered making this as well, and he knew exactly whose memory was floating around in there.
Lucius Malfoy.
It was dangerous to have this object in this time. If he had remembered, he most certainly would have left it home. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could bring a rather powerful adversary back. Harry scoffed at the idea. No one could take something from him that he didn't want taken. He was more powerful than any other in this entire dimension.
Harry rolled the little ball in his palm thoughtfully, mulling over his next course of action. Should he see the Death Eaters? No. They were not his responsibility. He would go and see the person whose responsibility it was.
He grabbed his cloak, preparing to Apparate when he remembered, once again that he was on the street. Cursing softly and promising himself dire consequences if he ever slipped up and actually Apparated, Harry made his way into a small side alley. After checking to ensure no one was getting close, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated.
It was not hard to find the location of his other self. After blocking out his own wand, he concentrated on finding the other. A location popped into his head. The Leaky Cauldron.
Harry Apparated.
He was standing in an alley across the street from the small pub and, replacing his wand in his pocket, made his way out.
The sun was just setting in the distance, shining an orange light on the London street. Despite the number of people there, it was rather hushed and quiet in a pleasent sort of way, as though the orange tint shining from the heavens was engulfing everyone in a feeling of peace and contentment.
Everyone but Harry.
He did not notice the sun or the hush of the crowd. He was too absorbed in making his way to the Leaky Cauldron without being seen.
He did not like being in the middle of an open street and shrunk into the shadows as soon as he reached the safety of the other side. He pulled his cloak low over his head so that it hid his face completely. He reached out a hand and pushed open the door to the little pub. The orange light of the outside world fell onto the dark, candle-lit pub shining brightly for a moment before plunging the place again into darkness.
Harry did not wait for his eyes to adjust. He could not stand in the middle of the room, waiting for his younger self, who he had instantly spotted sitting at a table, to notice him. He positioned himself at the bar facing the table, his hood concealing his face, and listened.
His younger self sat alone. He checked his watch periodically. He must be waiting for someone.
The door opened again. Two very noisy customers came in, laughing and joking. It was Hermione and Ron. They looked excited and hurried to meet Harry, who stood up, a grin on his face, when he saw them.
"Long time no see!" Ron said, clapping Harry on the back. "What have you been up to?"
"Nothing much," the other Harry said, shrugging. "How about you?" Suddenly a grin spread across his face. "Promoted, I hear."
Ron's grin widened. "I am now Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports!"
The younger Harry grinned jokingly. "You've got all the makings of the next Bagman!"
Ron groaned good-naturedly. "If I ever behave like that, shoot me."
"Muggle or magical?" Hermione said, settling herself down at the table. The other two followed suit.
"Muggle," Ron responded. "I would deserve the indignanty."
They laughed some more and the waiter came to take their order. They took a while, joking and arguing amounst themselves over what they thought they should like to eat. The waiter laughed along with them. Apparantly they were regulars.
When they had finally placed their orders and the waiter had left, Hermione turned to Harry. "What have you been up to? And Sirius?"
The younger Harry shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable. Good, Harry thought. He should if he was refusing to fight.
The waiter came back at that moment and distributed the drinks. They took them with smiles and thanks. The waiter nodded and left.
Harry then continued as though they had not been interrupted. "Sirius is out a lot, fighting these stupid new Death Eaters."
The table became rather subdued for a moment. Then Ron ventured to ask. "And...what about you?"
"I'm not fighting, if that's what you want to know," the other Harry snapped. "Why don't you leave me alone about that? Haven't I done enough? Why can't people just leave me alone?"
"That's not what I meant!" Ron said hurriedly. "I meant, what are you up to?"
Harry did not relax. He sighed and looked down at his mug. "I know what you wanted to talk about. Don't worry about it. It's just..." he hesitated, averting his eyes. "I'm tired, you know? I don't want to be a hero anymore. It's not like I chose this job. Don't you think I should get some choice in the matter?"
"Of course!" Ron said supportively.
Hermione, however, looked skeptical. "That doesn't sound like the Harry I know from school. You didn't concider your year complete unless you had one plot to kill you at least."
"That Harry had never gone up against Voldemort," the younger Harry said softly. Hermione diverted her eyes this time, looking ashamed at having brought it up.
What were they doing? Harry wondered from his place at the bar. Why didn't they say something else? That hardly seemed sufficent. There must be something else. Surely he wouldn't give up the fight for such meager reasons...
"We do need your help, though," Hermione said softly. "They're tougher than they seem. It's like they've been planning this for years. I..." she took a deep breath and continued lowering her voice so that the older Harry had to strain to hear it. "I think they're planning to bring Voldemort back."
Harry blinked in surprise from his place at the bar. Hermione had left that part out.
It got younger Harry's attention. His hand jerked without him seeming to notice. He was looking at Hermione in disbelief. "Bring him back? Can they do that?"
Ron cut in hurriedly. "There's no actual proof. Some of the evidence only points that way."
"Are you kidding?" Hermione asked, almost angrily. "What about the word of that captured Death Eater?"
Ron grimaced. "He was insane from the start."
"But he didn't hold anything back," Hermione argued. "I believe him, and I don't want Voldemort to come back!" she had lowered her voice quite a bit by the last point, making sure no one heard. But Harry heard from his place at the bar. He heard it clearly and he didn't like it. He glanced at his younger self's face and his eyes held. He looked rather frightened.
Unfortunately, Hermione and Ron didn't notice. They were paying too much attention to their own arguement.
"There's no way to be sure," Ron argued.
"Just because you don't want it to be true doesn't mean it isn't," Hermione said, shaking her head. "I think we should prepare for the worst! Denying it isn't helping!"
"I'm not denying it!" Ron countered. "I'm only saying, I don't see how it could be done! They're probably trying to scare us, or throw us off track! If that's the case, it's clearly working!"
"I'm being cautious!" Hermione argued. "Better safe than sorry, as the old Muggle saying goes! And if we don't play it safe, we're going to be very sorry indeed!"
The younger Harry's grip on his glass had increased quite a lot. He was not looking at his two friends, staring instead at the door, as though thinking hard. It was not hard for the older Harry to imagine what was going through his head. Some of his annoyance of the boy disappeared, to be replaced with...was it sympathy? It had been too long since he had felt the emotion to be sure.
"If we let people think that he's coming back, there's going to be a panic!"
"How stupid do you think we are? We're not going to tell anyone! Not unless we know for sure!"
"Still," Ron said, as though expecting Hermione to suddenly say she was joking. "There's no way to bring someone back from the dead! Their spirit has left their body! They're gone! Nothing can bring them back!"
Hermione was shaking her head. "You're thinking too small, Ron. He already came back once, remember?"
"He wasn't completely dead!" Ron argued.
"And he isn't now!" Hermione said determinedly. "Nothing can truly kill that monster, not dead like the rest of us. There's something left of him, you mark my word."
The conversation came to an abrupt end as the younger Harry suddenly stood up from his seat, tilted his head back to drink the last of his butterbear and said quickly, "I have to go. I'll see you later?"
"Oh, come on, Harry!" Ron said quickly. Harry shook his head, his face rather whiter than usual.
"Congratulations on your new job," he said. He quickly turned to leave and Ron followed, close at his heals.
The other Harry stood up as well from his place at the bar and made his way to Hermione's table where she was being forced to wait for the bill. She was gesturing to the waiter, but it appeared he had not seen her yet. Harry settled himself across from her.
"I'll be gone in just a second," Hermione said with a smile. Suddenly she stopped, understanding filling her features. She stopped her attempts to gain the waiter's attention.
"What did you do to him?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed and unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "He's been like this since the Death Eaters. He was fine before that..." she trailed off, looking in the direction her friends had gone.
"Let me guess, never once did anyone think to ask him exactly what had happend that night."
Hermione looked at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy? I was there, remember? He knows he can talk to me."
"Maybe he needs a nudge," Harry said. "Did you every think of how hard it is, trying to struggle through something alone?"
Hermione looked a little embarrassed. "He's always been able to talk to us before..."
Harry snorted. "No he hasn't! Remember how long it took him to tell you about the prophecy? He's trying to do it himself."
"What do you want me to say?" Hermione asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not the most sentimental person in the world. All I know is that you're all going to die if that kid doesn't help."
"What about you?" Hermione asked. "You helped last time."
Harry shook his head stubbornly. "I'm helping now as much as I can. This isn't my dimension. What reason have I to help?"
Hermione's mouth opened slightly. "Because innocent people could die!"
Harry frowned. "That isn't my concern. I'm going home as soon as I can get the kid to snap out of it."
Hermione sighed. "I suppose it's no good reasoning with you when you've made your mind up. I still wish--"
"Harry?" said an incredulous voice behind him.
Harry jerked, cursing himself mentally. He was loosing his concentration, letting his gaurd down.
"I thought you just left!" Ron said, looking at him in disbelief. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he looked at Harry suspiciously. "You look different."
"I forgot my coat," Harry lied quickly, standing up to go.
"You weren't wearing a cloak," Ron said. "You weren't even wearing robes."
Harry sent a sharp look at Hermione who looked just as startled. It wasn't her fault, he knew, but he didn't want to think that he was loosing his touch. "I changed. It's a simple spell."
"Oh," Ron said, still looking at him suspiciously. Suddenly his features cleared. "Listen, I didn't mean to make you leave. We can talk about something else if you'd like."
Harry shook his head. "I have to leave. I will see you later."
Ron looked put out but didn't stop him. Harry had reached the door when he heard Ron say suddenly, "If he magically changed his clothes, how did he leave his coat?"
Harry walked faster.
A/N: So, there's another chapter. It gets more interesting, I promise. I've been really writing lately because I'm on a roll now. Go me!
Gilthas: Go you.
Me: Exactly. So, anyway, here's responses!!!
gallandro-83: Gilthas, my muse says Dragonlace rules! Raistlin rolls his eyes. :) Sorry you're confused!!! I was a little foggy on what the sequel was going to be about. To be perfectly honest, I think writing a prequel would be easier. Or a sequel to 3003. Actually, but about anything. sigh So sorry if you're confused. I get a little confused sometimes as well...
gam: Very cool! Something cool's happening in the next chapter. I can't wait to post that one. :)
Allizarin Sylvain Phyre: Hello, hello! It's been a while since you've reviewed. I just noticed. :) Okay, with 3003 over I can concentrate on posting and writing this one...not in that order. Switched aroud.Writing and then posting. It would be odd to post before I wrote because then I would have several pages of blank...okay. I'm done. Yay!
eruve tinwen: gasp! has heart attack No bacon egg and cheese bisquits? blinks a minute Heart attack? Knowing how much grease Micky D's puts on their bisquits, that's probably the cause of heart problems, right there. We have McMuffins as well, but they're something different. Same fillings, but with a busquit on the outside. They're really good! Ah...but if older Harry gets behavior management lessons, I can't make him cool and stuff! Younger Harry needs someone to hit him upside the head, but that's why older Harry's here. thinks Yes...HIT HIM! HIT HIM! blinks Whoops. I was possessed.
saramagic: First of all, what's a disco nap? Never mind. Murder Mysteries rule! Here's next chapter and you have permission to shoot me in a non- lethal place for not posting in so long. But I have a busy summer, like I said. That means I'll have about a hundred bullets in my by the time school starts. You know, if they would hurry up and invent teleporters, I wouldn't have to worry about those long trips. Oh, and about Johnny Depp, you'd have to kill my sister first. She'd probably bite you. By the way, she's not a vampire. It's just be weird. Hope you liked this chapter! I've been writing this story since I got back so you should be proud of me! go me! I rule! And...yeah. That's it. :)
Nexus3: Ba Dum! 3003's done and this one's on the way! Have I meantioned already that I'm awesome? Well...apparently I...might have. I don't remember and I'm too lazy to look back. Yep. Bu tI am, just in case you were wondering. :)
Darkmoon Fleur: No! No unlocking of the Headmaster's office. Remember 3003 when 1000 years from now it's still not open? Well, no opening of the headmaster's office. I just thought I should add that in there. :) Now, judging by Harry's attempt at being nice to Ron and Ginny in his time, perhaps he needs another trip. He's really not doing so well. Of course, it was only 5 days. He would have had another chance. But I needed him in this story and he's spent so much time getting rid of bad in his world, that there's nothing in hs world that needed done! THIS world, however...
mashimaromadness: Stupid people who are supposed to be doing their jobs and aren't. I think I was annoyed that day. :) Glad everything is revealed. I hate reading those stories where nothing makes sense. So I'm trying to explain everything. Yep. Explanations...
Liz: 'Sup! I dunno...maybe now that he's spotted it and stuff. Okay, yeah. No big mystery there. It was the talisman. Are you happy I finally updated? Do I get a hug? Pleez? :)
Anarual: winces Yeah, so I'm going pretty slow. I'm trying but I'm just not the fastest writer in the world. Okay, so I'm getting pretty fast on the keyboard, but sometimes I just...zone...or...something. :) Sorry about the freakishly long wait!
volleypickle16: Oh, I've been writing. It's the posting I'm slow at... :)
HiddenFlame42: Ah, I can't seem to give up on this other Harry. He's in all my stories, isn't he? Well, I'm think of a 3003 sequel and a BTBT prequel after this. I have an agenda. Fun. And my summer's full. Blah. Slow updating this summer but don't leave me! :)
Olivia Wood: Yeah, I thought that might happen. In my profile I wrote everything down for those confused people. I get a lot of confused people. Blah. Maybe I'm making it too complicated. I doubt I can tone it down, however, even if I tried. I'm just that kind of person. Blah. Again. :)
HongMing: Not just Death Eaters...have I meantioned that yet? No matter. I like Older Harry. Noticed 'older' has become a part of his name. I should nickname him Larry so I can tell them apart. :) thinks a minute No...that doesn't work. I'll think of something. Actually, I think I'll just stick with Older Harry. It makes sense. Except in 3003 because then he was older looking, but younger actually. shakes head I think I'e crossed over to ranting. I'll be done now.
kat: Updated! ...But not soon. Crap. I'll update this story more often now 3003's over!
Nassar Himura: Yep! I've been writing a lot of this story, though I think this chapter's a little short. It's really coming along without trying to write 3003 at the same time. Future Harry rules because he's cool and sarcastic! He's like...the Heie of the group. Do you watch Yu Yu Hakashu? Yeah, but I wrote this long before I started watching that and besides, my Harry isn't short like Heie is. No, I mean he's REALLY short. :)
BlackDiva: I've updated but not soon! Eck. I'll update this story much more often, but not once a week with summer full like it is. So muh to do! Fortuneately I just had a week off and I wrote and wrote!
Adamand: Done! Well, not instantly, but I think it's close enough...
Chapter 3: Finding Answers
"I know," Harry said for the fourth time. Lupin unlocked his front door and Harry levitated the no longer struggling Death Eater into the room.
"I was just trying to bring you up to speed," Lupin replied amiably.
"I brought myself up to speed, no thanks to you," Harry said simply.
"So I've heard," Lupin said. "What is it exactly that you're planning to do?"
Harry grinned. "If I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret."
"So you're not planning to tell me anything?"
"Nope," Harry assured him. "Don't take it personally. I didn't tell Dumbledore anything either." Suddenly his eyes narrowed at the other two men. "I hope you're not planning to confuse me with that other Harry. Because I am not a child."
"Harry's not a child," Sirius snapped.
"Your love of him is touching," Harry said. "But as long as you know I'm here, I want to get a few things straight. You will never--I repeat, never tell me to do something and expect me to do it. You will never know what I plan to do before I do it. And, most importantly, you will remember that I am not of this time or this dimension and do not play by your rules. I am not your Harry and, odds are, you will not see me unless it is completely neccessary. Speaking of which, I will take my leave of you. I have nothing that needs done here."
"Where do you plan to go?" Sirius asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "I'm a big boy now, Sirius. I can take care of myself."
Sirius scowled. "I am fully aware of that. Believe me, I am fully aware. Do you mean to sleep in some old Muggle hotel while you could spend the night here?"
"If I spend the night here," Harry said slowly. "Then I will be forced to live under these rules out of common cutesy and dispite popular belief, I still adhere to that. I will not live under these rules and I will not stay here. I can fend for myself. I've been doing it for 10 years now."
Sirius looked a little annoyed.
Harry found he didn't care. Right now he needed some time to wrap his brain around what had happened and what he planned to do. He mimed tipping his hat to them and left, leaving them with the floating unconscious Death Eaters. He flicked his fingers when the door was closed the door behind him and heard the spell leave the Death Eater. He hit the ground with a thud. Harry found himself smiling slightly as he heard Sirius curse.
He waved his hand randomly and found himself on a street in Muggle London. He stop smiling and put on a grim face, which was never hard for him. He was not at all pleased with the day's events thus far.
He was back! Back in this miserable excuse for a time and this miserable excuse for a world. He didn't want to be back here. Not again.
He trudged down the street, looking blankly at the buildings on either side of him. Now that the day had slowed down enough for him to think about it, he realized that he wasn't happy at all about the previous arrangement and wanted very much to simply go home and let this time worry about its Death Eaters.
But he couldn't. Last time he could, but this time he couldn't. He just couldn't make himself. Something had changed in him in his last visit, he was not ashamed to admit, and now he couldn't just walk away when someone was in trouble.
He cursed viciously, startling a Muggle as he walked past. He took one look at Harry's long black robes and tried to walk as far from him as possible. Harry hardly noticed.
Why did these things always happen to him? Why didn't this Harry ever come to his time to make his life easier? Idiot.
Harry tried to remind himself that it wasn't this Harry's fault. But that wasn't true, Harry thought bitterly. How could it not be his fault? Surely if this Harry was fighting in this time, he, Harry, wouldn't be in this time! That must be why he was sent back!
That brought another unanswered question. Why was he back? Surely he hadn't fallen through another portal! He wouldn't have awoken on an identical bench! He would have been sprawled out on the ground if anything. He probably wouldn't have slept through it either. There must have been something...
Harry sighed and stuck his hands dejectedly into his pockets.
There was something in them.
There was something there.
Something small and round.
Something that felt suspiciously like...
Closing his eyes, Harry concentrated. Flashes of went through his mind quick as lighting. He opened his eyes with a nod. Reaching into Draco's pocket, he pulled out a small round talisman.
Harry stared at the talisman in confusion. Clearly he had forgotten to take the talisman out of his pocket and since he cleaned his robes by magic, he'd never lost it.
Frowning at the small round object, Harry thought hard. What did it do, exactly? All Harry knew for sure was that it had allowed him to see through the veil, not go back in time.
But he wasn't back in time. His time hadn't changed when he had changed the past. This was some sort of...alternate dimension.
Harry was thoughtful for a moment. He waved his hand to dismiss his mental musings. It was pointless. He had more important things than to waste time asking questions without any real means of knowing the answer.
He placed the object back in his pocket and felt around for something else, something he remembered putting in there from his last trip.
There.
He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the Remembrall. The white whisps floated around lazily, retaining their white shade. He rememebered making this as well, and he knew exactly whose memory was floating around in there.
Lucius Malfoy.
It was dangerous to have this object in this time. If he had remembered, he most certainly would have left it home. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could bring a rather powerful adversary back. Harry scoffed at the idea. No one could take something from him that he didn't want taken. He was more powerful than any other in this entire dimension.
Harry rolled the little ball in his palm thoughtfully, mulling over his next course of action. Should he see the Death Eaters? No. They were not his responsibility. He would go and see the person whose responsibility it was.
He grabbed his cloak, preparing to Apparate when he remembered, once again that he was on the street. Cursing softly and promising himself dire consequences if he ever slipped up and actually Apparated, Harry made his way into a small side alley. After checking to ensure no one was getting close, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated.
It was not hard to find the location of his other self. After blocking out his own wand, he concentrated on finding the other. A location popped into his head. The Leaky Cauldron.
Harry Apparated.
He was standing in an alley across the street from the small pub and, replacing his wand in his pocket, made his way out.
The sun was just setting in the distance, shining an orange light on the London street. Despite the number of people there, it was rather hushed and quiet in a pleasent sort of way, as though the orange tint shining from the heavens was engulfing everyone in a feeling of peace and contentment.
Everyone but Harry.
He did not notice the sun or the hush of the crowd. He was too absorbed in making his way to the Leaky Cauldron without being seen.
He did not like being in the middle of an open street and shrunk into the shadows as soon as he reached the safety of the other side. He pulled his cloak low over his head so that it hid his face completely. He reached out a hand and pushed open the door to the little pub. The orange light of the outside world fell onto the dark, candle-lit pub shining brightly for a moment before plunging the place again into darkness.
Harry did not wait for his eyes to adjust. He could not stand in the middle of the room, waiting for his younger self, who he had instantly spotted sitting at a table, to notice him. He positioned himself at the bar facing the table, his hood concealing his face, and listened.
His younger self sat alone. He checked his watch periodically. He must be waiting for someone.
The door opened again. Two very noisy customers came in, laughing and joking. It was Hermione and Ron. They looked excited and hurried to meet Harry, who stood up, a grin on his face, when he saw them.
"Long time no see!" Ron said, clapping Harry on the back. "What have you been up to?"
"Nothing much," the other Harry said, shrugging. "How about you?" Suddenly a grin spread across his face. "Promoted, I hear."
Ron's grin widened. "I am now Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports!"
The younger Harry grinned jokingly. "You've got all the makings of the next Bagman!"
Ron groaned good-naturedly. "If I ever behave like that, shoot me."
"Muggle or magical?" Hermione said, settling herself down at the table. The other two followed suit.
"Muggle," Ron responded. "I would deserve the indignanty."
They laughed some more and the waiter came to take their order. They took a while, joking and arguing amounst themselves over what they thought they should like to eat. The waiter laughed along with them. Apparantly they were regulars.
When they had finally placed their orders and the waiter had left, Hermione turned to Harry. "What have you been up to? And Sirius?"
The younger Harry shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable. Good, Harry thought. He should if he was refusing to fight.
The waiter came back at that moment and distributed the drinks. They took them with smiles and thanks. The waiter nodded and left.
Harry then continued as though they had not been interrupted. "Sirius is out a lot, fighting these stupid new Death Eaters."
The table became rather subdued for a moment. Then Ron ventured to ask. "And...what about you?"
"I'm not fighting, if that's what you want to know," the other Harry snapped. "Why don't you leave me alone about that? Haven't I done enough? Why can't people just leave me alone?"
"That's not what I meant!" Ron said hurriedly. "I meant, what are you up to?"
Harry did not relax. He sighed and looked down at his mug. "I know what you wanted to talk about. Don't worry about it. It's just..." he hesitated, averting his eyes. "I'm tired, you know? I don't want to be a hero anymore. It's not like I chose this job. Don't you think I should get some choice in the matter?"
"Of course!" Ron said supportively.
Hermione, however, looked skeptical. "That doesn't sound like the Harry I know from school. You didn't concider your year complete unless you had one plot to kill you at least."
"That Harry had never gone up against Voldemort," the younger Harry said softly. Hermione diverted her eyes this time, looking ashamed at having brought it up.
What were they doing? Harry wondered from his place at the bar. Why didn't they say something else? That hardly seemed sufficent. There must be something else. Surely he wouldn't give up the fight for such meager reasons...
"We do need your help, though," Hermione said softly. "They're tougher than they seem. It's like they've been planning this for years. I..." she took a deep breath and continued lowering her voice so that the older Harry had to strain to hear it. "I think they're planning to bring Voldemort back."
Harry blinked in surprise from his place at the bar. Hermione had left that part out.
It got younger Harry's attention. His hand jerked without him seeming to notice. He was looking at Hermione in disbelief. "Bring him back? Can they do that?"
Ron cut in hurriedly. "There's no actual proof. Some of the evidence only points that way."
"Are you kidding?" Hermione asked, almost angrily. "What about the word of that captured Death Eater?"
Ron grimaced. "He was insane from the start."
"But he didn't hold anything back," Hermione argued. "I believe him, and I don't want Voldemort to come back!" she had lowered her voice quite a bit by the last point, making sure no one heard. But Harry heard from his place at the bar. He heard it clearly and he didn't like it. He glanced at his younger self's face and his eyes held. He looked rather frightened.
Unfortunately, Hermione and Ron didn't notice. They were paying too much attention to their own arguement.
"There's no way to be sure," Ron argued.
"Just because you don't want it to be true doesn't mean it isn't," Hermione said, shaking her head. "I think we should prepare for the worst! Denying it isn't helping!"
"I'm not denying it!" Ron countered. "I'm only saying, I don't see how it could be done! They're probably trying to scare us, or throw us off track! If that's the case, it's clearly working!"
"I'm being cautious!" Hermione argued. "Better safe than sorry, as the old Muggle saying goes! And if we don't play it safe, we're going to be very sorry indeed!"
The younger Harry's grip on his glass had increased quite a lot. He was not looking at his two friends, staring instead at the door, as though thinking hard. It was not hard for the older Harry to imagine what was going through his head. Some of his annoyance of the boy disappeared, to be replaced with...was it sympathy? It had been too long since he had felt the emotion to be sure.
"If we let people think that he's coming back, there's going to be a panic!"
"How stupid do you think we are? We're not going to tell anyone! Not unless we know for sure!"
"Still," Ron said, as though expecting Hermione to suddenly say she was joking. "There's no way to bring someone back from the dead! Their spirit has left their body! They're gone! Nothing can bring them back!"
Hermione was shaking her head. "You're thinking too small, Ron. He already came back once, remember?"
"He wasn't completely dead!" Ron argued.
"And he isn't now!" Hermione said determinedly. "Nothing can truly kill that monster, not dead like the rest of us. There's something left of him, you mark my word."
The conversation came to an abrupt end as the younger Harry suddenly stood up from his seat, tilted his head back to drink the last of his butterbear and said quickly, "I have to go. I'll see you later?"
"Oh, come on, Harry!" Ron said quickly. Harry shook his head, his face rather whiter than usual.
"Congratulations on your new job," he said. He quickly turned to leave and Ron followed, close at his heals.
The other Harry stood up as well from his place at the bar and made his way to Hermione's table where she was being forced to wait for the bill. She was gesturing to the waiter, but it appeared he had not seen her yet. Harry settled himself across from her.
"I'll be gone in just a second," Hermione said with a smile. Suddenly she stopped, understanding filling her features. She stopped her attempts to gain the waiter's attention.
"What did you do to him?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed and unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "He's been like this since the Death Eaters. He was fine before that..." she trailed off, looking in the direction her friends had gone.
"Let me guess, never once did anyone think to ask him exactly what had happend that night."
Hermione looked at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy? I was there, remember? He knows he can talk to me."
"Maybe he needs a nudge," Harry said. "Did you every think of how hard it is, trying to struggle through something alone?"
Hermione looked a little embarrassed. "He's always been able to talk to us before..."
Harry snorted. "No he hasn't! Remember how long it took him to tell you about the prophecy? He's trying to do it himself."
"What do you want me to say?" Hermione asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not the most sentimental person in the world. All I know is that you're all going to die if that kid doesn't help."
"What about you?" Hermione asked. "You helped last time."
Harry shook his head stubbornly. "I'm helping now as much as I can. This isn't my dimension. What reason have I to help?"
Hermione's mouth opened slightly. "Because innocent people could die!"
Harry frowned. "That isn't my concern. I'm going home as soon as I can get the kid to snap out of it."
Hermione sighed. "I suppose it's no good reasoning with you when you've made your mind up. I still wish--"
"Harry?" said an incredulous voice behind him.
Harry jerked, cursing himself mentally. He was loosing his concentration, letting his gaurd down.
"I thought you just left!" Ron said, looking at him in disbelief. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he looked at Harry suspiciously. "You look different."
"I forgot my coat," Harry lied quickly, standing up to go.
"You weren't wearing a cloak," Ron said. "You weren't even wearing robes."
Harry sent a sharp look at Hermione who looked just as startled. It wasn't her fault, he knew, but he didn't want to think that he was loosing his touch. "I changed. It's a simple spell."
"Oh," Ron said, still looking at him suspiciously. Suddenly his features cleared. "Listen, I didn't mean to make you leave. We can talk about something else if you'd like."
Harry shook his head. "I have to leave. I will see you later."
Ron looked put out but didn't stop him. Harry had reached the door when he heard Ron say suddenly, "If he magically changed his clothes, how did he leave his coat?"
Harry walked faster.
A/N: So, there's another chapter. It gets more interesting, I promise. I've been really writing lately because I'm on a roll now. Go me!
Gilthas: Go you.
Me: Exactly. So, anyway, here's responses!!!
gallandro-83: Gilthas, my muse says Dragonlace rules! Raistlin rolls his eyes. :) Sorry you're confused!!! I was a little foggy on what the sequel was going to be about. To be perfectly honest, I think writing a prequel would be easier. Or a sequel to 3003. Actually, but about anything. sigh So sorry if you're confused. I get a little confused sometimes as well...
gam: Very cool! Something cool's happening in the next chapter. I can't wait to post that one. :)
Allizarin Sylvain Phyre: Hello, hello! It's been a while since you've reviewed. I just noticed. :) Okay, with 3003 over I can concentrate on posting and writing this one...not in that order. Switched aroud.Writing and then posting. It would be odd to post before I wrote because then I would have several pages of blank...okay. I'm done. Yay!
eruve tinwen: gasp! has heart attack No bacon egg and cheese bisquits? blinks a minute Heart attack? Knowing how much grease Micky D's puts on their bisquits, that's probably the cause of heart problems, right there. We have McMuffins as well, but they're something different. Same fillings, but with a busquit on the outside. They're really good! Ah...but if older Harry gets behavior management lessons, I can't make him cool and stuff! Younger Harry needs someone to hit him upside the head, but that's why older Harry's here. thinks Yes...HIT HIM! HIT HIM! blinks Whoops. I was possessed.
saramagic: First of all, what's a disco nap? Never mind. Murder Mysteries rule! Here's next chapter and you have permission to shoot me in a non- lethal place for not posting in so long. But I have a busy summer, like I said. That means I'll have about a hundred bullets in my by the time school starts. You know, if they would hurry up and invent teleporters, I wouldn't have to worry about those long trips. Oh, and about Johnny Depp, you'd have to kill my sister first. She'd probably bite you. By the way, she's not a vampire. It's just be weird. Hope you liked this chapter! I've been writing this story since I got back so you should be proud of me! go me! I rule! And...yeah. That's it. :)
Nexus3: Ba Dum! 3003's done and this one's on the way! Have I meantioned already that I'm awesome? Well...apparently I...might have. I don't remember and I'm too lazy to look back. Yep. Bu tI am, just in case you were wondering. :)
Darkmoon Fleur: No! No unlocking of the Headmaster's office. Remember 3003 when 1000 years from now it's still not open? Well, no opening of the headmaster's office. I just thought I should add that in there. :) Now, judging by Harry's attempt at being nice to Ron and Ginny in his time, perhaps he needs another trip. He's really not doing so well. Of course, it was only 5 days. He would have had another chance. But I needed him in this story and he's spent so much time getting rid of bad in his world, that there's nothing in hs world that needed done! THIS world, however...
mashimaromadness: Stupid people who are supposed to be doing their jobs and aren't. I think I was annoyed that day. :) Glad everything is revealed. I hate reading those stories where nothing makes sense. So I'm trying to explain everything. Yep. Explanations...
Liz: 'Sup! I dunno...maybe now that he's spotted it and stuff. Okay, yeah. No big mystery there. It was the talisman. Are you happy I finally updated? Do I get a hug? Pleez? :)
Anarual: winces Yeah, so I'm going pretty slow. I'm trying but I'm just not the fastest writer in the world. Okay, so I'm getting pretty fast on the keyboard, but sometimes I just...zone...or...something. :) Sorry about the freakishly long wait!
volleypickle16: Oh, I've been writing. It's the posting I'm slow at... :)
HiddenFlame42: Ah, I can't seem to give up on this other Harry. He's in all my stories, isn't he? Well, I'm think of a 3003 sequel and a BTBT prequel after this. I have an agenda. Fun. And my summer's full. Blah. Slow updating this summer but don't leave me! :)
Olivia Wood: Yeah, I thought that might happen. In my profile I wrote everything down for those confused people. I get a lot of confused people. Blah. Maybe I'm making it too complicated. I doubt I can tone it down, however, even if I tried. I'm just that kind of person. Blah. Again. :)
HongMing: Not just Death Eaters...have I meantioned that yet? No matter. I like Older Harry. Noticed 'older' has become a part of his name. I should nickname him Larry so I can tell them apart. :) thinks a minute No...that doesn't work. I'll think of something. Actually, I think I'll just stick with Older Harry. It makes sense. Except in 3003 because then he was older looking, but younger actually. shakes head I think I'e crossed over to ranting. I'll be done now.
kat: Updated! ...But not soon. Crap. I'll update this story more often now 3003's over!
Nassar Himura: Yep! I've been writing a lot of this story, though I think this chapter's a little short. It's really coming along without trying to write 3003 at the same time. Future Harry rules because he's cool and sarcastic! He's like...the Heie of the group. Do you watch Yu Yu Hakashu? Yeah, but I wrote this long before I started watching that and besides, my Harry isn't short like Heie is. No, I mean he's REALLY short. :)
BlackDiva: I've updated but not soon! Eck. I'll update this story much more often, but not once a week with summer full like it is. So muh to do! Fortuneately I just had a week off and I wrote and wrote!
Adamand: Done! Well, not instantly, but I think it's close enough...