Disclaimer: AAAANNNNNNDDDD we're back. How have you all been? I appreciate the reviews. You guys really make my day. Amrawo and Miss Radcliffe, thanks. You two have helped me out a lot. You've reviewed like every chapter and been with me since the start. The rest of ya'll. My readers. Thanks. And sorry for confusing you. Hopefully, this chapter should clear up a lot of things. If not, you are more than welcome to email me and I'll try to help you understand. Once again, Harry Potter is not mine yet. I'm planning a kidnapping to rival that of Voldie's in GoF but the time is not yet right. Just kidding. Well I have taken up too much space now. On to the show!
Last time on Harry Potter and the Journey Through Time:
Harry saw the teacher as well and froze. Hermione, Ginny, and Ron all stared at Harry. Remus and Sirius muttered, "Man does he look like our Prongs. Except those eyes."
"Good afternoon class. I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Potter."
"Potter?" The whole class had begun muttering the name. Everyone stared at James. The time-travelers were staring at Harry. Running through everyone's minds were pretty much the same thing. James's Dad, a teacher?
"Excuse me, Professor?" James tentatively asked his question, almost afraid of the answer. The class was quieter than if a silencing charm had been cast.
"James, isn't it? What can I do for you?"
"Are you related to me?" The class was stunned. Who then, was this mystery Potter? Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were paying very close attention. Lily too, had forgotten about that embarrassing kiss and was as curious as the rest. She caught Harry's eye and they both were totally confused.
"Well James. I'm sure every single one of us is related somehow. But I have no idea. For all I know you may be a relative of mine. But enough of my past. I'm here for your future." Harry looked at the new professor at the mention of time and could have sworn that he had given him a look that almost suggested…but no. Harry must have imagined it. Because it was gone the second he tried to examine it. Harry looked at those eyes though. They were familiar, but not at the same time. Lily was having the same thoughts. She looked into those eyes and saw that they had seen things no human being should ever have to see. There was sadness, mixed with hope and fury, and the rest was determination. Raw determination. This class would be very interesting. The students were at the edge of their seats. Their lives seemed to be almost hanging on the professor's every word.
"Well class. Now that we have been introduced. Let me being today's lesson. You all our seventh years if I am correct." Some nods from the crowd allowed him to continue. "Now I have been told that a few of you are new here? I'm sure your school covered probably the same curriculum. You should be fine. Even if you are a little bit out of your league." The professor glanced at Lily, his eyes settled on Ginny, and then swept back towards the rest.
"I do hope you all will pay attention. Your lives, your future, all depend upon it. Things I am going to teach you will undoubtedly be new and they will be very draining on you. I request after every practical lesson that you have some chocolate. It replenishes your energy very well. Now, to business. The dark arts are very tricky stuff. They can kill, injure, do things beyond your wildest nightmares. You must know what you are up against and how to defeat it. Dumbledore has currently given me free reign. My interaction with the dark arts and those wizards who use it is very high and will be very invaluable to you all. I hope to pass on this knowledge. I am sure you have heard of the Unforgivable curses, the uses of which, will get the user a lifetime in Azkaban and a dementor roommate to boot. Now, does anyone know the names of these three curses? Miss Bones?"
"Umm there's one, the Imperius curse."
"That is correct. The Imperius curse can control you. You will feel blissfully ignorant and do whatever the castor requests of you. It is one of the worst curses, as it violates your free will, and it's hard to tell who is under it or not. If you pay attention to the eyes, that helps a lot. Sometimes you are able to tell whether or not they are fighting it. You shall experience the spell and we shall see if you are capable of handling it. Mr. Granger. If you could be so kind as to come up here please."
Harry walked up to the desk, feeling confident in himself. He knew he could handle it. It should be a breeze.
"Now watch him class, watch his eyes, see if he is able to resist. Imperio!"
"Hey Harry. How's it goin? It's me your favorite Professor. Just thought I'd let you know. Now we need to keep this between you and me Potter. I'm here to help you. You don't stand a chance in hell against Voldemort. Not the way you are now. I'm going to train you, Merlin knows you need it. I may even teach you how to destroy a horcrux. That's right, I've heard of those soul-holder things. Now see me after class. And don't throw off the curse please Harry. It will draw attention to yourself. Now go sit back down."
"Actually, I don't want to sit back down. So I don't think I will. I WON'T!"
He shouted the last part and was brought back to the classroom to cheers. He had thrown it off. The professor gave him a stern look, but Harry saw his eyes twinkling. He had disobeyed his order. Harry laughed silently to himself. He sat back down.
"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now the rest of you come up here and try."
So the class progressed, with everyone going under the curse. Sirius began barking and running around the room chasing his ass. Everyone laughed at that, especially those who knew the whole truth about Padfoot. Remus was next and he was howling all over the place. James was made to act a polite gentleman, go up to Lily and ask her to marry him. Everyone was in tears laughing. Even the Professor started laughing at this. Harry made eye contact with him and realized that James had done this on his own. He had resisted the curse and chosen to do that. When Lily's turn came she danced around the room and fell into the hands of James. She glared at the professor when he released her. Her stare softened however as James kissed her hand. Hermione went and sat on Ron's lap and began telling him what she wanted for Christmas. Ron was forced to grab a spider and stroke it's back. Harry thought that was a little cruel. Hermione comforted him however and he gradually came back to normal. Ginny walked up to Harry when she was under the curse and proceeded to seduce him. She broke the curse very quickly however, but still stayed in Harry's lap for a bit longer than necessary.
"Ok class. That was the Imperius curse. It may seem rather funny to you, but I can make you do more than just silly things. Rememebr that. This is not fun and games. This is life. Get used to it. The next unforgivable curse? Mr. Black?"
"Well there's the Cruciatus curse."
"Ah yes. The Cruciatus. It is very painful. Like knives constantly stabbing you all over your body. Not very enjoyable. Especially if it's sustained. Watch the spider closely. It will need to be bigger however. Engorgio. There. Now watch. Crucio." The spider began twitching violently. A couple of people in the front began turning pale. The professor let it last for a few more seconds, then stopped.
"There is one final curse. To this date, no one has been hit with this curse and survived. Obivously, it kills. The killing curse. A rush of green light, and that's all you know. Of course, there are worse things than death. For example. Mr. Granger. What would you say you fear most?"
"Losing the ones I love."
"A wise answer. Some people are not afraid for their own death. Therefore, this curse is not the worst they could experience, although it would be the last thing they experience. Voldemort, is of course very terrified of death. And please try not to flinch at the name. It is a name, nothing more. Now then. For homework, I want you to write down your greatest fear, and I want it to be the truth. I want you to analyze that fear and why you fear it. In this class, fear should be the only thing that you fear. Class dismissed. And Mr. Granger. If you could stay please." Harry's friends all flashed him a look, which he waved off.
The door was finally closed. The professor cast a locking charm and a silencing charm. Nonverbally.
"Now then. Mr. Potter."
"How did you know my name?"
"There are many things I know Harry. But that is not your concern. Listen to me and me alone right now. There are many things you must learn, Occlumency for one, and you need to become better at your non-verbal spells. Then I shall teach you a few stronger spells and we shall hopefully be ready. I will need you to train very diligently Harry. More than your life is at stake here. Do you understand?"
"Yes but how do you know-"
"It is enough that I know Harry. It is none of your concern. And do not ask your friends about it, or try to investigate it yourself. The Marauders Map shall not help you either. Now then. It is of the utmost importance that we begin training. I can let you off for now. Every Saturday, I want you here in this classroom, where we shall begin to work. I can also help you with those horcruxes. If you could allow me to see the note you showed Dumbledore. Thank you. I shall keep my eyes out and ears open. I will also look into the Chamber for you. Do not worry about the basilisk. It has gone back to sleep for now."
"Professor?"
"Yes Harry?"
"How am I supposed to trust you? For all I know you could be working against me. That would be one of the only reasons that you could know so much. If you were on the other side."
"Constant Vigilance eh? That's good Harry. I wouldn't want you trusting me so easily. I suppose I'll need to prove it to you then? Hmmm let's see. Ah yes,
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. … Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. … The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies. …"
"If I'm not mistaken, only you, me, Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione are the only ones who know about the whole prophecy. Seeing as how it has yet to be recorded, I believe that is enough to satisfy you?"
"You could have just legilimens somebody…"
"Right again Harry boy. My, you are good at this. I daresay you would know if I had invaded your mind correct?"
"Yes. But Ron and Hermione…"
"Well then. I suppose there isn't really anything else I can do to make you trust me. You'll just have to. I've got it. I know what will convince you. Why don't we just summon the horcrux then? It would be easier wouldn't it? Does that at least let you know I have Dumbledore's confidence?"
"How do you…? Wait a minute." Harry pulled his wand out and had it pointed right at his teacher.
"Who sent you here Potter? If that's even your real name. The only way you could possibly know that is if you're from the future."
"Finally Harry. I thought you'd never figure it out. Can you trust me now? I daresay if I were working against you I could've already killed you. I've had you locked in a room with a silencing charm for a while now. But there's no need for me to kill you. It would be a bad idea. So I'll see you Saturday then?"
"Yeah. Bye Professor." With a flick of his wand the door unlocked and Harry walked outside. Harry was wondering who in the hell his professor was. And how far from the future he really was. It could have been Snape or someone he put up to it. If Snape had read Dumbledore's mind he could have known about the trip for the horcrux. Or it could be someone Harry told. But Harry began to get confused. Better to forget about his identity and just trust the guy. Merlin knows Harry needed all the help he could get. Wallowing in his thoughts, he walked right into the fat lady without noticing it. As he tried to remember the password, it swung open, and there was Ginny.
"Hey Harry. Let's go for a walk."
"Ok Gin." They walked in silence, Ginny slipping her hand into Harry's. The natural order of the world had been restored, Harry thought with a laugh. The flowery scent she had about her was intoxicating.
"Harry, since we aren't where we used to be, you think we could give one more chance to us? At least, for a while. I never really got everything I had been hoping for."
"Yeah. Yeah, I think I would really like that."
"Good 'cause Ron and 'Mione are already about 10 steps ahead of us."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say it involves a certain room on the seventh floor, a little lip, and a lot of tongue."
"You know Gin, I really didn't want that picture."
"Haha. You want to walk in on them?"
"Yeah, haha. Sounds good." As the two time-travelers went on a late night stroll, there was another couple, who looked very much alike them, walking around as well. Of course, no one could see the second couple, as they were invisible.
"That's my boy!" James whispered. "He's already planning a prank. I haven't been prouder."
"Oh shut up James. I'm glad he has someone though. He needs a girl in his life you know. I would want that for my son."
"Yup. He truly is a Potter, Lils. He has a redhead who's in love with him."
"Oh go let some air out of your head James. You might run out of oxygen up there." Lily smacked him playfully on the shoulder.
"Ugh. I'm hit." James pretended to fall and tried to land into Lily's arms. Lily moved though. James swore and hit the floor. The invisibility cloak came off. Harry and Ginny spun around and saw Harry's parents. They both stifled a laugh and headed on to the Room of Requirement. They walked past it three times and the door appeared. Harry and Ginny put there ear to it and listened. They heard what sounded like a body fall to the floor. They looked at each other in panic.
"Hermione? You ok. I'm sorry. I guess I got carried away. You are definitely a way better kisser than Lavender."
"Yeah Ron. You aren't bad yourself. Better than Krum anyway. McLaggen though…"
"Oh shut it girl." And they heard the two begin kissing again.
"Shall we interrupt them my love?"
"Of course Harry dear."
"On three. One, two, three." The two opened the door and the sight that greeted them was very unexpected. A bed was in the room and Ron and Hermione were lying on it, kissing, oblivious to everything. Ron's shirt was off, and Hermione was well, let's just say she reminded Harry of some dreams he had had about Ginny. In the beginning of them. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smirked. Together they said:
"Hem-hem." Hermione dropped Ron, right onto the floor. Fast. She began turning redder by the second. Harry and Ginny shared a laugh.
"Well Harry dear, it looks like this room is occupied. I suppose we'll have to find another room suitable to our needs. You do owe me a galleon by the way. I said those to would get together."
"But you said that like fourth year. That shouldn't count anymore…"
"Ummm. Ginny? What exactly are you doing here?"
"That's none of your business bro. Keep focused on your girl over there." Ron flushed again, mumbling something that Harry was sure he would have laughed at if he had heard it.
"Well Ron, I think we'd best be off. Hermione, nice seeing you. I've never seen that much of yo- Ouch! That hurt, Ginny."
"Oh shut it Potter. Bye lovebirds" Ginny and Harry were promptly attacked by charmed pillows, smacking them in the head until they exited the room.
"Well that was interesting. Although I pray I'll never have to see my brother in a situation like that again."
"I agree. Especially if it's us who's in the situation." Harry heard someone laugh and he thought he heard someone angrily say his name, but he wasn't sure. Had he looked to his left, he might have figured that Lily and James were there, watching him under the cloak, but Harry had eyes on only one person that night. They walked back to the common room and Ginny snuggled next to Harry on the couch. They fell asleep after awhile and all Harry's troubles seemed to melt away as he and Ginny held each other in their arms.