Disclaimer:
J.K. Rowling is the owner of Harry Potter. Stories she has written and characters that she created are not mine. I don't take credit for any of her work. I do thank her for providing such a wonderful universe to dream about and write in.
Harry Potter and the Shadow of Evil
By: Starwin
Chapter 4 – Past, Present and Future
Harry wasn't sure how long he sat on the couch, staring between Sirius's and Ginny's letters. He knew of course that he couldn't respond to Sirius's letter but could he write back to Ginny? He didn't know about that either. Every time he tried to think of what to say his mind just blanked after 'Dear Ginny.' It sounded so strange.
Harry was startled out of his daze by the sound of the door opening. Quickly he grabbed the letters, folded them and pushed them into the space in-between the cushions.
Hermione's face appeared in the door. She was carrying two plates of food and a large leather-bound book under one arm. Harry smiled weakly at her, hoping she wouldn't notice he was concealing something. She smiled back and walked over setting the plates down on the table precariously well keeping the book under her arm from sliding out.
Harry looked at the plate filled with food and became aware of just how hungry he real was. The last meal he had eaten was breakfast, the pervious morning and he hadn't eaten much.
Thankfully the plate Hermione had brought held much more appetizing food. Hermione beamed as she watched him eat.
"Feeling better?" She asked after watching him for a while. Harry nodded.
"'hanks 'monee." Harry said through a mouth filled with food. Hermione taped her wand on the table and pulled it up as though unzipping the air. Rippling into existence was a cup filled with pumpkin juice. Harry nodded again in thanks as he washed down the food clogging his mouth.
"So where've you been all day?" Harry asked, a chicken wing clasped between his hands ready to be devoured well Hermione answered the question, though Harry was fairly sure he already knew what the answer was.
"Well first I was going to wait for you," Hermione began. "But you looked like you weren't going to be up any time soon so I went and found the Great Library of Avalon. I also found this really interesting book!" Hermione said with a glowing face as she held up the book leather book she had brought with her.
"But I think we have something more important to talk about first." Hermione said her face suddenly becoming very serious. Harry felt a wave of panic, it wasn't possible, she couldn't know about Sirius's letter. She seemed to know everything, but that was just impossible, wasn't it?
Hermione held up two white envelopes, on the front they had shinning blue letters with Harry and Hermione's names on them.
Harry took his and read the return address,
Ministry of Magic,
O.W.L.S Examinations Office,
The Desk of Millia Madra Head Examiner
Harry felt his stomach drop out and for a moment wished Hermione had instead asked about Sirius's letter. Hermione held up her's.
"I haven't opened mine yet, I thought we could do it together." She said with a smile. This was the last thing Harry wanted. What if he opened his and found all Dreadful's and Hermione had 30 Outstanding's or some impossibly outrageous number.
"Ready? On three!" Hermione said. Harry's hands, despite what his brain was shouting, moved automatically as if Hermione had put him under the Imperious Curse. "One, Two, Three!" Hermione pulled hers open and Harry, having some trouble finally managed to do the same. Hermione was looking over her sheet a content smile on her face.
Slowly, carefully Harry unfolded his own letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
These are the results of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels you participated in during the month of May.
Astronomy:A
Care of Magical Creatures:O
Charms:O
Defense against the Dark Arts: O+
Divination:A
Herbology:E
History of Magic:D
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O
For your exceptional performance in your Defense against the Dark Arts Examination you would normally be considered for an apprentice post of Auror during your summer vacation
However due to a number of circumstances this award has been declined by the Minster of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, under section 5.7.2 of the magical law pertaining to underage wizards.
Enclosed you will find a pin for your exceptional performance.
Sincerely,
Ellina Redoric
Secretary to the Head of O.W.L.S Examinations Office
Harry let out a sigh of relief. Turning the envelope on its side a silver pin rolled out with the letters "DADA+" on it.
He hadn't done incredible but he hadn't completely failed as he first thought. The Dreadful in history of magic was expected but unwelcome as he knew instantly that Hermione would be all over him about it.
Hermione was looking at him expectantly.
"Well?" She asked finally.
"It's not bad, I got an O in Care of Magic Creatures, Charms, DADA, Potions and Transfiguration." Hermione's lip tightened.
"And?" She pressed.
"I did okay in the other subjects. How about you?" Harry asked, wishing the next moment he hadn't. He didn't want to compare himself to Hermione. She glowed almost as bright as the sun.
"Well I got an O in everything." She said her face turning red. Harry raised an eyebrow. "And I got this neat little pin!" She held up a silver pin that said "12OWLS."
"Everything?" Harry asked knowing it was full well possible, even if he wasn't prepared for the truth. Hermione turned her paper around so that Harry could see.
Ancient Runes:O
Arithmancy:O
Astronomy:O
Care of Magical Creatures:O
Charms:O
Defense against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology:O
History of Magic:O
Muggle Studies:O
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O+
Harry saw it but he couldn't believe it. He felt for a moment like he was looking at her schedule from their third year.
"But, 'mione I thought you dropped some of these classes?" Harry asked.
"Oh well I asked professor McGonagall if I could attempt the O.W.L.S for them and she said there didn't seem to be any reason why I couldn't, since I had taken all of the subjects before." Harry was still in shock and disbelief.
"I wonder what Ron got?" Hermione asked as she turned her paper back around to read it again. Harry sighed, desperate to change the subject he looked to the only other object in the room.
"So what's with the book?" Harry asked nodding to the large leather-bound book sitting on the table. It looked very old and very heavy. Red lettered words were scrawled across the front in some ancient form of handwriting that Harry could not decipher upside-down.
Hermione set the paper with her O.W.L.S aside and reach for the book. Carefully, as though opening it to quickly might cause the pages to turn to dust, Hermione pulled the covers away from each other so that the book rested open at about its middle.
To Harry's surprise and for a moment horror, the pages were blank. He looked up at Hermione who was still smiling. Gently she tapped her wand against the page and said, "food summoning spell."
Letters began to appear all over the page, list of words began to bleed through onto the discolored parchment. Harry eyed the book with suspicion; this wasn't his first encounter with a book that wrote itself. Hermione seeing this on Harry's face deduced what he was thinking with startling accuracy.
"Don't worry it's nothing like Tom Riddle's diary. This magic book is sort of a giant collection of spells." Hermione's eyes glowed brightly. "You just ask it what you want to find and the books shows you everything matching the question. There are also loads of other facts in it. Like the water pool we found yesterday, it's called the Moonwell. The liquid inside is used to make pensives." Harry nodded his brain not fully taking in everything Hermione was saying. He sort of wanted her to go away so he could go back to deciding what to do about his letters.
"But most importantly it was able to tell me about this!" Hermione said with a gleam of, what seemed to Harry, uncontrollable insanity in her eyes. Hermione held up the half of the circle stone with the strange writing engraved on it. "It was almost impossible to find. Lucky I took ancient runes so I had a good idea of where to start at." Harry nodded slightly as he recognized the stone as the one he had pulled from his pocket last night. He must have left it on couch and Hermione must have found it.
"I was able to translate some of it, it's a language called Iltailus." Hermione continued. "This part," she said pointing at some of the strange shaped letters along the outside of the stone, "say 'invetus mel narus' or 'in the head of stones,' maybe 'in the house of rocks.' And this part," she continued excitedly pointing to the next set of runes. "Says something about 'trigona almor seltros demor'at' or," she closed her eyes for a second and whispered to herself. "'in front of', or maybe 'after,' something, I couldn't find a translation for the word 'seltros' though." Harry looked at her puzzled.
"So what is it talking about?" Harry asked. "What does it mean?" Hermione smiled.
"Well according to this book this stone marker is part of a puzzle that guides you to the entrance to the tomb of King Arthur!" Hermione finished excitedly. "We are missing the other half but if we can find it we can find the tomb!" Not seeing a smile or a nod or any reaction at all from Harry, Hermione pressed him. "What's wrong Harry?"
"It's nothing." Harry said dully. Yesterday, before the letters he might have jumped at the idea of a treasure hunt but right now. "'mione what exactly did you tell Ginny about my dreams?" Harry blurted out not thinking about what he was saying. Hermione's eyes widened a bit.
"Oh, well…" Hermione said tentatively judging Harry's reaction. "Last night after you went to bed Ginny sort of found Ron talking on the mirror and insisted that she speak with you. I told her you were already asleep. So we just kind of talked for a while and I was explaining what had happened and she said something about the dream in the corridor being familiar." Hermione finished out of breath. "She said she'd sort of had the same dream too. Did you talk with her well I was gone?" Hermione asked, her face now flushed with wisps of red.
Harry sat for a moment mixed feeling on his face. At first he had been angry at Hermione for telling Ginny such personal information without asking him first. But now he was fighting with himself. He wasn't sure if he was angry or not. Part of him was extremely glad that she had told someone else for him. But part of him was angry that of all the people she could have shared it with why had she picked Ginny?
"I'm sorry Harry I didn't think you…" Hermione began. Harry held up a hand.
"It's alright." Harry said simply. Then he reached down into the crevasse of the couch and pulled out the letters. He looked between them and then handed Ginny's letter to Hermione and put Sirius's folded letter down on his lap. Hermione read over the letter and then smiling handed it back to Harry.
"I thought you might have gotten a letter." Hermione said looking over at Hedwig who Harry had completely forgotten was there. He pulled a piece of bacon off his plate and handed it to her. She hooted thankfully before plucking it from his fingers.
"Who is the other letter from?" Hermione asked seeing the folded letter in Harry's lap. Harry suddenly felt uneasy.
"Sirius." Harry said his voice cracking. Why had she asked about it? It wasn't any of her business. Harry felt sadness welling up inside him again. "I, I don't want to talk about it." Harry said placing Ginny's letter on top of it. Hermione got the point and changed topics quickly.
"This book also has other things in it. Facts, stories and spells!" Hermione said as she taped the page with her wand making the information vanish. "You can practically learn anything out of it. It even teaches the unforgivable curses." Hermione said and then she ran an uneasy hand through her hair as if she had just said something she hadn't meant to.
"I don't really want to learn those." Harry said darkly.
"Well that's not the point!" Hermione replied. "But no I guess you wouldn't know." She said more to herself than to Harry. "That's sort of the real reason I brought it along. See this book has an enchantment on it. The spells in it cannot be copied. You can only learn from the book then you have to willingly teach them to someone else. Until Voldemort came here no one knew the killing curse, or any of the unforgivable curses. Voldemort most likely learned them and taught them to his Death Eaters." Hermione said in a fluster.
"What?" Harry asked in shock. "You don't mean that if Voldemort had never come here he… he couldn't have killed my parents?" Harry finished, a rage building inside him.
"Well, I don't know." Hermione said uncomfortably. "It contains almost the whole of wizard knowledge and there are other spells that can kill."
"Maybe it has a counter curse to Avada Kedavra." Harry said quickly, his mind racing. "Or something that can bring people back from the dead?" As if the book had heard him the pages blanked and a short list of words appeared on the page.
Hermione looked at Harry and then down at the book.
"Accio Cadaver, Revevissance, Animatica Mortius, True Resurrection, Phoenix Down, Maticus Animagius" Hermione read and then looked up at Harry. She tapped the first word with her wand. The pages of the book flipped wildly and came to rest near the start of the book. In the top corner the word Accio appeared and text began to fill out under it. Harry watched as Hermione read the words quickly.
"I don't think this is what you meant," She said after a long moment of reading. "Bringing back or summoning the dead to you. But not brining them back to life." She taped the book and the pages spun back to the short list. The first word crossed itself off. Hermione tapped the next word.
Again the book spun. After a moment of reading Hermione announced that this spell could only recover someone that was near death, not dead. It was also very difficult to cast and often didn't work. Harry shook his head.
Hermione repeated the process. Animatica Mortius was an animation spell for corpses, giving them no life, and no minds. Hermione didn't even have to look up at Harry to know it was the wrong spell.
Finally they arrived at the spell called True Resurrection. The title sounded promising.
"There are three type of True Resurrection," Hermione read. "Ritual, Self and Divine. The Ritual of resurrection requires one Diamond of 1000 Galleon or more value, something of the person to be resurrected," Hermione paused as her eyes read on, Harry was able to read a very long list of items and could make out, 'blood, skin, bone, organs, fingers, eye…'
Harry felt a bit sick. "It goes on to list all things that can be used. A rune symbol drawn in the blood of the caster and…" Hermione paused again. "A soul to be sacrificed in exchange for the person being resurrected." Harry felt his heart sink. "Upon completion of the spell a soul exchange will take place swapping the souls in the person sacrificed for the person being resurrected." Hermione skipped down the page.
Harry already knew this spell was worthless he would never trade one life for another, even if the life was Malfoy for his parents. Harry thought about it. For a moment he seriously considered if that was true, given the chance would he sacrifice Malfoy for his parents?
"The second form of True Resurrection is Self. Only once, in all of recorded history has anyone ever preformed the right of True Resurrection on themselves after death. No theory or explanation of how this was accomplished has ever been explained. Ohhh, that doesn't help." Hermione skipped further down the page. "The third and final form of True Resurrection is Divine, accomplished by Merlin in a battle with the dark wizard Tromedlov, Merlin was reported to say after the battle that he was sent back and told it was not his time." Hermione finished and looked up at Harry. "I don't think any of these would be of any use to us." Harry had to agree though the thought of sacrificing Malfoy was still very tempting to him.
Hermione tapped the book and it spun back to the list. All but two of the spells had been crossed out. She tapped the second to last one.
"The Phoenix Down Potion," Hermione read. "This potion requires," she read off a list of items, "a tail feather of a Phoenix, willingly given, and a drop of blood from the person receiving the potion. Once drunk the person will be restored to full health from any aliment, even death. However the Phoenix who gave the tail feather will die and not be reborn, giving up its immortality to heal." Harry could think of only one Phoenix and he would never even consider Fawks for such a task. Hermione tapped the book again and now only one spell remained.
She tapped the last spell and the book whirled to almost the end.
"Maticus Animagius," Hermione read and then she was silent for a long while well she read on.
"Well?" Harry final asked. His last hope of a spell that could bring his parents, Sirius and Cedric back to life seemed to be slipping away.
"This can't be right, I'm not sure why the book turned to this spell it has nothing to do with bringing anyone back from anywhere." Hermione said shaking her head. "It's just the instructions on how to become and Animagus." Hermione continued to read as though she couldn't believe that any book could make such a strange mistake. She placed her finger on it as she turned the pages and for a long time Harry watched her.
It seemed like hours had passed when he finally spoke up in frustration.
"So?" Harry asked. Hermione jumped and looked up at Harry as though only just noticing he was there.
"I don't know really. I still haven't found a reason why this spell was in the list but…" Hermione said. "I did find some other interesting things out about Animagus that I didn't know before and…" Harry stood up and Hermione stopped. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Harry said unable to hide the anger in his voice. "I need a walk, that's all." And without so much as a goodbye he crossed the room and left.
---
The sun was waning as Harry stepped outside the castle. Most of the day was gone already. That was it than, there was no way to bring someone back who had died.
'No way you are willing to take.' A voice whispered from next to him. Harry jumped in surprise. Looking over he found with horrible shock Ron sitting on the stone steps. But something wasn't right. He seemed not to fully be there as though he was a ghost. And for a moment Harry couldn't remember who it was that was on this island with him, Ron or Hermione.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked. The ghost like image of Ron seemed to become more tangible. A stupid grin crossed his face.
'You said you wanted to go for a walk and I found something really neat, com'on Harry!' Ron said. Harry felt awkward as Ron approached. His mind seemed blurry.
Hurrying away, Harry followed him down the steps. Harry followed as though in a daze. Halfway down the stairs they stopped and Ron darted off into the trees. Harry wasn't sure how long they jogged for. Only that the forest had become eerily dark. Finally they stopped.
"Where… are we going… Ron?" Harry asked between hard breaths. Ron turned on him and his features seemed to blur. His nose elongated and his hair turned black and greasy. He became taller and… Harry gasped, it was Snape!
"I warned you Potter," Snape hissed. "I told you not to come back here." What was he talking about? They were out in the middle of a forest, no where near the third-floor corridor. Harry suddenly realized that was exactly where they were. The door stood closed at the end of the hall.
"What?" Harry gasped. He was losing his grip on reality, was he asleep? Was this the horrible nightmare?
"I said," Snape hissed. "That I told you to practice you Occlumancy and yet it appears you have not." Snape looked around.
"This isn't real this has to be a dream." Harry said to Snape.
"It is a dream Potter." Snape hissed coldly. "I told the Headmaster, you would leave your mind vulnerable, that you would not practice." Harry gasped. This was Snape, the real Snape. "Lagilamancy works poorly at a distance. But even I am surprised how easy it was for me to lure you here. What if it had been the Dark Lord instead of me attacking your mind tonight?" Snape sneered. Then he looked around slowly examining the walls.
"An interesting projection." Snape said examining the corridor. "Tell me Potter why this place is important to you? Why is it that we appear here?"
Harry was unsure how to answer this, he didn't know and Snape was the last person he wanted to discuss it with.
"Your dreams are your biggest weakness, starting here is perhaps the best place for us. If I am not mistaken this is the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side." Snape said and then he spotted, leaning against the far wall next to the door, himself. Snape glared at Harry but did not say anything. Instead he walked over to himself and knelt down.
"Do you even try to protect yourself against these dreams?" Snape hissed. Harry blinked. "Or do you wish so fondly for the Dark Lord to enter your mind that you destroy every means of protection your mind creates?"
"What'da you mean?" Harry asked stupidly. His scar was starting to burn. He wanted Snape to leave. He wanted this dream or whatever it was to end. But this didn't feel like a dream and Harry had the sinking felling it wasn't going to end soon.
"Where is the key this Guardian should have been carrying?" Snape snapped suddenly. "You didn't open this door?" Harry felt taken aback, how could Snape possibly know that? Snape moved quickly back in front of Harry. His eyes boring into him.
"This place," Snape said slowly, "Is what your Occlumancy training is for. The walls, and the door are of your minds construction." Snape pointed at the wall next to Harry, a few of the bricks were cracked one was even missing. "This is the doorway into your mind. You neglect its protection. Even now I stand here as proof of your inability to defend yourself." Harry suddenly felt cold, the air seemed to be pressing down on him and other memories began to surface. Harry closed his eyes. "Fight me," Snape snarled coldly.
Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at Snape. He muttered something, unsure what and for a moment Snape flickered. The memories stopped replaying and Snape took a step back. He had a look of mild surprise.
"That was," Snape said in a shocked voice. "very good." Harry couldn't believe what he had just heard. Snape stood there for a long moment but didn't seem to attack again. "We are done! Be warned Potter that if I find a way, back into your mind, our next encounter shall be less, pleasant!" Snape snarled and with a wave of his hand he vanished. Harry stood alone in the corridor having no idea what had just happened.
Then he heard the sound of stone being moved against stone. Looking over he could see the missing brick in the wall sliding itself back into place. A moment latter the third-floor corridor vanished and he stood in the forest. The sky was dark and Harry knew it was night.
---
Harry turned and began to jog back towards the castle. What was he doing out here in this forest anyways? He recalled something about Ron and Snape. Had he fallen asleep and walked out here? He couldn't remember it all seemed a bit fuzzy.
Finally after what seemed like hours of wondering he reached the stone path. The moon was already overhead and Harry hurried towards the doors hoping he was not locked out for the night. When he reached the top of the stairs however he found the doorway open. Harry drew his wand. Something wasn't right here.
Cautiously he stepped inside.
"Lumos." He whispered, his wand tip remained dark. Harry felt a sinking feeling in his stomach that was the third time he had tried to cast magic and the third time it had failed. He moved through the entry way. On the floor he could see white bones and dimly glowing armor scattered about.
There were skeletons everywhere. This wasn't possible. He hadn't been gone that long. If the island had been attacked how could this have happened so quickly? Feeling his heart beating very fast Harry knelt and picked up a long silver bladed sword from the hand of one of the dead Seraphim in the entryway.
The moment he lifted the sword it began to glow with light and warmth. He held it out in front of him like a torch.
Hermione, he had to find her, had to make sure she was okay.
Cautiously he moved down the dark hallways. There was no one, the only light came from the glow of the sword. The paintings on the walls had been slashed, their occupants gone. The carpet had been torn and scorched with burn marks from spells.
Harry passed the dinner hall and saw upturned tables and more skeletons strewn about. A massive battle had taken place here but when, how long ago? Harry couldn't believe this was happening. Couldn't believe he had missed this. His brain would not accept it.
Maybe this wasn't real, maybe it was a dream or a vision or an illusion!
Not wanting to be tricked a second time he pressed his hand against the swords blade and felt its sharp edge, he released it with a pain in his palm. A thin line of blood cut his skin and his blood dripped from the bottom of his palm. Harry closed his hand tight his fingertips pressed against the painful cut.
This was real. He reached the stairs and careful to choose the right side ascended. He checked all the rooms along the floor but found no one. He proceeded to the next floor and again, no one. Even the apartment room, which had been thoroughly destroyed, he found no one.
It felt like hours later when at last he reached the top floor, where the stairs would go no higher. On this level there were no other doors, save for the large double doors at the end of the hall. The paintings here had also been torn, some had been ripped from the wall and smashed. Slowly, sword at the ready, he moved down the hallway.
Stopping before the large oaken double doors he turned to see, to his surprise, the painting of him and Hermione, hanging there, undamaged. But it was not the same as it had been.
Harry looked wild in the picture, his scar more evident then ever, his lips in a sneer. Hermione was still sitting in the chair worry on her face and deep lines beneath her eyes.
Harry searched for the shadow in the background, but there was none to be found. Instead the door in the painting had been opened; there was nothing behind it, only blackness.
Harry turned from the picture and pushed open the large double doors. The answers to all of this had to be in this room.
The bookcase against one wall had been burned, black ash sat on the shelves and scorch marks crawled up the wall alongside it. The opposite wall was bear except for some hanging pins. The gold face plates with the names were gone. The weapons were gone. This room had been plundered and burned.
Harry saw at the far end of the room someone sitting behind the desk. He brought the sword up clasping the hilt with both hands. He moved across the room to the person behind the desk. Holding up the sword he lit the room with its light. It took Harry almost a full 20 seconds to realize just what he was seeing. He gasped and dropped the sword, it clattered against the floor.
Sitting behind the desk was, Hermione, much, much older than was possible. She had her head down on a book and was breathing quietly but as the sword hit the floor she sat bolt upright and pointed her wand at Harry.
"Whose there?" She cried her wand tip pointed at Harry. "It… It can't be…" Hermione said, her wand falling from her fingers. "Harry?" She said her voice sounded chocked. She stood with lightning speed and moved around the desk. Harry took a step back but before he could move any further she had him in a bone crushing hug.
She was much taller than he was. In the dim glow of the light he could see her hair had turned partly gray and lost some of its bushiness. There were wrinkles on her soft face and her eyes looked tired and worn with time.
"I can't believe this! You can't be here but… but you are!" She cried crushing him even tighter.
"Hermione," Harry gasped. "You're crushing me." She released him from the hug but grabbed on of his hands as though she were afraid that if she let him go he would vanish. There were tears steaming down her face.
"What happened here what's going on?" Harry demanded. Hermione's eyes went wide.
"It was Him!" Hermione cried. "He-who-must-not-be-named! He came and he destroyed everything, Harry! He killed everyone." Fear overtook her face. "When he came to me he said, he said that I would stay here alone for the rest of time. Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried as she embraced him again. "I can't believe you're here! I can't believe your alive!"
"Hermione!" Harry said forcefully trying to pry himself loose. "When did this happen? I've only been gone for a few hours at the most. What happened to you?" Harry asked searching her almost unfamiliar face for answers.
Hermione went wide eyed.
"It doesn't matter." She said suddenly. Harry was about to protest. "I found it, I found the way to stop him, to stop this!" Hermione pulled Harry by the hand and lead him back over to the book. He read the title at the top of the page. "Maticus Animagius" the section of the book they had seen earlier.
"You were right Harry and you didn't even know it!" She pointed to one of the end lines. Harry read it.
'Maticus Animagius is the incantation used to induce the form of the Animagus transformation charm, much harder to perform is the magical derivation of this spell. In rare cases a wizard transformed by this spell can become a magical animal granting all the magical properties of that creature.'
Harry still didn't understand, this didn't have anything to do with what they were talking about earlier. How would being able to become a magical creature help him at all?
Harry looked up at her, confused. She pressed her finger against another paragraph. It was a list of names, the one her finger was pressed against was, 'Phoenix.'
"This is how you stop this Harry. You learn how to become a Phoenix, travel back in time and fight you-know-who!" Hermione said breathlessly. "When he comes to kill you he won't be able to because Phoenixes are reborn when they die! You can stop this, you can undo this!" Hermione cried. "I have spent the last 50 years working this through, you can do this Harry you can erase this future!" Hermione produced a small hour glass device.
"This is a time turner it will take you back!" Hermione pressed the hourglass into his hand Harry felt his fingers wrap around it.
"But I thought we aren't supposed to change time?" Harry said. Hermione cast him a scowl.
"How can you think about that, look around you, look what's happened? All our friends are dead. You-know-who is ruling the world. How can changing time make this any worse?" Hermione shouted angry.
"Hermione what's wrong with you!" Harry said. "Voldemort couldn't have done this to me?" Harry said, Hermione shivered at his name. Harry was taken aback. "You haven't had problems saying Voldemort's name for years now and…" Hermione hissed at him.
"I was a fool!" She said coldly. "And so are you. To think that we could do anything, to think you could do anything. When the time came you did nothing, just stood there afraid and weak! It's your fault! Maybe if you had even tried you could have won!" She snatched the time turner back from him and moved back to the book.
"Hermione." Harry said apologetically, but she didn't look up. "Hermione!" Harry said more loudly. Still she did not look at him. He moved to grab her shoulder but his hand passed through her as though she wasn't there. She faded like a ghost leaving him alone in the empty office.
---
There was movement behind him and Harry turned. His wand out, he was ready to attack. Oberon moved slowly across the room. As he walked the walls seemed to repair themselves. The weapons shimmered back onto the pegs the books reborn from ash. By the time Oberon had crossed the full length of the room it had all but been restored. Harry blinked as though it would all go away when he opened his eyes again. But the room remained and Oberon still stood before him.
"What's going on?" Harry asked his voice strained. "Am I back in the past? How did you survive the attack, this can't be…" Harry began. Oberon held up a hand.
"What you have seen was neither the future nor a vision of things to come." Oberon said offering a chair to Harry. Harry sat down in it, unsure if it would still be there when he came to rest upon it. "You have experienced something known as the journey of truth. Not all wizards who come here experience it but those who do each do so in their own way. It answers a personal question that you seek inside you." Oberon said as he moved behind his desk and sat in the chair there.
"How did that answer a question?" Harry shouted. "How is seeing everyone dead and Hermione…" Harry stopped furry was building in him now, "Hermione the way she was answer any question!" Harry said through gritted teeth. Oberon watched Harry but did not interrupt.
"What possible truth could I use from seeing Voldemort taking over the world and killing everyone that I love and care for?" Harry was breathing hard now. His mind trying to think of other things to shout at Oberon, this had been his doing hadn't it. Did he think Harry needed more tormenting? He was just as bad as Dumbledore was.
At last Oberon spoke.
"I cannot answer what question you have inside you. I cannot see your thoughts or read your mind. I can only tell you that Avalon showed you that which you most wanted to see." Harry stood, still angry. "The journey for truth is something we all seek in our lives. To understand what Avalon has shown you, you must understand what it is you are looking for. What question you want answered. Ask yourself Mr. Harry Potter, what question is most prominent in your mind."
"Thanks," Harry said dully and turned to leave.
"You will find also," Oberon said Harry halted willing himself for calm as his anger flared again. "That finding your question is not always the answer you are looking for." Harry said nothing as he took the last few steps out of the room the door closed behind him.
---
Harry leaned against the closed door for a long while, thinking. He didn't want to think, didn't want to feel. His mind kept bringing up horrible things he didn't want to remember, Sirius, Cedric, his parents.
Uncontrollably Harry began to cry. Tears ran down his face. He tried with all his might to make it stop. He didn't need to cry. He was a wizard, 'the most powerful wizard in the world!' Harry stopped crying, he wasn't sad anymore. He was afraid. What had that last thought been?
Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention away. Harry pulled his wand as though expecting to be attacked.
There on the wall hung the painting of him and Hermione both waving and smiling at him as though they didn't have a care in the world. The door in the background was still shut and the shadow still on the wall.
Harry looked away closing his eyes for a moment. He slid is wand back into his pocket.
'I am getting as jumpy as Moody!' Harry thought. 'It wasn't a dream, it was an answer? An answer to a question?' But what question, right now there were so many questions racing around in his head he couldn't even imagine where to begin.
But he knew what the question was, even if he wouldn't admit it to himself. It was something he asked himself every day ever since he had heard the prophecy, no even before that. He couldn't remember how far back.
"Does anything I do matter?" He asked to the empty hallway. If the vision, journey, whatever the fuck it was, was any indication the answer was a resounding yes.
Authors Notes:
Tada chapter 4 and now for my next trick I will pull a rabbit out of my hat!
'looks in his hat' Um well okay… that's rather… 'throws the hat away with a distraught look on his face.' Maybe I should just continue working on the story instead?
This is the shortest chapter to date. I know what your thinking, short? OMFG you're crazy. But yeah it's shorter than I usually like to make them. However quantity is not quality!
As this goes up I am starting on chapter 7 so expect me to have 5 proofed and ready to go up as soon as I get some reviews!
Come on it only takes a min or two and it makes me feel important, not to mention help me improve my writing style.
Comment, questions, feedback? You bet I want to hear them all! Email or reviews are wealome D