SUMMARY
After spending half his life trying to rid the world of Voldemort, Harry Potter finally succeeds. However, the price has been high. Too high. Unfortunately, when Harry risks his life to go back and 'do things right', something goes wrong.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank…
S'TarKan – It was his story that gave me the idea for this story's starting point. Also, if anyone wants to know what kind of Harry Potter my main character is (they've had similar experiences, losses etc), or just want to read a good Harry Potter fanfic, then read S'TarKan's 'Harry Potter & the Nightmares of Futures Past'.
The creators of QUANTUM LEAP and SLIDERS – Anyone who's seen either of these shows might recognise elements of both shows central ideas in this story. The situation my Harry gets himself into was indeed partially inspired by the central features of both of these shows.
This website – For providing a forum where people like me can write stuff that people will actually get to see.
J.K. Rowling – They are her characters after all.
CHAPTER NINE – The Legend of the Lone Traveller.
Harry, along with Blaise and Spencer, stared incredulously at Roger and the stranger in the leather jacket. Did he just call HIM Harry? He regarded the stranger with sheer disbelief. He has the same scar! his thoughts exclaimed as he caught sight of the familiar lightning shaped scar. Is that me? No, what am I saying? That's possible… Suddenly, he thought of something. Oh Merlin, don't tell me Michael did it again. He groaned out loud and stepped forward. "Michael was mucking about with a Time Turner again, wasn't he?" The other 'Harry' responded with a puzzled expression on his face. Something tells me Michael wasn't the cause of this, concluded Harry.
The Harry in the leather jacket looked at the younger version of himself. Mucking around with a Time Turner? he thought incredulously. Bloody hell, no wonder he and his brother don't get along. He shook his head at the younger Harry's question. "Good guess, kid, but the answer's no."
Blaise and Spencer gaped at the Harry in the leather jacket when he spoke. He sounds just like Hal! they both thought simultaneously. By now, between the stranger's voice and appearance, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that, somehow, someway, this stranger in the leather jacket was indeed Harry Potter.
After a few seconds, someone suggested that they sit down. They all did so, the Harry in the leather jacket sitting himself on the remaining bed, apparently not bothered that it belonged to Cuthbert Garrett. The Guys then listened as Harry told them of how he had come to be in their reality and a little about some of the realities he had visited previously, as well as his own. However, it was when Harry mentioned something about the blue aura that took him from reality to reality that he was interrupted by Blaise.
"Blue light?" he exclaimed, as he sprung to his feet and started rummaging through his trunk.
"What's up?" asked Roger as he watched the olive-skinned boy pull out a book from the bottom of his trunk.
"I've heard this before…" muttered Blaise, as he opened the book and started looking for something.
Hearing this, Spencer looked at the Harry in the leather jacket, then at Blaise. "You don't think…?" he asked nervously.
Blaise stopped at a page, read a few words, then looked at the alternate Harry, who sported a confused look on his face. "You…" he stammered. "You're… you're the Lone Traveller… aren't you?" He watched the older version of his friend blink slightly. He recognises the name! he thought as he looked back at the book.
Harry did indeed recognise the name – he had been called that by a startled villager somewhere in Eastern Europe who had witnessed his entrance to that reality. At the time, he had been slightly confused by this, but by the time his vision returned and the numbness left him, the villager had fled the scene. He had soon forgotten about that particular incident when he had spotted Professor Quirinus Quirrell and set about preventing his possession by Voldemort. But now, here he was, in a completely different reality, being addressed as 'The Lone Traveller' once again by a wide-eyed Slytherin – No way is this a coincidence, concluded Harry as Blaise Zabini looked again at the book he was holding.
"What're you talking about, Blaze?" asked Roger, confused by the looks both Blaise and Spencer were giving the Harry sitting on Cuthbert's bed.
Blaise took a few steps forward and handed Roger the book, pointing at the relevant page. As he did this, Harry caught a glimpse of the book's title – 'Legends & Myths of the Wizarding World' by Gertrude Yolanda. Legends & Myths? thought Harry. You've gotta be kidding me…
Roger looked at the book and read some of it out loud. "The Lone Traveller…" he muttered. "Young man who tried to change the past and save those he loved… plan failed and became the Lone Traveller, wandering through time and reality, making a difference wherever he went… very powerful… defeated a powerful Dark Lord… swept along the path he walked by a spectacular aura of…" he paused, squinting slightly at the last two words finishing the sentence, "… blue light." He lowered the book slightly and stared at Harry.
The Harry Potter native to their reality also stared at the Harry in the leather jacket. Or is it 'The Lone Traveller'? he wondered, slightly amused at the fact that there was a Harry Potter who was a character in a well-known myth, if Blaze and Spence's reactions were any indication.
The Lone Traveller sat there, not sure what to think. Roger Appleby had just described his situation perfectly, right down to the blue aura, yet he was reading it from a book – a book on myths and legends, no less. "Bloody hell," he mumbled. How the hell am I a myth? I haven't been doing this for that long… He stopped as an unwelcome conclusion occurred to him. He sighed. Looks like I'll be doing this for a while…
Suddenly, the five of them heard a noise near the doorway - someone was coming up the stairs. The Harry from this reality, who thus far had kept quiet, stood up. "Shit!" he muttered. "Someone's coming!"
"Cuthbert," mumbled Spencer, glancing at the bed the other Harry was still sitting on.
The Guys all glanced at the door, trying not to panic. "Quick, hide!" said Blaise, turning to the other Harry, only to find that he was already gone.
Harry watched, having non-verbally Disillusioned himself, as a familiar cloak-wearing figure came through the door, closely followed by a surly looking boy, who Harry recognised as being Cuthbert Garrett.
"Well, well, well," sneered Severus Snape, glaring at the four boys. "Cuthbert here tells me the four of you have a visitor." He glanced around the room and frowned when he saw no-one, other than the four boys, who had every right to be in their own dorm. "Where is he?" he growled.
"Where's who?" asked Spencer in a convincingly innocent voice.
Snape glowered at Spencer, then at Cuthbert, whom Snape knew wasn't lying about his claims, thanks to Legilimency. He drew his wand and addressed the empty room. "If there is anyone here who shouldn't be here, then show yourself!" he barked. When he received no response, he pointed his wand towards the centre of the room and shouted "Finite Incantatum!"
A fairly bright flash filled the room. The Guys watched, trying to hide their concern. The four of them then had to try and hide their relief when nothing happened.
Snape lowered his wand and blinked slightly. The intruder young Cuthbert had told him about had obviously left, But where? The Potions Master looked around the room, making eye contact with James Potter's less famous son. However, when Snape tried using Legilimency to extract the information he desired from the boys mind, something seemed to block him. He frowned slightly when, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past whatever it was that was blocking his Legilimency. He then looked at the young Zabini boy and tried again. However, he found that he couldn't access this boy's mind either. He tried to hide his frustration as he tried again on Spencer Westwood, only to come up against the same barrier as before. He tried one last time on the Muggle-born, Roger Appleby. He tried not to curse out loud when he once again found the boy's mind blocked from him. Surely they cannot all be Occlumens's! thought Snape.
Snape glowered at the four boys before exiting the dormitory without a word. Cuthbert stood there and glared at his roommates.
"Who were you talking to?" he demanded to know. "I heard you talking to someone, and I want to know who!"
The Guys looked at each other, trying not to grin.
"Did you hear that guys?" said 'Blaze', addressing his comrades.
"Indeed we did, Blaze," replied 'Spence'. "I believe he wants to know something. Do you know what he's talking about, Hal?"
"Indeed I do not," said 'Hal'. "However, I do not feel that any of us should be surprised at a PFB like Cuthbert talking crap, wouldn't you agree, Rodge?"
"Indeed I would, Hal," said 'Rodge', as Cuthbert glowered at him. "After all, we have seen time and time again that Cuthbert here is incapable of any independent or indeed any kind of intelligent thought."
Cuthbert looked at Roger with a mixture of fury and surprise. "What did you just say?" he said in a voice dripping with anger.
The four Guys grinned.
"Oh dear," grinned 'Spence'. "It appears that Cuthbert here has a hearing problem."
"Or perhaps Cuthbert Cringeworthy is merely proving Rodge's statement as being true," interjected 'Hal'.
"I do believe you are correct Hal," said 'Blaze'. He turned to address Cuthbert. "Perhaps you should go outside and get some air," he suggested.
"Capital idea, Blaze," agreed 'Spence'. "Perhaps it'll allow him to air out the cobwebs in the vacant space that would normally accommodate a brain."
"Or cool down any brain cells present," added 'Rodge'. "Which will no doubt be starting to overheat due to the strain of interpreting the words we are saying." Bloody hell, thought Roger. No wonder the Guys love doing this. This is actually kinda fun.
The Guys watched Cuthbert as he struggled to maintain his composure, ready to defend themselves should Cuthbert lose his temper. However, Cuthbert didn't give them an excuse, instead whirling around and storming out of the dormitory.
"He's gone now," Blaise whispered in the direction of the space where the other Harry had been standing. Nothing happened.
"Harry?" said Roger cautiously. "Where are you? Are you still here?"
Suddenly, from halfway down the staircase, they heard a strangled cry, a crash and several angry sounding voices yelling "Watch it, Garrett!"
The Guys stood there confused. "What the…?" Spencer began. However, he stopped as the four boys watched as the older Harry faded into view as he came through the door.
"Oh my god…" exclaimed Roger.
"You didn't…" stammered Blaise.
"Did you just…?" said Spencer.
The older Harry looked at them with a sarcastically outraged look on his face. "Now, now," he grinned. "You wouldn't be blaming me for Cuthbert tripping and falling into a group of Slytherin prefects, now would you?"
Harry watched as the younger him returned the grin, as did the Guys. "Certainly not," said 'Hal'.
Roger looked at the Harry in the leather jacket suspiciously. "How did you do that?" he asked. "Y'know, when Snape…"
"I've been practicing a few new tricks since my 'journey' began," smirked Harry. After the fiasco of the wedding in the first reality, Harry had used every spare moment to research anything that might be useful – one of the first things on his list being methods of resisting 'Finite Incantatum'. The boys gave him an impressed look. However, there was something else Roger wanted to ask…
"And when he looked at us and frowned each time," said Roger. "That wasn't anything to do with you, was it?"
Harry nodded. "Snape was trying to use Legilimency on you four," he explained. "I managed to block him."
"Snape's a Legilimens?" exclaimed Blaise and Spencer simultaneously.
Harry nodded again while Roger looked at him, confused.
"What's a Legilimens?" he asked.
This reality's Harry answered his question with a suitable Muggle phrase. "It means he's a mind-reader."
"Snape can read minds!" exclaimed Roger. "Isn't there anything we can do to stop him?"
They all looked at the Harry in the leather jacket and saw him smirk slightly. "Occlumency," was all he said in response.
"You were able to block of all our minds from him with Occlumency?" said Blaise.
"Yep," nodded Harry. "But I won't be around to block him next time, so I suggest the four of you lean Occlumency as soon as possible – especially you," he added, pointing at his other self.
Merlin, he even points at things the same way our Harry does, thought Blaise, Roger and Spencer simultaneously, noting Harry's use of both his index and middle fingers.
Their version of Harry noticed this too as he told the Harry in the leather jacket that he had already tried to find a book on Occlumency in the Library, but was prevented from doing so due to the book being in the Restricted Section.
"No problem," responded Harry. "I'll be back in a little while."
Before anyone could say anything, Harry had Disillusioned himself and left the dormitory.
XxXxXxXxXxX
As Harry scanned the bookshelf, trying to avoid the books he knew were jinxed, every thought kept returning to the Legend of the Lone Traveller.
How the hell's this possible? he found himself asking for the fifteenth time since entering the Library. I mean, if I am now this 'legendary figure', which is totally ridiculous, that would mean I'd have to pay more than one visit to each reality, otherwise how is it possible that I'm in a book in this, or any other reality already? After a few minutes, Harry decided to not think about it too much and just accept that, assuming it was him, he was now this legendary figure. The Lone Traveller, eh? he thought, smirking slightly at the thought of yet another nickname being added to his already impressive collection. The Boy-Who-Lived, The Chosen One, Maarek Ilumian – The Fury of the Light, The Man-Who-Triumphed and The Lone Traveller. Not bad for a 'worthless freak' whose bedroom was a cupboard for ten years.
"Here we go…" mumbled Harry as he finally found a copy of 'Occlumency: A Beginner's Guide' on one of the shelves. He picked it up carefully so as not to touch any of the others and placed the book in one of his jacket pockets. Having got what he came for, he went to leave the library, only to overhear a couple of words that immediately caught his attention.
"… but what in Merlin's name could that thing be guarding?"
Harry turned and saw, surrounded by a pile of books, Ron, Hermione and Michael Potter, discussing something.
"Well, whatever it is, Snape wants it," said Michael, taking care not to be overheard by Madam Pince.
"Michael, we don't know it's Snape…" began Hermione.
"Oh, come on, Hermione!" interrupted Ron. "You saw that gash on Snape's leg on Halloween, plus we saw him trying to jinx Harry's broom…"
Oh bloody hell, thought Harry as he realised who had been missing from the teacher's table. Quirrell! Voldemort'll be trying to get his hands on the Philosophers Stone before long.
He watched Ron sigh. "We're wasting our time. We're not going to find out anything about this 'Nicholas Flamel' anywhere."
"Ron," protested Hermione. "We can't just give up…"
Oh boy, thought Harry as he turned and left the Library before the argument between the two young Gryffindors could get underway. Some things never change…
XxXxXxXxXxX
After checking that the coast was clear, Harry cancelled out his Silencing and Disillusionment Charms before approaching the Slytherin portrait, which looked at him suspiciously when it saw Harry come around the corner.
"You!" said the portrait confrontationally. "I don't recognise you. Who are you?"
And people wonder why I keep my hair this long, Harry thought as several locks of hair obscured his scar from view.
"My name is Alec," said Harry, calling on yet another of his many aliases. "Alec Ward. I'm here to visit my cousin."
The portrait eyed him suspiciously. "Is that so?" said the well-dressed, no doubt pure-blooded, old gentleman. "And who would your 'cousin' be?"
Harry smirked at the old man in the picture. "His name's Dalton Point," he said, choosing a pure-blood he knew had been in Slytherin at this point. "He'll be in sixth year. He's a Prefect and has just joined the Quidditch team, as a Chaser I believe."
"You're related to the Point family?" asked the portrait.
"Indeed I am," replied Harry. "Dalton's mother is my aunt, on my mother's side."
"Is that so?" said the portrait. "Then may I ask why you are dressed in Muggle attire?"
"I'm spending a lot of time among Muggles at the moment," smirked Harry. The portrait looked at him suspiciously when he said this. "Though what I have planned for them, I must keep to myself at this point," he added.
The addition had the desired effect as the elderly gentleman began to chuckle. "Very well, young Ward, I believe you," he said. "However, I will still need the password."
"Of course," nodded Harry. "I was told it's 'Dementor'. Is that correct?"
"It is, young sir," replied the portrait as it opened. "Give my regards to young Dalton when you see him," the portrait added as Harry entered the common room.
Harry quickly Disillusioned himself upon entering the common room and made his way up the stairs towards The Guys' dorm. He arrived to see that his other self wasn't there.
"Hey, guys. Where's Harry?" he asked, making the three boys jump.
"Um… he, uh, just left," said Blaise to the unseen voice of Harry. "He said he'd be beside the lake if anyone wanted him."
"Alright, thanks," replied Harry as, still Disillusioned, he left the dorm and went down the stairs, stopping to let a couple of third years past about halfway down. He crossed the common room, ignoring the group of fourth years gathered around the fireplace, and opened the portrait hole.
"Who's there?" exclaimed the portrait as he looked to see who had just left and saw no one. Harry ignored the portrait and carried on.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Hey there, kid," greeted Harry as he approached the tree under which his other self was sitting.
The younger Harry looked up and saw the Harry in the leather jacket fade into view. "Oh, um, hi… Harry," he said, unsure how to address his other self. "God, this is weird."
"How do you think I feel?" smirked Harry. "I have to do this nearly every reality I visit."
"Oh," was all that the younger Harry said in response.
"Tell you what…" said Harry as he sat down beside his other self. "I'll call you Hal and you call me either Harry or Alec. How does that sound?"
"Alec?" said 'Hal'.
"That portrait of Sir what's-his-name wanted to know who I was, so I used the 'Alec Ward' alias and said I was here to visit my 'cousin', Dalton Point," explained Harry.
"Oh. Okay… Alec," mumbled Hal, not sure what to say next. "Umm… nice jacket."
"Thanks," replied Harry. "Y'know, you'd probably suit one of these."
"You think so?" asked 'Hal'.
"I've always had this thing for jackets, leather, fleece, whatever," said Harry. "It was only after I left Hogwarts and the Dursleys that I was able to really started wearing them though."
"And the hair?" continued Hal.
"Mainly the result of not having much time to have it cut, though it is pretty useful for hiding this," smirked Harry, tapping his scar with two fingers. "What's your excuse?" he added, nodding at his other self's hair, which was slightly longer than his had been at that age.
"Same reasons, I guess," responded Hal, running his hand through his hair.
There was a slight pause until Harry remembered the books in his pockets. "Oh, by the way," he said as he took all but one of the books out of his pocket. "I swiped these from the Restricted Section, but I suggest you get your own copies the first chance you get. Madam Pince doesn't check the Restriced Section often, but she'll realise these are missing eventually."
Hal took the books from Harry and looked at them. "Um... sorry to sound dense, but where in Merlin's name am I going to get my own copies of these?" He held up a copy of 'Advanced Level Spells & Incantations'. "Have you any idea what kind of questions will be asked if I try to buy this in Fourish & Blotts, even if they do sell anything on wandless magic or Occlumency?"
"I didn't get my stuff on wandless magic and Occlumency in Diagon Alley," said Harry.
"So where…?" began Hal.
"Knockturn Alley," interrupted Harry.
"Knockturn Alley?" exclaimed Hal. "And just how am I going to get anything in Knockturn Alley? I mean, Mum went ballistic last time I tried to go down there, and next time, she and Dad'll probably not let me out of their sights just to make sure I don't try again."
"Then go shopping on your own," replied Harry.
"On my own?" said Hal. "But, how… what would I say if someone asked where I was going?"
"Well, it's December, isn't it?" said Harry. "Just say you're going Christmas shopping."
Hal looked at the books on his lap. "This is quite a collection you've assembled. Occlumency, Legilimency…"
"Both very useful," said Harry.
"…wandless magic, animagi, apparition, metamorphmagi…" continued Hal, looking up at Harry when he mentioned the last book.
"Apparently, I had an great uncle on my Dad's side who was a Metamorphmagus," said Harry. "Tonks did a test on me at some point and it revealed that I could probably do it once I learned the basics," He took the one book he'd kept for himself out of his pocket. "That's why I'm borrowing this. Apparently, once you've learned the basics, the rest just comes naturally, though all I really need is a full proof way of hiding this accursed scar."
"Dad's uncle Gerald?" said Hal. "You mean, we could both have taken after him?"
"Maybe," replied Harry. "Hold on, you mean you weren't tested when you were a kid? I thought all wizards with Metamorph relatives got tested when they were young."
"Michael got tested when we were two," answered Hal bitterly. "Annie got tested when she was three. I guess my parents just haven't got around to trying me yet."
"Oh," said Harry. "I'm guessing you don't get along with the rest of your family, right?"
Hal nodded. "Sometimes I wonder if they realise they have two sons, not just 'Mr Celebrity', Michael Potter."
"They do, Hal. Trust me," said Harry. "In fact, I know for a fact that Michael feels bad about that argument you two had in the Hospital Wing."
Hal looked at him, wide-eyed. "What? How did you find out about that?"
"I overheard Michael and my… his friends at breakfast while I was trying to find out if you existed in this reality or not," explained Harry. "He told them, for the first time I might add, about the row you two had. I also heard him admit that you have just as much chance of being the 'Boy-Who-Lived' as he does."
"Michael said that?" asked Hal incredulously.
"He did," nodded Harry. "And apparently, your mother's hoping you'll come back for Christmas this year."
"Really?" said Hal equally incredulously. "You sure?"
Harry nodded again. "Even if they don't make it obvious, your family does care about you. Just don't cut yourself off from them and they always will."
There was a long silence. Harry could tell that his other self wasn't sure what to make of what had just been said, so Harry changed the subject.
"By the way," he said. "What did the hat say to you during the Sorting?"
"What?"
"The Sorting Hat," elaborated Harry. "I'm sure it put you in Slytherin for a reason."
Hal looked away slightly. "I… it said I'd do well in all the houses and reckoned I'd probably do best in Slytherin. It then asked me if I had any preferences…"
"And you agreed with the hat and chose Slytherin?" said Harry, though he knew there was more to it than that.
"I said I didn't mind as long as it didn't put me in with my brother," finished Hal.
"Whereas I said 'anywhere but Slytherin' because I'd been told that Slytherin was evil and I'd just been introduced to Malfoy and the whole 'pure-blood superiority' ideology," said Harry. "And I suppose Snape still hates you, regardless of what house you're in."
"Yeah," nodded Hal. "Spence is even convinced Snape tried to jinx my broom in that first Quidditch match, but I don't think it was him."
Jinxed broom? thought Harry as he suddenly remembered what he'd overheard in the Library. "So, uh, who do you think did it?"
"Dunno," said Hal, eying Harry suspiciously. "I don't suppose you know, do you?"
"Well, yeah, I do," said Harry carefully. "Look, you haven't noticed anything weird about Quirinus Quirrell, have you?"
"You mean, have I noticed the stutter that lasts whole sentences, the way he looks at me and the fact that my scar seems to hurt when I'm around him?" asked Hal sarcastically.
Harry sighed and nodded.
"But why would he try to kill me?" asked Hal. "I haven't done anything to him."
"You have to the person who's commandeering him though," replied Harry.
"Commandeering him? You mean with the Imperius curse?" exclaimed Hal.
"No. Not with the Imperius curse. I'll give you a clue though," said Harry, tapping his scar with both index and middle fingers. "Before I learned Occlumency, this thing would hurt if Voldemort was feeling a strong emotion like anger or happiness. It also hurt whenever he was nearby."
"Voldemort? Nearby?" said Hal. "You mean Voldemort's here…? But how? Why?" He paused slightly. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the third floor being out of bounds, or that Troll that was set loose on Halloween, would it?"
Harry nodded. "There was a break-in at Gringotts over the summer," he said. "The item that was nearly stolen was brought here for safekeeping."
"Item?"
"Ask Michael. He and his friends are already on the trail to finding out about it," said Harry. "Or you could just look up Nicholas Flamel the Alchemist yourself."
"Nicholas Flamel?" said Hal, his mind already racing. Where have I heard that name before? he wondered. "And what about the Troll? There's a rumour going around that it was supposed to be guarding something before it got loose."
Harry shook his head. "The Troll was just a distraction by Quirrell as he tried to get the Stone, but Snape headed him off before he got the chance," he explained. "It's actually a Cerberus that's guarding the trapdoor," he added.
"Stone?" mumbled Hal.
"That's another hint, by the way," smirked Harry.
There was another slight pause as Hal's mind processed what it had just learned.
"So, Alec, anything else I should know?" asked Hal.
"Plenty of things," replied Harry. "But there probably isn't enough time." He looked at the pile of schoolwork beside his other self. "Are you going to use this?" Harry asked as he picked up a piece of blank parchment.
"No," said Hal. "I've just finished the History of Magic essay I had to do."
Before Hal could ask what Harry was doing, Harry had pulled out his wand and tapped his own forehead with it, before tapping the blank piece of parchment, which made the parchment glow slightly for a moment. Harry then handed the piece of parchment back to his other self.
Hal looked at the parchment curiously, then at Harry. "What did you just do?"
"I put a few useful bits of information from my mind into that parchment," explained Harry. "If you need information or advice that you can't get from anywhere else, then consult this thing."
Hal looked incredulously at the blank piece of paper. "How?"
"It works the same way as the Marauder's Map." elaborated Harry. "You have to say the password, or should I say, pass-phrase."
"And what is the 'pass-phrase'?" asked Hal.
"Just put your hand on it and say 'I seek the advice of The Lone Traveller'," said Harry.
Hal grinned when he heard this. "Lone Traveller, eh?"
Harry returned the grin and shrugged. "Yeah, well, I thought I may as well use that name, seeing as it probably is me."
Hal nodded. "So I just say that and ask it anything I need to know?"
"Pretty much," said Harry. "But only if it's absolutely necessary. Don't overuse it or start to depend on it."
Hal looked at the blank piece of parchment for a few seconds before putting it in his pocket. "Um, look," said Hal awkwardly. "Based on the fact that you were the only candidate for being the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and all that gaff, what would your advice be for a 'Boy-Who-Lived' who officially isn't?"
"You mean, you want to know whether it would be worth revealing the truth?" said Harry. "I can't really say. Besides, it's not really my place to tell you whether or not to reveal the truth to the world, though I will say that if you do, you'll probably find yourself the target of a Daily Prophet smear campaign like I was when Voldemort came back. It was over a year before the Ministry finally admitted the truth, but by then, I'd already been denounced as being a disturbed, deceitful, attention-seeking, show-off."
"So you think I should keep things under wraps?" concluded Hal.
"I think you should let others figure it out for themselves," said Harry. "Though I have a feeling that you were planning to do that anyway, am I right?"
Hal nodded and said nothing.
Harry got to his feet and looked at his other self. "Oh, and Harry," he said, using his other self's real name. "Trust your friends."
"Wh… what d'you mean?" stammered Hal.
"I'm guessing you didn't tell your friends of your attempts to learn Occlumency, judging by their reactions when you told me," concluded Harry. "It's not a good idea to keep too many things to yourself, especially from your friends."
Hal looked away slightly when Harry said this.
Good, thought Harry. Just remember what I've said and use that piece of parchment wisely and hopefully things'll get better for you. He took a few steps backward.
"Hey, Hal," he said. His other self looked back up at him. "Take care of yourself, alright? And good luck."
He watched the other him nod slightly before turning away and taking a few steps before being engulfed by a spectacular aura of pulsing blue light. A few seconds later, he was gone, leaving young Harry James Potter sitting alone beside the lake.
-
Author's Note.
Well, that's this reality done and dusted as far as The Lone Traveller's concerned, though we will see the same events from Hal and the Guys' point of view…
Yes, you read correctly folks – 'The Story of The Guys' is now in the works, with Chapter 1 nearly complete and a hell of a load of ideas for after The Lone Traveller's visit. The first chapter, at least, should be up soon.
Terris: Trust me, some of the realities I have planned will have Harry make a difference without actually realising it or finding out what he's meant to do until after he's done it. Also, there will be a few Harry's worse off than The Lone Traveller.
Korrd: Thanks for informing me about 'Daphne Greengrass'. She'll probably end up in 'SoTG', though probably not as Harry's love interest.
Anyhow, I'll hopefully get Chapter Ten written soon, as well as the beginning of The Story of The Guys. Until then, enjoy…