'This is a LOTE'
A Tale of Two Times
Snatched through time at birth, Harry becomes a time Traveller. He discovers this at five when he meets his real parents, and goes to Hogwarts prepared... but he hadn't realised Voldemort had a spy in Hogwarts and was trying to steal a dangerous artefact.
Chapter Six
Older Harry
July: 1991
Harry Potter (Harrison Gryffindor) was living a double life, and had been doing so for about five years now. He was, at the present moment, spending his day in the future. They had worked it out that if he stayed for exactly twenty four hours whilst controlling his aging, which conveniently meant he couldn't get sunburnt, then exactly twenty four hours in 1011, he would age at a convincing rate. He rather liked it, though he occasionally would swap it around so that he didn't get too bored. At first, he had been extremely confused as to how it worked, but he got used to it very quickly.
He was currently lying on his bed, with his arms behind his head, reminiscing about the past five years, which had technically been ten for him.
With the help of Merlin's persuasion charm, which had been made slightly stronger as the year passed, and Harry stopping time on the sly when they were studying, he had been able to continue skipping years with Hermione in tow. They'd completed their last year of University last year, with Harry training as a psychologist and Hermione following in her parents footsteps as a dentist. She reasoned that this way she'd be able to get work easier, working for her parents.
Harry soon learned that she was right.
He had struggled for two months before getting a job, mainly because of his young age. Eventually, he set up his own practice with some galleons that he had exchanged, and soon earned himself quite the reputation, as a specialist in child psychology. His practice (Potter People's Psychology) was near the Granger's dental clinic, and St Hedwig's, so he and Hermione would drop in on their friends from time to time and join them for lunch.
Lilly, Louise and Greg still remained close friends with the duo, though over the years they had acquired some other friends to add to their group. There was Sandy, an American by birth who had been living in England her whole life. Pan, a deaf girl who enjoyed cooking and had taught them sign language, Chris and Trent, another pair of twins who tended to eat more than the average family together, and Dean, a boy with olive skin and brown hair and a love of TV commercials.
Harry was sorry that he would be leaving them behind to go to Hogwarts, but he knew that as Muggles, they couldn't come too. And the likelihood that they weren't Muggles was very low. He supposed that he could check their Auras, if Merlin would ever give him the antidote to the Aura blocking potion, but that hadn't happened yet.
He was drawn from his thoughts by a tapping on the window. It was an owl. He and Merlin didn't use owls, because they'd recreated communicator mirrors, and now there were six in the set, so they could talk at any time, thus he knew it wasn't from Merlin.
He flapped his hand lazily at the window, and the owl flew in. It sat on his desk. "Sorry," he said to it, before flicking his hand again, and a packet of owl treats and water appeared next to the owl.
It hooted its thanks. Harry got up, sighing. Pulling the letter from its leg, he noticed that it was his Hogwarts letter. He felt elated suddenly. Finally, he wouldn't have to lie to Hermione any longer. It was hard, lying to your best friend, but Harry had become efficient in that art, as well as many others that could be seen as shameful. He sometimes resented that his parents had ever agreed to it, but he knew it was for the best.
Hermione was about to get her letter, he knew, or she probably already had it. He wanted to make sure she didn't throw it out, though. He knew he would if he'd never heard of magic before. With not even the time that it took to blink, he was five minutes in the past, outside Hermione's house.
He rang the doorbell. "Hello Mrs Granger. Is 'Mione there?"
Mrs Granger laughed lightly. "Yes, examining her dentistry books again. She even said to me the other day that she'd like to take a course to become a doctor. Would you talk to her for me please? I'm sure she'd like it, but I do think she should wait for a few more years. She'd listen to you.."
"Okay, will do, thanks Mrs Granger." Harry jogged up the stairs.
"Mione!" he called, knocking on her door.
There was a thump. "Harry!" her voice came and the door sprang open.
"What are you doing here?"
Harry smirked. "Why, I think I have startled the fair maiden! I am here on a brave mission to slay the beast that is playing with the maiden's mind!"
"Harry!" she warned. "Don't you dare go all old fashioned on me!"
He hung his head in mock shame. "Sorry, anyway, I just came here coz I was bored."
"What! Bored! How could you possibly be bored! There are so many interesting things to study! And the practice, Psychology is so interesting, and-"
He cut in before she could finish. "Believe me, Mione; I have more than enough time to do all that stuff."
"Alright," she agreed grudgingly. "So what do you want to talk about?"
"Hold on, about five seconds left – ah, there it is," there was an owl tapping on the window. Harry walked over, and opened the window.
He pulled the letter off its leg, and bade it farewell. "This, my fair maiden, is yours," he said, handing it to her.
She felt the heavy parchment between her fingers, and looked at Harry suspiciously. "Do not let my presence hinder you," he smiled at her, and she shrugged. She grabbed a letter opener from her desk, and ripped it open.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss. Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than 31st July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress."
"Harry, is this some kind of a joke? If it is, it's not very funny."
"Mione, it's not. I got one too, and before you ask, I'm not being stupid by believing in it, I have known of the magic world since I was five."
"Prove it, prove that magic exists, it can't exist."
Harry looked at her, and sighed. "It does, look, I'll show you some if you promise to never tell another living soul, because I shouldn't be able to do this without a wand."
"I promise."
Harry waved his arm, and the window slammed shut. Knowing that she probably didn't believe him, he levitated a pen over to him, and transfigured it into a cat.
Hermione gaped at him for a few seconds before the inevitable happened.
"YOU KNEW! You knew and you didn't tell me! Harry, I TRUSTED YOU, BUT YOU LIED TO ME! I would have thought that being best friends for five years meant something to you, Harry!" she exploded, flying off the handle.
"Mione, I wanted to tell you, I wasn't allowed, I swear, I would've if I could've!"
"WOULD'VE, COULD'VE, SHOULD'VE! DON'T GIVE ME THAT RUBBISH THAT YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED, WHO WAS STOPPING YOU?"
"Merlin," he stated simply, and Hermione shut up for a few seconds.
"Isn't Merlin dead?" she asked.
"No, not really. He's a traveller, don't tell anyone, but Uncle Marvin is Merlin."
"Uncle Marvin? Harry, what?" Hermione looked completely and utterly bewildered
"When I was five Merlin took me in, and started to teach me magic. Look, Mione, heaps of other stuff happened, but I swear, I'm not allowed to tell you yet, but I can tell you when the situation calls for Hogwarts."
"What if the situation never calls for it? Why would Merlin take you in?"
Harry dodged the first question. "I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just say that I wasn't allowed to tell you how my parents died either, they were murdered."
Hermione's eyes bulged out of her head, and suddenly everything fell into place. "So that's why you were so determined to finish school before you were eleven, and you made sure I did too," she said, realisation showing on her face.
Harry nodded. "Sorry," he said, hanging his head. "I should have told you, no matter what Uncle Merlin said,"
"Forget it Harry, it doesn't matter. I'm glad you made sure I completed school first though, I would have been even angrier than I am already."
He smiled wryly. "I did it for a reason, Mione, and I'm glad I did,"
"What about Lilly, Louise and Greg?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably and pulled at his earlobe nervously. "I don't think that they'll be coming."
"Well, best be telling your parents." He said suddenly, steering them away from the uncomfortable topic.
"They won't believe it."
"Yes they will trust me, Mione, I've got one they can't not believe."
They went down the stairs, Hermione's letter in hand, and emerged into the lounge room. Mr and Mrs Granger were watching the television.
"Mum, Dad," Hermione said nervously.
"Yes, honey? What was the arguing about before, we could hear you down here."
"Well, I think you'd better read this letter."
Mr Granger held out his hand, and proceeded to do so, aloud. "Mione, this is just a stupid prank that someone is playing on you."
"Actually, Mr Granger, it's not. I got one too. I've been expecting it for the last five years."
"What? But magic doesn't exist," Mrs Granger was thoroughly confused.
"If it doesn't exist, how do you explain this?" Harry asked rhetorically, before using his metamorphmagus abilities to turn into Mr Granger.
"Hypnotism." Mrs Granger replied readily.
"When did I hypnotise you?" he asked, turning back into Harry. "Mione, give me that cat."
Hermione handed him the cat, and he turned it back into a pen, this time retrieving his wand.
The Grangers seemed to accept it after several more demonstrations and a light persuasion charm on Harry's part. "So what does it mean, they await her owl?"
"Uh, yeah, about that…" Harry waved his wand at the pen, and it transformed into a quill, and with a wave at two sheets of paper, they turned into two sheets of parchment. He scribbled two notes.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I, Harry Potter, accept my place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Sincerely, Harry Potter.
Hermione's read almost exactly the same, but with Hermione's name and a note that she would not need their assistance to get to Diagon Alley. He signed the note by him, and held out the note from Hermione.
"Just sign this," he told the Grangers, and they proceeded to do so.
"Pen?" Hermione handed him one, and he waved his wand at it, turning it into an owl, which was blue.
He tied the notes to its leg. "I think that it'll get there before it turns back into a pen," he said, throwing it out of the window. "Not the best transfiguration I've ever seen, but it shall doubtless suffice."
They three Grangers were still in slight shock, but Hermione was the first one to regain her voice.
"Where do we get the stuff? And when will we go?"
"Diagon Alley. Only accessible to witches of wizards, of those in the company off the afore mentioned."
July: 1011
When Harry went back to the past that day, he felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Hello, Father, Mother," he greeted.
"Hello Harry. So, what did you do in the future?" Godric asked.
"Well, our Hogwarts letters finally came, so I could tell Hermione that she was a witch, and no, I didn't tell her who I am, though I do plan to at Christmas, with you blessings, of course."
"That should be fine, she has proved trustworthy, after all. What was her reaction?"
"She was rather angry with me, I shall say. I do believe her words were something along the vein of her trusting me and me lying to her, she calmed down after a while though. Say, I cannot begin to imagine what the headmaster will do when he gets my blue owl, and it turns back into a pen."
Godric looked amused as well, but Rowena always had had a slightly different sense of humour. "Harrison Deogol Gryffindor! By Morganna's Goblet, why would you do something of that nature, they already are suspicious of where you are, let alone who!"
"I just thought that they needed a good laugh. If anyone happens to be there whilst the event takes place, and looks at the expression on that old man's face, I feel assured that they shalt indulge in their mirth," he replied swiftly, smirking at the mere image.
The next day Harry, Godric and Harry's twin siblings Cecil and Róisín went to Diagon Alley to get Harry's school things, even though most of the equipment was already at school, and he had copies of most of the books up to third year material. They had a few new teachers that year, and they wanted to get Harry new books anyway, second hand ones always had writing and other stuff on them, besides, they were the richest family in England, including the King, so they could definitely spare a few sickles.
Rowena had stayed home, as Godric had said that it might not be good for the baby if she was walking around too much. She was five months pregnant with her fourth child, and everyone was being extremely delicate around her. She, of course, was irritated by this behaviour, but allowed it to continue nonetheless.
Harry's only thought upon entering the familiar streets of Diagon Alley was that it would be good if he were to get himself an ice cream, and that it would be even better if people didn't feel the overwhelming need stare at either him, Godric, or Cecil and Róisín. No such luck. People seemed to have an unhealthy obsession with those with money, and there was very little anyone could do about it. At least he wasn't with Gills, people tend to stare even more at royalty.
First they went to Gringotts, and got out three sickles and seven knuts. That would be more than enough to get what he needed.
The next stop was Clara Chesnee's Colourful Clothes, to get Harry some new robes, as the old ones were beginning to fade in the slightest.
"Hello, Sir Godric, Sir Harrison, back again," the cheerful voice of Clara Chesnee came, greeting Harry warmly. Then she noticed Cecil and Róisín. She sat them down and gave them each a lolly while she talked to Harry.
"That I am. I need a set of Hogwarts Robes, and two dress robes. I'd like the dress robes in an emerald green, like my eyes, and one in a Ravenclaw Blue, and Gold." He instructed formally, and Clara set to work immediately.
While she was measuring, she started up a conversation which consisted of her talking and batting her eyelids. "So, Sir Harrison, what house do you think you be in, be Gryffindor or be Ravenclaw?"
"I am not entirely sure, lady," was his harsh reply. If there was anything he hated, it was women who were married and twice his age trying to flirt with him.
"Of course," she smiled, blushing furiously, getting the message. Ten minutes later he walked out of the shop, the new robes neatly folded in a satchel, with Cecil in his tow as Róisín had gone with Godric.
Next he went to Hencoop's Handbooks, which didn't really contain many reading books. They were mostly illustrated as most couldn't read, though among the books that were reading he got
Jinxing Jerks, by Jeremiah de James and How to Slay Beasts with One Curse, Trolls, Dragons and much more, by Roland Gryffindor. Although it was a poor book, he was interested in seeing what his Great Uncle had to say, and even more interested in how Roland knew how to read and write.
He paid a total of 12 Knuts, before packing the books into his satchel, and leaving the store.
His favourite shop in the whole alley was where he went next.
Simply named, 'Everything', it was titled most appropriately. They sold trunks, quills, ink, parchment, potions ingredients, invisibility cloaks, bottled charms, and other odd assortments of things.
Harry had come in there today, however, to get a trunk, quills, ink, and parchment, and potions equipment.
"Good afternoon, Sir David," Harry greeted warmly, walking up to the mahogany counter, drumming his fingers as he looked around for an appropriate quill while upholding the conversation. "Looking after the shop for your wife, then?"
"Yes. She is in childbirth at the moment, but she insisted that I keep the shop open, it was the least I could do, Sir Harrison."
"Please, it is Harry to you, how many times will I have to tell you before the message sinks into that brain of yours?"
"1 000," Sir David replied with a cheeky grin. Harry ignored him.
"I hope your wife pulls through well. Is there a healer there with her?"
"Well, not officially, but I managed to get Lady Dana to oversee it."
"Good on you. Anyway, I came to get some things, not just for a chat."
"So, what can I do you for?"
"I need a trunk, which can shrink on command. It'll be great if you could get me one with about six compartments."
"I can do that."
"Great. I'll just gather the other things I need."
Harry walked around the shop, gathering parchment and a phoenix feather quill, a bottle of ink that changed colour according to the mood of the person who was writing, and a basic potions set.
He brought them all up to the counter. "That's a great lot of things you have there, Sir Harrison."
"It's Harry."'
"Right, okay that comes to… 1 sickle!"
Harry handed over the money, and left the shop swiftly, Cecil still sucking his lolly, not having said a word the whole time.
Revised: January 2006.
Note on revision: People who read the early version of this will have noticed that I've changed the names of two of Harry's friends namely Trent and Dean. This is because my oldest brother Matthew's friend Trent (17) committed suicide and my youngest brother's friend Dean (12) died of unknown circumstances since I wrote the original version.