'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 Eight
Sorting Harry
Harry blinked and was instantaneously send back 1000 years into the past. "Mum!" he called, running down the hallways, and into the great hall. "Dad!" He placed a hand on the head table and caught his breath.
"What Harry?" Godric asked, raising an eyebrow at his exuberance.
Harry paused, realising how lame his response was going to sound. "Would you believe that half the shops here are still there 1000 years later?"
"Really? Where's this?" Godric managed to refrain from banging his head on the table.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Diagon Alley. Anyway, I've had dinner, so I'm not hungry."
"Great! You can put Cecil and Róisín to bed," said Rowena.
"Great! You can put Cecil and Róisín (Ro-sheen) to bed," said Rowena.
"Alrighty-o then!" he said. He always enjoyed spending time with his younger siblings, and he would often look after them when Godric and Rowena were teaching and couldn't find anyone else to look after them, though he'd never admit it to anyone. He levitated them both with a flick of his wand, and rolled his eyes when his mother told him to be careful. "Mum, they like it, relax!"
"Just be careful!" she called after them as they drifted down the hallway.
A wave of his wand saw them floating closer toward him, just in front of him. Then, gesturing at himself and slipping his wand in its holster, he was lifted off the ground too, and they all flew to their chambers.
Cecil was a boy who took his father and brother's cheeky nature, who although young, was already being trained by Harry and the poltergeist, Peeves, who had appeared one day after Harry's seventh birthday. No-one except Harry and Uncle Sal could control him, but they never really discouraged his prankster nature.
His sister, on the other hand, Róisín, was of a more academic nature. She was always begging Harry to take her to the future, but Harry as yet hadn't let her, because she looked too much like him. She settled for the many photos that Harry had taken of normal, everyday things, and the promise of Hermione's visit.
"Harry?" Cecil asked.
"What is it, Cec?"
"Can I come to the future wid you?" he pleaded wide eyed.
"Cecil! You know very well that I can't take you to the future, I can't take Róisín either, can I?" Harry lectured sternly.
"No. Bud I fought that it was coz you don't like Róisín."
"I do like Róisín!"
"Harry?"
"Róisín, I do like you. Cec doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Really, Harry?"
"Of course!" he exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "I love you, Síny, and I love Cecil too. That's why you can't come to the future!"
"That don't make sense, Harry."
"It will one day, guys. Look, how about we go visit someone else, not too far in the future though, so, who do you want to visit?"
Róisín put her hand on her chin. "Hermy!"
"Yea! Let's go visit Hermy!"
"No, guys, that's too far. Somewhere closer?"
"I wanna visit the fairies!"
"Eww! No! I wanna go to the dragons!"
"Okay, guys, we're not going to get anywhere by arguing. Cec, I know that you like all the animals, and Róisín, I know you like the animals, so how about we go and visit the Unicorn babies?"
"Yea!"
"Okay, Harry!
Harry grabbed their hands, and they flashed into a rainforest 100 miles from Hogwarts. Cecil and Róisín had a way with animals, which was more magical than natural. They could speak to all animals, except snakes. They had speculated as to why, but so far, no real reasons had come up. Harry watched them fondly as they talked with the unicorns. "Harry, do you wanna pat them too?"
"It's okay, Síny." He smiled. About an hour later, Cecil and Róisín were tiring, and they were nearly asleep on the unicorns. Harry gathered them up, and flashed them back in time, back to where they'd left off. Then he put them to bed, kissing their foreheads, and tucking in the blankets.
"Harry?" Cecil yawned sleepily.
"Yes?"
"Waynie said that next time you can pat her." Harry looked confuse, but assumed that Waynie was one of the unicorns, and shrugged it off.
"Alright, then, Cec."
The next few weeks passed without incidence, and before the Gryffindor family knew it, it was time for Harry to start Hogwarts.
"Mum! Dad! Pur-lease?"
"Harry, for the last time, no!"
"But Mum, if I don't catch the Carpet with the rest of them, I won't have any friends! You know that people make friends on the carpet. Pur-lease?" Harry gave puppy dog eyes.
Rowena sighed. "Promise you'll stay out of trouble?"
In reply, Harry made two of himself, and they both nodded. "Harry!" she warned, and Harry sighed. Other Harry disappeared.
"Alright, you can go to the carpet."
"Yes!" Harry punched the air and did a small dance of victory.
Rowena and Godric passed it off as being a 'future thing.' It was, but not like they thought, a normal occurrence. Lilly's hyperness had invented the victory dance one day, and she'd taught Harry, Louise, Greg, Hermione, Sandy, Pan, Chris, Trent and Dean the dance as well. It was no longer unusual to see any one member of the group doing that particular dance while they were happy.
"Here, take a portkey,"
Godric moved to get his wand, but instead, Harry waved his hand over the slip of parchment offered, and muttered, 'Portus!' He knew he should use his wand, but he liked to take shortcuts. He dodged a look from his mother and father, and grinned up at them, "Thanks," he said, kissing all of their cheeks, before taking hold of the portkey and disappearing. "Bye Mum, bye Dad, bye Cecil, bye Róisín."
Arriving in a small clearing of dry brown grass and sweltering sun, Harry looked around, thinking that maybe he had made a mistake with the portkey co-ordinates. A second evaluation of the area, however, showed him that he had not. He walked about ten meters to the left, and was confronted by a line of trees. Waving his wand in a complicated manner, a small hole formed and Harry was able to step easily into the circle. At the centre where was a large clay structure like a bus stop, surrounded by a stone circle. All around them trees grew, but nothing would take root within the circle. Seeing several wizarding families approaching, he walked quickly through the clay wall. He was keen on avoiding Pathros Fasset, the sister-in-law of the Dark Arts teacher up at Hogwarts. Last time he had encountered her, she had tried to persuade Salazar to kiss her, despite the fact that both were in long standing marriages. A shiver ran through him at the thought and he turned his mind back to the task onn hand: getting on the Carpet.
He was on a long stone side alley, and in the middle was an extremely long magic carpet. It was a specialised one, with smaller magic carpets which hovered over parts of the other magic carpet, which was used for moving to other carpets, and the trolley lady. On each of the carpets, there were cushions which were to serve as chairs. Most of the people had trunks, as well, and the trunks went under the individual mat, almost supporting it.
The wizard-born of them were busily boarding the Carpet, while a few of the Muggleborn students were gazing on in awe, having never seen it before. It wasn't that the wizards didn't want them to, it was the many Muggles held a fear of Wizards and didn't want to get in their way. Harry gazed up and down the Carpet, taking all this in, before deciding to sit in the last empty carpet.
Harry un-shrunk his trunk. He didn't, after all, want to seem too different from everyone else, even if he only had his Hogwarts robes packed, excluding the stuff he had ready in his compartment for the future.
A while later, a boy stumbled onto his carpet. "Well met, what is your name?"
"Well met, my name is Harrison Gryffindor. Et tu?"
"Pardon?"
"What is your name?" Harry rephrased with a sigh.
"Oh. Norman di Mildura."
Harry almost snorted when Norman attempted to step delicately onto the carpet, and tripped over his cushion and landed on his face, as his arms grabbed at the cushion and failed to support him. His light brown hair fell all over is face and he had to wipe some out of his mouth, screwing up his already pinched face. Harry held out his hand, and pulled Norman up off his cushion, the latter colouring slightly.
"So," Harry stated, in a blank moment. "Did you see that episode of 'The Great Humberto' on TV last night?"
Norman looked at him blankly. "What language are you speaking?"
"Oh, sorry, future thing." 'Bugger!' thought Harry. 'Bugger bugger bugger! I didn't just say that, did I? What has gotten into me?'
"You're a Prophet?"
"Uh… no. Mother is though, but we call them Seers. You should know that if you're anyone, don't Muggles talk about us Wizards anymore?"
"Your mother has this ability? That is astounding. I didn't think it was possible for women to do anything worthwhile." Norman sniffed, ignoring the latter part of Harry's speech. Harry supposed that his parents ignored Wizards for most the part. "Though her visions are probably worthless, seeing as she's a woman, only good for birthing and raising children." he added as an afterthought. Harry's suspicions were confirmed.
Harry seethed. "Now you listen here, you! Women are no lower than men in this world, so you keep your sexist views to yourself, and as for my mother, she's ten times the person you'll ever be!"
Norman was about to open his mouth to retaliate, when their argument was interrupted by a girl getting onto the carpet, and sitting down gracefully.
She seemed oblivious to the fact that she had interrupted their argument, and introduced herself. "I," she said, putting emphasis on 'I'. "should probably not be conversing with you lowly commoners, but it seems that I have to as there are no other carpets left, so, I shall introduce myself, and then I shall likely not entertain you with my company for the rest of the journey."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Lowly commoners, I take it you are calling me a lowly commoner? Would you know am if I were to introduce myself?"
Norman appeared to be thinking the same thing. "I am Norman di Mildura, and you, a simple woman dare call me a lowly commoner?"
The girl turned away from him in disgust. "I take it he is a Muggleborn," she muttered to herself. "with dolts for parents. Should I have to introduce myself? I need not, of course. You should know, but I shall tell you anyhow," the girl retaliated to Harry's comment, finishing dramatically. "I am Roswyn Quidditch!"
Harry replied before he had time to process Roswyn's words. "Well I am Harrison Gryffindor!"
Roswyn stopped mid charade. "Harrison Gryffindor? Sir Harrison Gryffindor? I thought you were older, I mean, you are a knight and all…"
He shrugged. "Well, you're Roswyn Quidditch. It's only an honorary knighthood. And besides. I didn't know that you were this old, I thought you were younger."
"Why on the flat earth would a thought such as that be upon your mind?"
"I am unsure as to the answer myself,"
"I shall have to accept your explanation for the time being."
After a moment of awkward silence, Harry and Roswyn struck up a rapid conversation concerning a love they both shared: Quidditch.
"I was only lucky that my brother Jory had the decency to choose upon his ten and six birthday a name that would suit us both, for I know of many instances where people have not been so thoughtful and they have ended up with names of a poor standard, including poor Elphias Elphan. But Jory and I both feel that a good game of Quidditch would not go amiss, at any time but that of war. It is for that very reason that Jory became a Quidditch player, and for that very reason that…"
Norman was listening uncomprehendingly to their conversation. "I would beg of you to excuse me, but may one of you please explain in a manner that I can comprehend; what is the exact nature of this 'Quidditch?'
Harry looked at him, and looked to Roswyn. "What say you, Roswyn?"
Roswyn looked at Norman like he was lower than a cockroach. "Well," she said. "I'm not so sure, I mean, he is a sexist pig and all…"
"Well, that settles the matter. I'm sorry, di Mildura. I think we can manage by ourselves."
Norman looked extremely affronted. "You can't refuse me! I am Norman di Mildura, Son of Frederick di Mildura, Duke of…" they tuned out, and looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
Once Norman, son of Frederick, had finished saying who his father, grandfather, etc were, Harry drew himself up, and said, "Well I am Sir Harrison Deogol Gryffindor, Prime Heir to Hogwarts Castle, Fugitive of Death, Child of the Fates, Prime Heir to the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Ambrosius Fortunes. Son of Sir Godric, Lord of Hogwarts Castle, sole heir to the Gryffindor fortune, Founder of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts. Son of Dame Rowena of Hogwarts, sole heiress to the Ravenclaw fortune, Founder to Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts," Harry stopped, and turned to Roswyn.
"Did I miss anything?"
"I believe you missed quite a few of them Sir Harrison. Or was it simply that you did not wish for the poor ignorant to be scared by your titles, numerous as they are?"
"That is the case. The fact that I cannot remember them all off hand, let alone say them all in one breath may also hold bearing on what it was that I told him." He didn't even want to think bout the titles that he hadn't mentioned. Those were only the ones that the public knew. "So, Norman di Mildura, you brother is Sterling di Mildura, right? You're nothing like him – but that is not the topic that we were discussing. That would be that I have every right, according to both Muggle and Magical worlds, to do with you what I like."
Norman didn't look like he knew what half of Harry's titles meant, but didn't look like he was about to ask. He visibly shrunk, and then he moved to a corner of the carpet, and they didn't hear from him for the rest of the journey.
When they got off the carpet, they were met by Helga. "It would be much appreciated should the first years find it in their hearts to make their way over here!"
He grabbed Roswyn's hand, and they fought their way through the pack of students.
"Hi, Aunt Helga!"
"Hi Harry. I suppose you managed to convince your parents to let you come?"
"Yep! I must say that I cannot find reason to regret it. I met and befriended Roswyn, and after a minor disagreement concerning the ignorance of both parties, we became friends of a sort. Also, Roswyn and I had to put up with di Mildura, my new enemy!"
"You find this accomplishment something to be proud of?" Helga asked sceptically.
"Well, he's a sexist pig of a Muggleborn, who operates under the solid belief that he is God."
Helga smiled lightly. "Oh, don't be daft! He can't be that bad! Even you act a little bigheaded occasionally,"
"He's horrible, Aunt Helga."
Helga shook her head. "Hop in a boat, then, Harry. And no magic. You are to row the boat manually, and manually only, understood?"
Harry rolled his eyes, and turned to Roswyn. "I really do not know what they have against my using magic. It is not like I would cause an explosion or implosion of any form, I am not quite so dangerous as that."
"Then why is it that you do not do it anyway, for surely you could convincingly act as though you were not using magic." Roswyn whispered once Helga was out of earshot.
"Aunt Helga is not one to miss that type of trick, she is, after all, married to Uncle Sal."
"I shall have to agree with you on that matter for the moment."
Roswyn got in the boat first, and Harry got in after her. "I want no more than three in each raft, but no less that two!" called Helga.
Harry and Roswyn looked like they were set, but then Norman di Mildura appeared at the side of the boat. "Can I get in here?" he asked. Harry was about to tell him to piss off, but Helga came up behind him.
"Sure, dear. Just jump right in!"
Harry sent a glare her way, and she gave him a reproving glance. "I'm sure Harrison and Roswyn would much appreciate you company!"
Harry and Roswyn looked at each other, eyes rolling. Helga departed soon after.
Eventually, they rounded the corner, and they came into view of Hogwarts. This was no new sight to Harry, but the other first years 'oohed' and 'ahhed' as was customary.
Once they reached the shore, they got out of their boats, and came up to a large door that Harry didn't often use, as it was impractical.
Helga heaved the door open, muttering to herself that it needed to be replaced. It let out a loud creak, and everyone closed their eyes and put their hands over their ears.
"Sorry about that, dears" said Helga. "We really need to replace that door, it was cheap when we were repairing the castle, and the wood has swelled over time."
There were a few murmurs of assent. Helga smiled and led them all into the entrance hall, which Harry thought was completely a waste of space, but it wasn't really his problem, well in a way it was, but not particularly.
Helga showed them into a small empty chamber. "Welcome to Hogwarts, dears," said Helga kindly. "From here, you shall be taken into the Great Hall, where you shalt be sorted into your houses. There's Hufflepuff, which is my house, I'm Helga Hufflepuff, there's Slytherin, which is led by my husband, Salazar Slytherin, there's Ravenclaw, led by Rowena Ravenclaw," She smiled warmly, and looked straight at Harry. "and Gryffindor, led by Professor Ravenclaw's husband, Godric Gryffindor."
"I shall have to leave you here for a moment, but when we are ready, I shall come back for you. It should not be a long wait."
Then she left the room, and the room burst into terrified chatter in her wake. "How is it that they sort us, Harrison?" Roswyn asked him expectantly.
Harry grinned. "Oh, nothing too hard, just a troll."
"They make us fight a troll? Is that even legal?"
"If it wasn't, I am of the opinion that they would not do so, for fear of the law interfering." It appeared that several people had heard the same rumours. One person had even read a whole book on fighting off magical creatures without magic.
A few minutes later, Helga re-appeared, and explained to everyone about the hat. Roswyn looked at Harry, her eyebrows threatening to become part of her hairline. 'Trolls?' she mouthed.
Harry grinned sheepishly. 'Sorry,' he mouthed back.
Harry watched impatiently as everyone was sorted. "di Mildura, Norman!" Helga called. Norman di Mildura ambled over to the stool, and pulled the hat over his head, though not before muttering to himself that he hoped that it didn't have insects in it.
The hat remained on his head for a long time, before a smile blessed its 'lips' and it shouted out, "Gryffindor!"
Harry groaned. He so did not want to have to put up with di Mildura, but he knew that he was going to have to, as he'd already decided that he was going to be in Gryffindor in the past, Ravenclaw in the future.
"Gandeler, Josef" was called up. The enthusiastic boy practically skipped to the stool, and after a few seconds, the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!" Josef made to get up, but tripped over his own feet as he did so. A slight movement of Harry's finger ensured that he didn't hit his face, and he was on his way again.
Harry was next. "Gryffindor, Harrison!" Harry walked over to the hat, grinning slightly. Helga winked at him. "Good luck," she whispered.
Harry nodded in acknowledgement. Then on went the hat. "Hi Hat!"
"Hi Harry, how are you?"
"I'm good, I need to be sorted. Gryffindor this time, please, and Roswyn Quidditch as well. Oh yes, and in the future I want to be in Ravenclaw. And Hermione Granger too."
"What if these people are not suited in these houses?"
"As long as it's not too much of a stretch. Please, pretty, pretty please?"
"Hmmm… alright. Bye then Harry, better tell everyone you're in Gryffindor!" the last word was shouted for the whole hall to hear, and Harry grinned after the hat was removed. He looked at his family, and saw that Cecil was banging a spoon on the table, singing, but he could tell that there was a silencing charm on him, Róisín was sitting at the table, her pigtails falling out, but she was smiling. She waved at Harry, and Harry grinned and waved back. Godric was sitting besides, her, looking proud of Harry. Last was Rowena, who was smiling lightly at Harry, with a faraway look on her face, and her hands positioned carefully over her swollen belly. Harry smiled back, and went down to the Gryffindor House table.
True to its word, the Hat put Roswyn in Gryffindor, and Harry chatted to her and Peeves for the whole feast.
Revised: January 2006