Written by: HoshiHikari4ever
Disclaimer: I do not own HP! That's right, the characters still all belong to J.K Rowling As for the plot, it might have been done before, so I won't take credit for that either
Summary: Complete darkness had befallen across the entire world, wizardry and Muggle alike. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort takes an unexpected turn. Now, the remaining survivors are thrown back into time. Harry must now face a younger and stronger Voldemort, the Voldemort that is currently at the height of power. Can Harry fulfill his destiny before the entire world collapse around him and is consumed by Darkness…again?
Author Notes: "…." talk Italic thoughts/dreams /…/ Parseltongue Snake language
Author Notes: From now on, the four characters, Harry, Remus, Cho, Severus will be referred to as their other names, as not to confuse anyone with their younger versions.
I'm going to update my bio often so please check it out
Chapter 6Hogwarts Two weeks after the end of the school year
He gently placed down the cup of Butterbeer, and stood up as footsteps echoed through the hallway. Fawkes who was perched on his shoulder, flew off, and circled the room.
The door opened, and the headmaster stood up. Coming in one after the other were three men, and a women, whom closed the door behind her.
Fawkes immediately circled above the sandy haired, emerald tinted, blue-eyed man, before settling on his shoulder. "Hey Fawkes," he mutter loud enough for only himself to hear. "Told you…I'll be back…" Fawkes cooed softly, nibbling onto the crumbs in his palm.
The headmaster watched curiously. Fawkes had never been this close and comfortable to anyone, besides himself, let alone a complete stranger. Deciding to get started, he coughed slightly, drawing the man's attention onto him.
"Ah…It's an honor to meet you….at last Professor Dumbledore…." "The pleasure's mine….Mr. Stone--" Dumbledore stuck out his hand, and Stone gratefully shook it. The headmaster turned to the others, and shook their hands to.
"Please take a seat, make yourselves at home….It's been a long trip, and I'm sure you are all quite energetic….No need for introductions, as the letter was quite dull and the request was barely understandable. Shall we move on to desert before the main course is served?" "Gladly…" Stone muttered, as he took a chair directly across from the headmaster. Zhang sitting on his right, Wolfe on his left and Swell next to Zhang.
Stone took a Lemon Drop, as it was offered, placed it in his mouth, sucked it slightly, before telling his tale.
"As we have too much time and too little to do. We shall try to satisfy your curiosity, by dragging on with infinite nonsense and as few details as possible…" Stone countered, a smile plastered on his face, as his statement matched the headmaster's favorite speaking style.
There was silence, before the headmaster and Stone shared a warm welcoming smile.
"I see, you two will be getting alone quite well…" Wolfe interrupted. "Now really shall we get onto business? You do not want to bore some people who dislike riddles and nonsense."
Stone turned serious, as did Dumbledore. "So Harold Stone? Correct?" Dumbledore bent over to stare at a letter. "It says you wish to apply for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position." "Yes…I've heard that the last Professor…had some accidents…and yes, I know. The position is said to be jinxed."
This was half true. From Remus and Snape's reencounter, ever since they had began Hogwarts, the DADA professor had changed each year. This wasn't entirely because of the Voldemort threat, but more of the threat from the Maruader's who hadn't let any peace reign in that position. Then, it was said that Stone came along and stayed for two years. Following that was Quarrel, whom had stayed, took a year off and return with Voldemort stuck on the back of his head. From there on, as Harry experience, till the end of his seventh year, the DADA professor changed constantly.
"Though, I do not believe in such a thing…." Stone continued. "You just haven't found the right person. With the growing, raw, naive, distant, controllable, crushable threat of a young armature, of Voldemort's first reign declining…" Dumbledore's eyebrows rose.
Stone was one of the few who said the name so easily, so casually, as though he was nothing. Furthermore, if he had heard correctly, Stone said that Voldemort's first reign was declining. Did that mean that he rose a second time? If so, how would Stone know? Besides Voldemort was in the peak of his powers, how could Stone say anything like this, so firmly, as if he knew what happens exactly in the future?
"And the present threat caused by the chaos and destruction of the Marauder's, its no wonder why the position isn't stable."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, and interrupted, before the man could continue. "I'm sorry, but can you elaborate?" "On what? The Marauder's? Voldemort? Or the Future?" Dumbledore thought a bit. "The future…." He said softly, as he knew that both Voldmort and the Marauder's would most likely be in it."
"The future…" Stone closed his eyes and then reopening them. He stared level at Dumbledore, meeting his gaze. For a brief moment, Stone's eyes turned completely emerald green.
Staring deeper, Dumbledore saw, glimpse of what the could only be described as two words: living hell. A cold draft came from nowhere, and the room, darkened. Suddenly all that was horrors that he saw within the emerald eyes consumed the room. It jutted out in all directions and a searing pain arose from the headmasters head. Trying to focus, he noticed that Stone was the only one emitting a strange light hand. He seemed to have been speaking, but the headmaster could not hear. Stone reached out and took a hold of him.
Then all became normal. What had happened was only within 2 minutes, but it felt like an eternity to the headmaster. "…..saw and felt" Stone was saying. "is only the mere glimpse and the small sensations of what the future is like…." He paused. "It's only the beginning…" An uneasy silence. "Barging into my head, to find answers, isn't the smartest thing to do…it's a very scary place. However, if you do wish to find out, you can merely ask, though I may refuse some answers." Another pause. "The future is not set, it can always be changed…." Wolfe put in.
However, through the experience, Dumbledore knew better. He would not pressure onto the matter of the future. The man was right, the future was not set. Even if it was, he had no business in it. Besides, seeing the future, and just by the aurora around the group, he knew that they were special men and women.
"I daresay it is not in my place to see the future I will refuse the tempting offer. I prefer to wake up each day, with a new sense of adventure." Stone smiled. "yes…its always hard to live a cursed life, with destiny laid out so clearly in front…" Dumbledore took it to mean the talent of divination, mistaken completely from Stone's true meaning, of his own life.
"Though, I must say, granted such a talent, is a waste not to behold." There was a nod from Dumbledore. "Which brings us back to why I am here. The Dark is rising fast, and if nothing is done about it, it will consume the world at a much greater pace then is predicted. Very much in the new future." Dumbledore rubbed his beard. "Someone must rise against Voldemort. Must train the future generation." More nods from around the room. "I'm up for that task. With the help of me and my companions, we will train the future generation. There is nothing to fear, but fear itself. We know a possible future, and you have just experience only the rims of it. This can be avoided. With my lead, we will strive for a brighter day."
The headmaster sighed. Stone was arguing pretty hard. The man hadn't shown any proof of what he said. His past was just as mysterious as his future. Still, something pulled him to the man. There was some sort of unexplainable attraction, and his heart told him that what this man said was the truth.
"All applicants come to say anything to get a fighting chance for a teaching position. Guess work, must be backed up by some solid proof" Stone frowned. Now Dumbledore thought he was a seer, a lying one in fact. He didn't like that idea at all.
"He never said he was a seer. That's me…" Wolfe interjected, causing Dumbledore to glance and Stone, as well as the others gave him an incredulous look. "You see, the four of us work as a pack. We all have our individual talents and specialties." Wolfe continued to explain. "Ah…yes, I see…" Dumbledore reread the letter quickly. "Yes…yes…It says here, Mr. Wolfe that each of you are applying for a position among the Hogwarts staff…" Wolfe nodded. "That must have skipped my mind." He muttered, more to himself then to the group.
"Yes…yes…" Dumbledore muttered turning his attention to Wolfe. He had not paid much attention to the others, for he could tell easily that Stone was the leader of the strange group. However now, as Wolfe mentioned it, pointed out, it seemed likely that Stone wasn't the only one with specialties.
"May you please elaborate?" The headmaster asked kindly. "I'm a seer. It's a talent granted to few, bestowed to those who have the inner eye" Stone tried not to snicker as the man reminded him of his Divination Professor. It was a bunch of nonsense. Still, he was not going to criticize his guardian whom he held pride in.
The headmaster shrugged. "I know the future. I have witness it a thousand times. It isn't a pleasant place." Wolfe took in a breath. "I believe it's a seer's responsibility to share the gift to all…." He thought a bit more before adding. "Of course, I do not disagree with your view. It's just that, such a talent, shall not be wasted." Then in a softer voice. "Who doesn't want to change the present, knowing how its going to affect the future. Who can live another day, knowing that what you are doing now, you will regret, deeply pay for later?"
Dumbledore could not contradict it. It was true. In his heart he would have loved to fix the past. He knew it wasn't the right thing to do, to go back into time, as it will mess up the whole time space continuum, just to fix a small part of the future. So time after time, he had exercised self control over sending someone back into time, let alone go by himself. Though of course, there was the blame. If only he would have known what he knew now, back then. Then perhaps Tom Marvolo Riddle, would not have become Lord Voldemort. If only he had done this, seen it sooner, not do that, then perhaps the result would not have been the same.
The headmaster didn't answer, but his reply was quite clear, and needn't be said out loud. Instead he turned to the other two. "Mr. Swell?" he questioned. Swell nodded curtly. "and Ms. Zhang?" Zhang too nodded. "You wish to also apply for positions at Hogwarts, to join the staff?" "Of course." Swell muttered smoothly. "If I may say so myself. I'm the Master at Potions. There's no one else whom can compare." "Potions?" Dumbledore repeated. "Yes, Potions. The subtle science in magic. Not many enjoy it, let alone can master it…" Stone rolled his eyes, but no one noticed. After all these years, Stone still despised Potions, as he never improved on it, especially when that became impossible when a master kept breathing down upon his neck at all lessons. Dumbledore seemed interested enough, and that was good enough for Stone.
Seeing no objection, Zhang began. "and of course I'm here for the Charms position. I wouldn't say I'm a master as Samuel is with Potions, but I daresay I know more about it then anyone else. Charms is a very useful talent when it comes to battling the Dark Arts, though not as useful as the Defense Skills are…."
The headmaster rubbed his chin again. "I must say, I do need a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and Mr. Stone seems up for the job. He's hired. Mr. Wolfe also has gotten me interested in a class which I daresay is useless. He has convinced me enough. As for Potions and Charms, I'm afraid, we already have an excellent set of staff members."
Stone frowned. "You either take us all, or none of us…" Dumbledore frowned to that. "When it comes to the Dark Arts, the only way to defeat it, is if all those talents are put to use. Just by excelling in one subject area, will not guarantee in victory. The courses that the four of us have in mind, are all intertwined, the way magic is intertwined. True, there are many subject areas, but magic is magic. No one can defeat anyone with only one skill. Of course not everything can be learned. Some things must be gained through experience. That is why we are here. We shall open that door, pave the path to victory."
Stone was direct and quick. It didn't take much considering. He was quite persuasive, and did make a point. Dumbledore knew it and he was not going to let this chance pass.
"Hired. All of you." A smile crept through everyone's lips. "I'll see you all a week before September 1st." "Why, thank you…" They all said to the headmaster. "However you must impress me…especially you Mr. Stone." "I will. .I will…" Stone rubbed his chin
The group talked a bit more after that. Finally it grew late, and the four bided farewell to Dumbledore.
"We must be going, as it is getting late…" Zhang said at last, as it was indeed getting late. "Hm…that is right." Swell took a glance at what seemed to be watch, with all the added accessories. "exactly…" Wolfe took a glance out the window. It was starting to grow dark, and he was starting to pale. He knew that full moon was approaching. Stone stood up, and for the first time, Fawkes flew off his shoulder, which he had settled itself quite comfortably, and glided to his place on the headmasters shoulder.
Dumbledore too stood up. The four of them shook the headmaster's hand again. There were a string of goodbyes. By the time the visitors had left, it had been nearly another 30 minutes later.
The headmaster stared at the place the four had been earlier that day. The scene replaying in his mind. Dumbledore had thought long and hard. One question had led to another. Numerous possibilities led to another, each arousing another. So much was left unanswered at the brief meeting.
True he had hired them, all of them. However, he was bothered about these strangers and their talents. He knew nothing of them, and they were keen to keeping it a secret. He knew that all he could do was wait, and let time tell. Speaking of that, he did not want to forget what went on today. Conjuring a pensive, he took the memory out of his mind and placed it there so that he could revisit it. This was a habit that he had recently got into.
The memories swirled around the basin, until it disappeared. However, one thing kept resurfacing and it bother him more then anything. The brief experience, the feelings and all that he saw, while looking into Stone's eyes was enough to cause cold chills to run down his spinal cord. From what he heard, that was barely anything, and was much or less considered a 'happy' scene.
Taking a deeper look into the pensive, he forced himself to watch and feel it. He hoped that what he had experienced was just a miscalculation from a seer, as that is what he thought they were. He dared not think of it as true, for it was not a pleasant time to be living in.
Done again!! So what do you think? R/R!!