Tamper with Time
Written by: HoshiHikari
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 underline text/letter/writings bold/italics lyrics from songs
Chapter 26
The end of the year came quickly. Winter turned into spring and soon April turned into May. The Professors as a whole began bombarding the students with stacks of homework, prepping them for their finals. In the end, even those passed by quickly, and the end of the year was just over the horizon.
"At last all exams are over." Dumbledore said over dinner, the night it was indeed over.
The hall began cheering and crying out for school to end early.
"However, I am afraid we still have a week left of school."
Booing and protest began all over again.
"The reasons the finals were early this year is not for the sake of ending the year early, but because of other events." He paused. "I believe now will be the perfect time to hold the second of the four tasks of the Head of the House Tournaments."
Once again cheers erupted from the hall, as they began to cheer for prospective professors that they wished to win.
"The task will be held Friday, the last day of term." He continued, as he turned to face the Professors who nodded in understanding. "The task shall be announced then. Those who are qualified to participate shall once again be at the Quidittch pitch by 1 in the afternoon."
With that said, Dumbledore took out a piece of parchment from his robes and began reading off names.
"Professor Stone."
Harold stood up.
"Professor McGonagall."
She stood as well.
"Professor Flickwick."
"Professor Vector."
"Madam Hooch."
As each name was read, the respective person stood up.
"Professor Akiwara"
A tall, slender male in his twenties who taught Geography stood up next to McGongall.
"Professor Johnson."
A female as old as McGongall, but as short as Flickwick stood up. She taught Culinary Arts.
"Professor Lee"
The Professor who had been previously talking to Akiwara, before the latter was called to stand, now stood up next to his friend.
Dumbledore looked up from his list as he reached the end.
"Good luck to you all."
Harold stood at the edge of the stands, hidden in the shadows of one of the entrances for players to enter the Quidditch field. He stared out with an expressionless face at the seemingly normal arena. A hand rested on his shoulder.
He didn't respond, nor did he turn around.
"Remus please," he said at last. "I'll be fine."
"With what happened in the last task, the aftermath, are you sure you're ready for what could happen now."
"Will all participants please report to the center of the pitch!" The magical voice of Dumbledore interrupted them.
"I'm ready as I'll ever be." He spoke softly.
He didn't make a move to head out just yet. The two watched as one by one the opponents entered the field.
"Consider it training. We both know this is for the best. Consider it training for the real world. The more involved now, the better. As you can see form the last task, this is world is not prepared for Voldemort."
He felt Wolfe squeeze his shoulder.
"Will all participants please report to the center of the pitch!" The magical voice of Dumbledore interrupted them for a second time.
"I know cub, I know. Just promise me…"
Harold turned around, and pushed the man further into the shadows. Making sure the older was looking at him, he changed back to his natural form, Harry Potter. Wolfe watched the emerald eyes, not being able to pull away. He wanted to say many things, but staring at those eyes, he was unable to do so.
"Remus, even if something does happen…"
"Harry…"
"No, since we're on this topic again," he interrupted.
"I know."
A silence of understanding passed between them.
"I just can't bear losing you. It's dangerous. Are you sure you don't want to withdraw. You know as well as I that you don't want this, any of it."
"I would if I could, but this is me. I can't run from it."
"For the third time, will all participants please report to the center of the pitch!" Dumbledore's voice said again. "Otherwise anyone who does not show up in the next 5 seconds will be disqualified!"
"I better go." Harry changed back to Harold again. He untangled himself from Remus, gave him a quick hug and ran onto the field.
Dumbledore stood in the middle of the field, nodding to those Professors who ran into the field, in the form of greeting. At last only Harold was missing. He looked around, he had announced twice already, and just like the crowd, he was beginning to get inpatient.
"For the third time, will all participants please report to the center of the pitch!" Dumbledore's voice said again. "Otherwise anyone who does not show up in the next 5 seconds will be disqualified!"
5, 4, 3
At last he saw Harold running at full sprint from one of the side entrances. He gave a smile when he halted in front of the headmaster.
"Sorry, slept in." Harold panted. "I forgot…"
Dumbledore eyed him, though the smile remained. He wondered how sleeping in was possible, not with all the racket that was caused by the crowd.
"It's alright, my boy, quite understandable, quite understandable."
Once more he turned to the crowd, enlarged his voice and spoke again.
"We are gathered together today to witness the second task of the Head of the House Tournament."
There was tremendous applause and chants of favorite Professors.
"This task is simple. It's a relay race, centered on team work. The first task tested magical knowledge and abilities. The second shall test trust, loyalty, and the ability to work with others in times of needs, sometimes even with those that don't get along with each other." He paused, letting the rational sink in. "Each pair would be called upon individually and timed. The two fastest pairs, which is a total of four people, would be allowed to pass onto the next round."
Dumbledore turned back to the contestants.
"Before I continue, let's find out who each of you would be partnered up."
He magic a hat out of thin air. Turning it around, he held it so that the opening faced up. Now I will put in 8 pieces of paper, A, B, C, D, and 1, 2, 3, 4. You will be paired by the corresponding number of the letter in the alphabet, in the order of its appearance."
The group nodded slowly. Seeing that no one had any objections, the headmaster allowed the members to pick, starting from left to right, moving first from Akiwara and ending with Harold.
Harold stared at his, unemotional, unsurprised, at the emerald 1 that he had gotten.
"Will A, and 1 step forward."
Harold did so, looking left and right to see who had gotten, 'A'.
"Professor Stone," Professor Johnson said, heading towards him with a smile. "Just my lucky day. I've heard many stories about you. It's my pleasure to work alongside you, even for just a task."
"The pleasure's mine." Stone replied, not knowing how to respond.
"B and 2."
Madame Hooch and Professor Lee paired up.
"C and 3"
McGonagall and Professor Akiwara nodded at each other.
"So that must leave D and 4, which should be Professor Vector and Professor Flickwick." Dumbledore looked up, receiving two nods as confirmation.
Once again Dumbledore magnified his voice.
"Now that the pairings done, I shall explain the task. Each pair would be given a map of a location, different from everyone else. Because of the location, 48 hours is given to complete the task. Each group must retrieve an item of Hogwarts that has already been hidden. What the item is cannot be revealed. The only clue is the map, as the location is related to the item."
Silence followed as most were confused.
"What exactly are we facing?" one asked.
"The unknown." Dumbledore smiled. "Do not worry, I have planned it all and have taken utmost precautions to ensure a safe journey." He was once again speaking in his normal voice.
"and if something goes wrong?" Stone asked.
"you have wands, and each other. If that is not enough, I will give an emergency portkey that shall link directly to Hogwarts."
"When shall we start this?"
Having said that, he took out the portkey and the map.
Stone frowned. It was a sketch of what looked like a bridge with water splashing below and what appeaser to be a thick layer of clouds or fog covering the top. He handed it to Johnson who seemed puzzled. She looked at Dumbledore wanting to protest that it was not a map, but he had gone and was nowhere to be seen.
"Come on, lets go, leave now." Stone said.
"Not without knowing where this bridge is." Johnson said. "It could be anywhere."
Stone had to agree with that. "Try some travel agencies, maybe they can help."
Johnson nodded.
"We can leave now then."
Stone agreed.
"The sooner we get there, the faster this is over, the better everything is."
With that in mind, the two headed off the Quidditch field. However, just as they were about to step onto the closes apparition grounds near Hogwarts, a voice called him back.
"Harold!"
He stopped, turned around just in time to catch Xi who had ran after them.
"Oh my God, I can't believe Dumbledore's doing this!" she cried in frustration. "It's dangerous out there!"
Harold merely held her.
"I'll be fine." He whispered. "Really, I'll be fine." He added seeing his guardians behind Xi.
"Trust me." He said calmly.
"I'll speak with Dumbledore." Wolfe said stiffly, growling the name with displeasure.
As he said this, he felt the map he was clutching disappear from his hand. He pulled back from Xi, startled.
"You never learn do you?" Swell asked in his normal draw, holding up the paper. "You can't let your guard down ever. When you're out there, never trust anyone, you can't." He referred silently to Swollowtail, and Harold nodded in understanding.
Swell nodded, handing the paper back, not after he and the others had taken a look at it.
Harold realizing what they might do, shook his head.
"I'll be fine. You know that. Wherever I go will be safe. It's where I'm not that I fear."
"You don't worry." Wolfe said softly. "Then we won't worry here."
Harold smiled.
"See you in 48 hours then" he smiled brightly.
Taking Johnson's hand in his, he gave the others a final smile, holding it, and speaking things that were best left unsaid. With that, the two disappeared.
Sorry for the long wait. Really, really sorry. This is back on, and will continue! Please Review!