A True Gryffindor
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.
Author's Note: I have previously posted the first few chapters on a different site under the same author name.
Chapter One:
"Think about it Hermione…" Harry Potter dropped the Dark Arts book to the bed and looked at his two best friends. "If it works, than we can safe Professor Dumbledore, not to mention others'." His messy hair fell in his eyes and he warily pushed it back.
"No Harry…it's forbidden" Gripping the book, the bushy haired brunette walked across the room. "Time is not something you mess with, Professor Dumbledore would not have wanted that."
Rising abruptly, Ron Weasley pulled the book from Hermione's hands. "I thought you said Dumbledore gave you the time turner in third year? He obviously messed with time." The red head stated matter-of-factly.
"That was different…you guys are talking about going back to first year. You could change things for the worse! Besides, Harry, the sorting hat could still stick you in Gryffindor!" She placed her hands on her hips and glared at the two teenagers before her.
"No...I will beg for Slytherin. Hermione all I need to do is befriend…Malfoy…" He spat the name out in anger. It wasn't that he hated the pureblood completely, but he still held him responsible for the Headmaster's death. He felt his plan was fairly simple; all he would have to do is convince the blonde to be his friend and lead him down another path while gathering information on the elder Malfoy.
"Harry, you are talking years of your life…you could risk everything!" She threw her arms up in frustration.
"Hermione…it will work." He stood and gripped his best friend's hands. "I already know who to be careful of and I understand the classes. I could sail through easily and be able to focus on Malfoy and the others!"
"What about us Harry?" Tears fell down her face. She didn't understand how he couldn't see what he was risking. "If you're a Slytherin than we won't be friends..." She pushed off of him angrily. "None of us! Not in this time or in that one! Don't you get it Harry…you can't come back…" Her voice fell to a whisper.
Ron looked at Harry and Hermione and realization hit him. "She's right mate. I would never have any thing to do with a Slytherin."
"Ron…Hermione…we'll be friends. I'll make sure of it." The black haired boy stated.
Hermione looked at him. "You know the spell Harry; you can only take back so many memories. You need the important ones to prevent the deaths and understand the charms and spells you already know. There may not be enough room for us, not really…you won't remember to befriend us." Her eyes began to well up again.
"Look from the first time I met you two at the Hogwarts Express I wanted to be friends with you. I'll know to be your friends…I will. Besides I was hoping you guys would come with me…"
The brunette looked at him in shock. Could they risk everything and return to the past. If caught they would go to Azkaban for sure, time manipulation was not taken lightly. Together though they would have more knowledge and opportunity to safe the light side from the Death Eaters and Voldemort.
"Harry…" Hermione face fell. "I can't…we can't do it. Don't you understand why it is forbidden, we could destroy lives!"
"More than what has already been destroyed!" Harry yelled at the girl before him, his anger rising. "We can safe him Hermione…we can safe all of them!"
"It's to suspicious Harry! If you go back they are expecting someone who knows nothing about the wizarding world, not you now Harry, not someone who can do a full blown Patronus! They would never believe it and send you straight to Azkaban!" The bushy haired brunette screamed right back at her taller friend. "And Ron…your brothers will know something's up when you go around acting as smart as Percy…you can't get away with it!"
The two boys grew quite at this, both lost in thought. The glanced at each other and another idea struck them. Nodding they turned back to their best friend.
"You could though…" Ron pointed at the know-it-all brunette.
"No one knows you Hermione. You could easily pass for being that smart, no one would suspect you." Harry grinned widely.
"You're forgetting Harry…A. I can't make you befriend Malfoy and he hates "mudbloods", so I can't befriend him. B. both of you disliked me in first year and I can't make you be my friend…" She pointed at her two friends. "Most importantly, I will not do it…I won't risk it! There are too many variables; too many things could go wrong! I don't want to go to Azkaban!" Her voice grew and for a moment she thought she could break through the silencing charm on the door. "It's too complicated, too risky, and too dangerous! We can't even think it through enough to make it seem plausible! That is why it is forbidden!"
"Shut it!" Harry gripped the girl and pushed her on the bed. "I'm sorry…but you need to listen! It can safe them…it can safe me! The prophecy Hermione, I could find the remaining horcruxes and destroy him when he is weak, before he returns in fourth year…with Dumbledore's help we can end it!"
Harry didn't want to listen to Hermione's reasoning anymore. His head ached and his voice was strained from the yelling. He had already made up his mind, he wasn't stupid he knew the risks, he already intended to go back, but he really wanted Ron and Hermione to join him. Ron had already agreed and he felt it was becoming more and more hopeless convincing his other best friend.
Lowering his voice tears sprang to his eyes. "Hermione…Ron and I are going back…with or without you. You said you would follow me at Dumbledore's funeral. I have no right to ask this of you and somewhere inside me it feels right to anyhow. This is not your burden…not Ron's…not Ginny's. It's mine." Harry swallowed deeply and chokingly continued. "I'm almost seventeen and I know…I feel it in my bones…that this is the year that the final battle between Voldemort …" He shook his heads at his best friend's winces, annoyed that they still had trouble with the name. "Voldemort and I... I need more time…more training…I need Dumbledore and S…Sirius. We are going tonight."
"But Harry…"
"No buts. They won't throw me in Azkaban, they need me too much."
"They know that now Harry, but not when you were in first year…" Hermione tried once again to convince her friends to listen to reason. She new it was pointless to argue, she already saw that her best friends minds were made up, and she knew she would inevitably follow them back through time. Against her better judgment she was determined to protect them, even from themselves.
"They don't throw kids in Azkaban." Ron finally spoke up.
"They won't consider us kids. Don't you get it, even if we look eleven we will be seventeen…adults!" Hermione threw her arms up again. How could her friends seem so daft they should understand this, they studied time effects in fifth year.
Ron looked at Harry and gulped. "She's right mate…they could treat us as adults." He stood next to Hermione and looked at the young man before him. He would do anything for Harry and he would do this despite the risks. Harry needed to have a chance and this plan really was bloody brilliant, although he was feeling less than one hundred percent because of Hermione. "I'll go with you Harry…even now. You need to decide what you want for sure and I'd follow you…I promised you mate." He turned to the girl he had secretly loved for years. "Hermione we need you, but you don't need to waste your life. I won't be mad at you…stay if you must." His blue eyes searched her brown one's pleading for her understanding.
"What life? If you go back you'll just muck it up and I won't have a life…" She sighed in frustration and looked at Harry's determined face. "I'll go. Someone has to keep you from destroying everything." She watched her two best friend's faces break into wide grins. "Might as well do this right…where is the pensieve?"
Ron looked at confused for a moment. "What for?"
"The memories Ron." Harry was still grinning. "We can only have enough memories for our eleven year old selves, we'll have to remove five years worth of memories, I'd suggest removing all unnecessary one's from your childhood." Harry smirked. "Possibly the one where your teddy bear is turned into a spider by Fred and George might help you fear."
Ron just grinned back; maybe having certain experiences removed for eternity wouldn't be such a bad thing.
"Not too much though…you still have to pass for an eleven year old. It's risky so I'll go first." Hermione stated matter-of-factly.
The three worked diligently throughout the night removing as many memories as they could part with. Harry of course had no problem with removing every memory he had with the Dursley's, however Hermione made him keep quite a few, stating that despite how evil they where, they helped make him who he was today. It was something he shouldn't forget, if only to remind him how not to treat people. Ron had argued that she was being ridiculous, but Harry had to keep a bit anyhow because it was all he knew for eleven years. He did however manage to get rid of most of his encounters with Dudley, feeling that even cleaning charms was more important than an encounter with his whale of a cousin. They also managed to recall memories of the day leading up to their meeting on the Hogwart's Express. They intended on returning to that exact point together and work on their plan from there. Harry would befriend Malfoy quickly and avoid Ron and Hermione only meeting up with them in the room or requirements every night after hours.
"You're going to have to get use to calling him Draco." The book worm laughed at Harry's face screwed up in disgust.
"I know." He glanced around Ron's room. "We should go ahead and sleep now and leave first thing tomorrow, just so we have plenty of rest." He watched his friends nod and Hermione turned to leave the room.
"Harry?" She turned back tears springing to her eyes. "You're going to have to call me mudblood you know. You have to act like that." She watched her friend start to protest. "Don't argue with me. I just wanted you to know that I forgive you for it. I mean I will every time." She nodded at her best friend and turned on her heels to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The scenery whipped around him spinning shakily causing his stomach to turn and twist. Thankfully he felt himself free falling and landed with a hard thump on a soft cushion. Opening his eyes he looked around the compartment and saw his two best friends staring at him in awe. "What?"
"Are you…you know…Harry?" Ron croaked out. Hermione and he had awoken easily twenty minutes before, and she had immediately come to check and make sure everything worked under the pretense of looking for Neville's toad.
"Of course I'm Harry." He looked as his two friends and their young faces. "It worked. Do you remember everything still?"
"Yeah, No going back now mate." Ron looked over at the teary eyed Hermione. "She's been like this since we woke up."
Harry hugged the bushy haired girl. "Hermione…it will all work out. Thank you for this, but you need to dry up so we can act like we would have than. I think you need to return to your original cart and we'll meet up tonight at the room of requirements." He watched his friend nod and turn to the door.
"You don't have your invisibility cloak Harry…or the map…it's going to be harder to sneak out." She turned back wide eyed. How could she have forgotten that?
Harry grinned as he jingled the money in his pocket. "I intend on sending off for three cloaks when I get to the school. Each of us will have one, so for now we will wait to meet until I can get them to you. Don't worry Hermione, it'll all work out, you'll see."
Ron watched her leave and turned to Harry. "They're really expensive mate…that would probably take half your inheritance, not to mention nearly impossible to find. No one knows how to make them anymore and most are passed down through generations." He stuffed a chocolate frog in his mouth, his appetite still as normal as ever.
"I know Ron…but it's necessary…look we need to change into our robes. Malfoy will be here any moment." Harry gritted his teeth.
"If you're in Slytherin…what about Snape?" Ron questioned.
"I'll restrain myself from killing him." Harry gritted his teeth.
"No…I mean what if he uses Occlumency on you? How are you going to keep him out of your head?"
Harry smirked at his friend. "I doubt he will concern himself with me right now and I will continue to practice every night. By the time he becomes suspicious I should be able to keep him out, you and Hermione need to learn Occlumency as well."
Ron shook his head and began to change into his robes. Glancing down as his eleven year old body he paled. "Bloody hell Harry…it's gonna take awhile to get use to this!"
The two boys laughed as they finished getting ready. They were sitting across from each other when a rat with a missing toe sprinted out from under the seat.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the big fat rat. "Stupefy!" The rat rolled over unconscious. "I should kill him now and get it over with!" He ground his teeth together.
Ron eyes shifted back and forth, he could really use Hermione's opinion right now. He didn't want to mess up time to much. "I don't know Harry…we should see what Hermione says…besides we need him to confess in order to clear Sirius." Even Ron was shocked at his logic.
Pointing his wand at Scabbers, Harry said another spell. "Obliviate!" He slumped in his chair. "Well at least he won't remember our conversations when he comes to, but we have to be careful around him. Keep him in your cage permanently and put a locking charm on it. We can't risk him escaping."
Really Harry would have loved nothing more than killing the rat, but he knew he needed to clear his Godfather's name. Hopefully sooner than later; he wasn't sure if he could trust himself to hold in all his anger between Malfoy, Snape, and Pettigrew.
The compartment slid open at this point and Malfoy entered surrounded by his two cronies. Harry and Ron swallowed hard determined to make a good impression.
"Is it true?" Draco asked. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
Harry smiled at him sweetly and stood up extending his hand. "Yes."
Draco took the hand easily and smirked at him. "Draco Malfoy." He gestured toward the two big boys flanking him. "This is Crabbe and this is Goyle." Obviously pleased with himself Draco fell into a seat across from Harry and Ron. "No need to introduce you," he nodded toward the red head. "You're obviously a Weasley." He sneered. "I'd be careful Potter; you don't want to make friends with the wrong sort on your first day."
Ron glared at the three boys, but decided on a different tactic. "Those are my father's believes, not mine. I intend to overcome his short comings!" His stomach twisted at his words, but he intended on following through with the plan. "I'd appreciate it if you did not judge me for my father and his silly infatuation with damn muggles!" Sneering as best he could, his heart dropped into his stomach and he wanted to throw up.
Malfoy grinned at this and brought his hand out to Ron. "Well Weasley maybe being a pureblood finally sang into one of your family's rift rafts. I could understand your distaste for your father, good to see you are your own man." He shook Ron's hand and leaned back into his seat. He couldn't wait to write his father and tell him all about Potter and Weasley, sure that they would be important to the elder Malfoy.
Harry waited eagerly for his turn at the sorting hat. Thus far everything had been working out perfectly and no one was the wiser. He was actually shocked at Ron's and his performance earlier, never expecting that they both could hold their tempers so well.
Finally he heard his name called and timidly made his way to the seat. He feared that the hat would see right through his manipulation and rat him out.
The hat fell over his head and he immediately put all his thoughts on becoming a Slytherin.
"Ahhh…" The hat's voice whispered in his ear. "I see you want Slytherin…and in another time maybe, but you are a true Gryffindor. I see you clearly Potter…"
Harry began to focus hard on Slytherin, begging the hat to let him through. His whole plan teetered on this moment.
"I am not one to interfere…much…but very well Potter, if you insist. SLYTHERIN!" The hat bellowed and Malfoy's table was the only one to erupt in applause. The rest of the houses did not make a sound, shocked that their hero was placed in that particular house. Even the Professors were stunned exchanging startled glances. Professor Dumbledore leaned back in his chair with a grim expression, but his eyes sparkled as always.
Harry made his way across the room and fell into a chair beside Malfoy, who patted him on the back grinning. "Great to have you mate! You are obviously with the right kind of wizards." The blonde smirked proudly.
Harry turned his attention back to the sorting and watched as Ron was placed in Gryffindor. The exchanged weary smiles and Ron walked to the table with his brothers, taking his place by Hermione, who gripped his hand under the table reassuringly.
"He did it." She whispered.
"So he did." Ron was tired and hungry. He tried to focus on the conversations and the food after Dumbledore announced the start of the feast. "This is gonna be a long six years."
Harry Potter was currently draped across his bed with parchment and a quill in hand in his new common room. He was vaguely aware of the various snores coming from his new roommates, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. He was not focused on the cold emerald green and silver decorations in the dungeon that was a stark contrast to the warm deep scarlet red and gold of his only true home. His mind was occupied with finding an ally outside the grounds of Hogwarts.
The raven haired young man was aware that one could not just send off for an invisibility cloak, he was also aware that the other tasks he needed to accomplish was nearly impossible for a first year, who had limited opportunity and even less responsibility or trust. It would be even more difficult to convince his collaborator that not only is Voldemort not dead, but that he is somewhat his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Quirrell. Especially since he is considered to be an eleven year old raised by muggles, they would think him daft or worse an attention seeker.
The Weasley's were off limits, they did not have the resources he needed and since he was a Slytherin now he doubted they would view him as anyone worth trusting. Plus, he realized that he had only truly met Mrs. Weasley at the train station and she didn't know him as she did in his time. His hopes dwindling he let his body slump lower into the seat. This really was more difficult than he imagined.
He couldn't help feeling that he in fact needed the understanding of his Godfather Sirius, who was currently falsely imprisoned in Azkaban. The boy-who-lived knew that Sirius would understand him and believe him, making this whole mess easier. Still one of his tasks was to prove the innocence of his only family.
Suddenly the perfect person came into his head, Remus Lupin! Of course his third year professor and Sirius' best mate slash werewolf, why had he not thought of that before? He began to hastily scratch his letter out on his parchment.
Remus Lupin,
You have not met me yet, but I am James and Lily's son Harry. I have important information concerning Sirius Black and his innocence in the murder of Peter Pettigrew, who is very much alive, as well as his participation in my parent's murder. I should like to be able to talk to you in person, and I entrust that you could arrange a meeting through Professor Dumbledore considering you both are tied to the Order of Phoenix.
I have more information for you that I could not write in this letter, but I am more than willing to share everything with you. Under no circumstances are you to divulge any of this information to anyone else, including Professor Dumbledore, but instead focus on wanting to meet me. I would appreciate your cooperation.
Harry James Potter
He rolled it tightly and placed it under his pillow. He would sleep better tonight and first thing tomorrow he would send Hedwig with the post. His mind wandered to the various daydreams he had of him and his godfather and he slipped into a nice peaceful sleep.
After returning from the owlery, Harry made his way to breakfast. Lost in his excitement he took his customary seat by Hermione and Ron.
"I have good news." He said with extreme satisfaction. "I sent an owl to Professor Lupin!"
"Harry! You're at the wrong table!" The bushy haired brunette hissed. She watched the shock expression form on Harry's face.
Standing quickly he looked apologetically at his best friend. "Don't touch me you filthy…mudblood!" He forced it out and turned and walked toward Malfoy, who was giggling with glee at the altercation.
"Way to put her in her place Harry!" Malfoy slapped him congratulatory on his back. "I almost couldn't have done it better myself." He sneered as his cronies snickered around him.
Grudgingly Harry forced down his breakfast, feeling less happy than before. He started to wonder about the best way to cause doubt in Malfoy and lead him toward the light side. He decided the best course was to go through his father Lucius, he intended to show the younger Malfoy just how unloved he really was. He deliberately wanted to feed hatred into Draco and force him to turn against his family. On the one hand he knew that Dumbledore would dislike any method that used anger and hatred, but he felt that it was all Malfoy could understand. He just needed to wait for an opportune time.
He looked at the full plates of Crabbe and Goyle and he smiled. "Draco lets head to class and let these two knuckleheads finish their meal." Harry smirked at the two behemoths, which looked up startled at first but knew there place and continued to gorge.
Draco laughed at the insult and stood to leave the hall. "You are quick mate, although it doesn't take much time for someone to realize how daft those two are." The two walked together through the hall. "My father told me about you. You were raised by muggles."
"I wouldn't call it being raised." Harry grinned, "it was more like I allowed them to basically worship me and in return I didn't kill them." Smirking at his lie, he couldn't help but think about how easy it was. Maybe he truly was becoming a Slytherin.
"Oh really?" Draco stopped and pressed him against the wall. "How would a wizard such as you be able to perform such a curse?" The blonde Slytherin intended to put Potter in his place as well, that is…below him. He would be his mate, but he would be the leader, for he refused to follow the likes of a half-blood, even if it was the boy-who-lived.
Harry quickly caught on to the game and pulled his wand out pointing it at the pure-blood. "I could show you!" He hissed. Glancing down the hall and seeing that he was alone he pointed toward the ground and yelled "Serpens sortia"! A snake quickly appeared on the floor and started to lunge at Draco. He watched the startled boy pale as he pressed himself against the wall. Harry than began to speak in Parseltongue calling the snake off and than yelled out, "Finite Incantatem" to end the spell."Do not tempt me Draco, I am no ordinary wizard." He sneered at the still shaking boy. "I am feeling generous today, so I will forget you ever doubting me." He smiled and held his hand out to Malfoy, who had scooted to the floor. He rather enjoyed that display, and looked forward to many more like it.
"Y-You're a parcel tongue?" Draco stammered.
Of course…you're not?' He already knew the answer, but needed to rub it in.
"No…" The blonde Slytherin smiled. "That was brilliant, you know?"
With an air of arrogance he had learned from watching Malfoy, Harry waved his arm and tufted. "That was nothing; a child could do that…obviously. I can do much more, more than you can imagine."
"How? It is forbidden to use your wand outside of school." Draco questioned.
"Your father didn't fix your wand?" Harry looked at the shocked face. "Of course he didn't, he would never want you to be better than him; he will probably treat you as second class for the rest of your life. Sad really, to squash you ambition and talent so that he could always be better…what an ego." Smiling Harry turned and walked to class, leaving the younger Malfoy to think on his statement.
