Disclaimer: I do not own or make money off of Harry Potter.
Friday came and Harry had still not heard from Professor Lupin. He began to question his judgment in his choice on who to trust. He had also been unable to contact Ron or Hermione, but knew he had double potions today with Gryffindor.
Sitting in the front of the class with Malfoy he sought out his best friends. Turning he smiled slightly at them and wrote them a note. Everything is going great so far. Malfoy practically follows me like a lap dog. I haven't heard from Lupin yet, so I am slightly worried. Are you guys faring better on the research of the horcrux? He tapped his parchment and watched it disappear. He had been so preoccupied that he had not noticed Snape enter and begin class.
"Potter, I expect more from a Slytherin." Snape's greasy hair fell into his eyes slightly. "Are you paying attention?" He sneered. Snape was shocked that James Potter's boy would be put in his house, he hated the boy even if he was a Slytherin, and would take every opportunity to squash him. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" He smirked.
Without hesitation the true Gryffindor smiled and replied, "A sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death." He sneered right back while he secretly thought, you filthy traitorous git, I look forward to the day I see you at the end of my wand.
Startled, although he did not show it, Snape turned and waved his hand. "Twenty points to Slytherin." He than turned his attention back to the instruction for today's potion.
Harry easily sailed through the lesson with Malfoy, and noted how Hermione and Ron also had no problems. Snape continued to give the rest of the class a hard time, and Harry was not shocked when Neville once again knocked his potion over. In more ways than one Harry was enjoying his trip through time and was happier than ever that he had taken it, although he admitted he missed spending time with Ron and Hermione…and of course he missed Ginny. Still he concluded that once he talked to Lupin and received the invisibility cloaks, he would be able to talk more to his best friends.
After classes, the raven-haired boy led his new cronies to dinner. He had quickly become their leader, and he was rarely questioned. He had made Malfoy his confidant and tried to make him feel as wanted and needed as possible. While eating he noticed a white owl flying toward him with an obvious letter. He grinned knowing it was from Professor Lupin. Hedwig landed on the table and took his treat as Harry removed the parchment. He petted her gently and she took off.
Stuffing the rolled parchment in his robe he turned to Malfoy. "I have to go to the lavatory." He stood quickly and made eye contact with Ron and Hermione knowingly. He made his way to the room of requirement and waited to read the letter when his best friends joined him.
"Harry!" Hermione ran to him and hugged him tightly, as did Ron. "You really showed Snape!"
"Yeah mate, that was bloody brilliant!" Ron smiled as he released his friend.
"I missed you guys." Harry beamed, and his friends nodded knowingly. "Well we don't have long so let's read the letter." He pulled out the parchment and carefully unrolled it.
Harry,
I have made arrangements with Dumbledore and I shall talk to you in his office tonight. I am unaware how you got the information you have or what you may think you know, but I have spoken to him. He agrees that a talk is in order and we shall speak at 8 o'clock.
Remus Lupin
The color drained from Harry's face. "He told Dumbledore!" He seethed and began to pace the room.
"Calm down Harry. We intended on telling him anyhow." Hermione reasoned.
"Yeah mate, what's the big deal?" Ron questioned.
"Not yet!" The raven haired boy's anger started to rise. "I wasn't prepared to tell him yet, he will send us back! I needed more time until I spoke to him!"
"He won't send us back." The bushy haired girl stated matter-of-factly. "He can't, because we have changed our futures. You are in Slytherin now, so therefore you have changed our future self. He wouldn't dare send you back into an unknown future."
"So does that mean that the future hasn't happened?" The red head asked.
"No, just not the future we know…"
"It doesn't matter Hermione. How do I explain to him that I came back because he…he…" Harry couldn't say it. He had seen his professor alive and well at the feast and refused to acknowledge his death. "I don't know what I am going to say to him."
"We'll go with you. We all did it; we will meet Professor Lupin with you." Ron said. "We can tell him together."
"He's right Harry. We deserve to be there…together." Hermione smiled.
Harry slouched in a cushion and smiled up at his two best friends. "Together."
The group made plans to meet at the gargoyle statue at 8 o'clock and than parted. Harry reminded Ron to bring his rat with him, as it was the best evidence they had.
Eight o'clock did not come quickly enough. As nervous as Harry was he was relieved to have some adults to share his burden with. After making an excuse to Malfoy he made his way to Professor Dumbledore's office. He noted that Ron and Hermione were waiting for him and he smiled lightly at them.
"Ready?" Harry waited for there meek nods and turned to the gargoyle, who promptly moved out of the way. He was shocked at first, but ignored it and the trio headed up the steps. Knocking lightly, Harry was permitted inside.
Professor Dumbledore smiled at his three brave students. "Ahhh…I see you are together again."
"Wait…what?" Harry stammered.
Smiling mischievously, Dumbledore offered them a lemon drop. "It is nothing to be concerned about, but I knew you were together on the train."
"Oh." Harry's head fell, his hopes of not having to explain dashed. "…urm…where is Professor…I mean Remus Lupin?"
Dumbledore looked at him questioningly. "He will be arriving by floo at any moment. May I ask why you brought Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley with you?"
The two had not uttered a word and remained sitting in there seats. It was not like they were scared, but mesmerized by the office in general. They had rare opportunities to be in the Headmaster's office and were taking in the portraits and other whizzing and buzzing things.
At Dumbledore's question Hermione elbowed Ron to get his attention. Glancing at Harry, who was currently searching for a proper answer, Hermione spoke up. "Professor Dumbledore…" She waited for his twinkling eyes to look at her. "We…we can help Harry explain is all." She kept her tears in, she felt like she wanted to cry, seeing her once dead Professor's eyes twinkling again. Was it really going to be this easy? She thought. Could we just tell him everything and expect it all to work out?
At the moment a loud bang resounded through the room and a thin and very dirty Remus Lupin stepped out of the fire place.
"Remus…welcome to Hogwarts." Albus Dumbledore stood and greeted his old student. "I hope you had no trouble?" He smiled as he gestured toward a comfy chair he conjured.
"No, none at all Professor…thank you." Remus Lupin took in the three children before him. So young... "Ahhh…you must be Harry!" He smiled widely as he recognized a young lad looking just like his old best mate, James. "You have your mother's eyes."
Harry couldn't help but grin at seeing his Professor again, of course him and Ron and Hermione are the only ones that know that. "I know." Noticing that Lupin was curiously looking at his two best friends, Harry gestured to them. "This is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley my best friends."
Dumbledore smile knowingly as he took his seat. "It is nice to see two Gryffindors and a Slytherin getting along."
Startled that a Slytherin was in the room Remus looked at the school robes. "Harry…you're a Slytherin?" He couldn't keep the shock and shame out of his voice. "I'm shocked…your parents were Gryffindors."
Dropping his head in shame, Harry mumbled. "I can explain."
"He did it for Dumbledore!" Hermione stood up defending her best friend. Realizing what she just said, her face paled and she promptly dropped back into her seat. Why do I feel like an eleven year old…I can talk to these people…?
"Harry…Scabbers…" Ron held up the locked cage and gestured toward his raven haired best friend.
"Right." Turning toward his two Professors, Harry started his story. "Professor…I mean Mr. Lupin, I suppose you want to know how I know Sirius Black is innocent." He waited for his old confidant to nod. "Right…well you see…Peter Pettigrew is very much alive…and Sirius…I mean Mr. Black, had given the secret keeper job to Pettigrew…who betrayed my parents and me…than made it look like he died when Sirius…I mean Mr. Black went after him." He felt he had summed it up quite nicely, but noticed that Professor Dumbledore and Lupin looked at him questioningly.
"Why would you think such a thing?" Remus Lupin was unsure of the truth in such a far fetched story, especially since it was coming from a mouth of a Slytherin.
Hermione stood up again, eager to defend Harry. "Because it's true! Ron, show them!"
Looking at Harry for reassurance, the red head stood and pointed toward the cage. "Alohomora!" The lock came undone and he pointed his wand at the rat. "Scabbers is Peter…he is an Animagi!"
"Pettigrew show yourself or I'll make you suffer." Harry stood and took Ron's place, his wand pointing threateningly at the rat. "Crucio!" He aimed the spell to the left of the rat. "I won't miss next time!"
"Mr. Potter…" Professor Dumbledore rose startled at the forbidden curse.
The Rat troubled as well, moved out of the cage and quickly took on the hunched over form of the familiar Peter Pettigrew. "Don't! I beg you!" His voice hissed out.
Peter protectively wrapped his arms around himself as he surveyed the distressed room. Four wands were pointing at him threatening his very life. He moved his eyes to the one being that did not seem to be hostile toward him…Dumbledore. "Protect me professor…"
"Is it true Peter? Did Sirius make you the secret keeper?" Lupin stumbled through his words, his face was paler than before and his eyes pierced his long dead friend's. "Is it true?" His voice croaked.
"No…these kids are lying...I never…" Pettigrew began his lie eager to have less wands pointing at him.
"It is true!" Harry screamed in anger, stepping toward the shaking traitor. "He is a follower of Voldemort! He betrayed them!"
Gaining more confidence, Pettigrew straightened up. "I did no such thing…" He turned to Lupin. "Moony…We're friends…you know me…"
"He has the Dark Mark! Check his arm…give him Veritaserum!" Harry continued to step toward the coward. "I could just torture it out of you!"
"Enough Harry." Dumbledore calmly quieted the room. "Sit everyone. Peter I am going to bound you until this is cleared up." With a wave of his hand the rodent like body was bound tightly to the conjured chair below him now. "I think Veritaserum is fair in this case." Dumbledore nodded toward the three best friends. "Unless there is anything else you would like to tell me or Mr. Lupin you are excused for now and we will address how you know what you do tomorrow. Please be so kind as to fetch Professor Snape and give him this letter." Dumbledore rolled up a piece of parchment he had been scribbling on and handed it to Harry.
"Snape! You can't tell that traitor Snape anything!" Harry stood and spoke with out thought. "That git would probably figure a way out to help him!"
Hermione stood and wrenched her friend back into his seat. "Harry…shut it!" She spoke with conviction, although the fear was evident in her voice. It was all going to come out now, there was no going back.
"Professor Snape...Harry. I see that there is more you need to tell us, I understand you needing to tell me things in your own time, and I have waited for you to come to me all week. Now I feel it is the time for you three to divulge your secrets." The mature Wizard's eyes twinkled lightly. "Harry, please be so kind as to enlighten us."
Taking a deep breath, the boy-who-lived was unsure of where to begin. "…urm…well you see Professor we were desperate…or that is...I know the truth of my parents. I know that Snape…"
"Professor Snape."
"Snape…I refuse to call that traitorous git anything else!" Harry's anger began to rise again, and Dumbledore's calm voice was doing nothing to relax him.
Hermione stood. "Harry…please you are making this harder!" She looked at the white haired wizard before her and waited for him to nod at her encouraging her to finish the tale. "That is Harry knows that he was the one who told Voldemort of Professor Trelawney's prophecy that led to their death." She looked at the slightly taken aback Remus Lupin.
Dumbledore let out a sigh and stood. "I am sure I taught you three the consequences of time manipulation." The three students looked up blankly with their mouths hanging open. "The spell you used to come back here was of the dark arts…I would have hoped I taught you better than that. You have ventured into dangerous waters and changing history will have unforeseen consequences." He sighed deeper.
"We had to Professor you were d…" Ron finally found his voice and was eagerly trying to defend their actions. Hermione and Harry's head were downcast at the chiding.
"Mr. Weasley I suggest you don't finish that sentence." Dumbledore's anger was rising. What had these kids gotten themselves into; they could destroy themselves as well as others.
Remus Lupin stood up as well his composure regained. "Professor that's an unforgivable spell…It would have been tracked to Hogwarts…Why have the Aurors not shown up?"
"They can only track the magic not the perpetrators. I witnessed a certain spark in these three, myself, when I first saw them, but it died down quickly." He frowned. "They will be looking into it and they will not rest until the have their man. You three have risked everything returning here…there is no excuse." He began to pace the room. "They will be here soon and they will test every person in Hogwarts."
"Azkaban…" Hermione whispered and tears began to fall down her face.
Ron pulled her into him protectively, he would do anything for her and wished he could take away her fear and place it with his own. In the end he knew he could only offer her comfort in his arms.
Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry. "How far in the future Harry?"
"The summer before Seventh year sir." Harry finally lifted his head and his emerald green eyes found his mentor's soft blue ones. "Voldemort is strong as ever and his followers had infiltrated the order and Hogwarts." He continued to quicken his speech wanting to get out the important information before being cut off again. Damn the risk! "Snape killed you and …"
"Harry stop…you are not helping by telling us this." He watched the young boy fall into his chair again. "Don't you see Harry…that is a future that has not taken place? Everything you think you know is not there. You three have taken it upon yourselves to use the Dark Arts and manipulate the very fabrics of time. You have condemned yourselves, and I fear that I may be unable to protect you."
"You have to Professor!" Hermione stood up shaking. "The prophecy…Harry and the horcruxes…you need him and he needs us!" She whimpered as she threw the words out.
"I'll take my punishment." Harry spoke with an eerie calm.
The room all turned to look at the small frail boy before them. Hermione whimpered as she once again fell into Ron's arms.
"I knew…somewhere in the back of my mind…I knew that I would end up in Azkaban." He looked toward his two best friends, his own tears falling. "I should never have gotten you two involved…I'm sorry…" He looked at the haggard form of Remus Lupin. "I want you to help set my godfather free…and take care of him…he needs you." Harry than looks at his aging Professor. "Professor Quirrell is possessed by Voldemort and we can destroy him, but you must find the remaining horcrux and destroy them Professor. The one in the cave is not there so do not risk your life for it; someone by the initials R.A.B. has taken it."
Dumbledore placed his hand up to stop Harry's speech. "We don't have much time. They will be here soon to take you three away." His voice softened. "Go to your dorms and pack your trunks…be quick and quiet…return here. Go now."
Hermione and Ron quickly stood and raced out of the room eager to escape their fate. Harry stood and looked at the Professor.
"He wants the Sorcerer's stone…I can weaken him now and send him running." Harry pleaded with the Wizard.
"No Harry…it is good that we know where he is. I shall take care of it…go and get your trunk, Remus and I need to speak alone and make some arrangements." Dumbledore nodded toward the door, and Harry grudgingly left the Headmaster's office.
Remus face still held no color and he dropped into the chair beneath him. "He is as daring and brave as his father…a true Gryffindor...but how can we safe them?"
Sighing again Dumbledore began to pace the floor. "First I must ask you to take on the task of caring for them and hiding them for now. No one knows you came here, so if they left with you they would not know where to begin their search."
Remus nodded in agreement, he would do anything to protect James and Lilly's child. "After they leave the Aurors will know it was them."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Yes…and they will not rest until they find them. Their fate is sealed if they are caught…For now you will hide them until I am able to contact you and than we will go from there." He began to remove items from around his room.
The portraits on the wall had been very interested in the whole scenario going on around them. They mumbled between each other and chided the grave mistake the trio had made.
Remus looked angrily toward Peter, who had been quite as he listened intently to the information around him. "What of him and Sirius…or Voldemort?" He pointed his wand at the now shaking figure.
"I shall take care of the matter." Dumbledore placed his hand gently over his former student's and pushed the wand to the ground. "We must hurry…remember to not listen to them when they tell you pieces of the future. It is no longer valid."
