Title: Retrograde
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: Harry's trial before fifth year goes differently because someone knows more than they should about Harry. Time Travel Fic.
Harry stood on Platform 9 ¾ as Amelia hugged Susan goodbye for her trip on the train up to Hogwarts. Harry admitted he felt kind of nervous when Susan stepped back and turned to look at him.
"Well, I'll see you in a few hours." Harry said awkwardly.
"Come here." Susan said, pulling Harry into a hug and then stepped away again. "See you later, Uncle."
With that Susan ran off to join Hermione and the jumped on the train before leaning out the door to wave back at Hermione's Parents as well as Amelia and Harry.
After the train departed Amelia and Harry apparated back to Bones Manor. Harry still had about four hours before he had to get to Hogwarts for final Staff meetings and preparation prior to Student's arrival in the early evening.
"It was good to see you getting on with Susan as a parental figure." Amelia said.
"I didn't know if Susan would accept me in that role." Harry replied. "From her perspective I was a classmate just over a year ago."
"I hoped she would accept you that way." Amelia admitted. "Edwin was devastated when you disappeared. When Susan was born, Edwin regretted that you could not be her Godfather."
"Oh my God." Harry exclaimed. "I forgot. My Godfather. Sirius Black."
"Sirius Black the wanted criminal?" Amelia asked confused.
"He's innocent. He's not the one who betrayed my parents or killed those Muggles." Harry explained. "It was Peter Pettigrew. He is a Rat Animagus and hid out as the Weasley's pet Rat until after Sirius escaped. Ron, Hermione and I told Dumbledore and Fudge this at the end of that year, but Snape said we had been Confunduded. That was when Fudge ordered the 'Kiss on Sight'."
"I will get right on to this, but if he is innocent why did you not mention this a bit earlier?" Amelia inquired.
"It's been more than seven years for me, Lia." Harry pointed out.
"I hate time-travel at times." Amelia said.
"Ditto." Harry confirmed. "But at others it is great."
Harry apparated to just outside the Gates of Hogwarts and began to walk up the path towards the Castle. He was not dressed as a typical Professor. He wore a pair of combat boots, cargo pants, with sets of pockets down the legs, and a long-sleeved shirt. Over the shirt was a shoulder-holster rig, with a pistol holster under his left arm and a few spare magazines under his right arm. Sheathed at his right hip was a combat knife and at his left hip was his 'William Tenor' Wand, the Juniper and Horned Serpent Wand, in a specially designed and spelled sheath. In a special slimline holster, hidden under the left sleeve of his shirt, was his 'Harry Potter' Wand, the Holly and Phoenix Feather Wand. It was what Harry considered his 'Professor's Uniform'.
When he reached the main doors of the Castle he was met by Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"Professor Tenor." McGonagall greeted. "That is… interesting attire."
"I am a fighter, Deputy Headmistress." Harry replied. "I have been attacked in the most unlikely of places, including a bathroom. I will always be ready for a fight."
"I trust you will be careful with your weapons." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Of course, Headmaster." Harry replied. "They will be on my person at all times on the grounds and the Pistol always has the safety on when holstered."
Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a glance and then nodded. The pair led Harry in where the rest of the Staff were waiting for the Staff Meeting. When Flitwick saw Harry's weapons he nodded. Professor Snape sneered but Harry could tell that the Slytherin Head of House recognised Harry's deadly grace and familiarity with his weapons.
The meeting soon started and Snape sat as far away from Harry as he could.
Harry sat at the Professor's Table watching the Second through Seventh Year students filed into the hall. Several of the students, in particular a few older Students who Harry recognised were either Muggle-born or Muggle-raised, paused to stare at the Pistol in Harry's shoulder holster. Hermione and Susan waved at him as they entered before heading to their House Tables. Susan was sitting with her friend Hannah while Hermione was sitting with Ginny with Ron sitting further down the table with Dean and Seamus.
Malfoy and his two goons were sitting at the Slytherin Table with Pansy Parkinson but there seemed to be a split in the Sixth Year Slytherins. Malfoy's little cabal seemed to be on the fringe of their Year, with the majority of the Sixth Year Slytherins seemed to centre around Daphne Greengrass and Blaise Zabini.
Over at the Ravenclaw Table there was a girl who looked like a Fifth Year with long blonde hair and an unusual looking pair of glasses who was looking up at him with a strange expression, while the students around her looked at her uncomfortably. She would definitely bare watching.
Professor McGonagall led the new class of First Years into the hall and the Sorting Ceremony proceeded. Harry politely applauded for all the students being sorted but he was seeing all the students in a different way than he had when he was a student with them. He started seeing them in terms of their potential in a fight. Malfoy was a non-threat but surprisingly the gentle personality of Katie Bell, when not on the Quidditch Pitch, now moved with confidence and controlled strength that Harry recognised as good potential as a fighter.
The Feast wound down and the Students filed out to their Dorms. After the students were gone, Harry made his way out of the Castle towards the Gates, walking with Professors Vector and Babbling.
"I will be glad to get home." Vector said. "At least we only have to stay late for the Welcoming Feast, Halloween and the End of School Year Feast."
"I feel sorry for Sinistra." Babbling commented. "She has to do two late nights a week for her practical Astronomy Class."
"As long as she is happy with it, then it's her choice." Harry said. "I have plans for a few night classes."
"Night classes?" Vector asked. "Why would you want to do classes at night?"
"Do you think that fights only happen during the day?" Harry asked. "Ambushes. Covert Insertions. Sniping Operations. Darkness has always been a warrior's friend and enemy."
The trio soon reached the ward boundary of the school and Apparated to their respective Homes. Harry appeared in the entry hall of his and Amelia's small apartment in Diagon Alley, Lia having moved her things there earlier in the day.
"How was your first day?" Amelia asked as she gave him a kiss in greeting.
"Ok." Harry replied. "Joan Stanton and Richard Skinner's daughter was Sorted into Hufflepuff."
Joan Stanton and Richard Skinner had been First Year Hufflepuffs during Harry and Amelia's Fifth Year, and from Joan and Richard's Second Year they started sharing an apartment. Joan and Richard had idolised Amelia and William. They had seen Joan, Richard and their daughter Henrietta at Platform 9 ¾.
They moved into the bedroom and Amelia curled up on Harry's chest.
"It's good to have you back here." Amelia mused. "It was often lonely here, but it made me feel closer to you."
Harry stroked Amelia's hair gently.
"I am so sorry about that, Lia." Harry said.
"I know." Amelia said. "I am just happy you are back."
TBC…