Chapter 7- Th e Secrets of Dumbledore
Aberforth was shocked by the honest admission of his infamously secretive brother. So much so, he failed to notice Albus taking another shot of firewhiskey. Aberforth wanted to sit but he had no stool. Before he could collapse on the floor, a stool was conjured up by Albus.
"What do you mean you die in two years? Are you sick?" Aberforth asked. Albus shook his head. "I was tempted by a cursed object that put a withering curse on me." Albus said. Aberforth looked in his mind and saw his barriers were down. He saw the resident Death Eater holding the curse at bay and then later the same man mercy killing him. After that, Aberforth couldn't see.
"What….where….why are you here?" Aberforth stammered. Albus smiled. "I was given a second chance." Albus said and began frustrating Aberforth again. "Still with the secrets eh Albus?" Aberforth snarled. Albus shook his head. "No, just trying to find a way to explain." Albus said.
"The real problem begins with the death of Lord Voldemort, at the battle of Hogwarts." Albus began and told the story of how the world died. The wars in Britain and the dark creature uprisings throughout the world. Albus said he had to watch from Heaven, a notion that Aberforth snorted at. "You sure you didn't go to Hell like I keep telling you to?" Aberforth said. Albus grimaced.
"When I saw them, I thought I had." Albus said. Aberforth looked confused as Albus moved upstairs with Aberforth to his room and found himself in front of Arianna's portrait. "I saw them and I was happy but then they, rather loudly, told me how many mistakes I made." Albus said. Aberforth looked at the portrait of his sister and nodded. "Did she tell you which one of us…?" Aberforth asked. Albus nodded and he could see tears in his eyes.
"It was so dusty and chaotic in the fight, I thought I saw Gellert and when I fired the curse…" Albus couldn't finish. Aberforth knew. Ariana had taken a curse meant for him because Albus thought it was his enemy. "It was a chaotic time. I guess I understand." Aberforth said. A weight seemed to lift between the two, no longer burdened by the what if that bothered the pair.
"Why me? Why are you telling me this?" Aberforth asked. Albus contemplated the question as he poured himself another glass of firewhiskey. "You are the only person I can trust with this. And you are one of the few men capable to help me." Albus said. Aberforth nodded. "You want to get the Order back together?" He asked
Albus nodded. "I need you as my spymaster. Your contacts will be invaluable. And you can procure items that I need." Dumbledore said pulling out a list. Aberforth took it and read it over. "It will take some time, and gold, to acquire." Aberforth said. Albus smirked and handed him a key. "Gold will not be a problem. And I have plenty of time. Besides I need to worry about that Second Task." Albus said. Aberforth cringed, he read about what that task entailed and he knew Albus worried a lot about his students. "GOING TO HURT Bagman if things go wrong again?" Aberforth smirked. Albus nodded. "Next time I use an axe." He said and poured two more glasses and the brothers talked the rest of the night, drinking and planning.
Draco Malfoy woke up confused. The previous night was wonderful for him and the rest of the Slytherins that attended. He went with Pansy Parkinson but they barely danced together. Draco brought her as a friend, and that suited the pair fine. The part that confused him was the enjoyment he had being with the other houses. Luna Lovegood pulled him into a dance that was fast and frenetic before pushing him onto Ginny Weasley.
Ginny Weasley…. Draco thought about her often through the night. She was funny and seemed to be a bigger prankster than her brothers. She had Draco speak with Umbridge as she snuck something into her drink. Umbridge would then occasionally make frog noises as she spoke. The best part was she never noticed.
Even Granger danced with him. A few months ago, the thought of a mudblood touching him made him wretch, but the fact they were giving him and his house a chance…. Draco needed to talk to someone impartial.
Ron was down in the forge with Lavender. The pair enjoyed their evening together. But now Ron wanted to get started on his next project. Surprisingly, Lavender wanted to join him. She loved the forge, it reminded her of her father, a man who loved working with his hands. "My dad, he loved making things in his wood working shop. He would have loved this place." Lavender said. Ron smiled at her as he loaded the goblin silver into the smelter. "What happened to him?" Ron asked. Lavender gave him a small smile. "He was very sick. Mum hid the worst of it from me, but second year he collapsed at work. Mum was working as a healer at a local village when she got the news. He died when Hermione was petrified." Lavender said. Tears were in her eyes and Ron walked over and wrapped his arms around her.
"I was over by the Divination tower, just wandering when Professor Trelawney found me. I just told her what happened and she sat and listened. She then told me that my father wrote me a letter and the next day I would get it. Sure enough, dad had written me a letter and I went to her tower. I could barely hold the letter so she read it to me. Its why I love her class so much." Lavender explained. Ron smiled as he held her, taking in her scent. "You're a wonderful man Ronald." Lavender said. Ron smiled but in his mind, he heard himself accuse him. "If she knew what you did" But Ron squashed it as he held his girlfriend.
Severus watched the pair and made himself known. "I wondered why the old forge started working recently." He said making the couple jump. Snape laughed internally as he saw the scared look. "I thought I was the only one who knew of this place." Snape said as he observed the goblin steel and silver in the smelter. "Making weapons?" He asked. Ron nodded. "Yes sir, an axe." He said, handing his noted. Snape nodded in approval. "This will go easier with three." He said. Ron nodded and the three then got back to work.
Percy was at breakfast with his parents, nursing a cup of tea. Madam Umbridge was a nightmare to be around, with her girlish voice and the strange smell she had. And her views on half breeds and muggle borns revolted him. He was raised by good people and despite his own ambition, he honored the values his parents taught him. Lately his faith in the ministry was waning, with how Crouch messed up by allowing Harry to compete in the damn Tournament to how Bagman prevented Dumbledore from reinforcing the spectator shield from dragon fire.
"Percy dear, you look miserable. Was the ball that bad?" His mother asked. Percy shook his head. "You should get some wonderful pictures soon mum. No, I had to escort Madam Umbridge to the ball and her views made me sick." Percy said. Molly nodded as she stroked his back. A knock came to the door and Molly got up to get it. Percy wallowed in his misery when Molly alerted him. Percy turned around and saw her. She was a medium height brunette with bright blue eyes and wearing what seemed to be auror robes.
"Hello Percy Weasley. My name is Audrey Chase. I am with the DMLE. I came to give you a job." She said. Percy nodded at the pretty lady.
Harry and Hermione were spending their time doing something productive, inspecting a broom cupboard for wrackspurts. Luna had told them they were infesting them and Hermione said it was their duty to check all of them. Hermione was sitting on Harry's lap while he inspected her tonsils with his tongue. The pair had precious little time together with their classes and tournament preparations.
Hermione was running her hands through Harry's hair when a knock came on the door. "Who the bloody hell is that?" Hermione growled, making Harry laugh slightly. She looked at the map and saw it was Cedric. "Bloody prefect do gooder. I'll kill him myself." Hermione snarled as she opened the door. "What?" She demanded. Cedric blinked in surprise at seeing Hermione so irate. "Um… Is Harry with you?" He asked. Harry poked his head, his lips swollen and his normal messy hair somehow more messy.
"Harry is not available at the moment, please come back when its not cupboard time." Harry said cheekily. Cedric laughed as Harry went back inside and closed the door. "Harry, gotta ask if you figured out the egg." Cedric called. "He is trying to figure out my bra." Hermione yelled back. Cedric was blushing at the bushy haired girl's statement. The door opened and The irritated witch had her wand out. "I am trying to have Harry time, you want some, make a damn appointment." She said.
Cedric didn't think this was going to be a problem. "Look, he helped me with the dragons, I figured he could use help with the clue." Cedric said. Harry poked his head out, irritated. "The prefects bathroom is a good place to mull the egg over. Password is pinefresh." Cedric said. Harry nodded to the other boy. "If we go their, we won't find you and Cho in there as well?" Harry asked. Cedric laughed. "No, we have our own special place." He said. Hermione stuck her head out. "Then go their and bugger off!" Hermione said firing a stinging hex between his legs. Cedric ran off laughing all the way. "Now, where were we?" Harry asked as he shut the door.
The day before term started, Ron and Lavender were both working in the forge, making the axe. Snape was grading papers so Ron decided to work it himself. He had added spells into the molten steel. Snape also added a few potions into the mix that would magically enhance it. It was enchanted with a patronus charm and mixed with wolfsbane potion, making it deadly to the two creatures. Hermione had made some runes that Ron would carve into the metal and make it extra potent. He had already molded and tempered the steel. On one end was an axe head, the length of the weapon was pure silver and its end was a deadly spear tip. Lavender helped him with inscribing the runes into the length of the axe.
Severus came in and saw the two hard at work, adding the magic into the weapon. He smiled as they worked hard on the blade. "What have you decided to call it?" Lavender asked. Ron picked up the axe and inspected it. With a smirk he hefted it above his head. "Wolffang." Ron said, and pure magic flowed through it. Severus was in awe as it glowed with red energy. Lavender's eyes widened at the sight.
Ron for his part was surprised as well, the axe in the previous timeline never did this. "I think you have a gift for metal smithing." Snape said. Ron nodded, not at all surprised he had shown up. "Now, can you wield it?" He asked. Ron grinned.
On the grounds, Ron was trying out his new axe, with Snape and Lavender throwing blocks of wood at him. Ron deftly used it and chopped the wood as it flew at him. Harry then arrived, his clothes were a little messed up but he was carrying the sword of Gryffindor. "Oi, lets see how you use it with a proper opponent." Harry smirked. Ron smiled as he used his wand to blunt the edges. Harry did the same and the two got into fighting poses.
Ron lunged at Harry and made a swiping motion with his axe and Harry deflected it but found himself pushed back by Ron kicking him. Harry rolled away from another swipe from Ron and tried to sweep his leg but Ron jumped up and kept hacking at Harry. He was on the ground as Ron was moving around trying to land a blow.
Harry raised the sword up and deflected the attack and got up from the ground and swung the blade, with Ron catching the blade with his own as it went from the air. Harry moved back and swung from a low angle, then thrust forward, both times Ron deflecting the blade.
Harry managed to feint an attack and knocked Ron to the ground. He then put the point to Ron and smirked. "You're dead." He said. Ron smiled and pointed to the axe bottom point at Harry's stomach. "You to mate." Ron said. Harry looked at it and laughed before pulling Ron up from the ground. Cheers erupted as they looked to see Several students came by to see the impromptu duel between the two friends.
Lavender ran up to Ron and pulled him into a hug. "I have a strong need to find a broom cupboard." She whispered. Ron smirked and ran off with the blonde witch.
The new term started with more homework and harder workouts. Harry began lifting weights in the morning, but his calisthenics were enhanced with Hermione sitting on his back as he did push ups. Hermione didn't mind as she found the results pleasing. Hermione herself looking much better with her own workouts, a trim and athletic figure was hidden beneath her school uniform. Ron though, had gotten much bigger. His time forging and also lifting weights with Harry made his physique a little bit more muscular than Harry was.
Ginny joined them more often than not but had a strange suspicion over the trio. She was doing research into their behavior and dismissed Love Potions almost immediately. But she knew something was up.
Hermione and Harry sneaked out one night and headed for the prefects bath. It was a few more weeks before the task and both already knew the clue but the pair wanted some time together. Harry carried the egg regardless of what they do so they could say they were doing tournament prep.
Harry was wearing swimming trunks under his robes and as he pulled them off and heard Hermione's breath hitch at seeing him. Harry had gotten much better muscle definition through the year and only Hermione would see him like this.
Hermione then had a grin as she removed her robe and allowed it to fall to the floor. Harry went wide eyed seeing her in her two piece swim suit, showing off her slender figure. She gave Harry a pose before smiling at him.
The pair were cuddled in the bath, enjoying the closeness. Hermione was stroking Harry's hair and helping him relax. She smiled at the relaxation on his face. "Why would I be the one you would sorely miss?" She asked. Harry smiled at her. "You have been by my side for a very long time. I dunno what I would do without you. You are my best friend, my partner, my love." Harry said. Hermione smiled. "I love you Harry." She said as she kissed him.
Dumbledore sat in his office, Fawkes singing to him, when the fire blazed. Albus looked in and saw a familiar face sitting near him. "Ariana." He said. He felt light as she sat across from him. "I notice you got rid of several objects." She said, her face impassive. "I don't need to monitor Harry all the damn time. I know he is doing his part, which is preparing for the tournament. I have my agents out gathering supplies. Now I just need to wait it out." Albus said. Ariana nodded as her brother explained. "How are you feeling?" She asked. Lbus shook his head. "I feel impatient. I know where his horcruxes are. But I know we need to let certain things play out. Just to bring out one worse monster." Albus said. He reached for a lemon drop and began sucking on it. "You should really lay off the sweets Albus." Ariana lightly admonished, but Albus waved her off. "I am surprised he sent you. Uriel seems like the sort to do things himself." Albus said. Ariana smiled. "I think he wants someone who cares to see you and check on how things are going." She said.
"Are you going to tell them everything?" Ariana asked Albus nodded. "Once I have things in place, and the items I need, I will inform them. I just need the three of them to prepare for the struggles to come." Albus said. Ariana nodded and vanished. When Albus looked at where she was, a piece of parchment was there. He got up and looked at it and found a note from Uriel.
The Second Task is changed, be prepared for anything.
Albus nodded at the note and prepared for a meeting with his three companions.
AN: Yea, its been a week. Last week felt like a month. I had a car accident and such. I am thankful for the comments about my eyes. Now, I know health is more important than fanfiction but I get irritated if I don't finish a story. I am still irritated one of my stories never took off because it was a little off the wall.
Now the title for this chapter came from the Fantastic Beasts movie, and I recently saw it. I didn't like it that much.
One comment I got was about why they aren't making major changes, like murdering certain toad people, because when you use time travel you need to make the heroes essentially time travelling assassins. That works for most stories when the heroes go back in time by some runic ceremony or nebulous afterlife agency sends them back, but I had Heaven send them back and I think they might frown on killing the toad in cold blood. Another thing is, time doesn't like being messed with, sure they can change things to get a better outcome but time will mess with them. So killing Umbridge might make a worse tyrant show up. My other thing is the fourth year segment is going to be kind of going through the motions since the stuff they need to do takes a while to either gather or get ready. Finally, if they were just going back to kill Voldemort, they would have been done before Christmas, but their goal isn't to kill Voldemort, its to lure out Death and they know he will be at the battle of Hogwarts, that's why they are kind of biding their time.
