The Hogwarts train pulled out of the 9 and 3/4 station smoothly while parents waved at their children from the platform. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down in a compartment by themselves as they had done for 6 years now. A blonde haired boy about their age with bright green eyes and muggle clothing of a T-shirt and jeans walked into the compartment.
"Uh the other compartments are full, could I sit here?" Harry looked towards Ron who shrugged.
"Sure."
"Thanks." He put his things in the baggage space above their heads and settled in to read a thick volume named Hogwarts: A History. Hermione glanced at the book and smiled.
"Finally! Someone who's actually read the book!"
"Who doesn't read the book? I mean, there's so much information contained in a book that isn't even that long."
"I know right, but none of my friends actually read the book."
"Lazy is what they are." Hermione smiled. Finally, someone who GOT it. No offense to Harry or Ron but they weren't exactly on the same level as her. If she tried to talk to them about things she found interesting in books she read, they wouldn't understand it. They chatted for a bit more before Harry interrupted.
"Hermione, you going to introduce us to your new friend?"
"Oh right, I never did get your name."
"My name is Barry Allen. I'm a special case so I'm going to be a 6th year even though this is my first."
"You're going to have a hard time of it. Haven't you heard? This is the NEWT year." said Ron.
"I'm Harry Potter and this is Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. We're 16." Harry waited for the questions that would shoot towards him at the mention of his name but strangely enough the conversation continued as normal, Barry seemingly not caring about the fact that he was the Chosen One.
"I haven't heard much about who exactly the teachers are going to be. Do you know who we're having?"
"There's McGonagall for transfiguration who is also the Head of Gryffindor. Hagrid as Care For Magical Creatures Teacher, Professor Bellsprout as Herbology, Slughorn is the new Potions teacher, and Professor Flitwick for Charms. There's also Professor Aurora Sinistra for Astronomy and Professor Trelawney for Divination. The Defense Against Dark Arts Teacher always changes every year though. First it was Quirrel who tried to kill Harry under the influence of You-Know-Who, then Lockhart, the faker, then Lupin who was a werewolf, Moody, an imposter who worked for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and Umbridge, the old toad. I've heard rumors of Snape being the new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher."
"Not the same Snape!" said Ron who'd been eavesdropping.
"Yes. He got the job." said Hermione resignedly.
"That's terrible! Who knows how much damage he could bring!" cried Harry.
"We don't know that he's a Death Eater for sure."
"But he very well could be! That bitter old..." Ron kept grumbling under his breath.
"Congradulations! You're officially in the group!"
"What?"
"Anyone who can actually make sense of what Ron says and keep up with the conversation deserves to be in the group. Besides, none of these dimwits get what I'm talking about half the time. It'd be nice to finally see someone who can keep up."
"Sure, I guess?" Neville poked his head into the compartment.
"Have you all seen Trevor? We're going to be getting off soon and I don't want to lose him on my first day back."
"Naw. Sorry Neville." said Ron. When Neville left, they all went off to change into their robes. Soon, they got off the train and rode in one of the carriages led by the thestrals to Hogwarts. The wide eyed first years scrambled into the boats which set off on their own with some new person leading them. When they got to the palace, Barry turned to them.
"Sorry, I've got to go speak with some of the teachers. I'll see you after the Feast." Barry walked coolly towards Dumbledore's office. They chatted amongst themselves as they sat at their appropriate House tables. Barry stood in front of Dumbledore's office where Ms. McGonagall stood.
"Mr. Allen."
"I know, I know. 'The Headmaster should not be kept waiting." Ms. McGonagall told the gargoyles the password who lept aside and they traveled up the spiraling staircase into the office. Professor Snape and Dumbledore were already waiting. Snape was brooding in the corner with his arms crossed.
"Hello Mr. Allen. Let's get started, shall we?" said Dumbledore.
"Hogwarts is safe enough for anyone. Even against You-Know-Who. We have stone soldiers guarding the school for Gods sake!" cried Ms. McGonagall.
"Yes, but we wouldn't want to take any chances, now would we. Barry Allen, we are giving you the job of protecting Harry Potter." Barry nodded and left promptly.
"Albus, are you sure we need to take these precautions?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes Minerva, for the safety of the students and staff. There are many details that point to something big happening this year and I would like to be prepared should he come for Potter."
"Then should we really be putting a 16 year old boy in charge of protecting him against all of You-Know-Who's forces, and perhaps him himself?"
"Trust me, there is more to that boy than meets the eye. Now, we must take up our attendance at the Feast, I would like to get a word in before they start." said Dumbledore. They left, following the same path Barry had gone down a few moments before. Barry had come over during the summer to get sorted by the Hat. He had gotten Gryffindor which was why he was now sitting next to Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Dumbledore stood from his spot at the Table. The room immediately became quiet.
"Now, I would like to get a word in before we start feasting. Tiddlywinks. Now, let the Feast begin!" Plates immediately filled with the delicious cooking of the school's house elves and everyone dug in.
"The House Elves have really stepped their game up this year, haven't they!" said Ron as he stuffed his face.
"You always say that Ron. Now, Barry, how did your meeting go?" asked Hermione.
"They just wanted to check which house I was supposed to be in. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"No, not really. Turns out we get more free periods this year."
"Great, more time to study for the NEWTS." Harry and Ron groaned.
"Oh great. Another one." said Harry.
"Yeah Hermione, quit rubbing off on him, would'ya? Free periods are for hanging out, not work." said Ron.
"That's because you're all lazy. Barry gets it, we're going have to double down on work, Barry especially since this is technically his first year." said Hermione. They headed off to bed after eating as much as their stomachs could fit. Over the next few months, Barry steadily integrated himself into the group. One day, the inevitable came. They were in Charms with Professor Flitwick when it happened.
"Now, flick your wands and say 'Avis,' nice and clear." said Professor Flitwick. The students were trying out the spell, Barry and Hermione doing it correctly the first try while Harry and Ron struggled when a small tremor shook the classroom.
Professor McGonagall poked her head into the classroom and cried, "Everyone report to your common rooms until we've sorted this out. Allen, Potter, Ms. Granger, Weasley, come with me now." They all walked out of the room and saw people heading down the hallways and towards their House common rooms.
"Mr. Allen, you are to stay with this group at all times, do you understand?" asked Ms. McGonagall.
"Yes Ms. McGonagall." They went down to the Grand Hall and they faced towards the outside where dozens of men and women in dark cloaks stood, led by Voldemort himself.
"Piertotum Locomotor!" cried Ms. McGonagall. Statues of knights all over the castle walked off of their pedestals and filed out the main doors, ready to charge down the Death Eaters. Ms. McGonagall looked behind them and to the Golden Trio and Barry's surprise was all the teachers and the sixth and seventh years who had been made aware of the situation. They were to be the castle's second line of defense. The scene looked slightly like a rendition of a medieval battle, with two armies charging at each other. Instead of high grade weapons of course, there were jets of light, coming from different wands, the Death Eaters finally getting past the knights. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Barry were told to hide themselves away in the castle, not in a common room however, as that would set Voldemort's allies towards the other students. They hid themselves in Hagrid's hut, something that could quite easily be rebuilt, and they had a teacher to look over them.
"Hagrid, can we come in?" asked Barry.
"Inside, before yer get spotted!" he said as he practically shoved them inside.
He shut the door tightly and said, "Didn't Professor McGonagall tell you to stay in the castle?"
"Yeah, but that means that outside the castle is the least likely chance they'll find us."
"I guess that's true. You can stay, as long as Barry sticks around."
"What does that even mean? For the past hour, people have been telling us that we're safe as long as Barry is around, I mean, he's just a sixth year like the rest of us, right? He doesn't even have the experience we do in magic." said Ron.
"Well, y'see..."
"I was told by the teachers to protect Harry. They suspected something would be happening this year, with all the signs."
"Wait, they knew this would happen, but they kept the students here anyway?"
"Yeah?"
"I can't believe how irresponsible the teachers are!" cried Hermione.
"So you've been at our school just so you could protect Harry?" asked Ron.
"Yeah. Harry would you like to say something?" He had a look on his face.
"Well, seeing as your being a sixth year here was a lie, I'm assuming the, it being your first year was also a lie too. But we've already gotten a really good education in magic, I don't need a bodyguard who knows just as much as I do. So, why are YOU my bodyguard?"
"Well, the reason is that I don't only have wizard magic."
"Wait, there's more!"
"Well, it's really not magic, it's more of... manipulating the elements using a style deeply based in martial arts."
"Prove it." said Hermione. Everyone looked towards him expectantly. He glanced at the faucet and he made some weird gestures with his hand. Water started flowing out of it and floating around their heads.
"Woah. And you've been able to do this how long?"
"Well, I learned it a while ago from different teachers."
"Who?"
"Well for one, I wouldn't get your hopes up, seeing as they come from another dimension. And two, you have to be born with the ability."
You're from another dimension! Awesome!" said Ron. They heard a group coming up the path towards Hagrid's hut. The group quickly hid,except for Barry who grinned at Harry when he motioned for him to hide. A few Death Eaters made the door fling inwards, covering the inside with dust. Hagrid looked prepared to fight while Barry looked up at them with fake fear. A Death Eater grabbed a fistful of Barry's hair while Hagrid fumed, already preoccupied with another group to be able to help. Barry and Hagrid were overpowered easily, as the Death Eaters were still under the impression that Barry was a helpless 6th year who had been caught outside. When they stepped out, Barry unhooked the man's fingers from his hair, and twisted his arm behind his back where he broke it. The Death Eater yelled in pain as the Golden Trio watched in awe. Barry quickly knocked him out with a sharp tap to the head. Then he turned around to look at the Death Eaters keeping Hagrid in check. He stomped a foot on the ground in the direction of the Death Eaters where the ground they were standing on suddenly flew upwards, flinging the Death Eaters a few feet away. They were then quickly knocked out by Hagrid who nodded to the Golden Trio.
"That was so cool!" said Ron who was unable to control himself. Barry smiled.
"You haven't seen half of it yet." Barry and Hagrid strolled towards the school where more Death Eaters were heading once they had realized their companions never came back. They shot spell after spell at Barry and Hagrid. Hagrid just took them on full force while Barry smoothly dodged them with a movement of the head. Barry made an entire river rise into the air and knocked them off their feet where they were beat up by Hagrid. Soon, the entire battle was moved towards beating the two, them defeating the wizards with ease while Voldemort's forces dwindled. The other wizards didn't even have to do anything as they watched in awe. Barry kept using different bending styles of fire, water, air, and earth to beat them with Hagrid finishing them off. The allies were gone while Voldemort stood alone.
"Well well well. There is more to you than the eye can see, isn't there." said Voldemort as they circled each other.
"I'd say no, but you've already seen proof of that."
"How about you join my side? With you on my side, we would be unstoppable." Barry stopped as if to ponder it.
"How about... no." He sent a torrent of flames that singed Voldemort's robes and wand hand. He dropped the Elder Wand like a hot potato.
"How are you doing that? I've never seen that kind of magic before."
"That's because it isn't magic." He stepped aside as Harry picked up the wand. Voldemort held Lucius Malfoy's wand while Harry and he traded spells. Finally, they made the connecting blow, Voldemort's spell slowly overpowering Harry's until a last burst of energy hit Voldemort. He slowly disintegrated into fine powder which scattered to the wind. The courtyard was silent before an overpowering cheer rang from the Hogwarts wizards. A few hours later, they were celebrating the death of Voldemort, along with every other wizard in the country while also mourning the loss of the few who had died.
"Hey Barry."
"Ron, Hermione, Harry."
"So, what you gonna do? You just came over to protect Harry, but now that Voldemort's gone, you don't have to protect him."
"Yeah, I'll be leaving for my dimension." He handed Barry a small spherical device with three prongs for standing.
"Just set this on a table and press the button. Then you can call me. And Ron, don't shout into it, I have sensitive hearing."
"Let's try it out. Harry and Ron set it up in the boys sleeping quarters while Hermione and Barry set up his in the Gryyfindor common room. They answered Ron's call and a holographic vision of Harry and Ron lit up in a screen above the three pronged sphere.
"Hey Harry."
"Oh my gosh! It works! Blimey!" cried Ron. That attracted the attention of Neville who stared in awe at the device.
"Wait, I thought tech wasn't supposed to work on the Hogwarts grounds."
"Yeah, I got these specially to work in areas where there's a lot of magic in the air."
"Cool." Neville interrupted.
"Hey, is this yours Barry?"
"Yeah, I've given them the other one so we can talk to each other when I get back to my dimension."
"You're from another dimension?"
"Yeah." An hour later, the teachers and the Golden Trio were lining up to say goodbye to Barry before he went back home. They said goodbye before Barry just... disentegrated. They knew he was still alive because he called them immediately after he appeared back in his dimension. Twenty years later, when the Golden Trio got together, they still called Barry at times.
"Hey Barry, long time no see..."
