Disclaimer; The Blood are owned by Bishop. Potter-verse is owned by Rowling. I own a computer with a word processor.
"Hermione, I need your most excellent help. I need to find how to do something, I have less than sixteen hours to do it, and we'll probably all die if I don't. Have I ever told you how smart and pretty and wonderful you are?" Harry practically ran back to the common room. Things were not progressing well.
"Slow down Harry! Now what's wrong?"
"I've caused a time paradox, we're out of time turners, and McGonagall is pissed at me."
"Harry, how do you get yourself into these situations?"
"I don't know!"
"How did it happen?"
Harry explained about probing his own mind in potions, how he was certain that it was really him. He explained what McGonagall told him about the Ministry's time turners, and the probability that a collapse of the timeline from a paradox.
"So really, my choices are limited to 1) finding a time turner fast 2) discovering a way to time travel without a time turner or 3) building a time turner capable of going farther back than when it was built. If you and Ron can help me with the last two, I'm going to go try to break into the department of mysteries again."
"Harry, you can't just break into the ministry and steal a time turner!"
"Can you think of something else?"
"No, but that doesn't make it right. I don't know why I am your friend sometimes, I swear you've almost got me killed how many times now?"
"The number isn't important Hermione, what is important that I love you enough to never let it happen the same way twice."
"At least my life isn't boring." She finally gave in.
"Ok, you and Ron take my invisibility cloak and hit the restricted section, I'll be back in a couple hours I hope." Harry left the common room at a run. He needed to get directly under a wind to catch it in Hogwarts thanks to the wards. The Headmaster's office was one of only a few places it worked, and he wouldn't count on being welcomed there right now.
Lucy was sitting in the common room when she saw Harry leave in a panic. She saw his older friends group together for a few minutes before leaving. She decided to follow them to the library.
"Hey, why is everybody panicking? What's wrong with Harry? I want to help."
"Not now Lucy, we're trying to save the world." Ginny sounded annoyed.
"What is wrong, why does it need saving?"
"Because Harry is a prat who goes time traveling for the purposes of pranking."
"When did he travel in time?"
"Earlier today, during first period he showed up and talked to himself. I don't know who the rest of his accomplices are, but if I find them…"
"Oh. So how can I help?" She knew what happened by now, but had to find a way to protect herself too. Harry could survive a few minutes panic.
"Do you know any weird way to time travel without a time turner? Your magic is different, so he might be able to use that." Hermione suggested sounding hopeful and desperate.
"Hmm… I don't know. I'll go check my books." She grasped the excuse to leave and call Harry back.
Harry had just arrived at the phone booth and given his reason for being there when he received Lucy's mental summons back and explanation of her trick. Her apology sounded sincere, but he decided turn about was fair play and he would return the favor someday.
At breakfast the next morning he smiled when Professor McGonagall approached him.
"Good morning Professor."
"Mr. Potter, should I be preparing to be wiped out of existence?"
Harry didn't reply, he just handed her the ministry badge he got last night. "Harry Potter here to annoy the Unspeakables, again."
"Very well, I trust you returned it when you were done with whatever was so important?"
"Why don't you ask them if they are missing any?"
"You didn't answer me."
"You're right. It turns out I didn't use a time turner, so I don't need to return one."
"That is not a comforting thought. Can you do whatever it was you did again?"
"Yes."
"Heaven help us. Mr. Potter, please don't tamper with time."
"Since you asked so nicely, I won't. Or if I do I will make sure to go back and erase your memories of it so you won't have a reason to worry."
"Don't do that either."
"Who says I haven't already? Tell you what, if you ever find out I've been using time travel to mess with people's memories, you can take me up before the Wizangamot."
"This is three times in three days Mr. Potter you've made me wish Voldemort would attack. I need a drink."
"Hey, if you want me to lie to you just ask. For instance, do you know exactly how many times we've had this discussion now?"
McGonagall just growled in frustration and walked away. Hermione looked ready to tear strips out of him.
"Harry James Potter! Are you trying to kill that poor woman?"
"Not particularly, just get her into the proper frame of mind to be leading a school of children who can bend reality to their will."
"What do you mean?"
"Magic. All magic is really just the ability to bend and break reality and the laws of nature. Professor Dumbledore would have quite enjoyed the conversations she and I have had recently."
"Professor Dumbledore was considered insane by quite a few people." Hermione pointed out.
"You want to know what is insane? I've sworn six Wizard Oaths since I stepped off the Hogwarts express and no one trusts me. I can't imagine why."
"So how many times did you have that conversation with her?"
"Just that one time. She didn't respond, or ask me to confirm. She leapt to an assumption and got upset. Just like what happened the other night."
"What happened?"
"She called me to her office and asked me about the strange events of September first. But she never asked the questions she wanted to know the answers to. She wanted to know how I crossed the lake in the manner I did, but that's not what she asked. She wanted to know about the Marauders, but never asked if I knew who they were. She wanted to know who in the school was an animagus and what their forms were to my knowledge, but she just asked if I had anything I would like to confess. As a general rule, I don't like to confess things, so the answer was not what she wanted."
"Yesterday, she wanted to know about my exploits against Professor Moody and about the sudden appearance of a large white tiger in his classroom. She never outright asked because she assumed I wouldn't answer."
"I think I need a drink too. Do you know where I can find one?"
"Yes. See how much easier this is?"
"Where can I find one?"
"Here," He handed her two flasks, "take one to the Professor. Was that really so hard?"
"Mr. Potter, lets try this again." Professor McGonagall was back at lunch time for another shot.
"Ok, what can I do for you," He was infuriatingly polite and cheerful.
"Why is my Head Girl drunk?"
"Because she lacks self control and a sense of propriety?"
"Miss Granger has never had a problem with self control."
"I would remind you that she has been on most of my adventures over the years."
"Point for you Mr. Potter. I will try again. Where did my head girl find the liquor that she is now inebriated on?"
"Much better question, I think you will find a useful answer. I cannot be certain without asking her, but I suspect she is now drunk on the beverage I provided her with when she asked me. Otherwise she is quite resourceful and may have found any number of other intoxicants. How badly off is she?"
"Quite thoroughly pissed. She says she drank sunshine and love. Do you know what she means?"
"Ok, it is now almost a certainty she is drunk from something I gave her. Tell me Professor, did she come to you after you left at breakfast and give you a flask containing four ounces of opalescent liquid?"
"No, should she have?"
"When you left claiming to need a drink, she began asking me questions. I answered them. She expressed a desire for a drink. Since she was of age, I gave her two flasks and asked her to deliver one to you. Given that she did not, it is probable that she consumed hers before finding you, and decided to enjoy yours as well."
"Has it not occurred to you that you are setting a bad example for your fellow students? You should not be distributing liquor."
"The liquor in question is quite safe from those who would overindulge. Hermione will not be able to get her hands on more than a medicinal dose any longer, which was my intent behind the flasks I gave her if she had bothered to read the sides."
"How can you be certain of this and how much do you have?"
"I have enough for any reasonable use. Getting students drunk is not a reasonable use of my stores. It is safe from those who would be tempted because it does not exist in this reality until I call it here."
"What do you mean? I think I may need a dose soon."
"You mentioned the other day that the House Elves could not find my luggage. That was because my trunks are in a small pocket dimension outside reality that is maintained by my magic. Only I have access to it so everything in it is perfectly secure from anyone else." He replied as he handed her another flask. "Drink a sip, no more."
She did, and replaced the cap.
"That is quite unique and does make you feel better. What is it?"
"It's an alcoholic potion. At least that's the best way I can describe it. I am working under Professor Slughorn to secure a patent for it. I am considering marketing it as "Gryffindor Courage". I think that adequately describes the effects of having too much."
"That would explain why Miss Granger pointed at me and laughed as she explained the need to be direct in my questions."
"Exactly. She was brave, but also blindingly stupid. Gryffindor Courage it is. You may keep the flask, but remember sip don't gulp."
"Thank you, this has been more informative than usual for you. Will you be explaining this dimension pocket in your theory class?"
"I will discuss it but I do not know if or how well the concept will translate for most people. I learned to use this skill in my travels this summer and the methods may not mesh with traditional magic without much thought and research."
"How is it different?"
"It, and some of the other things I learned, operate on an entirely different magical system of thought. For instance, Voodoo works around cooperative and sympathetic magic with elements of shamanism. Our magic works around ordered magical spells and forms. Can one be learned by the other? Yes, but it requires that they examine the underlying flow of magic. The dimensional magic I am using centers around an intimate understanding of ones own mind and one's connection to the magical core."
"What are some other uses of this system of thought?"
"Actually one of the easiest is a communication method. In practice it is startlingly similar to apparition. To apperate you must visualize your destination, send your mind there, and drag your body along. To communicate in this way, you must visualize who you wish to contact, and where you expect them to be, cast you mind in their direction, and drag your message to them instead of your body. It even allows communication with non-human minds."
"Fascinating, would you demonstrate?"
"Certainly," He closed his eyes for a moment, "Hedwig will be here in a moment to prove the non-human aspect. In the interim, don't be frightened."
/This is what mind to mind communication feels like. It is also how I knew that it was I when I was in potions yesterday. I found myself in a mind I was intimately familiar with. /
"Remarkable. I find myself looking forward to your class; it should lead to some interesting discussions."
"I am as well. Oh look, here comes Hedwig. Is there anything else you wanted to speak to me about?"
"No, I have enough to think about. I hope I don't need to talk to you until I see you in class tomorrow."
"Not that I don't love you, but I hope so too. Its hard work answering your questions without telling you something you didn't ask for."
"Why have you been doing that by the way?"
"Well, there are some things you really don't want to know. There are other things that will only lead to more questions and distract us from the point of our discussion. For instance if yesterday instead of saying I entered the DADA classroom, I told you I walked through a solid stone wall while Professor Moody was by the door, you would have exactly that facial expression I see now. And it would lead to questions and answers that we do not have time for now. Rest assured answers will come to you someday."
"How…"
"Magic. Now I have class and I will see you tomorrow."
Harry spread the blanket out and set down the picnic basket. He reclined on the air as if in a chair.
"So how was your first week of classes Lucy?"
"They were fun. The man who teaches Potions seemed to really like me and was excited when I accidentally mentioned Mother was a Healer and Queen. He said I had a gift for potions."
"Professor Slughorn loves to meet and be friends with important people. He is a good man at heart, but he loves having important friends. It makes him feel important. I think he doesn't realize his own worth. So finding out that your mother is a Queen makes him feel special for knowing you."
"Oh."
"He will probably invite you to some parties now. He invites all the people he thinks are important or will become important to the parties he throws. Then he introduces everyone around. Saetan would say they are good places to find and use influence, but I don't like that sort of thing. If he invites you, feel free to go. Just because I don't like them doesn't mean that you won't."
"Yeah. If he invites me I will go to one and see if I like it."
"Good. So how did you like your other classes? Does Professor McGonagall still turn into a cat during your first lesson?"
"Yes she did. A lot of people thought it was amazing, but after having seen you do it, I knew it was still the same person in the inside. It was funny seeing her as a cat because you can still see her human side in a cat's body. I loved Professor Sprout's class. Herbology is a queen's magic. Queens are connected to the earth so learning about plants is fun. History was boring."
"I'm glad you like the classes. How did Professor Moody act after you pulled the joke on him?"
"He seems so grumpy. He's like uncle Lucivar, except he never settles down."
"Just give him time. If he is still grumpy after a few lessons let me know and we can help him relax."
"Is he going to like us helping him?"
"I don't mean we are going to prank him. I mean I know how to earn his respect. Once he respects you he is a lot like Lucivar, only more suspicious."
The two sat and talked all Saturday afternoon, looking at interesting clouds and enjoying the last days of summer. They talked about how different the school was from the Hall, how similar they were at the same time. They talked about what they were looking forward to in the coming year and what to expect.
A few students looked on in wonder and envy at the pair that could find solitude in a way denied to the others. In a school of several hundred students, the weekends at the end of summer almost demanded that they spread as far from others as possible. Unfortunately, that meant that the best most could do was get a few dozen feet from their nearest classmates. Harry and Lucy were alone for several hundred feet in every direction. After all, no one else could have a picnic in the middle of the lake.
Everyone was waiting for his lessons.