Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
With closed eyes Harry waited for the impacted but it didn't come and slowly opened his eyes again. "We're late!" a voice called as Harry stared in surprise at the Gargoyle that stood guard before the Headmaster's office.
'Where?' he wondered as he cradled his wounded arm against his chest. It hurt badly, but he didn't see his wand anywhere to aid himself. Footsteps announced the arrival of the owner of the voice he previously heard.
"Harry!" Surprised he turned around and was suddenly enveloped in a tight embrace.
"Don't suffocate him." Another voice laced with amusement said. The man released him again and the youngster met blue twinkling eyes. His own widened as he took in the rest of the familiar face and slowly he raised his hand to touch brown hair. The man smiled as his fingers moved to the forehead and brushed the bangs away to reveal a lightning bolt-shape scar.
"You're," the man smiled brightly, "me!"
"As intelligent as ever," the other man chuckled and Harry felt a rush of joy as he stared at him.
"Tom!" The politician had the dignity to smirk.
"You didn't expect a bald snake guy did you?" he joked as he pulled out his wand and pointed to the youngster wounded arm. He whispered a healing spell and a flash of pain shot through Harry's arm before it healed without scaring. Next the wand rose to rest on level with his face. "We can't have you running around like a mini Marvolo." Harry's eyes widened as his cover got dispelled. He had totally forgotten neither Tom nor he had dispelled it last night.
"What happened to Tom," he asked as he tested his arm, "and Dumbledore?" Marvolo shared a look with Tom before turning to his younger self.
"They both survived, but how that happened would be best explained later." Blue eyes glanced at the politician again. Harry frowned at this and couldn't help but wonder. "Don't worry, as you can see everything turned out for the best," Marvolo smiled as he helped the youngster up. "And I know you are dying to see what has changed." His smile grew and Harry realized he was correct.
'Ron, Hermione!'
"Let's start with Hogwarts." Blue eyes twinkled as Tom held out his hand. Finding this whole experience utterly weird, the youngster hesitated for a moment before accepting the hand. "Let's go," Marvolo skipped forward, clearly remembering where to start. He led them through corridors full of students and Harry couldn't ignore the surprised looks he got. He wanted to pull his hand free, but Tom didn't relent his hold.
"This is embarrassing," he mumbled and the politician smirked sideways at him. Marvolo stopped in front of the library and pushed his younger self inside. Curious, his eyes slid over the racks filled with books and the students he could see. He recognized a couple of them and his heart clenched as he noted a couple of faces that had died during the war. Slowly he moved forward and the students took notice of him. He could hear whispers of his name and quickly continued moving his feet to the tables at the back. There he finally saw who he knew his older self wanted him to meet. Hermione was standing over Ron and trying to teach him something but the Weasley seemed more interested in her face. He kept smiling stupidly at her while tracing circles on one of her arms.
"Ron!" The girl tried and looked up with a huff, meeting Harry's eyes. Her mouth fell open and suddenly she squealed. "Harry!" Pushing herself from the table, she rushed to the youngster and wrapped her arms around him before pressing herself against him.
"Hermione," Harry said her name with a smile while wrapping his arms around her.
"Mate!" Ron joined their embrace. "How did you get back?" The Weasley asked still trapping the two others in his arms. "You didn't make Tom angry did you?" His voice sounded scared and Hermione made him release them.
"Why would I send him back for that?" Harry heard Tom say from behind him and he glanced backwards to see Marvolo hit the politician playfully.
"I didn't mean...! I just...!"
"It's okay Ron," Harry reassured his friend. "He saved my life by sending me back," he explained.
"How long are you staying?" Hermione asked after they had greeted the two older men.
"Euh, I have no idea," the youngster answered honestly and looked at the two men behind him.
"If I remember correctly just before three o'clock," Marvolo looked at Tom for conformation.
"It took about six hours before I could call for you again," the politician nodded.
"Great, then we have time to catch up!" Ron smiled widely.
"Actually, I suggest we meet in an hour at the room of requirement. There are still a lot of others Harry will like to see," Marvolo suggested already knowing they would agree.
"Great, we'll see you guys in an hour," Hermione smiled while the Weasley pouted but didn't dare to voice his complain. The youngster waved at them while being led away again. Marvolo suddenly turned around again and jogged back to the two Gryffindors.
"Could you guys bring Ginny and Luna?" Hermione nodded and Harry felt his older self's arm wrap around his shoulder as he joined them again. Tom had once again taken hold of his hand. "Next stop is the courtyard," Marvolo smiled as he remembered. "You'll be surprised," he shared a look with Tom, who just rolled his eyes. Clearly, he didn't get his interest. They reached the court and Harry's eyes immediately got pulled to the scene playing before him. Crabbe and Goyle were standing a little behind Draco, who was pointing his wand angry at Neville. The normal shy boy had his fists clenched and didn't move an inch.
"No!" he said before suddenly turning around and calmly stepped away from the blond, whose anger made place for despair. Almost like he was defeated, the Slytherin drop his eyes to the ground. The Gryffindor breathed out and suddenly noticed the three staring at him. "Harry!" he called surprised and Draco's head shot up. His free hand grabbed hold of the shy boy's arm, stopping him successfully.
"Marry me!" The blond's voice sounded hoarse and Neville's eyes widened in surprise.
"You," the shy boy mumbled, asking for reassurance with his eyes from Harry, "don't mean that."
"I do!" Draco said loud as his grip tightened. Neville's eyes moved from the youngster to the politician beside him before turning to the blond. "We're in public!" The Gryffindor hissed while nodding behind him and Malfoy looked up, meeting Tom's eyes. The blond paled visually and his grip lost a little of its strength, but he wasn't releasing the other.
"You don't mean that!" Neville said almost pleadingly. Harry realized he was giving Draco a last chance to back down.
'He loves him that much.' Draco glanced from the Gryffindor to Tom and back to Neville with a determined expression. The blond's hand slipped from the shy boy's arm to his hand and he kneeled down. The dirty blond's eyes widened just as Harry's did.
"Neville Longbottom, will you marry me?"
"Draco, no!" Pansy suddenly yelled as she ran towards the couple.
"Pansy, it was a mistake!" Malfoy hissed not taking his eyes off the Gryffindor before him.
"Your parents won't allow it!" The girl continued.
"I don't care." Harry knew that affected his friend in a good way.
"The Dark Lord won't allow it!" Pansy yelled as she started to tremble. She knew this was a lost battle, but wouldn't back down.
"What won't I allow, Ms Parkinson?" Tom asked and the girl stiffened. Slowly, she turned around and squeaked.
"My Lord, I didn't mean..., but you can't agree with this?!"
"Why not?" Marvolo asked as the girl's eyes were asking him for assistance.
'Does she really think being Ignatius's granddaughter will get her special treatment?' Harry wondered as he realized what she was doing.
"His parents like me!"
"Then marry them," Tom dismissed her with a hand gesture and turned his attention back to the couple.
"But...!"
"Be quiet!" The politician suddenly roared and Harry's hand got clenched. "I'm waiting for Mr Longbottom's response." Neville looked a little unsure at Harry and the youngster nodded to him with a smile. Shyly, the Gryffindor turned back to the blond holding his hand and stared straight into hopeful eyes.
'Come on, Neville!' Harry bit his lip as Marvolo leaned towards him.
"I..." the shy boy started before he shook his head and smiled staring back into the greyish eyes. "Yes." Draco seemed to bloom and grabbed Neville's face before kissing the living daylight out of him. Marvolo pushed them towards the couple and hugged the newly engaged couple. Tom kept it at a handshake and Malfoy looked a little unsure at him.
"My parents won't approve," he confessed and Neville looked a little uncertain at his fiancé.
"I'll deal with them," the Dark lord smirked as Harry hugged his friend.
"Congratulations!" he shook Draco's hand and noted the blond had regained some of his colour.
"How come your back, Harry?" Neville asked confused as Draco wrapped an arm around his waist. "Ah," Marvolo ruffled his younger self's hair to stop him from answering.
"We'll explain everything in an hour in the room of requirement." The couple promised they would be present and the trio continued their tour. "Next we better go see Dumbledore," Marvolo thought aloud and Tom grimaced.
"You two still don't get along?" Harry asked and the Dark Lord sneered.
"They... tolerate each other." His older self answered while giving Tom a meaningful look. "And he gave us permission to show you around and requested the tour would include him." The blue eyes turned to Harry again.
"Okay," the youngster accepted the explanation, "so, you're still known as the Dark Lord?" he asked Tom who smirked as his amused eyes turned to Marvolo.
"Yes, that would be my fault," the brunet confessed. "But I guess it's for the best. Tom just really likes being called that," he winked at the youngster and the Dark Lord didn't deny it.
"Here we are," Marvolo smiled as he noticed the Gargoyle. Before they reached it the statue already made place for the staircase to the Headmaster office. "He must me getting impatient," Marvolo chuckled as Tom grumbled something under his breath.
"Harry, my boy!" Dumbledore greeted them with a wide smile. He gave the youngster an one arm hug before doing the same to his older self. The Dark Lord got a handshake. "Please sit down," the Headmaster waved to the chairs in front of his desk and sat down on his own behind it. "I'm sure you want to know what happened after you left?" he asked as Harry took the middle seat. Marvolo and Tom flanked him and the Dark Lord draped his arm on top of the youngster's chair support.
"Yes!" Harry exclaimed, making Marvolo chuckle.
"Then first of all, I need to apologize. I should have never taken my eyes of you," Dumbledore apologized and Tom grumbled something under his breath. Ignoring the person beside him, the youngster forgave his professor.
"I know you didn't do it intentionally and I wouldn't be here - in this time - now if it didn't happen."
"Still, I'm sorry," the old man apologized a last time.
"But what I don't get is how did you get into the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry continued and the professor leaned backwards in his chair.
"Yes, that's something I should explain. I followed Ms Mabel."
"Oh," the youngster looked surprised for a moment before his expression turned thoughtful, "that's logical, Tom," he gave the man beside him the dark eye, "made sure she had your attention." The Dark Lord didn't react and Marvolo gave him the same dark eye as his younger self. "So tell me, what happened after I left?" Harry asked, directing his question to the Headmaster.
"Tom and I duelled some more," Dumbledore started and shared a look with the politician, "the basilisk kept out of it."
"I ordered him to protect the girl," Tom continued while touching the youngster's shoulder to get his attention.
"Only because he knew we wouldn't forgive him if something happened to her," Marvolo added and Harry had to smile. It was weird and fun at the same time to have someone present who thought the same as him.
"After a couple of spells, I got the advantage and was ready to strike when Tom said he would absorb the piece of his soul again," Dumbledore took hold of the story again and the Dark Lord's hand stiffened around Harry's shoulder blade. Surprised the youngster turned to the man beside him.
"You absorbed the horcrux?" Tom nodded his head once as answer and Marvolo laid his hand on the one resting on Harry's shoulder. "And you didn't make new?" The youngster asked to be certain while willing his heart to stop accelerating. Tom actually did something he was completely against for him.
"No, as I don't kill people anymore, I can't make new ones." Harry couldn't help but smile silly and Marvolo quickly gave his partner a kiss on the cheeks. The Dark Lord gave the youngster's older self a smile of his own and the couple shared a short mental conversation through their eyes. Harry also suspected that he saw love.
'If we still care so much for each other after so many years," he kept smiling, 'then it's definitely worth it.'
"So to continue explaining," Dumbledore interrupted the tender moment in front of him, "Tom reabsorbed his soul and we came to an understanding that we perfected after a couple of hours."
"And then I called for you," Tom finished and it was clear they wouldn't go in detail.
"Now at least I have an idea of what's happening while I'm gone," Harry reasoned. "And Mabel?" He suddenly realised they hadn't said what happened to the girl.
"She got out without scratches, but her mother could eat her raw afterwards," Marvolo chuckled the last as he entwined his fingers with Tom's and removed them from Harry's shoulder. The Dark Lord huffed something in annoyance and the youngster guessed that Coraline would never get into Tom's good graces.
"Madam Mabel is and always will be a particular woman," Dumbledore shared a look with Marvolo, who laughed aloud.
"You can say that again!"
"Let's not talk about that woman!" Tom huffed and the other two adults laughter grew more intense. Harry decided he could wait to find out the joke until he was as older. "We should get going," the Dark Lord said as he looked intently at Marvolo.
"I guess you're right. Thanks for having us, professor," Marvolo gave Dumbledore a hand and Tom followed his example a little stiffer. Then the Headmaster turned to Harry.
"I'm glad I could meet you once more." Harry accepted the given hand and shook it.
"I'm glad to see you are doing well, professor." 'And are alive!'
"Thank you, well I guess I'll see you later," he smiled mischievous. Harry nodded and let Tom grab his hand again. The Dark Lord ushered them into the hallway away from Dumbledore.
"We should get to the room of requirement," Tom stated and wrapped his free arm around Marvolo's waist before guiding both of them in the right direction. "Don't worry we still have time."
Harry's older self chuckled. He clearly liked the attention he was getting from his partner. They stopped before the invisible door and Marvolo released himself from Tom's grip. He closed his eyes and with an eager smile made the door appear. Quickly, his hand moved to the door handle and he pulled it open, revealing the inside for the two others.
'Cosy,' was the first thing that entered the youngster's mind. There was a fireplace surrounded by couches and large pillows, which stood just far enough not to catch fire but close enough to enjoy the heat. What also pulled his attention was that for once neutral colours were used and none from the different houses.
"It looks cosy, doesn't it?" Marvolo asked with a grin that told him he knew what his younger self was thinking.
"Are we going to enter?" Tom asked a little pushy as he pushed Harry forward. Marvolo rolled his eyes but let the Dark Lord also usher him inside. Once the door closed behind them Tom released the youngster's hand and walked to a dark corner. Curiously, Harry followed him and noticed a closet that looked oddly familiar.
"I've seen that before," he stated and his older self let out a sad sigh.
"We've seen its brother. Voldemort's," he gave his partner an apologizing look, "underlings entered the castle through here..."
"Draco!" Harry realised what Marvolo was referring too. "This was from when Dumbledore died." Suddenly he understood the sad sigh and quickly shook his head. "But that didn't happen, Dumbledore is alive and Tom isn't Voldemort!" He looked up and met brown eyes. Tom gave him a small smile and ruffled his hair before turning back to the closet. A knock was heard and Harry's heart skipped a beat. 'No, there are no Voldemort's underlings.' Carefully, Tom opened the closet and huffing came out of the dark room.
"Why did they make this so narrow?" A man's voice asked and a woman's answered:
"I don't think they did, honey."
"Did you just call me fat?"
"You have been getting a beer belly, honey," the woman answered without skipping a beat. The man huffed again and stepped out of the closet. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Right in front of him stood his father - he'll admit a little rounder than in the pictures he had of his parents, but he stood there alive and well. James handed his hand to his wife but she didn't accept it and exited the closet a lot more gracefully than he did. Lily ignored the pout she got from her husband and instead directed her attention to her son. "Harry!" She called out as the first tears slipped from the youngster's eyes. Her happy voice made place for worry as she quickly pulled him into her arms. "What's wrong? Did Tom hurt you?" Her green eyes looked up and drilled into the Dark lord's brown ones.
"No..." Harry wildly shook his head as James wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Euh mom?" Marvolo tried to stop his partner from being falsely accused and Lily turned to the older version of her son. "He doesn't remember," Her eyes widened and a high tone escape from her lips.
"Of course," James mumbled a little sad, "in his memories we're... dead." Lily's reaction was to crush him against her.
"Can't you give them back?" She directed her question to Marvolo.
"I'm sorry but it doesn't work like that." Harry turned with a confused look on his face to his older self.
"What does she mean with give me my memories back?"
"Well," Marvolo clearly had trouble finding the right words, "you see to keep the future changed. We need to know about Voldemort." The youngster nodded in understanding and his eyes told his older self to continue. "The easiest way for that is to place our memories in our younger self before Tom calls for him the first time."
"But won't I also have my new memories?"
"Sadly, enough no, the spell doesn't work like that and there's also the chance that our brain can't contain two sets of memories. The risk of the two lives overlapping is too large. We could lose our mind." Harry nodded his head in understanding before something downed to him.
"What about my trips to the future," he realized that it sounded like Tom's time had become his own and he guessed it actually did.
"Those were tricky, but we succeeded in creating another reality where our old lives still exist. The moment we," Marvolo waved to Harry and himself before making a circle including Tom, " and later us came back, we – the older versions – put them asleep and let their minds enter our created world. The both of us," Marvolo moved his hand between himself and Tom again, "kept guard twenty-four seven over the sleeping bodies, so if anything went wrong we would be able to intervene." Harry could only blink as he took in what he had just heard. Marvolo closely looked at his younger self, knowing it was hard for him to take in. "I know it's hard to take in but remember that those memories truly did happen." Again, Harry nodded his head.
"I guess that's the only way to be certain," he looked sadly at his parents and saw it also hurt them to know he didn't remember their lives together.
"No matter which life you remember, sweetie. We love you." Lily said while tracing her son's face with her finger.
"And we're sorry we can't be there for you." James continued sadly as he wrapped his arms around his family.
"Instead we'll watch over them as they grow up," Marvolo leaned over his family and laid his hand on the youngster's shoulder. Harry gave his older self a small smile and a knock interrupted their moment. "That must be Luna," Marvolo said as Tom opened the door and let the blonde Ravenclaw enter.
"How nice it is to see everyone again," she smiled sweetly.
-THTH-
"That will be the last ones." Lily smiled as she stood up to answer the door for the last time. A blushing Neville pulled a smugly looking Draco inside and shyly greeted everybody.
"Congratulations!" Ginny yelled the moment she saw them and flew the dark blond teen around the neck. Draco's eyes bored into the Gryffindor as he clearly wasn't happy with the proximity between the two friends, but she ignored him. The others also gave the couple their best wishes and informed Harry's parents about the engagement as they were looking a little lost.
"Congratulations!" Lily squeaked and stared hopefully at Neville. "Can I help?!"
"Mom!" Marvolo called out embarrassed but the woman just huffed at him.
"If you hadn't gotten married before I even existed I wouldn't have to ask!" Blue charmed eyes got a guilty look and Harry could only stare at his older self and Tom.
"We're married!" he called out astonished and the Dark Lord gave him an odd look.
"Of course we are," Marvolo shot his husband a half smile as Tom's arm crawled around his waist. "Main reason he got the same-sex-marriage-law approved," he huffed, but the love was clearly visual in his eyes.
"We were a great example for the society," the politician shrugged and pulled his husband flush against his side. Marvolo made an unimpressed sound but he smiled none-the-less.
'They seem so happy and comfortable together,' Harry kept eyeing his future and felt a rush of relief. 'This is worth my memories.'
"So, tell us what happened, mate!" Ron demanded as Ginny dropped back down on a pillow beside Luna - who had taken place on another pillow -and in front of her brother and his girlfriend. Draco pulled Neville away from the reddish haired girl and sat down on the couch opposite of them before pulling his fiancé on his lap. Harry moved to sit on the couch in front of the fire with his parents on both sides. Tom took place beside Draco and Marvolo sat down on the arm support where up the Dark Lord draped his arm around his waist.
"Well," the youngster started and frowned, "how much do you know?"
"You went back to the past to stop our Dark Lord here…" Ron started and Hermoine corrected him with a:
"Mr Riddle!" but he ignored her,
"…from becoming some bad ass..."
"Voldemort!" Ron's eyes betrayed himself as he glanced a little annoyed at the girl beside him.
"…who was going to kill everyone."
"And clearly you succeeded." Ginny added with a smile. Harry wondered how his relationship with the girl was. Did she had a crush on him for years to only be rejected when she confessed?
'Probably,' Harry turned his face to Tom, who he noted was caressing Marvolo's stomach through his clothes. 'She never had a chance.' "Yes, I guess I did," he mumbled a little absent and Tom gave him a smirk when he noticed what had captured his attention. Blushing a little the youngster moved his eyes to Luna. "There isn't a lot to tell, actually."
"You're still working on the change," the Ravenclaw nodded her head. "We can see the result, but you're only at the beginning of the bridge." Harry nodded sheepishly.
"That would sum it."
"It's still weird!" Ron decided as he leaned backwards and grabbed Hermione's hand in the process.
"What is?" Neville was the one to ask the question everyone was thinking.
"Him, that he's Harry!" The Weasley pointed to Marvolo.
"It is weird, even for me." Harry's older self admitted. "I watched myself grow up not knowing if it was dangerous to interact or not. I watched all of you hoping you would still become friends." His eyes shifted to the couple beside his husband. "You two were the hardest, but there was no way I would rest until you two got together." Tom smirked at Marvolo's words.
"He wasn't even embarrassed to use my influence," he chuckled and his husband just put up a goofy smile.
"Yeps, not denying it!" he happily chirped. "Your parents are just too stoic."
"Thank you." Draco said to everyone's surprise and Neville couldn't look happier. He turned his body ninety degrees and kissed his fiancé full on the lips. Ron opened his mouth to say something but Hermione sweetly kissed the corner of his mouth to stop him.
"Don't ruin the moment, Ronald," she teasingly whispered in his ear and the Weasley visually swallowed before nodding. Victorious Hermione shared a look with Harry and both friends started to laugh.
"Hey!" Ron yelled as he noticed what they were laughing about.
"Oh, don't be like that," Hermione huffed as she wrapped her arms around Ron's and pulled it flush between her breasts. The Weasley blushed a little and settled himself against his girlfriend.
'He fell for it, again!' Harry smiled, trying his hardest not to laugh aloud.
"Really, the power of females." James whispered in his ear with a shudder and a laughing sound escaped the youngster's lips.
"Dad!" he called out as Ron gave him an angry look, but he didn't care. It felt good to be able to call his father dad.
"So, tell us about the past, Harry!" Ginny asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yeah, don't you miss things of the future?" Ron continued, forgetting his anger entirely.
"Of course I do," Harry answered before turning his eyes on Tom, "but it's worth it," he grabbed his parents' hands and squished them. "Definitely worth it!" he smiled as Lily hugged him.
-THTH-
"It's about time," Marvolo said as he studied his wristwatch. They had traded the room of requirement for the lake and where they had spend the last hour together. Harry couldn't help but stare at his older self resting against Tom's chest on their spot. He wouldn't admit it but he was a little jealous of himself. He hadn't thought that he would feel like this with Tom so close but knowing the older man wasn't really his Tom.
'If Tom, my Tom was here it would be perfect,' he sighed.
"I'm going to miss you, my sweet boy," Lily hugged him close and James wrapped his arms around both of them.
"Me too, but I'm so glad I got to meet you," the youngster hugged them just as tightly back. When they released him Hermione flew him around the neck.
"Be safe!" she whispered before releasing him again. Ron shook his hand before giving him a half hug. Ginny and Luna were next before he pulled Neville and a surprised Draco against him.
"Take care of each other," he whispered in both their ears before releasing them and turning to two last ones. Marvolo kissed his forehead.
"The best advice I can give myself is to never give up and I know we won't." Harry smiled at that and felt Tom ruffle his hair. He turned to the Dark Lord and received a peck on the lips.
"I'll see you soon." Harry nodded before the two quickly took a step backwards.
'It has started,' the youngster realized.
R&R