Fractured Time
Summary: Continuation of Birth of a Nightmare Man chapter thirteen, where we left Rabastan and Draco wondering about Harry Potter's fate. But now time has become a strange thing, and their world is dying. How can they escape? Will they ever see Harry Potter again?
Pairing/s: None.
Warnings: Time-travelling and dimension-travelling, some violence and gore. People acting OOC.
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter nor do I make any money on fanfiction.
NOTE: Do not re-upload on sites as goodreads or Wattpad, I do not give permission to do so.
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A long time has passed since the last time. Because I can't shake the writer's block. But here it finally is. Enjoy!
Fractured Time takes place around five years before The Nightmare Man's Journey.
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Chapter Five
Over a month had passed after Rabastan and Draco had come to live with Harrison, and Bones' group had not been found or even seen. Draco spent a lot of his time in the manor, trying to adjust to a life without the parents he had known his whole life, whilst having gained a different Lucius and Narcissa who cared for him.
But he hadn't met his other self, and Rabastan hadn't met his other self either. As Harry Potter of this dimension lived in the manor, next to his counterpart, they figured that it wasn't like they would go crazy by seeing their past selves. Sure, Harrison could be considered insane, but the younger Harry Potter was very much sane and not going crazy at the sight of his counterpart.
Also, Harrison was a little bit insane back when he started killing his old friends. Back when he had his old name and George's death was fresh on his mind.
Draco had so far rejected offers to meet his other self and Rabastan didn't really care to meet his.
He heard his brother and sister-in-law were alive and well, and that was enough for him. Bellatrix had apparently caused some trouble for Harrison when he first started working with Voldemort, but once he had tortured her she had withdrawn, and now they were on friendlier terms with each other.
Meaning, Voldemort had told them both, Harrison and Bellatrix bonded over torture and killing once it was out of the way that Harrison was a hell of a lot stronger and older than Voldemort, whom Bellatrix respected greatly.
"Isn't it strange, to see them sometimes?" Rabastan asked. "You killed Voldemort. Our dimension's Voldemort."
"I don't think too much about it," Harrison said.
"He's not scared you'll kill him?" Rabastan wondered.
"He knows I think he's too pretty to kill."
"… What?"
"However, Lucius is the one I call pretty," Harrison said. "Very important. Elise and Lucian also have a fondness for Voldemort. Like a pet. That kind of fondness. You just want to pet it."
"You're weirder than before," Rabastan concluded.
"I thought you already knew that."
But yes, Elise and Lucian had no troubles admitting to liking Voldemort as in wanting to keep him, and as Voldemort had his Horcruxes in this dimension, he would be around for a rather long time.
"We're trying to convince master to make Voldemort… not a servant, but long-living like us," Elise said. "He's agreed to ask Voldemort one day."
"What about the kids? The girls? And Harry too, I suppose," Rabastan asked.
"Harry knows he has the option. The girls are a bit too young, and I'm not… I'm not sure it would work on Angel, considering she's a Muggle."
"But he makes you his by putting his magic into your bodies, right?"
"Yes, but I do think our own magic has a part in it," Elise confessed. "He can make dead Muggles move again, but he has never tried to make a servant out of a Muggle."
"So he might have to watch her die?"
"We've always been there for him," Elise said. "He survived the deaths of the four founders."
"Yeah, but they were his friends. This will basically be his daughter, no matter how much he denies any parental bonds with her."
It was also a big, fat lie. Rabastan had seen Harrison and Angel interact. Harrison might not be a normal parent by any means, but he was her parent. He was the one she turned to first whenever she could and had the chance. He taught her letters and how to spell words. As she painstakingly worked her way through a picture book, finger following each word as she read aloud, Harrison listened with rapt attention as if he had never heard anything more fascinating. Every time he praised her, Angel glowed with pride. Also, Harrison never failed to read her a goodnight story and be the last person she saw before she fell asleep.
Elise deflated.
"We know," she said. "We just hope he'll survive it. Losing the four founders was harder than we let others know. He lost the first people that accepted him as the Nightmare Lord. They accepted all of his flaws and bad personality traits, when they didn't need to. He never would have killed them, even if they tried to kill him."
"Because he knew what they would build."
"Yes. He named the castle. They took his suggestion."
So in this universe, Harrison was the influence to Hogwarts' name? Rabastan had already heard about Harrison being the fifth founder, and thus having partial control over Hogwarts' wards. He could tweak them enough to suit his own needs, and the castle would allow it.
"He's weird, but amazing at the same time," Rabastan said. "In Angel's case, she's still young. So is Lucy. I'm sure Harrison will think of something."
"Master always thinks of something, even if it's last-minute," Elise said. "He's learned from the past."
The past where he got himself trapped in an underground prison for a few centuries? Harrison had mentioned it as a pretty big mistake on his part, and apparently the servants remind him of that when he does too many reckless things.
"You mean you tell him about the past when you've had enough of his shenanigans," Rabastan concluded, and Elise didn't protest.
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Voldemort made himself at home at times in one of Harrison's offices, spreading out papers and maps of England. He had drawn the conclusion that Bones' group had not made contact with the rebels in this dimension.
"How are you that certain?" Draco wondered.
He'd gotten more comfortable around Voldemort, but only recently started daring to ask direct questions to the man.
"We're always chasing the rebels. What information we've gathered about them tells us they have not made contact with anyone from another dimension."
"Let's hope not," Harrison said. "Not a lot of people know who I used to be, or that I'm from another dimension. I did tell Dumbledore though, before we killed him."
"Well, you enjoy torturing people to the max, so I'm not surprised you told him," Voldemort replied. "It would be for the best if the group didn't meet up with the rebels."
"How strong are the rebels?" Rabastan asked.
"It's not a matter of strength here. They're clever, and hide well."
"Hermione Granger is one of the rebels," Harrison said. "Such a clever, but annoying know-it-all… just like in my original dimension. Some things never change."
"You didn't kill her along with Dumbledore?" Draco wondered.
"I actually left most of the children alive," Harrison replied. "We probably would've been better off having killed some of them."
"Yes, but we can't be seen as total monsters. As Dark Lords, we already got bad enough reputations."
"But people at the Ministry like you," Harrison said.
"It's because I don't mindlessly kill everyone I have a grudge against," Voldemort said and looked at Harrison.
"I don't do that either! Not anymore at least. Please, I do have some tact."
"It only took you a millennia or so to learn it."
"I'm a slow learner, so what?"
Harrison didn't look too concerned about people finding out who he used to be, or about the rebels to the honest. Voldemort didn't seem surprised. Did Harrison feign indifference, or didn't he care?
"Anyway, the rebels hide and try to get the upper hand to remove our influence, or rather, my influence. Harrison here doesn't care about politics. The only time you show up at the Ministry is if I ask you to come."
"Politics are boring," Harrison replied. "I may have lived in a modern time as a child and teenager, but I was shaped by the old times where laws and such didn't matter much to a person like me."
"You just don't like having to listen to other people," Voldemort said.
"He never did," Draco added on.
"Kept on refusing listening on people ever since you were little," Rabastan said and pointed at Harrison. "I heard it, alright. You drove people mad from the get-go."
"I guess it's a talent."
With that, Harrison got back to looking at the papers with Voldemort. Rabastan looked over a map of northern England, where Voldemort and the Death Eaters had found rebel hide-outs and destroyed them. Houses in the middle of nowhere, but also in both magical and Muggle villages. Well, if the rebels had people like Hermione Granger, who knew both magical and Muggle sides, it was no wonder if they could hide amongst both magical people and Muggles.
"Didn't she design those coins?" Rabastan said.
"Coins?" Harrison wondered.
"You mentioned it, in prison… coins, during your fifth year or so."
"Coins, coins, coins… oh, those coins!" Harrison looked up at the roof. "Oh, yes, she was always a clever one. No doubt is this dimension's Hermione as clever as mine. She's probably also as stubborn, and can't see things from any other perspective than her own."
"Didn't she attack Harry Potter two years ago?" Voldemort said. "With the intent to kill him?"
"Yeah. Ywgraine was with him though, so he didn't get a scratch on him. Wish I or Elise had been there; we would've killed that little brat."
"Ywgraine is more defence-focused," Voldemort explained to Rabastan and Draco. "Instead of being a killing-machine, she made it her main priority to get Harry to safety."
"I suppose that's a good character trait, considering how long she's been with me," Harrison said. "But still, she could've at least cursed Hermione a little bit. You know, ripped off an arm or two."
"Ywgraine is not quite as crazy as you are," Voldemort said.
"But she's not that much younger than me."
"I don't think age plays a part in her personality."
"Time made me crazier," Harrison said.
"Well, you're special," Voldemort replied.
"Somehow, that doesn't sound like a compliment."
"Can you please just go back to the papers?" Voldemort said. "Once you get distracted, you're hopeless."
"What can I say? I seem to have the attention-span of a child."
But Harrison did return to the papers, and they marked several locations where one of them knew there was an abandoned building of some kind. Voldemort made noises about sending out Death Eaters on some discreet checking.
"Just don't send Bellatrix," Harrison said.
"I'm not an idiot. I'll only send her if I want someone tortured or dead."
"You mean tortured and dead."
"Yeah, yeah… might I borrow a servant or two? Elise is very good at finding people."
"Sure, I'll ask her," Harrison said. "Not Joanne though; she's lousy at sneaking."
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Rabastan knew the world he had confined himself in was quite small; he didn't venture outside of Harrison's wards very often. He also knew he probably should get out more. But he was comfortable within the wards, and in Harrison's home.
He didn't need to see the world, not really. He was fine with having a small world in which he spent all of his time. Draco was the same in many aspects, but he ventured out every now and then, testing the limits. He talked to Rabastan about the absence of cracks, how nice it was to walk in a world that hadn't been destroyed with the pockets of time ripping people away from their families.
"Hopefully mother and father ended up somewhere nice," Draco said one evening, when it was just the two of them. "Somewhere where they didn't have to fight."
"For Narcissa's sake, somewhere somewhat in order and clean," Rabastan said. "I didn't know that there existed that many types of cleaning spells until I saw Narcissa clear out that little house we found."
"Mother does hate dust," Draco said with a smile.
"Hate? Despise you mean. The look on her face, that look of utter contempt when she saw dust daring to cross the air in front of her… hilarious."
Draco laughed. He didn't laugh that often when it came to his lost parents, but time was most likely easing the pain. That they talked about Lucius and Narcissa like they were still alive probably helped. No one had mentioned to Draco the possibility of them being dead, and Rabastan wanted to keep it that way.
Perhaps because he also hoped they were alive and well, wherever they had ended up. He hoped they had found a new home. A peaceful time where they could settle down. Lucius, scarred as he was by the war, could perhaps spin some silken lies to gain money, or a house for them both. Rabastan hoped he had. That, or found someone who wanted Lucius' political talents.
So yes, Rabastan stayed in his little world. Until he didn't. It started with Harrison asking him if he wanted to come with him to Diagon Alley.
"Are you buying something?" Rabastan wondered.
"Maybe," Harrison replied. "Apparently I've been in the dungeons for too long, I need to go out around people and not kill them."
"What?"
"Elise's orders. I can get a bit… strange when spending too much time in the dungeons?"
"Is that a statement or question?" Rabastan said.
"I don't know, I've never noticed my behaviour being weirder than normal, but Elise can be insistent and keeps saying fresh air will do me well."
"Why Diagon Alley then?"
"Well, I thought I might slip into Muggle London as well. Still without killing anyone."
"Alright," Rabastan said. "I'll keep an eye on you, I suppose… old man."
Harrison rolled his eyes, but they got on with it, and Rabastan left the comfort of his small world with his friend at his side. Seeing Diagon Alley again was nice though. Being able to walk down the street without worrying about himself was even nicer.
Some people seemed to recognize Harrison. Either they moved away, or they didn't care. Those who moved away… Rabastan couldn't help but look at them a bit closer. Watching them, to make sure they weren't just temporarily retreating before moving in for the kill.
Harrison busied himself with looking through shop windows. At first glance, it didn't look like he was concerned about the attention he was given, but Rabastan soon enough caught him gazing around at the street through the reflection on the windows. When he walked, Harrison's eyes never seemed to flick around; however, he seemed aware of almost everyone around him.
Finally they ducked into a shop. The man at the desk glanced up at them, but didn't react more than that. The people in the shop didn't pay them any attention. Looking around, Rabastan wondered if it was a second-hand store, considering it had books side by side with knick-knacks.
"Lucian loves this place," Harrison confessed. "He always loves places that can hide old history gems. Just to see if he recognizes when it's from. If it's a book, he wants to see how much of it is wrong or interpreted differently."
"I'm guessing that happened more often than not," Rabastan said.
"Of course. History is written by the victors, and they always angle history to their own advantage. I don't care much for that part anymore; I like shiny things."
"You have that in common with Angel."
"Did you just compare me to a five-year old?"
"Maybe I compared a five-year old to you."
"Yeah, no way," Harrison said. "Angel is a sweetheart. She leaves notes for the Dementors, because she can't see them. She doesn't seem to realize yet that they can still see her."
"She leaves them notes? What does she write?"
"Well, I say she leaves notes but in reality, I write them because I can write faster than her."
"And what does Angel have to tell to Dementors?" Rabastan wondered as he picked up a book on healing.
"Not much, really. Just about her day. As if I don't have a Dementor following her to make sure she doesn't get hurt."
"She doesn't mind the cold?" Rabastan said as he looked through the book; Draco would like this one. "I mean, she can feel the cold, right?"
"Yeah, she can. She understands it's from the Dementors so no, she doesn't really mind it. In fact, during the summers both she and Lucy like it."
"Lucy can see them though."
"Yes," Harrison said, picking up something that sparkled in the light. Was it a gem? "She's a bit weird, since she doesn't mind them."
"So you're very weird, because you created them?"
"I thought that was obvious," Harrison said, and kept the sparkly thing in his hand as they moved on. "Are you getting that book for Draco?"
"Yeah, thinking about it. Wait, how did you know it was for him?"
"He might have mentioned he liked reading about healing. Funny, how the roles have changed; he's the kind one now."
"Well, not that kind but compared to you, a lot of people are much tamer. I'm tamer, and I'm not nice."
"I'm nice, sometimes."
Harrison bought the gem, and the book as well, and it didn't take them long before they slipped through to Muggle London. Before they left the magical world behind though, they changed from robes to something more Muggle-appropriated. Harrison let his long hair hang freely, but could pass as a somewhat normal Muggle in his shirt and pants.
They didn't return to the magical world in order to Apparate a few hours later; instead they ducked into an alley and went back home from there. As they landed in front of the manor, Harrison stretched and said:
"I hate to prove Elise right, but I do feel better."
"Fresh air is good, I've heard."
"I don't believe in that. Good company, though… I can believe in good company."
"Flatterer," Rabastan said and slapped Harrison's arm.
"Is it working?" Harrison said.
"Yes, you old git, it's working."
Harrison laughed. Rabastan could hear young Harry's laugh in there.
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Harry knew better than to protest guards when he went to public places and Harrison didn't go with him. After nearly being killed two years prior, he was glad that someone was with him at all times. Someone who was stronger, and could protect him. This time it was Joanne and Louis, two servants he hadn't spent that much time with.
But they were just as friendly as the others, and Louis was quite interested in Quidditch and had genuine questions about the sport. Joanne walked silently beside them, and kept an eye on their surroundings.
Most people knew the Nightmare Lord's servants by now, and also that Harry Potter was on his side. That fact alone made some people avoid him. There were a few who had tried to attack him, but Harrison said that was to be expected. There was always someone who saw themselves as brave and daring… or idiotic.
While neither Louis nor Joanne was as violent and crazy like their master, or like Elise and Lucian, they were effective fighters. Harry didn't know what they considered most important though; protect or attack. Harrison was pretty good at the protecting, if only for the fact he usually killed all of the attackers, or at the very least had them unconscious and on the ground within moments.
Elise and Lucian were much alike their master in this, although they had a bit more restraint than him. Ywgraine however, prioritised escape and the safety of her charge. Joanne and Louis could be like her, or like their master. Harry wondered if it was alright to ask.
But it seemed like such a calm day. Surely he didn't have to ask them about their reactions to an attack. It had been over a year since anyone ever attempted an attack.
Harrison always seemed rather paranoid. Never trusting strangers around him to behave in a timely manner. Thus he was rarely surprised if an attack happened.
Too bad Harry didn't try to be like Harrison this time.
It didn't happen like Harry had seen in Muggle movies, or read in books; calm one moment, chaos the next. It all happened at once. Smoke and windows breaking and Joanne's arm looped cleanly off her body. Before the blood even had a chance to start spraying, Harry was grabbed.
He reacted on instinct, biting down on the hand over his mouth. A yell and he kicked out, going for his wand. But a kick to his elbow shattered the bone, causing him to drop the wand with a howl of pain.
He saw people that looked familiar, yet different, and knew it was the people from the other world. The world where Harrison once came. The world the older Draco and Rabastan came from.
"Go, go, go!" someone yelled, and Harry was taken away.
"People from his world!" Harry screamed where he last had seen Louis and Joanne before the smoke came in. "It's people from his world!"
Then something hard came down on Harry's head, and he blacked out.
To be continued…
Whelp, those people just made a huge mistake, right?
Chapter six: Harrison is not pleased that someone belonging to him has been kidnapped. He is, in fact, quite angry about it.
See you guys later!
Tiro