Phineas Nigellus Black deeply inhaled. "To summarize," he slowly began, voice eerily calm, "some boy comes Merlin knows how to my school, you do not know where he comes from and he has no record in any school to show you. He has nothing on him but his wand, admits he does not have any money and he proposes to make a bet with you with at its key a place here, is that it?"

Professor Dippet hesitated. "Yes?"

"And the only thing you have to say to that is okay?" the Headmaster finally exclaimed. "Let's put a place in the most renowned school in the world as some prize to win in a fair? That boy is obviously a con-man but no! Let's give him money while we're at it! I actually thought I could trust you to reign this school while I was working in the Department of Mysteries but obviously this was too much to ask! A little magic trick and bam! Welcome to Hogwarts!"

"In fairness," Professor Dippet weakly tried, "it was a fully corporeal Patronus."

"I do not care if that boy believes himself to be the next Merlin! There are rules, and nobody is above them! Yes, he can cast the Patronus charm. So what? Some good it is! You think that boy has actually faced a Dementor? I bet he hasn't and this is just some magic trick he has learned to fool the impressible and weak minds!"

Dippet grimaced at the barely veiled insult.

"And let's not talk about that contract that Mesmer gave you!" He accusingly pointed in his direction. "Are you trying to turn Hogwarts into some circus?"

"But it is the-"

"I will try to use simple words," the Headmaster hissed. "Dippet, if Mesmer asked you to sign this contract when you were the acting Headmaster in my absence, it is because he knew I was going to say no if he were to ask me. I do not care about whatever excuse he gave you, he wanted to have his way so he took advantage of this moment and went after Hogwarts' weakest link."

Dippet winced. "I'm sure that is not it," he weakly tried.

"That's because you weren't his Head of House." He looked at the room. He finally spotted a satchel on the table and summoned it. "What else am I going to find?" he rhetorically asked as he opened it. "If Mesmer is up to no good, then so is Prince!" He stilled and, with a grim smile, retrieved several vials. "Brewing highly restricted potions for his personal use with Hogwart's school resources, is he? It's cheaper than buying the ingredients himself, I'm sure. Well, we are not his apothecary and I'm going to going to deduce that from his salary."

Dippet winced as the Headmaster pocketed the vials.

"I honestly believed I could trust you to keep everything in order when I was at the Department of Mysteries," Professor Black remarked. "Granted, that was highly optimistic of me to hope you could handle this but I had no idea even you could mess up that much in a week. Now, I hope for you that I will manage, somehow, to clean your mess, Dippet."


"You mean the Heamaster is Phi-"

"Shh!" The entire room hissed.

"Do not say his name!" Elphias whispered.

Harry spluttered as Albus started massaging his temples.

"If you do," the blonde Weasley gravelly told him, "he will come after you."

"These are just coincidences," Albus slowly started shaking his head. "I very much doubt he put a taboo on his name. Or that this legend that says if you say the colour black three times the devil will come to collect your soul is based on any semblance of truth."

"Better be safe than sorry," Arthorius replied. "You-Know-Who-" Albus sighed. "You-Know-Who became Headmaster after the last one died under mysterious circumstances. Very mysterious circumstances."

"It was dragon pox."

"That's what they want you to believe," the blonde Weasley gravelly replied. "He hated teaching, and he wanted the spot. He had motive." He turned his attention back to Harry. "If you are unlucky enough to see him, he will find a reason to punish you and take you points. You are out of bed? He will always finds you. Thinking about breaking a school rule? He will break you first. And there are these rumours. Like the one which says that he eats the hearts of-"

"I think that is enough, thank you Arthorius," Albus interrupted. "Our esteemed Headmaster is indeed a rather strict man and it is preferable not to cross him or to be seen breaking any school rule, let it be an insignificant one. I should tell you what they are one day, in fact," he started musing. After shaking his head, he continued, "But if you are not misbehaving and not breaking any rule, then there is no reason at all for you to be worried."


"Why do I get the feeling you sat on my armchair, Dippet?" Phineas Nigellus Black suspiciously asked the Deputy Headmaster once the wizard was seated in his office.

Dippet uncomfortably coughed as he handed him the contract he had given the new student.

"You have to understand," he bravely tried to tell the other wizard who began reading it. "Hogwarts is a school the founders built so that everybody could learn magic. From my point of view, it was only natural for me to grant his demand."

"That's because you are a Hufflepuff," he absent-mindedly replied. "Fortunately for everybody here, I'm not."


"This is it!" Virginia exclaimed. "Professor Mesmer foresaw this!" She ignored Albus facepalming and told Harry, "The Darkness has to be him! And the day of the moon is Monday. And if what he told us is true then he's going to come after you!"


"It looks like this is your lucky day, Dippet. Now bring him to me. Immediately. "


"There is no reason at all to worry. It is just a coincidence certainly," Albus told Harry as Nearly Headless Nick left the Common Room once he had passed the message. "I am sure this is just to discuss your demand to study here. Nothing to worry about."

Somehow, he didn't seem as sure as he was a few minutes ago.

"Do you want me to come with you?" he suddenly proposed. "For… for luck, I suppose. O-Or moral support."

Harry tried to remember what he knew about Phineas Nigellus Black. What kind of wizard he was, how he would take the prefect's presence. "Does he like you?"

The grimace he got was answer enough.

"Maybe that wouldn't be the best idea," Albus reluctantly admitted. "Just… Just be respectful and..." He looked up and down at Harry's clothing and grimaced. "Just be respectful," he concluded as with a swish of his wand he rebuttoned Harry's top button. "Professor Black isn't particularily impressed by anybody ill-mannered or defying authority. Just be respectful, do not talk back and you should be fine."

"What did Professor Mesmer say again?" Virginia asked.

Elphias tried to remember, "Embrace it and go with the flow?" he hesitantly answered. "He said that after the test so I'm not sure he meant him but… maybe there's some clue there. Potter, you need to… you need to embrace the Headmaster?"

The entire Common Room was silent.

Albus slowly nodded. "I think that may not be it, Elphias. Anyway, I recommand not making him wait. He rather dislikes those who are not punctual."

For a moment, it looked like the red-haired was about to add something else. Finally, he sighed and asked, "Do you remember the way to his office?" he asked Harry.

"Yes."

"Because otherwise I can-"

"Don't worry, I know the way."

"And the password?"

Harry paused and thought about it for a second. Finally, he snorted. "Sirius, right?"

"Correct. I cannot stress this enough, give Headmaster Black the respect his position gives him. Do not even consider talking back. And no matter what he does to get a reaction out of you, do not take the bait."

Harry considered what Albus has just told him. "Basically, keep my head down?"

Albus nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. "You can do that perfectly, I'm sure."

Harry blankly looked at the prefect.

It was in moments like these Harry remembered this Albus Dumbledore did not know him at all.


As he left Gryffindor's Tower, Harry couldn't help thinking of Phineas Nigellus Black's portraits that had adorned Grimmauld Place and Professor Dumbledore's office.

Hogwarts' most hated Headmaster, Sirius had told him. Maybe his godfather had been exaggerating, but there had to be some truth in his words. Moreover, considering everybody's reactions, he seriously doubted he would be as accomodating as Professor Dumbledore or Professor Dippet.

Moreover, what little conversation he's had with the portrait, he knew the conversation he was about to have was not going to be a walk in the park.

When the gargoyle moved away, Harry mentally braced himself and finally knocked.

"Enter," a rather familiar voice behind the door said.

Harry deeply breathed and opened the door.

In the heat of the moment, he hadn't paid much attention to the Headmaster's office the last time. But, even though some artefacts were already here, there were very little compared to Professor Dumbledore's office. Mostly, the room was full of bookshelves, a real library that would make Hermione cry in pure envy.

But it was when Harry finally saw the man in the room that Harry startled.

With his black hair and dark eyes, his pointed beard and these thin eyebrows, there was no doubt this man was Phineas Nigellus Black. Whoever had painted his portrait must have been extraordinarily good for Harry couldn't see even the slightest difference. Even the green robe was the same, and, hadn't he known better, Harry would have even believed the wizard had managed to escape his frame and decided he had enough of how Professor Dumbledore was handling Hogwarts and was going to show everybody how it was done.

"So you are the new student, I presume."

Harry dazily blinked and nodded. "Err… Yes, sir."

Phineas Nigellus Black checked some paper he had on his desk. "Well, you do like a Potter, I have to hand it to you."

He expectively looked at him but Harry decided not to take the bait. "Is there a problem? Sir," he added at the last second.

Phineas Nigellus Black crossed his fingers and intently looked at him. "You tell me. Do you think there is a problem?"

Harry hesitated. "I don't think so?"

The Headmaster intently looked at him several more seconds and Harry suddenly got the feeling he was trying to read his mind.

Harry immediately closed his eyes and tried a smile. "If this is about my admission here, I thought there was no problem. Professor Dippet himself told me everything was in order."

"Yes, he would say that," Harry heard him muttering. "Unfortunately for you, there are several mistakes with your application and it is up to me to correct them."

Harry softly inhaled and, trying to remember what little he knew about occlumency, said, "Such as?"

"You didn't write the date before you signed for example." Harry startled and stared at the Headmaster. "Meaning that the contract is not biding at the present moment and that I can perfectly terminate it if I so wish."

Harry stilled when the Headmaster started smiling.

"Tell me, Mister Potter," he slowly began, voice eerily calm, "may you please remind me where you're from?"

Harry dazedly blinked. "Oh, well…" he stammered as the older wizard's smile turned smug. "I've been there and there."

Phineas Nigellus Black nodded to himself. "Of course. And why did you ask to enter Hogwarts just a week ago instead of going through the proper channels? I'm sure this is a fascinating story," he remarked as Harry rapidly paled, "unfortunately for everybody here, I have very little time for your lies so, please, be quick. Some of us have real work to do."

Harry spluttered. "M-My lies? I'm not… I'm not lying."

"That's not what your scar tells me." He pointed in the direction of his left hand and Harry startled when he finally remembered the words Umbridge had forced him to crave on his skin. "You should know: I do not appreciate liars. Or tricksters. You may have managed to fool Dippet, but fooling me is neigh impossible. Do you honestly think you deserve to be in my school? Why should I accept you here? Give me one reason. Just one."

Harry's lips suddenly felt dry. "W-Well… I'm a… I'm a good student?"

"Is that an answer or a question?"

More firmly, Harry repeated, "I'm a good student."

Headmaster Black slowly nodded. "Do you think this is a good enough reason for me?"

Harry opened his mouth but, looking at the impassive wizard and remembering just how his portrait was, he knew the answer was a firm 'no'.

"I see you do not have a good enough reason then," the wizard remarked as Harry didn't say anything. He nodded to himself. "Well, that settles it quite nicely. Get out of my school."


"Do you think he will come back?" Elphias suddenly asked. Albus slowly raised his head. "I mean, Professor Mesmer said that if he may leave us. And considering he's in the Headmaster's office..."

Albus considered the question. "I am sure Harry will be fine, Elphias."

Well, he hoped he was going to be fine.

"And it's not as if we can do anything."

Albus wished he could help but the truth was, he had very little weight when it came to these things. Professor Black was a rather stubborn man and passionately hated him. When it came to these sort of problems, he wasn't even sure his presence and him defending the new student wouldn't actually made the whole problem worse.

Albus pretended to check his pocket watch. "I might start patrolling the corridors," he said as he got up. "I doubt Headmaster Black will be impressed if don't."


"I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. Get out of my school."

Harry spluttered. "Bu-But where will I go?" he blurted out.

Phineas Nigellus Black slowly smirked. "That is not my problem. Also, I want you to give me back the money Professor Dippet so foolishly gave you." A finger impatiently hit the desk between them. "Immediately."

Harry hadn't even realized his hands were in his pockets when he felt the metallic touch of the knut in his right pocket and the fake DA coin in his left.

Harry stilled and impassively looked at the wizard. "Well, hurry up," Headmaster Black snapped.

It would be so easy to give him the fake galleon…

"I don't have all day!"

Harry considered the man for a few seconds. Finally, he retrieved the knut and put it on the table with more force than needed.

"I spent it all for the school books and potion ingredients," he told the wizard, making a point in looking at him straight in the eyes. "And the clothes too."

The wizard glared at him. "And how will Hogwarts manage to get the money back, eh?"

"That is not my problem." The wizard blinked and thunderously looked at him. "Sorry, that is not my problem, sir."

"Detention," he hissed.

"I'm not a student here, sir."

Harry knew he was being unbelievably stupid but he couldn't help thinking it was worth it, if only for the constipated face the wizard was giving him.

Before the man could say anything -or do anything- the door behind Harry opened and the Gryffindor couldn't help turning his head in direction of the noise.

Black closed the door behind him and just said, "Hello, Father."

The Headmaster glared at the boy. "Phineas," he dryly said, "how many times must I tell you? It is Headmaster when we're at Hogwarts! And learn to knock for heaven sake!"

'Phineas' just shrugged. "I just wanted to say hello and have some news from home." He looked at Harry, then back to his father. "I've missed something, haven't I?"

Phineas Black (Senior) carefully looked at his son. "That delinquent is in your year, is that correct?"

Phineas Black (Junior) glanced at Harry once more. "Maybe. Why, has he done something?"

"Do not play dumb, Phineas. This doesn't suit you at all."

The younger Black smiled and shrugged. "I knew you were busy and I thought it would be wiser to inform you face to face at your return instead of bothering you in your work, Father. Clearly, I wasn't quick enough."

After a few seconds when the father suspiciously looked at his son, Phineas Nigellus Black nodded to himself. "Very well. I suppose you may help me then." He pointed an accusing finger at Harry. "What can you tell me about this boy?"

"Not much, I'm afraid." He sighed. "He is being extraordinarily vague about his past. Many have theories, but I very much doubt for example that he is the Heir of Slytherin. He… he is good in class, I suppose. You have to understand, Father, he tries to act as if he's always been there and most members of the school are so idiotic they didn't see anything wrong with that."

Phineas Nigellus Black snorted at that comment but didn't deny it. "Anything else?"

The Slytherin Prefect seemed to be in deep thoughts. "Maybe, but no, no. But then again… I'm not sure this is worth mentionning..."

"Phineas," Professor Black warned.

"He is relatively good at Defence Against the Dark Arts," Black finally said. "The style is rather crude but it is efficient so on balance I would say he has some talent in the subject."

Phineas Nigellus Black rolled his eyes. "Do you think I actually care, Phineas?"

"Obviously not. It's just… something I noticed."

"Let me guess," he droned, "he casted a corporeal patronus in class."

Black raised his eyebrows. "Wait, what?"

"That's how he tricked Dippet." He rolled his eyes as he looked at the paperwork on his desk, never noticing his son's calculating look. "Nevermind that. I don't particulary care about what that boy did. Anything else?"

The boy slowly hummed. "Let me think… The school seem to have taken a shine to him already." Seeing the Headmaster rolling his eyes, he shrugged. "What can I say? He does give some very mysterious vibes. You see, Father, it is widely believed that Potter is a Seer."

The man rolled his eyes at the last word. "A Seer."

The boy nodded. "It happened during Divination and it was very dramatic. Moreover Professor Mesmer seems to imply that-"

"Alright, I've had enough," Professor Black interrupted as he got up from his chair. "I've had enough of this-"

"Of course that might also be because Potter managed to defeat Dumbledore during our duelling lesson," he mumbled.

Phineas Nigellus Black froze on the spot and Harry sharply turned his head in the direction of the prefect.

"Say that again."

"Dumbledore," he repeated. "He defeated Albus Dumbledore is our first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with the disarming charm."

Phineas Nigellus Black quickly glanced at Harry. "Did he?"

Black slowly nodded. "It was very dramatic and the entire school was rather shaken up to know Dumbledore was not the best in Defence Against the Dark Arts. It is said that Potter is an even greater wizard than he is but I remember him telling me it was - what was that word Potter used again?-" he pretended to think, "ah yes, it was 'no big deal', that Dumbledore made many mistakes and that anybody could defeat him."

Headmaster Black's lips curled.

And even though Harry was currently looking at Black, he could literally feel the oldest wizard's interested look on him.

It was obvious now what the prefect was doing, and Harry had to applaud his acting skills. It had all been well calculated, from the boy pretending to hesitate to him revealing his trump card at the proper moment.

"Did you really?" Professor Black asked Harry with a trace of curiosity. "Did you really say anybody could defeat Albus Dumbledore?"

Embrace the darkness and go with the flow indeed.

"Ah yes." He turned to the Headmaster and promptly repeated what he had told everybody ever since that duel. And, the more Harry talked, the wider the man's smile got.

Harry didn't know why the Slytherin has decided to help him, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Finally, the man crossed his arms and seemed to be at war with himself. After a couple of minutes, he finally told them, "I've made my decision. You may stay for the time being."

Even though Harry knew that was what the Slytherin had wanted and he had played his game to get this result, it still was with some surprise he took the new. "Really?"

He nodded. "Naturally, you can forget about that ridiculous scholarship and you will pay the money you owe Hogwarts back, but you may stay. Now leave my sight. I've had enough of you. Phineas, I have something to tell you."


"Is everything alright, Father?" Phineas asked once the Gryffindor has closed the door.

Phineas Nigellus Black decided not to beat around the bush. "Kreacher is dead. I know you were fond of it so I suppose I should tell you."

Phineas' heart dropped

"Oh." The Fifth Year swallowed and slowly nodded. "I suppose he was old."

"It couldn't even carry the tea tray," he aquiesced. "Nevertheless, we bought another one."

"Ah. What is his name?"

"Kreacher." Seeing his son's incredulous look, he snapped, "You don't actually think we'll bother remembering the new one's name, do you?"

"No, no!" he hurried. "Of course not. I've never once thought..." He sighed. "I just wish I could have seen Kreacher one last time, I suppose."

"Oh, you will see it again," he absentmindedly replied. Seeing his puzzled look, he explained, "Your Aunt Elladora cut its head and mounted it on the wall."

Phineas stared at his father.

It was in moment like these that Phineas remembered he actually didn't need to lie to make his family look terrifying.


That had been way too close.

Harry exhaled and put his shaky hand over his mouth.

That had been way too close.

He had know he was in a precarious position but he hadn't actually understood how fragile everything was.

Hadn't Black decided to bail him out for some reason, Harry had no doubt he wouldn't be in Hogwarts anymore. And Harry might be keeping it together here, he was perfectly aware he wouldn't survive outside.

Harry suddenly imagined himself all alone in Victorian London's streets and deeply breathed.

He was on an ejectable seat, the last few days might have caused him to forget that but he was standing on moving sand and he was sinking.

How do you escape moving sand? Harry wondered. Harry supposed he would normally answer the question by summoning his Firebolt but his broom was in Umbridge office in 1996. He then tried to remember that lesson from primary school. Do not move or you'll sink even more?

That had basically been Dumbledore's advice. Do not move, keep your head down, do not cause any wave.

And, Harry being Harry, he had almost blown it. Well, he actually thought he had stood no chance and that Phineas Nigellus Black had set his mind before Harry's coming, but he had almost screwed up even more.

"There you are!" a voice exclaimed. "You know, Potter, when somebody saves your skin, the least you can do is wait for them!"

Harry deeply breathed and turned to the Slytherin. "Sorry."

He didn't know why the Prefect had suddenly decided to help him, but he doubted he had done it out of his good heart. There always was a reason with Slytherins after all.

Phineas Black lazily put his hands in his pockets. "I know you said you wouldn't ask for help but, clearly, you needed it."

Harry suspisciously looked at him. "Why did you do it?" he asked.

Black shrugged and smirked. "Oh, I don't know. I do that sometimes. Saving idiots from my father's ire. Why do you think I'm so popular here? Everybody wants to be on my good side. It's either that or I did it because now you owe me one." Seeing Harry tensing, he snorted. "Considering you are funny and haven't actually annoyed me so far, I suppose I won't ask for your soul just yet."

"What do you want?" he tersely asked.

Harry didn't like it a bit, but he knew now he didn't have a choice. He had to go with the flow and hope he would eventually find land.

Black pretended to think. "From now on, you stay with me in Defence Against the Dark Arts." Harry startled but the Slytherin wasn't finished. "Sluggy is good at Defence but I really can't stand him. Also, no matter what, you are not allowed to duel with Albus Dumbledore."

Harry stared. "That's it?" he blurted out.

"Why, I can ask for more?" Harry didn't answer him and the other boy started saying, "If you really are a Seer, I suppose I should ask you to tell me my future. What do you see when you look at me?"

Harry paused and strangely looked at the wizard.

Harry supposed he should actually know the answer to that one. Sirius had after all showed him the Black tapestry and even pointed out where Phineas Nigellus Black was and where Sirius' name had once been. Had he paid more attention, he would have certainly seen this Phineas Black's name and even his date of death.

"Well?"

Harry slowly shook his head. "I'm not a seer."

Black mumbled something that sounded awfully like 'I knew it'.

"Oh well, just do what I ask you. Still, make no mistake. I might have helped you out of my good heart this time, there will not be a repeat. So don't mess up and don't forget this: you may think you don't need help, it is still a terrible idea to be on your own in this big bad world."


"He's back!" Virginia exclaimed when Harry entered Gryffindor Common Room. "Are you alright?"

Harry didn't answer her and sat on the first armchair.

"No, of course you're not," she answered her own question. "Did he give you detention? Three Gryffindors already got detention."

Harry considered the question. "I don't think so." That reminded him, he still had detention with Mesmer next Wednesday.

"Well, you got lightly." She tried to cheer him up. "His punishments are the worst. Also, we have already lost thirty points. I suppose we should be upset but..." She shrugged. "Look at the bright side, you're still here."

Harrry groaned at that reminder and hid his face behind his hands.

He had been stuck in the past for an entire week now. And, in a week, he hadn't advanced an inch in finding a way back to the twentieth century.

He hadn't even managed to tell this Albus Dumbledore he was a time traveller.

He seriously sucked at that whole time travelling thing.

"Where is..." He grimaced and privately wondered if he would one day manage to bring himself to call the young Dumbledore 'Albus'.

Luckily, it seemed like the witch had understood who he was referring to. "Patrolling the corridors, I suppose. He was worried about you, you know. I think he used that excuse to find you but you must have missed each other. I'm not sure when he'll come back."

So Harry wasn't going to tell him today either.

Harry didn't know if he wanted to laugh or to cry.

At this rate he was going to wonder if he ever would.

At the thought, Harry heavily sighed, and, sinking in the armchair while Virginia was called by her friends, he took the first thing in his pockets. He rolled the DA coin between his fingers.

Part of the reason why Harry hadn't given it to Phineas Nigellus Black was because it would had felt like giving in and proving he was some liar when he knew he hadn't done anything wrong. But there had also been that inexplicable need for him to keep it. Of all the things he had, the DA coin was the one item he had which reminded him of home the most.

Harry suddenly remembered the day Hermione gave the DA member their Galleon.

"You see the numerals around the edge of the coins? On real Galleons that's just a serial number referring to the goblin who cast the coin. On these fake coins, though, the numbers will change to reflect the time and date of the next meeting. The coins will grow hot when the date changes, so if you're carrying them in a pocket you'll be able to feel them. We take one each, and when Harry sets the date of the next meeting he'll change the numbers on his coin, and because I've put a Protean Charm on them, they'll all change to mimic his."

Harry stilled. Slowly, he incredulously raised the coin over his head.

If he changed his coin, then maybe the DA coins' in 1996 would change as well. And if he could communicate with the DA… if Fred or Georges saw he was in 1896 for example, he had no doubt they'd show the coin to Professor Dumbledore and then…

He held the DA Galleon tighter, excitement flooding through him as he hurriedly left the Common Room to go to the dormitories. Once he was sitting on his bed, he put his wand over the DA coin and, with an excited laugh, he changed the date to today.

Any minute now, and he'd be home. In less than a minute, he'd be home. Soon enough he'd be back and his friends…

The smile lessened.

If that worked, it would have been a week since they had been to the Ministry of Magic.

In other words, it would be far too late to save his friends stuck in the Department of Mysteries.

Harry loudly swore and hurriedly changed the date back.

In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten he still had to save his friends. And if he came back right now, it would be too late to do anything.

Harry swore again and desperately tried to find a way to help this friends.

When the solution came to him, he slapped his forehead because it should have been obvious.

He just had to warn the Order of the Phoenix they had to be rescue them. He was in the past, so if he warned them now they would be more than ready to make sure everything would be alright.

And, luckily for him, he could even pass the message to Albus Dumbledore himself.

Harry looked at the DA coin again and changed the date one last time to the 10th of September 1996.

That should give him enough time to convince this Dumbledore he was a time traveler and tell him he would have to save the members of the DA still stuck in the Department of Mysteries. It didn't matter how Harry was going to convince him. He had to do it.

And, who knew? If it worked and Harry somehow managed to vanish right in front of him on Wednesday, the boy would have no choice but to believe him.