Harry landed against the wards of Hogwarts. He wanted to scream. He stood letting the tears choke him as his eyes watered and he jerked against the sobs. He'd never felt so empty, not Sirius, not the abuse from his family had left him so hollow. Fuck, he collapsed on the ground and let the tears fall.
Minutes, hours later, he didn't know he wiped himself off and stood. He used a refreshing charm on his face and began the walk to Hogwarts. It was still cool. Fall had yet turned to winter and the weather reminded him of past years at school. It felt like home.
He ignored his heartbreak and took comfort in the castle that would still look the same in the years to come. He smiled as he moved through the gates to the main doors. Students were piled around the grounds studying or laughing. He wasn't paying attention and slammed head long into another student.
They both collided and collapsed on the ground. Harry laughed. "I'm so sorry. I have my head in the clouds and wasn't watching were I was going."
Another musical laugh joined his. "That's okay."
Harry pulled himself off the ground and turned to the other student and froze. Tom Riddle was picking up his books smiling at Harry with a mischievous smile and laughing. He was straightening his Slytherin robes knocking dirt off his pants. "I was reading and not paying attention either."
Harry was frozen. The one man that had caused so many deaths, ruined his life was here staring at him with the charm of a school teen. All it would take is one curse and he could kill him before anything happened, before he found horcruxs, before he killed his parents and so many others. He could end the war before it ever began.
Harry realized something in that moment. What he'd written to Steve and Bucky was truer than even he realized. He would walk away and let Tom live because if he changed anything here, he would never meet them. And he knew, he would let the world burn to make sure he met Bucky and Steve.
Harry smiled. "I have that habit too. I'll see you later."
Tom smiled and moved around him and kept walking down the path. Harry watched him leave and knew every death, every innocent lost was now on him. He moved through the halls to the gargoyle. The gargoyle was moved and he walked up the steps and came face to face with the previous headmaster.
"Headmaster, I have a problem and need your help."
He received a smile and was ushered in. "What can I do for you?" The headmaster looked him over. "I don't remember you being a student here."
Harry laughed. "I'm not, well, at least not yet. I had a potions accident and was sent to the past. I need to get back to my time."
The headmaster smiled. "Well, you don't hear that everyday. Good thing, it's happened before. I have a potion here that was made the last time something like this happened. You drink it and wake up where your timeline was broken in the future."
Harry thought this over. "I was stuck here for a few days and had to make it back here will it erase those days."
The headmaster frowned. "I'm sorry. Whatever time you spent here can not be changed but you will be returned to the exact time you missed."
Harry nodded and sighed in relief. The headmaster began to study him. "Did you do anything that would threaten the future?"
Harry acted like he was thinking over the answer. "No, I found myself a couple miles outside the forest. I used the point me spell and walked here. I saw others on the road and they offered me food. I used cleaning spells when I was alone but no I don't think that would affect anything."
The headmaster smiled. "Let's get you that potion. I also need your name to list it in the book to warn the future headmaster."
"Yes, Neville Longbottom, I'm in my seventh year."
The headmaster nodded making a note. Harry was going to have to tell Neville he used his name but he didn't want Dumbledore to know he was here.
The old headmaster dug around in his cabinet and pulled out a red potion vile and canceled the stasis charm over it and handed it over. "Good luck, Mr. Longbottom."
Harry smiled. "Thank you."
Harry tipped back the potion and gagged.