The-Boy-From-The-Future
Disclaimer: We do not and never will own Harry Potter or other associated characters and ideas.
A/N: Sorry about the time it took to update, but here's Chapter 1. Hope you like it, and please review :o)
Chapter 1
The boy appeared slightly flustered, before he regained his composure and narrowed his eyes at the Gryffindors.
"What the hell's going on?" spat the boy. "It's not funny, you know."
Fortunately for the gaping Gryffindors, Hermione came to the rescue.
"Well, we could easily ask you the same question," she stated matter-of-factly. Her wand was still raised.
"You just appeared in our Common Room in a rather violent flash of light, practically blinding half the room, and as you can see, sending the other half into rather a state of shock."
The Harry look-alike simply looked bemused rather than contrite at her words. "I'd have thought that being Gryffindors, you'd all have rushed at me, wands blazing or something," he said, smirking slightly.
"Gryff- oh," said a Fourth Year. "You're a Slytherin," she said, suddenly noticing the green serpent that was proudly displayed on the boy's robes.
"We've never seen you before, though," added Lavender Brown with a slight frown.
The boy raised an eyebrow in a scarily accurate impression of Professor Snape. "Well, I've never seen you before, and unlike the way rumour has it, Slytherins do mix with Gryffindors," he retorted, rather arrogantly. However, the gleam in his eyes dulled slightly as he looked around the room.
"Actually," he continued a bit more softly, "I don't think I've seen any of you before, he said, frowning. "Where's Longbottom?" he asked, almost as an afterthought.
Neville stepped forward, his wand lowered ever so slightly, as were the others'. "Do I know you?" said Neville.
Instead of helping, though, Neville's appearance only seemed to cause the boy to look more confused.
"I don't think so, but I don't know you either," he said. "Marissa Longbottom? No?"
The students standing nearest to him shook their heads.
"Erm… Octavius Rex? Christine Hurley? Heather Richardson? Canopus Buckingham?" He was starting to look rather alarmed. You don't know the members of your Quidditch team?" Harry was about to reply very sharply that he did know the members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team; he was Captain, thank you very much, but his apparent twin spoke before he could.
"Alright…Malfoy? Everyone knows him. Bit of a prat, but-"
He was cut of by Ron, who gave a loud bark of laughter, not unlike Sirius used to. "Malfoy in Gryffindor? Are you quite with it?"
However, the boy's eyes practically fell out of his head when he saw Ron. He completely lost his previous composure and started to splutter.
"Uncle Ron? Why are you…what happened…how are you so young?"
"Are you alright, mate?" asked Ron, now worriedly.
The boy's eye's swept over him to fall on Hermione, who was standing at his side, and he looked as if he were suddenly seeing her in a different light.
"Aunt 'Mione," he whispered. Then his gaze fell on Harry. There was a pause before the boy spoke.
"Dad," he said evenly. For what seemed to be hours, the two stared at each other. However, before Harry could ask him why on earth he'd be calling Harry 'Dad', of all things, the boy's eyes rolled up into his head, and he fainted.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"My name is James Sirius Potter."
Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall gaped at each other. The boy, who sat in front of them, bound by his wrists to the hospital bed, shook an errant lock of black hair out of his eyes and stared back at them with a glassiness borne of Veritaserum.
Professor McGonagall was the first to regain the ability to speak.
"Oh my," she said softly, her normally stern face slack with shock. Turning to Professor Dumbledore, who stood to her left, she said, "What does this mean, Albus?"
Albus Dumbledore shook his head slightly as he continued to observe the boy in front of him. There was complete silence for a few heartbeats before Professor Snape broke it with a question to the boy.
"How did you get to the Gryffindor Common Room?" he asked.
Turning his head ever so slightly to the direction of Snape's voice, the boy replied in a monotone, "I don't know. However, I believe it could have resulted, partially, from the accidental mixture and subsequent explosion of Somnolens Essence and boomslang skin, although the concentrated wormwood oil may have contributed."
Snape stared at the boy who sat silently and unblinkingly, now that he had answered the question. Sitting in the hospital bed and surrounded by crisp white sheets, he no longer wore his school-robes embroidered with the Slytherin crest. Snape felt a bit more comfortable with that; it felt completely wrong to imagine, let alone see a Potter in green and silver.
Not voicing his thoughts, instead he arched an eyebrow and asked acidly, "And where would a student find Somnolens Essence, boomslang skin and wormwood oil? They are certainly not ingredients one would leave lying about the Potions lab…unless you have an incompetent Potions professor?"
Appearing to take Snape's comments as a question, James replied, "I got them from your private store cupboard, sir. I don't really think you're-"
Whatever James was about to say was interrupted when the door to the hospital wing opened and Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor clumped in, his magical eye spinning wildly.
"What's all this about mysterious boys, Dumbledore?" he said as he made his way over to them. "Oh. Is this him, then?" continued Mad-Eye.
"Yes, this is the boy Alastor," said Dumbledore wearily. "And, after a brief interrogation under Veritaserum, I have come to a remarkable conclusion." Dumbledore peered at James, who still stared blankly, over his spectacles.
"And what is that?" asked Professor McGonagall, finally regaining the capability to speak.
"I believe, and this is, at the moment only a few steps above mere speculation, that the boy is from the future, and after viewing the Pensieve memories of Misters Potter, Weasley and Longbottom and Miss Granger, I also believe that this boy is Harry Potter's son."
Another historic moment occurred as all three Professors in front of Dumbledore were stunned into silence.
Professor Dumbledore smiled at his colleagues' shock.
"I will contact some acquaintances of mine, who I believe can help find a way to return the boy to his time. In the meanwhile, he should stay at Hogwarts as I believe it to be the safest place for him and his education need not be interrupted."
"But Albus, how will we explain him? He looks like Harry, not to mention the fact that he's in Slytherin, of all houses. I have nothing against your house, Severus," added Professor McGonagall hastily at Snape's glare, "But inter-house relations are not…quite what they should be."
Professor Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Yes, indeed." Suddenly, he looked up at the three, his eyes twinkling merrily. "Perhaps this is the opportunity to improve those frayed relations, hmm? Let James remain in Slytherin, change his last name and change his hair colour. That should be a more than adequate disguise. And I'll have to speak to the Gryffindors too."
"I'll do that," said Professor McGonagall. "They have been locked into the Common Room with no access to communication; Filius performed some quick charms on the tower."
Professor Dumbledore nodded gravely, but Professor Snape was quick to find fault with the plan.
"And what of the fact that Hogwarts has a new student arriving suddenly in the middle of the term?" he asked, looking none too happy at the thought of a Potter in his house.
"We'll work out a story for him," said Professor Moody, who had been strangely quiet. "What with all these Death Eater attacks, there's plenty of families that have been uprooted; this boy can be one of them."
"A splendid idea Alastor," said Professor Dumbledore. "Severus, what say you administer the antidote so we can discuss this matter with James?"
The group waited silently as Professor Snape placed three drops of antidote on James' tongue. After a few moments, his eyes cleared and he blinked before opening his mouth to say something. However, after a second's pause, he shut his mouth and observed the four professors warily. His hands, which had briefly tugged on the restraints, fell limply to his side.
Professor Dumbledore caught James' eye briefly before the boy blinked and averted his gaze. However, it was enough for the Headmaster to detect the faint emotions of confusion, fear and…guilt?
"James Potter," began Professor Dumbledore. "We have determined that you are from the future, although not the exact time period." He paused, giving James the chance to speak.
"My dad's still in school," he said, still trying to process the idea in his head.
"If it's Harry Potter that you're talking about, then yes," said Professor Moody bluntly. "I'd personally like to know what you intend to do," he continued.
James frowned, looking at each professor in turn. "Well, I'd preferably like to continue with my studies for as long as it takes me and you, I suppose, to find a way for me to get back to my time. I'm in my Sixth Year, by the way," he added.
"Yes, and so is your father," said the Headmaster. James' eyes widened fractionally as his brain began to calculate the dates.
"I'm from…twenty years in the future," he said.
The others were silent as they tucked the snippet of information away. Then Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Mr Potter, we have decided that it would be best if you remained in your own house, that is, Slytherin, but you need to change your name; most certainly your last name, but possibly your first name too. You will also need to change your hair colour, although that would simply be a quick transfiguration that I can perform whenever you decide what hair colour to choose."
James nodded thoughtfully. Then he looked up. "I'd rather keep my first name, but I'll change my last name to Schwarz," he said. "That was my mother's maiden name," he added at the questioning looks.
The others nodded, all frantically trying to work out who Miss Schwarz was and if they had ever met her.
"And perhaps I could have brown hair?" asked James. "It would blend in quite easily, not to mention the fact that most of Mum's side had brown hair," he said to Professor McGonagall.
"Of course. Shall I do it now, Albus?"
"Yes, the sooner we get this done," he replied.
With a quick flick of her wand and a whispered spell, James' black hair was replaced with a mop of wavy, light brown hair. When the other professors glanced inquisitively at the Transfiguration Professor, she simply shrugged her shoulders.
"I have to say, it's remarkable what a change in hair colour can do," said Professor Moody.
"It certainly is," said Professor Dumbledore. Then, turning back to James, he said, "What subjects do you take, so Professor Snape can get your timetable for you?"
"Arithmancy, Charms, Defence, Potions, and Transfiguration," said James.
Professor Snape sneered and said nastily, "I certainly hope you are more competent than your father at Potions, Potter." Professor McGonagall shushed him and said, "Severus, I hope you remember, the boy's name is Schwarz now," to which Professor Snape rolled his eyes.
The Headmaster and Professor Moody looked on the two in mild amusement before James spoke up.
"Erm, I hope it's not too much trouble, but now you know I'm not a lunatic or anything, could you remove these?" he said, nodding towards the magical binds that still restrained him.
"Oh, of course, my boy," said Professor Dumbledore, idly flicking his wand in the direction of the bed, and James was able to move his hands again.
"Your clothes and wand are on that chair there," said the Headmaster, indicating to the corner of the curtained-off area. "If you'd kindly dress as quickly as possible, Professor Snape will escort you to the dungeons." Professor Snape nodded. "Minerva, if you would speak to your house and notify me of any problems." Here, Professor McGonagall nodded too, "And Alastor, if you'd kindly contact Flourish and Blotts and Madam Malkin's for James' supplies." Professor Moody nodded, and the Headmaster smiled at the group.
"Well then, we'd better get started," he said cheerfully, leading the professors out so that James could get dressed.