Chapter 2 The headmaster

Harry's head cleared and he slowly managed to climb to his feet. He could see Hedwig perched safely on a chair and he was relieved his bird was safe. He looked around him as he stood in the office and for a moment wondered if the spell had not worked at all. But he realised many of the pieces in the office were not the same. Fawkes was there on a perch but little else was the same. And then he turned to the voice who was behind him and reality hit him. The sand had worked. He was not sure he was in the right year but he was definitely in the past. Or he was seeing a ghost and the man looked too real. Harry had seen his painting only moments before. He had been the most recent headmaster's painting.

Armando Dippet stood there in his robe, looking at the young man. His wards had alerted him that someone had come into his office. He had been in his private apartments and had come to see who managed to sneak into his office.

Harry straightened out and he had no idea where to start. "Armando Dippet. I recognize you from your paint…."

The man eyed him as he trailed off. "I would assume you knew who I was as you are in my office. You I don't recognise."

Harry realised there was nothing but to tell him the truth. "I came from your successor's office. Much has changed."

Dippet didn't seem that startled. He motioned Harry to sit. "Time travel? May I ask how far?"

Harry took a seat and was surprised the man was so quick to accept it. "I am not certain. I come from 1996."

The man watched him with interest. "It is 1943. This is not the year you intended?"

Harry sighed. "I am not entirely sure what year. I think I am the right time."

Dippet called for some tea. "And what brings you back to my office? And in the middle of the night?"

Harry started fishing for the letters. "I need to stop trouble in my time. I have something for you."

The man took the letter Harry handed him. "I assume there will be some answers in this."

Harry wasn't sure. "I am not sure exactly what is in it. I was told to give it to you."

The man motioned him to have some tea while he opened the letter. Harry was not even sure who had written the letter. He thought it looked like Moody's writing on the envelope but he wasn't certain. He knew he would have to send the other letter with Hedwig. He assumed even in this time she would be able to find the Malfoys. He had never thought that he would trust any Malfoy before. But he knew that he would need some allies in the past. He knew his own grandfather must be around here some where but he wasn't sure what the man would think of him. His grandparents were older when his father was born and he knew his grandfather would be long done school. Perhaps he would meet the Potters as well.

Dippet was shocked as he read the letter but he knew the words were the truth. There was a story about Lachlan Moody which only the man or his close family would know. The letter was indeed was from Lachlan's son he had no doubt.

He looked at the boy. "It seems my godson vouches for you. And your purpose here."

Harry was shocked. "Alastor is your godson?"

The man took a photo from his desk and handed it to Harry. "His father Lachlan was a student and is now a dear friend."

Harry looked at a photo of a small child and was amazed to realise it was the grizzled auror. "Two eyes."

The man raised an eyebrow. "I am sorry, two eyes?"

Harry hoped he was successful and that changed. "Nothing. Did he explain why I am here?"

Dippet put down the letter. "It seems you have come back some months earlier then planned. Thomas is in his fifth year."

Harry was relieved at least he wasn't too far back. "You believe me? You will help?"

The man nodded. "I see no harm. The child seems harmless, a bit of a loaner at best. But that can change."

Harry was relieved. "I have another letter to be sent to Titus Malfoy. His grandson said he would be useful."

Dippet agreed. "The man is a powerful tool around here. I assume your owl can take it. Now to make arrangements for you."

Harry was a tad worried. "Arrangements?"

The man laughed a bit. "You will have to be an exchange student. I will have you placed in Slytherin with the boy."

Harry was a bit pale at that thought but he knew it was the best. "I was a Gryffindor. But I need to be close to him."

The man sent for a house elf. Harry did not hear what the man was saying but Harry stood and walked over to Hedwig. He sent his owl with the letter. He thought it best to get in contact with any help right away. When Hedwig was gone he went to Fawkes. He had always liked the bird and suddenly his presence was a comfort in the past. Harry was reminded he had been told the phoenix did not belong to Albus but to the school. It seemed Fawkes had been here longer then he thought.

Dippet turned to him. "If I did not already trust you from the letter I would more. Fawkes does not trust many."

Harry smiled as the bird trilled for him. "We are old friends in my time. I thought Albus got him from Flamel?"

"My defence teacher?" The man was surprised. "Nicholas is an old friend of mine. In my former career in alchemy."

Harry remembered hearing the man was ancient and had to wonder. "Did you take the elixir as well?"

Dippet nodded. "Though I have stopped some time ago. Unlike my old mentor I have no desire to live forever."

There was a knock at the door and Harry was on alert. "Who is that?"

"Come in." Dippet called. He turned to Harry. "You will need to be introduced to your house."

A shorter slightly balding man came in. "You needed me."

Armando motioned to Harry. "We have a new exchange student. The sorting hat seems to think he is a Slytherin. Harry this is Professor Slughorn"

Horace turned to Harry surprised. "We don't usually get transfers. Certainly not in November and in middle of the night."

Dippet simply told the man. "Harry's family situation has changed. You will see him to his house."

Horace smiled and motioned to Harry. "Come, we should see you to your bed for the night.|

Harry was a bit weary but he followed the man from the office. He knew that there were a few teachers that he would recognise around here. Minerva and Filius were both teachers back then. He was bit worried about running into Albus. He was reminded that he had been warned the man may have corrupted Tom. He thought he had heard Horace's name before. He thought he was the man Snape had taken over for. Harry's attention was drawn to his surroundings when he went into Slytherin. He had been once but he had never thought to live there. Harry found just how late it was when all of his classmates were sleeping. He felt a bit odd when he crawled into bed and wondered how the others would react in the morning. This was not how he imagined this starting.

Harry noticed Tom asleep in the bed next to his as he was drifting off. 'Never thought to fall to sleep to that face.'

It was the same face he woke up to in the morning. This time staring down at him when he woke up. Harry was reaching for his wand in a panic and trying to tell himself it was some dream. It took a few moments to remind himself that he had come into the past and he was now sharing a dorm with Tom. The man was only in his fifth year and Harry had been told he had not gone dark for another year. But he was still on alert and not liking how the kid was looking at him.

Tom had stayed when the others in the room had gone out for breakfast. They seemed to show little care for the strange kid in the bed. Tom found it unsettling to wake up to someone new sleeping in their dorm room.

He eyed the boy. "Who are you? What are you doing in our room?"

Harry sat up. "Harry Evans. I am a transfer student."

Tom eyed him. "In the middle of the night? Well I assume you did not sneak in."

Harry climbed out of bed. "Professor Slughorn brought me in. Where are the others?"

Tom motioned him to dress. "Gone for breakfast as we should. Decided to leave the freak to deal with the new one."

Harry found his bags in a trunk at the foot of the bed and changed into his robes. He noticed the new patch. "How friendly."

The boy smirked. "Don't be expecting to make many friends among them. If you don't have an old blood name."

Harry had been told to use Evans. No one could know he was a Potter now. "Not here at least."

Tom motioned him to follow. "Can't be worse then me, the half-blood nobody."

Harry had always thought that Tom had been popular in school. He had been given the impression that Tom had a gang of friends. But he was starting to realise there were many lies to be uncovered. As Tom walked with him to the hall the boy seemed to warm up a bit. If nothing else Tom seemed happy to have someone to talk to. Harry felt like the two of them had something in common. Harry knew too well what it felt like not to fit in with others at school. More then just being orphans. He had been told Tom had seen the school as his first home. He was starting to think that at least that was true.

Horace came over to them when they went into the hall and seemed pleased that Harry and Tom had got along. He seemed to think it a good sign and paired Tom to show him around him. However conveniently, they seemed to have the same classes.

Harry was surprised when Hedwig appeared with the morning mail and had a letter. 'Already?'

Tom watched him as he took a letter from his owl. "Your parents?"

Harry fed Hedwig some bacon before she took off. "My parents are gone. It's from a family friend of sorts."

Tom watched him open the letter. "I assume that is why you are here."

Harry didn't lie as it was in part why he was there. "Yes."

Harry opened the letter and found a very short note from the man. All it said was that he was intrigued and was coming to visit. Harry had no idea what to expect from the man. Lucius' grandfather was hopefully not much like him. Harry knew Lucius had helped send him back here but he was still on edge about the man. But with all he was learning about Albus and seeing Tom now he had to wonder. He knew he needed to trust someone back then. Titus seemed his best choice for now.

Harry put the envelope in his pocket and decided he would worry about it later. For now he had to focus on Tom and trying to stop him from going dark. Perhaps it was better he had come back before Tom had gone evil.

Tom was leading Harry out when a man came over to them. "Thomas. And who is this?"

Tom motioned. "This is Harry Evans Professor. Harry this is Professor Dumblefore. He teaches defence."

Harry realised he was looking at a much younger Albus. "Nice to meet you professor."

The man eyed him coldly. "I was told we had a new student. Shame a snake." He turned to Tom. "We will speak later."

Tom led Harry off. "The man has problems with Slytherins usually but he seems to make an exception for me."

Harry was confused by that. "He did not seem that friendly."

Tom shrugged. "He is around other kids. But he is the one who brought me from the orphanage. He wants to tutor me."

Harry had to ask. "Do you need it? Sorry I…."

Tom smirked but he laughed a bit. "No. I should be head prefect but not popular enough. But I need help to succeed."

Harry reminded him. "We are only fifth year. I mean you have time."

Tom sighed. "Being a half blood orphan is bad enough. But my mother's magic family is almost as shameful."

Tom explained as they went about what he knew. He knew very little as he used his muggle father's name. But he was told his mother had died after giving birth to him. And that both her father and brother had been imprisoned. He didn't even know their names. He had been told when he was older that he would be taken to meet the family. He was a joke, not even being able to claim his old blood on one side. He wished he was in another house as he had no idea why he was here.

As they went into potions Harry realised Tom didn't even know he was the heir of Slytherin. He only knew about the muggle relatives Harry had been told Tom had murdered when he was in his sixth year.

Tom motioned when they got into potions. "You can pair with someone else if you want."

Harry was confused. "Worried I will blow up your potion or something? No concerns here."

Tom shook his head. "Hanging out with me will make you more a freak. Might want to choose someone else."

Harry instead took a seat with him. "Hey we orphan half-bloods can stick together. I don't care about any talk."

Tom was a bit surprised but he smiled a bit. "I could use someone I guess to cut my slugs for me."

Harry grimaced a bit but he took up a knife. "Some how no matter where I am I get this job."

Harry could have found himself liking Tom if he did not have the concerns in the back of his head. Tom kind of reminded him of a mix of Hermione and George in a way. And he knew a bit like himself as well. He could not help but like the guy and was hoping that he could truly change things. The kid didn't seem like the ruthless murderer Harry knew of.

Horace was happy later when their potion was perfect. "It seems you two make a good pair. I hope it continues."

Harry had spent the day with Tom and he continued to like the guy. He had such trouble thinking of him as Voldemort. He knew it would be almost a year before the man turned dark but still. He looked at the way Albus was with Tom and again he wondered if Lucius and Moony had been right. Was it really Albus that had turned him dark all of those years ago? There was something about the man's interest that bothered Harry. And it was not simply about the rumors he had been told. He realised that Albus treated Tom a lot like he had done Harry. It sent shivers up his back to think about that.

But his concerns turned to the letter and the realisation that he would soon be meeting Titus Malfoy. He still had no idea what to expect from the man. He assumed the letter from Lucius was enough to convince the man or intrigue him.

He was surprised when he was summoned to Dippet's office after dinner. "You wanted to speak to me sir?"

The man motioned him to a figure he had not seen. "I thought it best that you two meet here. Away from prying eyes."

Harry turned and saw a man behind him. For a moment he thought it was Lucius. "Crap, you are a carbon copy."

Titus eyed him. "I assume you speak of my grandson. A child who is yet to be born."

Harry recovered himself. "He wrote to you. I assume he told you."

Titus sunk into a chair by the desk. "Of your little project here? Indeed. He seems intent I aid you in this."

Harry took a seat next to him. "I am back a year earlier then intended. And I really don't know what I can do."

Armando spoke up. "I have noticed you and the young man seem friendly. That seems a good start."

Titus agreed. "You will of course have aid. I have assumed guardianship of you."

Harry stared at the man like he had two heads. "You assumed guardianship of me? How?"

Titus waved him off. "I have contacts. And there was enough in the letter. You will need a guardian for your story."

Harry had not really thought about it but he assumed they had a point. He had told Tom that he was an orphan. But there had to be some reason why he was in the country suddenly and for school. His new guardian being a former student and now the head governor would explain that well enough. It also explained how he was allowed to transfer two months into the year. Usually such things were not permitted except at the start of the school year. Harry was just a bit surprised they had not told him before they had acted. Or that the man had done it before he even met Harry. Not to mention how quick it was.

Titus looked at the boy and had to wonder what to make of him. He was intrigued by the letter. Like Armando he had no trouble believing it was true. The letter was filled with things only a Malfoy would know.

Titus felt the need to ask. "This grandson of mine. Tell me."

Harry had to be careful as the only thing he thought he knew was he was a death eater. "I more know your great-grandson."

The man was a bit shocked. "My son is but twenty and not yet married. A grandson was news enough."

Harry shrugged. "I would think it a comfort to know that your line continues in in more than 50 years."

Titus agreed. "Well for now I assume I have gained another son. I assume you have no family to speak of here."

Harry wasn't certain. "Not that would believe me. My grandparents would be well done school. Fleamont and…."

Titus stopped. "You are a Potter? I should have seen the similarities. Except those eyes."

Harry realised his looks didn't start with his father. "I was orphaned. I never met my grandparents."

Titus' smirk twitched a bit. "He is a bit of a thorn at times but he can be useful. I may have to introduce you eventually."

Harry was shocked. "Will he believe me? I mean I don't have a letter like I do you."

Dippet was the one who responded. "Any doubts he had will pass when he sees you. Its been too long since I saw the man."

Titus stood to leave. "You will come to Malfoy manor for Christmas. And any aid needed is yours."

Harry was surprised. "Thank you sir."

Titus stopped and thought. "You may need an elf. I know the one."

Harry was agape when the man called an elf he knew too well. "Dobby. That's Dobby."

Dobby bowed. "Master Harry welcome."

Titus looked between the two. "How do you know my elf?"

Harry was as confused. "I know him in my time. I don't know how he recognises me."

Dobby smiled. "House elf be knowing master. Even if master from future."

Titus shrugged. "It seems I was right to choose him. He will serve you. If you need aid you have to but call on him."

With that the man left the room and Harry was left in shock. Other then Hedwig and the younger versions of his teachers he had never thought to see anyone. He knew Dobby could be alive but he didn't think the house elf would know him. But some how the elf knew him even if he was from the future. He just hoped that the elf didn't need to protect him. He loved Dobby but he was reminded of the bludgers. Dobby had a bad idea of what would protect someone.

Dippet turned to him. "I would continue to befriend young Tom. Perhaps a friend would do him well."

Harry had to ask as Christmas had been brought up. "Where does he go? Surely not back to his orphanage."

Armando reminded him. "Students can stay at Christmas even now. In the summers of course he returns."

Harry wondered about the rules. "In my time we could invite someone home. Is that still allowed?"

Armando was starting to realise what he meant. "Indeed. He may be shocked to be invited after all these years home."

Harry knew the feeling. "Not sure I'd call Malfoy manor home but I guess it's the closest I get. He didn't adopt me right?"

Armando laughed when Harry said that. "No, simply your guardian. Adoption would require your signature."

Harry went to head out for his dorm. "Good. Not sure I need the last name Malfoy."

Harry was not sure what to make of being a ward of Malfoy but he guess it worked. He assumed if he and Tom became closer he could invite Tom home with him. He had to find a way to get closer to Tom and keep him from going dark. As he came into the front hall and saw him speaking to Albus Harry knew even more it was right. The more he saw of Albus the more he didn't like his part in things. Getting Tom away from Albus seemed the right thing to do.

Tom spotted him and actually looked a bit relieved. Whatever Albus was saying to him Tom didn't seem thrilled by the conversation. Harry saw the almost pleading look shot his way and headed towards them.

Albus wasn't pleased when Harry came over. "Thomas and I were discussing tutoring. I would move along."

Harry smiled. "I am sorry professor I didn't mean to interrupt. But Tom was meant to show me the library to study."

Tom agreed with him. "We have a paper to work on for transfiguration. Professor Slughorn has asked me to show him."

Albus wasn't pleased but could not argue it seems. "We will speak later."

Tom sent a relieved look at Harry when they were walking. "Thank you. The man is on me again about tutoring."

Harry was happy to help. "Is tutoring that bad with him? You can say no I'd think."

Tom sighed. "He bothers me at times. And I have said no. But he knows about my family. I want to know about them."

Harry wished he could tell him but had to be careful. "There must be another way. I am sure someone else can help."

Tom wanted to change topics. "You left dinner quickly. Is something wrong?"

Harry admitted. "My godfather showed up to see me. I haven't seen him since I arrived."

Tom was shocked. "I know he wrote to you. I assumed he was the reason you were here."

Harry agreed. "He is a governor and brought me. But he was too busy himself. Its been years since I spoke to him."

Tom was a bit surprised but shrugged. "Did it go well?"

Harry sighed. "Just reminded me to follow the rules and not dishonor him. And he will see me at Christmas."

Tom's face fell a bit. "Oh you will be going there for Christmas? I thought perhaps…"

Harry did not extend an offer to him just yet. He knew the kid would be suspicious if he was so quick to offer him. But he could understand why the kid might have hoped someone was staying for Christmas. He remembered being one of the only ones here over the holidays. The Weasleys had been there for him at Christmas when their parents had travelled. Harry knew it could be lonely and again he felt himself feeling a connection to the kid. He truly hoped this plan worked out.

He thought to himself. 'I hope the man doesn't mind he inviting someone to his house for Christmas.'

AN: So Harry is technically reliving his 5th year, as he left at the end of the 5th year after Sirius was killed. So he is a year older then Tom.

And since Horace and Harry did not meet until just before sixth year, this is Harry's first introduction to him.