Present is the Future's Past
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter…I do not or ever will.....
Summary: This story starts at the beginning of the Order of the Phoenix when the Advanced Guard gets Harry to Grimmauld Place. This story is AU where in the end of the fourth year, Barty Crouch manages to do a little bit more mayhem than in cannon. In the fight between him and Harry after the third task, Crouch kills Hermione. Harry isn't allowed to go to her funeral, which results in him becoming resentful towards Dumbledore. Story will contain time travel and several other clichés. If you don't like those, please don't read. All this will be shown in the story.
Pairings: Harry/Hermione/Tonks and several other minor pairings
Warnings: Language, violence, sexual references, bad grammar…
***
First chapter: I feel like Marty Mcfly
After Dumbledore left and Harry retreated to his room to prepare, Remus and Sirius confronted Tonks. The two men were deadly serious and understandably angry as they hated being on the outside of the information chain.
"What did he tell Harry," Sirius went straight to the point.
Tonks was nervous and sad. She realized what Dumbledore's revelations meant and understood the importance of their secrecy. She also knew that she wouldn't see the two men for a long time and couldn't say anything to them.
"I can't tell you. Just some Order stuff," she replied.
Remus rounded on her, his eyes flashing in anger. "That didn't prevent you before."
Tonks scowled at the insult and changed her hair colour to black. "This isn't my secret to tell. Ask Harry, it's his secret." She ran from the kitchen, emotions getting better of her. She wanted to say everything to them, but knew she couldn't and it hurt her. Sirius and Remus helped her immensely this summer with her work for the Order. She was grateful to the two pranksters who treated her like a member of the family.
Remus just looked after her, regretting his flaring of temper. He was frustrated at Dumbledore because the old man wanted him to return to the werewolf community and confront Greyback's supporters and others who supported Voldemort. He wasn't accepted in their circles, his moderate views not particularly popular with the prosecuted persecuted group. New laws that Senior Undersecretary Umbridge proposed to the Wizengamot that restricted the werewolves' freedoms and liberties forced many into hiding or emigrating from Magical Britain. Only handful of werewolves stayed and most of them were supporting Greyback as their leader.
With Greyback's death, werewolves lost their leader and there was a fierce struggle in their packs for his successor. Remus knew that Voldemort will try to influence them to his side and the current Ministry wasn't interested in the slightest in that problem. Dumbledore, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to reinforce Remus' position and influence the werewolves at least to neutrality in the war. Remus was supposed to fight his way to the higher ranks of the packs and be Dumbledore's voice there. Needless to say, Remus wasn't thrilled with his task. There weren't many werewolves that listened to him; in fact, many regarded him as a traitor because of his links to the Head of Wizengamot.
Every time he contacted those that hated him, fighting broke out and Remus displayed his magical skill. Remus hated fighting, preferring to resolve conflicts with conversation and negotiations, unfortunately, some of the werewolves relished in battle, magical or hand-to-hand.
Therefore, it was understandable that Remus was edgy and the current situation with Harry didn't help matters. He was worried about the boy who he regarded as a nephew. Regrettably, he didn't talked with him about his concerns and let Harry deal with everything on his own. Dumbledore assured them that Harry was strong enough to deal with it and with time, he would manage to overcome all obstacles that arose.
"Moony," Sirius whined, "now she's never going to tell us anything."
Remus sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just tired," he apologized. "We should finally talk with Harry."
Sirius nodded. "Let's go. Maybe he will be more forthcoming."
"When did you learn such big words, Padfoot?" Remus joked.
"Sod off, Moony. I'm smart enough, besides, I'm better dueller than you," Sirius retorted.
"Better dueller, after Azkaban," Remus responded laughing. "Maybe there was a time when you could beat me in a duel but that time passed somewhere around our first year at Hogwarts."
"Truly, Moony, you mock me. I'm Black, duelling is in my dark blood," Sirius sarcastically stated.
Remus rolled his eyes. "Well, your blackness, shall we go and talk with your esteemed godson," he asked half-mockingly.
"We shall, you oversized wolf in sheep's clothing."
***
Harry was at that time in his room, trying to come to grips with everything he heard. Prophecy, hocruxes, time travel and his inevitable sacrifice were all on his mind. Truthfully, his mind shut down when he heard the prophecy and he was even more shocked with Dumbledore's admission to the true nature of his scar. Even so, Harry understood everything Dumbledore said and was quite calm about the whole matter. He had confronted the Dark Lord several times and while terrifying experience Harry knew what to expect. Only the next time, he would have to die.
Harry sighed and looked at the pile of letters he received that morning from his friends at Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall sent it to him with her words of encouragement and hope that he would soon return to the school. The letters hadn't help ease his fears; on the contrary, they raised the quiet dread he felt. Apparently, the Ministry managed to put their candidate as a new Headmaster now that Dumbledore was on the run and they put the obnoxious Undersecretary Umbridge. Harry remembered her all too clearly from his hearing. The toad-like woman was entirely convinced in his guilt and wanted to throw him into Azkaban. She was already making changes in Hogwarts by reassessing the Professors and trying to ferret out Dumbledore supporters. Harry snorted at that, at the school everyone was Dumbledore's supporter, from McGonagall to Madame Pomfrey. Harry was worried because from what he gathered from Ron's letter, Malfoy and some other purebloods had become some kind of Inquisitorial squad that had more powers than prefects and they supported Umbridge and her new reforms. Harry knew that everything Malfoy supported was bad at best and a disaster at worst, the prime example of this being Voldemort.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted when the two Marauders barged into his room without prior notice but even that wasn't enough to push him from his dark thoughts. He only looked at them in silent disapproval of their actions, which unnerved the two men as he looked exactly like Lily when she would catch them doing something she didn't approve.
Remus was the first to break the uneasy silence in the room. "My apologies for barging in like that but you didn't respond when we knocked on the door."
"You knocked," Harry asked frowning, "I haven't heard anything."
"Yes, we knocked." Sirius answered impatiently. "What did you and Dumbledore talk about," he asked. Remus shook his head at the Sirius' lack of tact but nodded towards Harry in support of the question.
Harry frowned harshly. "It's private," he answered before standing up and going to his trunk. He put it on bed and opened it starting to pack.
Sirius wasn't satisfied with his answer and his actions confused him. "What do you mean, its private? Don't I have a right to know, Harry? I only care about you," he responded trying to play on Harry's sensibility.
Harry looked straight at Sirius before slamming his trunk. "I'm sorry, I can't tell anyone," he said calmly. Remus was impressed that Harry managed to subdue his temper.
"You can trust us, Harry," Sirius replied. "We won't tell anyone," he turned to Remus," will we, Moony?"
"Sirius you sound like a ten year old prat that wants to know everything," Harry responded. "I'm sorry." He concluded and left the room. He wanted to tell them but that would only bring them unnecessary pain and worry.
Sirius didn't take Harry's comment all too well. He sighed in frustration and stomped his foot when Harry left.
"Why haven't you backed me up," he rounded on Remus.
"Harry was right, Sirius. You acted like a child that couldn't get a candy and not as an adult that wanted to help," Remus calmly responded.
"But I want to know what Dumbledore told him," Sirius responded harshly. "What's so damn important about Harry, why does Voldemort want to kill him?"
"You could have been a little more tactful."
Sirius just frowned and left the room leaving Remus alone. Remus looked around Harry's room, noticing every detail. He noted the posters on the wall, smiled slightly, and looked over the books on the bookshelf. He went through the books on Harry's table and through his closet and trunk. He carefully noted all the things Harry kept and smiled grimly when he noticed the Marauders' Map and the James' Invisibility Cloak with the Firebolt. He left the room when Harry's owl interrupted him in his recollection of old times.
***
Harry walked slowly down the corridor. He was slightly upset and his mood darkened considerably with the Sirius attempted on information raid. Harry's feelings conflictycled between angry, miserable and indifferent. He was angry with Sirius for trying to force the information from him while he wasn't forthcoming with information either. His miserable state was also because of Sirius because he felt like he was betraying his godfather by not confiding to him. Then there was the indifference, a sense of detachment that Harry couldn't exactly explain why he felt that way.
Harry stopped and simply sat on the floor in the middle of the third floor corridor. He couldn't decide what to feel, how to respond to what he heard before. The conflict inside him raged, his head staring to hurt. He had to die so Voldemort could be defeated, but at the same time, he was the one with the power the Dark Lord knew not. Therefore, he was the best weapon that could bring back Voldemort, but he couldn't do that without dying. Wonderful, he thought, it wasn't enough that he was the Boy-who-lived, he had to become the Boy-who-had-to-die-so-the-darkest-wizard-to-ever-live-could-be-defeated.
Harry sighed heavily, noticing he did that all too often these days. His life was decided that Halloween night at Godric's Hollow and he couldn't change it. Dumbledore made sure of that, unfortunately. Nevertheless, Harry couldn't hate the Headmaster for what he did to him, not when he was carefully nurtured to be a selfless martyr. However, he could hate him for what he allowed to happen to Hermione. Suddenly, Harry had an epiphany. They were going to use time turners and go back through time to train and research Voldemort's horcruxes. If he insisted that they save Hermione in some way, maybe Dumbledore would comply. After all, what would it cost them? He smiled; a full, cheerful smile blossomed on his face. Maybe they could save her. Even if he wouldn't survive the war, she would. That would make his unavoidable death easier to bear.
"Why are you so happy about," he heard a cheerful voice from above him. Tonks stood there watching him.
"I think I found a way to save Hermione," Harry responded. Tonks smiled, it was obvious that the girl meant a lot to Harry. She of course realise that the time travel opened some interesting and helpful possibilities.
"And why are you sitting in the middle of a corridor," she asked.
Harry stood up and smiled slightly. "I ran from Sirius and needed a place to think, this was as good place as any."
Tonks raised an eyebrow. "He wanted to know what Dumbledore told you," she stated more than asked.
"Yeah, and he was a little insistent on that too," Harry responded.
"Well, at least they won't notice we are gone," she sighed.
Harry nodded. He didn't know how much time they would spend in the past but he knew that they would have to return to the same time they left.
"I'm sorry," Harry said after a moment of silence.
"What for," Tonks asked surprised.
"I'm sorry because of this situation. I know it has to be hard for you to leave everything like this and follow me through time," he responded.
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Harry. I choose to be there with you, no one forced me," she answered him. "I can always back out from everything, Harry. There is nothing stopping me. The Order works that way that if one of us decides to quit he will only have to swear an unbreakable oath not to reveal any secret and he can walk free." She stopped and pierced Harry with a steely glare, changing her eye colour to grey and her hair to midnight blue. "But I'm not a coward; I'm here fighting against the Dark with you and because of you. I will not leave you, ever."
Harry was relieved that she was here willingly and not only because he asked her. He had grown to depend on her this summer. She helped him express his feelings and talked with him about everything. He admitted that her cheerful demeanour and positive attitude toward everything had kicked him out of his dark mood of this summer.
"Thanks, Dora," he answered using a short form of her name. "It means a lot that you believe in me."
Tonks hugged him, giving him her support. "We better get ready, Dumbledore will return soon."
***
Nymphadora Tonks returned to her room and continued her packing. She took enough clothes to last a year, although she didn't have any idea how long they might be gone. She didn't regret her decision to go with Harry. Yes, she would spend a lot of time away from her family and friends. This was the only argument she could see against going with the young wizard. She has resigned from the Aurors, disillusioned with the politics and the Ministry, so she didn't have anything to do. Her life was always centred aroundon protecting someone or something. This time it would be Harry, a boy she had deep feelings for. She had first heard about Harry when she was seven, then he was a boy from bedtime stories. She had a slight crush on the Boy-who-lived, like any other girl from the wizarding world. That passed quickly, her hyperactive imagination always making some fairy tales princes to fall in love with. The next time she heard about Harry was on the train in her seventh year. When she saw him, at the welcoming feast, he looked like everyone else and her heart went to him. She immediately started liking him, even when she didn't know anything about him. That year she followed his schooling. After she pieced together most of what he did then, she was amazed and a little scared for him. Tonks knew a lot about the true state of the wizarding world, her mother taught her everything she needed to know and her metamorphomagus skills were helpful when she needed information.
After she left Hogwarts, she continued to follow Harry's progress. She didn't heard much of what was happening with him but what she did hear was discouraging. Apparently, Harry was always in the middle of things, always at the centre and that made her suspicious. Then, last year happened, the Triwizard fiasco as it was regarded by most of the Ministry. She even heard some officials talking about investigating Harry's involvement in Diggory's death. At the same time as she heard disturbing hints about Harry, Kingsley and Arthur Weasley approached her about joining some organization. Her metamorphic skills again making her a prime candidate for recruitment, truthfully, she was sick of it, how people often thought about her just because of her magical ability. She was proud of her metamorphomagus skill and didn't hide it but there was more to her than just her ability to change her appearance at will. She was a good dueller, excellent potion brewer and she excelled in Defence against Dark Arts and Transfiguration.
The only reason she joined the Order of the Phoenix was because Dumbledore led it and that meant that Harry would be there. This was her chance to finally meet him and get to know him. She also hoped to help him with everything that happened around him and that would happen to him. She didn't expect that he was a central point of the fight against Voldemort, true, but she wouldn't back down from her self-imposed mission of protecting Harry. Especially now that she fully understood the depth of sacrifice that Harry would have to make.
***
Harry returned to his room and continued his packing. He would only take few important things, as he hadn't any idea what he should take. Of course, his Cloak and the Map would be going with him.
As he packed, Harry was doing some heavy thinking, something he found himself doing some heavy thinking. Slowly, the prophecy and the horcruxes were settling themselves in his mind and his thoughts were clearer. The fact that he had a horcrux in his head was always at the front of his mind and he knew that wouldn't change anytime soon. Harry actually didn't want to die. He would sacrifice himself if it was necessary but with his fifteen years of age and only four of that spent away from the Dursleys, he knew there was more to life than what he experienced. Then it hit him, that's why he had to be raised as he was, in the environment that would ensure his safety but would at the same time shield him from everything that he would like. His childhood at the Dursleys was actually a life defining for him. He would always be thankful for his saviours from Hogwarts and thus Dumbledore could easily influence him.
Harry cursed and suppressed the urge to scream. One day, when they met at the afterlife, he and Dumbledore would have one hell of a conversation but for now Harry didn't have any other choice but to follow the old manipulator. Nevertheless, that didn't mean that Harry couldn't do some manipulating of his own.
It pained him that he couldn't say anything to Sirius and Remus. But now that he had pieced the pieces of Dumbledore's plan, a plan harry had to admit was a genial as it was stupid, he realized that he owed nothing to Dumbledore. Actually, Harry had concluded that he and his closest allies were the only ones that Dumbledore was trying to restrict. He had put Remus on a mission to the Werewolves, where he would be isolated and probably in mortal danger. Sirius was restricted to his house and he had to endure different forms of outright insults, be it Mrs Weasley's patronizing attitude this summer or Snape's constant jibes. Weasleys were doing their own thing and were much closer to the old man than Harry felt comfortable.
Harry decided to tell them everything. At least, that way, he would have their support and help when he returned from the past.
Before he left to talk with the Marauders, Harry decided to make one more goodbye. He sealed the envelopes of the letters he had for Ron and Ginny and called Hedwig from her position at the top of one of the bookshelves in his room.
He petted his faithful familiar. "Hey, girl. Take this to Ron and Ginny and stay the night at Hogwarts. I'll see you tomorrow." Hedwig gently pecked his finger and flew through the window Harry opened. He watched as she disappeared in the sky flying quickly towards north.
Ten minutes later Harry had found the two Marauders in the living room where Sirius glared in disgust at the big tapestry of the Black family. Harry could sympathise with Sirius' disgust for his family, he feeling similarly towards Dursleys.
"Hey, guys," Harry made himself known. "I need to speak to you."
Remus looked at him and smiled encouragingly and Sirius perked up and sat in one of the armchairs. He looked at Harry in interest.
"You wanted to know what Dumbledore told me," he continued. "He asked me not reveal this to anyone. Not even you two. But I need your help."
Harry told them everything that Dumbledore told him except that one of Tom's horcruxes was inside of his head. When he stopped speaking the two middle aged men were flabbergasted. They carefully processed what Harry told them and both of them, independently of each other, decided to help him in any way possible.
Remus was the first who recovered from the shock and snapped from his thoughts while Sirius stared at Harry. Remus enveloped Harry in a strong hug, one that Harry was surprised with. The often-silent werewolf had always kept his distance from Harry and he had noticed it, so it was a surprise that Remus initiated the hug.
"Anything you need, Harry," Remus said softly. "I'll do anything."
Sirius just nodded to Harry. "That goes for me too," he stated sharply. "When you return to our time, you will be ten years older, but we will not abandon you, Harry. You are the last part of my family and I will always stand with you against your enemies."
Harry was truly touched, he knew that the two men wouldn't abandon him when he needed them, but this was more than he hoped for. They understood what he faced and gave him their support. That was all that Harry needed, to know that there was someone who cared for him and stood behind him no matter what.
In the shadows outside the living room, an old man stood and smiled sadly. He had made many mistakes and now was the time to right them all. The boy he watched was growing into a man that would one day surpass him. And Albus felt relieved, soon he would be rid of the responsibility and power and give them to one that would use them much better than he had.
***
Two hours later, Harry, Tonks and Dumbledore where standing in the large library of the Black ancestral home. The huge room took most of the fourth floor and had a distinctly dark feeling to it. Harry guessed it was because it had no windows. There were bookshelves on all the walls with only a small door that led to the corridor. In the middle of the room was a sitting area with several couches and armchairs and three low tables. Overall, with some cleaning the library could be converted in a nice, quiet place for reading.
Dumbledore took the two time turners he had showed them earlier and linked them on one huge golden chain. He offered the chain to the other two who put it around their necks, Albus doing the same. Harry had his trunk in his pocket, courtesy of a charm from Tonks, who took a small baggy piece of luggage with herself. Dumbledore didn't have anything with him and Harry suspected that the old man had probably shrunk his belongings and put them in his pockets.
With one last look at the other two Dumbledore activated the Time turners. Their first trip in the past would only cover four months as Harry insisted that they try to save Hermione. What astounded Harry was that Dumbledore immediately agreed with his request and actually praised him for his loyalty to the girl. This threw Harry off a little, his image of the old wizard again shaken.
After the strange experience of time travel that took most of their senses the three people found themselves at the same spot they left, only it was full of dust and total darkness was enveloping the room, lights not being turned on. Dumbledore coughed lightly while shaking his head slightly.
"Harry, please give me your wand," he politely demanded before turning to Tonks. "Ms. Tonks, some light would be beneficial for our endeavours here."
Harry took his wand from the pocket he kept it in while Tonks lighted her wand with a simple Lumos spell. Suddenly, a strange noise was heard from a shadow in front of them and Harry felt nervous without his wand. Dumbledore frowned while lightly tinkering with the said wand; he tapped it twice with his wand and returned it to Harry, seemingly satisfied. He too turned when the same noise was heard the second time. Out of the darkness that clouded the room a strange, dark shape emerged throwing itself at Dumbledore who reacted quickly and with a flick of his wand blocked the attack. Their assailant fell in front of Harry and changed shape. Cold enveloped the room and Harry felt despair as his worst memory began playing in his head. A tall, black figure of a Dementor stood menacing on front of him before it began moving towards him. A shrivelled, bony hand emerged from its cloak towards Harry. The boy tried to cast his patronus, but the words weren't leaving his mouth as the memory of his parents' death played itself stronger and clearer than before.
Before the creature could envelope Harry, it was pierced by a white light. Dumbledore's patronus turned for another turn as the Dementor began to shrink itself to two feet tall. Tonks hit the creature with a spell turning its cloak red with the emblem of Hogwarts on its back. The small Dementor tried to run but a quick spell from Albus made it disappear. Tonks quickly turned to Harry and cast several spells on him trying to make sure he was fine.
"We were surprised by an unfortunate Boggart, it seems," Dumbledore calmly concluded, as he looked the two younger members of his group.
Harry suppressed the urge to say some unsavoury things to Dumbledore. He wasn't expecting to be attacked the moment he began this quest. Tonks slightly fussed around him, helping him to a chair. He felt strangely weak after the experience and although it wasn't a real Dementor, Harry was confused and worried by the effect the creature had on him.
"It was unusually strong," Tonks observed. She was slightly surprised when her spell hadn't destroyed it.
"Yes," Dumbledore agreed, "the house was abandoned for a long time. Yet, Sirius hadn't told me that the creatures that inhabited his house were so strong."
"He didn't mention anything to me, either," Tonks replied. "We should get moving. I don't like this place and who knows what could attack us if we loiter about."
"I agree. Apparate with Harry to the Leaky Cauldron. Take a room and wait for me there. Of course, I would advise you to change your appearance." Dumbledore responded.
Tonks shut her eyes and changed her appearance. Instead of her usual sticky, pink hair that she preferred, long, blue, thick hair hung from her head. Her face also changed shape and she was several inches taller that before. She also changed Harry with a few waves of her wand, making his hair longer so it could cover his scar. In addition, his eyes became blue and a small beard covered the shape of his face. She also changed the shape of his glasses, making them rectangular and slightly more modern.
Harry was impressed with her work and thanked her while commenting on her Transfiguration prowess. Tonks just kissed him on the cheek in thanks for his comments. Before he could react, she took his hand, the next moment he felt like he was squashed in a tube of some sort before appearing in the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron. Tonks was smiling at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"What was that," Harry asked trying to regain his breath. He felt strange, not unlike when he travelled with floo.
"I side-along apparated you," Tonks replied. "Don't worry; it gets better the more you do it."
Harry shook his head and followed Tonks as she advanced into the Pub. She didn't waste time in the murky bar and quickly arranged a room for them and ordered two butterbeers. Two minutes later, they were sitting in their room, drinking their drink and thinking about what the future would bring. Harry read that day's Daily Prophet, scowling at one of the articles that was written about him. He was exhilarated as he realized that they were really in the past.
***
At the same time, back at the Grimmauld place, Dumbledore was feeling the Dark magic all around him. He was slightly perturbed by the aggressive and powerful Boggart that attacked them, so he decided to investigate. He casted many detecting charms as he walked through the house trying to find the source of the Dark magic.
His charms led him to the living room, where the magic was the strongest. Before he could get more accurate position of the object that emitted the magic, he was attacked by an enraged house elf. A powerful banishing charm slammed into his hastily raised shield and caused him to lose his footing. Nonetheless, even as he was falling, Albus was retaliating. He casted several lighter spell to regain his ground. The house elf disappeared with a crack. He appeared behind Albus, who turned as fast as possible, casting another string of magic. The elf was on the defensive, constantly evading attacks from the powerful wizard. However, the elf never had a chance, as Albus read his tactic that consisted in apparating behind the wizard. In addition, while the elf was a magically powerful creature, he wasn't anywhere near as skilled or powerful as Dumbledore. So, when the elf apparated the fourth time, Dumbledore has already casted the spell on the place where he would appear. Elf was caught in ropes that emerged from the ground the moment he appeared. Dumbledore quickly petrified him and began sifting through the mind of the creature.
While the elf had a completely different mind structure to human, a skilled legilimens could pick up some of the more prominent thoughts on his mind. After he gathered the needed information, he healed some of the injuries the short fight had brought to the elf. He put a timer on the spells that subdued the elf so he would be released once he left the house.
Albus concentrated on the object that the elf tried to protect. A locket on one of the shelves, Albus could feel the magic emanating from it and it sickened him. He hated the Dark magic with a passion, the fell one got when using it made him filthy even thinking about it.
Gingerly, Albus took the locket and put it in a container he conjured. He could already fell the slight pull on his mind as the objet tried to influence him. He needed to destroy it, fast.