Only Time Will Tell

Chapter 12

A New Generation And Dumbledore's Tripping Up

"We could try opening another time vortex." Remus suggested, but Hermione shook her head. They had been standing in the deserted hallway trying to decide what to do for some time now, making little progress in finding a solution.

"First of all, if we do manage to open a vortex, we could cut through at the exact same place that Ginny and Sirius did, permanently ripping the fabric of time. Then there is the actual task of opening one, because I am not good with magic involving the supernatural and such, like Divination, and you and I are so similar that I don't think you would be able to do it either." Hermione explained, and Remus knew this was true.

Divination had been his poorest subject, as he just simply wasn't a seer. It had been a very fun class, however, for James and Sirius had loads of fun predicting the wildest things. The teacher had believed them, of course, making it even more hilarious. Bogus predictions weren't going to help the situation now, though.

"Maybe we should go back to the Common Room and see how Ron and Peter are coming along. Maybe they've found another way to travel through time." Remus offered, and Hermione agreed that this was probably the only thing they could do at this time of night. So it was back to the common room.

On one table there was the pile of pocket watches that they had left. Nearby the table Ron and Peter had been working at was covered in books. Ron and Peter were no where to be found. "Where have they run off to? How could they abandon their work in a time like this?" Hermione asked hysterically, angered in thinking that Ron was being negligent again.

"Hermione, do you remember where we put that large pocket watch we had been working on?" Remus asked from the other table, looking for the pocket watch.

"We left it sitting there, it should still be on that table!" Hermione answered, directing her attention to Remus again.

"That's what I thought, but I don't see it anymore…"

Hermione and Remus searched the table frantically but found that the watch was indeed missing. This meant either one of two things: someone had picked up the watch and simply walked off with it, or Ron and Peter had picked up the watch and somehow got it to work and transported themselves through time.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking happened?" Hermione asked Remus. Remus sighed and nodded.

"If you are thinking that Ron and Peter got the watch to work somehow and are now in a different time like everyone else, then yes, I am thinking that's what happened too."

Hermione and Remus stared at each other for a moment. Harry and James were gone, Ginny and Sirius were gone, and now Ron and Peter were gone. And if Hermione knew Ron's luck like she thought she did, she had a pretty strong feeling where ever they had ended up, it wasn't going to be good…

"Well, then when are we?" Peter asked, feeling slightly odd asking that question. It was very dark where ever they were, presumably still in the Gryffindor Common room. Apparently students in this time went to bed when they were supposed to instead of staying up late gallivanting through time!

"Well, knowing my luck we can't be in any time that's good…" Ron murmured as he stood up. They were still in the common room, alright, but as it seemed that Hogwarts never changed, there was no way to tell whether they were in the future or the past.

Ron looked down at his own muggle watch that Harry had given him for his birthday. The glowing digital numbers read just past midnight, not giving him any more information. He sighed again, from exhaustion and confusion.

"Well, we can find out more in the morning, but there isn't much more we can do right now, as I, er, broke the pocket watch when I slammed it on the table." Ron admitted embarrassedly. Sure enough, gears and springs littered the table, with other watch parts on the floor. Peter suggested the ignoring charm the Marauders had used before, and Ron and Peter slept by the fireplace in sweet ignorance.

They were awoken rather rudely several hours later with the bustle of students getting ready for another school day. Neither Ron nor Peter recognized any of them, meaning they were either in the future or really far back in the past. It was very unusual to watch.

One student in particular caught Ron's eye. She looked very familiar, but he was positive he had never met her before. She had bushy reddish brown hair, and cinnamon brown eyes and was buried in a thick book, turning pages eagerly. Why is she so familiar? He wondered, and his curiosity grew when a boy joined her.

The boy had darker hair, not quite jet black but a very dark brown with red highlights. He couldn't see his face as he was talking to the girl. Then another boy joined them, and he was the most unusually familiar of the three. His hair was reddish brown and bushy like the girl's was, and he was tall and gangly. His shirt was untidily hanging out, and by the way the girl scolded him he had overslept. The boy with the darker hair turned to laugh good naturedly at his friend, and upon seeing his face Ron knew instantly what was going on.

Green eyes just like Harry's! Exactly like Harry's! Aside from the red highlights in the hair and the different nose shape, this could easily be Harry's twin! Or son… and this was a scary thought for Ron.

"Peter we're in the future! That's Harry's kid!" Ron exclaimed, and Peter nodded.

"Those two, the other boy and girl, they look an awful lot like you!" Peter pointed out, and Ron was floored. The boy was undoubtedly a mirror image of Ron, same build and face shape. They eyes and the brownness of the red hair was familiar too. Who did he know with bushy brown hair and cinnamon colored eyes? Certainly not… It just couldn't be… not HERMIONE!?!

The girl with the book answered his question for him. "Honestly, the both of you! Haven't either of you read 'Hogwarts, A History' like Mum suggested?" Both boys shook their heads, much like he and Harry did when ever presented with this question.

"Dad says that he and Ron never read it either, and they both turned out fine!" The dark haired boy, Harry's son, replied.

"Yes, well, Uncle Harry and Dad always had Mum to recount the book for them. What would they have done without her?" The girl huffed superiorly.

"Exactly! We've got you, so we don't need to read it!" Ron's son answered, and Ron's daughter slammed her book shut in anger.

"Okay! Okay! Break it up! C'mon guys, let's just go to breakfast!" Harry's son interjected as the boy and the girl eyed each other murderously. Just like Harry always did for Hermione and me, Ron recalled.

"We need to follow them, maybe we can find out what time we're in!" Peter said excitedly, and Ron nodded.

"Go ask them what year it is, and what they're names are, and how old they are, and…" Ron directed Peter, who looked very nervous at having to be the one asking. Ron couldn't ask, of course. Surely his kids would recognize him like Harry had recognized James, and everyone knew that hadn't improved the situation! Look where it had gotten them! Ron took off the charm from Peter, but kept it on himself.

"Excuse me, um, yes, could I just ask you a couple things?" Peter asked timidly as the next generation turned around to face him.

"Sure!" Ron's daughter said brightly, and Ron felt a swell of pride to see that she was wearing a Prefect badge. The Weasley tradition continues! He thought happily to himself.

"Are you new here, I don't think I've seen you here before." Harry's son asked politely. Peter nodded vigorously.

"Yes, I, er, just transferred here! I'm, um, John Brown!" Peter lied, and Ron let out a breath of relief. Had Peter told them his real name, one of them might know who he had been and how he was, well, a traitor. Ron was reminded of this again, feeling that it was very odd to be traveling through time with his former/future pet rat and the person who would ultimately bring about the death of Harry's parents. Very odd.

"Nice to meet you, John! I'm Anne Weasley, but everyone calls me Annie. And this is my twin brother Charlie, and my cousin Sirius Potter!" Annie introduced the group.

Peter's eyes widened a little to hear that Harry had named his son after Sirius, but Ron was rather touched by this. It had been really hard for Harry since Sirius's death, with Harry always blaming himself for it and missing his godfather so immensely. Ron also noticed that Sirius Potter was a Prefect. AND HE HAD TWINS! TWINS! Ron laughed as he imagined Hermione's face when he told her that she was going to have twins! Another thing Ron found unusual from Annie's introductions was that she had said that Sirius was her and Charlie's cousin. That could only mean…

Harry and Ginny? Together? Married? Ron felt weak, his little sis and his best friend! Talk about strange! Better than Michael Corner or Dean Thomas… he reminded himself, smiling.

And his son's name was Charlie! Why had he named his son Charlie? What had happened to his brother Charlie? Ron sat down with his head pounding as Annie explained to Peter at length about Gryffindor House. Too much information at one time, that was for sure!

"Dumbledore!" Harry exclaimed suddenly, causing James to jump.

"What about him?" James asked curiously after his heart rate had returned to normal.

"If anyone can help us, it's Dumbledore! We should go ask him!" Harry explained.

"But we already told him that you were my cousin. And what'll we tell him about the others who are elsewhere in time?" James wondered, feeling that Dumbledore might not be too pleased to learn that his students were messing around with time travel.

"Maybe he won't ask too many questions, I can just tell him I got sucked into a time vortex without any warning, which is pretty true!" Harry told him, and James agreed that it was the truth.

"When should we- ? James began, but was cut off to find that the Headmaster was standing right behind Harry. Harry looked at him curiously and turned around to see who James was staring at.

"Hello Potter cousins! How was your day, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, and Harry gulped in surprise.

"Actually, that's what we wanted to talk to you about, Professor. Do you think we could explain in your office?" James smiled tentatively, and Dumbledore nodded, his blue eyes searching Harry and James's faces.

"Very well, then! Follow me!" And with that Dumbledore set off with Harry and James following.

Harry found it funny that his office looked much the same as it had in his own time, and took a seat facing Dumbledore behind his desk.

"Now then, what seems to be the trouble?" Dumbledore asked curiously. James explained that Harry wasn't his cousin, but was actually his son from the future, who had been swept here when a time vortex in the Hogwarts of the future sucked him in. James had found him here and Harry had explained it all to him. Then Lily found them and James told her that Harry was his cousin, and so on.

Dumbledore listened intently, and Harry was amazed at how calm Dumbledore looked when hearing that Harry had come from a different time. James finished and looked at Dumbledore uncertainly.

"D'you think you can help me get back?" Harry asked timidly. Dumbledore smiled.

"Yes, I can get you back! And I was wondering, are your unusual green eyes inherited from a certain Lily Evans?" Dumbledore slyly smiled.

"Yes sir, they are." Harry answered, but Dumbledore was staring at James.

"I had a feeling about you and Ms. Evans… just a strange feeling! Funny how it will all work out! But never mind! You want to go back to the future Harry Potter?" Dumbledore snapped out of his odd state, and Harry nodded.

"To the time chamber, then!" James and Harry exchanged surprised looks. There was a time chamber?

Dumbledore led them out of his office and down a hallway that neither boy had ever been down before. He opened the door at the end of the hall, and motioned for them to come in.

It was a most unsual room, with what looked like a cross between a glass elevator and a large hour glass, but without the sand. Next to the odd contraption was what looked like a lever on a wheel with many minute numbers along it. Dumbledore spotted the confused looks on their faces and smiled.

"Welcome to the Hogwarts Time Chamber! Now what year are you from, Mr. Potter?"

"1996, November 4, 1996." Harry answered, still eyeing the elevator thing with interest.

"Interesting! Now, just step inside the glass there." Dumbledore opened the door into the elevator and Harry stepped in apprehensively. "Just wait a moment, I've only done this once before. You might want to say your goodbyes, James, I'll tell you when I'm about to send him!"

James nodded and stepped into the elevator with Harry. "Well, it has been really interesting, Harry! I hope Ginny can make it back to your time, and the others get back too!" James smiled, shaking Harry's hand. Harry felt empty, he didn't want to say goodbye to his father.

"Too bad I didn't' get to learn more about the future, that would have been cool." James remarked, and Harry also wondered if he had told James about what was going to happen if things would have turned out differently…

Outside of the elevator Dumbledore was trying to move the lever over, but it seemed that it was stuck. "I thought we had fixed this thing after last time! At least it doesn't take a day to fire up anymore! Why…. Won't …. this…. Thing… budge…? Dumbledore heaved on the lever.

"Kind of feels weird, saying good bye knowing that I won't see you again for another 25 years… but I guess we'll meet again in the future!" James smiled at Harry, who felt his throat tighten painfully. His father was an amazing guy, and after spending a day with him he had to say good bye… why hadn't he told him?

Harry hugged James tightly, taking James completely by surprise. It's not like he's never going to see me again! He thought, wondering why Harry was acting so weird.

Dumbledore backed up, preparing to throw his entire weight at the stubborn lever. Suddenly, his foot got caught and he tripped. Instinctively he reached out for the nearest thing to prevent himself from falling, and unfortunately it was the lever. Pulling the lever backwards instead of forwards, and accidentally hitting the start button, the elevator glowed.

James and Harry looked up, startled. Dumbldore watched from the floor as the elevator/hour glass rumbled, and made a flushing noise. The next instant James and Harry were spiraling downwards and out of sight.

Dumbledore stood up slowly, still in shock of what he had done. He peered at where the lever was pointing on the wheel. 1943. "Oh my God." Was all he could say.