Harry Potter and the Changing World: Chapter 3
The walk to the Headmaster's office seemed to take forever, and thoughts of concern flashed through him for his friends in his own world.
"Reeses Pieces..." muttered Alberforth as he quickly moved up the staircase.
Following closely behind, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of the familiarity of these steps. How often he had gone up these steps. At their peak, what he had learned.
Finally reaching the top, they entered the chamber.
The office looked so... perfect. The instruments buzzing on the desks and shelves, monitoring the safety of the castle and its charges. The bookshelves, filled with such deep ancient lore. Yet none of it had been enough to help him defeat Voldemort.
"... I need to get in touch with him immediately..." Alberforth's voice fading into awareness as he made the fire call to find Albus, Harry continued taking in the room.
The perch... Harry's eyes looked up as he saw the beautiful sight of the pheonix Fawkes once again. Fawkes cocked his head, gazing into Harry's eyes, seeing their sorrow and anguish.
Let my song help you, if only for a moment Harry heard in his mind, as the pheonix began to sing. Harry listened, feeling the song fill the room, yet unable to penetrate the pain in his heart.
Ashamed of himself, of the pain and darkness that filled him, that not even the most magestic creature of light could break, he looked away.
Albrforth watched this exchange curiously, feeling his own burdens seem to lift away as he listened to the pheonix song. When the pheonix fell silent, Alberforth first felt as he always had after hearing the song; a sense of peace. However this time the pheonix's disappointment at being unable to aid the intended of her song became evident, and although unspoken and now unsung, Alberforth understood her loss at finding someone unable to be lifted by her song.
Harry had walked over to the wall with the bookcases and was remembering his many lessons from them, when the floo fired up and a head popped in.
Harry heard the roar of the fire and sighed in relief, thinking it was Albus. We can finally get this sorted out, Albus can help me figure out what happened, he thought. Turning to see the head the voice that spoke through was just as familiar, but completely different than what he expected.
"Alberforth, its Remus. The Godric's Hollow is under attack, their mark has appeared in the sky. Please, send whoever you can. We need to save them."
Alberforth's face drained of color. "Them? ... Remus... we'll get there as soon as we can, but you know no one has ever survived. God no... hopefully they got Sarah out before they were over run."
"I know they're still there, please. We need to stand up to them, I'm going now." Remus yelled as the connection broke.
Alberforth walked over to the headmaster's char, seemingly oblivious to the world around him.
"I've failed Albus, as well as the Potters. No one can defeat these monsters..."
Harry listened, taking in the information and coming to new conclusions. The Death Eaters are likely not this world's biggest problem. The people here are too afraid to fight back, giving up on the victims before the attack is finished.
The thought rolled through his mind, unbidden but screaming and crying in his blood.
My family is in danger.
Thoughts of his own world vanished, and Harry's next words broke through the silent death that had seemed to coat the room.
"Are they strong?"
Alberforth looked up, compelled to respond. "Terribly so."
Harry turned, and began to walk towards the door.
"Wait! What are you going to do? Don't you understand how strong they are?" asked Alberforth.
"I'll bring them back." No anger, no fear was conveyed in his voice, though Alberforth began to see the magical aura beginning to swell around Harry.
"You may die. Albus has only faught them to a standstill."
"I will save them. I'm not that easy to kill. Have the appropriate healing potions ready when I get back, and if Albus returns, have him ready a magical transfusion for my core, just in case."
Alberforth looked on as Harry walked out of the office, sure he would never see the man again. Hopefully Albus would return soon, and could save them.
The scene at Godric's Hollow was even worse than Alberforth's worst imaginings.
The gate leading into the property broken, laying smoking off to the side. The ward stones, having tried and failed in their duty to protect the estate, lay shattered around the property as the enemy blew through them.
Inside the house, the assault on the family had already begun.
"Do you fear us now, blood traitor?" yelled the man in black, as he punched a bound James Potter in the stomach.
Lily and Sarah Potter could only look on as the Potter patriarch was slowly having the life beat out of him.
"cough... never..." said James, wincing.
"You should have joined us you know. Our master values skills like yours. You could have risen high among us."
Looking around briefly, James surveyed the team that had come to kill his family. The big man attacking him was muscular and terribly strong, and seemed to be the leader. There were other wizards, some that must have specialized in breaking the wards, some spirit channelers. Shivering, he realized there was a beast handler too.
God, please don't let my family suffer. At least Harry got out of this... thought James.
Lily looked around as well, noticing how the big man attacking James always seemed to look back at one of the smaller men behind the others, before he continued his attack.
Strange, she thought. I thought he was the leader...
Suddenly all the men stopped at the same time, closing their eyes.
"Someone's entering the perimeter! How is that possible, we put up our own wards against apparition and portkeys!"
"Fool! It must be the master using an archway!" said one of the men.
"The master? Why is he coming?" asked the big man.
The smaller man in the back suddenly walked to the front of the group and began to speak in a commanding tone.
"It is not for us to question. He must want to take part in the festivities tonight. Get them on the ground, kneeling, to show their respect for our lord." said the man, as the archway appeared in the center of the room.
The men pushed the Potter family to the ground, forcing their heads down. Fear ran through them, as they felt that this was likely to be the end.
All the men were down on one knee, heads bowed, as the Potter family stayed shoved completely down to the ground, when the archway closed.
The next words spoken by the recently emerged figure shocked the Potters, for it was a voice they knew well.
"You made a mistake coming here." said Harry.
Thanks for the reviews everyone, I've really appreciated them. Sorry this is a teensy bit shorter than my last few chapters, I'll post again as soon as I can. Your comments have really encouraged me to keep writing, I hope you continue to enjoy this fic. Keep letting me know you're out there:) Frosty