Now to take a step back. This chapter should give you a better idea of what's going on.

Chapter 2

Proposition

Ministry of Magic - Minister of Magic's office

Evening After Departure

"Do you think it worked?"

The odd look in her eye gave him pause, but it soon faded. "The Unspeakables were hopeful. Everything appeared to proceed as anticipated and the subject is gone-"

"You mean Harry Potter," she interjected.

"Yes," the Minister nodded tiredly. "Potter. Still, it is impossible to know for certain one way or the other."

"But what do you think, dear?" his wife asked, massaging his shoulders from behind his chair. "What are your instincts telling you?"

"I do not know," he repeated softly, closing his eyes as he enjoyed her touch. "I believe that if Potter succeeds, we will have acquired a powerful magical artifact to help us in this coming war. And if not, well, I will not be the only one that feels we are much better off without him here to complicate matters."

The massage ended there, unfortunately. He opened his eyes in disappointment, sighing as he rotated around to look at his beautiful spouse. "If only I had the time to enjoy your massages everyday, Pen."

She smiled slightly, nodding. "Yes, if only. But how long must we wait before we know if he was successful?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "As I said, we don't know. It depends on how quickly Potter can retrieve it, assuming he manages to arrive there unharmed in the first place. All we can do now is wait, and in the meantime prepare against our enemies in every way we can."

His wife pouted at the answer, looking back to him. "Your meeting with him yesterday...can I view it?"

He sent her an indulgent smile. "You know I've already discussed this with you more than I should have - this is classified information," he reminded her. Before she could voice her disagreement, however, he conceded. "But yes, I suppose you can. I do value your advice, dear. Maybe you'll see something that I've missed."

Her face lit up at his response and she turned to the cabinet standing in the corner of the room. "Can we do it now?"

"Yes of course," Percy Weasley nodded, a bit exasperated as she hastily pulled out the Pensieve. His wife always was the impatient one. "Go ahead without me, the memory should be in the bowl."

He'd already been through it several times too many, he'd rather not see it again. Harry Potter had a way of getting under people's skin regardless of whether or not he had the intention to, even the normally so rigidly composed Draco Malfoy was no exception it seemed. Yes, he'd very much prefer not to further agitate his thoughts with musings of Potter. Nevertheless, as his wife dipped into the Pensieve, all the Minister of Magic found himself thinking of was yesterday's meeting.

Department of Mysteries - East Sector

Day Before Departure

"Has he been secured?"

"Yes, sir," his Undersecretary confirmed. "You can see him when you're ready."

"Very well," Percy said reluctantly, habitually adjusting his glasses as his young aide ducked out of the chamber with a nod. Looking to one of the two others still present, he sighed. "And this is absolutely necessary?"

The homely witch in Unspeakable robes glanced at her companion on the right. "Yes. In accordance with wizarding law, something of this magnitude requires the Minister's presence."

"So you believe he will agree to this?" Percy asked doubtfully, looking at the other wizard.

"He will. He has no reason not to," the Head Unspeakable replied tersely, a tall but plain-looking man with short white hair. "Unfortunately, we cannot force him to accept, but it will not come to that. The incentives are enough that he will see reason."

"Potter is stubborn, Minister," Draco Malfoy drawled as he stepped through the door behind them. "This is unwise. Even if he agrees, who's to say he won't sabotage everything out of spite?"

"Malfoy," the Head Unspeakable greeted distastefully, looking to the Minister. "Who approved this?"

The blonde pureblood scowled, but before he could retort Percy spoke up, "I did, Adrian. I value Mr. Malfoy's input."

There was silence as the Head Unspeakable swallowed his response, though considerable dissent remained swirling within his hazel eyes.

"Well? Do you disagree?" Malfoy spouted. "Giving Potter this kind of freedom could be disastrous. Relying on him for something of this importance..."

"Your feelings on Potter's existence are well known, Malfoy," Adrian deadpanned, unimpressed.

"So you believe it is a good idea sending off a wizard we've imprisoned for the last three years, in the wild hope that he will follow through for us?" The Malfoy patriarch scoffed in disbelief. "Your mind truly has decayed in your old age, hasn't it, Hale?"

"He will be under Oath and a binding contract!" the Head Unspeakable growled, his growing impatience clear. "You do not even have all of the information, yet you complain just because he is your enemy."

"The minister has filled me in, I assure you."

"Then you know Potter is the only option. No one else would stand even the slightest chance of surviving the Trip, no matter how much any of us likes it. And trust me, I hate it just as much as you do given the atrocities he's committed in the past, but Potter is the only one in the UK. It's either him or no one!"

"Then let it b-"

Hale snarled. "You should not be down here in the first place, Malfoy! Neither you nor your opinions belong here."

This time the man's ire turned to the Minister.

"Enough!" Percy declared sharply, brokering no further argument. "Draco has my blessing, Adrian. He is an important adviser and you will respect my decision to bring him into this. Now, you both make valid points, but our choices are undeniably limited at the moment."

Percy closed his tired eyes, running a hand through red hair heavily streaked with grey. "Harry Potter is our best shot at this," he stated firmly, gaze returning to the two of them. "We shall get him to agree by whatever means necessary. I am sorry, Draco, but this is the way it must be."

Malfoy didn't respond immediately, his lip slowly curling in disgust. He finally turned to face the Minister directly. "Potter may be powerful, but trusting him to do anything for us is a mistake! Have you not considered hiring out internationally? Certainly there is at least one out there in the world that would do it for the right price."

"Of course we have," Hale answered in annoyance. "We've gone over every possible option. Potter is the only choice here. Stop wasting our time!"

Percy sent the man a warning look before addressing his closest adviser. "Draco, there are only half a dozen worldwide. All of them are entrenched in the loyalties of their own country. None of them would agree to something like this, to the strengthening of our country in this way."

Malfoy looked decidedly unhappy, but managed to impart a reluctant nod.

"Excellent," the Head Unspeakable sardonically replied, forcefully moving things forward. "Now, if we are ready to begin..."

"Yes," Percy allowed, brushing aside Hale's tone. "Let us go in."

Department of Mysteries - East Sector Holding Areas

Nodding to the nondescript wizard posted outside the steel door, Percy moved through the doorway as soon as it opened, closely followed by Draco Malfoy and the two Unspeakables. The small visitation room they entered was bare, apart from a chair and table in its center. Unnatural light filled every nook and cranny of the room, leaving no shadows. The origin of this light was up for debate, as there were no possible sources in sight.

Squeezing into the crowded space, the four visitors squinted warily against the harsh light. While the group circled around one cramped side of the table, the lone figure perched in the uncomfortable seat opposite their position peered at them with open interest. None of them said anything right away, taking in the man's appearance. It always jarred anyone that had known him when he was younger.

He wore nothing but a dirty shirt and a pair of plain, frayed shorts that provided the barest hints of modesty. The healthy body frame the man once sported before imprisonment was no longer present, having degraded throughout his sentence. And while his emaciation was not severe, the skinniness was still quite noticeable in comparison to his previous stature only three years prior.

The raven black hair the man inherited from his father had become long and untidy, no doubt from the extended period of not being properly cared for. This, in combination with his unshaven face altered his appearance a startling amount, so much so that were it not for the dreaded lightning bolt scar, he could easily be mistaken for an entirely different person.

And even that erstwhile symbol of the Chosen One had faded. One had to look very closely to even realize it was there. What had once been a striking beacon of hope and the mark of a hero was now merely a faint marring of Potter's forehead, shrouded in infamy as the emblem of a revolutionary. Its real significance was only truly known by those old enough to remember the struggles of the past, a number it seemed was rapidly dwindling as time passed.

Yet, all of that was nothing compared to how the man before them looked as if he couldn't be any older than 20. Someone might think just that if they saw him strolling through the Hogsmeade, but every occupant in that room knew better. Harry Potter took the contrasting measurements in physical and mental age to a whole new level.

Potter's gaze swept between them, waiting for one of them to explain why they were there.

"It's been quite awhile, Percy. Almost a decade since we've been in the same room, yeah?" he finally said when nobody spoke up.

Percy grimaced, but otherwise did not respond.

One corner of Potter's mouth curved up slightly as he turned to the female Unspeakable. "Hannah."

"Hello, Harry," the brunette witch greeted with a polite nod. Wispy hints of grey could be seen streaming through her hair, much like the minister, though to a lesser extent.

Potter's gaze passed over the already sneering Malfoy, clearly knowing it would infuriate him, and landed on the other Unspeakable. "And you," he paused, tilting his head at the Head Unspeakable. "I've seen you before. Hale, right?"

The Head Unspeakable grunted unconcernedly. "Adrian Hale, though I do wonder how you know that. I don't recall any occasion where I saw you in person, Mr. Potter."

Potter just smiled, evoking a frown from the Unspeakable. The man's thick eyebrows furrowed, all hints of civility draining from his face.

"Enough of the niceties, Potter," Hale leaned forward, putting his hands down on the table in front of him. "We have a proposition for you."

Potter stared, the smirk on his face sobering. "Oh? You need my help?"

"Mr. Potter," Percy began importantly. "There is something we need done, something that would greatly assist this country in these hard times. Something only you can accomplish, or rather, can survive."

Potter's eyes met the Minister's in rueful amusement. "You really haven't changed much, have you Percy?"

"Potter," the Head Unspeakable warned.

The infamous icon rolled his eyes. "What?"

"Just listen to what we have to say, Harry," Abbott implored, her round face serious. "You won't regret it."

Harry looked at her for a moment, before turning his less than impressed gaze back to the Minister. The reason for her presence here was not lost on him. Hannah was likely brought in to this meeting in an attempt to take advantage of the semi-friendly relationship he shared with her from back in their school days, all so that they would have a better chance of getting whatever they wanted from him. Still...

"Alright. I'm listening."

Percy adjusted his spectacles. "Yes, well, as I was saying. We need your help. There's something we'd like you to...procure for us. It's a bit more comp-"

"And what would I get in return?" Potter cut the man off, almost lazily. "Why would I help you with anything?"

"See?" Malfoy jumped in, having been quiet up until then. "Potter w-"

"Ah, Malfoy," Potter interrupted again, his eyes very much twinkling with mirth as his mouth twisted. "Didn't see you there, old friend. How long has it been anyway? Time hasn't been very kind to you, I see."

The sneer the blonde pureblood directed Potter's way could have melted a Muggle.

"Oh, and how is dear Aurora these days?" Potter continued unabated, his mocking tone adding fuel to the already simmering fire. "Last time I saw her...well, on second thought you probably don't want to hear that story. But this other time we-"

"One more word out of you about her, Potter, and I'll..." Malfoy trailed off threateningly, his hand tightly gripping the handle of the wand at his side.

"Malfoy," Hale snapped, glaring at the fuming blonde in irritation. "He's baiting you. Calm down, or leave." Then the man whirled on the opposite party. "And Potter, the Minister was getting to your compensation. You'd do well to hear him out."

Percy cleared his throat, intent on pushing things along, but Potter shifted his glance back to the silenced Malfoy, his voice lowering. "What's that you'll do, Malfoy? I've got it pretty bad at the moment, locked up like this, so go ahead. Feel free to try your hand at making it worse...I dare you."

"Don't," Hannah spoke up quickly, thrusting a hand out in Malfoy's direction. The blonde in question appeared to really be thinking about taking up Potter on his offer, his wand raised in fury. "You fire any spells at him and the runes of my containment ward could overload. That's what he wants you to do, Malfoy, so he can escape."

The Malfoy patriarch slowly lowered his wand, regaining himself as Abbott's words washed over him until all that was left was the hint of a sneer on his face.

Harry blew out an annoyed breath. "Oh, come on. Way to ruin all my fun."

Hannah sent him an 'I'm-not-having-any-of-it' look, to his apparent disgruntlement. Hale observed all of this with a stony expression, his previous interference having done nothing to halt Potter's taunting.

"If you're finished acting like schoolchildren," Hale finally said, his tone biting as he glared venomously between them. "Listen. Now."

With a shaky breath, Percy started once again. "Mr. Potter. We are here to talk about the future. Your future."

Potter considered them skeptically.

"My future, you say? Must be rather important, if the Minister of Magic and the Head Unspeakable are visiting me personally. Well then, how can I help you?" Potter asked, blatant sarcasm dripping from his every word.

"Mind yourself, Potter," Hale admonished levelly, giving the wizard another stern look. "I won't tell you again. You are being given an opportunity here."

Abbott leaned forward, agreeing. "Really, Harry. Listen to us."

Potter scowled.

"That's the second time you've said that, Hannah, but I've yet to hear anything worth listening to." He looked at them blankly, finally scoffing. "I guess I don't have another option though, do I? I'm stuck here, thanks to you."

Hannah gave him a short nod, following his gaze down to the collective runic drawings on the floor surrounding his chair.

Potter tilted his head, curiously eyeing his feet. "Are these the same as last time?"

"Yes."

"Ah," Potter answered somberly, his expression turning wry. "Can't say I'm surprised, but I have to admit. I was hoping you'd gotten lazy transporting me. Would have made breaking out so much easier."

Unspeakable Abbott shook her head. "You know as well as anybody that you can't break through my wards, Harry. We've talked about this. Now, please, stop interrupting. Minister, go ahead."

Potter snorted.

"Yes," Percy once again cleared his throat. "As I was saying. There is a...job, I suppose would be the most apt term, that we'd like you to complete for us. If you accept, then I would be willing to make some concessions to you and your situation here."

"Such as?" Potter prompted, an eyebrow raised.

"Your freedom for one, and an official pardoning of your crimes," Percy returned without blinking, a sharp contrast to his earlier hesitancy. "Although I must caution you, it will be dangerous. You probably won't survive. We have no guarantee you will even arrive where we wish to send you. But, you are our best hope in these desperate times."

"So, what is it then...this job?" Interest sparked in Potter's eyes. "And what makes you want me for it? Isn't there some other lackey you have that would dutifully step in front of an AK for you if you asked?"

"We're getting to all that. Tell me," Hale said. "What do you know of Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem?"

Potter shrugged. "Just that it supposedly made whoever wore it smarter. Voldemort used it as one of his Horcruxes and it was destroyed, but that's common knowledge to you Unspeakables. I believe you even have it's blackened pieces locked up somewhere down here. Why do you ask?"

"You destroyed it, correct?"

"Yes, it contained a portion of Riddle's vile soul. Your point?"

"We need it. One that is whole," was all the Head Unspeakable said.

Potter looked bewildered. "The Diadem? It was unique. There was only one in the world and you already have its shattered remains. How exactly does this have anything to do with me?"

"That is why you're here, Potter," Malfoy broke in, standing stiffly near the edge of the table. His full signature sneer leapt back onto his face as he met the eyes of his nemesis. "You're going to get us a new one."

Potter stared at the Malfoy patriarch, before chuckling. "Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't help you there. I may be powerful, but my skill is in combat and a few other obscure branches of magic. Not crafting or repairing magical artifacts. Everyone knows that."

"You misunderstand, Mr. Potter," Percy stated seriously. "Draco did not mean for you to create a new Diadem or even bring about its repair. We would like you to find and retrieve us a different Diadem."

Potter's brow knitted as he opened his mouth, before closing it and opening it again. "Forgive me if I'm a bit confused here, but didn't we just talk about this? The Diadem is destroyed. It was one of a kind - you can't just get a new one because you want it! Where would you have me look? Merlin's palace?"

"Harry," Abbott sighed. "You've heard of alternate universes, right?"

Potter was silent for moment, gauging whether or not he was being had. Eventually he must have concluded that the female Unspeakable was dead serious, and cleared his dry throat.

"Like parallel dimensions and all that?" he asked doubtfully. "But how does that have anything to do with..."

"Yes, Potter," Hale confirmed as he saw Potter's eyes narrow in realization. "The job is for you to grab Ravenclaw's Diadem from another world and bring it back. Do that for us and you'll be a free man."

"And this is possible?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause.

"I admit, I've read what little material I've come across on the subject, but I've never heard of any real attempts." Potter studied the four of them for a moment. "As far as I know, there has only ever been speculation and theories about such a thing. How do you know this is going to work?"

"While it is true that there have been no successful experiments thus far, the idea has been researched quite thoroughly and we believe given the right subject with enough magical power, a trip could be successful," Percy readily answered. "Unspeakable Abbott has been leading her research team on this project for the last 5 years."

Hannah nodded. "Much of what we've learned has been from indirect means, but we're confident enough to test sending a wizard of your caliber, Harry. We're even able to theoretically adjust certain parameters of the world you'll land in, as long as the initial send-off is successful of course."

Potter looked thoughtful. "Sounds...intriguing, and at the same time, dreadfully risky. I do have one question. Why Ravenclaw's Diadem? What's so important about the thing? You going to wear it, Percy? Because I don't know how much good that will do you."

The Minister's mouth tightened in disapproval at the slight. "The remnants of the Diadem have also been researched extensively. We've discovered there was more to Rowena Ravenclaw's artifact then merely increasing one's mental prowess. If we can get a hold of another one, it would give us an advantage in the coming years of war. That, however, is all you need to know about at this point in time, Mr. Potter."

Potter frowned, but did not push any further.

"I still think this is a mistake," Malfoy complained waspishly. "Potter cannot be relied upon."

Hale payed Malfoy no attention, searching Potter's eyes for any inclination of his thoughts. "Do you accept the job or not? Be warned, you'll be forced to take an Unbreakable Vow and sign a magical contract ensuring you complete the task. The contract will also outline the terms of your release should you return alive."

"Why both? Shouldn't one or the other do?"

Hale gave him a knowing smirk, shaking his head. "Nice try, Potter. You know as well as we do that Oaths and Contracts each have their individual strengths and weaknesses when it comes to control and regulation. This way we won't have any mishaps involving loopholes, which I know you'll appreciate."

Harry shot him a baleful look, to the other man's amusement. "Uh huh, I'm sure I will. You do understand that you'll be unnecessarily handicapping me though, don't you?"

"Maybe," Hale conceded lightly, his lips curving upward. "Regardless, I'm sure you'll manage to complete the task."

"Right, of course," Potter muttered. "I don't know. This kind of sounds like a suicide mission to me. Are you certain this isn't just a clever way to get rid of me?"

Percy coughed. "I will be honest with you, Mr. Potter. I have never liked you, not when I first met you and you poisoned my family against me and definitely not now. But, this is very important, so important that the outcome of this war against the overwhelming American and Japanese forces could very well depend on the success or failure of your mission. That is how desperate we are. Were we not so worried, we would never attempt something so brazen as sending you off like this, but unfortunately that is not the case."

Potter sent him a grim look, "Fair enough, I suppose. The feelings have always been mutual."

Percy blinked. "Yes, as I expected, but I am not finished. Your violent history and the overall slim chances of success make this gambit even riskier, yet as Minister I must still try if there is even a glimmer of hope, for it means the difference between the victory and defeat of this nation. The only high point in all of this is that should you fail, at least I nor the rest of the wizarding world will ever see you again and you'll be a problem for somebody else. You'll never darken our doorstep again."

Everyone was quiet after the Minister stopped talking, even Potter for a moment.

"Well," Harry pierced the silence in amusement. "I can finally see how you got to be the Minister. But tell me, Perce, did you practice that speech beforehand?"

Hale expertly cut off any reply from the visibly irritated Minister. "Your personal affects will also be returned to you before you go, Potter, although you shouldn't find yourself needing much apart from your wand if you're smart about it. If you survive the initial Trip there, it should be a quick affair after that. Stay low, find the Diadem, take it, then activate the return device."

"So that's how I'd get back? Some device?"

"Yes," Hannah took over. "It's designed much like the arrays we'll be using to send you off, but it will trace your path on the way there, so to speak, so that it can then follow the path back to this world when you activate it."

Potter dipped his head in acknowledgement, his brow creasing as he processed everything. There was another moment of contemplation before he suddenly shook his head, the serious look on his face turning to disbelief.

"And what if I can't find the Diadem? No, better yet, how am I going to find it? It could be anywhere in that world. Or what if it's destroyed as it has been here?"

Unspeakable Abbott glanced over at her superior before answering.

"Yes, there are many uncertainties here. You'll have to figure out your best course of action once you arrive, and it is very possible that there will be complications. Nobody is denying any of that, Harry, but rest assured we will assist the most we are able. For instance, you remember me mentioning that we can somewhat designate the dimension you'll land in? Well, if we are correct in our adjustments, then you will be sent to a world not much different than ours. We obviously can't specify every little detail about the world you go to, but if we also ensure that you arrive in a time where you knew the Diadem's location it should make it quite easy for you to obtain."

Potter appeared doubtful. "Now there's time travel involved too? This is getting ridiculous!"

"I suppose that's one way to put it," Hannah remarked slowly. "But it will only help you. Think about what I just said, Harry! The best we can do for you is to send you to a time where you knew exactly where the pristine Ravenclaw's Diadem was located..." she trailed off as she noticed Potter's dawning look of understanding.

"So-"

"Yes, Potter," Malfoy haughtily cut in. "Our Hogwarts days."

"Your seventh year, to be precise," Percy added. "It was at the end of that year that you destroyed the original Diadem, yes?"

"Yeah," Potter affirmed distractedly, now deep in thought. "It was at Hogwarts."

Hale straightened up behind the table. "So you should have no trouble getting it now that you know its location."

"And that's it then?" Potter suddenly asked, as if he was saying it to them as much as he was saying it to himself. "All I have to do is get thrown into a different dimension, steal their Diadem, and make the return trip? Without dying."

"To put it simply, yes, that is the job," Hale confirmed, pausing before going on. "Now, the question is, do you accept?"

"We will of course go over more of the smaller details should you agree to this undertaking," Percy commented carefully, watching him for any signs of his response.

Potter was quiet, looking down unseeingly at the tabletop. Finally, he raised his head, eyes flashing.

"Not sure I can say no with my freedom on the table like this."

"So you accept?"

"Yeah. I accept."

"Excellent, then let us proceed..."