AUTHOR NOTE:

Here is chapter three! Things are starting to get interesting! It's a bit longer, but I've heard most readers prefer a longer chapter!

Be sure to check out 'the story so far' at the end of the chapter!

DISCLAIMER:

I write works of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. All characters used in the stories were created and owned by J.K. Rowling, I do not claim them as my own or claim the world they are represented in as my own. The stories I write are invented by me, and are not portrayed or believed to be part of J.K. Rowling's story. These stories are simply for entertainment purposes. I would like to thank J.K. Rowling for creating the magical world of Harry Potter, and introducing me to a story which continues to make an impact on my life today.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER:

The Order relocates. Hermione fixes the time turner.

Harry Raises Harry: Chapter Three

Harry laid there for a moment, unmoving, his mouth still open. If he weren't so cold, he would have thought it a dream. The full moon was bright, almost blinding. He wondered how he'd gotten there. Was is apparation? A portkey? Why Privet Drive? And why was Ginny there?

Then, as if the gears in his mind had clicked into place, he remembered his last conversation with Ginny. She wanted to go with him to the past. She had begged and begged, and as much as he wanted her to go, he was worried she would get hurt. He knew there was no promise the time turner would work the way they'd hoped. He assumed she must have activated it after they'd fallen asleep. For a split second, he felt a little betrayed, but then he was just thankful they'd both made it in one piece.

Suddenly, Harry heard a crowd of laughing children nearby. Noticing how odd it might look to see two adults in their PJs lying in the middle of the street, he turned to Ginny to wake her. He began to gently shake her, and soon she began to stir. He brushed her hair back, and she rolled over to face him. Harry jumped back in shock at her appearance.

Her brows furrowed in confusion, "Harry?"

Her hand flew to her mouth at the unfamiliar voice. Harry didn't know what to say, and he leaned in close to make sure he wasn't mistaken. Sure enough, the eyes he looked at everyday in the mirror were gazing back at him.

"Mum?" he asked, dumbstruck.

She gave him a good smack to the head, "No you git, it's me!"

She brought her hand to her mouth again. Slowly, she leaned toward him, her nose almost touching his. Finally she said, "Oh Merlin… are you... I mean you're Harry right?"

He nodded slowly, realization dawning on him, "Ginny?"

She nodded, "Er... Harry you look like… well older and you have blue eyes."

He responded, "You look like my mum." Pausing, he said, "Do I look like my…"

"…Your dad," she finished, nodding, remembering Harry's photo album of them.

They sat for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. The children had gone in an opposite direction, and the lack of noise became louder and louder with each passing moment. Finally, Harry let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and turned to Ginny, breaking the silence.

"What does this mean?" he asked her.

She shrugged, "I'm lost. Hermione is brilliant, but what if she did something wrong and now we are… well what are we?"

"We aren't in our bodies… but we have our memories from when we were, and we don't have memories from the bodies we are in, right?"

She nodded, "I only remember being Ginny."

He sighed, "I wish Hermione were here. She would know how to explain this, but we can agree it had something to do with that necklace, or are I wrong to assume you turned it in my sleep?"

She looked sheepish, "It was the only way I'd get to come." She murmured.

He reached for her hand and gave her a smile, "It's ok. We are both safe and that is what matters."

She reached up and felt for the time turner which was no longer there. "Harry do you have it?"

He felt and shook his head, "No," he felt his pockets too, "No wand either."

Her cheeks turned red, "I suppose we will have to get new… and surely the turner is still at Grimmuald Place. We can take it to Dumbledore and maybe he can help."

Down the street, the unmistakable Crack of apparation could be heard.

"Speak of the Devil…" Harry muttered under his breath.

He grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her to the sidewalk and they crouched behind some hedges, to be safe. Confirming it was Dumbledore, Harry turned to Ginny as the man made his way down the street with his deluminator.

"Do you think we can just walk up to him?" he asked.

She nudged him and tilted her head toward the home of the Dursleys. Harry watched for a moment, and through the shadows of night he recognized a familiar cat, which slowly transfigured into Professor McGonagall. He cursed under his breath, wondering how much of their conversation she was able to hear, if any, and what that may mean for them. Harry and Ginny watched as McGonagall rushed to Dumbledore. They could tell she was speaking rather rapidly to him just by watching how fast her lips were moving, and how out of breath she was when she'd finished, though they could only guess what she had told the old man. Dumbledore, wise and thoughtful as Harry remembered him, simply nodded and put a comforting hand on her. Ginny noticed how tense Harry had become, and reached down to lace her fingers through his. McGonagall and Dumbledore spoke for a few more moments. Then, Dumbledore gave her a friendly pat where his hand had rested on her shoulder, and slowly turned to the hedge where Harry and Ginny were crouched, as if summoning them to come out.

Harry turned to Ginny and spoke, "They might expect us to be under Polyjuice. Just follow behind me and do what I do. We have to pull this off perfectly, or our plans could be ruined."

Ginny nodded in response.

He slowly rose from the ground, releasing her hand and raising his own to show he was wandless. Ginny mirrored his actions, and followed just a few footsteps behind him. Harry held his breath as they stepped out into view, sure to keep in front of Ginny, should they begin throwing curses. Once they were in the middle of the street, Harry halted, not daring approach them. McGonagall and Dumbledore neither drew a wand, but McGonagall did look like she was prepared to at any moment. Dumbledore was no open book, but it was clear he was very thoughtful as he scrutinized them. Ginny stepped up to Harry's side, and he shot her a look before stepping in front of her again. She huffed and muttered something incoherent under her breath. Dumbledore slowly began to approach them, and McGonagall followed at his heels, trusting his judgment. Once he was within a few feet of them, Dumbledore spoke.

"I just saw the corpses of James and Lily a few minutes ago, so I believe you will understand when I say I do not trust you are who you appear to be."

Although he had little memory of his parents, Harry felt a sinking feeling at the thought of them dying just moments before he and Ginny arrived. And then to see Dumbledore, alive and well… it flooded him with a mixture of love for his old mentor and friend, and hatred for the vile bastard who took everything away from him. If it showed, however, nobody appeared to take note.

"Sir, I can assure you we are just as confused as you are. We have much to tell you, and much more to ask," Ginny said, stepping out from behind Harry. This time, however, Harry didn't push her back.

Dumbledore looked lost in thought for a moment. Finally, he appeared to come to a conclusion and said, "We can speak in my office at Hogwarts, but I must first wait here for a delivery of sorts. Perhaps Professor McGonagall can escort you back."

McGonagall shot a glare at Dumbledore, clearly showing she wasn't interested in being volunteered for the task at hand. While he was rationalizing wither her, Ginny nudged Harry and tilted her head at the approaching flying motorcycle. Harry watched for a moment, anxious almost. How would he feel when he saw himself as a baby? Remembering what his first goal of coming to the past was, he turned back to Dumbledore.

"Professor," Harry said, "I must make one request before we go."

Dumbledore gestured for him to continue.

"We mustn't leave Harry with these people. He can't stay," he replied, feeling odd about speaking in third person in reference to himself.

While McGonagall's brows shot into her hairline, Dumbledore remained unreadable.

McGonagall was livid, "Was that your plan? Pretend to be his parents and come sweep him away!? The poor boy has lost his parents! The wizarding world has lost its mind with all the excitement of You-Know-Who's disappearance, and you think it right to take advantage of that?"

Harry and Ginny shrunk back as their head of house scolded them. She was wrong, but she was a force to be reckoned with, and neither of them dare cross her.

Dumbledore calmed her, "Minerva, I'm sure there is a logical explanation for this. I feel these two are more than meets the eye. And as they said, they don't know why they're here or why they look that way."

McGonagall huffed, dissatisfied.

Dumbledore addressed the young couple in front of him, "I'm afraid a chain of events have been set in motion which makes it pertinent Harry stay with his remaining blood relatives."

Knowing what Dumbledore was referring to, Harry replied, "I believe I can present you with reason to believe the sacrificial protection charm will be just as efficient with someone other than Petunia Dursley."

Dumbledore paused for a moment, obviously intrigued by what they knew. He eventually answered, "Very well, I will meet you in my office shortly with Harry, though I make no promise he will not be returned here at a later time. I sense you have much to tell me, and if your only condition is he not be left here tonight, so be it. Now it's best you leave before Hagrid lands and recognizes you."

"I will meet you at the Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall asked them, still obviously irritated by their very presence. Harry didn't take it personally, he knew seeing them was like salt in a wound for her. A very fresh wound.

Harry began to nod, but Ginny spoke, "Neither of us have wands on us, can we each side-along with you?"

McGonagall shot a glare at the unnoticing Dumbledore. "Very well," she replied stiffly, holding out an arm for each.

Ginny latched on first, then Harry. As soon as his hand touched skin he felt the familiar feeling of being shoved through a rubber tube as they disapparated.

When they arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Harry realized they were in a backroom which was otherwise empty, though loud celebration could be heard through the paper-thin walls. The building was practically shaking with the booming chant of "You-Know-Who is dead! You-Know-Who is dead!"

McGonagall rushed them across the warm mahogany floor to an ornate fireplace in the corner of the room. "It's probably best you two go first, so as not to be seen should anyone walk in here," she told them firmly.

She held out a bag of Floo powder, and each of them took a handful. Harry stepped in first and shouted, "Dumbledore's Office!" and was promptly swept away in a tunnel of spinning ash. It spit him out in the familiar dwelling of the Headmaster, and he stumbled for a moment before gaining his balance.

He observed the room, noting it looked nearly the same as it did the very first time he walked in it at age eleven, though a few trinkets and gadgets were missing. Harry crossed the room and observed the portraits on the wall. Many of them were empty, as they had run off to other portraits among the castle to celebrate the victory in the war. There was one in particular who was still there: Phineas Nigellus Black.

"You," the portrait scowled. "You're that boy Sirius ran off with. Couldn't visit my other portrait for a week without hearing about that one."

"Sirius is a good man," Harry replied, almost annoyed.

"A good for nothing disgrace to his name, as are you."

Harry scowled and turned away, knowing how pointless it was to argue with a portrait of a dead guy. As he turned, green flames appeared in the fireplace, and he knew Ginny would soon be coming out. He walked across the room, and reached out to steady her as she flew out of the fireplace.

"Thanks," she said, brushing ash and soot from her pajama bottoms.

He led her over to Dumbledore's desk and helped her into a high-backed chair, and then sat in the other.

"This is going to be interesting," Ginny said.

Harry chuckled, "I think I'm prepared for it, though I wasn't expecting to have McGonagall involved."

As if summoned by her name, Professor McGonagall then stepped out of the fireplace steadily, a skill Harry and Ginny had yet to manage.

Harry and Ginny turned to her, and she addressed them, "I must check on my students; Merlin knows they will bring Gryffindor Tower down if I don't put an end to the party. The Headmaster will arrive shortly."

They both nodded, feeling like first years again under her intense glare. Once she had left, Ginny turned to Harry and asked, "How do you expect to convince him the blood shield isn't necessary?"

Harry smirked slightly, "I had one idea before we left, but I wasn't sure if it would truly work. Now that we are here, and under these circumstances, I have a second theory I'd like to test."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Dumbledore once told me while I can still call a place home where my mother's blood dwells, I cannot be harmed by Voldemort. My mother's blood does dwell in my aunt…" he turned to her, "But it is in me as well, and now I'm a separate body from myself… so therefore I could live with me, you see."

"But what if you don't have your blood? What if you now have James's blood?" she retorted.

He gave her a pointed look, as if she were missing the big picture.

Her eyes widened after a few moments, "Ohh… I see," she replied, "If that's the case, then,"

"Her blood is in you." He finished for her.

"Humpf… That's, well, that's odd to think about," she said, "My blood being your mother's blood."

He chuckled, "We will have to figure out some kind of potion or charm to give us back our original appearances, even if it's just in private; because until we do, I'm afraid I really just can't kiss you."

She smacked his arm playfully, "That's fine. I have no desire to kiss you when you look like your father either."

They were both in a fit of laughter when Dumbledore stepped out of the fireplace, holding baby Harry. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at the sight.

"Ah, love," he said, startling them with his unknown presence, "One of the most powerful forces on earth."

The two turned and watched as he walked around the desk and sat across from them. He laid a small basket with a sleeping baby Harry on his desk. Harry looked at himself, feeling indifferent, similar to looking at a picture of himself as a baby. Ginny looked at him in awe, full of love for the baby who would someday be the man sitting next to her.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore, "Love is the greatest weapon we have. Something Voldemort never understood."

Dumbledore leaned back more comfortably in his chair and began stroking his beard, "I see you don't fear saying his name… interesting… I myself have said the exact thing many times about love. Most people just think I'm off my rocker, few understand it."

"He thinks it a weakness, when it's truly a driving force," Ginny replied, "I rather pity him for it."

"Do elaborate," Dumbledore said intrigued.

She sent a glance at Harry, letting him know she knew what she was doing. "I suppose it's just a theory, but perhaps he knows nothing of love because he wasn't born into love. He was born in deceit, under the influence of a love potion, and the consequence is his inability to experience that greatest joy in life. I pity fate took it out on him, rather than his mother, though I don't dismiss everything he's done since. He was the result of coercion, and instead of fighting it, he gave in and now uses coercion to get what he wants. He will someday die a lonely, painful death."

Dumbledore was growing ever so more intrigued. He said, "You are quite wise. Not many know of his conception, in fact, not many even know he is a half-blood. You say he will someday die. You don't believe he just did?"

"I know he didn't," she replied firmly.

"How so?"

She turned to Harry and gestured for him to enlighten the headmaster. Harry cleared his throat and leaned forward, "Professor, what do you know of time travel?"

"Ah, time travel," he mused, "I have many theories. All I know for certain is it can be rather dangerous when misused."

"What is the longest trip through time you've ever heard of, Sir?" Ginny asked.

He stroked his beard and thought for a moment, "I believe the longest recorded trip through time was a little over a month. The poor man slept for a week straight, and then they had to keep him locked in a room so as not to run into himself and go mad."

Harry ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed, "Normally when one travels in time, they are much like a fly on the wall, yes? Reliving that time just from a different point of view, like an out-of-body experience?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, many believe in different dimensions and universes when it comes to time travel. I believe time is one straight line, and when a person uses a time turner, it sends that person farther back on that line, until they catch back up to present day. In the course of one second in our time, another could have just relived a week, you see."

Harry nodded, thinking he understood.

Dumbledore continued, "I sense you are not simply asking to make small talk?"

Ginny shook her head and spoke, "Sir… we have travelled quite far in time."

Dumbledore nodded knowingly, "I sensed as much. How far?"

Harry spoke, "Last night when we went to sleep, the date was May 16, 1998."

Harry was sure Dumbledore had stopped breathing as he quickly did the math in his head. Finally he said, "Impossible… I believe you, I do, but…"

For the first time ever, Harry saw Dumbledore at a loss for words.

Ginny cleared her throat, "We were at war with Voldemort, and we were losing. All time turners at the ministry had been destroyed, but I remembered seeing one at one of the Order's safe houses. We have a brilliant friend, brightest witch of our age, muggleborn too. She worked on it for just a week and said it would turn by the year instead of an hour. She also said it would allow us to change the past instead of just relive it."

"So he does come back…" Dumbledore sighed, "I assume it will be soon then? Why else would you travel so far back in time?"

Harry gestured to the sleeping baby. He didn't think he wanted to reveal his true identity yet, so he simply stated, "The prophecy."

Dumbledore wasn't surprised, "I see you have a greater amount of foreknowledge than I'd have guessed. Only a handful of people know about that prophecy."

Harry nodded, "It needs to stay that way. I know he is the only one who can defeat Voldemort. And I know how."

Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk, "You realize how dangerous that information is? If the ministry were to find out, they'd have you chained to a chair and under veritaserum. Why would you choose to tell me?"

Harry sighed and thought for a moment, finally he said, "A great mentor and friend of mine once said, ''You must choose between doing right and what is easy." It'd have been easy to take Harry once you'd left, take care of the business I intend to take care of, and kill Voldemort before he could reach for his wand. But the right thing to do is tell you what I know so you can prepare yourself and the Order. This is bigger than Harry, this is bigger than any one person. And I knew you could help. I knew you would want to. And the fact you are a brilliant Occlumens helps."

"You said you plan to kill Voldemort, but you know the prophecy," Dumbledore inquired.

Harry mentally kicked himself and then covered with what was not truly a lie, "I plan to weaken him to the point, that when the time comes, Harry will have to put minimal effort into defeating him."

Ginny spoke, "Voldemort did not return until the summer of 1995 in our previous timeline. We have plenty of time to worry about that. The more pressing matter at hand, in my opinion, is our appearances. Why do we look like Harry's parents?"

Dumbledore stepped away from his desk and to a large wall covered with books. He ran his long, wrinkly fingers across the spines of several books. After several minutes of searching, he finally said, "Aha!" and pulled out one of the books. It was a large tome with a purple cover and a silver scroll design around the edges, covered in ancient runes. Harry was sure it was probably an original work, and not a printed copy.

Dumbledore brought the book back to his desk and read for a few moments. He flipped through the first few pages, and then skipped several and was reading from the back half of the book, and then he turned the book upside down and repeated the process. He did this twice before looking up at their amused stares.

Dumbledore chuckled, "I assume neither of you took ancient runes?"

They both shook their heads.

He nodded knowingly, "It will do me no good to show you this book then. From what I gather, your time turner may have been no ordinary time turner. Tell me, did it look different from ministry turners?"

Harry thought for a moment, but Ginny beat him to it, "It had an emerald imbedded in the glass."

Dumbledore nodded and shuffled through the book, turning it at funny angles. He looked up again once he'd found what he was looking for. "Emeralds make great resurrection stones."

Harry considered it and then said, "Like the second Deathly Hallow."

Harry watched as excitement bubbled in Dumbledore's eyes, "What do you know of them?"

"Just that you shouldn't try to wear them when they are attached to a ring," he replied almost coolly. "So, do you reckon someone tried to imitate the resurrection stone's abilities?"

Dumbledore sighed, "It is quite possible. Though, you cannot truly bring back the dead. You have your soul, but another's body. Perhaps, it resurrects those who most recently died in the wizarding world? After all, there are only a handful of wizards and witches on this planet, and we don't die very often under normal circumstances."

"So this is merely an illusion?" Ginny asked, "We can go back to our regular appearances?"

Dumbledore furrowed his brow, "I believe this is now you, and if you were to go back to your regular appearance, that would be the glamour. But it's truly all technical. There are ways to alter appearances, I will try to get you books on that, and see what else I can find out. I'd very much like to see this time turner," he looked expectant.

Ginny turned to Harry and then looked back to Dumbledore and said, "We lost everything in the time travel. I'm glad we managed to keep our clothing on. But I know where to find it."

"Wonderful, where?" he asked.

Harry felt his throat tighten and croaked, "Grimmuald Place, though it'll be all locked up by now."

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

Ginny gasp, "Oh, Sirius is probably being carted off to the ministry now."

Dumbledore's eyes widened, "No… no they wouldn't have made Sirius their secret keeper… we all stated it was too obvious."

Harry nodded, "Pettigrew was their secret keeper. He gave them away. Sirius hunted him down. They had a duel and there were muggle casualties. They're all unregistered animagi. Peter cut off his finger and transformed into a rat. Disappeared into the sewers. The ministry officials found Sirius delusional, laughing, a street blown to pieces, body parts strewn everywhere and nothing but Peter's finger left. He was carted off to Azkaban without as much as a trial." Harry was fuming. Livid. "We need to get there before he is sentenced."

Ginny reached over and rubbed a soothing circle on his forearm. "Let's not jump into things. Think rationally."

Dumbledore mused, "Peter was the traitor. Perfect disguise too. Always seemed so shy. I think your appearance alone would clear him. They'd think Lily and James still alive, and you could vouch for Sirius. But then what to do with Harry? You had something you wished to speak to me about. The blood wards, yes?"

Harry took a calming breath and nodded. "Lily's sacrifice will protect Harry from Voldemort so long as he can call home a place where Lily's blood dwells. In my true identity, I share blood with Lily. But should that fail because of this resurrection business, then I see no reason my friend in Lily's body wouldn't suffice."

Dumbledore considered this, "You don't think Harry ought to live with his closest relatives? Who can raise him right?"

Harry suppressed his anger, remembering Dumbledore didn't know how cruel the Dursleys truly were. He replied, "I think you will find testing either theory will result in a much stronger bond than what Petunia could provide."

Dumbledore said, "Very well, I will run a diagnostic test. But first I must ask, what are your true identities, as I feel it is a shame to the memory of James and Lily to pretend you are them in private."

Harry hesitated, but knew it would come out eventually, he just hoped Dumbledore wouldn't be against it.

Ginny spoke first, "I-I'm Ginny… Weasley."

Dumbledore nodded, "Ah, Arthur and Molly must be so proud of you."

She suppressed the stinging of oncoming tears and nodded.

Harry sighed, "And I'm… bloody hell I'm Harry Potter."

Dumbledore paused, and then smiled a crooked grin, "And suddenly, all the missing puzzle pieces fall into place. You didn't just want to get ahead in the war against Voldemort; you want to change every aspect of your life. Do you realize how damaging this could be?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, Sir, I am prepared for this. You don't understand. You left me with a task way beyond the means of a seventeen year old boy. You left me with Muggles, when I should have known what I'd have to face someday from the very start. You left me with nothing to go off of, and then went and got yourself bloody killed. I want to wake up when I get back to my normal time, and feel the weight of my dark past lifted off my shoulders. And with this foreknowledge, I can have that childhood I deserve, and not have to witness the death of loved one after loved one. I know what I'm doing."

"And you think it will make a difference, when you get back to your time?" he asked.

"My friend said this time turner will allow us to change the past. And maybe history is bound to repeat. Maybe the people who die are meant to die, but if it's going to happen, it shouldn't be fighting a war to protect me. I know I'll know what I did for myself. But it's not just for me. Everyone will be saved."

Dumbledore pinched the bridge of his nose and then sighed. "Very well, I can't very well stop you, after all. You could just take him and say you survived. I must strongly advise you seek help in experienced adults though. Raising a baby is a hard task for two seventeen year olds. Let me run that diagnostic test and you may do as you wish."

Harry nodded and watched as Dumbledore removed his wand. He first tapped Harry on the forehead, then Ginny and two glowing orbs rose above each of them. Dumbledore appeared to shuffle through each orb, as if reading the runes book again. Finally he muttered, "It appears, Harry, you do in fact still have your blood and soul. Not your father's. Ginny, you do not have Lily's blood. You are completely yourselves when you look past your outside appearance… I'm sure that would have been a concern in your, ah, relationship. I did suspect as much, like I said: you cannot truly bring back the dead."

Harry thanked Dumbledore, glad to know he was still himself. Ginny swooped up little Harry up in her arms. He stirred, but she cooed him and he slowly drifted back to sleep. Before they could make their leave, Dumbledore stopped them once more.

"I'm not sure where you plan to go after you visit the Ministry, but I suggest you stop by Gringotts and mention you lost your key in the rubble of the fight. You'll find much of what you need there."

Harry and Ginny thanked him again, and then stepped in the fireplace one after another. Dumbledore sighed and retired to his chambers. He'd never had so much to think about before.

AUTHOR'S FINAL COMMENTS:

I hope Dumbles wasn't too cliché. He is difficult for me. I might attempt to portray him as more manipulative in the future. I'm not sure I have it in me though!

THE STORY SO FAR:

Chapter One:

(1997)Harry and Ginny escape battle with Voldemort. Ginny suggests time-travel.

Chapter Two:

(1997)The Order relocates. Hermione fixes the time turner.

Chapter Three:

(Halloween 1981)Ginny and Harry have arrived back in time as Lily and James. They speak with Dumbledore and retrieve baby Harry.