Time of Reckoning

AN: This is completely unplanned, I just woke up one morn, and here the idea was. I know not where this story leads, but hope that you be patient and allow me to do my best unto this idea. I will need help; yours in particular.

Harry Potter stared at the ceiling. It was about six in the evening and the day's heat was giving way, slowly and gradually, to the cooler evening air.

He had been thinking. Not an odd occurrence to be sure, but this time was different. This time Harry Potter was not thinking about homework, beautiful girls or even his old pal, Voldemort. No, this was different because Harry Potter was questioning his code.

For years now, as long as he could remember in fact, he had always been driven by his emotions and impressions. Not once could he remember questioning it. After all, as the Americans say 'if it ain't broke, we can sell it health insurance'.

Ahem! Moving on;

Being emotionally driven wasn't bad, he realized, it just had several flaws. Emotions aren't always pure, and even the purest of humans could house the darkest of emotions...

For all intents and purposes, he shouldn't have been thinking too hard about this! Afterall, Malfoy Sr. HAD cursed at him hadn't he? Hadn't he? So why then was he suddenly feeling so uncomfortable about it? His curses were practically harmless! After what he had done, he was lucky Harry hadn't cursed him proper!

Halfway through working himself into a rage his mind forcibly provided him with an image of the friendly neighbourhood Voldemort, distributing Crucio's like Mars Bars at a birthday party. The image was quick to meld with his own, cursing Malfoy Sr.

His rage left him swiftly and was replaced in short order by the same revulsion, he was coming to associate with cursing others. When had Magic become something to hurt others with? Was that really what he wanted, to become an Auror, running around cursing people?

He sighed. Taking a deep breath, he let out another sigh, a deeper one this time. He needed fresh air, his thoughts were stagnating. It was probably time for a walk.

The walk and the dinner that followed it passed in a flurry. Vernon and Petunia had gone somewhere for the evening and Dudley was eagerly waiting on the couch for the show he wanted to watch to start on the telly.

For want of something better to do, he moved towards the couch and sat down. Dudley eyed him for a few seconds, but said nothing. The dementor incident had improved his impression of his cousin by far.

Thoughts and actions quickly came to end as nine o'clock rolled by. Dudley show started and the audience of two cousins sat transfixed. It was nothing great considering the things the wizarding world had thrown at him, yet there was something about the characters that drew him like a nuclear reactor powered electromagnet made of superconductor.

As ten o'clock came and the show ended he turned to his 'well-covered' cousin,

"That was a good show"

Getting only a positive grunt in response, he pressed on,

"Can you tell me more about it?"

He felt inspired. He had a new goal, a new code and best of all, a new idol. Ideas sorted with new ones popping up all the time, he made his way to his room, only to find Hedwig awaiting him with a delivery, a large book.

The book was old, the cover wasting and the pages brittle and yellowing, but the ink was clear. And in that very ink, written on the covering letter were the words, 'To Harry Potter, 15th June 1996. From Charlus & Dorea Potter'. His grandparents. Why would they send him a book? Especially one on... Runes? And posthumously at that? Hadn't they died way back in the late 70's, how did they even know his name?

Laying the cover sheet aside, he flipped through the book reading every nook and cranny. Three hours later he set his book down, exhausted. The book was perfect. It fit into what he wanted exactly, gave him what information he needed and explained the parts he found difficult in detail. It was almost as though someone had written the book with his exact capabilities in mind.

Quickly penning down a note, he called out-

"Dobby!"

A loud crack accompanied the appearance of the aforementioned elf.

"What can Dobby be doing for the great Harry Potter Sir?"

"Take my wand and this letter to Mr. Ollivander. Tell him that the specifications of the modifications are inside the letter and that he should send me the receipt by owl. Also, I'd appreciate it if you kept this a secret from everyone."

"Yessir, great Mr. Harry Potter Sir!"

"Oh, and come back when you're done, I have more work for you."

With a snap, the elf was gone, leaving Harry alone, again, in his barren room.

Picking up his book and flipping a few pages he mused out loud-

"Portkeys, time-turner dust, fey magiks, arc reactors, superconductors, spacial expansion, there's much to be done... Very much indeed..."

A whole month, one week, a day and six hours later, he was done. After correction upon correction, tireless hours of labour and several painstakingly long calculations, he was done.

Dobby had been a huge help, unsurprisingly. The fact that Dudley had been an immense help though, came as quite a shock.

Now, it was time. Time for Reckoning...

Giving his cousin a terse handshake and a nod. He turned to Dobby, expression lightening visibly. He couldn't take the elf with him where he was going, they both knew that. Pulling Dobby into a warm, final hug, he tensed as he gave his final order,

"Here Harry Potter disappears. I can no longer BE Harry Potter. From now on... well, the two of you know what to call me. We will meet again, should the universe ensure it. Goodbye."

Stepping into the module behind him and shutting the door, he moved to the console and starting flipping switches, activating a combination of runes and technology as the setup came to life.

Outside Dudley and Dobby watched in awe as the contraption started to fade out with a wheezing noise as it took to flight.

AN: And that's a wrap! Some, if not most, of you can probably see where this is going and what the idea is. I have several ideas of where to go from here, but I want your ideas first. Tell me- drop a review, mail me a PM, add a favourite, do SOMETHING.