Chapter 6
The next morning Harry prepared for a meeting with Dumbledore. He was starting to get the feeling that Lilly didn't really believe him, though he could understand how she could be skeptical. Severus, on the other hand, did not doubt him, yet that might have to due with the fact Harry had dark magic clinging to him that morning. Harry wondered if Dumbledore still believed him.
Wrapping Esmeralda, which is what he decided to call his new snake, around his wrist he headed out of his room and into the kitchen. Helping himself to a piece of toast he kissed his mother on the cheek and headed out the door, calling his goodbyes.
The house they lived in was a medium sized cottage on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. During the school year, Severus spent most of the week at the castle and went home for the weekends. Lilly ran a small shop in town that sold a variety of magical objects and books.
Harry was remembering all of this as he strode down the shadowed lane towards the main part of town. The sunlight was warm and he was glad he had decided to walk to the castle; it gave him a chance to think.
Soon the castle came into view and Harry walked through the gates. He made it all the way up to the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office before he remembered that he didn't know the password. He stared at the unmoving statue as he named every sweet he could think of. Finally 'licorice wands' did the trick and he stepped onto the moving staircase. He couldn't help but think of the last time he rode this staircase. Dumbledore had just died and he had to evade as many questions as possible, even as his mind was going in ten different directions at once.
Shaking the cobwebs from his mind he knocked on the thick, office door. Entering he noticed the office looked exactly the same, complete with the little silver objects that he had destroyed his fifth year. Taking a seat and a cup of tea when they were offered, Harry wondered how this meeting was going to go.
"My boy, I feel we have much to discuss now that we are away from the others." Harry nodded. "Tell me about your other life."
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Well, maybe I should go in order? My first year, Professor Quirrel had Voldemort's head sticking out of the back of his head and tried to steal the Philosopher's stone. He died." A hard expression came over his face.
"Professor Quirrel never returned from his sabbatical a few years back, he is presumed dead." Dumbledore supplied.
Harry nodded. "Second year, Lucius Malfoy slipped Ginny Weasley Tom Riddle's diary. He didn't know it was a Horcrux. But…it caused plenty of problems as the Chamber of Secrets was opened and a Basilisk was let loose upon the school. Luckily no one died, only a few petrified. I killed the Basilisk, destroyed the diary, and freed Dobby the house elf."
Dumbledore looked shocked, though Harry didn't slow his monologue nor did he interrupt.
"Third year." Harry took a deep breath. "Sirius broke out of Azkaban-"
Apparently Dumbledore couldn't keep quiet after that. "Wait. Why was he in Azkaban?"
"He was accused of being the one to betray my parents to Voldemort and killing Pettigrew and a street full of muggles." Dumbledore looked aghast at this but Harry continued. "He found out where Pettigrew was hiding and broke out. Everyone thought he was after me, including me, but events were set into motion and I heard the whole story one night. I eventually rescued him and a hippogriff with the help of Hermione and a time-turner, after escaping Dementers, a werewolf that forgot to take his wolfsbane, ministry officials and a vindictive potions master." Dumbledore just stared at him.
"Forth year. Someone had the brilliant idea to hold a Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore's eyes started to twinkle and Harry just shook his head. "Unfortunately Barty Crouch Jr, posing as Mad Eye Moody, took the DADA position and entered my name illegally and turned the triwizard into a quadwizard. Even if the tasks alone weren't enough to try and kill me, he wanted me to win so that I would be the one to touch the cup and be portkeyed to a gravesite. Where I had front row view, and unwillingly contributed, to Voldemort's rebirth."
"How?"
"Let me see if I can remember it right…Bone of the father, unknowingly given, Flesh of the servant…willingly or freely given, something like that, and blood of the enemy, forcefully given? Something to that extent. It all went into all cauldron with the very creepy looking, whatever he was, and Voldemort came out." Harry tried to keep the shudders at bay, but failed. "Then we dueled. Our wands are brothers so it didn't exactly go as he planned. I managed to get back to the portkey and get the hell out of there." Harry purposely failed to mention Cedric's whole part in it, purely for his own sanity's sake. He knew he was to blame for the young man's death, and he didn't want or need anyone's pity.
He took a deep breath. He couldn't believe it had only been two years ago that he was facing dragons and merpeople and thought that that was his biggest obstacles to overcome. Harry was never one for the saying 'ignorance is bliss' but he did miss the days where his thoughts weren't occupied by soul splitting homicidal maniacs bent on ruling the world.
"Fifth year, was bad. I made stupid mistakes." Harry shook his head and seemed to be engrossed in the bottom of his cup. "I foolishly let Voldemort into my head and he tricked me." There was a sense of self-hatred in his words. "Due to my, mistakes, Sirius died. I also learned about the prophecy." He admitted as an after thought.
"Sixth year was worse. Even though Voldemort showed up at the bloody ministry, nobody was really taking the situation seriously. Fudge got sacked, which I guess was good. Although most of what happened is well, not all that important to retell since you are very obviously alive and the man who killed you calls me son."
"Severus kills me?" there was only curiosity in Dumbledore's voice.
"Er…yeah. You see, Draco was supposed to kill you and I think Snape did it to save him or something. I mean, Snape may be an evil git, but I don't really think he would just kill you…" Harry shook his head; too many strong emotions were tied to that man. "I mean, he had saved my sorry ass so many times, when he could have easily sat back and not be blamed for it." There was silence for a few moments then Harry started again.
"About the Horcruxes. I know that the locket is not in the center of the lake where Riddle tortured those kids. Someone got there first. The ring is…in the Guant shack I believe. Oh, and DO NOT put it on. Your whole hand turned black and dead and it just wasn't good." Harry didn't miss the amused look Dumbledore threw him. "The diary is with Malfoy. And the others? No clue. I don't even know if the snake is one since Voldemort doesn't have a corporal body right now and I think he made it after." Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly.
"So how did you arrive in this life or timeline? Did you ever remember?"
Harry bit his lip, wondering how much he wanted to tell the Headmaster. True he had been studying the Dark Arts to defeat Voldemort, but he wondered if Dumbledore would understand that. He took a deep breath. "Well, there was this book. I told Hermione it was evil, but did she believe me? Nooo. Anyway, we were studying, trying to learn as much as we could. I remember we had an argument, and I kinda threw a tantrum, knocking stuff everywhere. I think that night, when I cut my hand, I bled on the book."
Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Where did you get the book?"
"Black library. Hermione found it one day."
"Grimmauld Place?"
"Mmhmm. After Sirius died…I inherited the house. Though…" Harry looked thoughtful for a second. "He doesn't live there in this timeline, does he?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "No, I believe he has a flat in London. Do you think we could find the book?"
"I suppose it's possible." Harry admitted.