Time for Punishment
Ch. 1 Family Gathering
I do not own Harry Potter
J. K. Rowling does.
Positive reviews are welcome.
Ch. 1 Family Gathering
James Potter was nervous. Scratch that, he was downright terrified out of his mind, all the while wondering where in the hell Dumbledore was. He'd seen Wormtails leg somehow blow up, chunks of meat, bone, and blood spraying the air and the grass of his cottage grounds, when he chanced a peak through the window of his living room. He was shocked to say the least, but even more so as right after Wormtails leg exploded, Voldemort spun and could not see the cause of Peter's leg exploding in the way it did.
Realizing Peter was making too much noise and was now a lost cause, Voldemort turned his wand on Peter and silenced him with only two words, a flash of green flying from his wand, and connecting with Peters chest. James could see from where he crouched at the window, the look of both pain and shock on Peters face as his life ended less than a second after he was struck by the Killing Curse. A moment later, James watched as Voldemorts own head was removed from his shoulders in the same manner as Peters leg.
James, scared out of his wits at seeing such a thing, and yet somewhat internally jumping in joy at the instant death of one of the darkest threats the world has seen since Grindewald, wondering what could have that kind of power to kill such a man, whom was damn near impossible to kill before. His thoughts were all over the place as he then hunched down, his breathing becoming erratic as whoever had destroyed Peters leg and killed the Dark Lord, he'd have to be out of his mind, as no doubt the method used to fatally wound Peter and terminate Voldemort, had been muggle. He began to get a bad feeling as to what did the Dark Lord in.
A sudden 'crack' caused him to chance a peak through the window as a man appeared between Voldemort and Peters bodies via apparition. He was all decked out in black with black makeup on his face, black snow cap, and black gloves. Over his shoulder was what James recognized to be a muggle gun, a sniper rifle if he remembered correctly. 'No doubt the weapon that fatally wounded Peter and killed Voldemort.' he thought to himself. He remembered Harold Evans, his wife Lily's father had used one to intimidate him when he first met the man. This unknown gun wielding individual then pulled what looked to be a crystal or some form of stone from a pouch on his belt as something rose from Voldemorts remains.
James went wide eyed as whatever Voldemort had done to himself, it was truly evil as it slowly rose from the headless remains as a black mist-like cloud. Whatever was in the mans hands, he held it out before him. James could barely observe due to the bright light as the specter tried to fight the pull of whatever was in the mans hand as it was being pulled into the stone, molecule by molecule. There was words being spoken in Ancient Latin and whatever struggle the black mass put up, was for naught as it was finally consumed by the object in the mans hand.
Having enough, James, as discreetly as he could, inched from under the lower frame of his window to the cottage door. Wand in his right hand, his grip tightening on the wands hilt, the Auror with his free left hand, gripped the doors handle and as quietly as possible, unlocked it and proceeded to open it slightly after placing a silencing charm on the door.
He thought he was good, and about to make a move until a black rectangular object with a round cylinder that he recognized as a hand gun, wound up in his face, pointing to right between his eyes, a 'click' showing that a round was chambered and the hammer pulled back.
"That's a bad move for an Auror, especially for someone of your supposed caliber, Mr. Potter." A hoarse voice spoke as the hammer of the muggle weapon made a noise as the mans thumb gently put the hammer back into place, "Good thing I'm not here to kill you, rather just the opposite."
"Who are you?" James asked as he held his hands up.
A wand snapped into existence in the unknown mans hand that he then waved over his face, removing the dark makeup until James got a good look at his face and his eyes. He'd know those eyes anywhere. It's the same eyes he looks upon when he looks at his wife every morning and night, and it's the same eyes he looks at every time he looks upon his son when in his arms, but the face, is all his. He'd seen a lot of weird things in his day, especially where it concerned the Wizarding World, but nothing like this when the face he looked at rested upstairs with his wife in order to remain safe.
"Put your hands down." the man exhaled. Looking back at James, he then exclaimed, "My name is Harry James Potter, and I'm your son. Whether you want to believe me or not, I'm from the future."
"Impossible." James whispered in shock at this young mans audacity to claim to be his son, and yet, the evidence was standing before him.
"The thing about us Potter men, is we're always known for pulling off the impossible. Most recently myself." the guy said as he slipped the handgun into its holster on his belt. Taking the fingerless glove off of his right hand, Harry raised the hand in the air and towards James, allowing the elder Potter to see the ring he wore. A ring James himself had not intended to take due to Albus Dumbledores suggestion.
"How did you get that ring?" James asked. He clenched his fists because if it was true and this young man was his son from the future, them it might mean that something happened in the future that forced Harry to travel back in time to alter the past.
"When I come from, I became Lord Potter in order to snub both the Ministry and Albus Dumbledore after the Ministry tried to set me up and Dumbledore having me raised for only one purpose, to be a Sacrificial Lamb. a Martyr for his cause." Harry replied.
Suddenly, a roar caught their attention as a motorcycle pulled up in front of the cottage, "James, thank Merlin you're alright. Who's this? Is that Wormtail?" the man asked after shutting down his bike and running up to James and Harry and gazing at the remains of his now former friend.
"Yes it is and this is Harry, all grown up and from the future." James answered, waving a hand towards his apparently grown son.
Sirius Orion Blacks head double snapped as it were as he looked real hard at the young man James claimed to be his little 'Prongslet', all grown up and from the future James in the younger mans face.
"Siri." Harry acknowledged.
"It really is you, Prongslet?" Sirius asked in a hopeful tone.
"Yes Sirius, it's me. We have to get inside. Hagrids about to show up on Dumbledores orders, as will a certain treacherous snake. Dumbledore intends for our friendly half-Giant to pick up and deliver little Harry to Dumbledore, leaving him outside of Petunias door in this late weather." Harry said as he craned his neck and looked into the House and saw Lily Potter descending halfway down the stairs as he had felt her magic getting closer.
"Like hell he will." James growled as he nudged Harry and Sirius inside while shrinking and transfiguring both Voldemort and Peters bodies into dolls, levitated them into his hand, and pocketed them.
"James, is everything...alright?" Lily Potter asked. In her arms was a sleepy eyed toddler. Harry had to take a step back as he eyed the baby.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Sirius asked.
"According to what I know about time travel, same matter cannot occupy the same space." Harry answered as he then looked at Lily and had to school his features in order to not compromise his mission.
"Time travel, same matter, and same space?" She stepped off of the ascending stairs and pushed adult Harry by the arm in order to turn him around completely and look at him in the face and eyes before she figured it out. Her free hand flying to her mouth, "Harry!" she gasped.
"Hi mum." Harry said nervously.
Suddenly he got a strange feeling and rolled up his left sleeve where his muggle military issued watch resided, "Shit, Hagrid and Snape are about to arrive."
"Why would Hagrid be coming?" Lily asked.
"To take him from you on Dumbledores orders and have him sent to Petunia." Harry answered as he pointed at his younger counterpart.
"What. No, that can't be right. Dumbledore..." Lily tried before Harry cut her off.
"The problem is he did and will try do so yet again, mum. I should know, I lived with Petunia a good portion of my life. I spent most of my life living underneath the cupboard under the stairs until days before my eleventh birthday, starving, being treated as a slave, neglected, and abused. Dumbledore knew, and didn't give a damn, nor did he intend to stop it."
And as if on schedule, Hagrid walked up after being deposited via a 'Port-Key'. Knocking on the door, he was surprised to see James Potter alive, let alone opening the door and beckoning him in. "Lily, James, you're alive. B-But, how? Dumbledore said you were dead."
Harry, sensing another familiar presence nearby, hidden within the shadows of the forest, laid a hand on James shoulders, "Excuse me a moment." he said as he walked outside and with a 'crack', disappeared. Less than ten seconds later, Harry returned with a robed individual over his left shoulder, "I knew this piece of filth was here this night, just as I now know he had a hand in what would have resulted in your murders." he snarled as he slammed it down to the living room floor where it groaned before it was stunned again from Harrys wand. Rolling it over with a booted foot, everyone got a good look at a pale faced, black haired man with a crooked nose.
"Snivellus." Sirius growled.
"Severus went to his master in the hopes to spare you, Lily while not caring whether your son and husband died. He begged both Dumbledore and Voldemort to save you. He wanted you for himself, even if it meant my death. Dumbledore instead made a deal with him. Reason being is because he told Voldemort about the prophecy that Sybill Trelawney spouted to Dumbledore whom had the hopes to get a position within Hogwarts for a stupid class called Divination. She sold it pretty well to Albus Dumbledore while this...worm...overheard from within the shadows of Aberforths Dumbledores pub. Of course, Aberforth himself was there as well. But Snape was cunning enough to escape before either Dumbledores could stop him and/or obliviate him."
"Since he only heard part of the prophecy, he went to his master with the half he heard and you know the rest. Dumbledore used this to gain control of two families, you and the Longbottoms. But somehow or another, the Longbottoms were discovered, their Fidelius revealed, and in early December of this year, Neville and his Grandmother will be the surviving two individuals left unscathed while Alice and Frank were left at St. Mungo's Long Term Care Ward, their minds broken because of Bellatrix Lestrange, Rudolphis and his brother Rabastan, Barty Crouch Jr., and Lucius Malfoy, the latter which bought his way out of Prison claiming Imperious. The other four were locked up within Azkaban until Voldemorts return."
"Where were I and Remus in this?" Sirius asked.
Harry glared at him, "Dumbledore left you to rot in Azkaban after supposedly killing this piece of shit." Harry said, pulling out Peter's shrunken and transfigured corpse/doll. "You neglected me in your duty after finding my dead parents and me, handed me off to Hagrid here on Dumbledores orders while you went after Peter. As Dumbledore was having me delivered to my of so loving Aunt," Harry sneered disgustingly while spitting to the side as if her very name was poison on his lips, "You went and found Peter, confronted him. Peter should have been a Slytherin because the next thing you knew, he accuses you of killing and betraying my parents, puts his hands behind his back, cuts off a finger, and then blasts the road behind him, detonating a gas main, and killing 12 mundanes or Muggles, shifted into his animagus form and escaped into some pipes for some time before finding himself at the Weasleys where he stayed until I found out about him after you Sirius escaped from Azkaban."
"I later learned while saving you from Dementors and Cornelius Fudge himself how you never received a trial and was left to rot in Azkaban for 12 years before you escaped, but only because you learned during your stay in that hellhole, that Dementors can't affect animals."
While Sirius was paling at the revelations of a possible future, James asked, "Cornelius Fudge? But he's incompetent Wizard and an idiot. What's he doing as Minister of Magic."
"Don't know. He's someone Dumbledore and the other members of the Wizangamot endorsed and bought to either stay out of jail, and or to run our world into the ground. Dumbledore stole the Potter votes and endorsed laws that kept Remus away from me for those twelve years, with the author of the law being the near squib and hidden Death Eater, Deloris Jane Umbridge. Someone who wouldn't think twice about torturing and or murdering those not human or those she deems either half-blood or mudblood, even if they were innocent children. After my farce of a trial in the use of magic to save my cousin Dudley and myself from some what I thought at the time were rogue Dementors, I had to disappear. I later learned she sent them after me because I had told the world that Voldemort had returned. But because I had escaped and decided to fight back against the corruption of the Ministry, I learned she had been sent to Hogwarts by Fudge as High Inquisitor and DADA Professor despite barely even passing DADA herself. She began putting fowl Ministry approved laws into the school that made people want start rebelling and begin a secret training group in order to do better than what the Ministry and or Umbridge was wanting them to do. They really dumbed DADA down so much that when they were caught due to of Umbridges Inquisitorial Squad, she then began torturing the students through Illegal Blood Quills, but only after Fudge and her chased Dumbledore off of the schools premises. She did the same to you Hagrid, and even attacked McGonagall, who wouldn't even stop her the first time she used the Blood Quills against the students, because Dumbledore told her not to in the hopes I would return to play the hero, only to be shackled and imprisoned until I was ready to face my so called destiny as he wishes it."
"Wh-What became of her?" Lily asked with a growing hate for the toad-like woman that she remembered from her days in school.
"Well, as I said, I learned she was hurting the others, up to and including my friends, chased Hagrid off the premises with her 'Inquisitorial' stooges, and even attacked Professor McGonagall seconds later as the Deputy Headmistress tried and failed to defend him, so I had to put Umbridge down like a rabid animal."
"You mean, you killed her?" Hagrid asked.
"She didn't leave me any choice, Hagrid." Harry said, as he looked at Hagrid tiredly. "You were the first person to introduce me to our world after all those years, and really, you were my first true friend that the Dursleys couldn't chase away, and one in whom Dumbledore couldn't completely control all in thanks to your gentle nature completely. You're like an Uncle to me, I couldn't let what Umbridge had done, pass. That's how much you meant to me."
Hagrid went teary eyed and yanked Harry into his arms. Where most would be left gasping for breath, Harry leaned into the hug as if it didn't affect him, despite not being able to wrap his arms around the gentle half-giant.
"So, if you didn't return to school for fifth year, what did you do?" Lily asked after Hagrid put Harry down and patted his shoulders since he was now a man.
"I found muggle-borns, half-bloods, and squibs within the muggle world who I aligned myself with because they understood me, many of them entered the muggle Military after being shunned by our precious Ministry, put me through hell and trained me to the breaking point, only to push me some more. What you see before you is the result of that training."
Lily placed a quivering hand on her mouth, turned to hand her sleeping baby into James arms, then launched herself into her sons arms. He held onto her tightly, breathing in her scent of Lily's and Lilac.
"I'd always wondered what you smelled like, mum." Harry said as he shook emotionally in her arms. "Now I know."
"I'm so sorry, honey. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you." she replied as she pulled back, held his face in her hands while his hands was on her hips, and began wiping his and her own tears away with her hand. "Now you know what I smell like, huh?" she asked as she chuckled a bit, something he enjoyed hearing after not having heard her voice for so long. "Still, I am sorry for believing in that old fool." she finished as she stared him in the eyes.
"It wasn't your fault, mum. It was Dumbledores, Voldemorts, these two bastards, and the Ministry of Magic. By the way, you have a beautiful laugh, and an evil lovelier smile." Harry said as conjured them both a handkerchief so they could clean themselves up. "Which brings me to the next part of my mission."
"What's that?" James asked as he dabbed at his eyes.
"You're the current head of the Aurors, right?"
"I'm on leave at the moment due to Dumbledore convincing me and Franks to hide our families because of the damn prophecy. Why?"
"I need your blessing."
"What do you mean, son?" James asked with a hint of knowing what Harry was asking for as his son removed the ring on his finger and held it out to James.
"I need your blessing to rid the world of Wizarding Britains certain members of society. I need permission to hunt down and kill every marked Death Eater while being safe from prosecution, and in the process, I can save the Longbottoms and other individual families and innocent muggles. To save our diseased world, its necessary to cut out the cancer. The Death Eaters are the cancer. In the process, I'll be finishing up my collection of soul fragments of Voldemort. The process could take a few days. But it will be worth it. After all, a good man once said, the needs of the many, outweighs the needs of the few or the one."
"Another good man once said, 'In order for evil to succeed, good men must do nothing.'" Lily Potter quoted as she looked from her husband, and then back to her son.
"Let him, James." Sirius said without reservation. "If it saves lives, then let him."
James, glaring at his best friend, then looked at Harry with narrowed eyes, "Just the Death Eaters?"
"Yes sir." Harry answered with the same expression.
A minute later, James relented with a nod.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry then said, "Just so you know, Peter was the traitors, not Remus. Tell Moony what you must. One final thing, Dumbledore and Snape are both Legilimense's. If you know Occlumency, then I suggest you strengthen your mental shields and clamp them down when he's around."
"Understood. Anything you want Remus to know?" his father asked.
"Tell Remus, I'll be back. Under no circumstances is Dumbledore to be allowed to take that baby from you. If he tries, he dies. No exceptions."
"If everything you say is true and Dumbledore can no longer be trusted, then so be it." Lily said as Harry nodded in thanks. With a turn, he began walking away.
"Where are you going?" James asked.
"Hunting." Harry answered without turning or pausing as with a 'crack', he disappeared.
"Woe to any Death Eaters that he comes across." Sirius says before chuckling.
Lily, now holding her infant child, could only hold him tightly as she promised to do everything she could to ensure that the future of the child in her arms would not walk the same line as the one who now hunted the terrorists of their world.
An hour later, she and James felt the familiar presence of Albus Dumbledore approaching the wards of the cottage. Hagrid, knowing that he had a loose tongue at times, asked James to obliviate him. James didn't feel comfortable doing that to a friend, but then Hagrid turned to Lily who had enough skill to pull off the obliviation without the side effects of hurting her friend. She chose and removed specific memories within Hagrids mind in order to protect her future time traveling sons secret.
Baby Harry was in his crib asleep with his Godbrother beside him, facing him. Remus had already arrived by then as did Frank and Alice minutes later and spoke for a long time about the nights events and what they learned of a future that was still possible if Dumbledore had his way. James, Lily, and Sirius had already discussed the pro's and con's of what trusting Dumbledore had done to their world and how many lives had been lost due to the choices he had made.
Too many inconsistencies had come up in their discussions and were now being shared with their newly arrived friends. Lupin could not believe what he was hearing since James and Sirius both had vanished the remains of their former friend and their now former Dark Lord. James had called Frank and Alice over and explained to them what had happened and asked them to remain for support since there was no doubt that Dumbledore would attempt to come over and remove Harry from their custody. Hagrid had already been sent off by this point and and with both boys now upstairs asleep, the two families and extended friends, remained behind for when the old meddler arrived.
And right on time, he did. But he wasn't alone, Beside him was Minerva McGonagall herself. Severus Snape was tied to a chair, unconscious. His wand was removed from his possession as was any potions, portkeys, and any other objects he may have had on hand.
Both the Potters, Longbottoms, Sirius, and Remus were either sitting in couches when James got up, or chairs, in this case, chairs for Remus and Sirius while both James and Frank held their wives in their arms.
James opened the door with a blank expression, his mental shields at maximum, yet he did not look Dumbledore directly in the eyes. Instead, he looked over at Professor McGonagall while asking in a cold tone of voice, "Professors, what can I do for you?"
"Ah James, your safe. And I see Lily, Frank, and Alice are with you." Dumbledore replied in his grandfatherly tone of voice, but inside, he was shocked and stupified. This was not supposed to be a part of the plan.
"What do you want, Dumbledore?" James asked in a more direct term of voice.
"Might we come in, James. The night air seems to be chilly and can make these old bones sore."
"She can, not you."
Surprised and taken aback with such a dark attitude, Dumbledore tried to look James in the eyes, but James refused to look at him. "I'm sorry, Have I done something wrong?"
"The wards." came James answer.
"Excuse me?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"The wards that were on my home. He placed them on this cottage, so I ask, why did it take him an hour to get here? Where were you, Dumbledore? Why did you show up one hour since Voldemort attacked my and my families home?"
"James, I..."
"Why did you send Hagrid just minutes after the Dark Lord discovered the secret of the Fidelius thanks to Peter revealing the secret? Now that Voldemort is no more,I'm beginning to question your decisions and judgment, Dumbledore. I'm beginning to question everything about this prophecy, especially since we have your and Voldemorts informant tied and silenced, right in here." James said, jerking his thumb right behind him.
"James, what are you trying to say?" Professor McGonagall queried now that she had stepped in and seen Severus Snape unconscious and tethered to a makeshift chair, either conjured or transfigured from something else.
"I'm saying that Professor Dumbledore has an rather unusual and unhealthy obsession with mine and Franks son. And I don't like it. We've already learned that Snape was the one who informed Voldemort about a Prophecy that Sybill Trelawney spouted. As is, I'm using my authority as Head Auror and informing you that I am placing Trelawney under arrest first thing in the morning. I'm going to be returning to active duty early tomorrow morning and when I come for her, you better have her present Dumbledore because I promise, there will be a warrant and you should know, as of this moment, I and the others resign from the Order of the Phoenix. I can no longer trust you. Don't make me an enemy, because if I find Trelawneys memories tampered with or anything else that shows you've tampered with her mind, if there is even a trace of your magic on her, I will bury you in the deepest darkest hole with no day light, understand?"
"I understand, James." Dumbledore replied in a saddened manor that James was beginning to understand as a form of dramatic acting as he looked long and hard at the elderly Headmaster, "May I at least know how you and Franks son is at least?"
"No, you'll read about it in the Prophet in a day or so when we decide to inform the Wizarding World how the Dark Lord met his end this very night. Not before. Now, I think it's time for you to go. Oh, and I'll be wanting all of my property back, cloak, books, and all. This is not up for discussion or debate. I want all of my families possessions back first thing tomorrow and I better not find out you've copied them without my permission."
Seeing he had nothing more he could say or do and that Severus was beyond his help, he decided to do the smart thing and leave, with a nod, he turned, walked several steps and disappeared with a 'crack'!
In an undisclosed location, Harry James Potter had just found one of his quarries as he had Lucius Malfoy in his sights after observing some recognizable Death Eaters who looked younger, but were still recognizable, entering the premises. They had come to congregate for a meeting in the hopes to no doubt find out what happened to their Lord. Too bad they'd never get the chance to find out because none of them would live to see the light of the next day as Harry studied the Malfoy homes entire grounds until he found a weak spot in the wards and exploited it.
The moment he had gone through the weak part of the wards, he then began the next phase of his plan. He had no time for what ifs. He'd seen the future and lived it. Tonight, in this time, the nightmare of so many innocents, would cease to exist. And the future would be re-written and all the brighter for what he was about to do.
Here's the second newly re-edited chapter. The next one will be up as soon as possible. Sorry it took so long to get this one up. I've not had time or opportunity due to work and because I have so many and needing to find inspiration since I'm trying to finish my Christmas shopping. So, once again, here's the newest one. Remember to read and review. Until next time.