Thank you all of you who have read this story so far and to all of you who have taken that extra moment to post a review. Thank you Harriverse, Teresa and anon
Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past
-----------------------------------------------
Chapter – 11
-----------------
Harry walked up slowly, his thoughts a million years away. James, Albus and Lily, his three children came up before him and it was all Harry could do to stop choking. On top of all that the Legilimency that Snape had conducted on his brain had almost fried his brain and being bound for so much time and having magical binds on him, totally chewed him, inside out. He went up to the dorms tiredly and groaned when he saw Hermione and Neville sitting on a couch and waiting anxiously for him.
"Harry?" Hermione jumped up and ran to him. Neville had also got up from his seat and was now coming behind Hermione and he gasped seeing how tired Harry was. "Harry? What did Snape do to you?"
"Made me do a potion for curing curse boils and I kind of messed it up. He told me to get out and come back tomorrow to finish that and he will most likely make me do another potion as well. I am tired Hermione. May I go and get some sleep? I will see you all tomorrow. Don't wake me up, okay?" Harry told them softly and then another thought came up to him.
"Has Ron come back?" Harry asked. Neville shook his head and so did Hermione.
"It was all because of him that you have had such a tough time Harry. Stupid really, starting an argument for no reason." Hermione told him sympathetically.
"Yes I know, Hermione. But Ron doesn't like Slytherins. He has the idea that all Slytherins are evil and bad because Voldemort came from that House." Harry told her, walking towards his dorm.
Hermione nodded and saying her goodnights to both Harry and Neville, she went up to her dorm. Neville and Harry walked up to theirs and slowly washed and changed. Harry stood under the hot shower and let his tears run along with the water. He only stopped when Neville called him hesitantly and cleared his throat, "Coming Nev. You carry on."
Harry dried and changed into his night clothes and bidding goodnight to Neville, Harry went to his bed and closing his curtains and gulped the dreamless sleep potion and banished the vial. Then Harry was asleep, totally drained and fatigued, mentally, physically and emotionally.
The next morning Neville got up at the usual time; he and Hermione were now accustomed to getting up early and went to wash. He came back all fresh and clean from the bathroom and put on his robes and then noticed that Harry's curtains were still drawn tightly together.
Neville frowned, this was the first time Harry had not woken up. He stood there hesitantly for a few minutes, wondering if he should peep in and see if Harry was fine or should he just let go. Finally he decided to check up on Harry before going down. He walked to Harry's bed and slowly parted the curtains and saw that Harry was sleeping very soundly. He put his hand on Harry's forehead and was relieved to find it cool to touch.
Neville stood there looking at the boy who had befriended him and had made him so happy and a smile crept out on Neville's face. He decided that he would do as much as he could to protect Harry and be there for him, just as Harry had been there for Neville when he had started school. Hogwarts had given him nightmares and he had not had a single good night's sleep after he had received his letter, fearing the jeers and shivering in horror every time he would not be able to do his lessons properly and disappoint his Gran.
Now all that had changed and Neville was so happy, confident and he was also picking up in his lessons and was also able to stand up for himself and the other day he had even punched Malfoy for speaking ill of Hermione. Looking at Harry's face as he slept, Neville fiercely decided to do his best to be there for him too.
With that positive thought he stepped out and ensuring the curtains were closed tightly, Neville went down. It was a Saturday and there were no lessons, but he had still taken his bag with him, because they had been planning to get on with their homework and also do a bit of extra studying.
Hermione was there waiting for them and she looked worried when she saw only Neville coming down. "Where is Harry?" she asked as Neville started walking towards the common room entrance.
"He is very deeply asleep Hermione and he did tell us not to wake him up yesterday. Let's go to the Great Hall have breakfast and come back here and wait for him." Neville answered and both of them walked almost silently to the Great Hall.
All the professors were there and Neville and Hermione saw Snape's eyes narrow and a scowl come upon his face seeing Harry's absence. They had their breakfast in silence and were about to leave when Snape came striding towards them.
"Where is Potter? Has he gone to the potions classroom already?" he asked them.
"No sir." Neville told him with a gulp and he took a step backwards when he saw the fierce scowl come back on Snape's face and hurried with his explanation. "Harry was still asleep sir when we came down. I checked up on him."
Snape paused for a minute, glaring at Neville and then without a word billowed out of the Great Hall.
Neville and Hermione gulped down their breakfast and walked back quickly to the Gryffindor common room and sat down opening their work but were unable to start. They kept looking every minute at the stairs that led to the dorm and jumped up in relief when they saw Harry coming down. Harry paused for a second when he saw them and then continued downstairs, greeting them with a smile.
Both the Gryffindors were so relieved to see him smile and Hermione let out long breath, sighing in relief. "How are you feeling Harry?" she asked him, anxiously hovering very close to him.
Harry who was feeling as if he had been dragged backwards through all the hedges in Scotland, shrugged, "I am fine Hermione. Nothing to worry. Have you two had breakfast?"
"Yes Harry. I checked up on you and since you were sleeping tight, Hermione and I went down and… oh Harry, Snape was scowling like anything and he wanted to know when you will come to complete your detention." Neville told him, looking very distressed. "You will be careful today won't you Harry, and make sure you won't get another detention with him?"
Harry shuddered, thinking of more detention with Snape where he would be mind-raped and bound. "No of course not. Today I'll hopefully finish the potion properly and then be allowed to come back. Where will you guys be?" Harry asked them walking to the portrait door.
"We will be right here Harry. You will be back by lunch won't you?" Hermione asked him.
Harry shrugged once again. "Don't be worried if I am mot in for lunch. Snape told me to re-do the potion and he will most likely make me do another one just for spite. It is better I finish everything today and be free for tomorrow. Besides I have to see Dumbledore first. McGonagall told me yesterday remember?"
They nodded looking worried and walked along with him to the Great Hall, where breakfast was just getting over. Harry hurriedly had whatever was there on the table while Neville and Hermione were sitting along with him.
Then all three of them walked together until Hermione and Neville turned towards Gryffindor Tower. Harry waved to them and turned to visit the Headmaster.
Soon Harry was standing in front of the gargoyle and wondering how to get inside when the gargoyle suddenly opened and revealed a flight of stairs. Harry stepped on the steps and went up and very soon came to a door. Harry checked his Occlumency shields and then softly knocked on the door.
"Come in Harry." a cheerful voice called from inside and Harry opened the room and stepped into the familiar office of the Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Good morning professor." Harry told him smiling as he entered the room and shut the door after him.
"Good morning Harry. How are you now? All recovered?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Yes sir." Harry replied politely and sat down in a comfortable chair that Dumbledore indicated to him. A second later Fawkes flew from his perch with a loud trill and landed on Harry's knee. Harry grinned, "Hello Fawkes, how are you? I have your feather in my wand do you know?"
Fawkes trilled loud and long and pecked Harry affectionately on his shoulder. Dumbledore watched this by play with a smile, but his eyes were looking very puzzled. Fawkes had never reacted to anyone like this and Dumbledore could not understand.
"How does your wand perform now Harry?" Dumbledore asked. In reply Harry waved his wand and Dumbledore was astounded by the riot of colours that came from it.
"Well Harry I was very interested in the book you said was by Ignotus Peverell. May I see it please?" Dumbledore asked him, after a small pause.
"Sure sir, but I don't think it will work for you. The book said it had bound with me, but the lady at the shop said so many persons had purchased the book but had returned it because no one could read the book at all. But when Remus pricked my finger and put a drop of blood, it worked." Harry grinned, removing the Self Updating Book of Spells and handing it over to Dumbledore, slowly stroking Fawkes softly. Fawkes was trilling very softly in sheer pleasure.
Dumbledore took the book from him and tried a few spells and then pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall on the book. But the book did not react or open for him at all. Dumbledore looked extremely disappointed and handed over the book to Harry with a rueful smile. "Well it apparently will work only for you. Keep it carefully Harry. Peverell was an extraordinary wizard and his accomplishments were many. He has chosen you and I do believe it is a great honour."
"Yes sir." Harry grinned.
"You are off to detention with professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked him amiably.
Harry's eyes clouded and he frowned and looked down. "Yes sir. Hopefully I will get the potion right and get the evening off at the very least."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly. "You have detention until evening?" he asked.
"Yes sir. The detention was yesterday evening. But I somehow messed it up and professor Snape has asked me to come again today and make the potion once more. At least that is what I think I will be asked to do." Harry finished doubtfully and looked unhappily at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore smiled. "Well then off you go. Let us not keep professor Snape waiting."
Harry stood up at once carefully holding Fawkes who trilled at him and flew up to his perch. Harry smiled at Dumbledore and them and turned away. The moment he walked out, away from the gargoyle, Harry started walking steadily towards the dungeons. Harry was very thoughtful as he marched off towards the dungeons, mentally going through everything from his other life and ticking off all that he could tell Snape and that he couldn't.
There were so many things that came in the category of 'cannot tell Snape' Harry could only hope Snape would keep quiet and not run to Dumbledore or worse ram into his brain once again. This time Harry would be ready for Snape's attacks but Harry did not want to fight with him or worse turn him antagonistic towards him, he really did not want Snape as the enemy. Now, that he had someone who knew about his other life and the fact that it was Snape had both advantages and disadvantages.
While the disadvantages were many, all of them being Snape's past with Harry's father and mother and his own sarkiness and bitterness and Harry shook his head, wondering what his mother had seen in this man that she had been friends with him for so long and had been close enough for his father to be jealous from a portrait even after all the three of them had died. But the advantages were much more.
If only Snape would agree to work with Harry and most importantly trust him, Harry knew half the battle would be won in that one step alone. Whether Snape would do it, well Harry shrugged once again, who knew what Snape would do at any given point in time. Not him, Harry thought looking around the empty dungeons and surprised he had reached so quickly, Harry knocked softly on the door of the potions classroom.
"Enter." Snape's voice told him and Harry pushed the door open and went inside. Snape was sitting at his desk and writing something and Harry went to Snape's desk and stood there.
"I'm afraid I over slept professor and I'm sorry for being late. I had to visit professor Dumbledore and show him the Self Updating Book of Spells." Harry told him softly.
Snape gave no indication he had heard Harry and he continued writing until he finished that sentence and putting his quill down, he stood up and looked inscrutably at Harry. "Come." He said and walked out of the door and walking a little further, came to his office.
He opened the door and went inside and waited for Harry to step in before he closed the door and added powerful privacy wards. Harry took out his wand and added a few more and turned to Snape, who glared at him and spoke shortly. "You are here to write about your potion while I work. This will be the first part of your detention; to write and let me know where you have gone wrong." Snape flicked his wand and a parchment appeared on the desk, the side where Harry would sit and it was written and in Harry's handwriting.
Harry blinked at the thoroughness of the man, but he was the spy and he was probably more paranoid than Mad-Eye Moody.
Snape pointed a long finger to Harry just like the other day, indicating Harry sit down but this time Harry was not buying it and he stood there wand in his hand and looking steadily at Snape.
Snape stared at him and suddenly with a raised eyebrow went around the desk and sat down. "I will not hex you Potter. Not yet. I want answers. While you did confirm you were Harry Potter, you still have to give me proof that you are from the future and that you are not possessed." Harry winced and cringed at that and he saw Snape's eyes narrow.
Harry did not say a word in defence and he lifted his wand and looked at Snape who already had his wand pointing at his face. Harry smiled, "I swear on my magic and on my life that I am from the future and I came here by falling accidentally on a time turner that slipped from my grasp and transported me back in time. My name is Harry James Potter and I am the son of James Potter and Lily Evans Potter." Snape watched with no expression on his face as the magic came out of Harry's wand swirled around him and again went into him.
Snape put his wand down and looked at him. "How many years from the future are you?" Harry had told him his age yesterday, he knew; it was just like Snape to reconfirm it. Harry shook his head ruefully. This was going to be as long a detention as it was yesterday.
"Twenty five years." Harry replied softly.
"The Dark Lord?" Snape asked him.
"Died once and for all in my seventh year here. But before that he took half the Wizarding World with him." Harry replied his eyes far away.
Snape was silent for some time. "So he comes back." He said in a small whisper.
"Yes. In my fourth year. At the end of it."
"Who died along with him?" Snape asked him, his face once again expressionless.
"Who didn't?" Harry asked bitterly.
"Tell me." Snape commanded in an incredibly soft voice.
"I cannot Snape. That knowledge I will have with myself. One death that did not happen until the very end that time happened very early now. Peter Pettigrew." Harry said viciously.
Snape's eyes widened. "So I was right in thinking you had a hand in that."
Harry nodded his green eyes still angry as he thought of the rat. "The rat in my other life was responsible for so much Snape. He was with the Weasleys for almost thirteen years until Sirius broke out of Azkaban and came searching for the rat. Wormtail as he was also known was also responsible for the resurrection of Voldemort and for so many horrible things. Now," Harry said with extreme satisfaction, "he cannot do any more harm. The bloody rat."
Snape was silent, his face not betraying anything, though his eyes were shocked. He raised an eyebrow. "Black broke out of Azkaban?" he asked incredulously.
Harry nodded. "In my third year. Everyone thought him a death eater who escaped to kill me and take revenge. I thought so too, at the time. I did not even know he was my Godfather. So many things were kept from me and the others by Dumbledore; if only we had known and had been prepared…" Harry trailed off.
"Do you know of the Prophecy?" he asked after another silence.
Harry looked straight at him. "Yes, I know the whole Prophecy that Trelawney told Dumbledore and also the fact that it was you who heard one half of it before you were discovered and sent away. I also know that you went to Voldemort with it." Snape started a little and his black eyes flashed with so many emotions so quickly that Harry could not read them.
"I see." He said quietly after a long time but did not add more.
There was only silence after that. Snape did not say a word, his eyes completely blank now and staring at the wall in front of him and Harry staring at Snape, trying to get a glimpse into his feelings, but could not discern any. After another long silence Snape turned his eyes from that point on the wall where he had been staring blankly and asked, "How did the Dark Lord come back?"
"Before I tell you that I want another oath on your magic and life that what ever we discuss is between us and you will not tell anyone, not even the Headmaster about it. I don't want his meddling to come anywhere near this. While I do trust him with my life, his meddling will surely create more unknowns and I do not wish for that. It is too big."
Snape looked at Harry for a long time and slowly lifted his wand. "I Severus Tobias Snape promise to protect all the secrets of Harry James Potter and will never betray him or his secrets for whatever reason."
Harry waited until the golden swirl came out of Snape's wand. "I accept." He said simply.
"Voldemort made what are called horcruxes." Harry said and Snape gasped loudly. His usually expressionless black eyes were filled with terror, hearing those few words.
"What did you say Potter?" Snape managed to gasp out. He was gripping his hands tightly and looked at Harry in fear.
"He made six of them. He was to have made the seventh on Halloween that night when he came to murder me, but my mother's sacrifice saved my hide and he lost his body. But because of the horcruxes he cannot die and so he is waiting to be restored to his body somehow. Pettigrew helped him in my fourth year when he along with another death eater, helped lure me to the graveyard at Little Hangleton and used my blood to resurrect, thinking he could have my mother's protection too."
"Did he get it?" Snape asked his chest heaving in emotion. Harry was slightly unnerved. Except when he was dying Snape had not shown any other emotion other than distaste, hatred and anger towards Harry and this Snape who was so scared was a novelty. Harry knew this would soon settle and Snape would go back to his old expressionless face and nasty self, but for the moment Snape had totally lost it.
"No of course not. She meant to protect me from him after all." Snape calmed down a little at that. "Continue." He said his eyes calmer and looking more alert now.
"I already have three of the horcruxes with me and I have already destroyed them." Harry told him.
Snape gaped at him. "How…?"
"Those were the horcruxes I knew would be where I found them because they were undisturbed the first time too. There are only two things that can destroy horcruxes; basilisk venom and Fiendfyre as far as I know. I removed the ring from the old Gaunt House, the locket from Grimmauld Place and the diadem from the Room of Requirement here in Hogwarts. The Room of Requirement gave me the means to destroy the horcruxes as well."
Snape looked very thoughtful at this information. "So now we have three left."
Harry nodded. "One is an old diary at Malfoy Manor. That diary Lucius Malfoy dropped into Ginny Weasley's cauldron in my second year. He did not know that the diary was a horcrux and Voldemort almost killed him for destroying that."
"How did you destroy the diary?" Snape asked him leaning forward.
"Well the diary possessed Ginny and she in turn released the huge basilisk that is there in Slytherin's chamber in my second year. Later the diary that possessed Ginny, took her into the chamber and started squeezing out her life in exchange for Voldemort's. Ron who was my best friend then and I went into the chamber but only I could go inside the main chamber and I was bloody lucky to defeat the sixty foot ancient basilisk and destroy the diary. Of course at that time I was not aware it was a horcrux."
Snape stared at him in silence and Harry continued after a few minutes when he realized Snape did not speak. "This time too we can wait for Lucius Malfoy to put the diary in Ginny's cauldron and get it when she comes to Hogwarts next year. Otherwise I am hoping my friendship with Malfoy would not only save him from becoming a death eater but would also yield good results regarding the diary."
"The other two?" Snape asked him and Harry decided to keep the information that he too was a horcrux for the time being.
"Well the other two are those for which I will need your help. They are Nagini whom he still has not made into a horcrux and Hufflepuff's cup that Voldemort forcibly retrieved from the Smith family. He made a horcrux of that and it is now lying in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault deep in Gringotts."
Snape frowned. "Nagini will be easy. I can administer so many potions that are not detectable and kill her easily; will the horcrux also die with her? She is a living thing with a mind of her own?"
"Yes she will die. But remember you cannot kill the horcrux inside her with potions. You must start a fight and somehow attack her with Fiendfyre or cut off her head with a sword dipped in basilisk venom or administer basilisk venom to her; though I do not know if that will kill the horcrux as well. Potions will kill her alright but the horcrux, I am not sure. Last time Neville killed Nagini with the sword of Gryffindor that has basilisk venom coated on it. He cut off her head in the Battle for Hogwarts."
Snape's eyes widened. "Longbottom?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Longbottom." Harry said mockingly.
Snape glared at him and then became thoughtful. "Bella's vault will be the worst. How did you get it out last time?"
"We broke in and escaped on a Gringotts dragon and were very lucky. This time I really do not know." Harry said shocking Snape once again. He gaped at Harry who laughed at him.
"Hermione, Ron and I were the only ones who knew about the horcruxes. Not even you knew. We set off after sixth year when Dumbledore was killed,"
"What!" Snape exclaimed.
"Yes," Harry nodded, "Dumbledore died at the end of that year. He was already dying because of a curse that hit him when he tried to destroy the horcrux at Gaunt's place. He was killed by death eaters and the three of us without the help of the Order that fell into pieces after his death, and without the knowledge of good magic floundered and stumbled and struggled in total darkness and it was sheer luck we survived to tell the tale."
"Did Draco kill him?" Snape asked him softly his black eyes boring into Harry's green ones.
Harry hesitated for a minute. "I really cannot tell you the circumstances of Dumbledore's death fully, but I will say this without having to resort to lies. Draco let a lot of death eaters into the School and he was killed. Dumbledore would not have survived anyway and until the last moment he was trying to sway Draco to the Light. He also succeeded in his effort because Draco put his wand down, but unfortunately at that time Greyback and Alecto and Amycus along with two others ran in and then Dumbledore's fate was more or less sealed."
Snape sighed, showing a completely human emotion. "You are not telling me anything Potter."
"I have already told you too much. Only I want you to sit on the information as much as you can and allow events to move on as closely as they did the other time. Only then we can even expect have a modicum of control over them. Otherwise we will be caught up in a situation where there will be more unknowns and we may end up doing the wrong thing. I am of course assuming you will aid me?" Harry asked him cocking his head slightly to look questioningly at Snape.
He scowled and glared at Harry. "For all your thirty seven years, you are really not blessed with brains are you? Did you really think I would let you go about destroying horcruxes and taking down death eaters on your own?"
Harry rolled his eyes and smiled his thanks at Snape who glowered back at him.
"Dumbledore has asked me to keep an eye on Quirrell and he is very suspicious about you. So is McGonagall." Snape told him abruptly changing the subject.
Harry laughed. "I know. I noticed all the peeping you two did and," Harry's voice turned serious, "don't go anywhere near Quirrell. He has got Voldemort at the back of his head. Voldemort at present possesses Quirrell and he wants to somehow get his hands on the Philosopher's Stone."
Snape stared at Harry once again and then shuddered for a second before controlling himself. Harry noticed Snape's reaction but did not say a word and simply continued, "Quirrell will wait until the end of the School year before getting to the stone and at that time if you will come with me we can work through all the enchantments, before I go in and face Quirrell."
Snape shook his head. "Not admissible Potter. I will not permit you to go and meet the Dark Lord alone, whatever your rate of success has been in the past."
Harry huffed, irritated. "Understand Snape. You cannot be seen with me before Voldemort's sprit. You have to take your position at his side when he gets back his body. The Order and I will need you there. Once we are through McGonagall's chess set you have to go back to your potions classroom."
"And how, may I know will you take care of the Dark Lord and Quirrell?" Snape demanded.
Harry grinned. "By touching Quirrell of course. Last time I got the stone and was about to run when Quirrell came after me and tried to hold on to me. He couldn't and the moment he touched me he crumbled to ashes. Mother's protection against Voldemort works until I am seventeen."
"And what is your age?" Snape asked sarcastically.
Harry looked at him in shock. Of course he was both eleven and thirty seven now and he had no clue if the protection that worked then would work now. "Merlin!" Harry breathed in horror. "You have a point. I never even thought of that. But we cannot let Voldemort see you as working along with me especially when he would command you to hold me and then kill me."
"I can polyjuice as someone else." Snape said thoughtfully, thinking about the protections all the professors had placed.
Harry grinned at the thought of Snape polyjuicing as Neville. Snape saw the grin and correctly assessing it, he scowled. "I meant some one competent, like one of the fifth years or even the seventh year Slytherins or Ravenclaws."
Harry looked indignant at the slight that no Gryffindor was competent enough and rolled his eyes in exasperation as Snape smirked. "Well," Harry drawled, "I was thinking of Neville."
Snape glared again and before he could tell Harry just what he thought of that idea, Harry hurriedly continued, "But I don't want to wait until the end of the year, just in case we go wrong. If Voldemort gets to the Stone is will be nothing short of disastrous. I vote we go tonight and steal the stone. I will place it in my family vault that no one, not even Sirius and Remus know I have access to, and it will be safe there until the war is over. After that I will return it to Dumbledore and ask him to do whatever he pleases with it. What do you say?"
Snape objected to stealing the Stone and that too almost at once. Harry spent the next hour convincing Snape it would be alright. It was too soon for Snape to go from doubting Harry to stealing the Stone with him, but in the end Harry managed to convince him and heave a sigh of relief.
"This is the best way Snape. This way the Stone will be safe and even if Quirrell escapes, Voldemort will not get his hands on the Stone. Please say yes. I have given you an oath on my magic and if you still don't trust me…" Harry trailed off hoping Snape would see sense and not be pig headed about everything.
Snape was silent for some time after the heated arguments and then he slowly nodded his head. "Do you know how to tackle the creature inside the door?"
Harry snorted. "Say three headed dog Snape. Of course I know. Are you going to test me until the end of time?" Snape quirked an eyebrow at Harry and simply waited for his next statement.
"Tonight?" Harry asked him. Snape nodded.
"Come to the third floor corridor at eleven. I will meet you there okay?" Snape nodded once again before he spoke, "The moment you remove the stone Dumbledore will know. You must have some plan for that. I suggest we replace the stone with a replica of the original and transfer all the protective charms to it and let it be."
"Then Quirrell will escape with Voldemort. That is not allowed Snape." Harry objected.
Snape's eyes gleamed. "Why don't we set a trap in there? We could cast spells to attack him if he does touch the stone. And we could set it for anyone who wants to get the stone."
"We keep the original stone there?" Harry asked slightly confused.
"You are a dunderhead Potter. I meant on the false stone. The real thing, you take it with you and make sure you put it in your family vault at the earliest. And now get out."
Harry did not even blink at the insult. Instead he stood up cheerfully. "Okay that's settled. Meet you at the entrance tonight. And I spent the whole morning here writing about the potion and you have that parchment with you now. Hermione and Neville would want to know." And sauntered to the door and turned back to see Snape looking at him. "Thank you so much sir." Harry told him softly, his green eyes shining with gratitude and slipped out of the room Snape still staring at him, his face expressionless.
End of Chapter – 11
--------------------------