A/N- With this chapter and the consequent chapters I have taken liberties with the timeline provided by to suit my own purposes and the plot I am writing. My apologies for any conflicts but this was the only way I could get around my plot holes.
Though I would once again like to extend my thanks to for the information and encyclopaedia they have on their website which has helped me through this story profusely. My apologies for changing Ginny's birthday as well, it ties in with the story.
I have to apologise for the late arrival of the next two chapters, I have been working on private projects and also personal reasons stopped me from posting. Now that the seventh and final book come out the story has become my interpretation of how the books could have gone.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Again I apologise for the almost year long wait.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A GLITCH IN TIME
Monday morning and April Fool's Day for Ginny brought headaches and illness. She awoke to the cheerful chattering of her Gryffindor year mates Hannah Robin's, Tanya Philips, Megan Cleary and Sonya Grey-Wilkinson.
" Happy Birthday, Gin," Sonya's chirpy voice came over the din.
" Eh?" She grunted.
" You're finally sixteen, sweet sixteen," Hannah said out loud daydreaming.
" Wonderful," Ginny muttered and got up looking at herself in the mirror, beneath her eyes there were black circles and she looked quite pale. Her hair appeared frizzy and seemed to crackle with energy. In fact her whole body seemed to fizzle with energy yet the other girl's didn't feel it. They soon disappeared from the dorm to the Great Hall for Breakfast. Ginny's stomach rumbled as she pulled on her Hogwart's blazer looking for her skirt. It was perhaps too much wine or the late night but when Ginny finally pulled herself into the Great Hall that morning she looked a little worse for wear. She moved next to Seamus and Dennis while Hermione sat opposite a smile resting on her face. The first since her parent's died.
" Damn girl, what happened last night?" Luna Lovegood said coming over. She pecked Neville on the cheek and he blushed furiously.
" Bad night last night, didn't sleep very well," She yawned.
" I saw you drinking a lot of Elderberry wine after the Game," Ron supplied.
" Congratulations, Neville," Hermione said an odd look crossing her face. The fifth-year-student sat down on Neville's lap.
" Thanks, we sort of connected last night," He replied.
" What lesson's have we got today?" Ron grimaced.
" Actually although we're supposed to have lesson's today it say 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th year Gryffindor will be having a lesson with the same year Slytherin's in the training chambers," Hermione supplied.
" Where's Harry?" Gin asked. Hermione looked around expectantly.
" Getting Adam ready, I expect," Krissy said sitting down at the Gryffindor table, " Remus is taking him to school,"
It was then that the breakfast arrived; Dumbledore had created a special arrangement. Their favourite meals would appear if they just thought hard, Ron had mashed potato and sausages while Hermione had kippers and toast. On Ginny's plate however a red meat appeared, quite rare with vegetables. Blood was almost dripping from the large hunk of piece.
" Since when have you liked rare meat?" Ron asked.
" I always have it," Gin replied tucking into her meat, almost tearing the meat into shreds. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and got up looking at Neville who seemed oblivious to her stares the others however were not. Neville looked up as she pressed herself into him running a finger along his bicep.
" My Neville you've certainly grown up, I can tell you have been working out," Ron and Hermione stared at her astonished while Luna sitting next to Neville was giving her daggers.
" Are you ok?" Colin asked. She whipped her head around and licked her lips. She swung her hips and the Gryffindor boys stopped eating their food to look at Ginny as she stared Colin.
" Ain't you just the beast?" She asked. He looked at her realising she was about to tell his secret to the school when suddenly she turned sniffing. She stared at the doors of the Great Hall where Josh Dumbledore had just entered. He got a couple of feet into the Hall then suddenly stopped as he experienced a wave of adrenaline course through his body. Unexpectedly fire flowed through his veins and he felt stronger as he focused his hazel eyes on Ginny. He neither noticed nor cared about what the surge was doing to his loins.
On the staff table Albus Dumbledore looked at the pair as they stalked each other. Almost all the student's were watching the display of the two Gryffindor's but neither one took notice, for them the other one was everything in this world at present. Albus turned as a new power entered the large room. Harry stepped into the Great Hall wearing a suit but his eyes were focused on Josh and Ginny. All four tables watched feeling the tension as Ginny just stood there looking at the first year, he looked back at her with the deepest and brightest hazel eyes. He smiled a cat-like grin and could almost be mistaken for a fifteen or -sixteen-year-old in sexual awareness. Ginny was almost on Josh now kissing him she pushed his cloak off his shoulders as he rolled his head back and his hands moved over her body. Hermione looked on in horror, a similar look etched onto Ron's face. The white light surrounded and enriched them still making everything clear as she opened his shirt unbuttoning it to reveal a pale chest.
The light pulsed and slowly the two phased. Where their human forms once were now there was a black panther, majestic king of the jungle, who lay on his back with another large golden cat lying on top of him nuzzling him. The golden cat was the size of a Bengal tiger with fiery fur on the large paws and lower legs. The ears came to tufts while the long tail whipped back and forth. Only a few people knew it was called a Calori, an ancient and legendary creature able to take on human form. Everyone was so intent on the pair they didn't notice the third feline until it roared scaring quite a few people. Before them stood a huge white Siberian tiger, eight feet from nose-tip to snake-like-tail-tip. Vivid black stripes stood against the pure white fur. The eyes glared at the two cats that were now looking at the stronger third. The Siberian stalked around the two with coiled muscles ready to spring. It moved nudging the Calori off of the black cat making her stand behind him. In a flash the panther was on its paws and growling at the newcomer. Although the panther was smaller, he was just as deadly. The crowd watched the three felines with bated breath. As though someone had snapped his or her fingers the hall was plunged into darkness. Normal lights returned and the student's stood in the centre of the Great Hall.
" Kit, what have I told you about using your Animagus form like that?" Harry admonished Josh. The Eleven year old stood there with white shirt undone and hanging out with sweat covering his face and hair.
" You don't know me Potter, she is my Mate. I can feel it," Josh replied snarling at the man.
" Kit, how old are you?" Harry returned.
" I can feel it flowing through my veins, power of the feline. The panther resides in me, she chose me,"
"Ginny is undergoing a serious transformation at the moment which marks her sixteenth Birthday, her Talent is beginning to show and at the moment it's raw and wild that's why you feel her so strongly," Harry answered. Then he turned and stared at Ginny before touching her shoulders.
There was a blinding flash and as their eyes cleared only Josh was stood stunned, raggedly dressed and breathing hard. Harry and Ginny had disappeared. Hermione and Ron were already out of their chairs and looking around wildly. Dumbledore, Remus and McGonagall were all quick to get out of their seats and come to the centre of the Hall. Dumbledore took Josh's shoulder and guided him out followed by Hermione, Ron and Kristen. Remus and the Transfiguration teacher followed after the student's had been dismissed.
X
" Are you all right, Sir?" a voice asked. Harry struggled back into consciousness his head pounding. If I could only stay here for a few minutes, he thought but the voice persisted.
" I'm fine," He finally answered and opened his eyes to look up at a raven-haired boy. Gazing around him he found he was on the grounds of Hogwart's close to the lake though as he tried to move pain hit his back and he groaned.
" Are you sure you are ok?" the boy asked concerned, " I noticed a flash of light and you appeared with this girl,"
He indicated Ginny lying unconscious a few paces away from Harry.
" What's your name son?" Harry asked trying to pull himself together.
" James, Sir, James Potter Gryffindor," Harry looked at him startled but quickly regained his senses.
" Well Mr Potter, would you kindly help me up," He asked putting out his hand, the boy pulled Harry up and was thanked for his service. Harry moved to Ginny and checked her pulse realising she was just unconscious.
" Are you a new teacher?" James Potter asked.
" Oh, um, I'm just visiting my name is Harry, Harrison, Griffith," he answered, " How old are you, Mr Potter?"
" Fifteen, sir, I'm in fifth year," he replied almost smugly.
" Why are you outside during lessons?" Harry asked and James' face dropped for a moment.
" Personal reasons, Sir. I have permission to visit my girlfriend in the Hospital Wing," Harry was mystified.
" If your Girlfriend is in the Hospital Wing then why are you out here?"
" Thinking, Sir," he returned.
`" While you're Thinking can you please show me to Professor Dumbledore's office," Harry said and scooped up the prone Ginny following his fifteen-year-old father across the grounds into the main hallway. Leading them quickly he took them to the Gargoyle.
" Cockatrice," James' said opening the Gargoyle and allowing the steps to gently rotate to the top. Harry thanked his young father and James trotted off towards the Hospital Wing while Harry found himself knocking on the Headmaster's door.
" Come in,"
Harry entered with Ginny in his arms, the Headmaster looked at them with startlingly blue eyes as Harry laid Ginny down upon the couch in Albus's office.
" Can I help you, young man?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
" First tell me what year this is?" the elderly man looked at him surprised.
" March 18th 1970 of course," answered Dumbledore. Harry sighed and sank into one of the chairs.
" I've travelled back in time," Harry said not looking up.
" First what's your name?" Harry looked up straight into the eyes of his mentor.
" Harry Potter sir, son of James and Lily Potter," This time Dumbledore showed surprise.
" But they've just had a daughter!" he exclaimed. Harry looked up shocked.
" Excuse me, daughter?"
" Yes, Lillian Marie Potter was born two days ago,"
" But Lily and James are only fifteen!" Harry cried.
" Hmm, yes they are both good student's and I was severely disappointed with them," Dumbledore said, " But if they have had a daughter where do you come from?"
" I am from the future, I was born in 1980 and I came from 1996," Harry replied.
" Then you must be sixteen but you look at least twenty-six," Dumbledore said.
" Long story, I don't want to tell you too much about the future,"
" I see, so whose the young lady?"
" Her name is Ginny and I believe she is a Temporal Mage, she was sixteen today,"
" But Mage's are un-heard of, the last temporal mage was killed 300 years ago when his Talent overtook him,"
" Ok Mages 101, Mages begin to show their abilities at the age of ten but when they reach sixteen there power expands unless someone has contained it or taught them to use their Talent. I am the first Mage in six hundred years and knew she was a Temporal Mage. Faerin Callaghan reached age sixteen and his Temporal Talents appeared but no mages were present to contain his power thus it consumed him. However this time I was there and managed to centre her Talent before it consumed her,"
" So you focused the power but it escaped you a little and brought you here, I'm guessing," the headmaster said.
" That's what I hypothesised happened. By the end of the week she will have revitalized with Talent to make our return trip,"
" Perhaps you will be able to join us then for the week, I can put you in one of the empty Teacher's quarters,"
" That would be great," said Harry tiredly, " however Remus Lupin, Sirius Black or the staff can't recognise me, some know me from the future,"
" Arh Mr Lupin is one of our smarter student's. Can you do a glamour?" Dumbledore asked.
" Yes, that's a good idea," he answered and abruptly he had blue eyes and brown hair, his thick beard was also brown while his face seemed fuller. His ever-present lightning bolt scar had disappeared.
" Brilliant, you know speechless magic," the headmaster was excited about the young man before him.
" If anyone asks I'm Harrison Griffith, a visiting teacher from America," Dumbledore nodded and Harry picked up Ginny following the headmaster to the Teacher's quarter and almost laughed when he led them to Harry's future quarters.
" I'll leave you then, Mr Griffith, see you tomorrow morning," Dumbledore said and left them, Ginny laying on the sofa.
Harry got a wet towel from the bathroom and placed it on Ginny's hot forehead. Gently he stroked her cheek and held her hand. Her eyes flickered and liquid brown eyes looked directly into his light green eyes.
" Harry," she rasped.
" Yes Ginny, I'm here," he said gently.
" Where are we?" she asked looking around the room.
" We're in my quarters, or at least my quarters in the future," Harry replied. Her eyes met his when he said that.
" Future?" she queried.
" We are in 1970," Harry answered.
" 1970, what the hell are we doing twenty-six years in the past?" she asked.
" What do you remember before you woke up?" he threw back.
" I had a hangover and that I was terrible hungry and then oh god did I come onto Josh?"
" Yes you did, you are what's known as a Temporal Mage,"
" Excuse me," she said confused.
" Well you know I am a Mage, the first in a few hundred years. Well there were seven Mages, one of which was a Temporal Mage. A man or woman capable of bending time and travelling forward or back in time. This Mage was used sometimes to find a criminal or track events that led up to a crime. However a Temporal Mage was rare while their powers were often raw and untameable, so if a mage were not close then the Magic would burn them up on their sixteenth birthday,"
" So if you hadn't been there I could have died? What went wrong?" she asked.
" I focused your magic but it had already begun because of your interaction with Josh so unfortunately it sent us back here,"
" Then let's get back," she said.
" You've just performed a large amount of Magic, your levels are very low which is why you are so tired. While your magic recharges I shall train you with some techniques for focusing picturing places you want go, in a week you should be fully charged,"
" So I'll always have this?" she asked.
" You have the ability to travel in time, yes, but you must never use it without me present. If you change the timeline it could devastate the future,"
" I promise I won't," she said and closed her eyes falling swiftly asleep.
X
Six day's later Harry woke, his eyes extremely groggy trying to remember everything when he shot up suddenly. Memories came back swiftly; he and Ginny had spent the last six day's avoiding student's and teachers alike. Then finally Harry had decided Ginny could take them back to their own time. Looking around he found that he was in his own bed in the teacher's suite of rooms. Next to him Ginny had her head on his shoulder and had her arm draped across him unconscious. Abruptly he looked across to his bedside table, it read: 15:45 Monday 1st April. They had arrived back the day they left only hours later, people must be worried.
SLAM! The main door slammed to the teachers' complex of rooms.
" Dad, Dad," Adam called.
" In the bedroom, son," Harry called still a little groggy.
" Harry, are you sure that's wise?" Harry heard and realised Ginny was awake. It was too late as Adam entered, his handsome face screwed up in a frown when he saw Harry in bed with Ginny. The dark haired lad jumped onto his father's bed.
" What are you doing in bed with Aunt Gin?" he asked.
" Um… we were tired," Harry answered lamely. At the sound of his voice Remus rushed into the room.
" Oh thank Merlin, we've had patrol's looking for you. Where have you been?" the older man seemed relieved.
" Can you get someone to return Ginny to her Dorm? I think she's quite tired. I need you to look after Adam, I have to go away," Harry said suddenly.
" But where are you going so suddenly?"
" To get some information," He said, " Provarious Elvie Transporte,"
Moments later he stood in the reception area of a large throne room. A huge chandelier hung above the black and white marbled floor. A long table ran down the centre of the hall while on the wall-hung banners. At the rear of the Hall was a great dais set in a semi-circular whole in the wall. A banner hung above the thrones while just above that was a great stained glass window flooding in light. Twisting his hand his black cloak become gold, a red tunic appeared instead of the emerald one and he now wore a crimson red scabbard and large broadsword. Resting his hand on the hilt he moved. However the hall was empty so Harry turned into a door to the right of the Throne and came into his Majesties private study where the King of the Elvin Province Rivern and his wife Lanai sat.
" Aeodeen vere Tani, Tor-ai," Rivern spoke. {Peace be with you, my son}
" Der'nei could you possibly come with me to the Private Libraries,"
" I trust you shall tell us when whatever you planned is over, Milord," The king spoke as if to someone higher in power than himself.
" Yes Sire," Master Trainer Der'nei Iban Cavan led the younger man to the Libraries with a nod from his Sire. Upon opening the ebony doors the books leapt out at you. All around the great rectangular room shelves stacked with old books, parchments and scrolls sat much loved by the royal librarian. Four long rectangular windows allowed bright sunlight onto the two big claw-footed desks.
" I need the Potter Family tree, Purebloods: Pure Families of the Wizarding world and Wizarding families and Elves,"
" What makes you think we have either of those three books, each is about a thousand years old?" Der'nei responded.
" Don't play with me, Der. I need that scroll and those books for a good reason,"
" Okay, Acenuous," Two large tomes and a scroll floated towards the elder elf and onto the desk. Harry sat down and opened the book entitled Wizarding families and elves.
X
" Where is Harry?" asked Ron.
" I don't know," admitted Kristen, " He re-appeared yesterday afternoon then after speaking to Remus quickly vanished again with an Elfish Spell,"
" Oh," Ron said taking a bite of his sausage. It was breakfast and Ron being himself was curious. Hermione though looked at Ginny who had even more bags under her eyes. She had slept straight through until this morning.
" Joshua Dumbledore," A feminine voice spoke from the open doors and brunette Tonks entered next to her usual companion Kingsley Shacklebolt and three Aurors.
" What's going on?" Minerva McGonagall asked.
" You haven't been informed?" Percy Weasley entered speaking coldly, " Court is in succession this morning to discover the Guardianship rights of Joshua Dumbledore,"
" Get Professor Dumbledore," Minerva whispered to Colin, " Hold on one minute young man, Albus Dumbledore has Guardianship and holds his funds, he is his Great- grandfather.
" My Clients will explain that Albus Dumbledore is too frail and too busy to look after his Grandson,"
" Your Clients?" McGonagall asked.
" Weren't you informed, professor?" he asked sarcastically, " I am a Lawyer and represent my Clients in this case,"
" Who are your Clients?" Headmaster Albus Dumbledore spoke from the doors.
" Client confidentially," he responded then added scathingly, " Take the boy we must be getting to the hearing,"
" Yes Sir," Tonks gave Hermione an apologetic smile and took Josh gently following the lawyer out but not before turning around, " Its in Court 10,"
Twenty minutes later Josh Dumbledore sat in the very chair Harry had sat in the year before looking up at the Wizengamot: Cornelius Fudge, former minister; Amos Diggory, Minister of Magic; Senior Undersecretary Arthur Weasley and Madam Umbridge. To the left were stands for regular Wizards and witches like the Weasley's, Hermione Granger and Cary Mitchell. To the right Media folk were setting up, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. On Josh's immediate left were Albus Dumbledore and Remus Lupin acting in Defence and to his immediate right were Percy Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy. Magistrate Amelia Bones entered and everyone stood.
" Begin," her voice rang through the chamber.
" Joshua Dumbledore born of Lillian Marie Dumbledore and Aberforth Dumbledore Junior is currently a ward of the state continuing tutelage at Hogwart's under the custodianship of Albus Dumbledore. My Client feels that Albus Dumbledore is a frail man and too busy running a school to look after the needs of a growing eleven-year-old,"
" Magistrate, Josh was put up for adoption by his parents ten years ago because of the War with Voldemort," Dumbledore protested.
" It was over by then," Percy added.
" Why then were they killed by Death Eaters soon afterwards?" Dumbledore asked the Rhetorical question, " His sister is by all rights his guardian though he is my blood and by legal standards I am his official guardian. Harry Potter has offered his home and work for Hermione Granger taking care of my Grandson as well,"
"In a magical birth two godparents are magically bound to the child, if the parents should die the godparents will look after the child. Now this was granted to Sirius Black and Narcissa Malfoy nearly Eleven years ago. Last year Sirius Black, current guardian of Mr Potter and Master Dumbledore died. His fortune and will, read separately would go to his godsons and now Josh's adoptive parents have died so his guardianship is currently in disarray.
" Narcissa Malfoy has claims with backing that Joshua Dumbledore should be her ward and both the Potter Fortune and Black fortune should be under her 'protection' These claims are very strong," Weasley countered. The Legal-Auror took the sheaves of parchment from Mr Weasley and handed them to the Magistrate Amelia Bones. Pulling reading glassed onto her nose she began to read and a few moments later she looked.
" Headmaster Dumbledore, this gives evidence of two things. First is the Legal and Magical binding of Josh Dumbledore to Sirius Black and Narcissa Malfoy and under the Great Wizarding Charter Bindings counteract Blood relations if the blood relation is not immediate family such as Mother, Father, Brother, Sister Uncle or Aunt," Amelia said.
" The second is the Right overruling blood relations such as Great Grandfathers in the Wizard Charter. Therefore I must rule that Guardianship goes to…" She was interrupted mid sentence.
" WAIT!" A voice spoke up and entering on the ground level Harry placed a hand on the tear-stained Josh.
" Mr Potter you are extremely late and I do not like to be interrupted," Chief Justice Amelia Bones's spoke annoyed.
" I was misinformed or stopped by traffic whichever takes your fancy," he said cynically. A few of the Wizengamot teetered.
" You have interrupted me!" she said annoyed.
" Trust me," He replied, " As you said Non-immediate family such as Albus Dumbledore is counteracted by Binding. Blood-binding magic which is very strong, an ancient magic where two Godparents commit to a deal to look after the said child, their blood binds with the child's. But when this process was created so were laws used to govern responsibility and honesty in these proceedings. Am I correct Mistress Bones?"
" So Far Mister Potter, that just strengthens my resolve," she replied.
" Under the Wizard Charter before you Page Twenty-Seven Paragraph Twelve and I quote 'If a direct blood relative such as Sister, Brother, Uncle or Aunt is found over the age of Magick consent the child shall placed in their adoptive care and neither blood-magic nor Law can dispute this',"
" But Albus Dumbledore is his Great Grandfather," Bones responded.
" Go with this thinking and expand upon it," He saw Bones get frustrated, " Firstly you're looking at the Dumbledore's, who was Lillian?"
" We have no record of her," Bones answered looking through sheaves of paper
" But you do, Born March 16th 1970 in St Mungo's as Lillian Marie Potter, ten years later her brother was born Harry James Potter," He handed the birth documents to Amelia, the whole court was in uproar.
" Joshua Potter-Dumbledore is my nephew," Narcissa's voice carried through the whole court as she screamed in anguish. Harry merely looked at her.
" In light of this evidence I find that Mr Potter shall have Adoptive custody of Josh Dumbledore," She said smiling, " Mr Potter, join me in my office to sign the paperwork and make everything legal,"
Harry Potter light wizard and Mage followed Amelia Bones into her office as Percival Weasley led the distraught Narcissa Malfoy away knowing full well Voldemort would punish her.
.