Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us.

Chapter 43

Mr. Harry?

"I will not ask you again. So I suggest that you tell me who you are and what you want."

Chris just stared at his brother, not knowing what to say. 'What could I say that would calm him down enough so that I can explain?' Chris thought to himself. "To be honest Harry, I don't know 'why' I'm here. However, I think I may be beginning to understand." Chris said, hoping that the, random rambling, would give him sone time to come up with a better answer.

"Understand what exactly?" Harry asked, still on the defensive.

"Well, why I'm here," Chris began as he fully stood up, "It's because of you, Harry."

"What do you mean, it's because of me, and who are you anyway?" Harry questioned.

Chris sighed, he had hoped that, this particular little chat, would have happened in the comfort of the manor; but as always, nothing ever went according to a Halliwell's plan. "Well there really is no easy way to say it, so I'm just going to come out with it." He said quickly. And after pausing for the briefest of moments he continued, "It is because of you that I am here in the first place."

This time it was Harry's turn to give a sigh, "What do you mean that it is because of me?" He repeated; something which he did not like to do.

"Well," Chris sighed, "On September the first, you cast a spell; a spell to help your family to fight a bunch of demons that were attacking and well, I was the help that was sent."

"Sent from where?"

"Not from where, well I guess that you could say where, but that would be just a little incorrect, I..."

"You're rambling." Harry exclaimed with a smirk, as he interrupted Chris.

"Sorry," Chris replied with a smile, "It's more of a, from when."

"And that means what exactly?" Harry asked impatiently.

"My, my, you are an impatient little thing aren't you?" Chris asked jokingly, but stopped smiling when he saw the look Harry was giving him.

"You are really testing the patience I do have, and if you do not get to the point , you will find yourself in a world of hurt." Harry said in a heavily British accent, which was dripping with irritation.

"Fine," Chris exclaimed, "The spell you cast, asking for help for your family, brought me, your brother Chris, from the future."

Harry was so shocked, that the fire in his hand went out in a puff of smoke. Whatever he had been expecting this person to say, it had not been this. Deciding that he needed to say something, he quickly came up with an idea that would help him find out the true identity of this stranger and buy him the time that he needed, all in one go.

With a smirk Harry said, "If you really are my "brother", then you know what it is we do to check the identity of a person we are not sure about." When he saw Chris nod he continued, "Tell me something that only my brother would know."

Harry continued to smirk as he watched this stranger, claiming to be his brother, try to come up with something that would prove what he was saying was the truth. What Harry didn't know, was that what Chris was going to come up with would shock him even more than before.

"So you want to know something that only your brother would know?" Chris asked with a small smile.

Harry, still smirking even more now, replied with a simple "Yes."

"Okay then, I am the only one in the family that knows what really happened when Dad took you to see the Elders, after they, requested a meeting with you." Chris paused briefly and then asked, "By the way, how is Flynn doing these days?"

"I…you…how do you know that?" a flabbergasted Harry asked.

Chris smiled and said, "In the future, we are as close as two brothers can be."

"I didn't even tell mom or dad about that, so why would I tell you?" Harry questioned, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that what this person was saying could really be the truth. 'Not person, Chris.' Harry thought to himself as he looked at his Brother-from-the-Future.

"Like I said, we are as close as two brothers can be. And by the way, I should tell you that, up until now, I have not told a single person what you told me…will tell me. Man I hate time travel; it messes with your brain."

Then without any warning, Harry began to laugh. This caused Chris to stare at his brother incredulously "What is so funny?" he asked. This question made Harry laugh even harder. He was trying his best to answer Chris, but he was having trouble finding the breath to do it.

"You…ramble…like…dad!" Harry finally answered in between breaths.

Chris was confused for a fraction of a second before he too started to laugh. The laughing only lasted a moment or two before Harry asked a question that caught him off guard.

"How did you manage to grab a hold of my arms and orb me out of the manor without getting burned?"

Chris smiled and said "Well, I can't really tell you, not because I don't want to, but because we still don't understand it."

"What do you mean, not really understand it?" Harry asked.

"From what we can tell, it is a wired version of a power that one of our Ancestors had. And like I said, it is a wired version of it. P. Bowen, our ancestor, had the power of freezing an object, but unlike mom, it actually froze the object in ice."

"Now, that is a very cool power." Harry said in awe.

"Yea it is," Chris agreed, "But for me, it can only cover my arms, and it can only be used in defense. This makes us, the family; think that this power is to help you, when you go all Mt. Vesuvius."

The two of them lapsed into silence when Chris had finished his explanation, both lost in their own thoughts. Time passed as they both sat there, not moving, just content to sit there in each others company.

"do they really think that just because I have this fire ability, that I am evil?" Harry asked, breaking the silence that had fallen around them.

"Harry," Chris began with a sigh, "Right now they don't understand, and it's because of things that have happened and things that they have seen that are causing them to feel the way they do. What you have to understand, is that this is new territory for all of you and it is going to take some time for them to see that you have this ability for a reason. It is only natural for them to be cautious and besides, they have yet to see you in action with your power." Chris paused momentarily, allowing some time for Harry to grasp what he had just told him.

"One thing you have going in your favor, is that you went so long without them even knowing you had this ability. And that may sound bad, but it just goes to show you, that you know you and that you are able to keep any ability in check." Chris said, now trying to give Harry something to smile at.

"But I hid it from them and then I nearly lost control; the control you say I have, and almost hurt them." Harry interjected.

"Harry, the fact that you were able to keep this ability under control until I was able to get you out, speaks volumes about you. You knew that there were innocent people there and you did your best to keep them safe." Chris exclaimed, hoping to get Harry to see reason. "It doesn't help that that you had a ton of emotions going through you, most of which were not your own."

"But I nearly lost control. If you had not gotten me out of there when you did, who knows what would have happened." Harry said, not really listening to Chris.

Getting fed up with his brother not accepting what he was saying, Chris decided to change tactics. "You're right Harry, and in the future you will not only nearly lose control again, but you will lose control of it completely."

Harry looked at his brother gob smacked; he had not expected him to be so blunt, but he had and in the moment it took Harry to overcome the bluntness, what Chris had said to him had sunk in. "So I do lose control," He began, "How am I supposed to prove myself if I lose control?"

"Fire is naturally unstable Harry. For you to have lost control three times, in my twenty-one years, shows amazing control. Not to mention the control you will have over the powers you have yet to receive." Chris replied with a smile.

"But how can you be sure…wait, did you say that I am going to be even more powerful than I am now?"

Chris smiled even wider at his brother and said "The powers you have now are just the tip of the iceberg. You can't even imagine what lies beneath the surface you are beginning to scratch."

Harry just sat there dumb-struck at what Chris had just said; not wanting to believe it could be true. "As if being as powerful as I am right now isn't enough, let's add more powers to the mix. Can't I just be normal?"

"Why would you want to be normal, when you could be special?" Chris began with a smile, "Now, stand up."

Confused, Harry just sat there staring at Chris. "What?"

Chris gave a sigh and in a semi-commanding tone said, "I said, stand up. I have something I want to show you."

Chris reached out his hand to help his brother up. Harry took the offered hand and got up off the stone floor, looked around and said, "So you decided to bring me to Hogwarts, the DA dueling chamber to be specific, so that I wouldn't destroy the manor?"

Chris turned to face Harry and with a smile replied, "What better place ti take you, than the future base of our operations."

"Base of operations?" Harry asked curiously.

"Demons are stupid, well the majority are at any rate," Chris said as he began to draw on the wall, "So why fight them from the comfort of the manor, when we can be just as effective if we take the fight to them."

Harry had to think about it for a fraction of a second before he let out a, "You mean we're…"

"Yes we are." Chris answered, interrupting Harry.

"But…"

"As much as I wish I could tell you everything from the different powers that you will get, to the final battle with Voldemort. I just can't, it's against the rules."

"Oh," Was all Harry could say, as he watched Chris vandalize one of the walls in the dueling chamber.

When Chris was done, he turned to face Harry and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Ready?" Harry replied in confusion.

"I said I had something I wanted to show you." And with a snap of his fingers, the image that Chris had drawn, flared to life.

"What is it?" Harry asked as he stared into the blue void.

"So many questions, I hope I wasn't this bothersome when I was your age." Chris said in fake exasperation.

"I'll be sure to let you know in twenty years or so." Harry retorted, without even missing a beat.

Chris turned to look at Harry and said, "Cheeky brat."

Harry replied in kind with a smirk, "So what am I suppose to do?" He asked, bringing the conversation back to the blue void.

"Just walk into it. It doesn't hurt at all." Chris answered and upon seeing Harry's hesitance he said, "I will be right behind you."

Harry gave Chris the briefest of nods before walking into the blue light. As soon as he had stepped through the window, as Harry had dubbed it, he came out into a room that looked liked it belonged somewhere close to a beach. The wallpaper had pictures of shells all over it, and a nearby bed stand had a shell lamp, that was currently turned off, sitting atop it.

"It is a bit much, but this is the price you pay for a condo near the beach." A voice said from behind Harry.

Harry was about to say something when a high-pitched squeal pierced the quiet room. The next thing Harry knew, there was a small creature flying into the open arms of his brother. Upon getting a closer look, Harry saw that it was a small child of about three.

"Kwis yoor back, daddy said you wood be." The little one said.

Chris smiled at the child in his arms and said, "Of course, I couldn't leave my favorite cousin for long could I?"

"Kwis," the child said with a giggle, "I'm your only cuzin silly."

"Not for long you're not. Now where are your manners? Say hello to Mr. Harry."

The child giggled at Chris before turning to look at Harry say, "Hello, Mr. Hawy."

"Err…hello um…"

"James." Chris said, giving Harry a smile.

"James?" Harry asked, looking to Chris, who just nodded. "It is nice to meet you James. Although you might want to watch out for the monster holding you, he can be pretty scary sometimes."

James gave another giggle and said, "Kwis not a monstor Mr. Hawy. Monstor's are big meanies who growl."

Chris gave Harry a smile, along with a brief wink, before turning back to look at James, "Oh no James, I think he's right. I think you need to run." He set James down, who just stared back at Chirs.

"Yoor silly Kwis." James said, although it was clear in his voice that he wasn't totally convinced.

Again, Chris gave the briefest of smiles before he doubled over and started to growl. "Oh no James, run away before I get mean and come eat you." For more effect, Chris leaned forward a bit and growled at the same time, causing James to scream in utter terror and run out of the room.

"I can't believe you did that." Harry said in between laughs.

"Yea, well guess who I got that idea from." Chris replied, giving his brother a knowing look.

Harry gave a small chuckle and said, "Did I? Oh man, that will be a laugh."

Just then, an irate voice penetrated their conversation, "Christopher Perry Halliwell!"

"Uh oh." Chris said as his back straightened with a snap.

"If you do that to my son one more time, I swear it will be the last thing you ever do."

"I'm sorry Unc…" Chris began to say, but was cut off.

"You have said that how many times now? Christopher you are an adult."

"And I bet if I ask your sister, she would tell me that you didn't do that to her at all." Chris said with a smirk.

James' dad looked at Chris and said, "We are talking about you not me. Now, your mom is on her way so just sit tight."

When Chris was sure that he was gone, he turned to Harry and said, "He would have chewed me out even more, but he knows that he can't really say anything as he used to do the same thing."

Chris had turned back to look at the door for a second and then turned back to look at Harry, who had begun to speak. "That was James' dad?" Harry asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Yes, he's cool, so is Uncle C…"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence young man." Came a harsh female voice, "You know the rules."

"Mom? Harry asked as he watched the woman walk into the room.

"Harry, I am so glad to see you," Piper said as she pulled Harry into a hug, "When you get back to the past, I want you to have me make you something; you are looking a bit gaunt."

"But, how can you even look at me right now? You were just saying how my ability to create and manipulate fire was a bad thing." Harry questioned, ending the warm embrace.

"Harry," Chris started, "That was past Piper, this Piper has had years to come to terms with your power."

"But it won't take that long sweetie, don't you worry." Piper put in.

"Mom!" Chris exclaimed.

"What? He needs to know that." Piper said, giving Chris a knowing look before turning back to Harry. "We just reacted the way we did because it was…well, not something we expected to hear. But Harry, you also need to know that we love you and we always will, you just need to be patient with us; the past us I mean."

Harry just sat there staring at his mom as she talked. It had been only a few hours since he had last seen his family, but seeing this future version of his mom, had made him start to miss them even more.

Noticing that Harry wasn't really paying attention anymore, Piper pulled him into another hug and said, "I think it is time that we get you back to your time." And with a snap of her fingers, the wall that he and Chris had walked through opened back up into the same design that Chris had drawn in the chamber.

"This will take you back to your room at the manor. I love you Harry and I shall see you in a moment." Piper said, giving Harry one final hug.

Harry smiled at the warm embrace his and then turned to look at Chris, who had a smile on his face. "You're staying aren't you?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yea, I think it's for the best. Who knows what damagei might have caused if I had gone back with you." Chris replied.

"I'm glad to now that I have such a cool little brother." Harry said as he walked forward to give Chris a hug.

"Don't worry you'll see me in about twenty years or so; at this age at any rate." Chris said with a smile.

Harry gave a small chuckle before moving directly in front of the blue portal. With one last look behind him, he stepped through the blue light and back into his own time.

Upon arriving, Harry was nearly knocked over by two bodies crashing into his. "Harry, are you alright?" The voice of his mother exclaimed.

"I'm fine mom, nothing to worry about." Harry replied with a smile.

"Harry," A males voice said, "We wanted to apologize for reacting the way we did. You just need to give us some time to deal with this, and by that I mean, wrap our heads around it."

"It's okay dad. Both of you just take your time."

Piper and Leo released their son and looked at him with confusion evident on their faces. Seeing this confusion Harry spoke up, "I just got some really good advice from someone Chris took me to see."

"Speaking of Chris, where is he?" Leo asked.

"Oh, he decided it was time for him to go back home." Harry said as he went to open his bedroom door.

"Wait, Chris is gone?" Piper called out. "He forgot to tell us when baby Chris would swallow the marble."

Harry just laughed as he made his way down the stairs and to the kitchen, where he could hear the many voices. On his way down, he put his hands into his jacket pocket and was surprised to find something in it. He was surprised, because he usually kept the pockets empty. Pulling the object out, he found it was a piece of parchment that had three words written on it as well as a post script.

"Knights of Salem"

P.S- Good luck, because believe me, you're going to need it.

Harry smiled briefly and put the note back into his pocket, as he had arrived at his destination; pausing in front of the door briefly to collect his thoughts. Knowing that standing on this side of the door would accomplish nothing, he opened it. But instead of seeing the worried expressions he had been expecting, he saw seven smiling faces staring back at him. He looked at all the smiling faces around him, trying to find the one he wanted to see the most.

There sitting in between Ron and Hermione, with the biggest smile out of all of them, was Ginny; who just nodded ever so slightly and smiled, if it was even possible, wider than before. It was in this moment that Harry believed that, the future he had seen only a glimpse of, was possible. Returning the smile, he walked further into the kitchen to join his family and friends on this fine, Christmas Eve afternoon.

-------HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW-------

Rune,

My investigation, into the magical surge at Hogwarts, has bore some interesting fruit. I believe that you are going to want to take a look at my findings. Send me a reply with the time, date, and location of where it si that you want to meet.

Spore.

A/N: Here is chapter 43, I hope you like it. I know that we did not see much of Chris, but he played his part. Or rather the part I wrote for him. Anyway, head on over to my profile and check out my poll as it will be closed when I upload the next chapter. Any and all comments are welcome…….just hit that button that says REVIEW.

Thanks to all,

Mudbloodpotter.