It was two in the afternoon before Harry rolled out of bed, blinking away confusion and desperately hungry. He'd grown accustomed to the savory fragrance of fresh breakfast stirring him awake every morning, and hadn't really considered food preparation in his rushed decision to travel through time.

The curtains spread wide over a broad window, flooding the room with light, as soon as his bare feet touched the hardwood floor.

He ran a shower, stirring awake under the steaming water. After drying, he reached for the messenger bag his future self had left beside his wardrobe, retrieving a fitted black tee and a pair of tapered blue jeans. A few moments later he was descending the stairs of the large foyer, greeted warmly by his grandparents and young father.

"Dobby?"

A sharp whip-crack echoed throughout the room. Dobby was bowing deeply before Harry, donning a black three-piece, shining white oxfords, and a knit cap of a vibrant rainbow yarn.

"Good afternoon, Harry Potter! Dobby is hoping the room was to Master Potter's liking?"

"It was lovely, Dobby. A bit big, but I suppose I'll get used to it. Actually, I was wondering about lunch. I'd not even considered food when we left yesterday, but I'm quite hungry. I don't suppose the pantry's stocked, the manor being empty for so many years?"

At this, Dobby snapped. A moment later the room was filled with a cacophany of pleasant fragrances.

"Kitty and Milo is working all day on your first meal at Ravenswood Hall. Dobby is telling them of the greatness of Harry Potter - how he slayed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and how he rescued his friends, and how he saved Dobby! Kitty and milo is eager to impress Master Harry Potter!"

As he opened the door into the dining room, Harry Potter made efforts to restrain his laughter. A feast suitable for perhaps ten people lay before him, piping trays of cornish pasties, dsihes of shepherd's pie, bowls of bangers and mash, piles of roasted chicken beside large bowls of mashed potatoes. He ate until he couldn't eat any longer, feeling a bit embarrased about the waste."

Dobby had insisted on standing in attendance throughout. After the last sip on pumpkin juice, Harry pressed his plate away. With a snap, all the excess disappeared.

"Dobby, I was curious whether you might help me with an important task?"

Dobby shook with enthusiasm.

"I need to find Remus Lupin, but I can't risk being seen in public. There's only so much I can do with an invisibility cloak, and I haven't any stock of polyjuic potion. I was wondering whether you might be willing to search for him, and if you find him, ask him to return with you. I've been told I should find him as quickly as possible."

"Say no more, Master Harry Potter. Dobby will find and retrieve Mister Remus Lupin. Until Dobby returns, Kitty and Milo will tend to Harry Potter's every need."


The afternoon was spent in the library, exploring the effect of copper cauldrons on traditional potions recipes. Harry felt at home, in more ways than one, as he perused the massive library.

The significance of copper couldn't be overestimated, Harry learned after a bit of reading. Potions brewed in copper were more powerful than their pewter counterparts, but the material was much less forgiving. Precise application and manipution was requisite when operating with copper cauldrons. Several theorists suggested that intention and will were amplified when workign with copper, so the potion maste must remain in strict constrol of his state of mind throughout.

Immediately Harry began exploring the potion's lab, discovering to his chagrine that the ingredients inventories hadn't been maintained since his grandparent's passing. He vaguely recalled that his father hadn't enjoyed potions, so he wasn't terribly suprised.

"Um... Kitty?"

A sharp whip-crack later, a slightly shorter house-elf stood in his midst. Harry was surprised to find she was fully clothed, wearing seomthing akin to a traditional maid uniform - a navy blue blouse with crisp white cuffs, a white apron tied around her narrow hips, and a charcoal tweed skirt cut off just below her knees.

She curtseyed deeply, her eyes never leaving Harry's, fighting back a gleeful smile.

"Oh, it is such a pleasure to meet you, dear Master Potter. Milo and I have been preparing the home for — oh, the years have simply flown by — it must be twenty years now in anticipation of your return."

Harry was taken aback. Her diction and vocabulary were perfect, and she lacked the peculiar distinctions of Dobby's clothing preferences.

"Oh! Excellent!" He stepped back, gathered himself. "I mean, thank you so much. I, er, I can't tell you how much it means to me. The home is beautiful, really." He stumbled over his words, attempting to wrap his mind around the paradigm shift that unfolded when she greeted him.

"I'm so grateful to find you're enjoying it, Master Potter. Truly, whatever you need, Milo and I are happy to assist."

He hesitated. "Thank you, Kitty. May I... I'm sorry, may I ask you a few questions?"

She nodded politely. Her ears were softer than Dobby's, and shorter, her nose a bit less pronounced, and overall she seemed a bit younger.

"Forgive me if this is rude. I sincerely don't know much about the wizarding world. You're wearing clothes. I'm not quite -"

She smiled, laughing playfully. "Ah. Yes, indeed. The house elves of the Potter House have been free for over twelve generations. We are employees, not slaves. The distinction you've noticed is, I suppose, a distinction between house leves who have served pureblood families of the... darker persuasion, and house elves serving truly noble families. As youths, we are welcome to be educated alongside the young witches and wizards in primary school, and we're not ostracized from social settings, as is common is the houses of our counterparts." She grinned and followed with a polite curtsey. "It is truly a privelege to serve the Noble House of Potter."

Harry returned her grin. "Honestly, Kitty, I couldn't be more relieved to hear that. I suppose Dobby mentioned my offer?"

Kitty bobbed joyfully. "Of course, sir. I'm happy to report that your generosity is unnecessary. We are fairly compensated, indeed far beyond any need we might encounter. The salaries of the Potter house-elves are notoriously high - we are deeply shamed by many in the house-elf community." She laughed at this. "In other words, we've been waiting years to return your families many displays of generosity."

Harry smiled warmly at her brightness. "Perfect. I'm so glad, Kitty. I do, actually, have a request. Although I'm not sure if you're the one to ask?" He directed his attention to the empty potions inventory. "I'm woefully short on standard potions ingredients. I wonder if you mght-"

"Certainly, sir. Milo has a list of Master Potter's preferred potions ingredients, alongside preferred shopkeepers and independent sellers. Would that list suffice, or would you like to develop your own?"

"Oh! Excellent. That'd be perfect for now. If there's anything lacking, who do I-"

"I'm ready, of course, to assist. Milo, also, can take such orders, but he's a bit shy and prefers to make the supply runs."

"Lovely. Thank you so much, Kitty!"

Another curtsey. "Of course! Was lunch to your liking?"

Harry laughed, feeling a bit bashful at the prompt. "It was extraordinary, although I'm afraid a bit too much for me."

Kitty postitively beamed. "I understand, sir. We were quite excited to welcome you to your home, and weren't quite sure of your preferences."

Harry nodded, smiling warmly. "Everything on offer this afternoon was perfect, just perhaps less next time?"

Kitty giggled. "Of course, sir."

On the heels of another happy curtsey, a sharp whip-crack announced her exit, and Harry made is way back to the library.


The subsequent three days unfolded at this leisurely pace. Harry's attention was absorbed by potions theory texts, obscure recipe tomes, and the assebly of lists of obscure ingredients.

His desire to see Luna, to spend time at her side, had grown to a feverish desperation. The longing loomed behind his meditations on theory and potions, subconsciously driving discovery, secretly igniting hope that some magical means may be illuminated just a page away.

He'd finished a half dozen volumes when he stumbled upon the recipe.


Fiat Creatura A potion of temporary transfiguration, specifically formulated to tranfigure a human into a creature with a weight no greater that 12 stone. The distant cousin of a more mainstream transfiguration formula, now known as Polyjuice Potion, the resulting brew is capable of prolonged transformation, documented at lengths up to twelve hours. Author has demonstrated successful use only in mammals. Weight transference is the key factor of success, limiting the potion's application. Avian transformation nearly impossible, and difficult in the case of very small mammals.

3 Sprigs Dittany
2 Grams Ground Fluxweed Root
4 Lacewing Flies
1 Ounce Bobutuber Pus
3 Cuttings Boomslang Skin, 1.75 inch

Bring on gallon standard potions base (one part fresh rainwater, seven parts highland spring water) to a soft boil. Summon the longing to transform, softly exhaling while twisting three springs of Dittany between thumb and index fingers of dominant hand. Visualize freedom of movement with closed eyes. Release the sprigs into the cauldron, one at a time. Reduce heat slowly as Fluxweed Root is shaken lightly over cauldron. Rally your hope for something extraordinary, pouring one ounce Bobutuber Pus slowly into cauldron. Let simmer for a fortnight. Return to the potion at dawn, hastily adding four lacewing flies. Return to a soft boil. Three hours later, while hungry, dip three cuttings of Boomslang Skin into boiling cauldron, and immediately toss into the fire beneath. Reduce heat, let simmer until dusk.