In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 121: Crystal Gaze
Luna watched as Harry fell, mounted his broom, regained the composure, and caught Luna in free fall through the drizzle. She held onto his neck, the feet dangled, as he came down onto the main street, a distance howling to her ears.
"Shouldn't be dark," Luna said.
Above, clouds of black, unnatural but not out of the ordinary for Scotland.
"POTTER!" came the shout from The Three Broomsticks, "Who you chasing today?"
Harry glanced, Madam Rosmerta², though younger.
"Out like that?" Madam Rosmerta² said, "Trying to get yourself killed for a kitty? What the wife say to that?"
"Had one too many," Harry said, "What's day is it?"
"That bad?" Madam Rosmerta² said, "Tuesday."
"What year?" Harry asked.
"Definitely had too many," Madam Rosmerta² said, "Turned your eyes green."
"Got a room to spare?" Harry asked.
"Shouldn't be out anyways," Madam Rosmerta² said, "Come on in, don't have to rent it the night, day rates work."
Harry reached, held Luna's hand, and they entered. Smoky smell, the almost empty dining room.
"Bit slow with all them attacks," Madam Rosmerta² said, "Scared away that divination instructor, bright lad to know better, left Albus unable to find a new one."
Luna watched Harry's eyes that moved, scanned the room.
"Mind?" Harry asked.
Madam Rosmerta² motioned. Luna walked, Harry that followed, into the back, up the steps, past the private parlor, to the first door beyond.
"Apologies if I was cross," Madam Rosmerta² said, "Discretion is best for flirts."
"Thank you," Harry said as he handed over a few galleons.
Luna entered the modestly furnished room, the fireplace that cast away the darkness. Harry's wand out, the shimmering of light.
"Maybe a season of darkness," Madam Rosmerta² said, "I keep it clean."
"Forgive a bit of paranoia," Harry said.
"In times like this, best to keep some wits," Madam Rosmerta² said.
"Thank you," Harry said, "Unless you want to watch the shag."
"Oh, my apologies James," Madam Rosmerta² said, "So few, conversation has become rare."
Madam Rosmerta² shut the door. Harry pointed and Luna sat on the sofa. Harry sat next to her, the bottle greens aimed at her, the ones that seemed to peer into her soul.
"Neville?" Luna asked.
"Sent them to Puddlemere," Harry said, "Good thing Michael's a keeper."
"Us?" Luna asked.
"Rosmerta mistook me for my dad," Harry said, "We went through time too."
Luna watched him for a moment, the fireplace that flickered light. Harry's head that turned, faced the flames.
"Voldemort's doing something to rip time apart," Harry said, "Or will be."
Harry's fingers rubbed at his chin.
"That…mine or cave was collapsing," Harry said, "I chose an alternate reality for our escape."
Harry stood, stepped toward the fireplace.
"Mistaken for my Dad," Harry said, "Means it's before that Halloween, but…given the talk of a wife—my Mum. Tuesday…it's either nineteen seventy nine or eighty."
"Or eight one," Luna said.
Harry shook his head.
"My parents were in hiding with me," Harry said, "Reaction would've been way different. No, it's either of those two years, a paper would date it."
Harry turned.
"Gets a bit…seductive and distracting," Harry said.
"We all have things," Luna replied, "Case of the nargles? Voldemort using them for this—mess?"
"Can't say yes or no," Harry said.
Harry moved to sit back on the sofa.
"This reality," Harry said, "My broom got us here, it'll get us back once we figure out the puzzle."
"Puzzle?" Luna asked.
"Almost always something," Harry said, "In the meanwhile, a chance to enjoy Hogsmeade without a wand fight."
Luna felt the fatigue that caught up with her, and she fell asleep.
…
Harry apparated both himself and Luna onto the sofa in the private parlor. Harry stepped up. A flick, the invisibility on her, and one onto himself. He went out the door, down the steps, where a couple others in black robes stood.
"I do not rat on my customers," Madam Rosmerta² said, "If somebody wishes to cheat, I make sure the sheets are clean."
Unsure to the name, one of the dark figures seemed familiar though younger to one he'd seen at the rebirth.
"First room?" the man asked.
"Second," Madam Rosmerta² said.
Footsteps, the faces that turned, and Harry apparated upstairs, to the parlor. Wands that were out by the time the figures were upstairs, and Harry heard the carnage from the room. He felt and grabbed Luna from the sofa, the focus, the disapparation into the Hogs Head, when the invisibility failed.
"Potter," said Aberforth Dumbledore².
"Room?" Harry said, "Stayed up all night and need a chance. Also, I'm not here."
"Upstairs, second one," Aberforth² said.
Harry carried Luna up the steps, down the corridor, and entered. He placed Luna down on the bed, the wand out. A charm of the door, the window, the sweep around, before he sat on the small arm chair. Invisibility to them both, a pull of the blanket over him, he fell to sleep.
Luna woke to the muttering. Unsure to why the room wasn't The Three Broomsticks, but seemed like the Hogs Head, she climbed up, and scrambled off the bed. Squeaks of the timbers, Luna went down the steps, to the woman who entered with wet hair.
"You'd think I'd foreseen getting The Three Broomsticks mixed up," said Sybill Trelawney², the years earlier than Luna remembered her.
"Spit and polish facade over the true spirit of the establishment," said Aberforth².
Huge eyes behind the large glasses turned toward Luna.
"Seem a bit lost," Trelawney² said.
"Former student," Aberforth² said, "Pandora, sneaking behind Xeno's back? Spent all day in bed."
"Scuffle with Death Eaters," Luna said, the eyes that latched onto her, "Har…meant Potter, kind enough to see to my safety. We'll sort ourselves out soon enough."
"Interesting necklace," came Harry's voice.
"These?" Sybill² asked, the fingering of several, one that held a small hourglass, "Good luck charms, got an interview, hope these help." Eyes that took a moment, before Harry appeared next to Luna. "Peculiar, the both of you."
"I'm a bit peckish," Harry said, "Not into haggis like Salazaar was…um…full English breakfast?"
Aberforth² nodded.
"Bit lighter for me," Luna said.
"Have you had breakfast?" Harry asked Sybill², "Best meal of the day."
"Tale to you," Sybill² said.
"This?" Harry's fingers to his shark bite scars, "In the Philippines, from a shark that didn't kill me, so I kept the scars."
Harry's grin, the one that put ease into Luna, and Sybill² that calmed. A nod, they went to a round table. Aberforth² brought over the tin of loose tea leaf, the kettle.
"Ta," Harry said.
"Better morning than that chap in Grandfeldy," Aberforth² said, "Woke up to a rude surprise, Dark Mark and screaming from his neighbor, imagine that?"
"Today's not a day to worry about Vold—I mean you–know–who, around here," Harry said.
"You seem rather confident dear," Sybill² said.
"Confidence is the first step," Harry said, "Otherwise, you'll find a way to make the worst happen."
Luna spooned in some tea into her mug, added the steaming hot water, and waited.
"And if you–know–who visits," Harry said, "He's got a nasty shock waiting for him."
"You do not need any liquor to that mug," Aberforth² said.
"Interview?" Harry asked, the change of topic clear.
"A vacancy at Hogwarts," Sybill² said, "Likely the usual reason."
"What of?" Harry asked.
Luna glanced at Harry, he shrugged. Aberforth² brought over the plate to Harry.
"Ta," Harry said.
Harry popped a couple of pills, and brought his fork to the beans, shoveled them onto the toast, and ate.
"Opening in divination," Sybill² said, "To help the students read the fates, to think about the beyond."
"Always thinking about it," Harry said, the eyes that twitched about.
"See what they have to say about you," Sybill² said, she reached into her pocket, and pulled out a modest crystal ball that could fit within the palm of a hand.
"Glows," Luna said, the shimmering, the color within the cloud.
"No it doesn't," Harry whispered, "It's…ordinary."
Luna glanced at those bottle green eyes, the ones that probed into her.
"Explain later," Harry whispered.
"You two should not be here," Sybill² said.
"Lets not scare the other patrons!" Aberforth² said.
"It's fine," Harry said, "I mean, you keep one on you?"
"Of course," Sybill² said, "My great–great–grandmother's, a cheap one."
"How are they made?" Harry said, "I mean…quartz?"
"Not that ordinary," Sybill² said, "Unless you're a muggle."
"Filled with anjser?" Harry asked.
Harry worked the fried eggs and the ham slice. Luna took to the cauldron cake, watched the future divination instructor.
"That may be the name of it," Sybill² said.
"You can see the color?" Harry asked.
"A bit," Sybill² said, "A good ball is clear."
"Color is good," Harry said, "Wizards think they're purifying anjser—they're not."
"You're not here for an interview too?" Sybill² asked.
Harry handed over his drained tea cup, her eyes that peered into it, the panic to her, the deep breaths.
"Grims in heat?" Sybill² stammered.
"Things get a bit weird around me," Harry said, his fingers to the crystal ball, the eyes to it, "But I heard you'll do great at the interview, you'll get the job."
Harry smiled.
"Thank you for thinking of me," Sybill² said, "You…" her eyes to the ball. "The Beyond is confused about you."
"It would be," Harry said, "Technically, we're your students."
Huge eyes that twitched, took them both in.
"For every decision we make," Harry said, "There's choice, which fork in the road do you take, or do we even stay on the roads?"
"Web of choice," Sybill² said, "Peer into the beyond, a glimpse to what could be, to guide, to warn, to comfort."
Harry laid the cloth napkin down, stabbed the fork into the left corner.
"That's me," Harry said.
Luna unsure, except that Harry grabbed another fork and stabbed it to the right corner.
"That's also me," Harry said, "Both living…same but separate, and snap—" He snapped his fingers. "Choices meet, same room, same time."
"Dark magic surrounds that," Sybill² said.
"Vold—mean you know who," Harry said, "He's deep into it."
Huge eyes through those glasses at them both.
"Once we solve the riddle," Harry said, "We can get out of this one."
"We flew in," Luna said.
"Only plausible escape," Harry said, "Question is…what's the riddle, what's the choice that went different."
Harry counted on his fingers.
"Are we before or after…say, Halloween?" Harry asked.
"After," Sybill² said.
"So their choice's already been made," Harry said, "Wish they had a second chance, a little brother would've been nice."
"Who are you?" Sybill² asked.
"I'm to be a beacon of hope in these dark times," Harry said, "To those that need it the most."
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Harry dropped faster than the green flashed out, struck Sybill² in the back. Red slitted eyes, the Dark Lord in black, the cackle.
"Stopping the ridiculous," said Voldemort as Sybill²'s body slumped in the chair.
"How dare—" Aberforth² started.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Aberforth² dropped dead.
"MORSMORDRE!"
A pop, robes of black.
"Get her ball," Harry whispered.
Luna grabbed the crystal ball, the hand to her knee, and the tightness as they disapparated. A stumble, the cold and wet roof top of The Three Broomsticks beneath her, as Harry sat next to her. Above, the dark mark that now loitered over the Hogs Head beneath the clouds above.
"Shit!" Harry stammered.
Harry opened his wand holster, pulled out the holly wand, one that remained idle.
"We're screwed," Harry grumbled.
Luna glanced into the crystal ball, the haze within.
"Not even my wand's working," Harry said, "Means we're trapped and…every alternate seems to self–destruct."
Harry pulled out the spare oak wand, a couple of sparks.
"Something," Harry grumbled.
"What should have happened?" Luna asked.
"It was the interview," Harry said, as he grabbed the ball from her, "She was supposed to read out a prophecy, foretold my arrival—you know, Mum and Dad. Snape overheard part of it, told Voldemort, and set it all into motion."
Harry gazed into the crystal, the color to it.
"Shouldn't be long," Harry said.
"What?" Luna asked.
"Mine collapses," Harry said, "This escape—wasn't."
Luna took the crystal back, the color that resonated in the mist within.
"This is choice," Luna said, "Others could've seen Voldemort killing her?"
"They'd see our Voldemort," Harry said, "That wasn't the one from here."
"You could tell?" Luna asked.
"He had no reason to be here until Snape ratted her out," Harry said, "Confident that's our Voldemort exploring her death, not giving the prophecy, which…damn."
"How long does this collapse take?" Luna asked.
"Not sure," Harry said, "If the broom worked, I could fly up and see it—but if the broom worked, we'd go back too."
"How would we know if we're inside or outside the crystal ball?" Luna asked.
Harry took it back, held it.
"How indeed," Harry said, "Meaning we're inside Voldemort's crystal ball?"
A flash of bright color, the crimson red and yellow, Fawkes that roosted next to Harry.
"We effing are," Harry said, "He makes a choice, examines it, and decides. It's worse, we do nothing and our future is the one that burns, not here, and we're stuck with a Dark Lord, eternal."
On the street below, the spry Albus Dumbledore stumbled out of Hogs Head, turned into a corner, the crying.
"And his brother…dead," Harry said.
Luna took the crystal ball back.
"So to fix this," Luna said, "We unkill two people, and deliver a prophecy?"
"Or get Voldemort to unchoose this reality," Harry said, "Likely already burning ours."
"Bad," Luna said, "Neville?"
"Unless…" Harry moved in close, the fine chain that went around their necks. "Got under three hours to ruin his choice." Harry spun the sand glass on the necklace.
"Her luck charm?" Luna asked.
"Time turner," Harry said, "Gives us a second chance to save them all, don't think she'd mind."
Above her, a bit lighter on the clouds, the usual winter day in Scotland, gloomy and raining.
"She needs her crystal," Luna said.
"And she needs more anjser in this," Harry said, taking the crystal ball back, "Yep, way more, and we need plans."
Harry held her, the tightness, the disapparation, apparation, into the greenhouse. Colorful vines on every table, surrounded by a handful of students.
"Good afternoon sixth years," said Professor Sprout².
"It's sentient," Harry whispered to Luna, "Ask for permission, and a couple cups worth, meet me in the potions dungeon."
"You—" Luna started.
"Can't loiter," Harry said.
Harry vanished, as the young lady came over.
"Interesting," said Lily², those same bottle green eyes on her, aimed at Luna.
"Who can tell me a bit about this plant?" asked Professor Sprout². Murmurs to the others.
"Har—he said to get some," Luna said to the dark red haired witch.
"Best spot to hide," Lily² said, "He'd never think to check a greenhouse."
"Who?" Luna asked.
"I came because of a missed period," Lily² said, "Madam Pomfrey, always so kind."
"She is," Luna said, adjusting the tub, "Pardon." Luna addressed the plant. "It's important, said you can help us out with some cuttings, mind?"
"Sound like Hagrid to spiders," Lily² said.
"We're taking," Luna said, "Ever stop to consider the plant's feelings?"
Luna turned the blades of the clippers.
"There's a charm," Lily² said, "You'd get something."
"It's cooperating," Luna said, taking some vines, "Oh, you can't see it all?"
Lily² shook her head.
"Not sure why," Luna said, "Have to read up on it when I get back."
"Back?" Lily² asked, "Where are you from?"
"St. Ottery, Devon," Luna said, "Har—he thinks we need this."
"To think I'm pregnant," Lily² said, "Haven't told James yet, not sure if I should."
"Father, right?" Luna asked.
"Only one who could," Lily² said, "Severus…he'll be mad."
"Snape?" Luna asked.
"Don't get near him," Lily² said, "Doesn't like NO for an answer."
"Well," Luna said, "Congratulations."
"To bring a child into this world?" Lily² said, "Not sure I have the right to."
"Dark times pass," Luna said, unsure.
"Best get back to my cover story," Lily² said, "And see if the library has an old copy of The Aztlán Journal later, supposed to have a good theory on blood magic to protect an infant."
Lily² left, mingled with the others, while Luna cut a few more vines.
…
Harry renewed his invisibility, kept his lean back, hands away from her, as he watched Lily² move. Deep red hair over the dress, the bright green eyes, Harry longed to hug her, but he understood who she was pregnant with—him. Anger to the man, toward Snape, and Harry experienced the tightness, the disapparation, apparation into The Three Broomsticks.
"Strange finding you here," said Remus Lupin², years younger, still worn in the look.
"Strange seeing Potter show up," Snape² said, "Unfaithful is the word I'd use."
A young Sirius² that stepped over.
"How soon until it's that time of the month?" Snape² asked.
Harry followed Sirius² and Lupin² to the other corner.
"You're not alone!" Snape² shouted.
"Madam Rosmerta confirmed," Sirius² said, "James came in this morning with a damsel. Guess he did his business, now gone."
"Don't tell Lily that James did it, again," Lupin² said, "Wait."
Lupin²'s wand in his hand, the turn. Harry moved away.
"Severus's right," Lupin² said, "Death Eater nearby."
"Absolutely," Harry said as the invisibility dropped, his hand to Lupin²'s wand, "But you're aiming that wrong."
"James?" Sirius² stammered.
"Let's torture him," Harry said.
Harry spun around, approached Snape², the glare. Harry realized, Snape² unguarded, untrained, the extra curricular that had been done after the confession to Dumbledore. Snape²'s realization to the eyes, the bottle green eyes to Harry, and the curiosity to the shenanigans being played.
"A credible, great brewer of potions," Harry said, "Always have…"
Harry read it, the inventory, the summon, a small bottle that flew out of the clothes, one that Harry caught.
"That's theft!" Snape² said.
"Second." Harry leaned, ripped at the sleeve, pressed on Snape²'s forearm, the dark mark that glowed. "Tell your master to be at the Hogs Head in two hours, because his downfall's about to be foretold."
"James!" Sirius² snapped.
Harry stepped back from Snape².
"Well—go!" Harry commanded.
Snape² got up, left. Harry turned around.
"No, you're not James," Lupin² said, "It's the eyes."
"Thank you," Harry said, "Never stop reminding me, and please tell Albus Dumbledore to show to the interview an hour early, it's important."
Harry rushed, hugged Lupin² tight.
"I had to avoid her," Harry said.
Harry stepped back.
"Two hours to avoid total apocalypse," Harry said.
Harry focused, disapparated. Luna had a cauldron out, the flame already lit in the empty dungeon classroom.
"Don't have time for that," Harry said, "Half hour—hour tops."
"We can't rush—" Luna said.
"Yes we can," Harry said, pulled out the crystal ball, "It's got the ingredients aside from more anjser."
Luna's eyes wide. Harry glanced at the water within, grabbed her wand, and cast it. Crystal ball lost its cloudiness, while the color was in the pot. Luna added the ground vine into the cauldron. Harry enchanted the spoon, it stirred. Harry ran to the front desk, grabbed parchment and quill, sat, and wrote it out, the prophecy in full.
"You need to memorize…" Harry ran back to Luna. "This."
Her silvery eyes up to Harry.
"We might not be able to stop her death," Harry said, "You become her, do her interview, go into a trance, you know, and regurgitate that a couple of times so our reality, our Trelawney gets it."
"This…" Luna said.
"It's about me," Harry said, "My Mum is pregnant with me, and Voldemort attacks, marks me as his equal. Without that, I'm ordinary, unable to take him down, like all the rest, and my wand, my broom, will not respond to me."
"Ambitious," Luna said.
"Our only chance," Harry said, "I'm hoping to hell this works, or we've got an even bigger mess."
Harry stirred the mixture, a slow simmer, and watched it thicken back up. Luna reread the parchment multiple times, the recitation. A sprinkle of a crushed berry, and the mixture thinned up, the cloudiness, the reflection of another face in it.
"Got it," Harry said as he pulled off the cauldron.
Harry used Luna's wand, the switching charm, the crystal ball that once again turned cloudy.
"Hold onto it," Harry said.
Luna put it into her pocket. Harry held her.
"Where to next?" Luna asked.
"Gladrags," Harry said as they apparated onto the high street.
And they entered the shop, desolate.
"Gotta look like a teacher," Harry said as he went through the assortment of dragon hide, "Mugging her…already took a couple of things."
"I already told you—no refunds!" came the employees voice.
"Wrong answer," said the other voice, Lucius Malfoy², "You might want to checkup on your family before the hour is up."
Harry ducked, with Luna, as the elder Malfoy² turned, the fast pace, and left. A door that turned its sign to closed.
"We're closed," the man said.
"Payback…um." Harry a galleon at the man. "Short term rental, return them in an hour or two, or—voldemort's gone."
A weary yet astonished look at the teenage boy making the bold claim. Harry turned to Luna, in the dull green, the woven brown knit over top of it, and the large handbag.
"She never changed," Harry said, "TA!"
Lights that turned off as Harry and Luna left, the door that locked them outside. Harry watched as Albus Dumbledore² walked along, the eyes that glanced, the unencumbered stroll on High Street, toward Hogs Head. A moment later, the lady that left The Three Broomsticks.
"It's going down now," Harry said.
A tap onto Luna's shoulder, the disapparation, apparation into the upstairs room at the Hogs Head.
"You're not James," came the voice of Lily², the deep red hair, the eyes at Harry.
Harry conjured up a pair of scissors, handed them to Luna.
"Go downstairs, get a hair," Harry said, "Here." He handed over the bottle. "One in here, drink it, and return after Albus Dumbledore comes up."
Luna left the room, Harry turned to Lily².
"No, I'm not," Harry said, "Voldemort's coming, HIDE! Or lend me your wand, Mum, before he wins everything."
Eyes unsure, her wand out, idle. Harry summoned it, cast the invisibility on her, and himself, stood next to her as Albus Dumbledore² entered with Aberforth².
"I'll send her up," Aberforth² said.
Aberforth² left. Albus²' eyes that roamed, however, the footsteps at the door drew them away. Harry scanned, knew he wasn't the only one under invisibility, at the door, Snape² behind a disillusionment, as the woman that appeared to be Sybill², Luna entered, and sat.
"Miss. Sybill Trelawney?" Albus Dumbledore² said, "Hope I'm getting the pronunciation correct."
"Close enough," Luna said, "You know how it is, not many see the need for clairvoyance."
Albus Dumbledore² poured himself tea, sipped a bit at it.
"Something students lack," Albus Dumbledore² said, "All actions have unintended consequences."
Harry unsure if that was aimed at him.
"There is always choices," Luna said, "Things that are seemingly unimportant, yet become important."
"Mind?" Albus Dumbledore² said, handed Luna a tea cup.
Luna's eyes that went down, the ones appearing at Trelawney²'s.
"Grim," Luna said, "Yes, death is near."
"Yes," Albus Dumbledore² said, "In a time of a dark war, that unfortunately usually true."
Harry picked up on the disappointment. Luna took out the crystal ball, an act the Headmaster²'s eyes seemed to reflect the frown. A scream downstairs.
"Now," Harry quipped.
"Thief!" Snape² shouted as the polyjuice lost hold, and Luna returned to being Luna.
Within the crystal ball, the face of Sibley Trelawney, the disappointment.
"Now," Harry said.
Luna spoke.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"
As Luna repeated this, a man appeared, less slit like eyes, the snake at his feet, Nagini that began to enter, the wand drawn.
"AVADA—" Voldemort² started.
Harry's holly wand already in his hand, the aim, no curse necessary, the beads that connected, froze the magic within the air, the orange and green that stopped at each other, the push. Harry felt the other wand, this Lily²'s, close enough to be his mother's, and aimed it with his left hand.
"This man needs a hug!" Harry snapped.
Yellow sparks swirled around Voldemort², the consumption of him and the snake, to leave a young first year without a house in a Hogwarts uniform, and a girl on the floor.
"Excuse me," asked the young Tom Riddle², "Which way to King's Cross?"
"Severus," said Albus Dumbledore², "Please take the gentleman downstairs."
Snape² glared, the hands to the Tom Riddle² and the girl that followed.
"We have maybe minutes," Harry said.
"Who are you?" asked Albus Dumbledore².
"I am Harry James Potter," Harry said.
Luna stashed the crystal ball into her pocket.
"What?" Lily² said, "Know James was—"
"Slipped back in time," Harry said, "Voldemort…sorry, he killed your brother, killed Trelawney, all I could hope for was a stalemate, and negate his choice."
Harry turned to Lily² with her bottle green eyes, handed her wand back.
"I never got to know you," Harry said, "Wish I had."
Harry turned.
"You need to go downstairs," Harry said to Albus Dumbledore.
Harry thought he heard it, jumped the table, grabbed Luna, and summoned his broom. A blast, the wall that opened, with Luna to his back, Harry flew out, upward, to the dot of red in the sky as the shockwave approached. Fire consumed the ground below as he came into contact with the last of it.
"Landing?" Luna asked as they fell, this time, over a lit up Hogsmeade.
"AVADA—" came the first chant.
Harry pulled on the broom, Luna behind him, and flew south, fast.
Date: Wed Apr 10 11:17:11 2024