Chapter Two
Harry and Lily pretty much took care of themselves over the next week. Harry would always make sure to sneak a little extra food up to his new bedroom for Lily, while she stayed locked up in the room, spending most of the day under the Invisibility Cloak, or at least near it, so that on the occasion one of her Dad's relatives did pop around, she could swiftly hide.
Just such an occasion happened only a day after Harry had procured the room for them. Harry was downstairs doing a few chores ('just to keep the peace', he said), and Lily was sitting on the bed, idly twirling a pencil around, imagining that it was a wand, when her Dad's cousin Dudley entered the room. At first, the door opened only slightly. Lily let out an inaudible gasp and dived to the floor, hitting the ground with a soft thud. She didn't see Dudley creep into the room, a look of suspicion on his chubby face, because she was to busy rolling under the bed and pulling the Invisibility Cloak over herself.
'Hello?' Dudley tried, inching into the room.
He came around to the other side of the bed - Lily could see his trainers thudding on the floor. Then his fat face appeared, looking under the bed, his eyes narrowed in confusion. He swiped a thick hand under the bed. Lily had to roll out of the way to avoid it, her mouth open, her eyes wide. Dudley retreated, satisfied. She watched from under the bed as he moved around the room, mumbling to himself. Then he left the room, clutching as many broken toys as he could. Lily waited for a few minutes, just to be safe, and was still under the bed when Harry returned.
'Lily?'
Lily was staring out of the window, watching the rain slowly make its ponderous way down the window, the moons bright light making the droplets of water shine brightly, like little stars. She looked over at Harry, who was sitting on the bed, holding a deck of playing cards that used to belong to Dudley. He was looking at her curiously.
'Are you okay?' he asked.
Lily nodded and returned to looking out the window. Harry, not fooled, stood up, tossed the deck of cards onto the bed, and crossed the room. He placed a hand on his daughters shoulder.
'I think I know what's bothering you,' Harry said.
'Then why did you ask?' Lily asked, still gazing out the window, a note of frustration in her voice.
'Common courtesy?' Harry offered. Lily smiled a little. 'There you go, it's not so bad. I know it must be horrible for you, being stuck here in this room, having to hide under the Cloak all the time, but I promise you, it'll be over soon. You have to be optimistic Lily.'
'What if Dumbledore doesn't reply?' Lily turned to face him and finally proposed the question that had been bothering her. 'What if he didn't get the letter? What will we do then?'
'He got the letter Lily - trust me. You don't have to worry about that. The world of magic is all around us, even if we can't see it - it's everywhere. It sometimes amazes me how dense Muggles can be, but I guess I'm just as guilty of that. For ten years of my life I thought magic was make-believe. I wouldn't have believed it even if I'd seen it, not without an explanation. I'd have just made up some excuse to myself, just explain away the strangeness. I did it so many times when I was a kid. My point is, Dumbledore would have got the letter, and I know it for a fact. He has contacts throughout the Muggle world, so when a letter goes through the Muggle postal system, it's checked by someone magical, just in case. A letter addressed to Hogwarts will reach Hogwarts, no matter how it's posted, by owl or Muggle mail. Believe me.'
'Then why hasn't he contacted us yet?' Lily asked, unable to keep the concern out of her voice.
Harry turned away, not wanting Lily to see the look on his face, for he too was a little worried. He'd expected a faster reaction than this, he'd expected Dumbledore to come and get them, or send someone for them, a lot sooner than this. He didn't know why it was taking so long, but he couldn't let Lily know this. She needed reassurance, not more doubt.
'He'll contact us soon,' Harry said, 'I promise.'
'You keep saying that,' Lily protested, 'but he hasn't yet, has he? Maybe he doesn't care that you need to talk to him.'
Lily had voiced the very thought that disturbed him most. Was it possible Dumbledore didn't care that Harry wished to speak with him? Was Dumbledore unwilling to be seen as anything more than a Headmaster to Harry? Harry could chase thoughts like these around in his mind forever and he would never get anywhere. He just had to have faith in Dumbledore.
And he did.
'I have faith in Dumbledore sweetie,' Harry said.
Lily didn't reply, but went back to looking out the window.
'Dad?' Lily spoke softly, puzzled. 'Dad, what's that?'
Harry turned to look. Just visible in the dim moonlight was a black dot, which was growing steadily larger, moving up and down like a piece of paper caught in the wind. Harry squinted, scrutinising the dot.
'Is that?' Lily asked, excitement making her somewhat breathless.
It was. No doubt about it. Harry had seem many of them gliding towards him, aiming for this very window, on countless occasions.
'An owl,' Harry said.
'Dumbledore?'
'It has to be,' Harry said. 'Who else would write to us by owl?'
Lily turned and hugged her Dad as hard as she could, tears of happiness making her eyes rather misty.
'We're getting out of here!' she cried.
'Let's find out,' Harry said, opening the window for the owl. It swooped in, wings wide, and landed on the bed. A letter bearing the Hogwarts crest was in its beak. He took it quickly and the owl took flight at once, back out through the window. Lily shut it behind the owl and joined Harry on the bed as he opened the letter. She peered over his shoulder and read with him.
Dear Harry,
I was delighted, and rather surprised, to receive your letter. I must admit, I am very eager to converse with you as well. That being said, I have arranged for your transportation to Hogwarts for this coming Friday. A friend and colleague of mine, who I am sure will be delighted to see you, will be around at eleven o'clock at night, so as not to alert the Muggles, to collect you. I hope that you are well and look forward to seeing you.
Yours most sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
'What does he mean, a friend and colleague who will be delighted to see you?' Lily asked, her little face scrunched up in confusion.
'Hagrid,' Harry said, a grin lighting up his features.
'Hagrid?' Lily asked, even more confused.
'He died before you where born,' Harry said, looking suddenly down. 'He was a great man, in many ways.'
'But he's alive again now,' Lily said, trying to cheer her Dad up again.
'Yeah,' Harry said, 'and he'll stay that way, I'll make sure of it.'
'Is he really that great?' Lily asked.
'You'll see Lily.'
Lily did see. She saw a whole lot. Hagrid was indeed a great man, in many ways, just like her father had claimed.
Harry and Lily spent the rest of the week in eagerness, to the point that the few days stretched into a seemingly endless eternity. When Friday finally arrived, the day dragged even worse, until finally the lights at number four Privet Drive went out with a blink. Harry and Lily watched from the window, waiting for some sign of Hagrid. Harry paid close attention to the streetlamps. Sure enough, at nearly exactly eleven o'clock, the little lamps begin to wink out one by one. Harry didn't waste another second. Wordlessly, he motioned for Lily to follow him silently. She did so, wearing the Invisibility Cloak.
Harry and Lily crept down the stairs and stopped at the front door.
'Stay here one second,' Harry said to Lily, and then he entered the kitchen and pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket. He placed it down on the kitchen table. The note was brief, explaining where he had gone to the Dursleys. Then he returned to the hallway, grabbed the house keys from Uncle Vernon's coat pocket, and opened the door.
He was just in time.
Hagrid loomed before them, an enormous fist raised to knock on the door. Harry let a breath of relief. If Hagrid had knocked, he would surely have taken the door off its hinges, and woken the entire street while he was at it.
'Woah,' Harry heard Lily murmur quietly.
'O',' Hagrid said, somewhat stupidly, surprised. 'Was jus' bout ter knock.'
'Hey, you're Dumbledore's man, right?' Harry said, playing dumb. He'd already decided that only Dumbledore would know his true origins - at least for the time being.
'That's righ',' Hagrid said. 'Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. An' yer Harry, las' time I saw you, yeh was only a baby.'
'Nice to meet you Hagrid,' Harry said, holding out his hand. Hagrid's eyes crinkled happily as he shook Harry whole arm vigorously.
'An' it's nice ter see yeh again Harry,' Hagrid said. 'Anyway, best not hang aroun', don' want the Muggles ter suspect anything funny is goin' on. Come on then.'
Harry locked the door behind them and posted the keys back through the door.
'How are we getting to Hogwarts?' Harry asked, as Hagrid led him down the street.
'Portkey,' Hagrid said. 'Dumbledore set it up fer us. O' course, yer won't know what one o' them is, will yer? It's a form o' magical transportation. It'll get us ter Hogwarts righ' fast it will.'
'Cool,' Harry said, trying to sound like an impressed eleven-year-old.
Hagrid led him to the end of the street. They stopped, and Hagrid, with a single click of the Put-Outer, returned every single ball of light to the top of the street lamps. Then Hagrid led him down the next street, and then into an alley just at the end, which was secluded from view of the general public. Not that anyone would see them in the nights gloom, but it was best to be sure and safe.
'One moment,' Hagrid said, rummaging behind an overflowing dumpster. He came up with a battered and frayed, dirty baseball cap. He held it out to Harry. 'Jus' grab hold.'
Harry slowly took hold of the cap. He felt a soft brush against his hand as Lily surreptitiously held onto the cap as well. He looked up at Hagrid.
'Any minute now,' Hagrid said.
Then it happened - the pulling sensation of something hooking his navel. They flew through the air, holding tight to the Portkey, and then came to a sudden, jerky stop. Harry felt Lily fall sideways into him and he quickly steadied her before she could fall further. Then he looked up at the face of Hogwarts, high above them, standing proudly atop a high mountain. His heart soared.
He was home.
'Ah' know,' Hagrid said. 'Amazin', ain' it.' Hagrid had completely misunderstood the look on Harry's face, but Harry nodded anyway. Better that Hagrid think he was simply amazed by the sight of Hogwarts, and not that he was just glad to finally be back at a place that been the only true home for him during his childhood.
They where standing in the wide main street of Hogsmeade, just outside the Three Broomsticks. Harry looked around at the familiar surroundings, marvelling at the sights that he had not seen in so long. The Hogsmeade he had left behind in his time was one of despair for him. It was a Death Eater town, overrun with dark magic, controlled by Lord Voldemort, who watched on from his fortress - from Hogwarts.
'Come on then,' Hagrid said, guiding Harry out of town and towards Hogwarts.
As they made their way up to the castle, Harry bombarded Hagrid with questions, as he would have done if it were truly his first foray into the magical world. Hagrid took it in stride, answering happily. Finally, they reached the gate, and Hagrid opened them with one of his many keys. They continued on, up to the double doors that led to the Entrance Hall - through them, past the Great Hall, up the marble steps. Harry gazed all around him with amazement, and was positive that Lily was doing the same, although for a totally different reason. She had never seen Hogwarts, as he had known it in his childhood. Harry was just delighted to be back. He took it all in, memorizing every detail, vowing to not let one tiny bit of it be marred by Voldemort this time around.
'Here we are,' Hagrid said, stopping outside the stone gargoyle that blocked the spiral staircase that led to the Headmasters office. 'Dumbledore is jus' past here. Pear Drop.' The gargoyle moved aside, revealing the spiral staircase. 'Up yeh go - Dumbledore is waitin' fer yeh. Go on.'
'Thanks Hagrid,' Harry said, offering his hand again.
'Anytime,' Hagrid replied, shaking his whole arm.
Then Harry made his way onto the spiral staircase. He felt Lily brush past him. The gargoyle blocked Hagrid from view, and they began the ascent to the Headmasters office. They reached the oak door, Harry knocked, and a voice that made Harry's heart skip a beat answered.
'Enter,' Dumbledore called.
Harry opened the door and stepped into the heartbreakingly familiar office. He took in the whirring, smoke emitting silver instruments, the portraits of former headmasters and mistresses, and there, standing on his golden perch, was Fawkes the Phoenix. He heard Lily's gasp of astonishment and knew she was dying to go examine the remarkable bird. Then Harry turned to face Dumbledore, who was seated behind his desk, scrutinizing Harry over his half-moon spectacles.
'Hello Harry,' Dumbledore greeted.
'You have no idea how glad I am to see you sir,' Harry said, walking further into the room, still looking around in amazement.
'Indeed?' Dumbledore replied, not even bothering to hide his curiosity. 'I must admit, I am rather glad to see you as well. However, I am also exceedingly curious - and growing more curious by the second. Perhaps you could tell me, Harry, why, when you look around my humble office, you have a look of familiarity in your eye.'
'Well,' Harry said, taking a deep breath, 'I guess I might as well get right to the point. Let's see, the simple answer is, because I've been here before, many times.'
'Indeed?' Dumbledore repeated, an inquisitive twinkle in his eyes. 'And when might those times have been?' His tone was not mocking, as could be construed by his choice of words, but purely questioning.
'The first time I was here?' Harry said, posing his own question. 'That would have been my second year at Hogwarts.'
Dumbledore eyed him oddly. 'Your second year?'
'That's right,' Harry answered. 'I'll state it plainly, shall I? I'd ask you not to interrupt sir, please. Let me spell it all out for you, before you question my decision.'
'Very well.'
'I'm not the Harry from this time. I come from the future. In my time, some twenty-one years from now, Lord Voldemort - Tom Riddle - has gained total supremacy over the UK, and is slowly concurring the rest of the world. It was only a matter of time before he succeeded. The Order of the Phoenix had fallen; everyone was dead - including you, Hagrid, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, the Weasley family, my best friend Ron Weasley among them… even my wife, Hermione Granger. Only I, and our daughter Lily, remained, and she's only an eleven year old. With Ollivander in the custody of Voldemort, and every other wand-maker dead, we had no chance of success after Voldemort snapped my wand. I had no choice, you see, but to make one last ditch attempt at righting everything. I had to travel back and change things.'
Harry fell silent, enduring Dumbledore's stare of shock. It wasn't often that Dumbledore was rendered speechless, but this proved to be one of those times. Harry could read the battle raging inside Dumbledore's mind - disapproval of Harry's action, despair at all that had been lost, joy that they had the chance to save it all. Finally, Dumbledore spoke.
'What you did was illegal,' Dumbledore said. 'You understand that?'
'Sir, with all due respect, I didn't give a rats ass if it was legal or not. You can't possibly understand how it felt to watch everyone I love die, including you, sir. Believe me, this wasn't something I decided lightly. I truly believe it was the only option left, save for admitting defeat. Would you rather I had done that?'
'Of course not,' Dumbledore replied with a sigh. 'I agree with your action. I just wish it had never come to such measures. Interfering with time is always messy. We have no idea the consequences your actions may cause.'
'I know sir,' Harry said. 'But my back was well and truly against the wall, as the Muggles say.'
'Indeed,' Dumbledore allowed himself a smile.
'Then you believe me?' Harry asked, after a moments pause. 'You don't need convincing in anyway?'
'Well, your knowledge of Voldemort's true name, of the Order of the Phoenix, the look in your eye, the way you speak, it all adds considerable weight to your testimony,' Dumbledore said. 'But, just to be safe, I would like to truly test you. You claimed to love me. Is that true?'
'Yes,' Harry said.
'Then you would know things about me that others would not?' Dumbledore proposed.
'I do,' Harry said. 'I know that in your childhood you became friends with Grindelwald and that your brother Aberforth broke your nose at your sister Ariana's funeral. Should I go on?'
'I beg you not,' Dumbledore said, heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
'We have a lot to discuss,' Harry said. 'But first, and you'll probably be very angry at me for this, but I'd like to introduce you to someone.'
Dumbledore looked up.
'Lily,' Harry said, 'you can take the Cloak off now.'
Lily appeared, slightly red-faced from being under the Invisibility Cloak for so long. She stared sheepishly at Dumbledore.
'Hi?' she tried.
Dumbledore was stunned speechless again. Finally, he looked at Harry reproachfully.
'Before you say anything,' Harry said, before Dumbledore could speak, 'ponder on this for a moment. Could you leave your daughter alone in a time like mine? Could you, for all intents and purposes, kill your very own daughter?'
Dumbledore stared at Harry for a long moment, and then sighed. 'I could not,' he finally said.
'I had to bring her,' Harry said.
'Indeed,' Dumbledore agreed. 'I find it interesting, however, that you posses an Invisibility Cloak. Is that…?'
'My Dad's Cloak?' Lily piped up. 'It is.'
'Very interesting,' Dumbledore said. 'As I posses that very Cloak, locked away for safe keeping in my Gringotts vault. Forgive me Harry - I have so many questions.'
'Ask away,' Harry said.
'First,' Dumbledore stood up, began pacing, then turned to face Harry sharply, 'how did you do it? A Time Turner creates a duplicate of the user. It does not allow the user to inhabit his younger self, yet here you are. How?'
'It was a new project that Hermione was working on for the Department of Mysteries,' Harry answered. 'A Time Turner that allowed you to go back into your younger self. It was purely a prototype though. It had not been tested, until I used it. She'd have been thrilled to know it worked.'
'Hermione… Granger, your wife?' Dumbledore asked.
'Yeah,' Harry said. 'She's the smartest witch I ever knew.'
'Remarkable,' Dumbledore said. 'And Lily, I trust you used a regular Time Turner?'
'That wasn't necessary,' Harry answered for her. 'The prototype Time Turner transports you into your younger self, but if your younger self doesn't exist, it just acts like a regular Time Turner. Lily was born into this time, exactly as she was when we used the prototype Time Turner. And because she happened to be holding the Invisibility Cloak, that was transported and duplicated as well.'
'So, Harry,' Dumbledore said, 'what now?'
'First things first,' Harry said, 'you have to petition for the release of Sirius Black.' Harry explained why.
'Peter Pettigrew alive and well, living as a rat with the Weasley family?' Dumbledore shook his head. 'I must admit, it's an amazing ploy by Peter. I didn't think him capable of it.'
'That's why it's so brilliant,' Harry said, rather bitterly. 'Nobody would ever think an incompetent wizard like him could pull something like that off. His own idiocy actually worked to his advantage.'
'I sense you have a certain amount of hatred towards Peter, something that goes beyond the fact that he betrayed your parents?'
'Yeah,' Harry said, swallowing hard. 'He killed my best friend.'
'Ronald Weasley, correct?' Dumbledore asked.
'Yeah,' Harry said. 'Ron never saw it coming. Wormtail used his own incompetence to his advantage just one last time.'
'And Sirius,' Dumbledore rubbed the bridge of his nose again. Harry could tell he was overwhelmed by the news of Sirius's innocence. 'It must have been dreadful for him. And I gave testimony against him.'
'It's not your fault sir,' Harry said. 'Anyway, we can fix it all. Grab Wormtail before he can even suspect anything is wrong, present him to the Ministry, and get Sirius freed -cleared of all charges.'
'Yes, of course,' Dumbledore said.
'And that's only the beginning,' Harry said. 'I've got a lot to tell you, believe me. But first, I have a request.'
'Go on,' Dumbledore prompted.
'I'm in no danger of being attacked anytime soon,' Harry said, 'so I'd like to stay at Hogwarts for the rest of the summer. Lily as well, of course. We really don't fancy returning to the Dursleys. I'm sure you know how they treat me.'
Dumbledore looked a little ashamed. 'Indeed.'
'Anyway,' Harry went on, 'if we could stay here for the rest of the summer, that'd be great. And if you can put Lily down on the list of first years, we can pass her off as a Muggleborn. We'll have to change her looks somehow, but that'll be easy. We can't have people recognising the obvious traits she inherited from Hermione and me, after all.'
'That should be easy enough,' Dumbledore said. 'And I think it would be a good idea if you were present at Hogwarts during the summer. As you said, we have a lot to discuss.'