Unofficial Portkey Archive

'Horcruxes, you said?'

Dumbledore was, once again, astonished at the news Harry brought him.

Harry had told Dumbledore everything he could about his time, the conversation stretching into the early hours of the morning. Lily had long since fallen asleep in an armchair, curled up in a ball, her head resting against the arm. Dumbledore was pacing the room. Harry sat behind the desk, in Dumbledore's chair.

'Seven, to be precise,' Harry said.

'Seven,' Dumbledore repeated, then gave a grim smile. 'Of course.'

'If we destroy them before Voldemort can get his form back,' Harry said, 'then it should be no problem for me to finish him off. He's just a fragmented soul without a body at the moment, and the only way he can interact is by possessing another human.'

'Like Professor Quirrell,' Dumbledore said.

'Yeah,' Harry said. 'Speaking of, that's another thing we'll have to deal with. Voldemort has corrupted Quirrell. He'll never be the same again, but maybe we can save him from death.'

'Indeed,' Dumbledore agreed. 'Well, you've certainly given me a lot to do. I think I best prepare for it. Why don't you take Lily to Gryffindor Tower, you can sleep there during the summer. I'll inform the Fat Lady that you will be arriving soon; she'll let you in without a password.'

'Thank you sir,' Harry said, 'for everything.'

'I think it is I who should be thanking you,' Dumbledore said. 'You have given the entire world a second chance, however dangerous it may be. I, though slightly nervous of the further damage we could do, am grateful for the chance to set things right.'

Harry nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. He struggled to pick up Lily, too used to easily being able to carry her. He just about managed it, carried her piggyback to the door, and then left the room, with only a single look back at Dumbledore.

The castle was eerily silent as he made his way to Gryffindor Tower. He'd never seen the corridors of Hogwarts so bare and silent as they were now, but of course it was during the summer, and all the students had already gone home, so it shouldn't have been all that surprising. It's not like he expected Hogwarts to be full of life all throughout the year, even when school was out.

The Fat Lady waved him through with a plain look of curiosity. He ignored her and climbed through the portrait hole, supporting Lily on his back. The Gryffindor common room was just as he remembered it. He eased Lily down onto one of the comfy chairs. She made a small sound of discomfort, shifted, and then fell back into a deep sleep. Harry knelt before her, idly brushing a stray stand of hair behind her ear.

'Sleep well sweetie,' he whispered, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. Then he got to his feet and left. He wanted to have a good long look at Hogwarts.

His wanderings took him all around the castle. He bumped into Nearly Headless Nick, who exclaimed at the sight of him. Peeves, of course, was delighted to find a new target for his cruelty, and instantly began hurling taunts at him, which soon drew the attention of Argus Filch, the Squib caretaker of Hogwarts. Before Filch could accuse him of anything, Hagrid appeared.

'Leave him alone Filch!' Hagrid boomed. 'He's got every righ' to be here.'

Filch left with a glum look back at Hagrid and Harry.

'Thanks Hagrid,' Harry said.

'Ah, it was nothin',' Hagrid said happily, waving an enormous hand. 'Anyway, Harry, I jus' bin' to see Dumbledore, he told me all about you stayin' for the summer. I was wonderin' if you'd like a cup o' tea with me?'

'I'd love one!'

Harry spent the rest of the morning with Hagrid. They seemed to talk about everything, and time literally flew by. It was nearly two in the afternoon when Harry finally arrived back at Gryffindor Tower. Lily was awake; sitting in the chair he had left her in.

'Morning Dad,' Lily said, upon spotting him. 'This place is amazing.'

'Had a look around, have you?' Harry asked knowingly.

'Course,' Lily replied, 'this is Gryffindor Tower, isn't it? I can tell just by looking at the colours. It's so amazing. I went up to the girl's dormitory - the beds are so comfy. I felt like a princess or something. I don't think I've ever slept on a bed that soft.'

'You have,' Harry said, 'you just can't remember. Voldemort's impact on the world you grew up in was immense. You'll soon figure out how much he changed, once you spend some more time out in the open.'

'Where did you go?' Lily asked.

'Just for a walk,' Harry said. 'I ended up at Hagrids, having tea, just like the old days. It's been a long time.'

Lily smiled. 'We're going to make sure it stays that way, right Dad?'

'Right. Nothing can get in our way.'

The old woman saw the bright flash of light from her bedroom window. She was gazing out at the stars, dreaming of her youth, when it happened. She lived in a small village out in the country, aptly named Woodbrook. The back of her house opened out into a large forest that stretched for miles, high into the hills. A small stream trickled through the forest, meandering this way and that, forming a river that ran through the village.

The old woman was named Patricia, and every night she gazed out at the forest, as if she was searching for something. But nothing ever happened - at least, not until this night. She saw the bright flash of light coming from deep inside the forest, blindingly bright in its intensity. Patricia was surprisingly spry for her age, because she spent a lot of time out walking with her dog Winston. So when she saw the mysterious light, she was compelled to find the source.

She trekked out into the forest, Winston leading the way, stopping every now and then so that Patricia could catch up. She knew this forest like the back of her hand. After all, she had spent her entire life in Woodbrook, her entire childhood playing in these woods with her friends. She used her walking stick to help her along, heading in the general direction of the flash. Winston had disappeared into the distance, but she could hear him barking. They must be close, because Winston never barked, not unless provoked.

Patricia continued on, ambling deeper into the woods. The trees rustled all around her, dead leaves crunched underfoot, the wind whistled, and Winston barked. She was getting slightly out of breath now, her tired old limbs protesting the strain of walking. She was cold also, so cold, almost right down to the blood. But then something happened that did make her blood turn cold. Winston stopped barking. Patricia scrutinised the trees in front of her - had she seen a flash of green light ahead?

'Winston?' she called breathlessly. 'Winston! Come on boy, come back to mummy.'

A shape appeared, coming out of the darkness ahead, through the trees in front of her. It was a woman. She was bedraggled, but when she looked up at her, Patricia saw that she was also beautiful, like a queen.

'Hello?' Patricia called, a tad uncertain.

The woman looked up - and smiled. Patricia drew back, because the woman had somehow become brutally monstrous in her beauty. The woman raised a thin wooden stick and pointed it at Patricia. There was another flash of green light. Patricia fell to the floor, motionless, and quite dead.

Bellatrix Lestrange looked down at the dead old Muggle - her smile widened evilly.

'I'm coming my Lord,' she whispered softly.

It was nearing six o' clock when Dumbledore appeared in the Gryffindor common room. Harry was sitting before the roaring fire with Lily at his feet, regaling her with tales of his youth, of all the adventures he got in with her Mum and her Uncle Ron.

'Sir?'

Harry was surprised to see Dumbledore so soon after their earlier conversation. He was sure Dumbledore would be busy all day, dealing with the fallout of his trip through time. Dumbledore was wearing a long emerald green travelling robe, so he was either about to go somewhere, or was just returning.

'I was just about to visit Azkaban,' Dumbledore began. 'I thought that you mightHarry's trip through tim like to accompany me.'

'To see Sirius?' Harry asked. 'You managed to get him freed so quickly?'

'Ah, not quite,' Dumbledore said, smiling a little, 'but I'm confident he will be released shortly. No, I was going to inform him that some new evidence had been uncovered and that his sentence is being appealed.'

'You got Wormtail?'

'We did,' Dumbledore confirmed. 'I'm sure Peter was quite shocked when a group of Aurors stormed the Weasley household and apprehended him. Although not as shocked as the Weasley family, when they discovered the true origins of their pet ret.'

'I'd like to go,' Lily said, looking eager.

'Unfortunately, that could be a problem,' Dumbledore said, sadly. 'Harry's presence can be justified, seeing as Sirius is his Godfather, but you, on the other hand, you would only arouse suspicion I'm afraid. Suspicion we cannot afford. I'm sorry Lily.'

Lily hung her head, suddenly glum. Harry ruffled her hair, making her look up at him, annoyance on her face.

'Don't worry sweetie,' he said, 'you'll see Sirius soon. After all, I'm sure he'll be dying to meet you.'

'You intend to inform Sirius of your true identity then?' Dumbledore inquired.

'I do,' Harry said. 'He's like a father to me, I just can't lie to him.'

'Very well,' Dumbledore said. 'Well then, if you plan to accompany me, we best get ready. Lily, I know it must be difficult for you to be stuck here in Gryffindor Tower. Is there anything you need?'

Lily's face brightened. 'Actually…'

They left Lily with what must have been half the library, mountains of books piled so high that even Dumbledore, with his considerable height, could not see over. Lily was, after all, Hermione's daughter.

Dumbledore led Harry out of Hogwarts and down towards Hogsmeade.

'Sir, how are we getting to Azkaban?' Harry asked.

'We will Apparate to the coast,' Dumbledore said, 'and then take a boat to the fortress. I trust that is satisfactory for you?'

'It's fine,' Harry said.

Harry was still getting used to seeing the world as he remembered it, and not as he had left it, so he once again found himself looking around at the sights and sounds of Hogsmeade.

'What is it Harry?' Dumbledore asked inquisitively, noticing the look of pleasure on Harry's face.

'I'm just happy to see things as they should be,' Harry replied.

'The world you left behind must have been terrible,' Dumbledore commented.

'You have no idea.'

'Well, this should do,' Dumbledore announced, stopping Harry with a hand on his shoulder. 'Hold tight.'

'I know,' Harry said.

They disappeared without a sound. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, the strange sensation of Apparition still not quite sitting right with him. When he opened them again, they stood on the bank of a rocky beach, the ocean an intimating black, sparkling in the moonlight, which shone down intermittently through the cloudy sky. Harry had never been to Azkaban before, so he found himself gaping at the horrific looking bastion of stone that stood in the distance, perched somewhat precariously on a small, mountainous island.

'This way Harry,' Dumbledore said.

Dumbledore led him down the beach to a small boat. The waves lapped at the bottom of their robes as they climbed in. Harry sat uncomfortably at the back, rocking back and forth with the tide, suddenly nervous about the prospect of entering the Dementor dominated structure. Dumbledore sat in the front. With a flick of his wand, the boat jerked into movement. As the island grew steadily closer, Harry could feel the temperature growing colder and colder. He shivered involuntarily.

'It's a terrible place,' Dumbledore said.

'Tell me about it,' Harry said, looking up at the fortress prison. 'But, you know, I don't think it would be half as terrifying if it were not for those damn Dementors.'

'Hmm, I must say I agree,' Dumbledore said. After a moment of silence, he continued, 'it must be terrible for you to be around them, given what you have been through. Are you sure you wish to continue?'

'Yeah, I'm sure,' Harry said. 'I can't let my fear control me. It would be better if I had my wand though, then I could conjure my Patronus. Too bad I haven't got it in this time yet. I still remember the first time I met a Dementor. It was in my third year. Funnily enough, the reason I met the Dementor was because of Sirius. He'd escaped from Azkaban, you see.'

'Indeed?' Dumbledore asked, interested.

'Yeah,' Harry said, 'he saw Wormtail in the Daily Prophet and realised that he was at Hogwarts with me. So he transformed into his Animagus form - a dog - and escaped. The Dementors where sent to guard Hogwarts - you weren't very happy about that.'

'I should think not,' Dumbledore said.

'Remus Lupin was teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts that year, and he taught me how to do the Patronus Charm, because, like you said, they affected me a lot more than the other students.'

'You learnt the Patronus Charm at thirteen?'

'Yeah,' Harry said.

'That's impressive,' Dumbledore complimented.

'Thanks sir.'

The boat came to a stop, rocking against a wooden pier. Dumbledore flicked his wand, anchoring the boat, and then climbed up onto the pier. He gave Harry a hand. Then they started to make their way down the pier, towards the dirt path that led up to the fortress of Azkaban, high at the top of the little island.

It was a somewhat perilous climb, the mountainous island path becoming steeper and steeper as they went, but they eventually made it the entrance to the fortress. Two robed and hooded Dementors stood guard at the entrance. Harry avoided looking at them as they made their way through the double doors. They creaked and groaned on rusty hinges, the sound like a terrified cry from the very prison itself. Inside, two men waited to greet them, their Patronus' lighting up the dark, dank stone corridor.

Dumbledore shook hands with the two wizards, and then introduced them.

'Harry, this is Patrick Hornslough, a member of the Wizengamot,' Dumbledore said, motioning to a short, grey haired wizard wearing faded blue robes. 'And this is Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror,' Dumbledore motioned to the other wizard, and when Harry looked again, he found it was indeed Kingsley Shacklebolt, looking as cool as ever, but a lot younger than Harry had ever seen him.

'Nice to meet you,' Harry said.

'This way Albus,' Patrick Hornslough said, waving them forward, his eyes lingering on Harry as he passed. They made their way to the end of the long bleak corridor, passing various steel doors, until they reached the very end, where a lone door stood - thick and steel and bolted securely. 'Are you sure you want the boy to see this? I don't trust Black, Albus. He's dangerous, I'm sure of it. I don't care what evidence you've uncovered.'

'I'm sure Patrick,' Dumbledore said. 'Open the door.'

Patrick did so, with a simple tap of his wand. The steel rod baring the door retreated into the wall with a grating clang. Dumbledore pushed the door open. Harry followed him in. The door shut with a bang behind them.

Sirius Black sat behind a plain desk, wearing a dirty, black and white striped robe, his feet shackled with a heavy ball and chain. His hair was long and matted and his eyes looked dead, like Harry had never seen them before. This was a Sirius Black who had nothing to drive him.

Sirius's head slowly revolved to land on Dumbledore, and then further, settling on Harry. His eyes widened slightly.

'J-james?' he croaked, obviously not used to using his voice. He blinked, and then shook his head. 'No, you… you're…'

'This is Harry, Sirius,' Dumbledore said.

'Harry…'

'Hi,' Harry rasped, tears in his eyes, overcome with emotion.

Sirius stared at Harry for a long time. 'What's going on?' he asked Dumbledore.

'They haven't told you then,' Dumbledore said.

'No, they haven't.'

'Peter Pettigrew has been apprehended,' Dumbledore said. 'I know the truth Sirius.'

'You know,' Sirius repeated, staring at Dumbledore with shock. 'How?'

'Because of Harry,' Dumbledore said, motioning to Harry.

Harry looked at Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded. 'Go ahead Harry,' he said.

'What?' Sirius asked, dumbfounded.

'I haven't seen you in so long Sirius,' Harry said, wiping away his tears. 'I won't let you die this time.'

'Let me die?' Sirius gaped. 'What is he talking about?' This was directed at Dumbledore.

'It's the truth Sirius,' Dumbledore said. 'Harry is from the future.'

'You're joking!' Sirius got his feet.

'We're not,' Harry said. 'In my timeline, Voldemort is back, and stronger than ever. I was the only one left - everyone else was dead. I had no other choice. I had to come back and make things right.'

Sirius looked between Dumbledore and Harry for several moments. Dumbledore and Harry exchanged worried looks. But then Sirius laughed, his mouth widening to form a wide grin than transformed his gaunt face.

'A prank on the world!' Sirius cried, laughing happily. 'You are your fathers son.'

Harry found himself smiling as well as he looked into Sirius' happy face. They looked at each other for a long moment, and then embraced.

'I won't let you die this time,' Harry whispered with conviction.

Sirius pulled away first, but kept hold of Harry. He looked deep into Harry's eyes. 'Tell me everything,' he said.

Harry did so.

'A daughter?'

'Yeah,' Harry said. He was sitting in the chair opposite Sirius. 'You'll meet her soon. Lily has been dying to meet you.'

'Lily…' Sirius choked.

'Your appeal is set for tomorrow,' Dumbledore interrupted, seeing a lapse in the conversation. 'Peter will be brought out and Veritaserum will be administered. I don't think it'll be necessary for you to undergo the treatment, but be prepared for it. The wizarding world has spent the last ten years thinking you a monster. It might take people a time to adjust.'

'As long as I'm free,' Sirius said, catching Harry's eye, 'I don't give a damn.'