Friday, June 25th, 1995 – Malfoy Manor – Early Morning
Lucius Malfoy was sitting in his favorite recliner, nursing a snifter of bourbon, and watching a piece of parchment burn to ashes in the fireplace. Lucius normally loathed anything created by Muggles, but they sure knew how to make good alcohol. Normally, Lucius never started drinking so early in the morning – especially at seven-o-clock in the morning – but he felt that only a good Muggle bourbon would remedy the headache he had from the news he had received.
Lucius Malfoy had been at Hogwarts the previous evening to watch the Final Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Turns out he wasn't able to 'watch' anything aside from the beginning and end of the Task. Most of the spectators' view was blocked by twenty-foot hedges. Those idiots in the Tournament Committee had fudged up not one, but two Tasks when it came to spectators viewing them. The Second Task was pretty much the same thing, what with the Champions being deep in the lake for most of the Task, leaving the spectators staring at the calm surface of the Hogwarts Lake for upwards of an hour.
Lucius had gone to the Task with Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. He had been rather smug at the fact that Fudge had invited him instead of his Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge.
Lucius grimaced at the thought of that foul woman's name. She was the reason he was on a drinking binge that morning.
He thought the previous evening couldn't get any worse than not being able to watch most of the Final Task. He had been very, very wrong. It had been announced at one point that the Potter brat had succeeded in grabbing the Triwizard Cup, winning the Tournament. But, the boy was supposed to be Portkeyed back to the front of the maze. Except he wasn't. Not immediately, anyway. There was a lot of fuss and worry about where the boy was. Lucius had been rather gleeful, thinking the stupid brat had been killed by a faulty Portkey.
Then he had felt his Dark Mark Tattoo growing painfully hot. He had known what it meant... that somehow, somehow, Voldemort had rose again. But before Lucius could have thought too much on it, the Potter brat had returned to the front of the maze like he was supposed to.
Things just got more hectic from there. Potter had brought Peter Pettigrew with him from wherever the Portkey had taken him. The fact that Pettigrew was alive and apprehended, meant that, if Lucius didn't do something, Sirius Black would be a free man and therefore able to be Lord Black, instead of Lucius' son, Draco! He would no longer be able to get his hands on the Black fortune, nor the Black library of books full of Dark magic and other subjects.
Then it just got worse. Barty Crouch, Junior – one of Voldemort's more faithful Death Eaters – had been revealed to be alive, and posing as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody as the Defense Professor since September!
As soon as DMLE Director Amelia Bones was confirmed to have Pettigrew and Crouch, Junior in custody, and Lucius heard that the prisoners would be interrogated with Veritaserum. Lucius got the hell out of Hogwarts, and had gone to the Ministry of Magic. There he had found Dolores Umbridge, and had hatched a plan with her. The plan was simple. Dolores Umbridge, as Lucius' puppet, would convince Fudge to take two Dementors to Hogwarts. The Dementors would Kiss Pettigrew and Crouch, Junior before they could say anything – whether it be about Sirius Black being an innocent man, or revealing who all the loyal Death Eaters were.
Lucius had been living a wonderful life of luxury over the last thirteen years, ever since he had convinced the Wizengamot with the 'Imperius Defense'. But now... now with the possible risk of the Ministry discovering that he was a truly loyal Death Eater during Voldemort's last reign, meant that his life of luxury was being threatened.
Pettigrew and Crouch, Junior needed eliminated. He thought when he woke up that morning that he would receive the good news of Pettigrew and Crouch, Junior being given the Kiss.
The news he had received was anything but good. Not only were Pettigrew and Crouch, Junior alive and still in custody, but so was Dolores Umbridge. The two Dementors she had brought with her to Hogwarts had been destroyed by Albus Dumbledore's Patronus, and Umbridge had been arrested for endangering the student population of Hogwarts.
Now, Lucius had to assume that Umbridge had admitted, under Veritaserum, that he was responsible for creating the plan to bring the Dementors to Hogwarts. He was quite surprised Aurors hadn't knocked down his doors and woke him up in the middle of the night.
But it wasn't getting arrested by Aurors that Lucius was worried about most. No, if he was arrested, he could pay Fudge a bag of gold, and he'd be a free man again in a few hours.
No... Lucius' biggest worry was that Lord Voldemort had risen again. He hadn't been summoned yet by the Dark Lord, but he knew it would happen soon. Now he was just wondering what he should do. Should he return to Voldemort's side? If he did, would Voldemort ask him about the Diary the Dark Lord had given him to protect and guard? How was he supposed to answer the Dark Lord if that question came up? Any answer he gave the Dark Lord would surely end with his death!
Should he leave Britain and go off to one of his properties on the other side of the world? Should he take his wife and son with him, if he did? If he did flee, would Voldemort be able to find him through his Dark Mark?
Suddenly, Lucius felt a presence knocking on the Wards of his Manor. He felt chills and goosebumps go down his spine, as his magic told him who was knocking on his Wards.
Lord Voldemort had come to Malfoy Manor.
Lucius gulped down the rest of his bourbon, hoping it wasn't the last glass he would ever have.
Friday, June 25th, 1995 – Hogwarts – Early Morning
While Lucius Malfoy was greeting his old 'friend', Hermione Granger was making her way to the Hospital Wing, so she could visit her best friend, Harry Potter. She hadn't even bothered waiting for Ronald Weasley. She would have likely been waiting another hour for the prat to wake up, and then she knew there was a chance he would say he was hungry, and wanted to have breakfast, before he would visit Harry.
As if breakfast was more important than knowing how their best friend was doing! Hmmph!
She had been up half the night worrying and fretting over Harry. She hadn't even been able to see him after he came back from apparently being kidnapped – kidnapped! – via a Portkey that was supposed to take him to the front of the maze. She had watched in wonder and shock as Harry had told everyone about how he been sent to a graveyard and found Peter Pettigrew waiting for him. Harry had apparently dueled with Pettigrew, won the duel after cutting off the man's hand, and bringing him back to Hogwarts via the same Portkey he had been kidnapped by! And then... then he stunned Professor Moody. But it turned it out really wasn't Professor Moody, but a Death Eater who was supposed to be dead.
Hermione shuddered. She had been taught Defense for the whole year by a Death Eater! She had been placed under the Imperius Curse by a Death Eater! That thought was too horrible for her to ponder on any further.
She had wanted to race down the stands toward Harry Potter and hug the stuffing out of him and ask him if he was okay. But before she could, he had been escorted away back to the castle by the Headmaster. She had been forced to return to Gryffindor Tower, where her fellow Gryffindors – including Ron! – decided to have a celebration in Harry's name – without Harry even being there! Hermione had refused to celebrate without Harry being there, and she went to bed. However, she couldn't fall asleep until past midnight because she was worrying about Harry. Lavender and Parvati had come to the dormitory sometime after midnight, and told her that McGonagall had come to speak to everyone. Apparently Harry was spending the evening in the Hospital Wing, but that he would be fine, and that nobody had permission to visit him until the following morning.
It was only then that Hermione had fallen asleep, if only so she could get up early and go see Harry. Which was exactly what she was doing now.
As she reached the Hospital Wing, she smiled as she heard Harry's familiar voice. He was ranting to who she assumed was Madam Pomfrey about how he was 'fine'. Hermione sighed and shook her head. He could be laying in a bed in the Hospital Wing with two broken legs and a neckbrace, and he would still say he was 'fine'.
Hermione stepped into the Hospital Wing, and Harry sitting on a bed with Madam Pomfrey standing nearby. But it was the other person in a bed neighboring Harry's which Hermione was shocked to see.
What the bloody hell was Sirius Black doing in the Hospital Wing?
Friday, June 25th, 1995 – Hogwarts – Moments before...
"Madam Pomfrey, I'm fine!" Harry said, waving his arm – the one which had been sliced open by Pettigrew – which was wrapped in bandages which looked like it would appear normal attached to a Mummy. "Look! Waving my arm around and not wincing or grunting in pain or anything! I AM FINE! NOW RELEASE ME FROM THIS BLASTED PRISON YOU CALL A HOSPITAL!
"There is no need to scream, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey scoffed.
"Better let her do what she wants, pup," Sirius said. "She is the warden here, after all."
"See?!" Harry exclaimed, glaring at the Hogwarts Healer, "He called you a warden! This is coming from a man who spent twelve years in AZKABAN PRISON! Even he compared this place to a prison, AND HE WOULD KNOW!"
Suddenly an angelic voice Harry had once thought he'd never hear again spoke up: "Harry? Why are you yelling at Madam Pomfrey? You've never treated her like this before!"
Harry's anger at the fact that Madam Pomfrey wouldn't release him so he could find Hermione Granger, suddenly abated as his gaze found the girl in question. Harry hurried to his feet, and, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's protests, he hurried over to Hermione and grabbed her in a bear hug. He took in the scent of the shampoo in her hair and knew she must have taken a shower before she came to see him. He now knew what he would smell if he sniffed Amortentia.
"H-Harry?" Hermione asked, "Are you okay? You... the only time you ever initiated a hug with me was when I woke up after my Petrifaction."
"I... I thought I'd never see you again," Harry mumbled in Hermione's hair.
"What?" Hermione asked. "Harry? What are you talking about?"
Hermione wrenched herself out of his grasp and looked at him.
"Do... do you mean when the Portkey took you out of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. "What happened to you last night, Harry? And what is Sirius doing here, and in front of Madam Pomfrey? He is a fugitive! He could get arrested!"
"I'm here under the official protection of Sanctuary," Sirius informed Hermione.
"Sanctuary?" Hermione asked, looking at Sirius, "But this isn't a church!"
Sirius shrugged. "People have been married here. People have had babies here. In fact, I think people have gotten married right here in the Hospital Wing while in the process of having babies! I think that qualfies Hogwarts as a place of Sanctuary!"
Hermione snorted, then turned back to Harry with a sobering look. "What happened to you last night, Harry?! Tell me! Now!"
"I fully intend to tell you what happened last night," Harry said, "and more. But I am not doing it here in the Hospital Wing. That is why I was yelling at Madam Pomfrey. Because she was stopping me from seeing you, so I could talk to you."
Hermione sighed and looked at Madam Pomfrey. "Is Harry in imminent danger of dying, Madam Pomfrey?"
"Of course not!" Madam Pomfrey scoffed. "I was simply waiting -"
"For Headmaster Dumbledore's permission to release me from the Hospital Wing!" Harry growled. "Like she always does! The Headmaster is not, nor has he ever been, a qualified Healer. He doesn't get a say whether or not I should be kept prisoner here!"
"Is this true, ma'am?" Hermione asked.
"The Headmaster is my boss, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey said. "I do what he says."
"Is he the reason you never gave me the Magical Vaccines you give every Muggleborn or -raised student during the first week of their First Year?" Harry demanded. "I had to get those secondhand from an Apothecary via Owl-Order, when I overheard Dean Thomas complaining about the Vaccines he had gotten and how they tasted so horrible! I investigated why I wasn't given them. I asked you why you hadn't given them to me, and you told you needed permission from the Headmaster. And you never got it! Again, he is NOT, and has NEVER BEEN a Healer! I had to research the Vaccines, and purchase them from an Apothecary on my own!"
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, "You never told me that!"
Sirius looked venomous and he stood up. "Is this true, Poppy?! You, a professional Healer, had to ask Dumbledore about giving my godson his Magical Vaccines that every witch and wizard should have?! Why did you not give them to my godson?!"
Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened. "I... I don't know."
"You don't know?" Harry echoed, "Sounds like a case of Obliviation to me."
Hermione gasped, but before she could say anything, Sirius spoke up again.
"Release us both, Poppy," Sirius growled. "Or I swear I will have Director Amelia Bones open up an investigation towards you and your history with my godson."
Madam Pomfrey mumbled her permission to release them, before she retreated to her office.
Sirius waved his wand, and his Hospital Robes were suddenly replaced with the clothes he had been wearing the previous day, which had been cleaned by house-elves.
"Come on, Harry, Miss Granger," Sirius said; then smiled when Hermione mumbled 'It is Hermione', "Hermione, it is. Let's go find a place to have that talk Harry wants."
"I know the perfect place," Harry said, grinning.
Ten minutes later, Harry was pacing back and forth in front of the blank wall near the portrait of Barnabus The Barmy. Hermione was in the process of asking what Harry was doing, but her question was broken off when she gasped out loud, as large oak doors materialized on the walls.
"Hermione, Sirius," Harry said, "Welcome to a place the Marauders never found: The Room of Requirement."
"I feel like I've been here before," Sirius muttered.
"I've never heard of this room before!" Hermione said, "What does it do?"
"It gives you whatever you want – within reason, of course," Harry said.
"So, yeah, metaphorical question here," Sirius said. "Say I was really horny and couldn't wait to bring Amelia Bones back to my dormitory, in our seventh year, so we could shag. Would this room have turned into a broom closet?"
"Yes," Harry said, "and that is far more than I ever wanted to hear about your sex life, dogfather!"
"Okay... I've been here before," Sirius said. "I just never realized what this was!"
Harry rolled his eyes and opened the door, then lead Hermione and Sirius in.
"Whoa... this looks exactly like the sitting room at Potter Manor!" Sirius barked. "How the hell do you know what that room looks like, pup?! When did you go to Potter Manor?!"
It was indeed the Sitting Room of Potter Manor. A roaring, warm fireplace was near a couple comfortable chairs, a loveseat, and a sofa that sat around a coffee table.
"Sit down, Sirius, Hermione," Harry said. "And I will tell you everything."
Harry and Hermione sat down together on one of the loveseats, while Sirius took one of the chairs. Harry pulled the mokeskin bag from around his neck and took it off. Then he opened it, and pulled out a gold bracelet. He offered it to Hermione, who stared at him questioningly.
"This is for you, Hermione," Harry said. "It has several different enchantments, some of which guards you from Legilimency and other mind magic. Only you can remove it from your person. If you don't accept it, I cannot tell you everything I want to tell you. Sirius has already Mastered Occlumency, and it still works even after all those years in Azkaban. So I don't need to give him anything like this."
"How do you know that, pup?" Sirius asked.
Harry didn't answer him. He merely held his hand in front of Hermione, with the bracelet in his palm. Hermione looked into his eyes, then looked down at the bracelet. She picked it up, then placed it around her wrist.
"Never remove it, Hermione," Harry said. "If you do, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and other Legilimens could take the information from your head."
Hermione gasped. "Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't do that!"
"Oh, yes, he would," Sirius retorted. "How do you think he knows everything that goes on around Hogwarts all the time? It isn't just his spy – I mean security system of portraits, ghosts and those knight statues. He uses Legilimency constantly on everybody who doesn't have good Occlumency shields."
"But that is illegal!" Hermione gasped.
"So?" Harry asked. "He would never dare using Legilimency on those who has even passable Occlumency abilities, because even a novice at Occlumency could sense a Legilimency attack. If you don't know Occlumency, you won't know you're being attacked with Legilimency. So how are you going to report a Legilimency attack if you don't know it happened?"
"Exactly," Sirius said. "Wait... are you telling me you're an Occlumens, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry said, "And for you to understand that, I need to explain the rest of my story."
Harry inhaled and exhaled, then looked at Hermione, then Sirius, then back at Hermione.
"Yesterday evening, as Minerva McGonagall was him to the Quidditch Pitch for the Final Task," Harry said, "Fourteen year old Harry Potter collapsed onto the Hogwarts Grounds and went unconscious. While unconscious, his mind was merged with another, along with their memories, magical power, knowledge, skill, et cetera, et cetera. That other mind... belonged to thirty-nine year old Harry James Potter who traveled back in time from the year 2019."
Hermione's and Sirius' eyes widened as they stared at him.
"So... so... you're saying..." Sirius stammered.
"You're from the future?!" Hermione asked, finishing Sirius' thought.
"Yes and no," Harry said, "I am still the fourteen year old Harry Potter you know. I just have the memories, and magical knowledge skill and power... et cetera, et cetera... of thirty-nine year Harry Potter."
Hermione began to reply. Then she shut her mouth and stared at him for a moment.
"Well... I was about to say that time travel like that was impossible," Hermione said. "But... then I realized that might not be true twenty-five years from now. How did you do it?"
"I'm more interested in the 'why', Hermione, than the 'how'," Sirius said.
"'How' is a complicated ritual, and that is all I will say," Harry said. "Can you imagine if that information got out to anyone?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "Right. Nevermind. I don't need to know."
Harry smirked. "Do you want to go back to the Hospital Wing, Hermione? I bet that hurt terribly to admit."
Hermione slapped his shoulder. "Shut it, you. Unless the next thing that comes out of your mouth is, as Sirius said, 'why' you came back in time."
"I came back in time for you, Hermione," Harry said, bluntly.
Hermione stared at him, questioningly. Then her eyes widened. "What happened to me in your future, Harry? What was so bad that it forced you to come back in time?"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley murdered you," Harry growled.
"What?!" Hermione shrieked, as her eyes went misty. "Explain right now, Harry James Potter!"
"The summer before our sixth year, Molly Weasley brewed a series of different Potions," Harry said. "Variations of Love Potion, Attraction Potions, Revulsion Draughts, and others. And she placed these Potions in food she put in Care Packages and sent them to you and me. She didn't want them to immediately work, because that would raise suspicion. The Potions merely caused me to become attracted to Ginny Weasley, and you to start heavily fancying Ronald Weasley. The Revulsion Potions didn't make you and I hate each other. But we certainly started behaving uncharacteristically towards one another. You got mad at me over a book, Hermione! You jinxed Cormac McLaggen, because if you hadn't he would have gotten the Keeper Spot, instead of Ron Weasley. You went on a date with Cormac McLaggen, when Ron decided he wanted to snog and shag another witch before he became shackled up with you! You got jealous because Lavender Brown got to him first. At least, that is what the Potions made you do."
Sirius looked murderous, and Hermione had tears rolling down her face.
"Then the Love Potions really began to do their work on me," Harry said. "And it caused me to start Bonding with Ginny Weasley."
Hermione gasped. Sirius cursed.
"This is exactly why Love Potions and Potions like that are so heavily banned and made Taboo," Siirus snarled. "All someone needs to do, is give someone else a Lust Potion, then the witch – whether they are the aggressor or victim – needs to perform fellatio and swallow the wizard's semen – and the Bonding process begins."
"But... wait," Hermione said, "I thought the Bonding doesn't settle into its first stage unless it happens several times."
"Three times a week to start," Harry said. "However, Ginny was so adamant to Bond with me, that she did it much more than three times a week. Even though I knew about the Bonding process, the Potions made me love-blind, forgetting all about how the Bonding process worked. At least once a day, Ginny dragged me into a broom closet and... furthered the Bond. It got so bad that... even when I wanted to break things off with Ginny after she missed giving me my dose of Potions... she convinced me that we should fake breaking up, so she wouldn't become a target of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I was so deep in the Bonding with her that I agreed. A month later, when I went to the Burrow, the 'Bonding' started up again. Then... on my seventeenth birthday, we had sex."
"And the first stage of the Bond settled," Sirius guessed.
"Yes," Harry said. "Ginny and her mother had won. And so did Ron. I would eventually marry Ginny and have children with her. And you, Hermione, got married to Ron and had kids with him."
"Why did they do this, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Because they were afraid you and I would get together and begin the Bonding process," Harry said. "Albus Dumbledore shared the same fears. When I finally discovered all of this well over two decades later, I found out that Albus Dumbledore and Molly Weasley plotted together. Molly wanted me to marry her daughter, so the Weasleys could get a share of the Potter fortune. Dumbledore simply didn't want me to get together with you. Because you would help me become smarter, stronger, and more willing to fight, survive, and win the war against Voldemort."
"Voldemort returned, didn't he?" Hermione whispered.
"He returned last night, Hermione," Harry said. "But only because he needs to have a true body before I can kill him. Believe me. This time around, so far, is so much better than it was last time."
"I think you better start telling us the whole story, pup," Sirius said. "Then we can understand how it is 'better' this time."
So Harry started the story of the original timeline. He explained what happened the first time around in the Third Task, and the horrors afterward. Just telling the tale from Voldemort's second rise to his fall took upwards of thirty minutes. Sirius' face went pale when Harry told him about his death. Then his expression simply went rigid and angry. Hermione's tears had stopped falling some minutes ago, which meant she was simply feeling numb from his story.
"Years passed," Harry continued. "I became an Auror and would rise through the Ranks until I was Head Auror. I became the DMLE Director, replacing you after you were killed, Hermione. You were an apprentice at the DMLE, and also a prosecutor for several years before you finally became DMLE Director. Ron tried to become an Auror, with your influence... but it wasn't for him. He worked with George at their shop. Apparently George was a hard boss for him, because Ron would come home to you several times drunk, and angry. He drunkenly beat you several times to remedy his anger.
"You... you should have had four children, instead of two, Hermione. One of his beatings was when you were pregnant with little twin girls. You miscarried and... because of what Molly and Ron did – Potions, Obliviations, Compulsions, whatever – you told the Healers and me, that you fell down the stairs and that is how you got bruised up and lost your babies."
"Tell me you made that bastard pay for what he did to her," Sirius snarled.
"I did," Harry said, then sniffled. "But it was too late by then. A week after my daughter and your son, Hermione, started their first year at Hogwarts, I was at home. Ginny came into my 'man cave' with tears on her face. She told me you were dead. The next day I was immediately voted in as the DMLE Head, and I took over the investigation of your death.
"I didn't come home for a week, because I was so obsessed with the investigation – finding the murderer of my best and dearest friend. It was at a point where I wasn't eating. If I had been clear of mind, I'd have realized most of the meals I was getting came from either Ginny or her mother. One day, I woke up, and it was like a fog had lifted in my mind. I suddenly remembered memories and feelings I hadn't felt or remembered for a very long time. I was in love with Hermione Granger, and she was in love with me. Until we weren't… until we were suddenly infatuated with two Weasleys."
Hermione's eyes widened. "We did?"
"You visited me at the park near my house one day during the first week of the summer before our sixth year," Harry said. "You confessed your feelings for me."
Hermione blushed and Sirius grinned.
"We kissed and snogged that day," Harry said, smiling, then he frowned. "Two days later, the first care package from Molly Weasley came."
"Oh," Hermione said, frowning. "How did she find out?"
"One of Dumbledore's minions was following me around keeping an eye on me that summer," Harry said. "They reported what happened between us to Dumbledore, which I guess sparked off their Potions plot."
"Oh," Hermione repeated.
"Anyway, I immediately changed my investigation," Harry said, "I realized I must have been given constant Potions for what had happened to me. So I had one of my friends in the DMLE nvestigate the food Ginny and her mother gave me. It was dosed with several types of Potions. In the end, Ginny and Molly were arrested for these crimes… as was Ron Weasley. During Ron's interrogation via Veritaserum, I discovered…"
"He murdered me," Hermione said, hoarsely.
"Yes," Harry said, "In a fit of rage and spousal abuse, something that had been going on for years that he and his mother were able to hide, and able to convince Hermione to hide – due to Potions. Turns out, like me, you had been able to have a few days where you didn't take any of the Potions. You realized what was going on, and... well, it seems your next move was foolish. Instead of immediately coming to me, you confronted Ron, threatening to leave him. And he killed you in jealous rage."
"Ron, Ginny and Molly Weasley spent a mere five days in Azkaban Prison," Harry said.
"What?!" Sirius and Hermione bellowed.
"Why?!" Hermione demanded. "How did they get off?"
"They didn't," Harry said, smiling sinisterly. "I walked into Azkaban Prison and visited each of their cells. By the time I walked out of Azkaban, their bodies were broken and beaten – Ron's especially. Molly and Ginny I simply used my wand. Quite effectively, though. I cut out their tongues first so I didn't have to hear their rubbish.
"Ron... I used my fists, after I placed enchantments on them so my hands wouldn't bruise or get bloody and whatever. I wanted to do everything to him that he did to you, so he could feel the pain he wrought on you.
"Their headless bodies were discovered the following morning. Thirty Sickles were discovered by each of their bodies, and their heads were found on pikes in front of Azkaban."
Sirius barked out a laugh. "Well done, pup!"
Harry looked at Hermione, who looked in his eyes. "I assume you're going to get your revenge on them again this time as well?"
"Yes," Harry said.
"Promise me you won't kill them," Hermione said, then smiled, "At least, not until I get my own hits in on them."
Harry smiled. "I promise."
Then he sighed and stared into the fireplace again, much like he had been doing as he told a lot of his story.
"I resigned immediately from my position as Director of the DMLE," Harry said. "Then I placed Potter Manor on lockdown and moved to Isle Potter – which is a private island that has been in my family for years. Nobody but myself knew about Isle Potter by then. Nobody alive anyway. I had taken the Potter, Peverell and Black libraries with me. And I began to do research. Took me over a year to get the ritual exactly how I wanted it. So much research and studying. So many dead ends."
"You created the ritual that brought you back here?" Hermione asked, amazed.
"Yes," Harry said. "But I never tested it. The only time I used it... was when I came back in time yesterday."
"That was dangerous," Hermione scolded.
"And impressive," Sirius said. "The very first time you used the ritual, it worked."
Harry shrugged. "I didn't care about the danger, Hermione. I was suicidal and desperate. I couldn't live in a world where you did not. Either I was going to die, or I was going to succeed and come back to you. Either way, we'd be together."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, sadly.
"I forced myself not to come back immediately when I perfected the ritual," Harry said. "Because if it worked, I needed to prepare for what would happen when I did come back. For three months I prepared for what would happen when I came back in time. Then I used the ritual. Only... it didn't work perfectly."
Hermione gasped. "What went wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Hermione," Harry said. "I wanted to come back a month ago. That was the only thing that went wrong."
"Are you sure?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," Harry said. "I have all my memories, my magical power, skill and knowledge from the future."
"Still," Hermione said, frowning. "something could go wrong. You could start losing some of those memories of the future... or something else could happen."
Harry shrugged. "I'll start a journal, and put my story in it. Only myself, or those I give permission to, will be able to see it. So if I do begin losing some of my memories, I'll have all the details – all the important ones, written down."
"Probably a good idea, just to be safe," Sirius said.
"I agree," Hermione said, nodding.
"Anyway," Harry said. "I wanted to come back a month ago. If I had, Voldemort would have been killed last night. I would have found and destroyed all the Horcruxes before I confronted him in the maze. But I came back only minutes before the Task started. Not a bad thing. I came up with several scenarios, including what really did happen to me."
"Which is what?" Hermione asked. "You still haven't told us what happened last night?"
"He told me," Sirius said, "And Dumbledore. Wait... why the hell did you tell Dumbledore, if he wants you dead?!"
"Because," Harry said "I need him to think I still look at him as the mentor, leader and grandfatherly persona. At least until I want him to realize what I truly think of him."
"Oh... why didn't I think of that?" Sirius asked himself.
Harry told Hermione exactly what happened the previous evening. Hermione looked quite proud of him by the end of his story.
"So... Voldemort doesn't have his wand, or either of the servants he had used over the past year," Hermione said, nodding.
"He'll likely have a new wand by the end of the day, if he doesn't have one already," Harry said. "If Garrick Ollivander isn't here at Hogwarts already, he either will be before too long, or out of the country far from Voldemort's reach. So Voldemort will have to find one of his followers who avoided Azkaban, and get a wand from them. Lucius Malfoy is his first choice."
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked.
Harry tapped a finger on his scar. "As long as the Horcrux is still inside my scar, I have a connection with Voldemort in my mindscape. A connection I can control. Basically I have a television in my mindscape that I call 'Voldemort News Network'. It allows me to keep a close eye and ear on Voldemort's recent thoughts, so I know what he is up to. For example... even though Nagini is dead, he doesn't want to seek out any of his other Horcruxes. He fears Dumbledore will find out if he does. Gives me time to hunt them down."
"Us, Harry," Sirius said. "It gives us time. You said... you said there is one in my old home. You said my brother... Merlin, I can't believe my brother turned out to be a good bloke in the end!"
"I can grab the Diadem from a variation of this room before I leave Hogwarts," Harry said. "This summer we can hunt the rest of the Horcruxes down."
"How?" Hermione asked. "Even if Sirius obtains his freedom, Dumbledore will force you back to the Dursleys probably."
Harry smirked, and told Hermione his plans for getting away from the Dursleys. Hermione rolled her eyes when he finished, and Sirius barked out a laugh.
"I will approve of that plan," Hermione said, "if you promise to meet with me immediately after you get away from those bastards!"
"Hermione, language!" Harry teased. "Yes, I promise I will go straight to your house when I am away from the Dursleys!"
"Good," Hermione said. "It will be a fine way to introduce my parents to my boyfriend."
Harry blinked. Had he heard her right?
"I assume that is why you told me all of this, isn't it?" Hermione asked. "Because you want to ask me to be your girlfriend?"