The Grandfather Paradox

The Grandfather Paradox, by James Bow

Chapter Four: Finding Harry and Ginny

Six people materialized in front of a cave entrance. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and scanned the area. There was nobody else about. Professor Lupin raised his hand and felt the air for booby traps.

"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Hermione.

"Yes," snarled Wormtail, his wrists bound with iron.

"Another neat spell," said Wesley to Ron, "Is to take a person's blood and change it into mustard. The victims go a fantastic shade of yellow."

"Will any sauce work? How about fish oil?"

"Even better! Even after you change the blood back, the poor sod can never get rid of the fish smell."

"This is the place," said Wormtail frantically, running up to Dumbledore. "Please! I'll tell you everything! Just keep that strange boy away from me!"

Lupin lowered his hands. "This cave doesn't feel like a hideout. I see no evidence of traps or concealment spells at all. No sign of Death Eater activity."

"Of course not!" snapped Wormtail. "Such things would only attract attention! My master chose this place in order to hide out for a long while."

"Intriguing," said Dumbledore. "But I assume this place has dungeons, if Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley are being held here. Care to show them to us?"

Sullen, Wormtail led them into the caves. They walked for several minutes, lighting the way with their wands, as the cave twisted and turned. Ron was sure they'd get lost, and kept a close eye on Wormtail to make sure he didn't scamper off to try and lose them. Save for a flat cave floor, there was no sign that the cave was anything but natural, until they turned a corner and found themselves in a corridor lined with doors.

Wormtail pointed to the first one. "There."

"Alohomora" whispered Hermione.

The lock clicked and the dungeon door swung open.

Wesley stood close to Dumbledore. "Where's Voldemort?" he muttered.

"I know," Dumbledore replied. "This looks too easy. We'll be careful."

Inside, they saw Harry Potter sitting in a chair. He didn't move as they entered. His eyes were fixed on Ginny, who was lying on her back in front of him. Neither said a word as the six entered.

"They've both been paralyzed," said Dumbledore, waving his wand over Ginny's head.

At once, Ginny began to scream.

Ron rushed forward in horror.

"And the Cruciatus Curse!" yelled Dumbledore, waving his wand again.

Ginny's scream ended abruptly. She collapsed, sobbing incoherently.

Lupin stared. "Two curses at once? That's impossible!"

"Not in my time, it isn't." Wesley waved his staff over Harry. Harry jumped up, then fell over, his legs sluggish from prolonged immobility. But he scrambled along the floor to Ginny. He and Ron converged on the sobbing girl in Dumbledore's arms.

Hermione shivered. "All that time."

"And Harry was forced to watch," muttered Wesley. His knuckles whitened on the staff. "This was one day. Can you imagine twenty-five years?"

Dumbledore looked up. "Miss Weasley is going to need some attention here before we take her back."

Hermione perked up. "Wormtail's gone! Who was watching him?"

"No one," said Wesley, stamping his staff in frustration. "Not while we were all occupied with Ginny."

Ron paled. "He's going to get You Know Who!"

Wesley tapped Lupin on the shoulder. "Come on. We'll have to keep an eye out for Voldemort, and slow him down until Dumbledore is ready to get Ginny and Harry out of here."

Lupin nodded and headed into the corridor. "I'll take the right. You take the left."

Wesley started forward down the corridor, then stopped. He looked back. Ron and Hermione were behind him. He gave them a look to get them to go back to Dumbledore. They gave him a glare.

Wesley sighed. "Fine. But keep under cover."

They crept along the corridor, Ron and Hermione taking turns peering into the rooms that they passed. They found nobody. Then the corridor opened out into a wide cavern, and they stopped at its entrance.

"Okay," said Wesley. "If Voldemort wants to get to Dumbledore, he either has to get past Lupin or us. Let's find some cover so we can keep watch on this cavern."

Ron nodded. "Hermione, have a look through the last couple of rooms for something to barricade this corridor. I'll look a couple of rooms further back."

The two went off, leaving Wesley in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the darkened cavern. He jumped and clutched his chest when Ron crept back up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Sorry," said Ron.

"Never mind. Did you find anything?"

Ron shook his head. "All the rooms are empty."

A noise made them turn. Hermione was approaching, her face as white as a sheet.

"Hermione?" Ron frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I've just seen Voldemort," Hermione squeaked.

Wesley gulped. "Behind us?"

The colour drained from Ron's cheeks. "Is he coming?"

"No," said Hermione.

"What happened?" asked Wesley.

"I... tripped over him."

"You what?"

Ron gulped. "What did he do?"

"Snored."

Ron and Wesley stared. Then, taking the shaken Hermione by the shoulders, they crept back into the corridor. Hermione led the way to a nearby room. A lump lay on the floor just beyond the threshold.

Ron backed away. "It's him, all right! Let's get out of here!"

To his horror, Wesley reached out his staff and prodded Voldemort on the shoulder. "You idiot! What are you doing?" He pulled Wesley back, but it was too late.

Wesley shook him off. "He's been enchanted. He can't wake up. Look." He prodded Voldemort with his staff again.

"Wesley," said Ron. "Please, don't do that."

Wesley just stared. "If I wasn't seeing it, I wouldn't believe it." Prod!

Ron put on his sternest voice. "Wesley, I'm warning you!"

Prod! Prod!

"Wesley, if you don't stop this instant-"

Prod! Prod! Prod!

"Wesley!"

Hermione jabbed Voldemort with her wand.

"Hermione!"

"Calm down, Ron," she said. "When will we ever get a chance to do this again?" She and Wesley gave Voldemort several sharp more jabs. The Dark Lord didn't move.

Ron threw up his hands. "Nuts! Both of you! Absolutely nuts!"

Hermione stood up, smiling. Then she rubbed her chin in thought. "All right, so if Voldemort isn't responsible for Harry and Ginny's kidnapping, who is?"

Wesley straightened up, frowning. "A very good question. You'll notice that Wormtail's coat is under Voldemort's head as a makeshift pillow, so we know who moved him here."

"Wormtail?" Ron stared incredulously. "That man wouldn't be brave enough, disloyal enough, strong enough or intelligent enough to do that to-" He fumbled with the name. "-him." He finished, pointing at the floor.

Wesley bit his lip. He took a deep breath. "And Wormtail did say that Voldemort was active and that he had several new spells that we supposedly knew nothing about."

Hermione stared at him in horror. "The second time spell."

"But you said that Voldemort had won where you came from. What's he doing time traveling back here?" asked Ron.

"Fight dirty," said Wesley. "That's Voldemort's motto. It would explain a number of things; the power of his spells that night, and the fact that, at the time, nobody could trace where Harry and Ginny had gone. The first time around, Dumbledore wouldn't have had a hope against spells that advanced."

"You mean, Voldemort's time spell may be how your future came about?" asked Hermione.

"That's what he did. He sent himself back in time, charmed his previous self into sleep to prevent himself from meeting himself and shorting out the temporal differential." Wesley rubbed his forehead wearily. "I hate time paradoxes."

"Let's get out of here," said Ron. "If Voldemort is willing to go back in time to get what he wants, he won't give up Harry and Ginny easily. He's going to be very mad when he finds Dumbledore's released them."

Hermione followed Ron into the corridor. Wesley came after, but not before he gave the sleeping Voldemort one more jab to the ribs that made Ron wince.

Then they heard a sound from the cavern that made them stop. They ducked back into the shadows.

"My Lord, wake up!" cried Wormtail.

"Wake up?" muttered Ron. "The future Voldemort is sleeping also?"

"Saving his strength," muttered Wesley, his knuckles whitening on his staff. "Casting yourself back in time takes a lot of energy."

Ron froze as he heard Voldemort's deep voice echo through the chamber. "I told you not to disturb me until it was almost time for the return spell to be activated. You'd better have a good reason for disturbing my rest, worm."

"It is almost time, my lord," said Wormtail. "But there is something else, something urgent!"

Wesley was breathing heavily. "We have a time limit."

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.

"Voldemort's used a time spell with an automatic return. It requires a little less power than two separate one-way time spells. Not much, but at these levels, every little bit counts. The drawback is, he can't change his departure time. His plan must have been to go back in time just long enough to deliver Harry and Ginny to his original self."

"Now I'm getting a headache," muttered Ron.

"Sir!" They could hear Wormtail cringing. "Please, let me explain."

Wesley pulled Ron and Hermione back along the corridor. "We'd better get out of here. It won't be long before this Voldemort's on the warpath. Then there will be no slowing him down."

"We are invaded," said Wormtail. "Dumbledore has found Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."

"What?" Voldemort yelled. "How is this possible?"

"He had help from three other students, Ron Weasley, that frumpy girl of his, and a strange brown-haired boy. There's something odd about-"

Voldemort chuckled. "The red-headed boy and his Mudblood girl are here? This should be fun." And he said a complex enchantment that included the word "Accio".

Wesley made a grab at them, but was too late. Ron and Hermione felt themselves plucked into the air and pulled screaming into the cavern. They landed at Voldemort's feet.

Ron looked up in fear at Voldemort, and was surprised that he couldn't see the Dark Lord's face. Voldemort was covered in a large cloak, and no face was visible. Under the hood there was only darkness, pierced by his glowing red eyes.

Voldemort chuckled. "Ah, this brings back memories."

Hermione blinked. They'd never seen Voldemort before...

She drew herself up. "Give up, Voldemort! We've found Harry and Ginny. Dumbledore's returning them to Hogwarts as we speak!"

"So Wormtail tells me," said Voldemort. "I doubt he'd have gone far. That boy and that brat will be difficult to carry in the state they're in by now. I can catch up with them easily. What I'm most interested to know right now is how Dumbledore found me. The spells I used aren't in his Lexicon."

"Dumbledore's brilliant," said Ron, his lips dry. "You're no match for him!"

Voldemort laughed. "Such bravado in people so young. How sweet. I hate sweet." He pointed his wand at them. "Now, if you want to avoid screaming for mercy, or just plain screaming, tell me how Dumbledore knew to find me, now."

Out of the corner of her eye. Hermione saw Wesley leaving the cover of the corridor. He stalked across the cavern floor, directly towards Voldemort, eyes fixed on his target.

"Wesley, no," she breathed.

Voldemort looked up at the newcomer. "One of your friends?" He dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "He's even stupider than you are. Wormtail, remove that boy from my sight."

"But, my Lord, I'm bound in iron-"

"Wormtail, I gave you an order."

"But, my Lord, that's-"

"Do it!"

Wormtail ran at Wesley, who swung up his staff. Four blows connected with Wormtail's chin, stomach, knees and forehead within the span of three seconds, leaving Wormtail as an unconscious heap on the cavern floor. Wesley stepped over him.

Voldemort stared as Wesley placed himself in front of Ron and Hermione, his staff brandished.

"Do I know you?" Voldemort asked at last. "You do seem familiar."

Wesley's knuckles were white on the staff. His jaw was clenched. He glared at Voldemort with a look of pure hatred.

Then Voldemort leaned back, chuckling. "So, that's it! Dumbledore was desperate enough to use his own time spell. You're these children's very own brat! I should have noticed the resemblance. Come to avenge your parents?"

Hermione gasped. Ron blinked and stared at Wesley. The boys' shoulders were so tense he was almost trembling.

Voldemort continued, "I saw you, under the bed where your parents had hidden you. You just cowered while they screamed. Their beloved friend turned them inside out and you did nothing. What can you do to me now?"

Wesley brought up his staff and said, "Crucio."

A blue light lanced from the staff and caught Voldemort in the chest. Ron and Hermione gaped as the Dark Lord screamed in abject pain. Wesley screamed too, pouring all his anger into this spell.

"Expel-" Voldemort gasped. "Expelliarmus!"

The blue light ceased. The staff and Wesley were pitched across the cavern floor. The boy scrambled to his feet.

Voldemort swung up his wand. "Incendio!"

A ball of fire launched itself at Wesley. He deflected it with his staff. "Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort's wand was flung aside, but the Dark Lord refused to let go. His fist clenched down on the wand and held it, even as it dragged his arm taut. He grunted, and pulled the wand back towards Wesley, bringing it in line with a final burst of effort.

The spell shot back and hit Wesley full in the chest, pitching him and his staff against the cavern wall.

Voldemort bounded to his feet and charged. Wesley staggered up and swung his staff, only to have Voldemort catch it. Voldemort kicked him in the stomach twice and threw Wesley and the staff back against the wall. The boy cried out and slumped against the rocks. Voldemort grabbed the staff again and used it to pitch Wesley to the centre of the cavern. The boy landed heavily and lay limp on the floor.

"Not bad," Voldemort growled. "Your anger lends you considerable energy, but not enough. With that staff you are but Dumbledore's Echo. His last screams of failure vanishing with all that he stood for."

Wesley dragged himself to his feet, gasping for air. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

He brought up his wand. "And you shall vanish also. Avada-"

Hermione closed her eyes.

Ron put his arm around her.

Wesley paled. He brought up his staff and pointed it at Voldemort, planting one end on the ground.

"-Kedavara!"

A sickly green light lanced from Voldemort's wand. Wesley jumped back, holding his staff with one hand, as far away from himself as he could.

The green light channelled through the staff. The ground glowed in a circle around where the staff was planted. Wesley grimaced, but stood firm.

Without relinquishing the first curse, Voldemort repeated it. The light intensified, but the staff passed it into the ground. It also passed around the hand Wesley was using to hold the staff. The boy cringed as the pain increased over ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty. Voldemort kept pressing.

Then Wesley let out a hollering scream, and he let go of the staff. The wake of the spell threw him across the cavern. He hit the wall again and slumped to the floor.

Voldemort crumpled and fell face first to the ground. Silence descended upon the cavern.

Ron and Hermione rushed to Wesley's side. To their astonishment, he was still breathing.

"How-" began Ron.

"Good old Dumbledore," said Hermione. "The staff took most of it."

Wesley moaned. "Mum? Dad?" he mumbled. "I can't feel my arm. Why can't I feel my arm?"

Hermione cradled Wesley's head and shushed him gently. "It's okay," she breathed. "It's okay."

"Dad? Where's Dad?"

Hermione flashed Ron a look and he reluctantly took Wesley's hand. "I'm here, son. We're all right. We're both all right."

"Don't ever leave me again. Promise me?"

Hermione bit her lip.

Then Wesley opened his eyes. He looked from Ron to Hermione and back, his face clouded with confusion, until the memory of recent events came flooding back. He swallowed hard and pulled away. "Oh, dear. I'm-"

Hermione gave him a stern look. "Don't say you're sorry!"

They froze. Voldemort was stirring.

"Bloody Morgaine," Wesley breathed. "What does it take to beat this thing?"

"Curse Dumbledore!" Voldemort gasped. "And his bag of tricks!" He stood up. "But now you don't have his staff to protect you."

Hermione stood up, despite Ron and Wesley's attempts to pull her down. She faced up to Voldemort. "I wouldn't use that curse a third time, if I were you. I think you've almost spent your power."

"It doesn't take much to kill a girl like you," Voldemort growled.

"Then how about men like us?" Dumbledore entered the cavern wand raised, Lupin at his side. Behind them, Harry carried an unconscious Ginny in his arms.

Ron stood up and tried to stand in front of Hermione, but she pulled him back. Instead, he stood beside her and raised his wand. "Or me. You might be able to fight one of us after all that, but not four!"

"Five," gasped Wesley, dragging himself to his feet. "Accio!" Dumbledore's staff flew into his good hand.

Harry laid Ginny gently on the ground and stood in front of her, wand raised against Voldemort. "Six. Leave here, Voldemort. Now."

An electric sensation filled the cavern. A breeze plucked at their robes. Voldemort smiled. "I guess this time is as good as any. Round one to you, Dumbledore's Echo. But, remember, I have all the time in the world."

The power built up until Voldemort flashed white and disappeared. The cavern fell silent.

Then Ron jumped as he heard Voldemort's voice behind them, echoing through the corridors. "What... am I doing here? And why do my ribs hurt?"

Hermione gulped. "Our Voldemort's waking up."

"We'd better get out of here," said Wesley.

"I have just the spell," said Dumbledore. He waved his wand at the seven of them, and they vanished.

"Wormtail!" Voldemort yelled, his heavy footsteps approaching. "You have some explaining to do!"