Our Past, Your Future

Ginny walked slowly towards the Gryffindor Common room, so engrossed in her own thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going, such was her happiness at the new that the letter in her hand held. A sharp thump against a wall brought her out of her deep raven of thought. Looking up Ginny realised that she hadn't hit a wall as she had thought. Creamy white skin, glinting amber eyes and a smile that revealed a row of milk white teeth greeted her. Colin Creevey towered over her, looking as though he was the happiest man on earth. She knew something was up, but her need to find Ron was so great, that her curiosity was overpowered.

"Ginny, can you meet me later, and bring Harry, Ron and Hermione? I think I have heard and seen something that would interest them enough to go investigating."

When Ginny nodded, he bounded off towards the Great Hall, quickly sidestepping Peeves with an agility and grace Ginny had never seen in him before. He was definitely in a good mood. In the common room, Ginny found Harry, Ron, Hermione and James huddled over the Marauders Map, debating whether or not to use it. Quickly, before Ron and Hermione descended into another argument, she told them her news.

"You're serious? Bill and Fleur are getting married? But why didn't they tell us when we were at home? And why didn't they send me the letter?" asked Ron, shocked.

"Wanted to keep it a secret, I suppose" said Hermione, mildly.

"And Fleur wants me to be one of the bridesmaids" said Ginny.

After further debate, they settled down, and Harry produced the Marauders Map. From what Ginny had heard of their conversation, they were planning to release a few of Fred and Georges new pranks, and wanted to make sure no one was around except Draco Malfoy and Co. Harry was grinning in a way that Ginny had never seen before- a mischievous glint shone in his eyes and for the first time ever, Ginny noticed two dimples appearing. With a flourish, he taped the map, proudly pronouncing "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good", and watched greedily as the map filled out before him.

***

Up in his office, Dumbledore poured over the Daily Prophet, his mood as gloomy as the sky outside. Mr. Ollivander the wand maker had been found dead in his shop, with signs that indicated a powerful struggle (Dumbledore wouldn't have been surprised if Voldemort himself had killed him), Susan Bones had gone missing, presumed dead, Gringottes had been broken into and the Muggle Prime Ministers Junior had been put under the Imperious Curse, and a very powerful one- he had almost choked the Prime Minister to death. Looked like Kingsley Shackelbolt had stepped in just in time. A faint 'POP' made him look up. The young Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington looking at him from across the table.

"Can I help you, Nicholas?" asked Dumbledore, hiding his surprise.

"You have your doubts about me. You feel as if I shouldn't exist, as if young James Black shouldn't exist. Your right you know, we shouldn't."

Dumbledore stared at the young student before him in shock. How had Nicholas known what doubts he had? Suddenly, as if he had taken aging potion, Nicholas changed into a young man of about seventeen years old, smiled, and said "I have a confession to make. Time has been altered. And it's my doing."

"Who are you?" croaked Dumbledore, scared for the first time in his life, but he didn't know why.

"Wizard mythology calls me the Guardian of Time. Sent to earth by God to preside over great events in history- to be a witness, a guide to the great, if they need it. Helping them understand God's great plan for them, if, and only if they need help understanding it and you need help in understanding an event in your life. A year is all I can give. Then time will reset itself, and the original timeline will prevail, but a little different from before, and a lot different from now. You will accept this event in your life, and young mister Potter will have gained a power he will eventually need."

As they continued to talk, far below them, Harry Potter was staring at the Marauders Map in horror.

***

"That can't be possible" Harry in disbelief, shock clearly visible on his face.

Clearly labelled on the Marauders Map were James Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. They were in the library. Hermione's mouth hung open in confusion and shock and she was mumbling something that sounded like 'time travel' and 'time turner'.

Unconsciously their feet had carried them to the library at a run, which, in turn, caught the attention and interest of Peeves who whizzed along behind them. Vaguely they heard "Potty and his wee friends are up to no good." Then there was a whooshing sound as Peeves flew overhead. In the library, where the map said James, Sirius and Remus were sitting, was the three exchange students. Standing on her tip-toes Hermione whispered to Harry-

"They must have changed their appearance using magic. Poly juice potion would have worn off by the end of Defence Against the Dark Arts. I can reverse it, if you give me time."

As Harry, Ron, Ginny and James Black sat down at a table across from the 'exchange' students pretending to argue over a Transfiguration essay, with Peeves floating overhead in an unnaturally quiet state, Hermione walked over shyly.

"Excuse me," she said politely. All three boys looked up. "My friends and I were doing our Transfiguration essay, and we were wondering if you would like to join us." She smiled sweetly, making sure to stand in such a way that made her seem vulnerable.

"Sure" said one of the boys smiling at Hermione. None of them noticed her wand behind he back, but they did hear her mutter a spell under her breath. As quick as lightening they had disarmed her, but not before her spell had started to take effect and Harry, Ron and James were on their feet with wands drawn. Sirius was the first to change. His hair darkened and lengthened, his face changed smoothly into its normal self. Within a matter of moments of Sirius changing, James Potter changed back to himself, and Harry was looking at a boy identical to himself- his sixteen year old father.

***

No one moved except for James Potter, who took out his glasses to put them on. It was a while before anyone spoke. Sirius was the first to break the silence.

"How did you figure it out?"

In response, Harry laid the Marauders map on the table before them. They smiled in reply. In a way, they were relieved. James in particular wanted to get to know his son. He had wasted no time in finding out more about him. In their free time between classes he had gone to the trophy room and seen Harry's name engraved several times on the Quidditch cup, and on a shield which said he had done a special service to the school. When he heard that Creevy boy telling stories of the 'heroic Harry Potter' to several Muggle first years, he had looked up old history books, and found an entire chapter, spanning twenty-two pages, dedicated to him and Lord Voldemort, and several issues of the Daily Prophet detailing his exploits. In awe and admiration, he realised that his son was a hero, but not before he felt sorrow that he would never live to see his son grow up. He had then sworn to get to know his son better. He had imagined them doing things, great things, together before the spell that had brought him here wore off. But now, an awkward silence hung between them. But there was a hungry curiosity burning in Harry's eyes, he could see it. It danced like light across them in a way that was enchanting. He smiled shyly (which was unusual) and received warm embracing ones in return. Without a word, everyone sat down. Harry tapped the map and it went blank. He placed it carefully in his bag before turning to face James, his mind full of questions.

***

"So, you altered time and perception to aid me. Surely, only God has that power?" pushed Dumbledore. His liking of good stories had lead him to research the Guardian of Time. In his investigation, he had learned that this Guardian could alter time, but, he was meant to be a myth, a legend of sorts concocted to entertain people on long winter's nights.

"If a person can't accept things in the past, and I know they won't accept a future without them, I can show them an alternative."

Dumbledore watched as Time stared out the window. It was a few minutes before he spoke again.

"I have seen so many millennia pass, you could scarcely imagine. I have seen empires come and go. Dictators rise and fall. Kings at the head of armies, who won great victories, and Kings murdered on their own thrones by their sons. I have seen alternate universes, so many, it is beyond belief." There was a note of sadness in his voice.

"If I can show you one possible future- the one that will prevail if Harry Potter accepts his power- would you consent to come?"

"Shouldn't you be giving Harry this option?"

"He is rather busy at the moment! And one other thing, I mislead Miss Lovegood. Draco Malfoy was planning something very heinous today. She will keep him occupied until we get back." And with a snap of his fingers he and Dumbledore had disappeared.

***

In the Room of Requirement, Draco and Luna Lovegood were arguing.

"You can't deny what I saw and what you feel, what we feel," pleaded Luna.

"Watch me you crazy little girl. You would deny the chance of power in the Dark Lords service? You are a pureblood. Ten centuries of pure wizarding blood runs in your veins. I desire your blood, nothing else. What you saw on that parchment last night was a lie. I was hoping that you would run and get Harry Potter and tell him- I was hoping against hope that I would somehow get into his little group through you so I could pass information to the Dark Lord. But no, you didn't. You kept it to yourself. You thought that I was nice; you were hoping I was essentially good. You had to walk in and ruin my plan."

Draco walked to the other side of the room, and then turned round, a plan fully formed. Slowly, he walked back, unbuttoning his shirt.

"You want those kids don't you? Well, I'll grant your wish Little Miss Nosy."

In a flash Luna had her wand out and Draco lay stunned on the floor. Smiling, Luna walked up to him.

"Your staying here until I can gets back with a teacher, you arrogant little ferret."

***

In the library Madam Pinch was getting annoyed. Loud laughter and talking could be heard issuing from behind one of the book cases. Rude students were desecrating her library. How dare those cheeky little creatures do such a thing? Argus was right all along about students, and now they had guided Peeves in here. She could see him bobbing upside-down over the offending group. She stopped dead. Was it her or was there two Harry Potters sitting in that group as well as two James Blacks? No! That was impossible. Tiredness was playing tricks on her. As she walked closer she realised that her first instincts were correct. Harry Potter was sitting beside a boy identical to him, and so was James Black. McGonagall needed to hear about this at once. The use of poly juice was against school rules. It meant expulsion. Without further ado she headed off to find the head of Gryffindor house.

***

With a sudden jolt, Dumbledore found himself in the large living room of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Sitting around the fire on comfortable couches were four handsome teenage boys. Two were clearly Weasleys, judging from their flaming red hair and freckles. The other two, who were closer to Dumbledore, were obviously Harry's sons. A voice to his left said "Don't worry, they can't see us. Just sit back and enjoy!"