Our Past, Your Future

The rain having cleared, a weak sun shone down on Harry as he trudged his way down to the Qudditch pitch in a dazed mood. It had barely been three days since Hogsmead had been attacked. The Dementors had been driven away by a group of Aurours, who then went to another attack perpetrated by Death Eaters in a Muggle village several miles north of London. All Aurors who had been stationed at Hogwarts had been recalled. These included Olivia Black and Tonks (who Harry couldn't remember seeing around the school). Dumbledore had felt that it would be wise to continue with life 'as normal.' This included Quidditch practice and sorting out teams.

As he stepped onto the field, he realised that it was going to be a long tryout. Most of Gryffindor house seemed to have turned up as well as members of other houses. After testing the younger years on their flying skills (the first years were terrible, the second years fairly good), Harry decided to separate the remainder into groups, depending on which position they wished to play. James Potter and James Black joined the beater group, Sirius Black joined the chasers along with Remus, Neville and Ginny, and Ron joined the Keepers. After a few hours' testing (in which Dean Thomas was sent to the hospital wing with a broken arm, courtesy of a second year trying for beater) Harry had a full team. Ron, Ginny and Katie Bell made it through with flying colours. Sirius made the chasers, but barely, while James Potter and James Black reminded Harry of the Wealey twins in their accuracy and performance. Despite training taking up most of the day, Harry still felt energetic, due to the fact that for that period of time, he had felt totally free of all the things that had happened since Sirius' death.

"Training on Thursday, everybody. See you then."

Harry then decided to do something that had been on his mind since he had returned to Hogwarts. He walked briskly to Hagrid's hut, only to find Grawp standing outside, repeating words after his brother. Upon seeing Harry approach, his face broke into a big grin and he rumbled, "'Arry", managing to sound exactly like his brother. Hagrid looked up and grinned. Harry sat down beside Hagrid, and all three began to have a conversation. For the first time in months Harry felt that something in his life made sense.

***

Christmas was setting in fast and the snow lay thick on the ground. Hogwarts was experiencing a spate of pranks not seen in a number of years- and it had all started in the first week, the week of the dementor attack when three new students named James Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin arrived. Of course, the staff knew who was responsible. After the events of the last few months, no one complained about a bit of light-hearted fun, especially since Peeves was feeling so put out about been out classed in the prank stakes. Slytherin had lost spectacularly to Gryffindor in the first game of the season when Harry caught the snitch while they were winning three hundred goals to twenty-two.

Ginny Weasley was beginning to show through her robes, however. It was a short while before everyone knew she was pregnant. What took most of the senior years by surprise was that none of her brothers came to 'sort Harry out' as Seamus put it. They had assumed that after her mum and dad found out that she was pregnant the whole family would know, but that wasn't the case. Two things did happen in that meeting. Mr. & Mrs. Weasley invited James, Sirius and Remus to Christmas at the Burrow and it was agreed that Harry would take advanced classes with Dumbledore. In the larger world things were bad. While the Aurors were fighting back, there were still attacks, some serious. At least three Muggle families had been killed, and in another attack, a five year old boy had to watch as his parents were tortured.

For Dumbledore things were getting unsettled. The Guardian of Time had not shown him the event for which he had reset time for. Instead, he showed him events from the future in order for him to accept what The Guardian called 'the inevitable end.' To say that Dumbledore was intrigued was an understatement. He watched Harry triumph over Voldemort by using a simple spell to absorb residual magic- well, it was simple to all those practised in the art of Duelling. It was used after a duel where two powerful wizards had fought to 'pick up' the residual magic left behind, making those that absorbed it more powerful, that's why only the duellers themselves knew it. In essence, Harry absorbed Voldemort's magic, leaving him weak and unable to defend himself. In the end, Voldemort was stabbed repeatedly with an ordinary Muggle kitchen knife- an instrument of those he hated. He watched Harry as he followed the new Auror training programme, which involved time spent in the service of some section of Muggle defence and was unsurprised as Harry chose the air force. He watched as Harry was raised through the Auror ranks, finally making it to the head of Aurors, the youngest head of Aurors in over two centuries. Then he watched as Harry got elected Minister for Magic, the second youngest Minister for twenty years. He watched as his and Ginny's family grew to seven sons and a daughter- one more than Molly and Arthur. He watched as Ron took over as head of Aurors and Hermione settled into her new role as head of the Department of Mysteries, and as Ginny ran her Quidditch store (with eight kids, been an Auror was too demanding she had said). He saw Hagrid become headmaster of Hogwarts after McGonagall's death, and Remus Lupin in the Defence against the Dark Arts position. He saw Harry's son's reform a new era of Marauders, which surpassed their grandfather's in troublemaking, but Headmaster Hagrid always overlooked this. However, they never seemed to outdo their father in the amount of adventures they incurred. It was indeed a grand future to behold. But Dumbledore was wondering what the Guardian wanted him to accept. What was so important that he could not be shown outright? But that was something for another time, as someone knocked on the door.

***

Dumbledore stared across at the Minister for Magic. It seemed a very long time since the Minister's election to office. Fudges reign seemed long past, and despite all his requests, none were as strange as the one he had just received off his successor. Not in all its history had Hogwarts hosted a Muggle Prime Minister. In fact, it had never hosted any Muggle leader. And coming so soon after the events in Hogsmead. To let Muggles into the school would mean the defences would have to be lowered momentarily, which would leave Hogwarts vulnerable to attack. If Voldemort found out, which he would, they could be facing a large attack. Severus would have to report this to his master if he was to stay on his 'good' side, and keep the trust he had worked to hard to maintain. Essentially the Minister was inviting danger to Hogwarts door, and Dumbledore knew that Voldemort still had some very strong Death Eaters, though they had dealt him a blow when they had captured Narcissia Malfoy and her sister Bellatrix Lestrange.

"You see, we need to get him accustomed to the idea of what's going on. Now that we have sorted out the whole thing with the Malfoy boy, it would be wise to let him see young witches and wizards in training, to meet the young of this 'hidden community' as it were. Let him experience some our ways on a small scale. Plus, he is curious about Harry Potter."

Now Dumbledore saw his real motivation. If the Muggle Prime Minister met Harry it would be expected that the Minister for Magic would meet him. But the rest of the idea was good. Dumbledore couldn't find fault with it. Reluctantly, he agreed, but on condition that it was Harry's choice who he met. As the Minister rose to leave, Dumbledore asked him what had happened to Draco Malfoy.

Smiling, the minister said, "He has been sent to live as a Muggle for a year. I believe the name of the School he is going to attend is called Smeltings. I have been led to understand it is a fine institution for boys. No doubt his family connections working to his advantage again. Narcissia will join her husband in prison, however."

Dumbledore nodded in an absent minded way.

***

The wedding was over and the PM had just given his speech at the reception when he noticed the other Minister standing, quiet unnoticed in a corner. He made a point of avoiding him for a while, getting a few dances in with his wife, daughter and niece before he casually walked up to him (to everyone else's eye he stumbled up to that strange looking man in the grey cloak and shabby suit).

"It's been arranged. You will proceed to the castle tomorrow," was all that was spoken before, to everyone's astonishment, the strange man disappeared with a POP.

***

Harry couldn't remember when he had this much fun apart from a Quidditch match. Gryffindor tower was filled with boisterous laughter at the misfortune of Malfoy's friends or associates. Less than an hour before, at breakfast, all of Malfoy's 'friends' has sprouted tusks and trunks, and many were still been attended in the infirmary. McGonagall had shouted herself hoarse at them all, as a very important Muggle was meant to be arriving that evening for a meeting with Dumbledore, a tour of the castle, and a feast. Many people speculated at whom it could be- the Queen, the US President, and the Muggle Prime Minister had all been mentioned. Things must have been serious if Dumbledore had decided to invite some high ranking Muggle politician to the castle for a meeting. But that didn't matter now, as Colin Creevy had just heard off the Fat Lady, who had heard it from a portrait in Dumbledore's office, who had heard it off the Minister for Magic, that Malfoy was to live as a Muggle for a year. Many older students were doubled up in laughter at the thought of the Slytherin Prince living as a Muggle.

The laughter was still continuing when McGonagall entered Gryffindor tower for a second time that day.

"Harry Potter, come with me please. Dumbledore wishes to see you immediately."

Harry left the common room without a word, and followed the deputy headmistress towards Dumbledore's office.

"Now Potter, you are about to meet the Muggle Prime Minister. He is a very important Muggle, and a guest of Dumbledore's, so treat him with respect. Not that I have to tell you that. Just be on your best behaviour. Nothing like this morning is to happen," she said a slight smile on her face.

With that, Harry made his way up to the office.

***

The Prime Minister had never seen a man, or a room like this before. They seemed to complement each other, like they had been designed to integrate perfectly. So it was that at half ten on a Saturday Morning, the Prime Minister of Great Britain sat across from Albus Dumbledore in a school for young witches and wizards, drinking what he was told was the best mead in all the wizarding world, waiting for a boy he was told represent hope for the entire wizarding and muggle worlds. About twenty minutes after the strict woman with the sever bun left, a young man entered, about the same age as the PM's daughter. From the t-shirt he wore, the Prime Minister could tell that he was rail thin with rippling muscles. His emerald eyes were watchful, cautious almost. They seemed to absorb his entire surroundings before they settled on any one person. His face was strikingly handsome, but with a tired look about it, like someone who had lost a lot at a very young age. But, despite all this, there was a mischievous glint in his eye, like he was trying to make the best of it, and succeeding too.

"Mr. Potter, this is the muggle Prime Minister. Prime Minister, this is Harry James Potter."

"How do you do Mr. Potter!" said the Prime Minister formally, extending his hand politely.

"Fine, thank you sir," replied Harry, taking the outstretched hand.

Sitting down, Dumbledore began to explain about Voldemort, Harry and the prophesy. They were still talking when Professor McGonagall came to tell them that the feast was ready.

***

The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement. Looking around, Harry saw young Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington talking to some of his friends. He seemed more excited about all this then anyone for some reason, and whenever he saw Dumbledore his eyes seemed to light up, with a glint in his eye that would have made Fred and George proud. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Magic sat between Professors McGonagall and Snape. Snape was taking over the Defence against the Dark Arts post, now that Dumbledore had talked one of his old colleges to come out of retirement to teach potions. Most of the Prime Ministers and Minister for Magic's entourage sat at a lower table. Percy Weasley sat surveying the hall like a lord.

Noisy chatter filled the room. The clatter of knives and forks mingled with the din. The Prime Minister was looking around, an impressed look upon his face. It was then that it happened. Everything and everybody froze. Well, almost everyone. The Guardian of time got up, stretched, and then walked up to Harry. Placing his hands on Harry's temples, he allowed their minds to mix. A strong will that was growing with each passing month. A mind fortified against hatred, malice and mistreatment. These were the things which overwhelmed the Guardians senses.

'Show me the magical line in reverse males' was all he said.

And so it went on until it finally reached Gordric Gryffindor. So, a descendent of Gryffindor had been considered for Slytherin. It wouldn't have been the first time, after all his great-grandfather was half Black. Maybe it was because it was the fact his mother married a Potter that he wasn't on the Black family tree. Truly, this was a young man fit for all houses. Suddenly, the Guardian drew away as if hit by a strong electrical current. The boy's power was still growing far beyond what the Guardian was aware off. It was an oddity that the Guardian did not know such a thing. If this was the case then the boy was going to be far more powerful than ever anticipated, whether or not The Guardian had interfered.

After a while, the Guardian lifted his hands off Harry's head and went back to his seat immediately the noise and commotion started up again. Sighing, the Guardian realised that this was going to be a very short visit for James Potter.

***

Ron Weasley lay in his bed after the feast and pondered all that had happened since the summer holidays began. It didn't seem real. Sirius having a son, Ginny pregnant, the Dementor attack, Malfoy living as a Muggle, a Muggle Prime Minister in Hogwarts and Harry's dad arriving from the past. He had known since the day he had befriended Harry that his life would not be in any way a normal one. Ron smiled to himself. He would not have his life any other way. However, in the bed next to him, Harry's feelings on this topic were slightly different.

(To be continued)...