Harry Potter and the Past That Never Was

RobertStorm

Story Summary:
Transported back to just before his eleventh birthday, Harry gets the chance to right the wrongs in his life. But, "knowing then, what you know now," isn't always all it's cracked up to be. Your best friends may not be your friend, your enemies may not be your enemy. Even the greatest enemy may be easily dispatched. But evil will remain as long as there is good. Harry discovers changing the past leaves the door open to a future that may be worse than he can imagine. Will our hero prevail?

Chapter 03 - Once Upon a Tree House

Posted:
09/15/2006
Hits:
5,535
Author's Note:
Big thanks to Jaybird, for beta reading my chapters


Harry was left to gorge himself on the buffet for nearly an hour before Dumbledore, accompanied by Snape strode into the Great Hall and took seats across from Harry.

"Enjoying your breakfast, I see," said Dumbledore. "But don't let us stop you, tuck in."

"Sorry, I didn't realize how hungry I was," said Harry, reaching for his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"I suspect time travel can do that to you," said Dumbledore, clearly amused at how Harry was devouring his food. "I've briefed Severus on our earlier conversation, and I'm sure you won't mind answering a few of his questions."

"No, Professor," said Harry, "I don't mind." Snape was gazing at him intently, in much the same manner he stared at him in his classroom. Harry suspected this was going to be very much like a class with the Potions Master.

"Something very curious happened to me this morning," said Snape. "I experienced an episode of vertigo shortly after I awoke. I saw... visions of you... I think, but older."

"The same thing happened to me," said Harry. "That's when I started remembering things."

"What sort of things did you remember?" Snape asked him.

"What I mean is that's when I realized I was in my eleven year old body," said Harry.

"I see," said Snape. "Do you remember the exact time?"

"No, Sir," said Harry. "I was being rushed by my uncle."

"You're wondering if you both experienced this at the same time, Severus?" asked Dumbledore.

"If it helps," said Harry, "my uncle was worried about being on the motorway before the traffic became too heavy. So it had to have been before nine."

"It would be close to the same time, in that event," said Snape. "This is most interesting."

"Do you think it means anything in particular?" asked Harry.

"If I had to guess, I would say I experienced my episode of vertigo at the same time you caught up to your mind," said Snape. A moment later, Harry felt the same sort of tingle in his scar as when Dumbledore used Legilimency on him.

"If you want to look inside of my mind, I would appreciate you asking first," said Harry. He did not know which one of them was doing it, however he suspected it was Snape, and it annoyed him.

"Astounding," said Snape. Harry could not tell as it would have been such a rare event, but he thought he saw what appeared to be a slight smile on the Potions Master's lips.

"If I may ask," said Snape, "how did you know someone was trying to see inside your mind?"

"I feel my scar tingle," said Harry. "But my scar always burned when Voldemort was inside, and when you were teaching me Occlumency."

"You were taught Occlumency?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, Sir," said Harry, "not really though, it was more like he was trying to make my mind more opened to attacks."

"That must be how you do it," said Dumbledore to Snape.

"It would be a most elegant solution to the problem," said Snape

"Sorry, do what?" asked Harry.

"For the Aetis Insisto spell to have any chance of succeeding, the traveler's mind must be made... open to the spell," said Snape. "If you were being taught Occlumency it would have been a good way to prepare your mind for such an event."

"One of the problems has been to devise a way to allow your mind to become receptive to what must come," said Dumbledore, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"So it was planned that way?" Harry was beginning to become angry. The Occlumency lessons had been anything but pleasant. "I could have been told you know."

"No, I am afraid you could not have been told," Dumbledore answered.

"If I'm the one who has to eventually kill Voldemort, don't you think I'd be quite willing to cooperate with the plans to defeat him?" Harry asked; feeling quite annoyed.

"Ah, so you know about the Prophecy," Dumbledore nodded. "But let me ask you something, didn't you say when Voldemort is in your mind, you feel pain in your scar?"

"Loads of it, you seemed to believe I have a direct link with Voldemort," said Harry.

"Indeed I do, Harry," said Dumbledore, with a nod. "Seeing this, can you understand how it would be in everyone's best interest for you to remain ignorant of certain plans?" Harry had to admit he saw the logic in that.

"Just so I understand," said Harry, "all of this was done so I could come back in time and prevent certain things from happening? I mean to say, that was your plan?"

"It is what we hope, that is hoped from your perspective, to happen," Dumbledore answered him.

"But now that I'm back, won't Voldemort be able to see it in my mind if he so chooses?" asked Harry.

"It would appear, Headmaster," said Snape, voice as smooth and silky as ever, "Mr. Potter will indeed have to be taught Occlumency. Since it seems you are right about the Dark Lord having a link."

"I agree, Severus," said Dumbledore. "And I dare say it should be done quickly."

"When you taught me in my fifth year, all you told me was to close my mind. But you never told me how," said Harry.

"No, from what I can tell your mind would need, or has needed to be open. Teaching you how to close your mind would not have been my purpose," Snape answered.

"I'm sure you can understand the ruse, Harry," Dumbledore said gently. Harry nodded silently at that.

"If I may," started Snape, "have access to your mind. It could be we've also planted our own memories inside of your mind for safekeeping."

"Why would you do something such as that?" asked Harry, now very annoyed.

"Come now, Harry," chided Dumbledore. "If you were carrying our memories with you, it would be like sending all three of us back in time."

"Is that even possible?" asked Harry, beginning to feel vertigo of a different sort. This one was being caused by an excess amount of information.

"I certainly hope it's possible," said Snape. "It's an idea we've been discussing."

"Harry, I can assure you no such attempt to tamper with your mind would have been made, if it were deemed dangerous," said Dumbledore, as if to comfort him.

"Alright then," said Harry, "go ahead and look."

Snape nodded and a moment later Harry felt the tingling in his scar. "If you can hear this," Snape's voice, in his head, said to him, "you can follow to see what I'm doing."

"Yes, I heard that," said Harry.

"Very good," thought Snape. "But think to me, instead of speaking."

"Like this?" thought Harry. "Can you hear this?"

"Yes, that's very good," thought Snape. "This is a form of Legilimency. Now, you can see what I do."

Harry, in his mind's eye, watched Snape look around. He was probing, moving to different locations, probing some more. After a short time, he finally lingered in one specific place.

"Can you see where I am in your mind?" asked Snape in his head.

"Yes, Professor," thought Harry. "I see where you are."

"Excellent," thought Snape. "Please remember this location; it is where our memories are stored." Harry tried to access them but found he could not.

"Why can't I see them?" thought Harry.

"They have been occluded," thought Snape. "I am leaving now. I must inform the Headmaster."

"Our memories are there," said Snape, with an actual smile on his face. "I've asked Mr. Potter to remember the location so that he might show you."

"Excellent, Severus," said Dumbledore, also smiling, "Excellent."

"I should only be missing the time after I departed the grounds," said Snape. "That was the last time I saw Potter, according to what I was able to see."

"When was the last time I saw you, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Uh, when you died," said Harry.

"Ah," said Dumbledore. "That would be very good, indeed."

"Professor Snape," said Harry, "did you get your memories?"

"No," answered the Potions Master, "getting them out is rather a time consuming process."

"And I'll alert you beforehand, Harry," said Dumbledore, "that you will find the experience a bit uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable how?' asked Harry.

"You will feel," said Snape, "as if you are being drained of your energy."

"How long will it take?" Harry wanted to know.

"I cannot say for sure," said Snape, "however I would estimate an hour."

"For each of you?" asked Harry.

"Correct, for each," said Snape.

"There is an upside," said Dumbledore, "when it's over, you will feel lightness in your mind."

"Well," said Harry, "I would prefer to get that out of the way as soon as possible."

"Yes, thank you, Harry," said Dumbledore. "We are both anxious to have those memories, as I'm sure you can understand."

The headmaster brought out his wand, and used it to conjure two comfortable looking chaise lounges. "There is no reason why we shouldn't be comfortable," said Dumbledore, smiling kindly at Harry.

Harry let himself sink into one of the chairs, leaned back and tried to get as comfortable as he could manage. Dumbledore gestured to the chair, telling Snape he should go first. Snape nodded, and then lowered himself into the chair.

"I'll be as gentle as possible," he said to Harry, who nodded and tried to steel himself. Harry felt the tingle, then Snape's presence in his mind.

Harry found it to be a quite interesting experience, actually able to visualize someone walking about inside of his mind. He made a little game of it, envisioning his mind as a forest, with each memory a tree house. In his mind's eye, he watched Snape having to climb the tree in which his memories were stored. He imagined the act of sucking his memories out in much the same way as siphoning spilled ink from parchment. More amusing, was seeing Snape with a Muggle vacuum cleaner, using it to suck the memories into its chamber. These little games Harry played made the time pass a bit faster. In fact, before he knew it, Snape left his mind.

"That didn't seem like an hour," said Harry.

"It wasn't an hour," said Dumbledore, "it was around ten minutes."

"Oh," said Harry, "I thought it was going to take an hour."

"As did I," said Snape, sounding very tired. "It was that Muggle contraption, what was it?"

"You saw that?" asked Harry, shocked. "I didn't... I mean I was just playing games to make the time pass quicker. Did you have to climb a tree as well?"

"Yes, that was quite amusing," said Snape. From the sound of his voice, he seemed to be half asleep.

"How do you feel, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"I feel fine," said Harry. "I don't feel drained at all." There was a strange sound coming from the chair Snape occupied, it sounded an awful lot like... snoring. The Potions Master had fallen asleep; his mouth was opened slightly, as he snored lightly.

"I think I'm going to need another lounger," said Dumbledore. He took out his wand and conjured another chair. "If you please, I'd rather not like to go about climbing trees."

The headmaster looked amused as he gingerly lowered himself into the lounger. "If you would, a simple room will do nicely."

"Yes, Professor," said Harry as he felt the tingle.

"Can you hear me?" thought Harry.

"No, Harry, I cannot hear you communicating with your mind," came Dumbledore's amused reply.

"The memories are here," thought Harry, imagining himself as a policeman, directing traffic. "Here is your vacuum." He imagined the vacuum again.

He watched as Dumbledore took control of the vacuum and began to suction his memories. He appeared to be enjoying himself, whistling an off key tune. Harry was very amused to watch Dumbledore enjoying himself. Soon he was finished, and he gave the vacuum back to Harry, and departed his mind with a tip of his hat.

"Quite efficient," said Dumbledore, yawning. "But I think I'm going to have a bit of a lie in." With that, he promptly fell asleep. Harry felt rather silly sitting in this room, watching both Dumbledore, and Snape sleeping on lounge chairs.

The fact Harry did not feel the least bit drained from the experience was interesting, indeed. More so because it was expected he would. He looked back and forth between the two sleeping professors, wondering if he would get into all sorts of trouble if they awoke and he had gone missing. Knowing Snape, he would get a detention a full six weeks before the term started.

In the end, Harry decided to play it safe and stay in the Great Hall. Being alone with only his thoughts to keep him occupied gave him the chance to think about the things he wanted to change. Since he knew Quirrell would have Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head, it would be an easy matter to take care of that little problem.

The thought then occurred to him perhaps it would not be quite as easy as he imagined. There would be no letters delivered to Privet Drive, nor would Hagrid show up on the island to rescue him. Unless it could somehow be arranged to have Hagrid bring him to the Leaky Cauldron on his birthday, he would not meet Quirrell there. He would have to think of another way. Having all of their own memories, Dumbledore and Snape would no doubt have some ideas of their own.

By far, the most interesting bit of information Harry received that morning, was how Snape had been in on this all along. In fact, he invented the very spell to accomplish the task. There was of course six years of less than happy memories involving Snape, but this was the absolute clearest evidence Harry had been given as to former Death Eater's trustworthiness. Nevertheless, somewhere in the depths of his mind, was the lingering thought, 'what if'.

Dumbledore always said he had an ironclad reason to trust Snape. No matter what anyone said, no matter the evidence presented, Dumbledore would not hear a word against the Potions Master. Harry wanted to believe him; to feel reassured Dumbledore would not allow a Death Eater to teach at Hogwarts. He wanted desperately to believe Snape had not been in reality, Dumbledore's biggest mistake. The fact was the history Harry shared with Snape would not allow him to trust the man.

For all anyone knew, Snape could have been planting Voldemort's memories inside Harry's mind. More likely, opening Harry's mind enough for Voldemort to do it himself. Maybe Snape informed him of their plans, enabling Voldemort to craft his own memories so they would travel to the past. If that were the case, Harry was going to have to learn Occlumency as soon as he possibly could.

Harry wondered if he were somehow employing Occlumency when he envisioned trees and vacuum cleaners. It he was, would it be possible to envision something like a huge wall, or something to guard the memories? On the other hand, did Snape and Dumbledore only see his thoughts and use them as they saw fit? Both were accomplished Legilimens, so it could very well be so. No matter, he would make it point to block the next intrusion in the way he was considering to see if it works.

He did not actually see it happen, but the breakfast buffet had turned into a lunch buffet. Of course, he knew how the house-elves managed to get food to the Great Hall, making it seem as it just appeared out of nowhere. While learning this took away some of the mystique of the Great Hall, it did not stop him from getting off the lounger to help himself to some lunch.

While he was eating, a shuffling sound from just behind him got Harry's attention. He turned to see Snape was beginning to stir, and come out of his slumber.

"Oh," said Snape, sounding surprised. "How long was I asleep?"

"Near two hours I think," answered Harry. "Professor Dumbledore went to sleep as well."

"I don't think I have the energy to get off of this chair," said Snape. "Would you be so kind as to bring me something to drink?"

"What would you like?" asked Harry.

"Anything cool," answered Snape. Harry went to the buffet table, filled a goblet with orange juice, and brought it to still lounging Snape. He reached out to take it, but his hands were trembling. Snape seemed to have a difficult time drinking the juice.

"You look pale," observed Harry, keeping his hand on the goblet to hold it steady. "Don't you think you should eat something as well?"

"Yes, I will when I can get up," said Snape. Apparently drinking the juice was having a positive effect, when it was emptied Snape asked for more. Harry obliged and saw Snape's hands were not trembling as they were, nor did he seem as pale.

"That was an extremely disconcerting experience," said Snape. He finished the second goblet of juice and managed to make his way to the buffet table.

"That wasn't supposed to happen?" asked Harry.

"It was supposed to happen to you," said Snape. "Apparently it did not, however."

"No, Sir," said Harry, "I didn't feel drained at all."

"Interesting," said Snape, as he sat down to begin eating.

"I have a question about Occlumency," said Harry. "You saw what I was envisioning. I was wondering: if I were to envision something such as a wall, would it serve as protection."

"Unless the person invading your mind were skilled enough to find a way around, or through such a wall," said Snape, "it would serve as protection."

"Is that Occlumency, then?" asked Harry.

"It is," said Snape, "but your technique will need work. Practice, in short."

"Did you get all of your memories?" asked Harry.

Snape's mouth was full so he only nodded. Shortly after, Harry found himself bringing juice to Dumbledore who awoke in much the same state as Snape. Being much older, Dumbledore had a rather more difficult time regaining his strength. Harry had to bring him something to eat, as he remained in the lounger. Neither of them had much to say, both intent on eating, and quite ravenously at that.

"Now where were we?" asked Dumbledore jovially, after all three had eaten their fill. Dumbledore finally managed to get up from the lounger and was sitting next to Snape, across from Harry.


"I must say," said Dumbledore, "all of these memories are a bit overwhelming."

"It's definitely a challenge to get them sorted," agreed Snape. "Tell me, Potter, what was that Muggle device?"

"It was a vacuum cleaner," answered Harry. "It's used to clean floors."

"It is certainly an ingenious way to suction memories," said Dumbledore. "Although it was rather a bit too quick."

"That must have been why we fell asleep," said Snape. "No doubt the speed of the transfer exhausted our energy."

"I must have transferred the last of my memories just before my death," said Dumbledore. "I remember Severus entering the tower, and nothing after that."

"I recall up until just before I left the grounds," said Snape.

"You're only missing ten days," said Harry.

"Those are ten critical days, however," said Snape, frowning slightly.

"Hold on," said Harry. "You would have had to see me to cast the spell, right. Wouldn't you have done a memory transfer then?"

"That is something one would think I would have done," said Snape. "However, I have no memory past the time near the front gates of the castle."

Harry started searching his mind, trying to find thoughts he could not access. He was not able to find any with the same sort of block, but did come across an area that seemed halfway closed.

"I think I may have something," said Harry. "An area that is not blocked, but sort of half closed off."

"Are you able to access this area?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, Sir," said Harry. "They are not my memories. They belong to Professor Snape."

The Potion Master's eyebrows were raised at hearing this. He gave Harry a 'may I' gesture. Harry nodded and felt first the now familiar tingle, then the presence of Snape in his mind.

"Over here," thought Harry, showing Snape the area.

"Yes, these are my last memories," thought Snape. "But the same protection is there, how can you see them?"

"I don't know, Professor," thought Harry

.

"Curious," thought Snape, as he took the memories in much the same way Harry remembered seeing Slughorn extract a memory for use in a pensieve.

"They were in a different place than the others," said Snape. "However, they were just as guarded as the others."

"You were able to see them, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, Professor," said Harry, "That's how I knew they were not my own."

"Now that you have them, Severus," said Dumbledore, "why were they in a different place?"

Snape appeared to be searching him mind, his features were screwed up as if deep in thought.

"It seems my Apparating inside Potter's bedroom alerted someone in the house," said Snape. "I had very little time from what I can tell."

"Ah," nodded Dumbledore, "yes that would make a lot sense."

"What I don't understand," said Harry, "is if I were not actually taught Occlumency, how is it I can employ it?"

"It is very likely, you have always had the ability," said Dumbledore. "You only lacked the knowledge of how to apply that ability."

"Then I'll be able to learn?" asked Harry.

"You will begin to learn this very day," said Dumbledore. "Whilst I make a call upon your favorite family, the Weasleys."

"Pettigrew?" asked Harry.

"Indeed, Harry," said Dumbledore. "I daresay Azkaban is long overdue due for an exchange of prisoners."