Blast from the Past

1976

James, Remus and Sirius walked quietly across the grounds, their path lit up by nothing but the moon and the stars overhead.

"You feeling okay, Moony?"

"Fine, Padfoot. I guess I'm still a little tired from last night, but at least I've got a month before I have to deal with it again."

"True. Maybe we should head back to the dorm?"

"I wouldn't argue with that idea, what do you think James?" They both turned to look at their friend, their very quiet friend who hadn't said much all evening.

"Hmm?"

"Geez, Prongs," said Remus. "You've really been out of it lately. What gives?"

"Oh, I..erm..well.."

"For Merlin's sake," said Sirius. "Spit it out already."

"I've just been thinking about this project from Dumbledore."

"The big 'find the evil and stop it from happening' project?"

"That's the one."

"What about it?" Sirius stopped walking, turning to look his friend directly in the eyes. He had the feeling there was something big going on here.

"Well," James said as he looked into the dark eyes in front of him. "I'm just wondering the purpose of it. I mean, Dumbledore can't seriously be thinking of using our work to help the Ministry, can he? They wouldn't even take it seriously, would they?"

"I don't know, Prongs," Remus said cautiously. "If your work is really that great and that accurate, then he'd have to make them take it seriously, wouldn't he?"

"I don't even know that it's working. I mean, something is supposed to happen on the 17th. That's only two days away and we don't have any idea what will happen or how to stop it. How is that supposed to help anyone?"

"What plans do you have for this phase?"

"Malfoy is working on another potion and, I think, a charm to go with it."

"And then?" Remus tried to sound casual, but he couldn't help being concerned. It seemed obvious that Malfoy couldn't be trusted, yet James was working so closely with him and was apparently going to knowing allow Malfoy to use magic against him.

"And then we'll meet up with Dumbledore and McGonagall and we'll test it out," James said simply with a bit more confidence than he felt.

"Hmmph." Sirius looked over at Remus and saw that the wolf was close to the surface. Even this close to the full moon, Remus was fine, except when provoked and everyone knew that messing with his friends was enough to provoke him.

#*#*#*#

Lucius, James, Albus and Minerva sat around the table in the Potions room looking at each other. Minerva McGonagall was awestruck. Albus Dumbledore simply appeared knowingly pleased. Lucius Malfoy and James Potter were pleased as well, but a bit confused by McGonagall's reaction.

"You were actually there, weren't you?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes, ma'am, we were," Malfoy said. "It seemed we just..appeared there..after taking the potion."

"I'm still not certain what's happened," said James. "I know that I drank the potion. I know that it was tonight and I was sitting here, and then suddenly it was the day after tomorrow and I was in the Great Hall. I know that Malfoy and I performed that very intricate charm and then he walked up to Pritchard, you know that fourth year from Ravenclaw? I'm not sure what happened after that, they just talked for a moment and suddenly we were back here. Can either of you explain that?" James looked from the Headmaster to the Professor and back again.

"I believe the explanation is that the two of you..changed the future, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "We have it on authority that the day after tomorrow, November 17th, at 4:17 pm, Ms. Pritchard would have walked away from the Ravenclaw table in a deep depression and proceeded to attempt to perform one of the unforgivable curses on a fellow student. Somehow, your presence delayed her long enough for the urge to pass. She will, instead, approach me for some private discussion and we will be able to help her through a very troubling time."

"How do you know all this?"

"Simple, James. With certain assistance, Professor McGonagall and I can be quite powerful seers. Certain wizards can work together to increase their power, as we have been doing for years. It would seem, based on the strength and success of this assignment, as well as the extremely high level of magic involved, that the two of you have that ability as well. This is precisely what I was hoping for."

Lucius and James looked at Dumbledore in shock, then at each other with mutual respect clouded by distrust.

"Why would we WANT to work together, Headmaster?" Lucius voiced the question that both of them were thinking. "We don't exactly get along, you realize."

"I hope you would want to work together to prevent a huge imbalance of power in our future. You see, gentlemen, the department of Future Accuracy and Reparation at the Ministry has found a very strong power that appears to be in the wrong place. It would seem the Scales of Power indicate that a Dark power is rising now and will be struck down in a few years' time by an even stronger Light power. Unfortunately, within two decades, that Dark power will rise again and eventually the Light power will be joining it. We don't know the details of it, but since it would appear that your potion and charm did the job, we'd like the two of you to try it again, for 1997, December, I think. It's extremely important to the future and balance of the wizarding world. This needs to be fixed." He stopped, looking at them with hopeful expectation.

Now, James Potter and Lucius Malfoy understood the expression of awe from their Transfiguration Professor as well as the knowing expression from their Headmaster. Now they understood the implications, the importance of this particular detention assignment. Now, they both understood that there would be a choice for each of them to make. Looking at one another, crystal blue eyes met with deep brown ones. Questions and answers seemed to pass between them all within a look. As one, they turned back to the Headmaster and nodded. James was the first to speak, his voice revealing nervousness and resignation as he asked the inevitable question, "When?"

~*~*~

1997

It was the second week of December and the halls of Hogwarts were buzzing with discussion of students' plans for the winter holidays.

Ron and Hermione had been asked to visit with the Grangers in light of their recent engagement. Many people were still of the opinion that 17 was too young for such intense relationships and serious commitments, but Harry agreed with those who understood that it almost seemed necessary after the last few years. So many people were dying, so many kids were being captured, so many adults being killed or permanently injured by the heavy curses of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, that it made joy and happiness and love seem THAT much more urgent. After Hermione's capture, Ron had nearly lost his mind. Once they finally got her back safe and sound, Ron seemed to be attached to her hip and had become her primary source of comfort. Harry suspected Ron might be the only one she confided in about what exactly had happened to her while she was gone. He was glad. She needed someone to talk to. And there was no reason for them to delay marriage based on age, especially while there was still a war going on.

Harry was thoroughly thrilled for his friends and was secretly glad they would be gone for the two week break. It would give him some much needed time to work on his new studies.

Looking around the common room, Harry verified that he was alone (not unusual considering the fact that it was just after midnight). "Inoculas," Harry muttered and promptly disappeared. After the first few times using the invisibility spell, he'd decided it was an extremely simple spell. He could see no reason for it to be Advanced or Dark. It seemed like a perfectly easy and useful spell to him. He was still marveling at the ease of just *being invisible* compared with the care and caution needed when *wearing an invisibility cloak* while he made his way to the Astronomy Tower.

He paused just inside the observation room at the top of the tower, momentarily shocked by the image of Draco's head floating in mid air. Of course, he quickly realized that Draco was wearing the borrowed invisibility cloak and had simply slipped the hood off of his head.

Deciding he should show himself, Harry faintly whispered "Optica" knowing that it was the intent making him visible, not the spoken word. Draco gasped and jumped so quickly that he tripped on the cloak and proceeded to fall through the window behind him.

Harry ran to the window without thinking and reached out his hand as if he could simply catch the Slytherin. "No, Draco - stop!" Much to the amazement of both young men, just as Harry's brain was telling him (belatedly) to pull out his wand and say "Wingardium Leviosa," his eyes were telling him that Draco was indeed levitating some 20 feet below the window, despite the lack of said levitating charm.

"Up here," Harry said, more to himself than anything. He was simply thinking out loud at this point, thinking that he needed to find a way to bring Draco back up to the observation room. Draco, having heard Harry's first exclamation, was unaware that anything else had been said. He was therefore extremely surprised (and more than a little relieved) to feel himself rising up to the level of the window.

After mere moments, he found that he was level with the window and face to face with the emerald eyes he'd been thinking of earlier. By this time Harry was beginning to connect his words (or his desires) with the effect on Draco. Holding out his hand (his still wandless hand) he said "in here" and was pleased to see that Draco floated safely inside the window and hovered just an inch or so from the floor.

They stood there in silence, looking at each other for the briefest of moments before Draco said "Would you mind terribly letting me down so we can discuss this properly?" Draco was thinking he'd be more likely to die of a delayed heart attack than be able to calmly talk about what had just happened.

"Down" Harry said as he pulled his hand back and let it hang by his side.

Draco felt the slightest jar as his feet hit the floor and he was once again being influenced by the pull of gravity. "Thanks." He tried to hide the fact that he was shaking from head to toe, but the observant Gryffindor simply wouldn't allow that.

"Are you okay?"

This seemed to be the wrong thing to say because Draco's look of shock, frustration, fear and disbelief was accompanied by his loud expression of utter panic.

"Am I okay? You Apparate in front of me, scare me half to death and cause me to fall out of a window in the top of Hogwarts' highest tower, then use some incredible power to keep me from plummeting to the stone walkway hundreds of feet below and you can stand there and calmly ask if I'm okay? If that little trick hadn't worked do you think I would have been okay when I was lying out there broken beyond recognition with my blood seeping out of my skull?" Draco took a quick breath and continued. "When were you going to tell me you could already Apparate? And that you could levitate people? How long have you been able to do this stuff?"

"Slow down." Harry could think of nothing but the need to calm Draco down. Stepping forward, he quickly closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around the trembling blond. "Draco! You're shaking!"

"Ahwzeletalskrd," the muffled voice came from somewhere in the vicinity of Harry's shoulder. Pulling back just a bit, he looked at Draco who was intently studying the pattern of stones on the floor.

"What was that?"

"I said," Draco stated with more confidence than he felt, "I was a little scared."

"I'm so sorry. Merlin, if I'd known..." Harry's voice trailed off as Draco's steely eyes met with his own and seemed to reach directly into Harry's soul. They stood there, still gently holding each other, for what seemed to be hours.

HARRY'S POV

The moment I saw Draco falling through that window, I felt a rip inside, as if it were in my soul. Honestly, I think my primary focus was the strong desire to make sure I didn't cause the death of another person. So many deaths were already on my conscience.

As I held him, the shaking slowed down and his breathing went back to normal. But once we made eye contact, everything seemed to stop. I thought back to the night I'd followed him to his room.

He had looked directly into my eyes that night, although there's no way he could have known it. When I left his room it must have convinced him that he was dreaming, because he never mentioned it to me.

I had wondered about it, though. That was two weeks ago and I had spent every evening of those two weeks wondering how he would have reacted if he knew it was real.

DRACO'S POV

Those glittering green eyes could almost make me forget. I don't think about wrong or right, war, Dark wizards, father, falling to my death, - indeed, I don't think about anything but the glow from those eyes.

The way he's got his arms around me is so like that night a couple weeks ago. The dream - it felt so real, it felt just like this.

I realize I'm about to try to kiss him and decide that it's not the best idea. How did we end up here, anyway? Oh, yes. I fell out the window.

That leads me to thinking about Harry's apparent abilities. I have to say I don't quite understand this side of Harry Potter. I definitely consider him a friend, yet I would never let a 'friend' hold me like this. I recognize the self-satisfaction of finally having won him over, yet I'm secretly disappointed that he's apparently turning his back on those Golden- Boy values of his. I've always grudgingly thought of Harry as admirable, and I can't seem to back that up any more. It's disappointing, and yet the disappointment is highly confusing to me. I'm not quite sure why I care - this is what I wanted, isn't it? This is what father wanted in my first year.

But my father never looked into those brilliant green eyes.

~*_*~

Harry finally decided it was time to move. He slowly stepped back, releasing Draco from his embrace. Draco immediately looked down at the stone floor again, trying to ignore and deny the feelings swirling inside of him at the separation.

'Back to his questions,' thought Harry. "Okay - I guess the first thing to tell you is that I didn't Apparate. I just appeared."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean - Inoculus," Harry said and abruptly disappeared, leaving Draco looking around the room in confusion.

"Where the hell did he go?" Draco said, obviously thinking aloud with the assumption that Harry was no longer in the room.

"I'm right here," came the disembodied voice that most definitely belonged to Harry. The chuckle at Draco's shocked expression belonged to Harry as well.

"Bloody hell, Potter. What are you playing at?"

"I'm not playing. You had the invisibility cloak, you know I wasn't weari - where is it?"

Draco looked around, then walked toward the window feeling for the shimmery cloth. "I don't know, it might have fallen - no, wait." He picked up the cloak and draped it over one arm (providing a rather odd image). "Found it." He turned back toward the center of the room, looking around for a clue to Harry's whereabouts. "Where are you?"

"Here." Draco jumped again as he simultaneously heard the voice next to him and felt an arm across his back. "Relax Draco. I'm just standing here to make sure you don't get too close to the window again. Maybe you should sit down somewhere."

"Maybe you should make yourself visible again, Potter."

"Fine," Harry said, reappearing with ease. "What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing."

"Then why have you suddenly reverted to calling me Potter and talking to me like I'm an enemy? I'm sorry I startled you, I'm sorry you fell. I didn't intend for anything bad to happen."

"How long have you been able to make yourself invisible?"

"About two weeks..." Harry said hesitantly. 'He's going to figure it out. He's going to realize now that he wasn't dreaming that night. I can't believe I was so stupid. He's going to hate me.'

"Two weeks?" Draco asked. "And you didn't bother telling me? Is this something you cooked up with those friends of yours, so you can run around playing tricks on Malfoy, and Filch won't catch you?"

"No!" Harry couldn't believe the behavioral change in his new friend. "Hermione and Ron don't even know. I didn't tell ANYONE! I would have. I was going to tell you tonight, that's the whole reason I asked you to meet me here. I've been practicing and - you know, I don't see why I'm trying to explain myself to you. You're acting like a prat and I have nothing else to say to you while you're in this mood."

Harry turned to walk out of the room, but paused when he felt Draco grab his wrist. "What now?" He didn't understand why, but he knew that it would take every ounce of his self control to stay mad at Draco if he allowed himself to look into the crystal blue eyes. He kept his back to the Slytherin, just to be on the safe side.

"How did you learn it?"

"Safety in the Darkness, book I was reading."

"Why did you want to?"

"Seems useful, easier than a cloak."

"Why didn't you tell them?"

"Don't know."

"What's the password to my room?"

"Potter." No sooner was the word out of his mouth than Harry realized Draco had been hoping for such automatic answers. He still refused to turn around. He had enjoyed being friends with Draco - with Malfoy. It would be difficult to hate him again, even more difficult to be hated by him again. "I'm sorry, I'll go now."

"Why?" Draco asked quietly.

"Because I should. I'm sorry about tonight. I'm sorry about - well - I won't go back there. I'm sorry. Just, stay safe, okay?"

With those words, Harry pulled his arm free and walked out; disappearing once he got to the hall since he had once again left his cloak with Draco. Meanwhile, Draco sat down hard on the stone floor of the observation room, invisibility cloak in his lap, expression of utter disbelief on his face.