Chapter Text
“James, you coming?” asked Remus, taking the boy out of his thoughts.
“Yeah, yeah,” he replied, looking away from Lily and focusing on his friends. It was the first day of the term. A few more months and they would be graduated.
He still couldn’t believe he had got through almost seven years and everything was going perfectly. He had his friends, his housemates, he was considerably famous in the school; he had quidditch, which he loved, and his parents. And then there was Lily.
Lily Evans, his crush since the day he met her, when they were eleven. Of course, the red-haired girl didn’t feel the same about him. He had tried, several times, taking her out on a date, but the answer was always the same no.
Sirius, Remus and Peter had already tried, a thousand times, to make him stop and move on with his life, and although he did try a few times, he couldn’t. She was just so…
“Ouch” he exclaimed, when something hit his head. “What was that for?” he asked, turning once more to his friends.
“You were daydreaming about Evans,” Sirius replied, “again.”
“I was not,” he lied, but he knew none of his friends believed him.
Shaking his head, he followed the boys to the Great Hall. He was starving, and couldn’t wait for the feast. He loved Hogwarts’ feasts. Holidays and first days were special, and he waited anxiously for them every year.
After dinner, before everyone left the Hall, something unexpected happened.
A bright light appeared in the middle of the Hall, bringing with it nine people. When the light was gone, moments later, there wasn’t a single whisper around the whole room.
“Good Evening,” said Dumbledore, standing up. He wanted to appear calm, but his voice proved he wasn’t.
“Good Evening,” said the brunette woman in the group. “My name is Hermione Granger, and I’m from the future. More specifically, from the year 2000.”
As soon as she said that, everyone started talking. “The future?” asked Lily from the Gryffindor table. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s not, Miss Evans,” the blond woman answered. Lily’s eyes widened, and she took her time watching the strangers. She was going crazy, or one of the men looked exactly like James.
“Professor Dumbledore,” said the man. “I know this seems impossible, but we can prove it under the Veritaserum potion.”
Dumbledore, with a hesitant look to McGonagall, got up. “Professor Slughorn, could you please, bring us the potion?” The man agreed, and as he left the Hall, people kept talking.
At the Gryffindor table, James was talking to his friends.
“Am I going crazy, or does that guy look like me?” he asked, without taking his eyes from him.
“He does,” replied Remus.
When Slughorn was back, all the time travellers were standing close to the head table. “
“Please, take a sip and tell us your name, age, parents and Hogwarts house. That is, if you're from Hogwarts, but I’m assuming you are.”
“Yes, sir.” Hermione was the first, taking the vial from the teacher.
“My name, as you know, is Hermione Granger, I’m 21, and I'm a muggleborn, so you won't know my parents. I’m a Gryffindor.” She passed the bottle to the redhead next to her.
“I’m Ronald Weasley, also 21, and also a Gryffindor. I’m the youngest son of Molly and Arthur Weasley.”
“I’m Ginny Weasley,” said the woman next to him. “I’m 20, the youngest of the Weasley siblings, and I am also a Gryffindor.“
“I’m Fred Weasley, I’m 24, and also a Gryffindor.”
“George Weasley, Fred’s twin, also Gryffindor.”
“Are there any of you who's not a lion?” asked Sirius.
A blond boy took the vial. “Me. I’m Draco Malfoy, 21. The son of Lucius and Narcisa Malfoy, and I'm a Slytherin.”
“I’m Luna Lovegood,” said the blond girl. “I’m 20, and I’m a Ravenclaw. My parents are Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood.”
“I’m Neville Longbottom,” one of the men said, and Frank's head snapped up, paying more attention. “I’m 21, a Gryffindor, and my parents are Frank and Alice Longbottom.”
At the Gryffindor table, the teenager's faces reded. The last guy, the one who looked like James, finally spoke.
“My name is Harry Potter, I’m 21, and I’m also a Gryffindor.” There was a pause before he kept going, because Sirius and Peter started whistling. “And I’m the son of James and Lily Potter.”
There was a beat, and then “I got the girl! I got Evans!” For a moment, James didn't think he could be more excited.
“Well then,” said Professor Dumbledore, once the Hall quieted down. “Now that we know who you are, please, tell us what you are doing here.”
The time travellers looked at Hermione, who sighed before explaining.
“As we said before, we are from the future. In 1995, five years ago for us, Voldemort” people flinched “came back. In 1998, there was a war. We won it, but we lost too much. After a lot of searching, we found a way to come back on time, so we could change things.” She took a deep breath, and Ron spoke for her.
“We took Harry’s memories - as well as other people’s, in some cases - and turned them into a book. Harry was the main person during those years, and is the one who defeated Voldemort.” Once again, people flinched.
“We came here, basically, to read the books,” said Ginny. “We have a chance to make things better, and we won’t waste it.”
“During the readings, Hogwarts will be in a time bubble, so we can take our time. There are seven books, each one of them about one of Harry’s school years,” continued Hermione. “We know what you're probably thinking, and no, this won't affect our timeline. Mending with time is, indeed, really dangerous. After a lot of research, we found a way to make sure none of this would affect us. Your futures will change, but our past won't, so don't worry about it.”
“For the readings, we will need some people to join us, but you, students, don't need to worry. Go to your dorms and come back tomorrow morning for the readings.” All the students, still confused, got up and started leaving the Hall.
“Professor Dumbledore,” Harry said, looking at the Headmaster. “Here is the list of people we need tomorrow. Can you get them for the morning?”
Albus took the piece of paper. “I think so, yes.”
“Great. Well, good night then.”
“Where will you sleep?” asked McGonagall.
“We’ll go to the Room of Requirement. No need to worry about us,” replied Luna.
“Well then, have a good night,” Minerva said, at the end.
In the Room of Requirement, the time travellers sat on their beds.
“Do you think this will really work?” asked Neville.
“I really hope so.”
Harry wasn’t talking much. He was lost inside his head, eager for the next day. He wanted to meet his parents. And Remus and Sirius, Marlene, Neville’s parents, and all of those he had heard about.
“Harry?” asked Ginny quietly, against Harry's chest, after everyone was already on bed and the lights were off. “Are you okay, honey?”
Harry took a deep breath before replying. “I guess so,” he said, his lips against her hair. “Still can't believe we're doing this.”
“You know we don’t have to, right? Just say the word and we’ll leave as if nothing has happened.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But I wanna do it. I want mum and dad to have a chance. And Sirius, Remus… Even Snape, I guess.”
Ginny smiled softly. “Only you would want people who hurt you to be okay.”
He didn’t reply, only smiled and kissed her head. “Good night, love.”
“Good night.”