Chapter Text
Ten minutes ago, everything was fine. The war is over. I was living back at Grimmauld place. I was sitting, drinking tea that was prepared for me by Kreacher, reading a book about kids saving… the empire state building? Kind of. Life had been simple and normal for nearly 2 months.
Now, my nice calm, quiet drawing room was still quiet, but quite tense. Which made a lot of sense as there was a loud noise, ear shattering really, and now it was full of several individuals, whom I am positive are dead, some of which I had witnessed.
Scanning the faces I sighed and put my book down. James. Lily. Sirius. Remus. Pettigrew. Snape. And a less familiar face, that I would bet my left shoe was Regulus Black. “I’m gonna guess that none of you know how you came to be here.” Judging by the age they looked, I would say they were probably still at Hogwarts.
“Is that James?” The sole female muttered, causing Sirius to look at me intently. James appeared to be in shock, staring at my hair, I think. James being shocked into silence? Wonder if that's a first.
“James?!” The bellowing voice was Sirius. It was at this moment I realized that all of them were under the same impression. Considering how many times people have said that, minus the eyes, I should have guessed it was going to be the issue. How long would it take them to notice where they were. Snape was already observing his surroundings. As was Regulus. Go figure the Slytherins.
“No, Sirius. I am not James. Just for reference you all have landed yourselves nearly 30 years in the future. Welcome to Grimmauld Place. Some of you are already acquainted with it. Regulus, Sirius, you are free to use your rooms, we will figure out the guest arrangements for everyone else in a minute.” I got up and motioned for the teens to sit, “I need to know quite a bit of information, as this level of time travel is illegal. Not that I am surprised, all of you are great at doing illegal shit.”
Remus was the first to take a seat, while staring at me, very much waiting for something from me, “Before we tell you anything, who are you? You look like James, and you seem to know who we all are. And where are we?”
I stayed silent and motioned again for people to sit. Pettigrew followed Remus and sat to one side of him on the sofa. Snape sat on the other side, carefully eyeing me. Sirius took his place next to Remus. Thus Lily Sat next to Snape, and James immediately followed. Leaving Regulus as the odd one out. He walked over to the piano and sat.
“Remus, we are at Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Blacks, hence they have rooms. And I look like James, because I am a Potter. I bet it's the hair.” I cleared my throat and felt like Umbridge for a split second.
“Then why are you here?” Regulus shot back, with a raised eyebrow.
“Good question. KREACHER!” I needed a drink.
Kreacher materialized next to me, “Yes, Master Potter?” Our relationship had improved astronomically.
“Can you please get me a Bottle of Fire Whiskey. Also can you prep…. All the bedrooms? I won't even ask you to make dinner after that. I will order take out or something.” I begged lightly, that's a lot of work for him. I usually ask the bare minimum.
His face soured, “I will do all you ask and make dinner. I will not have you eating that muggle filth. Die young you will! Eating too much crap.” He continued muttering as he disapparated.
Well, that went better than expected.
I turned back to say something and realized that the teens had a variety of expressions. Lily may have just seen her first house elf, because I think that was the face Hermione had. Sirius, Regulus and James fully seemed to understand the implications of where I was and who I was. The rest seemed confused for various reasons.
With a Krack I had an entire bottle of Fire Whiskey in my hand, and an entire set of glasses on the piano, “I wasn't going to share,” I said beneath my breath. Kreacher then appeared again, “If you, Master Potter, consume that entire bottle by yourself, I will be taking tomorrow off, as I will not care for a Master who has no concern for their own health. I am not a Nanny.” And with that, he was gone.
I sighed again.
“Okay, so one question at a time. Taking turns, like a circle. Since Sn… Severus is closest, him first.” I looked down at the floor… and sat. Then I opened the bottle, but as the 7 teens stared at me I couldn't drink straight from it, so I summoned one of the glasses from the piano, and poured a double.
I took a drink as I pointed at Snape, indicating for him to start. He looked around, “What year is it?”
“2005, Lily?” I shot off quickly.
“What was that creature?” She sounded a bit miffed.
“That creature is named Kreacher. He is a house elf who has worked for the Black family for centuries. I do pay him. Most don’t want to be paid, but that turns into a whole political thing.” I took another swig, “James?”
James was staring at me, considering the weight of his words it seemed, “Do you have a drinking problem?” Was not the question I expected.
I stared. He stared back. “No-”
“Yes.” Kreacher popped in… and back out.
“... Regulus?”
“Why are you the only one here?” Regulus looked around again, surveying the area.
“Because I live alone! Sirius?” I Grinned and continued.
“Where are all the Blacks? Did I leave this place behind? Lord knows I have always hated this bloody place.”
“Dead and I mean, Kinda.” I mulled over the words. Not the most sensitive way to word that but eloquence wasn't my strong suit, “Remus.”
“You said you are a Potter, and we are 30 years in the future. So are you James’ son?”
“Yes. Peter?” I moved on quickly.
“How old are you?” He looked concerned. Honestly he looked more concerned for me than himself, which was odd.
“25.” I finished my double. “My turn, I am going to ask each of you a question, in the same order that I let you ask me a question. But I will also need two pieces of information, your year and the date. Starting with Severus, What were you doing the moment before you appeared in my drawing room?”
“I am in my 6th year, October 31st.” He answered, mildly glaring at me, “Please don’t be so familiar. And I was studying in the library.” I could quickly see that was a lie.
I sighed and took a drink. I would need to change my direction here. If Severus was going lie, any of them could really. The October 31st was likely true. That was todays date here as well, “My apologies Mr. Snape. I shan't make that mistake again.” While I meant what I said, I still let my voice drip with sarcasm, “I am going to ask if it was October 31st for everyone?”
There was a series of nods across the room.
I took another swig, “That helps with that I suppose. This is exactly why I hate Halloween. Shit always happens.” I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, ruffling it as I went.
There was a bark of laughter, and I looked up to several of them snickering or giggling at me, “That motion seals it. You are definitely Prongs kid.” Sirius proudly pronounced, his boisterous laughter shook his entire body.
I raised an eyebrow at the dog’s antics, “Of course. I already said that.” I finished off my double, and poured another, “Moving on from Mr. Snape’s lie. Lily, would you prefer Ms. Evans? And what were you doing?”
She looked a bit concerned at my glass, but began speaking, “Lily is fine, thank you. In my dormitories. With Alice and Marlene.”
I nodded, then looked at James, “James-”
“Please call me Dad!” He was grinning at me and joking, but I saw the way his eyes stayed on my glass.
“... James. What were you doing?” I looked over to the piano as I spoke, but looked back at him as I finished the question.
His face noticeably fell, “I was with the Marauders. We were planning a prank.” He muttered??? The marauders gave a noise of affirmation.
I looked toward the piano, at Regulus, “And you?”
He was frowning at me, “None of you business, Potter.”
I chuckled, a smile crossing my face, Draco still said my name that way sometimes, and it always makes me smile, “Actually, I am an Unspeakable. So, that’s Unspeakable Potter to you runt.” I paused, getting more serious, “And this is precisely my business. I am the one they would call to deal with 20 year times travelers as official Ministry business. So, Regulus, if you would prefer you can look at this as an interrogation.”
His mouth pulled into a tight line, “I was in a meeting.”
“Of the Death Eater variety I presume?” I asked haphazardly, with a shrug.
“Hey! Don’t accuse my brother of-” SIrius stood, shouting.
“Yes. I am not branded yet. Mother has been pushing me to do it for a while. He was thinking about letting me join early.” Regulus shot back. His posture was becoming aggressive.
I nodded, “Yeah. I think I recall that. I was pretty sure you were 16. You are only a little over 15, yeah? So, sooner than I thought.” Sirius made an indignant sound, looking pissed at his brother, “Was Mr. Snape with you at said meeting?” He nodded.
Sirius blew up, “I knew it-” He froze and went stiff and dropped as I cast a nonverbal wandless Body Bind Spell.
I didn’t even acknowledge that I did it and continued, “Okay, so, continuing our game. My question is answered from everyone. Mr. Snape, do you have a question for me?”
“How did you know I am a Death Eater?” Glare
This one I had to think of an answer for. I was aware he became a spy eventually. But that’s not what I should say. I did see his mark. He murdered Dumbledore. So many examples, “Because you told me you were.” I supplied. That was true. The night with Dumbledore.
He looked skeptical, but accepted my response, “Lily?” I questioned, moving on.
“You mentioned you were an Unspeakable, they work for the Department of Mysteries.” She reminded me of Hermione as she was reciting her book information, “Aren't you a bit young to have such a position?”
I nodded, “I am the youngest to ever get in I believe. But Order of Merlin First Class perks, I think.” I shrugged.
“What on earth did you do?” James looked flabbergasted.
“I killed an insane psychotic Dark Lord who would kill anything in his path, and purposefully split his soul into a bunch of pieces in an attempt to make himself immortal. I had to find and destroy every single one, and then actually duel him and win. It was quite the affair.” I replied lazily, taking another swig, “And that counts as your question.”
I looked at Regulus, he was calculating, “How old were you?”
“I finished when I was 17. It took a few years though.” While I should be careful about what I say, butterfly effects and all, I wasn’t concerned. The older copies never mentioned going forward in time.
Regulus’ face was kinda hilarious, “You were working on killing a mass megalomaniac at my age? I am sorry, but I have a hard time believing that. Much less that you were successful. Not to mention if your parents allowed that, they are highly irresponsible.”
“Kreacher?” I called out, as he appeared, looking rather annoyed, “Who killed Voldemort?”
“You. Mistress would be rather disturbed by you being in possession of her house. Half Blood, blood traitor filth.” Kreacher popped off as soon as he finished talking. I just nodded along, used to the way he referenced me.
I released Sirius from his bind and looked back at Regulus, “That answers that. As far as the parent thing, I’ve never been much of a rule follower. Growing up an orphan and all.” I also have a theory that I am as stong as I am magically, because I might have turned into an Obsurial if I hadn’t made it to Hogwarts when I did. From my understanding my bouts of accident magic were quite strong, comparatively.
I looked on, to Sirius, who looked rather grim, ha, “Orphan? When did James die? How did James die?”
“Yes.” I paused, wondering to myself what to say here. I took a gulp of my drink, “When? October 31st, 1981. Like I said, not a fan of this date. How? Murdered. I still have dreams about that night. For the record, both of my parents died that night.” I swirled my drink, watching the liquid spin in my glass, “I was only a bit over a year old. Remus?” I moved on before they addressed it.
There was a beat of silence, Remus looking me over, "When did you start working on killing him?"
"Eleven years old. My first year at Hogwarts. Its quite the tale really. They wrote books about it! And published them for anyone to read. Even muggles. Although the muggles think it's someone's crazy imagination. There are several really good muggle fiction books," I motioned to my book I had been reading earlier.
Peter piped up, before I looked at him, "Did Mr. And Mrs. Potter take you in?"
I stared at him surprised by the question, "No. Unfortunately, by that time, I had no family left on my fathers side. I am the last living Potter." I finished off my glass and pushed it to the side, "I was sent to my aunt."
"Your aunt?" James looked confused, speaking out of turn, "Your mother's sister I am guessing?"
"Precisely." I looked toward the clock, it was just around 4. Meaning Draco would be coming over any minute, as he often did after work.
As if he had heard my thought, the front door opened, "Harry! We still on for supper tonight?" His voice floated down the hall.
"Yes! But I have some company. So it will be more than just you and I!" I answered tightly.
I could hear his foot steps heading this way, "You, the hermit, have company?" He entered the room, his expression tightened instantly, "What on earth did you do, Potter?"
I sighed, "Nothing? As always? I keep telling people, this shit just happens to me."
"Yes. You just happened to find the Chamber of Secrets. You just happened to kill a Basilisk. You just happened to defeat a dark lord." He expressed his exasterbation with my adventures. He was clearly thinking of a lot more, but he always mentioned the giant snake.
"You always get caught up on the basilisk…" I chuckled.