Chapter Text

Part 1: 991–992

8 December 2018

Dear Mrs Potter,

One of the sealed vaults at Gringotts opened 24 ^th November. The Ministry was contacted and have conducted an investigation. The vault contained a chest of letters, addressed to Ginny Potter. It also contained a few other items, including a holly wand we believe to have belonged to your late husband. Please meet the investigators at Gringotts on the 14 ^th of December 12 o'clock.

Best,

Marion Kingston
Department of Magical Law Enforcements
Ministry of Magic

To Ginny Potter

From Harry Potter

991

Dear Ginny,

How are you I don't know why I’m writing this

this is stupid

I'm sorry

Gin, you'll never believe where I am! I'm at Hogwarts sitting next to Godric bloody Gryffindor! He's right there, talking to his mates, Helga, Rowena and Salazar, as I write. I shit you not! It's so surreal. They're not what I imagined at all. Hermione would be ecstatic!

The castle is so different. For starters, it looks brand new! Rowena Ravenclaw (Merlin, that's so weird to say) told me that they only opened a year ago. Can you believe that? Also, it's not buzzing with magic like Hogwarts at home. I suppose that only happens to a place when it has been filled with magic for hundreds of years. The hallways are different too. Alfreda, one of the students here (there are only a handful of students yet!), showed me pathways around the castle that I've never seen before. I wonder if they still exist.

I wish you could see this. I wish you were here with me. I wish I were back home with you.

I miss you, Ginny.

I love you,
Harry

991

Hi Ginny,

How are you They think I am a potter. As in a pot maker! When I told them my name when I got here, I didn’t realise where when, I suppose, I was, so I told them my name. I probably shouldn’t have—preserving history and all that. But it doesn’t matter, because they don’t think it’s my family name, and I haven’t corrected them. So they think I’m a potter.

I have a terrible headache now, though. I don’t understand a thing of what everyone is saying, so I’ve been using translation charms to get by. Helga Hufflepuff (I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to saying that) has been helping me, but now I can do it myself. Mostly. It works fine when there aren’t that many people around, but when lots of people are talking it’s just too many voices, and everybody is talking in each other’s mouths, and it feels like my head is spinning.

Hope you’re doing okay.

Harry

991

Hi Ginny.

I want to tell you how I ended up here. I just get sad when I think about it, so I just haven’t done it yet.

Fuck, I don’t know why I’m even writing this it’s not like you will read it anyway

To be honest, I'm not quite sure what happened myself. It was during the search mission in Scotland. Simple enough. We had apprehended the suspect earlier that day and gotten a warrant to search the house. It was one of those old Pureblood family homes. Should have known there would be some sketchy shite there. (I’m not supposed to tell you this, but since you probably won’t read it anyway it doesn’t really matter.)

We searched the upper floors, and it all seemed normal. Until we got to the basement, that is. There were cauldrons and parchment everywhere. Turns out they were doing all kinds of weird experiments, if the notes I read before everything went wrong are anything to go by. Speaking of everything going wrong. The weirdest thing there was a room filled with bottles of goo and—get ready for it—time turners. Failed experiments, if I'm right.

Typical me to just jump into something without thinking, right? And look where it got me.

It's all pretty hazy from there. I rem  ber smoke ,  nd a stench more awful than you could imagine, before hearing a loud crack, almost like appa r tion, just louder. Then there was this blinding white light. And then I was he re.

I'm sorry G n ny . (All I seem to do is ap  ogise.)

I'm really re  ly sorry. I'm sorry I was such a n i diot, I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry for missing our an v ersary . I  onder if you ever found your gift? I bought it before I left. I hope you liked it.

I miss you.

Yours,
Harry

991

Hey, Ginny.

Merry Christmas. Or Yuletide. Yule. Idk. They don’t call it Christmas here. It's nothing like Christmas at home. Or Yule at Hogwarts. Which is ironic, considering I'm here, at Hogwarts. I'm writing this in the Great Hall, it's Christmas, but there's not a single Christmas tree and there are no Christmas decorations. I feel so out of place. I shouldn't be here. I miss home.

I hope you have a nice Christmas. And Hermoine and Ron and Molly and Arthur and George and Percy and Charlie and Bill and Fleur and Teddy and Aunt Andromeda and everyone. I miss you all.

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Harry

1 January 992

Happy new year, Ginny!

It's a new year. For me at least. Most of the people here don't use calendars the way we do. I shouldn't be surprised, but it's still strange. It's just something I've never thought about or questioned.

I've been hanging out with Salazar Slytherin of all people, this Christmas. He really isn’t all that bad. I know, I’m was as surprised as you are!

You’re probably wondering why I would voluntarily spend my Christmas with The Slytherin. Well, I wasn't quite able to enjoy the holiday this year (for obvious reasons), and I felt very out of place, to be honest. And the one who offered comfort was Salazar, of all people, who had his own reasons for not enjoying the holiday season. It was surprisingly nice, having someone to be bitter with. I couldn't bring myself to tell him the exact reason why I was sad, but to be fair, he didn't either. Cryptic slytherins. I guess they had to get it from somewhere.

I think the most shockingly revelation this far must be that—and brace yourself—Salazar Slytherin, founder of Hogwarts, is a Muggle-born! Yup, you heard that right. I didn’t believe it either to begin with, but that's the truth. I wish I could see the Slytherin Pureblood supremacists' faces presented with that piece of information!

He does hate Muggles though. I guess that’s were all the rumours of Slytherin came from. He grew up with them after all, and while the witch-hunting didn't really kick off until the 1400s (see, I didn't always sleep in Binn's classes!), it wasn't exactly easy being magical in this time and age. Hogwarts was supposed to be a safe-space, and Slytherin didn’t want the families of the Muggle-borns to know what they were and where they were. And to be honest, I get where he's coming from. Just look at the people I grew up with. I don't blame him for being afraid.

I'm running out of parchment, so I'll have to wrap it up. During the Yuletide, I've been looking into time travel, but I haven't had much luck. But I promise, I'll find a way to get back to you. Just have to keep looking.

Hope you're doing okay.

Love,
Harry

6 January 992

Hey Gin! Guess what? I'm learning Old English! Above, I've written:

‘Hello. My name is Harry and I am 23 years old. I live at Hogwarts. How are you? Do you speak English?’

Cool, right? Helga Hufflepuff has been teaching me some. I get by with translation charms, but I get terrible headaches when I use them for too long. Not to mention that I still can't read or write it. So Master Hufflepuff offered to teach me. She's an expert at languages, she speaks English, Welsh, at least two Gaelic dialects and Norwegian Norse? I think it's Norse. Did you know that she grew up with Vikings? She told me that her father was from Norway (I think? It's not called that now. Somewhere in North at least) her father is from there, and that's why she has a Norse name and can speak Norse.

Anyway. I thought it would be useful. If I'm going to search for more information about time travel, it would be nice to actually be able to read the language. And I won't get a headache whenever someone talks to me. That's a win-win situation!

Hope you're doing alright.

Love,
Harry

8 January 2019

Hi, Hermione,

Did you ever read about any Harrys in Hogwarts, A History? Or elsewhere. From the Founders Era. Did the Founders have any friends called Harry?

Ginny

9 January 2019

I can’t remember reading about any Harrys in Hogwarts, A History. I can check some other sources, if you’d like.

What spurred this on?

Hermione

13 January 2019

Hi, Ginny,

In fact, there actually was a person named Harry at Hogwarts in its early years. As you must know, there aren’t many records from this point in time, but I found a Harry Iamus in the listings in the archive from this period. Apparently, he was a staff member in the early days of Hogwarts. He taught Magical Defence. Isn’t that funny? Our Harry worked with defence as well.

I sent a copy of the translation of the contract with this letter.

Would you like to come over for tea on Saturday?

Love,
Hermione

28 August 998

This agreement made on the Twenty Eighth Day of August in the Year Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight. Between Master Rowena on behalf of the Hogwarts School of Witchcræft of Year Nine Hundred and Ninety on the one part and Harry Iamus on the other part. The said Harry Iamus for and on the conditions hereafter mentioned, binds himself to Hogwarts School, taking oath to protect the School and its Students by any means in times of need if it so may be on the expense of his own life. The said Harry Iamus will take upon himself the position of teacher in the Course of Magical Defence and Counter Curses ¹ , and will commence the First Day of October in the Year Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight. Hogwarts School will provide housing to the said Harry Iamus from the First of October above mentioned to the end of the school year.

Signed,

Rowena, Charms Master

Hogwarts School of Witchcræft

Harry Iamus, Pot Master

Eidyn ²

1 Name of the course Defence Against the Dark Arts before the curriculum revise in 1534.

2 Name of the region around modern Edinburgh

Translated from Old English by Robaster Uddlewick, 1898
for Randell and Grimblehawk Publishing

7 January 992

Dear Ginny,

I still haven’t told anyone that I'm from the future. First of all, would they even believe me? Sure, we live in a world of magic, but honestly, I'm not sure I even believe it myself. Sometimes, I still think I'll wake up, and this will all have been just a dream. It certainly feels like a dream. I mean, I'm in 992, sitting next to Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw at meals (and I'm not talking about the Houses).

I have to admit, one of the reasons why I'm not telling them is because I want them to think differently of me. It's really nice to not be “The Boy Who Lived”, “The Saviour”, or any of that crap. Here I'm just Harry. I don't want to be “Harry the Time Traveller”, or some shit like that.

But most of all, I'm afraid I might do something to change the future. Who knows what it will do to the time line? Me just being here is already pretty risky. If I'm not careful, I might do something so none of us are even born. Ugh, no, I would rather not think about that.

People are always asking me where I'm from, because of the way I talk, and I don’t know what to tell them. I hate lying, but what other choice do I have?

I hope you're doing better than me. I miss you.

Love,
Harry

29 January 992

I miss modern infrastructure. I miss showers, I miss toilets, and I miss toothbrushes.

It's not like they don't care about hygiene. They do. (Well, not as much as I would prefer.) But I would give anything to take a shower with proper soap and hot running water. It's been about three months now, but I just can't get used to it.

At least almost everything else is mostly the same. For once, I really appreciate that the Wizarding world is terribly conservative, from writing with quills to wearing robes. Though I do miss t-shirts and trousers. Unfortunately, I only got to bring with me whatever I had on my person. I wore my Auror robes, I had my wand of course, and all sorts of junk in my pockets, most of which is useless here, or would raise too many questions for me to use. But I didn't want to throw it away (it's the only thing I got that still connects me to my own time), so Slytherin gave me a chest were I could keep everything. Save for my wand, of course.

Love,
Harry

16 January 2019

Dear Hermione,

Thank you so much for the help. I’m sorry I didn’t respond sooner. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. The reason I asked does have to do with Harry. I don’t want to say too much in letters, though. I would love to come over on Saturday, if the offer still stands. I have something I want to show you guys.

Love,
Ginny

15 February 992

Dear Ginny,

I'm bored.

I feel like I mostly just sit on my butt all day. The founders are all busy with classes, I can't read, and I can't go anywhere. Or, I could leave if wanted to, but I don't really have anywhere else to go, you know? I try to read, but I don't understand the words. (At this point, even the books in French seem more approachable! I should have taken Fleur up on her offer to teach me French when I had the chance.) To make everything worse, the handwriting of this time is almost unreadable. (And of course all the books are handwritten, because the printing press hasn't been invented yet. Ugh.)

So I spend most days strolling around the castle. It never ceases to amaze me how different, yet so similar, the castle is from the future my own time. I didn't find the Room of Requirement for instance. The secret passages out of the castle aren't here. The stairs aren't moving, and there are almost no paintings. The grounds outside of the castle is different as well. Hagrid's hut isn't there, The Womping Willow isn't there. The Forbidden Forest is not forbidden, and it's seems to be smaller? Younger, maybe.

Sometimes, I join classes. I've actually been taught by the founders themselves. That's not something everyone can say! I recognise a lot of it, but much is different. There are a lot more spells based on English here. I wonder when we started using latin-based spells. Hermoine would know. Anyway. I was hoping to improve my Old English, so I try to go to classes without a translation charm. It's for the best anyway, the more people talking, the worse the headache gets. I still don't feel like I've made any progress.

Love,
Harry

21 February

Dear Ginny,

I talked to Slytherin's pet snake today (because of course he has a pet snake). She's red and yellow (I know, ironic, right?) and her name is Ruth. I met her on my way to the Great Hall, and she showed me a short cut I don't think exists in the still exists. It was actually really nice. I don't think I've talked to any snakes since Hogwarts. They're interesting creatures.

I still haven't told everyone that I'm a parslemouth. I've hesitated because, you know. Stigma. But Slytherin is a parslemouth, and no one seems to care. So I don't know why I'm so reluctant.

It's hilarious though! Slytherin is always muttering to himself or Ruth. I really didn't picture Slytherin as the witty type, but it's so funny to listen to him, especially to what he says when he doesn't think anyone else is around to hear or understand him. I feel a little bit bad about it. I'm kind of eavesdropping. Perhaps I should tell him? It would be nice to talk to someone in a language I actually understand without the need of those bloody translation charms.

Love,
Harry

1 March 992

Hey, Ron! Happy birthday, mate!

How’s work?

I haven’t been up to much lately. Just trying my best to understand the mess that is Old English. God, you have no idea how terrible it is! And not only because words don’t mean what I think they should, or because the pronunciation is not at all like Modern English, or because I don’t understand a thing! It’s so—old! The way they’re talking is so strange. It reminds me of Draco when he’s being an arse. When he gets all posh and uptight. Does he still do that? I used to think it was funny, but this isn’t funny at all!

I miss work. I miss being out in the field. You think it’s strange? That’s what got me here in the first place, after all. But it doesn’t matter. I still miss it. I feel so useless, sitting around on my butt all day.

Hope you’re doing great!

Harry

Daily Prophet, Saturday 2 April 2019

Harry Potter Has Been Found!

Harry Potter, also known as The Boy Who Lived, The Chosen One, and The Saviour of the Wizarding World, has been found! The young Auror disappeared without trace 16 years ago.

In December 2018, Ginny Potter received a box of letter from Mr Potter that has been sealed in an unclaimed Gringotts vault for 550 years. The content of the letters has not been available to the public view. Our source at the Ministry has revealed to the Prophet that the letters were indeed written by Mr Potter, and it is safe to assume that The Hero of the Second Wizarding War is trapped in the past.

Ownerless Sealed Vault

The letters have been at Gringotts since its founding in 1474. Sealed vaults has not been known to open, despite the effort of the most skilled curse-breakers of our time. Very few have names attached to them, and most of the vaults remain ownerless. The most famous Sealed Vault of our time is Vault 1009, which is said to have once belonged to the great inventor Bowman Wright (1492-1560) himself, inventor of the Golden Snitch.

The letters written by Harry Potter was found in Vault 120, one of the oldest vaults at the Bank. The last attempt to open the vault took place in 1870, and was led by famous Curse-Breaker Arnulf Strolger. Strolger’s team did not manage to open the vault, and received only minor injuries. The vault is still under investigation.

Will Harry Return?

It is uncertain if Mr Potter ever managed to get back to the present. We know little about the content of the letters as of yet.

All we can do is hope.

Harry Potter went missing 5 June 2003, and was presumed dead in December 2009. He left behind his wife, War Hero Ginny Potter (née Weasley), and an unborn son, James Sirius, who is currently in his third year at Hogwarts. Mrs Potter has not been available for comments.

3 March 992

Dear Ginny,

I’m not doing so good.

Merlin, I miss you so much it hurts.

I’ve realised that there’s a possibility that I don’t get to come back. That I’m trapped.

It’s so hard to actually write it out. I think I might have been in denial.

I should just give up. I’m not getting back. God, I’m trapped

11 March 992

Dear Ginny,

I’m feeling pretty down right now. I can’t seem to find anything good in my life. Every day is the same. My existence feels meaningless.

I guess there are still some things that are good. I talk with people. I laugh. But then the moment is over, and everything seems bleak again. And I forget about the moment of happiness, like it never ha p ened. Most of the time, I just want to s it d  n a nd cry. The other day, I start ed crying i  c lass I was att end  g. I couldn’t stop myself, and I just had to leave. It was embarrassing. I can't show my face ever again.

Damn, I’m sorry. Now I’m crying again, smudging out the ink. It’s not even read ble anymo

25 May 992

Hi Ginny,

I’m sorry I haven’t written to you for a while.

I’ve been studying Old English for over half a year now, and I just got back from dinner in the Great Hall, where the most amazing thing happened! I was there without the translation charms, and I had that moment of realisation, I understood what they were saying. I did. I understood. Not everything, ‘course, but enough to know what they were talking about. It was an amazing feeling. I think I might have worried the people around the table with my wide grin. But I can’t really say I care.

For the longest time, I thought I was making no progress at all. It felt like I didn’t get any better, no matter what I did. It didn’t exactly help that I’ve been feeling depressed for the past two months. I feel a bit better now though.

I sat with Slytherin, young Helena, Raimund, Gilbert Herebeorg, Maynild, and Alfreda Alfsón. Alfreda is the same age as I am. There are quite a lot of people there who are my age, or even older! They don’t have the system of taking in people at 11 years old, and 7 years of education. So many people here never got the chance to learn how to control their magic. Either because they’re Muggle-born, or didn’t get any proper education from their parents, and didn’t have any masters to train them. Some even live their entire life not knowing their magical!

Master Rowena and her husband isn’t here at the moment. They don’t have anyone else to teach her classes (Charms and Arithmancy), so the classes have been cancelled for now. Slytherin looks after Helena for the most part. She’s 10, and absolutely adorable. She has so much energy, and was practically bouncing in her seat! It’s difficult to imagine that she eventually grew up to become the melancholic Ravenclaw ghost. It’s terrible. And I can’t do anyth

Hope you are well.

Love,
Harry

20 April 2019

Dear Mrs Potter,

The content of the letters previously located in a sealed Gringotts vault may be of historical value. Therefore, the National Library and Archives of Wizarding Britain requests to review the letters. On the behalf of NLAWB, I would like to discuss the matter with you further. Please let us know when an appropriate time for us to meet is in your response.

Best,

Thomas Cattermole
Section for Magical History and Ancient Times
National Library and Archives of Wizarding Britain

20 April 2019

Dear Mr Cattermole,

I would rather not.

Sincerely,
Ginny Potter

18 May 992

Dear Ginny,

Master Rowena is back now. We had Charms the entire day. I’m exhausted.

The spells aren’t all that difficult. It’s simple stuff, like the Silencing Charm and different cleaning charms. Third year curriculum, at most. But sometimes, the names of the spells aren’t the same. And I have to remember not to call the spell by a different same, or cast a spell that hasn’t been invented yet. I’m not even entirely sure if they are the same spells.

I’ve been trying to learn the spells like they do it here. It’s a challenge, but honestly, I don’t have anything better to do.

At least my English is improving.

I’ve been working on my nonverbal magic as well. It never came naturally to me. I can do nonverbal magic, of course. As an Auror, they do require us to have SOME knowledge of it. I still prefer doing the incantation though.

Love,
Harry

20 May 992

Dear Ginny,

I’ve been going to classes regularly now. Mostly to work on my English. And there isn’t really anything else to do around here. Obviously. It’s a school.

I thought I was going to hate being back in school, but I found that I really don’t mind all that much. It’s very different from my own years at Hogwarts.

Well. It has been a thousand years after all.

Or maybe it’s the absence of a nutter of a Dark Lord trying to kill me. It might be that as well.

15 June 992

Dear Ginny,

It’s June now, and classes are still going.

I asked Salazar about it, and he said that they have break in August. Something about the harvest in the autumn. So they have a couple of months off in the autumn so students can go back and help their families.

They don’t really have a very strict time table to begin with. There are only four teachers here, so they can’t have full days of classes. You don’t have to come to class either. You can leave if you want to. It’s a bit strange. They don’t have a Ministry here, or specific rules or regulations. They don’t have OWLs and NEWTs. The students aren’t sorted into years either. You don’t graduate. You can just come here and learn to control you magic. And they’ll help you.

I wonder when all that started? Should have read Hogwarts, A History . Hermione would know. Maybe when I get back

I heard Salazar and Master Rowena talk about hiring a new teacher. They’re thinking about starting an Astrology class. We don’t have that yet. It doesn’t seem to be common with schools here. My understanding is that you get training from your parents, and/or train under a master. Master Rowena took her apprenticeship under Master Svaart. He’s Swedish. I haven’t met him, but she mentions him from time to time. She speaks very highly of him. He invented dozens of spells, apparently.

Love,
Harry

31 July 992

Hi Ginny.

It’s my birthday.

Well, I don’t actually turn 24. I left 2003 in June. I don’t even remember the date. Then arrived here sometime in November. I don’t know when exactly. I was pretty upset at the time, and I didn’t exactly have a calendar at hand. I actually didn’t find out what date it was until late in December. They don’t care about specific dates here.

You know, when I think about it like that, I suppose I’m already 24. Huh. I’ll be 25 soon.

Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. It’s the 31 ^st of July, so it’s my birthday. No one knows though. It’s in moments like these I miss you guys the most. I’ve gotten so used to people caring about my birthday, and getting congratulations, and celebrating.

Did you know I used to hate my birthday when I was young? I must have told you. I didn’t even know it when my birthday was until second grade. We were making paper plates with our birthdays on to hang up in the classroom, and I didn’t know mine. I didn’t think I had one. My aunt always made such a big fuss over Dudley’s birthday, and she never did that for me, so I figured that I just didn’t have one. The teacher had to go to the school administration to get it.

Birthdays don’t seem to be that big of a deal here. Many don’t even know when they were born. Or it’s vague, like “in the winter” or something.

Hope you’re alright.

Miss you,
Harry

8 August 992

Dear Ginny,

It’s autumn break now, and I have absolutely no idea what to do. Godric, Rowena, Helga and Salazar are all staying here, for now at least. Some of the students are as well. Those who don’t have anywhere to return to.

Helga was talking about visiting family in the north in September. Salazar is staying. He is not good terms with his family. I think I mentioned that before. They’re Muggles. Godric and his wife are staying as well. Did I ever tell you that Godric is married? I was gawking when I found out. I just didn’t think that it was even a possibility. It never occurred to me. I hope he don’t think I was gawking at his wife—Orella Gryffindor—because I certainly was not! I’m a married man myself! Master Rowena is also married, to a man called Walt. They don’t use surnames. They’re Anglo-Saxon, if that’s something that matters. ‘Ravenclaw’ is actually a nickname that her friends use. Or Ræfenclawu, as they say. I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe because her hair is black. Or maybe it’s just some inside joke. She’s called Master Rowena for the most part.

I was thinking about using the break to research time travel some more. I won’t find any more information here. I’ve read everything that is in the Hogwarts library—which was not much. I wouldn’t even go as far as to call it a library. Just some scrolls and a couple of shelves with books. (Did I mention that the library is in Ravenclaw's tower? Or, what will become Ravenclaw's tower. It's just a small room, nothing compared to the actual Hogwarts library). So I need to find information elsewhere. Perhaps I could ask Helga if she can look around when she travels north? Her family is magical. Maybe they know something, or someone who does.

Past few days have been mostly uneventful. Classes finished a week ago or so. We had a really nice meal. Nothing like the fests at Hogwarts in the future, but nice nonetheless! Now it’s empty here. I feel lonely. Perhaps it’ll be a good thing for me to travel. I’ll write when I figure out what to do.

Love,
Harry

11 August 992

Dear Ginny,

Happy birthday!

I wonder what you’re doing now. Well, not now. You’re not even born yet. And you won’t be for almost a thousand years. God, it’s so strange.

My biggest fear is that I will say something or do something that will change to course of history. It’s thousands of years between here and there. One minor change and everything will collapse. I try not to think about it, but deep down, there is a part of me that think that I’ve already messed up. My presence in itself is a major change in the course of history. I tell myself that I’m still here, so that means I was born, right? So you must also have been born.

Do you think it’s possible that I was already here? When I was born. That there existed a version of me here? When Hermione and I time travelled in third year, the time travel had already happened. I saw my future self cast that patronus. We had to go back in time, because we had already gone back in time. Merlin, that’s going to give me a headache if I think more about it.

I wonder of there are any records of me in history. It wouldn’t say Harry Potter. Perhaps Harry the potter. Or Harry James. Sometime, they call me that. They pronouns it a little differently though. Harry Jamus. Something like that. I think I’ll just go with that. That can be my name.

If I find a way back, I hope I can get back to 2003. So I won’t miss anything. Then I can give you your anniversary gift. And we’ll celebrate Christmas together. We’ll go to the Burrow, and visit Ron and Hermione. I’d be there when little Hugo or Rose is born. And when your birthday came, I’d take you to the nicest restaurant in London. I’d by you dancing roses from Patel’s Plants. We could go to the planetarium you liked so much. Just the two of us.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Love,
Harry

20 August 992

Dear Ginny,

I talked to Salazar today. He’s surprisingly good company. I don’t know. I suppose I thought he would be the same bigoted arse that the rest of his house seem to be in our time. I’m sorry, that wasn’t very nice. I shouldn’t be so quick to judge, that would be hypocritical of me. Not all Slytherins are bad. Most probably aren’t. I still have this picture of Slytherin House, though, that they’re all like how Draco was when we were young. Merlin, he was such a mess.

So Salazar and I were talking, and I was this close to telling him I am a time traveller. I didn’t, in the end. It’s weird though, because of all the people here, Salazar is the one who’s asked the least questions, and have never pushed the matter. Everyone else ask questions I don’t have the answer to, or force me to lie. They ask me where I’m from, about my family, my accent, why I don’t know anything about the time I live in. Or about anything, really. It’s not as bad now as it was when I arrived, but it still happens. But beside our first meeting, he’s never forced me to lie.

So I enjoy talking to Salazar. He has a really dry sense of humour, and can make me laugh so much that my stomach hurts, all while regarding me with an unamused calculating expression that reminds me of Snape (minus the disdain). At the same time, he has a dark side that I have yet to see the entirety of. There’s something in his eyes that scares me. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. Is it because I’m afraid of him? Or because I recognise those eyes when I look myself in the mirror?

I’m sorry, that got a bit dark. I’ll stop now.

1 September 992

Dear Ginny,

I’ve been here for almost a year now.

The weather is changing. It’s getting colder. It’s much colder here than it ever was at Hogwarts in my time. It was like that last year too. I wonder when the snow will begin to fall.

I ended up asking Helga about time travel. I tried to sell it off as just curiosity. She had heard of it. Stories of accidental time travel. But she hadn't encountered it herself. It can't say I was surprised, if a bit disappointed. Time turners was a 20 ^th century invention after all.

Love,
Harry

7 September 992

Ginny,

You’ll never guess where I’ve been the past week! I went to London with Rowena, Walt and Salazar! It was nothing like future London at all. Not even medieval buildings like Palace of Westminster or Tower of London are there. The only thing I recognise is the Thames. It was so clean. It was blue, and when I stood on the shore, I could see the bottom of it. You could probably even drink the water in it. I didn’t dare try though.

We travelled through a Rune Circle. The Floo hasn’t been invented yet, and neither has apparition or portkeys. I haven’t travelled by Rune circles in my own time. I hadn’t even heard of it! It’s quite time consuming, so I get why no one does it anymore. First, you actually have to draw a new Rune circle every time you travel, because the magic becomes unstable after a while, so you can’t just leave it there. I didn’t take Runes in school, so I don’t really get how all that works, but I’ll take Rowena’s word for it.

Secondly, you can’t travel very far. We had to take four circles to get there. Not to mention that it’s really uncomfortable. Even more so than portkeys. I never liked wizarding transportation (except for brooms), but this is so much worse. It feels like you’re being squished through a pipe the size of a straw. And like you’re stretched out like a gum. I would not recommend it.

Enough of that. Just talking about it makes me want to puke.

We went to the Muggle market. Rowena bought different kinds of food. There was a magical marked there as well. It was really strange, because it wasn’t hidden from the muggles. There weren’t any muggles there though. The magical market was on one of the back streets, and they sold all kinds of things, most of which I’ve never seen. Lots of magical amulets. There were two booths where they sold wands. I think we bought around10, for the new students who don’t have a wand yet.

It seems pointy hats are still fashionable! Salazar bought me a pointy hat. It’s purple, and looks like the one McGonagall used to wear. He told me every wizard with an ounce of self-respect has a hat. I feel stupid in it though. I never liked wearing those hats. But every wizard and witch here got one, and they wear them all the time. Not just to formal occasions.

I’m running out of parchment, so I’ll wrap it up. We bought that too, by the way. I got myself a new quill and few metres of parchment. Hope you’re okay.

Love,
Harry

19 September 992

Dear Hermione,

Happy birthday! Hope you're doing great!

I miss you a lot. There are so many things here that reminds me of you. Or, rather, there are so many things here that makes me think of you. I often find myself thinking, 'Hermione would love this', or 'Perhaps Hermione knows?'. I feel so lost all of the time. I wonder if you would have managed better than me. You'd probably be home by now!

I thought I would share some things that made me think of you. Perhaps if this letter somehow found you, it would brighten your day.

Did you know that the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall was part of the original construct of Hogwarts? It was in fact Helga Hufflepuff that made it, and not Rowena, as many believe. The ceiling was originally plain grey. Helga wanted to make it beautiful. She always envisioned the Great Hall as, well… Great!

Which leads me to the next thing: The Great Hall really isn't all that great now. For instance, it's smaller, and the door leading here is very insignificant. It's not even called the Great Hall! It's just the dining hall. Sometimes, I slip, and call it “the Great Hall”. People find it funny. Helga is always delighted when I do that, though, so maybe it’s okay.

Did you know Gryffindor's original crest is a Griffin? I have absolutely no idea where the lion thing came from. It's seriously weird. At least the colours are the same!

Did you know that Salazar Slytherin is Muggle-born? I know, it sounds crazy, but it's true! He told me so himself. I think that's perhaps the most shocking revelation I've come across yet.

Well, that's all I can remember for now. Perhaps you could see some of the previous letters I wrote. Perhaps you could make a new edition of Hogwarts, A History! I wonder why there are so little left of this time period in our time. To think that the knowledge that Salazar is Muggle-born would get lost in time! How different wouldn't the world have been if we'd just remembered.

No, I really shouldn't go down that road. It won't do me any good to think about what might have been. It's hard though, when you've trapped in time. Time travel does that to you. Think of everything you could change! Everyone you could save. Remember our third year? When we saved Sirius and Buckbeak? It seriously messed me up. I was obsessed with the thought of everything I could have done, all that I could have changed, if I had had a time turner in my possession.

No, I won't think of that.

Anyway. Happy birthday. I miss you. Say hi to Ron for me.

Love,
Harry

21 September 992

To Harry Iamus, Hogwarts

From Helga Huffelpyf

My dear friend, how are you? I heard news that you travelled to Lundenburg in the company of Ravenclaw, Walt and Salazar. I have been there a few times myself, and the market there really is a sight. Hope your journey went well. You asked me about travelling in time last month, and I could not give you the answers you seek. I asked my relatives, hoping they could. Unfortunately, they knew little. My aunt could tell stories of a witch she met in her younger years called Ragnhild, who claimed to have come from the future to warn her people about a great disaster. True to her word, war came to her land the following month, and Aunt Freya's family fled. The people was saved, but not Ragnhild herself, who was accused of bringing them war, and executed. Aunt Freya said that she arrived in a Rune Circle, not unlike the ones we use for travelling between places. Until we meet again.

31 September 992

Dear Ginny,

I’ve been here for about a year now.

The rest of the students return tomorrow. Alfreda came back last week.

It began snowing today. The younger ones are out playing and having snowball fights. Seems like some things never change.

One of the things I found the most strange when I got here, was that everyone seemed so normal. The children whine about school, people laugh and chatter, and they sigh and tell jokes. I didn’t think it would be like that. Having been here a year now, it seems stupid to think it would have been any different. Of course they’re normal. They’re just people. I suppose I just have this image of people from the past as being stuffy and serious all the time, like you see in old Muggle photos.

I received a letter from Helga yesterday. She told me her aunt once knew a time traveller, Ragnhild, who travelled trough a rune circle. I wonder if I can get a rune circle to send me back? I regret not taking Ancient Runes. But I promise I will try.

Love,
Harry

Chapter Text

Part 2: 993–994

2 January 993

Dear Ginny,

It's a new year. 993.

The New Year doesn’t seem to be an important event here. I guess that haven’t changed much – we don’t really do much for new years in the future either. I think I would like to see fireworks. The Muggles had the right idea on that one. I wonder if they have fireworks yet. I haven't seen it, in that case. I'll ask someone later.

Little Bernar just came over. He wondered what I am writing. He's 8, among the youngest ones here. He came here in October a few days after term began, he and his older sister, Evelyn, who's 12. He's adorable, really. Asked me why I always sit and write letters. To who. Why I never get any back. That last one hit a bit too close to home. I don’t really have a good answer to any of his questions.

I suppose it's for my own benefit, really. It's more like writing a diary than letters. Helps to get my thoughts down on parchment. In a way, it also makes me feel closer you. You and a ll my family and friends in the 21 ^st century. When I write, I can imagine that I'll go up to the owlery and send it to you, and then you'll read it. I wonder if you'll ever get this. Perhaps if I preserve them, they'll find their way to you, somehow. I haven't thrown away the letters I've written. I keep them in the chest Salazar got me once.

In the end, I told Bernar I write to someone dear to me, but that she can't get the letters now, since she's very far away. You know what he told me? 'That's stupid.' I had to laugh then. He turned away and ran back to his friends, perhaps to tell them about his findings.

Happy new year, Ginny. If you do get this, would you tell the others for me? I love you. I miss you all very much.

Love,
Harry

9 January 993

Dear Ginny,

I had my first Runes class today. I hate it already. Salazar gave me a crash-course covering the basics of the rune system we use. There is no way I'm g onna remember this. There were at least forty different symbols, and those are just the basics ! And all the runes have different meanings, and the meaning change when you put two runes together, not to mention three, and four, and entire chains of them. There's no way in hell I'm going to remember all this.

Then there is the matter of engraving the runes in the material of your choosing. We used our wands at least, but it's bloody difficult. There's different techniques for different kinds of material. We worked on wood this class, because it's one of the easiest materials to apply runes to. You have to have the perfect amount of pressure, and just the right level of magic.

To summarise, I wasn’t able to carve out a single rune successfully.

Love,
Harry

1 February 994

Dear Ginny,

So, I’m going to Salazar’s classes now. I’ve decided to take Runes. Did I mention it? They just call it Runes, because they’re not ancient yet, heh. People here use runes for everything. Travelling, communication, wards. Where I would use a Conservation Charm, they can use Runes. I guess something must have happened in the Charms field to outcompete Runes at some point.

The thing is, I think Runes might be my way back. We use Rune Circles to travel over distance, and I want to use the same principle to travel through time. I know it seems farfetched, but I really thing think this is going to work. I do. It has to.

Only bad news is, I suck at Runes. I wish I took Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. If only I’d done that instead of Divination. That was honestly such a waste of time. At least Runes would have been useful.

I could always ask Salazar for help. But then I would have to tell him that I’m a time traveller.

To be honest, I’m surprised no one has figured it out yet. I would have expected Salazar and Helga at least to be more suspicious. Helga is the most observant of the four by far, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if she found out. Salazar is the one I’ve spent the most time with outside of classes, so should he knows that there’s something off about me. He must have picked on it, I’m sure. He just hasn’t figured out what it is.

It’s become so easy to lie to them. God, I don’t think I can tell them at this point. It’d gone on for too long. I’ll just have to do this on my own for now.

Love,
Harry

18 March 993

Dear Ginny,

I hate Runes. It's bloody difficult, and there's so much new vocabulary that I can barely keep up. My Old English is good enough for day-to-day conversation, but this is too broad and intricate for me! It doesn't help that I missed two years.

I didn't take Runes when I first got here. I didn't think it would be necessary. The only reason I joined the other classes in the first place was to work on my English, so it made sense to pick classes where I already knew the curriculum. So I dropped Runes and Arithmancy. And now I regret it.

At least Salazar isn't a half bad teacher. He is nothing like Snape at all, thank Merlin. Yes, he is strict, but unlike Snape, he actually want us to succeed. Though I guess it’s a bit unfair to judge Salazar by Snape’s teaching just because the man was a Slytherin.

I'm thinking about dropping some of the other classes I'm taking. It's not like I actually learn something. Well, except for Charms, but that's only because half of the spells they use are in Old English, and half of the spells I use aren't even invented yet. And Potions, too some degree. But that's entirely Snape's fault! No matter how much I look up to the man, there's no denying that he was a horrendous teacher.

Love,
Harry

2 May 993

Dear Ginny,

It's that day today. I woke up early. Nightmares. It's still quiet in the castle. I want to go to sleep again, but I don’t think I’ll manage to fall asleep again.

I half expected to wake up to fireworks. But that would be impossible. Firstly, I got silencing charms on the room. Secondly, they don't got firework here, apparently. I hear it ringing in my ears none the less.

It's strange that there's no one out celebrating. It's nice though. It's in moments like these I appreciate the past. No reminders of everything that went wrong in my own time.

I think I'll get up. Find Salazar, perhaps. He's an early riser. Or maybe Rowena's up. I could initiate a conversation about some crazy idea, and listen to her thoughts on it. So I'll forget about – you know. Just everything.

Love,
Harry

2 May 993

Dear Ginny,

I'm going to bed now. I had a good time today, despite everything. I did find Salazar this morning. We spent the day together. It was nice.

I think he could see that something was wrong when I came down that morning. He a sked if I wanted to talk about it. Which I did not. So he began talking instead. About his classes, and his students. About a disagreement with Rowena (as well as a detailed explanation for why she’s wrong haha). About a letter from his former Master, w hich lead to a conversation about his Transfiguration apprenticeship. (He took it in France under Master Jeanne de Lorris. He speaks French. I didn't know that.)

I dropped my classes today.

14 July 993

Merlin and Morgana!!! Do you know what I just realised???!! Godric's hat!!!

Holy crap. It's the sorting hat. Oh my god. The fucking sorting hat. I can't believe it.

I don't even know what to do with myself. I can't believe I never realised

It's been right there, right in front of me, the entire time!

Holy bowtuckles.

I can't even

I don’t know what to do with myself. Oh Merlin. It’s the fucking sorting hat. What do I do??? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at Godric the same. Not when he’s wearing that bloody hat. I can hear it’s voice ringing in my head.

This is crazy!

14 July 993

Dear Ginny,

It's late now. I still haven't gotten over the fact that Godric's wearing the sorting hat on his head. But I've had time to cool down.

I did mention before that everyone wears pointy hats nowadays? It’s relevant to know that everyone wears them. So Godric is always wearing his hat. One should think I would have thought about this earlier, but it never occurred to me. In my defence, it doesn't look like the sorting hat! The hat is still all black, nothing like the faded colour of the sorting hat. It's shiny and looks brand new, because of course it is! I mean, the one we know is a thousand years old!

It doesn’t talk, obviously . I think I’d notice that. I wonder when they made it the Sorting Hat. They don't even have “houses” yet. It's more unofficial. Like, this summer, all of the founders made trips around the UK to look for students. Then they are a “mentor”, sort of, for the students they find.

I gotta get used to this. It’s not the Sorting Hat yet, it’s just Godric’s hat! Just his hat. Everyone wears hats. I even got my own. It was strange to be suddenly using one everywhere in the beginning. In 2003, I only ever wore hats to formal occasions. Ministry galas. Holidays. Those kinds of things. But it’s not that bad, really. I have grown quite fond of my own one. Salazar compliments me on it from time to time, the bastard. He's the one who got it for me.

Love,
Harry

8 August 993

I told Salazar about me being a parslemouth. He did not take it well. I didn't expect him to, but I still feel terrible. I feel so guilty. I've been lying to him for almost two years. Merlin, I regret it so much. I can't even begin to explain how sorry I am.

In the beginning, I was afraid of what people might think of me if they knew I was a parslemouth. Second year was crappy. I'm sure you rememb Damn it, I'm sorry. I shouldn't complain. What I went through that year doesn't compare to what you went through. I'm sorry.

Then time went on, and I realised that people didn't care that Salazar was a parslemouth. But then, so much time had passed, and I didn't want to tell him, because I had hidden it from him for so long. It got more and more difficult as time passed, until it was near impossible. In the end, I wasn't even brave enough to tell him myself. Some Gryffindor I am.

It was an accident. I hadn't meant for him to find out. He confronted me about it. I don’t even know how he found out. Probably Ruth. I asked her not to tell him. I can't even be mad at her. I should have told him.

God, I feel terrible.

17 August 993

Dear Ginny,

Salazar is not talking to me. It's been a week, and he's ignoring me. I hate it.

I miss talking to him. I can always talk to Salazar. We don't even talk all that often. It's just. I don't know. I just feel like I can talk to him about anything. And he never demands an explanation or try to pry information out of me. He’s just there, with his snide remarks and unimpressed look.

I miss really him. I don't know if I can handle it if I lose him too. I already lost everything once.

The others are mad at me. Godric yelled at me. Ravenclaw is ignoring me. Helga is trying to get us to make up, even though she's obviously mad at me as well. Besides, I already tried to apologise, but he wouldn’t hear any of it.

Alfreda is still here though. She's brilliant. I don't know what I would have done without her.

I hope he will forgive me, sometime.

Harry

3 September 993

Dear Ginny,

Salazar still won't talk to me. The rest of the founders are still giving me the cold shoulder. I feel miserable. I don’t even have the right to feel this way. I deserve it.

I’ve been avoiding Salazar’s classes. He teaches Transfiguration and Runes. I haven’t been to Charms or Arithmancy either (Rowena’s classes). I can’t handle it. She doesn’t shout at me or look angry. There’s just nothing. And when she does look at me, it’s with this ice cold look that makes me want to disappear from this plane of existence. So I’ve only been to Herbology and Potions with Helga as well as Creatures and Astonomy with Godric.

I’m doing surprisingly well in potions. Did I tell you before? It’s the only nice in my life right now. I didn’t go to potions last year, because I didn’t understand a thing of what she was saying. Because of the language, not because it was very difficult. I did take potions for 6 years during my own school years after all. I even got a n E on my OLWs! But now, I actually feel like I understand it, which I never really managed to when I was young. I just memorised the recipes. I suppose I never got the basics. Snape was a horrible teacher, after all.

How do you apologise to hurt slytherins? I’ve tried to approach him, but he doesn’t want anything to do with me. He won’t let me apologise.

I’ll think of something. He can’t ignore me forever.

Love,
Harry

5 October 993

Dear Ginny,

I’ve been here for two years now. Ish.

I don’t know what to write. I felt the need to write, but now that I’m here with my quill and parchment, I can’t seem to find the words. That’s how I feel. Like I’ve run out of words. Of everything. I feel empty.

18 November 993

Dear Ginny,

Salazar and I are talking again. He finally let me apologise. We literary ran into each other on Wednesday. He had just finished up in the classroom after a class, and I was on my way to the Great Hall, and we literary ran into each other. Which in itself is crazy. I mean, that doesn’t happen in real life, right? I think I still have a bruise. Yup, there it is, ouch.

No matter. The important is, I got to apologise. We fell down on the floor, and only then did I see who it was, and he was right there, so I got to apologise. I said I was sorry, that I didn't mean to hurt him, that it was so stupid of me, that I was scared, that I missed him, and some other nonsense I can't even remember now. I was rambling. He got up on his feet, and I didn’t know what to do, I was so nervous, and terrified, really, so afraid he might reject my apology, and he regarded me with that awful, calculating expression. And then, he reach out his hand. I couldn’t believe it at first, but he did. He helped me up. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. I know he’s still mad (and he has every right to be), but he accepted the apology. I hope, in time, he might also forgive me.

Love,
Harry

19 November 993

Merlin.

How am I ever going to tell them I’m not even from this time? I fucked up so badly with the whole parsletongue thing. This is so much worse.

13 January 994

Dear Ginny,

I decided to drop Transfig, Herb ology , Creatures, Astrology and Potions. So now I only do Charms and Runes. This past week has been incredibly boring. I never thought I would miss Potions. But here I am.

I’ve been thinking about for a while. It just feels kinda pointless you know? I feel confident enough in my Old English by now, and there’s not really that much more for me to learn. I mean, I already have my NEWTs!

We had one Charms lesson this week, and two Runes classes. That's it. I have no idea what to do with my spare time. This past week has been the most boring week of my life. Okay, perhaps not, but it feels that way. This past week, I've had nothing to do. I've literary been walking around the castle doing nothing.

I got to find something else to do, or I'm going to bore myself to death.

Love,
Harry

19 January 994

Dear Ginny,

I talked to Salazar and Alfreda and the others at the table today about what to do with my spare time. Alfreda suggested I take some more classes again. Problem solved. But I don't want that. I'm bloody 25 years old. I’m not supposed to still be at school in the first place! Besides, I already know most of what we're supposed to learn, so that's really just a waste of time.

Maynild asked why I didn't travel. Why not see the world? I suppose that could have been fun, but I can't. I'm not from here. I hardly know anything about this time, despite being here for two and a half year. I wouldn't know where to go. I don't have any money. I’ ve only just started feeling comfortable in Old English . It would have been a disaster. So I won't do that.

Someone suggested I go home. Had it only been that easy.

Christian suggested I find a job. That seems like the obvious thing to do. Find a job. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you finish school? But I don't know how to get a job here. I don't know if I have the qualifications to get a job here. I don't think they have an equivalent to the Auror Department here. Where would I get a job? I would have to leave Hogwarts. And don't have anyone in this world outside of the castle walls.

I realise that I'm reluctant to leave Hogwarts. Most importantly, I don't want to leave behind everyone here. This is all I've got in this wo rl d. And Hogwarts will always be my home. It's the only familiar thing I’ ve got in this time. Then there is the problem with language, money and my non-existent knowledge of history, as mentioned before. Where would I live? Who would hire a bloke with no formal qualifications?

I think I'm afraid of leaving. But tbh? I think I'm allowed to be a little scared . I know I've said it at least two times in this letter alone, but I literary know next to nothing about this time. I would be lost out there.

Then Christian suggested I take an apprenticeship. Then Maynild asked if I already had a Mastery. Which I don't. And besides, even if I did, I don't have the paperwork to prove it. How does that even work here? Do you get some sort of certificate? I didn't dare to ask.

Salazar was oddly quiet during the discussion. He isn't the most talkative, but he usually likes to make his opinions heard. I think he was in a bad mood.

But, yeah. I still don't know what to do.

Love,
Harry

24 March 994

Dear Ginny,

I have left the castle! Not quite ‘exploring the world’, but close enough?

This is the second time I'm leaving Hogwarts since I arrived in 991. I'm so exited! I'm in Edinburgh! I think. Din Edin, she said. Din Eidin. I don't know how to write that. But I'm pretty sure it's Edinburgh. And it's so cool. From here, I can see the Edinburgh Castle. It's smaller than I thought it would be. Not even close to as impressive as Hogwarts, but still cool. I wish we could visit it, but that would stupid . It's fortress, and it's still in use .

We just arrived here by Circle, and we're staying at a Wizard-run inn (Alfreda and I, that is). We're going to see the archery contest tomorrow. Alfreda is really interested in archery. She attends Godric classes on non-magical defence. I go sometimes, but only to watch Alfreda. I prefer to use my wand. And to be honest, I've seen enough of swords.

Every third year, I think it was, there's a great archery tournament held in Edinburgh. Alfreda says she'd been to every one since she was 11. Her parents used to take her. They live nearby. We're meeting them tomorrow.

I look forward to the contest. It seems to be a very popular event. Alfreda has assured me that it'll be awesome. I'm going to trust her on this one. A medieval archery contest. I would never have thought that was something I would ever experience in my life.

Love,
Harry

25 March 994

Dear Ginny,

This has been a very eventful day! We met her parents this morning. (I can't remember their names. I'm terrible at names. I forgot them the moment they introduced themselves, but I was too embarrassed to ask again.) We ate lunch at the Muggle market, and I feel like I learnt more about Alfreda then, than I have during the two years I've known her. (She's a private person). For instance, I had no idea she used to live in Germany!

Later, we went to the contest. It's a Muggle competition, but there were some Wizards there. Even a Wizarding judge to make sure no one magically cheats. Alfreda was rooting for someone called Thorfinn (she had a sign which read “Go Thorfinn!” which she carried around all day), and actually he won! Alfreda was ecstatic. He's her hero. He's one of the Wizards there, and she met him when she was 11. He's the reason she got into archery. He's only four years older than us.

We're going back to Hogwarts by C ircle tomorrow morning. I dread it. I hate those blasted Rune C ircles. They make me want to Never mind, that's too graphic to put on paper.

Hope you're doing great.

Love,
Harry

21 April 994

Dear Ginny,

I spent the entire day in the library. There were so many new books here. I had to ask Salazar about it during dinner. He looked at me as if I was an idiot (nothing new), then asked if I only just notices. Which, yes, I did! No need to shame me for it. (I haven't been there in two years, I admit. Perhaps he is right to shame me.) Anyway, he told m e about it eventually. All the founders bring new books and scrolls of parchment with them every time they come back from a journey. Even some students bring books with them to add to the collection. It was quite a shock to come up here again. There were so many new books.

I was hoping to perhaps find something new on time travel. I know it's been long since I mentioned it last time, but I haven't giving up. I haven't done as much research as I should have, I know, but I haven't forgotten about it. I'll never stop trying to get back home to you and the others. I miss you so much. I know I don't say it much, but I miss you so much it hurt, and there is nothing I want more than to see all of you again.

Love,
Harry

22 April 994

Dear Ginny,

It's so much easier to read now. When I tried researching in the library two years ago, I struggled so much with the language, and the writing, but now, I can actually read and write. I recognise some of the books, and when I read them again now, I realise I ha ve vastly misunderstood the content of a lot of them. It helps that I've actually studied a bit of Runes now too . I still don't have much to go on, though. But I will keep looking!

I forgot about dinner today. Salazar came up with dinner to me. When I said thank you, he just scoffed at me, and told me to go to bed soon. He doesn’t want to admit he cares haha.

Love,
Harry

31 May 994

Dear Ginny,

We got a bunch of new students last week, and one of them caught my attention. Hengist. From Woodcroft. The name sounds so familiar, but I can't place it. He's got long red hair, and look s to be about 14. He's one of the ‘Hufflepuffs’. Helga's new potion prodigy.

You know, I still find it somewhat weird that Helga is a Potions Master. I always thought that would be Slytherin, because of Snape and Slughorn. But it makes sense. Potions and Herbology overlap quite a bit. Besides, at this point, I can't imagine Salazar as anything other than Hogwarts very strict Transfig prof. I think he and McGonagall would get along perfectly. The irony.

Anyway. Hengist of Woodcroft. I'm almost certain I've heard about him before. But where? Did he invent a spell or something? And I can't ask anyone, because he probably haven't done the thing that will make him famous yet. And I'm certain that he's famous. That he will be famous.

Dammit! I can't remember! Who the hell is he?! It’s on the tip of my tongue, I swear. It's infuriating! I'm keeping an eye on him. Perhaps I'll remember who he is.

Love,
Harry

4 July 994

Dear Ginny,

Did I ever tell you how bored I am? I'm even considering to resume the subjects I dropped in the beginning of the year. I feel like I mostly just walk around the castle doing nothing. I hate feeling so useless. I have to find something to do with my spare time. What do you suggest I do?

Hermione would probably suggest reading. But you know I don't like reading much, and it doesn’t help that the all books are handwritten in my second language. I spent way too much time reading books for my research anyways, I don’t need even more reading material.

Ron would suggest Quidditch, don't you think? Well, the sport hasn't been invented yet. I don't have a broom anyway. I wonder where I could get one? Do racing brooms even exist? Or flying brooms at least? Merlin, I haven't thought about that, and I've been here for two years. Ron would be disappointed in me. Ron, I will figure out if flying brooms exist, and if they do, I promise I will get one.

Love,
Harry

5 July 994

Dear Ginny,

Turns out, flying brooms do exist! They aren't very popular though, which I really can't understand! I actually still remember when I first found out that flying broomsticks was a thing. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world!

Alfreda said her parents used to have one, but they almost never used it. She never tried it. She never even tried it! I must have looked really dumbfounded when I asked why, because she looked at me with slight concern and said, ‘because it's inconvenient and time-consuming’. Time-consuming! “But it's fun!” I said. Then she looked at me and asked where this mystery place I grew up was, where riding broomsticks were considered ‘fun’. Honestly!

I swear, I'm gonna get a broom, and I'm gonna take Alfreda flying with me. I'll show them all that broomsticks are fun!

Would it be bad of me to ‘invent’ Quidditch now?

Love,
Harry

20 July 994

Dear Ginny,

Rowena came back today from her journey. She's only been gone for a few days, but you should have seen the mountain of books she brought with her! When she came in to the great hall, she had at least ten boxes with her, which she levitated in to the room. When she reached our table, she but the boxes down, and sat down next to Helga and groaned, ‘We need a bigger library’. I don’t think I've ever hear her groan before. She must have been exhausted.

Long story short, we're moving the library down to ground level. Tomorrow, we'll tear down the wall between two of the classrooms, and set up some bookshelves.

Love,
Harry

21 July 994

Dear Ginny,

I'm making it my mission to move the library! Salazar and the others are occupied with classes and whatnot, and I have literary nothing to do. This is it! This is what I'll be doing. I'll set up the new library! I'm starting today!

24 July 994

Dear Ginny,

This was more challenging than I thought. I just finished tearing down the entire wall, and making this into one room. It turned out quite alright. No one would have guessed this used to be two separate rooms. But I felt terrible doing it. I, sadly, have a lot of experience with making restorations at Hogwarts. It was difficult to tear that wall down. I should have accepted help from others, but at the time, I though, “how bad could it be?” I was bored, and I didn't want to be an inconvenience, and it was stupid. The damn wall is finally down at least, and the room is done. I've begun moving the bookshelves back inside, but we're definitely going to need some more bookshelves.

Love,
Harry

21 August 994

Dear Ginny,

The Founders are talking about hiring. They think that next term, they'll have too many students to give everyone a sufficient education. We had a bunch enrol this May, after Rowena and Helga came back from England.

Salazar said he wanted to continue teaching both Runes and Transfiguration. Salazar doesn't want to bring in new teachers. He said he didn't trust anyone else with the students. I think he doesn't want to give up any of his courses either. He's very passionate about both. Rowena told him to stop being an idiot. She's perfectly fine with giving up either Charms or Arithmancy, if it means they can teach the students more magic.

I thought it was a good idea. Salazar glared daggers at me when I voiced my opinion. He's not really mad though. I hope.

Love,
Harry

5 September 994

Dear Ginny,

It's vacation now. Godric and Rowena are gone, out looking for new teachers. Salazar is sulking. (Don't tell him I said that.) He's opposed to bring in new teachers, but he was down-voted. But he refused to go with them. Helga has gone to the North again.

Alfreda's still here. She asked me if I wanted to come with her when she's visiting her parents next week. I hesitated, but I said yes. She knows I don’t have any family here, and a part of me think she asked me 'cause she feels bad for me. I know it isn't like that, but I can't help it. I don't want to intrude. She almost never see her family. She shouldn't have to Freda's a good friend.

Love,
Harry

11 September 994

Dear Ginny,

The material for the bookshelves arrived this morning. We imported it from England. Very excited to begin putting them together. Well, after I've cut up the wood and made planks. It's just timber at this point.

Merlin, this was a terrible idea. I know literary nothing about construction. The bookshelves are going to fall apart.

At least the floor looks okay. Me and Freda finished it during the summer.

Love,
Harry

15 October 994

Dear Ginny,

The new professors are all here now. First one arrived late in September, and the last one came this morning. Salazar is in an even worse mood than usual. He doesn't like them. It's only out of spite.

I've only had the chance to properly speak with one of them, Master Thurstanus Azor. He's a Herbology Master. I suppose that means Helga will keep Potions. He seemed nice. Very polite. I struggled a bit with understanding him though. He spoke an English dialect that sounded like gibberish for the most part. He has short brown hair, and a short beard. His eyes were grey-blue, but they were hidden under the brim of his hat for the most part. He had a nice smile. He seems very nice.

As for the rest of them, I know only what Salazar's told me. All of the other Founders are on board with this idea, so Salazar's chosen me as his confidant. He spent most of the past few weeks complaining about his new co-workers. I've decided that it's best just to shut up and let him get it all out.

So, Master Azor is the new Herbology professor. Then there is Master Vincent Moyaux, who will be the new Astronomy teacher. According to Salazar, he's a stuck-up P ureblood prick who thinks only about himself. Salazar hates him. I was introduced to him, but I haven't spoken to him, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sara of Gwynedd, Arithmancy Master, is a n idiot who doesn't know the difference between a knife and a quill. Meryld Flambard is the worst of them all. She's the new Runes professor. She's an incompetent, arrogant arse, who can't be bothered with other people. She's rude and talks only about herself and all her dumb inventions, and has no real knowledge of the subject she claims to have a mastery in. I t's a miracle she even got an apprenticeship, apparently.

I'm taking it all with a grain of salt. I've had my fair share of crappy teachers over the years, but I know they a ren’t all like that, and honestly? It seems unreasonable that all of the new teachers turned out to be crap, especially teachers hand picked by Rowena and Godric. Besides, Salazar is known for being overly dramatic. I take everything he says with a grain of salt.

School start up again in a couple of weeks. I'm sure this'll be an interesting year.

Love,
Harry

20 October 994

Dear Ginny,

Master Azor is so nice. He's the embodiment of niceness. He's all soft smiles and kind words. I don't usually go to Herbology classes, because I know the subject. But I find myself there, in his classroom, nonetheless.

Salazar hates him. Well, he hates all the new teachers, but still. I was talking to Master Azor during lunch yesterday, and Salazar mouthed ‘traitor’ at me! He can be so childish sometimes. He's giving all of them the cold shoulder. Refuses to speak to them. And I refuse to feel bad about speaking to Master Azor! He's nice, and he doesn't deserve to have Salazar treat him that way!

The other teachers are OK as well. Well, maybe he was a little right about Moyaux. He's a bit stuck-up. But he's a good teacher—or so I've heard. Master Flambard and Master Sara (just Sara) are both nice as well. I haven’t talked much with them, but both gave me a very good first impression. So I hope they live up to it.

Love,
Harry

27 October 994

Dear Ginny,

I've finally completed setting up the new library!

Merlin, it took so much longer than I had anticipated. I had to do a lot of it by hand, since I don't really know that many construction spells. I couldn't use much of what I learned when we reconstructed Hogwarts in the future, either. We mostly got the easy jobs, like cleaning up and repairing minor damage, after all. At least now, I don't have to worry too much about centuries old magic in the walls. There isn't much interference.

I build the bookshelves manually. It kinda felt good to work with my hands. All in all, it’s been a fun project! It’s been good to have something to do. Having a purpose you know?

Love,
Harry

30 October 994

Ginny,

Master Azor winked at me!

Why did he do that? I feel weird.

What did he mean by it?

You don’t think. Was he flirting with me?? ??

It was during dinner just now. He was talking about something (I still can't really understand him all that well, so I'm not sure what it was about), then he turned my way, and winked! I was looking at him, becau I don't even know. Is that why? He caught me staring— was I staring? Did he think I was flirting with him??

Is he gay? How do I know if someone is gay? Are there even gay people here? No, that's stupid, of course there are. Is it okay to be gay here?

Why am I even writing this?

2 November 994

Dear Ginny,

Someone asked me again about where I want to take my Mastery. It was Gilbert, one of those who's been here since I got here. We never really talked much. He's almost ten years younger than me, so we never really had much to talk about other than school. He sat at my table during lunch today.

People have asked me about it before. It seems to be how things are done here. You get an apprenticeship and take you Mastery. It can be hard to get one, though. Most Masters require you to have some sort of magical background.

One of the newcomers, Mikael, I think, was talking about wanting to take a Mastery in Charms. Then Gilbert asked if I had any plans. Wondered if I would be staying much longer. Ugh, what do I even say to that? I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. I never meant to stay for this long. When I first got here, I couldn’t even imagine I’d be stuck here for this long.

I’m still hoping I’ll find a way back to the future soon, but at this point, I might have to find something to do in the meantime. I can’t go on leaching off Hogwarts forever.

Love,
Harry

5 November 994

Dear Ginny,

Master Azor sat down beside me during lunch today. It was really nice. I'm getting better at interpreting his dialect, so we managed to actually hold a conversation today. It was actually really nice. I said that twice now, I didn’t I?

Okay, so there was some of the annoying questioned about where I'm from, what I do, why I'm here—all those questions I can't give true answers to. I do the best I can. At least I feel more secure in my story now. I say I'm from Europe, that I moved here to learn magic, and hope they don't pry. I hate being forced to lie.

Master Azor didn’t pry. Instead we talked about school, and his classes. He told me about himself. His mother is a witch, and his father is a Muggle, and he got a little sister, Meggy, who’s a witch as well. She's taking an apprenticeship under someone I can’t remember the name of. (I still find the names around here difficult . ) She’s studying Potions. He’s very proud of her. Merlin, he’s cute

Love,
Harry

6 December 994

FUCK FUCK FUCK!!! THE SORTING HAT WAS DESTROYED!!!!

DEAR MERLIN, WHAT DO I DO? ??!!!

Omg, this is bad. This is so bad. I'VE RUINED IT ALL

It was in the Great Hall. Godric sat at the table next to ours, and then suddenly, I hear screaming, and I turn around to see the sorting hat ON FIRE . A student accidentally set it on fire when they were practising a spell.

This is bad. Do you know what this means? It means I've destroyed the future. My presence here has changed history beyond repair. Oh my god. What have I d one?

You'll never be born. None of you. I'll never be born, cause my parents will never be born. Everything will be different.

I can't do this. I should never have come here. I've ruined it all.

What do I do??? I have to fix this. This can't be how it goes. This wasn't supposed to happen. This is all my fault. I've got to do something. Oh my god.

Ginny, please be alive. Hermione, Ron, you got to be alive. I don't know how to live with myself if this is how it ends. I'll fix this, I promise!

Merlin, I've destroyed the future. I've destroyed everything

7 December 994

Well, the cat's is out of the bag. Slytherin found out about who I really am.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I never meant for him to find out. Why does everything go wrong? This is so fucked up.

Yet, I feel so damn relieved . Is it wrong for me to feel that way? I never realised how much of a burden it has been to hide all of this. I feel ten tons lighter. I can finally breathe again.

At this point, does it even matter? Everything is ruined anyway, so why does it matter if Salazar knows? It can't possibly make things worse.

Salazar came after me when I took of after The Sorting Hat was reduced to ashes. He notice how distressed I was. I needed to get out of there. I ran from the Great Hall, to the closest empty room I could find, before I broke down. I was bawling my eyes out, and I would have been embarrassed to be seen like that by anyone if I hadn't been so wrecked. So that's how he found me. And I couldn't keep it together. So I spilled.

I confessed everything. Told him how I fucked everything up. That I've destroyed the future. I don't think I made much sense at the time. When he didn't understand, he asked me what I meant, why I felt that way, what happened. And I told him. I told him everything—where I'm from, when I'm from, how I got here, and how I ruined the future.

I'm surprised at how well he took it. He just held me. Even tried to reassure me. I'm sure the future is fine, he said to me. I didn't believe him. I don't. He managed to calm me though. Got me to bed. It was late. And I was exhausted. I'm not even sure he's fine with it. I haven’t talked to him since then. He shouldn't be fine with it. I lied to him. Again. I lied to him for over three fucking years. He was probably just nice because I was crying. How could he ever forgive me for what I did?

I think I'll stay in today.

Love,
Harry

8 December 994

Dear Ginny,

Salazar was here today. I feel a little better.

I don’t know if I should be angry with him or grateful for giving me hope. I hope that the future is going to be okay. That everything will be fine. That you’ll be there to receive this letter.

He made it sound so simple. Maybe it wasn’t The Sorting Hat. Maybe it was another hat. Maybe he’ll get another hat later in life that will become The Sorting Hat. Perhaps this was meant to happen all along.

I can only hope.

Love,
Harry

13 December 994

He lasted five days.

I'm impressed actually. But it was too much to hope that he would simply let it go. Not that I ever thought he would. He wouldn't have been Salazar if he did.

He asked me today who I really was. The million galleon question.

I ended up telling him. I know I shouldn't. Who knows what it might do to the time line. But I trust him. I trust him not to tell anyone, or do anything to hurt me. Do you think that's weird? I wouldn't blame you. I used to think that too. But I've known him for three years now. I know him.

Yes, I ended up telling him. Told him I didn't lie about my name. Told him where I'm from, and a little about Hogwarts. Not the exact year, but I told him that I was from very far into the future. Centuries.

I didn't have the heart to tell him about what his House has been reduced to. I think he would have been sad.

God, it feels so good. I didn't realise how much it's been weighing be down, not being able to talk to anyone. I feel so relieved that someone know. I can talk to him. I feel understood. Less alone. I don't think I realised how lonely it was. How lonely I was.

Well, enough of that. It's Yule, and everyone seem to be in a better mood as of late. I really look forward to the celebration this year. Do you think I will manage to convince them to decorate?

Love,
Harry.