A/N: I've decided to reopen my page on a certain platform—you know the one. If you enjoy my work and want to support it, you know where to look. No pressure, just putting it out there!
— HelloDarkness07
——
The Bell family is a pretty normal family, all things considered. Well, except for the fact that they're a wizarding family. The family consisted of Mr and Mrs Bell, their daughter Katie, son Graham, and the grandma, old Liberty Bell.
The morning of 30th July, 1991, began like just another day for them. Mrs Bell woke up at sunrise, and began cooking breakfast for the family of 5, while grandma Liberty went out to water the plants.
Mr Bell usually takes his time to wake up, but this time, he is loudly woken by the yelling of his mother, coming from outside the house. This wakes not just him, but the children as well, all of whom run outside to see what has happened.
Fortunately, instead of a tragedy, they find Grandma Liberty standing at the front door, holding a letter in her hands, looking scared.
Mrs Bell looks around for threats, and then asks, "What happened, Liberty?"
Grandma Bell turns her wide eyes towards her daughter in law, and simply hands the two pieces of paper to her. One is the letter which made her scream, while the other is a moving photograph. And inside that photograph, clear as crystal, can be seen Mrs Bell, only 10 years younger.
The image is of her wearing her old Auror clothes, which she had quit 5 years ago, and moving through a house not their own. The image then shows her picking a photograph off the mantle, one of a happy couple holding their one year old son in their hands, before pocketing it with no one the wiser.
Or so she had thought.
The letter, meanwhile, simply says a single sentence. It says, "My name is Harry Potter, and I want you to return what you have stolen from me."
All around England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, dozens of families face the same letter, and a similar moving picture. Some dismiss it as a prank, some think no one can do anything about it, while very few immediately start looking for the souvenir they had taken from the Potter home.
But all doubt is broken, when the morning copy of the Daily Prophet arrives.
——
[center]An open letter from the Boy-Who-Lived[/center]
People of the Wizarding World of the British Isles. I assume all of you know who I am, but just in case you do not; my name is Harry Potter. Ten years ago a tragedy struck my life, and I lost my parents who sacrificed their lives safeguarding me against Lord Voldemort.
And now, I come to you with a heaviness in my heart.
It seems some people took liberty in the absence of a proper owner of my house, and took some things from there.
Things that did not belong to them.
Things that belong to me.
A souvenir, a keepsake, whatever you may want to call it, they are mine to keep, not yours. There are pictures, pillows, sheets, utensils, clothes, my pacifier, and even a soap, all belonging to me, but not in my possession.
27 pictures of me, my parents, their parents, and their friends, which I have not been able to see till now.
I returned to the Wizarding World two years ago, and despite it being well known, not a single item had returned to me. People were all too happy to keep my stuff for themselves.
So I write this letter.
You have until tomorrow, 31st of July, 1991.
I know who each of you are, as evident from the letters you should have found at your doorsteps this morning. I know exactly what you took.
Return to me my belongings, yes, even the soap, or I will be going public with the images I sent to each of you.
Regards,
Harry James Potter.
——
"Just like his father, arrogant, snobbish, and demanding." Albus hears from his right as he finishes reading the ransom note in the Prophet.
Albus turns towards the voice, and noticing the envelope with a picture and a letter kept in front of the person, his lips turn downwards. He looks at the man, and asks, "Really, Severus? He is arrogant, snobbish, and demanding for wanting his belongings back?"
Severus Snape, the youngest Potions Master ever, glares up at the Headmaster, and gathering the letter and his own copy of the Daily Prophet, he leaves the Great Hall.
An 'Oh dear,' sounds from his left, and Albus sees the diminutive figure of the half-goblin Head of House Ravenclaw, Filius Flitwick. He has a moving picture in his own hands, which at first makes Dumbledore even more disappointed.
One Professor stealing a keepsake can be understandable, when the Professor is the ex-best friend of the victim, but two?
Only, once he peeks at the picture, he sees not the half-goblin professor, but the half-bat professor, as the students are fond to say.
"You copied it?" Albus asks, amused now.
Filius simply hands the picture to Albus, and says, "Blame my curiosity."
Albus simply shakes his head with a smile and looks at the picture. It is a barely 10 second long moving picture, showing Severus first tearfully hugging the recently deceased mother to Harry Potter in front of the crib holding said unconscious boy, before something startles him, causing him to rush out of the house.
But not before doing something shameful. Severus had pulled off the necklace from Lily's neck, as well as stolen a picture from the table before leaving the house.
"Fascinating." Albus murmurs, observing the loop repeat.
Although Severus's actions did disappoint him a lot, he was more focused on something else.
"That's one way to put it." Filius says, leaning to look as well. "At first I thought it to be a memory, you did mention that young Harry has a brilliant mind. But then I saw the discrepancies. The image following Severus around and outside the house, for one, the fact that Harry was unconscious here for another. Do you have any idea what magic can do this? Follow around a person and record it like a.. what do the muggles call it?"
"A video." Albus answers, having noticed the same thing. "Do you mind if I keep this? I believe I have a meeting I need to get to."
Filius chuckles, and waves his hand. He says, "If the meeting is with whom I assume it is, then feel free. It's not mine to begin with."
With a shared chuckle with Filius, Albus leaves the Great Hall and apparates once far enough from the castle.
However, when he appears in front of the house of the person in question, he finds himself that he is not the only person wanting to meet with the boy.
"Oh dear!" Albus says, surprised. The bald woman wearing yellow robes and a necklace around her neck turns towards him with a raised eyebrow, as Albus says, "I did not expect to see you here today, Ancient One."
——
Harry Potter, Doom, stands in his workshop. It is well lit, the light only enhanced by the green glow emitted by the eight inward pointing antennas, arranged in a circle around a simple Metallic platform.
While Harry stands to one side, Doombot sits on the desk, the Chronoscope sitting in front of him, connected to a monitor. Both of them have one focus in mind.
One focus, one goal. For it is a momentous occasion.
"Readings?" Harry calls out, while pulling up a hologram from his gauntleted left hand.
Doombot clicks a few buttons, and answers, "Power at 98%, energy flow 99.997% optimal. Tachyon battery at 100%."
Good. Harry nods, having cross checked on his gauntlet, and says, "Anchor points set. Check?"
"Check." Doombot answers.
Anchor points, because what they are going to do today will need an origin point for the frame of reference.
Harry then pressed a few buttons on his gauntlet and the machine in front of him hums, the antennas glowing brighter while the Chronoscope becomes duller.
"Temporal field stability?" He asks.
Doombot waits a second to let it stabilize, and reads, "Variance at 0.0031%, holding steady. Reference frame synchronized, Temporal drift estimated to be 3.1 seconds maximum."
Harry nods, and waves his hand, causing a pre-prepared camera to rise up in the air and float towards the platform. He gently sets it down, and as other cameras start recording, he reads from his arm display, "Area of effect locked, subject VC0013 detected."
"Confirmed." Doombot calls, reading the same on his system. He then types in a command, and says, "System checks done."
This is it.
This is what is to be the beginning of the legend that is Doom. One single push of a button, and history will be made.
Harry hovers his finger over a button on his display and says, "Time Platform - TP1.0.0, test number 1, launching in 3… 2… "
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Harry stops, his eyes twitching in annoyance.
Doombot turns towards Harry, and Harry can tell that even his duplicate was annoyed. And why wouldn't he be?
Harry swipes his hand up, conjuring a hologram in front of him. It shows two people standing in front of his gate, two people who he did not expect to come today, let alone together.
Albus Dumbledore, who was supposed to visit the next day on his birthday, and the Sorcerer Supreme, who he has no idea why she's here.
Now properly annoyed, even more because of the unannounced visit, Harry turns around and as his armour disassembles into pieces to hang on a mannequin, he says, "Shut it all down for now, I'll see what they want."
'And they better have a damn good reason for disturbing me at 8 in the morning.' Harry thought to himself.
——
"What do you want?" Is the first thing Harry says as soon as the door opens. Surprisingly for Albus, however, it is not said to him, but to the Sorcerer Supreme.
"I was unaware you were familiar with the Sorcerer Supreme, Harry." Albus says, before the Sorcerer Supreme can answer.
Harry turns towards him, and Albus can just feel the annoyance rolling off of his face. He says, "I have met her once, two years ago." He then turns towards the woman in question, and says, "And I thought I made it clear that you weren't welcome in my home, Sorcerer Supreme. So let me ask again, and only once, what.. do.. you.. want?"
'That's unlike him, he has never been this rude…' Albus begins in his mind, only to remember his own first meeting with the boy. Choosing to stay silent and just observe, Albus turns back towards the Ancient One.
The Sorcerer sighs, and asks, "Must we begin every conversation with a quarrel, Mr Potter?"
The boy meanwhile, stays silent, and Albus knows that unless she actually answers his question, they will not see the thing they actually came here to see at all.
The Ancient One must've known that too, for she finally answers, "I am here in regards to a recent invention of yours, Mr Potter. May we talk inside, perhaps? I don't believe you intend for this conversation to be overheard by your neighbours."
Harry scowls, and Albus finds himself amused while wondering what the relationship between the two is. Why does Harry mistrust her so?
"The last time you came to my house, Ancient One, you threatened me after imprisoning me. What gives you even the tiniest possible hint of a belief that I might have forgotten or forgiven that?" Harry asks, folding his hands and staring up at her.
And despite the fact that Harry is half their size, Albus straightens up, preparing for a fight.
'Harry.. was threatened by the Sorcerer Supreme? Why?' Albus asked himself.
"Nothing, but I have come here neither to ask for forgiveness nor to remind you. I came, because you have managed to gain my attention again. Which, as we established two years ago, is not a good thing. And believe me, Mr Potter, if you weren't doing something truly dangerous I would have kept to my word and left you alone."
Harry raises an eyebrow, looking completely unimpressed. He asks, "And what have I supposedly done this time?"
The Ancient One smiles. Turning towards Albus, she says, "Don't play coy in front of the Headmaster, Mr Potter. He has come to the correct conclusion even without my help." She then turns towards Harry, her voice softer, and says, "You invented something recently, something which is capable of destroying our reality as we know it. I am here today to either destroy or dismantle it."
Albus notices the moment that Harry is about to lose it, and makes a decision before Harry can do something that will make Albus regret all his life's decisions.
He steps between the Sorcerer Supreme and the boy who is a second away from attacking her.
"I think.." he begins, immediately gaining the attention of Harry, ".. this conversation got off on the wrong start."
This at least causes Harry to not make the first move in a long, drawn out political war between the Sorcerers and the Wizards by attacking the Sorcerer Supreme.
He smiles at Harry apologetically, and turning around to look at the Ancient One, he says, "May I have a moment with you, Sorcerer Supreme?"
Both the Ancient One, and Albus know that this.. was not a request.
The Ancient One stares at him, looking thoughtful, and in front of Harry's watchful eyes, she slowly nods.
Albus leads her a small distance away, still able to see Harry observing the pair, and stops. Bringing his wand out, he gives it a wave, casting Muffliato, and Labra obscuro, the lip blurring charm, and then finally turns towards the Ancient one.
He looks over his glasses down at her. As she stares back, he softly asks, "May I ask what you are doing, Ancient One?"
The Sorcerer Supreme puts her hands behind her back, and answers, "I am trying to maintain order in this universe, Headmaster."
Albus nods, and counters, "And since when does maintaining order in the universe include showing up unannounced at the house of a child, and giving said child ultimatums? And this is not even the first time you have done so, I hear?"
The Ancient One's lips twitch, amusement colouring her face, as she says, "I think we both can accept that Harry Potter is no ordinary child."
"But he is a child just the same." Albus immediately counters. "More importantly, he is a Wizard child and therefore not under your purview."
The Ancient One shakes her head, and says, "I have been Sorcerer Supreme since before Wizarding Great Britain was even formed as its own entity. Moreover, I guard the entire Universe, Headmaster, believe me when I say that this comes exactly under my purview."
Albus pauses, his mind automatically going back to his first conversation with Harry.
'Was this how he felt then? When I refused to listen to him?' Albus thinks to himself. 'If so, I completely understand why he was so rude then.'
Albus shakes his head, and says, "Wizards, Sorcerers, Coven Witches, all have managed to actually travel through time at one time or another. No, this is not simply about the fact that Harry can peer through time, there is more. Something you refuse to tell me."
"It is different, Headmaster." The Ancient One reiterates, now really sounding stubborn. "Harry's invention is tapping into something he has no hope to control. Even I-"
She stops herself.
But Albus has already caught it.
"So that's how it is." Albus says, musing to himself. Running his hand down his beard, Albus smiles at the Ancient One, and says, "You don't like the fact that Harry has accessed something which you cannot fully control. Something dangerous enough to make you afraid."
"Yes," she exhales, admitting it to both him, and herself. "That sounds about right."
"Well, allow me the pleasure to inform you, Sorcerer Supreme, that your opinion here does not matter." Albus bluntly says.
For the first time in their exchange, the Sorcerer Supreme visibly reacts. Her head snaps up, her eyes narrowing in challenge even as shock colours her face.
As she stares up at him, Albus continues staring at her and says, "You seem to have found yourself under the misconception, Sorcerer Supreme, that I obey you. Let me remind you, that while I, and even the Wizarding race, respects your position as the Sorcerer Supreme and the powers that come with it, we do not answer to you. The Wizarding World does not answer to you."
The Ancient One freezes, no doubt having sensed the finality of Albus's words.
Albus knows it too, as he continues, "And the by-laws are quite clear; one Magical race is strictly forbidden from interfering in the progress of another race. You.. do not have authority here, Sorcerer Supreme."
The line is drawn.
This line is not one the Ancient One can ignore. She knows it, Albus knows it, and even Harry knows it judging by the amused look on his face. Albus will have to try and learn how Harry managed to eavesdrop despite his spells later.
There is silence for more than a few seconds, as the challenge remains hanging between the two. But both Albus and the Ancient One know that this is not worth fighting over, even if Albus most definitely would.
The consequences of a battle between the two would far outweigh any benefit the victor might gain.
"What is it about the Wizards that makes you always challenge me so?" The Ancient one says, more to herself than to him. "You, Harry, Professor Rackham, Nicholas Flamel. Why do you all refuse to understand?"
Albus smiles softly, and says, "Is it that so many of us refused to understand your point of view, or that you refuse to consider ours? Perhaps some introspection is in order, Sorcerer Supreme, it is never too late to do so."
There is silence once again for a minute, and in the end, it is the Ancient One who backs off. She quite literally takes a step back with her head bowing just once, and says, "Perhaps you are right, I might have overstepped. I won't dictate the fate of the invention, Headmaster, but I demand reassurance that it will not unleash the harm I fear. If it does, it might be on your head but we will all be facing the consequences."
Albus sighs, thankful for avoiding the fight, but knowing still that she is not yet ready to listen, and says, "I won't stop you from joining me, but young Harry has to be the one to allow you in his house."
And as one, the two turn their heads to look at the boy, who is standing still right outside the gate to his house, staring at them.
The Ancient One turns first, as she walks out of the privacy spells, and approaches Harry. She says, "I apologize, Mr Potter. I have just been reminded that I am overstepping - have been when it comes to you."
"That you have." Harry says, sounding amused.
And for a moment, Albus is worried that Harry might still invite the fight anyway.
Harry sighs then, and says, "Your apology is appreciated, and accepted, Ancient One."
Albus steps forward then, and says, "Mr Potter, I originally came here to ask if you would allow me to witness how you managed this fascinating event ." He brings out the copied picture of Severus stealing from Harry's home and hands it to the boy. He says, "Would it be possible for us to receive a demonstration of your invention in person?"
"You, sure." Harry readily says. "I have no interest in showing her anything though. Twice we have met and twice she has threatened me."
"Please, Harry." Albus says softly, not quite pleading. "She has a duty to the Universe to protect it. I do not approve of her words or her attitude regarding you, but despite that, or maybe because of it, I want to prove her wrong."
"I have nothing to prove to her though." Harry frowns, staring up at him, and says, "Not five minutes ago she threatened to destroy something which took me months to perfect. She may have apologized but how do I know she will not use the opportunity to destroy it anyway?"
Albus smiles at him, and says, "I give you my word, Harry. She will do nothing of the sort. We will simply observe, maybe ask a few questions, and that's it. We will leave."
At that Harry turns towards the Sorcerer Supreme, who is frowning in thought. Albus doesn't know, or care right now, what she is thinking about. As long as she knows that she doesn't want both Harry, and Albus as her enemy, he is fine.
"And does she agree or is that just you talking?" Harry asks him, while still staring at her.
The Ancient One nods, slowly. With a sigh, she says, "I give you my word as the Sorcerer Supreme, I will not cause any harm to you, or this invention of yours today."
Harry stares at her, taking his time. The intenseness of his stare unnerves Albus, but the Ancient One simply stares right back.
Harry then nods and turns back towards Albus. He says, "It will be on you to stop her if she tries something. You may respect her position but let me assure you I don't." He then looks to the Ancient One, and says, "And just in case you still think you can get away with it, please do keep in mind what I know about you."
And just like that, he turns away, the gate opening to let them both in. Sharing a look, Albus leads the way inside, wondering what it is about the Ancient One which Harry supposedly knows. What is it that he found out in their first meeting?
——
A few minutes later, the three find themselves in Harry's living room, sitting on chairs while the Computer which Albus recognizes as the one he was working on during their last meeting sits on a table in front of them, along with a crystal ball.
Harry takes the crystal ball in his hand, and as the Chronoscope, as he called it, turns on, he asks, "Any particular event you want to witness?"
Albus tries to think of a past event he is interested in witnessing, and is faced with a wonderful conundrum - an abundance of choices.
"Is there a limit to how far back you can see?" The Ancient One asks, while Albus struggles with narrowing down his choice.
Harry turns towards her and answers, "No limitations other than the Power required. The current charge in my batteries should allow for upto 10,000 years in the past or 2 days in the future, both upto 9 hours worth of viewing. But do know that I need the exact date and time, as well as the location of the event. I cannot navigate based on a description of events."
Albus blinks, surprised, but knows better than to ask right now. Finally deciding on an event, purposefully choosing a mundane one rather than something momentous, he says, "31st of October, 1971, 6:35 PM. Hogwarts, Great Hall."
At the same time, the Ancient One says, "June 3rd, 1423, 12:15 PM. Near Soho square."
Harry nods, and after typing something on the illusion of a keyboard, he says, "Yours first, Professor. Although I am unsure of the location of the castle of Hogwarts, so we might have to navigate a bit."
And at the press of the enter key, the crystal in Harry's hands glows green, and an illusion is projected out of it all around them. Albus finds himself surprised when their surroundings change to reflect the Scottish Highlands. Stars glint above them, as the sun has long since set, and the moon is at an angle behind them. Albus leans down to touch the grass which appears to be frozen in time, but his hand just passes right through.
Shaking his head, Albus looks around, and says, "I believe we are a few dozen miles off."
"I assumed as much. Which direction is the castle in?" Harry asks, and Albus watches as Harry waves his hand in the air, causing the illusion to move.
It is far, far different from a memory, and Albus is simply fascinated by how detailed everything is. It is as if he is actually there, at that moment in time.
Soon, through Albus's guidance, the group finds themselves standing in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the frozen image of the Halloween feast of 1971.
Albus cannot help but turn his head towards the Gryffindor table, as he softly says, "They were so young, innocent, once upon a time."
Harry follows his gaze, and his eyes light up when he notices the children his own age, which used to be his parents and their friends.
"That's them, right? My father, Sirius, Remus, and Peter? And I assume that is my mother." Harry says, pointing each person out.
Albus sighs, and says, "Yes, your mother, and the one talking with her is Marlene McKinnon. She died a year before you were born, along with her entire family."
Harry hums, and says, "I know, I read about it. I also read something else. Sirius Black betrayed my family, killed Peter Pettigrew along with 12 muggles, and was then thrown into Azkaban. Although, from what I saw happened on Halloween of 1981, I do wonder if it's true."
Albus pauses, and turning towards Harry, he asks, "What did you see, Harry?"
Harry frowns, and says, "Pain, disbelief, loss, turmoil, rage. I saw it all clearly on the face of one Sirius Black when he discovered the body of my father, and my mother, and I saw absolute love and worry when he picked me off my crib. I have yet to learn if he is guilty of the crime of killing Pettigrew and the muggles, but I think I am sure when I say he did not betray my parents."
"Curious." Albus says softly. "I think, Mr Potter, that I will take your suspicions to Madam Bones at the DMLE. Maybe you can find out the truth for yourself, and once we are sure of the events we can present it to her. If Sirius is found to be innocent of your parents' betrayal we might not be able to free him from Azkaban, the least we can do is restore his honour."
Harry nods, and says "Sure, I will provide you with video recordings of whatever I find. Now, back to this. Can I resume the feed?"
Albus nods and says, "You can continue from here, Harry. I will let you know if I need it to be stopped for any reason."
Harry nods, and intones towards the crystal, "Continue."
The event is fairly mundane, but something which Albus believes perfect for this test. Not only does it prove to Albus that Harry's machine works, he can also see that it remembers the events perfectly. Everything he sees here, he can cross-reference it with his own memories of the event.
There is also the added benefit of allowing Harry to see his parents as children as they truly enjoyed their childhood at Hogwarts.
That is, until James Potter's voice calls out, "Gourd to grape, shift and shine, turn this pumpkin juice into wine!"
Which, instead of turning the pumpkin juice to Wine, as James had intended, causes it to blow up spectacularly, covering at least 10 people in pumpkin juice. Including Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, and two unfortunate Hufflepuffs.
Albus's lips twitch, remembering the moment. He turns towards Harry, who seems to be stuck between wanting to smack his face and enjoying this moment.
As Minerva stomps towards the table, Albus says, "There is at least one incident every few years, children wanting to create alcohol out of water or juices. It seems to be a tradition for Halloween. And almost every time, the result is very much enjoyable for the observers."
Well that, and the customary bad news. Very rarely does a year go by where bad news does not reach Hogwarts on Halloween night. Thankfully, this was one such rare event.
They watch Minerva berate and take points off of a bashful James Potter while his friends laugh at him for a few minutes, before Albus gives the go ahead for stopping the feed.
"Thank you, Professor." Harry says softly, to which Albus simply nods.
And then, it's the turn of the Ancient One, who had silently watched the previous event. This time, however, Harry takes barely a few seconds before reaching the correct location.
What Albus sees, though, takes his breath away.
He sees a giant tear in the sky, like someone had taken a giant knife to it, cover almost the entire noon sky. It led to some place which seemed to suck in all the light around it. There were dozens of Sorcerers, including the Ancient One and even a couple dozen Wizards fighting against dark humanoid monsters that seem to have come from the tear in the sky.
A single giant face peered out of the hole, made out of dark skin which rippled with dull purple light of what looked like flames. And despite this being technically a vision of the past, Albus can clearly feel the malevolence of the Entity that wants to invade Earth.
The strangest part though, is what stumps both Albus and Harry, but which does not seem to surprise the Ancient One at all.
While everything on Earth looks frozen, as Harry is yet to start the feed, there are things moving beyond the tear in the sky.
The things beyond were moving despite the fact that Harry has not yet started the feed, including the slowly approaching figure of the giant face.
"That.. that should not be possible." Harry whispers, and Albus can't help but agree.
The Ancient One is quiet, when she says, "But alas, it is. The Dark Dimension is a world beyond Time, and so is its ruler."
At that Albus visibly flinches.
Because he has read about this, not about this event, no. But about the Dark Dimension. During his younger years, when Gellert Grindelwald had shared the books he had stolen from a rogue Sorcerer.
As more and more of the mindless demons - because that's what the humanoid dark figures are called, Albus now knows - start entering the Earthly dimension, Albus is relieved to find that they are immediately frozen in time just before they enter the London sky.
"I suggest you start the feed, Mr Potter. Unless you want to change time through your inaction by letting the horde of the Mindless Ones overwhelm me in the past?" The Ancient One reminds Harry, who simply nods, his eyes focused on the large figure of the ruler of the Dark Dimension.
As the vision continues from its paused state, the giant figure focuses on the Sorcerers, and seems to direct the hordes towards the Sorcerer Supreme without a single spoken word.
The woman in question is fighting the hordes with the help of other Sorcerers, while at the same time seems to speak something to herself.
'A spell,' Albus recognizes.
"Protect Master Tilda!" A giant of a man wearing a turban yells out, rushing towards her holding an orange glowing sword in one hand, and a staff in another. He fires spells to target any enemy far away and uses the sword to cut anyone getting close enough with the sword.
He is not alone, no. At least a dozen Sorcerers, Wizards, a single Coven Witch, and even a few muggles, seem to be focused on taking the enemies for themselves, while letting the Ancient One take a breath and focus on her spell.
Before long though, it seems to have caught the attention of the giant in the sky, whose eyes burn with purple flames.
"No." Albus whispers, believing that he is going to witness death on a scale never seen before.
Because he can tell, his instincts are yelling at him, that if the flames exit out of the portal, then it is all over for anyone fighting down below.
But then something happens.
The giant eyes peering at the Earth stop burning. Instead, the eyes turn… towards him?
Albus's eyes skip a beat as the eyes turn towards him, and he knows it is him that caught the attention of the giant.
"I.. SEE YOU." A loud voice says, and the magic in the voice makes Albus drop down to his knees, the sheer power behind the words making him fear for his life for the first time in at least a century.
Just as suddenly as the pressure has come, it disappears off of Albus as the eyes turn away from him and towards the other visitors in the past.
"YOU! I KNOW YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!! AND YOU! YOU THIEF!" The Demon yells, and this time the pressure is accompanied by a wave of pure rage.
Only the Sorcerer Supreme casting a glowing yellow shield of her magic prevents the three from getting blown off the ground.
'What power!' Albus thinks to himself, closing his eyes shut. He is astonished and fearful at the same time. How someone can affect people 500 years in the future, even for someone like the Timeless Demon, he doesn't know.
But for now he just wants it to stop.
"Shut it down!" The Ancient One yells, as soon as the pressure is off of them for a single second.
Not needing to be told twice, Harry immediately shuts his machine down with a stuttered command, leading to all three of them falling down on the ground in relief at once.
Harry's hands are shaking, eyes red, Albus notices. And he cannot blame the boy. So young and already faced with such a Demon. Even Albus cannot help but find himself thankful that he was defeated centuries ago.
"He was defeated, right?" Albus shakingly asks the Ancient One, just to reassure himself. "Why.. Why don't the Wizards know it?"
The Ancient One, the calmest of the group, nods, although her eyes are focused on Harry, who.. is not as shaken as a child should be. Instead, he seems even more focused than ever.
She nods slowly, and says, "Yes, I managed to cast the spell in time, banishing him and closing the breach. Your people don't know of it because I made it so. I cast a spell which caused everyone but me to forget that He ever managed to come this far in our Reality."
The Ancient One pauses, letting Albus swallow it, and then says, "I always wondered what the Dread Lord Dormammu was speaking off that day, whom he recognized, called a thief. But that day, I was more focused on finishing my Banishment spell, and it seems our presence in the past is what caused a sufficient enough distraction for me to finish my spell."
Albus is stumped, despite his genius, he cannot say that Time is something he has much experience in. But he gets the gist of what they are saying.
"A closed loop." Harry says, finishing Albus's thoughts.
The Ancient One nods, and staring at Harry she says, "This has proven to me that your invention, while still dangerous, does not risk breaking Time. It follows it instead. But it does leave me with just a few more questions."
"Oh?" Harry asks, getting up from the ground and dusting himself off.
The Ancient One explains, "You see, I admit I stole something from Dormammu's Dark Dimension not a few months after the event we just witnessed. So I am the Thief he recognized. But I wasn't the only one he recognized. He recognized you, didn't he? Am I wrong to assume you have already done something to enrage Dormammu? That is two Demon Lords now."
Albus frowns, not liking the direction in which this is going. He speaks up and asks, "Perhaps there is something that Harry will do in his future life to enrage Dormammu, and Dormammu, being Timeless, simply knew it now?"
Or in the past, really.
The Ancient One shakes her head, even as Harry remains silent, and she says, "Being beyond Time does not mean Dormammu is confused, it simply means he recognises our actions. He does not recognize the me from the past we just saw as a Thief, despite the fact that we are the same person. He recognized me as the thief. So, tell me, Harry. What did you do? Will he come to Earth again to find you?"
Harry shakes his head and says, "The only thing I will tell you is that he will try to invade Earth anyway, my actions or inactions notwithstanding. Other than that, whatever happened is between me and him."
"Mr Potter-" the Ancient One begins.
Only to be interrupted by a single wave of Harry's hand which causes the Ancient One to disappear from in front of Albus's shocked eyes.
Harry turns towards Albus, who blinks at the empty space which the Ancient One was standing on, and asks, "You got something to say, Professor?"
Albus stops and stares at Harry's calm face, and asks, "Was that really necessary, Mr Potter?"
Harry says with a shrug, "I proved to her that whatever I see has already happened. Even my interference as an Observer has already happened in the past. If she wants more answers than that, that's her problem."
Albus sighs. Knowing that it seems to be a sensitive subject, Albus gently asks, "Will you tell me about it? Not today, of course. I think I have had enough shocks for today."
Harry shakes his head, and starts walking towards the front door, prompting Albus to follow. He says, "Probably not, as I said, what happened is between me and him. But I do have one thing I'd like to add."
Albus looks at Harry curiously, as Harry opens the door for him. The Ancient One is still outside, waiting for him Albus assumes.
Harry looks at her, and then at him, and says, "I believe you would have won."
Albus's mind immediately goes back to the moment before, when it seemed to him that it would lead to a fight, and he chuckles, and says, "If only I believed it to be true, Mr Potter. If only."
"I'm serious." Harry reiterates with a smile. "I have seen your fight with Grindelwald, you know, and the one with Voldemort. And I have seen her fight against the demons just now. As I see it, while her spells are far more powerful it takes time for her to cast those powerful spells. You would destroy her a dozen times before she casts one spell that might realistically take you down. Trust me, if it came down to a fight, you would win. It all comes down to control, you know."
"I'll take your word for it." Albus says, not believing him at all. He then grins a bit, and asks, "You.. saw my fights? Any particular reason?"
Harry shrugs, and answers, "I needed to know how the man I am supposed to have killed but who we both know will return someday, fights. Honestly, not impressed with his lack of creativity at all even if his speed and power were enviable. Your fight with Grindelwald on the other hand, was mesmerizing on all accounts.
All that was said with the blandest of tones, but the glint in his eyes told Albus that not a single lie was said.
Albus nods in thanks, and then sighs, turning to look up, only to remember the sky with the giant face that struck terror in his heart.
He shakes his head to clear the thoughts, and says, "You have given me a lot to think about today, Mr Potter. So for now I have just one question. Should I expect to see you on September 1st at Hogwarts?"
Harry pauses, and as a soft smile comes on his face, he says, "You know what, I will be there. See you then, Professor."
Albus smiles, relieved, and with a nod he says, "Until next time, Harry."
And then, he leaves the Potter grounds.
"Did he say anything?" The Ancient One asks as soon as he's outside the wards.
Albus turns towards the Ancient One, and says, "Give him some space, Sorcerer Supreme. He will tell us if he is ready to tell us. He is still young."
As Albus walks towards the disapparition point, he barely hears her say, "That's my fear, Headmaster. I don't think that is as true as you believe."
As she walks through a portal of her creation, back to Kamar Taj he presumes, Albus's lips stretch into a smile, as he muses to himself, "I think.. I would first like to see what this 'old soul' you're afraid of can invent next."
And then, he disapparates to Hogwarts. Hopefully he can convince Severus to return the items he stole from Harry to remember Lily by.
——
Meanwhile, Harry returns to his workshop, still thinking about the fact that Dormammu apparently remembers him. As his armour flies towards him and reassembles piece by piece, Harry shakes his head.
Looking towards Doombot, who keeps the book he was reading down, Harry says, "Now that the distraction is over with, let's continue with the test. After all, I have just one more month before you leave for Hogwarts."
"Is that confirmed then? We will be studying at Hogwarts?" Doombot asks, booting the system up.
Harry nods and says, "You will, yes. Hogwarts, at this time, does not contain the level of education I require if I intend to fight and defeat all my enemies. And it seems at least one old enemy of ours still remembers us."
As the machine they were working on before being interrupted starts up, and a green glow emits all around them, Harry says, "Doom.. deserves the best. And Hogwarts, the professors may be Masters of their arts but they are not the best. Except maybe perhaps the Headmaster. And the Time Platform.. It will help me learn from the best in every subject there is across time. Once we perfect it, Time will be ours to play with. And you, my Doombot, will be me till I return."
——
A/N: A long chapter, and maybe not too much happened here. Was the attitude of Albus and TAO odd here? Suggestions will be appreciated.
Don't ask what the professors are doing at Hogwarts in the summer; THE PLOT DEMANDED IT!
I purposefully avoided Dormammu dropping Harry's old name, because that's just stupid this early in the story.
But the hints are enough to make both Dumbledore and TAO suspect that something is up. No clue what, if anything, this fact will lead to.
Just an FYI: Richards, Doom, the Fantastic four, the X-men, they don't exist in this Universe. This is purely the MCU or the Earth 199999, only crossed over with Harry Potter. Let's call it Earth 198989 for the story's sake.
Also, sorry about the Bell puns lol, couldn't help myself!
Thank you for reading!
Tata!