"Temporal Boundary Invasions": Chapter IX - The Dark Pursuit
Title: Harry Potter and the Temporal Boundary Invasions
Chapter Title: IX: The Dark Pursuit
Fandoms: Harry Potter/multiple
Story Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word count: ~4,095
Warning(s): Coarse language.
Summary: Harry defeats Tom Riddle once and for all, but with nothing to live for, he leaps through the veil. Being thrown back in time was NOT the plan… Did the universe actually HATE him that much? The recovery of an ancient magical artefact may have the answers, and he just may gain a few powerful allies along the way... Part I: Encounters with an up-and-coming Muggle rock band.
Disclaimer: See first chapter
IX: THE DARK PURSUIT
OR, MATT EXPERIENCES MORE HORRORS FROM VOLDEMORT
Harry awoke to a dimly-lit room, the waxing light of day starting to make its presence felt through the fake window. Once again he had slept very poorly, and a soft grunt from beside him let Harry know that for the second night in a row, he was not alone. 'Note to self,' thought Harry, as his eyes adjusted to the light, 'Silencing charms on the door from here on out.' Matt had again slept in Harry's bed. So what had it been this time? Right, the 'grave yard' scene, with an ugly substitution. Had Matt seen it? He'd already shared two of Harry's nasty nightmares, so it wouldn't surprise him. He slowly sat up, and gesturing with his hand, lit the lamps.
"You were screaming again this morning," said Lily, from her portrait. Harry only nodded, gesturing to Matt's sleeping form. "I know. I'll use silencing charms on the door from now on."
"But if you do that, Prongslet, you'll be sleeping alone," James smirked from his side of the portrait.
"Dad!" Harry tossed one of his socks at the portrait. Suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door. "Harry!!!"
"What? Come in," Harry answered. The door flew open and Jiro rushed in bringing the map. "I… the map… just here." He dropped the map on Harry's lap. Matt had been startled awake by the loud noise, and was trying to gain his bearings.
"Death Eaters," Harry breathed, seeing the labels on the map-it had been charmed to flag Death Eaters by the dark mark, and display one beside their name. There were eight of them, and they were closing in on their location, quickly.
"Here," said Harry, tossing a pillow at Jiro, "Make us a port key. I don't care where." Jiro only nodded, touching the pillow with his wand. "Portus. I'm able to move the trunk, right?"
"You should."
"Great. Be right back, then." He disapparated with a soft POP. Harry turned his attention back to the map, and was just in time to watch the map go completely haywire for several moments. Harry had to suppress a snicker as the map seemed to be completely disoriented for a few seconds.
"What's wrong with it?" questioned Matt.
"Port key. The map's trying to draw the surroundings, but we're moving so fast it can't keep up with it-there…" said Harry, as the map was finally able to sort out the surroundings. It looked like they were still in the city, but no place Harry was familiar with.
"This thing's like a GPS unit."
"A what?"
"A GPS unit… oh right, you've never heard of them," said Matt, "I guess it's the non-magical version of your map. Nowhere near as advanced as this is-" he gestured at the map, "-but pretty useful anyway."
"Oh. My best friend's father would find that fascinating, I think." Just then, Jiro stepped into the room. "They're probably tracking us. If they hit our house, no doubt they'll be looking into other places we frequent. Good thing I don't have anyone important."
"Well good for you, Einstein!" Matt hissed, narrowing his eyes, "Holy fuck!"
"Guys."
"Sorry, I… I didn't mean it that way."
"Mate, you really need to think before you open your mouth," said Harry, shaking his head, "These guys all have family… and there's just no way we could ever protect everyone." The teen's frustration was not lost on Matt nor Jiro.
"So where are we now?" questioned Matt, casting another dark look at Jiro.
"We're now in the baggage car of a train destined for Vancouver," answered Jiro, "Or, at least, the train leaves in about fifteen minutes."
"Did you guys get your letters finished?" questioned Harry.
"Yeah," answered Matt, nodding.
"We better get those in the mail too."
"I'll bug the others for theirs." Matt got up and left the room.
"He slept with you again?" questioned Jiro.
"Well… not with, so much, but… I don't want to get into it, okay?"
"Hey, I'm not gonna pry. He likes you, whether he wants to admit it or not."
"Doubt he likes me THAT way. Never mind the fact I already have a boyfriend. He'd likely castrate me if I even harboured THOUGHTS about… well…"
"Right," Jiro smiled, "Exactly what Zack would do. Anyway… you still don't know what kind of music they play, do you?"
"No, not really."
"I think Zack's actually got a few of their tracks on his computer."
"Not exactly one of my priorities right now though," answered Harry, gesturing at the messy bed with his hand, causing it to make itself. "Today, I'll help you guys set up a flat for yourselves. That's if you have something for me to work from. And I could use your help."
"Sure."
The next order of business, however, was to get the letters into the mail. Harry gestured at each one with his hand, muttering an incantation, dropping them onto the drawing table.
"What are you doing to them?" questioned Jay, suspiciously. He had come out to the common room looking for Matt.
"Applying secrecy charms and Confundus charms," answered Harry, "The Confundus charm will make the post office deliver it without questioning why there's no stamp on it… all right, that's it. Jiro. If you'll do the honours."
"Yep." He snatched up the letters, and disapparated with a light POP.
"Still fucking weird, seeing him do that," said Jay, shaking his head.
"It'll get weirder than that," said Harry, with a grin, "As far as the magic world, you've not seen anything yet."
Once Jiro returned to the trunk, Harry got to work setting up their flat. He decided to put their unit under the main floor, and so an entrance hall was built, where the ladder was placed, along with a staircase leading down. From there, it would open into a large combined common room and kitchen, with an island counter. Two rooms went off of it, one being a study with a wide opening, while the other was a bedroom. Finally, a bathroom was set off the common room beside the entry hall.
By supper time, Harry had only managed to complete the common room, even with Jiro's help. Matt had once again decided to watch, along with Padge, this time. He hadn't shown his face all that much the past couple of days, choosing to spend most of his time in his room. Come to think of it, the others were making themselves scarce as well, and it did make sense. They were losing everything, everyone they knew, and were powerless to do anything about it. Death Eaters showing up at Jiro's house drove home the point: it was dangerous for them in this world. Voldemort would hunt high and low, and being Muggles, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Once supper was over, Harry turned his attention to the roughed in room that would become the study. It ran behind the kitchen, and was accessed by the corridor that led to the bedrooms. Harry's room in fact was directly across from it.
While he worked, his mind fell back on the failed Doppelganger charm. The stuff he was doing here and now could be just as complicated, and yet, he could practically do it blindfolded! It was one of the great mysteries of magic. How some things could come to him instantly, while others he had to fight tooth and nail to achieve.
He laid out the study very much like a small section of the library at Hogwarts. Two large work tables took up the centre, with a number of shelves toward the back of the room. They would eventually be filled with books and journals-after all, there were a ton of books in the family vault at Gringotts.
At the front of the room, there was another fireplace which he would hook up to the floo once they got back into his own world. It was sunk into a sort of pit, with three couches arranged in front of it, with a coffee table between them.
The room itself was two storeys high, and had large, floor to ceiling windows at the back of it-fake of course, but still let in volumes of light. The room was lit with antique gas lamps, much like the rest of the flat, although the 'gas' was an endless supply, conjured as needed. It was one of those charms so complicated, yet one he could do in his sleep.
His activities were interrupted as Fawkes flamed in and landed on one of the chairs at the work tables.
"Hello Fawkes. Oh, you brought mail, did you? Cedric misses me, does he?" Harry grinned, relieving Fawkes of his letters. He quickly conjured up a perch, and the bird happily took to it, looking at Harry expectantly.
The first was another letter from Sirius.
Harry,
What's going on, pup? It's been two weeks since we've heard from you and everyone's starting to get a little bent. We finally convinced Dumbledore to let us borrow Fawkes, since he seems to know where you are.
Speaking of Dumbledore, he's been working diligently to get me a hearing in front of the Wizengamot, so just perhaps, I may actually get my name cleared, and be a proper godfather to you.
I do hope you are still okay, let us know how you're doing.
Love,
Sirius.
Well, that was a little strange! He'd only spoke with them the other day, hadn't he? To miss TWO WEEKS that way? That was just ridiculous. On to the next letter, then. As expected, this one was from Cedric.
Harry,
Tell me you are okay. I know Sirius probably already said something along the same line, but we're all worried! I'm beyond worried. I almost demanded Fawkes bring me to you, but… I don't know what's happening there. Dumbledore didn't think it would be safe, and I guess I have to agree.
However, you can't just forget about us, Harry. I'm your love, your BOYFRIEND! (Harry could see the writing was very jagged and uneven, very uncharacteristic for Cedric)
Write back to us, and put everyone at ease, okay?
Love, your very WORRIED mate,
Cedric
Harry turned to Fawkes. "If it happens again, bring them here, okay?" The bird seemed to blink and nod. "In the meantime, I'll send back a note so they know I'm all right."
"Harry-Holy shit!" said Jiro, spotting the bird.
"This is Fawkes," Harry introduced.
"Dumbledore's phoenix," said Jiro, "I've never seen him before."
"He's been helping me on occasion as of late… and he did save my life in second year. Dumbledore thinks I share a strong bond with him."
"Harry… oh, hey Fawkes," said Matt, stepping into the room. The bird again shifted on his perch, and called out a happy musical note in greeting.
"Hey, how come 'I' didn't get that greeting?" questioned Jiro.
"Maybe he knows you're a prick," answered Matt, sarcastically, plopping into a seat at the work tables. Jiro glared at the guy, and choosing not to retort, said, "Just wanted to say thanks for… for your help this afternoon with our flat."
"We'll finish it tomorrow."
"So if Fawkes is here… has he deserted Dumbledore?"
"NO! Why would you think that?" questioned Harry, rather shocked. The phoenix ruffled his feathers, looking at Jiro strangely, as if to say, 'Why would I do a thing like that?'
"Well, if he's spending time around someone other than the one he's bonded with… that can't be a good sign," Jiro pointed out.
"And that would be the stupidest answer I've ever heard," Harry retorted, "Merlin, that's just well… wow. I know things are different in your world… but in mine, Dumbledore is a great man. He definitely has an agenda, I know that, but… at the same time, his intentions are only for the best. I see him as a strong ally, someone needed just as much as I am."
"Yeah, after he sacrifices everyone around you for the 'greater good'… You know he was in cohorts with Grindelwald, don't you?"
"Who's Grindelwald?" questioned Matt, pulling out a smoke. Harry once again conjured up an ashtray and slid it across the table.
"The dark wizard BEFORE you-know-who," answered Jiro, "He and Dumbledore were best friends-although it was rumoured Dumbledore wanted it to be more than that."
"Jesus Christ, is EVERYONE in the magic world gay or something?" questioned Matt, who then took a long drag off his smoke. Harry burst out laughing, and Jiro couldn't hide the smirk from his face. Harry knew he was tying to think of a smart comment. "Right. Well, no. I mean, we have to create new witches and wizards right?" That got another smirk from Jiro.
"Don't tell me guys can get pregnant." Harry again burst out laughing, and this time Jiro joined him.
"Oh my God, that's completely bonkers," Jiro finally managed, "Dude, we might be magical, but well… we're not THAT magical." He took a few more moments to collect himself, then said, "So where was I… right… Grindelwald and Dumbledore. You know Dumbledore gave Grindelwald some of the ideas about conquering Muggles, right?"
"Yeah, Rita Skeeter's WONDERFUL biography laid it out clear as mud," Harry retorted, "You're not telling me anything new."
"He's dangerous, Harry. think about it… his own slogan, 'For the Greater Good' ended up over the gates at Nurmengard."
"Where was that?" Matt asked.
"Another Wizarding prison. Grindelwald is being kept there now-at least in my world," Harry explained, "Still. Dumbledore is an old man. He made a few stupid mistakes in his life… much as I already have. Show me one person in this world that's perfect. I'd PAY you to do that." Just then, Zachariah walked in, seeming to be looking for someone. "Wondered where you got to," he said, sliding up to Jiro, "Come to bed, it's late."
"Tempus," said Harry, gesturing with an index finger. '11:30 p' wafted from the tip. "Shit, so it is. I've still got letters to write."
"We'll leave you to it, then," said Jiro. Without another word, he grabbed Zachariah, and they popped away.
"What did you need?" Harry gestured at Matt.
"Wondered what you were doing."
"Oh. Just finishing the study here. Even if I'm here in your world, I still have stuff to do."
"Makes sense."
Harry kept both letters relatively short, and secured both to one of Fawkes' legs. "All right. Take those to Sirius and Cedric. And remember what I said." The bird only nodded, then opened his wings and vanished in a burst of golden flames.
"Your dream last night… is that how Cedric died?"
"Yeah. But it wasn't Cedric this time, you and I both know that," said Harry, standing, "It's a revolving door of everyone I ever cared about, all put in that scene at one point. Fate's way of torturing me, I guess."
"You woke up screaming and I checked on you."
"Thanks… again. I'm sorry you have to live my nightmares. Don't worry about it, I'll be all right. I'll make sure you won't be disturbed by my outbursts in the middle of the night from now on."
"How can you do that?"
"Silencing charms."
"Ain't gonna stop ME from experiencing them, though," Matt huffed. Understandably, the dreams were disturbing him just as much.
"I'll get you a dreamless sleep potion… better not to use them unless you absolutely have to though, they're highly addictive."
Stopping at his door, he made several gestures at it. 'No more waking up the rest of the flat', he thought bitterly to himself. It was one of those things he truly wished he could get rid of… but it was impossible. Occlumency only helped one to manage and protect one's thoughts… not get rid of them. Self-obliviation was dangerous at best-Lockhart was a VERY good example of that.
"The pain will end if you just tell me what I need to know, Miss Spencer," spoke a cold, high, voice. The object of his attention lay on the floor, writhing, her screams virtually drowning out the voice. It abruptly ended, and the woman lay there, heaving for several seconds. "You just have to answer my question. Where is Matthew Tuck?"
"I… I don't know! Why, what-"
"Crucio." The woman screamed yet again, as she fell under the unforgivable. "I have little patience for filthy Muggles. Yet, there is one I currently desire above all others. I will find him. Believe me when I say, I will find him." He held the curse for several minutes, and finally ended it. This time the woman stared up with a blank expression on her face, unresponsive.
"Most unfortunate. Avada Kedavra." The scene was filled with a bright green flash.
Harry's eyes snapped open to the light of early morning, feeling his scar aching. He had witnessed Voldemort torturing people before, so it was nothing new. This was slightly different though. What time was it-SMASH! Something slammed into the other side of the wall-Matt's room, Harry realized. He didn't bother to dress, and wasted little time going out into the corridor and knocking on Matt's door.
"Hey… what was that?" Harry turned to find Padge standing in the doorway to his room, looking concerned, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes.
"I'll take care of it," answered Harry, knocking again, "You won't understand."
"He was my friend long before he met you," Padge snapped.
"Matt? It's Harry. Are you all right?" No answer.
"Let me." Padge knocked. "Matt… what's going on?" Still no response. Harry didn't bother calling again, but simply threw open the door.
Matt was sitting on his bed, his face in his hands. He was shaking all over, sweat glistening on his tanned skin. Most certainly, he had just witnessed the same nightmare. He looked up at the intruders, his face a mask of anger and hurt. Harry could see beyond the mask, however, and behind it lay a shattered spirit. Whoever it was, she was important to him. Sister? Girlfriend? Most likely his girlfriend.
Harry said nothing, but took a seat beside him. Padge on the other hand, persisted, asking, "What happened?"
"Don't want to talk about it," was Matt's shaky, but curt answer. Padge only nodded, but said, "I'm here if you need to talk, so are the other guys." He gave a questioning look at Harry.
"Kreacher," Harry called. It took several moments, but the old elf popped into the room. It looked like he had been woken up. "Master Harry call for Kreacher?" he croaked.
"Sorry to wake you, but I need a claming draught from my stores."
"Kreacher is fetching one right away," and the elf vanished with a pop.
"I know how it feels," said Harry, daring to put an arm around the older man's shoulder. Matt flinched, but did not protest. "He's taken every single person I've ever cared about from me. I know I will lose people this time, too. It's just the way he is."
"But… why?" His voice was still uneven.
"He's evil… just the way he-"
"Why am I seeing this shit? Why do I keep seeing your fucked up dreams, Harry? I can't HANDLE that!"
"I don't know the entire answer to that… but you have some of my blood now. We share a bond, something like what I share with you-know-who." Just then, Kreacher appeared, bringing a calming draught. Matt consumed it without hesitation. It was either that, or he was going to explode again. "Thank you." The elf only bowed low, and popped away. Harry banished the empty vial, then said, "You'll be sleeping in my room from now on." That got a strange look from Padge, and a scowl from Matt. "I don't need a babysitter."
"Err… and neither did 'I' when you slept in my bed two nights in a row. It's either that or I stun you every night."
"So he had a nightmare?" questioned Padge.
"Guys… everything all right?" questioned Jiro, joining Padge at the door.
"Christie… he murdered Christie," said Matt, quietly. He had stopped shaking, the potion having the desired effect. Harry gestured with his index finger, muttering under his breath. 'Cheering charm should help', he thought. Jiro left, seeing everything was well in hand. He knew there was no point in sticking around.
"What did you do?"
"Cheering charm," answered Harry, "Feel a bit better?" Matt nodded.
"If you need anything… come knock," said Padge, "I'm going back to bed." By the sound of his voice, he wasn't happy about the situation. Of course, then again, none of them were. Harry could easily pick up the irritation in the forefront of the guy's mind, he didn't have to dig far.
Matt, on the other hand, was a scramble of nerves and emotions, even after the calming draught AND a cheering charm. Of course, he had just lost someone very close to him. By the looks of it things weren't all that hot between them at present, but Harry knew that meant nothing really. To have an intimate relationship with someone changes things forever, after all. To lose that person is a massive blow, no matter how close or distant they are at the time.(1)
"C'mon, let's go back to my room," Harry decided, "You can come make fun of me trying to learn that charm."
"Sure." It wasn't enthusiastic, but it was an answer nonetheless. "Let me get dressed."
"Right. If I don't see you in five minutes-" Matt had already stood, and was sliding into a pair of long shorts. "After you…"
Harry had just made himself comfortable on the bed, the journal again open on his lap. Matt had said nothing but had occupied the opposite side of the four-poster, and had pulled out his notebook-Harry couldn't see how one would want to write in such a terrible mood. Suddenly, there was a loud THUD, and the entire place shook.
"Accio map," said Harry, holding out a hand-it had been placed back out on the drawing table. Moments later said object fluttered into Harry's hand. "Merlin's balls!" he swore. Nearly twenty Death Eaters were swarming around the trunk, including one Tom M. Riddle.
There was no chance to copy what he had done last time. Since he hadn't seen outside the trunk when Jiro had moved it, he couldn't apparate out there.
"Harry?! What's going on?" Jiro appeared in the doorway, appearing confused.
"Fawkes," Harry spoke, praying to everything holy the bird would hear. If not, they were as good as dead. Another loud BANG rang through the trunk, and it again shook, this time a little stronger. Matt had looked over, and he already knew what was going on. "We're dead," he said, gesturing weakly at the map. Another loud BANG. Suddenly, with a flash of golden flames, Dumbledore's familiar appeared, and lit over to Harry, looking at him as if to say, 'What can I do?'
"Fawkes. Can you collect the trunk?" Harry gestured at the map. "Take us home."
Voldemort was quite pleased with himself, and to a much lesser extent, his loyal followers. They had done very well tracking down the boy-who-lived-from-another-dimension and that filthy Muggle that dared attack him. They had located the train as it left Banff heading westbound, and stormed aboard, searching it from end to end. They had brought six Dementors along, and they were allowed to feast on the unsuspecting passengers on the train.
They at last stormed into the second baggage car, and the Dark Lord wasted no time, blasting through the hundreds of pieces of luggage, uncovering the magical trunk he had encountered a few days before. However, before he and his Death Eaters could get too many hits on it, a brilliant red phoenix burst into being with a blaze of golden flames, snagged the trunk, and vanished the same way he appeared. Somehow, the Dark Lord knew at once his hunt was over. Wherever the phoenix was going with the trunk, it was somewhere far beyond his reach.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
(1) My grandmother and grandfather died less than twenty-four hours apart, even though they had been divorced for a number of years. On top of that, when they passed away, my grandfather lived in Thunder Bay, Ontario, while my grandmother lived in New Brunswick, something like 1,800 miles apart. I rest my case.
PREVIOUS CHAPTER: VIII - NIGHTMARES OF A FUTURE PAST
NEXT CHAPTER: X - UNITED AND SEVERED
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