Due Time
Title: Due Time
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Harry, Hermione, Tom Riddle, Dumbledore
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Less than honorable intentions
Word count: 1360
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for: Birthday gift for aubergineautumn, who gave me the prompts Harry, Riddle, revenge, time travel on Halloween. I don't believe this is what you had in mind. It's not what I had in mind, either, but I began writing, and this is how it unfolded.
Summary: Harry is out for revenge.
"Harry, it's too dangerous."
"You're having me on," said Harry, favoring Hermione with a tight smile. "You're the one who spent most of a term casually using a Time-Turner when you were only thirteen years old."
Hermione scowled, unhappy with his logic. "That was different."
Harry responded with a short laugh. "Different how?"
"I used a Time-Turner to travel hours, not years," she replied. "And, yes, I'm the one who recently figured out how to use it for longer increments, but just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done."
"What's the worst that can happen?" teased Harry. "Ow!" he yelped when Hermione smacked his chest.
"You could die, you idiot!"
Harry rubbed his chest then pulled his friend in for a hug. "I won't die."
"Do you promise?" she mumbled against his shoulder.
"Yes."
"Idiot."
After rushing into the nearest bathroom to purge the contents of his stomach, Harry took stock. He'd arrived where he wanted to, now he had to hope he'd arrived when he wanted.
He was wearing his old Gryffindor robes and tie to blend in. For once he was glad of his smaller stature. With luck, anyone who saw him would think he was one of the younger students, not an accomplished adult wizard. However, he'd like not to be seen at all. With that in mind, Harry swept his Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders and strode quietly through the halls of Hogwarts
Harry glanced left and right before descending into the dungeons. He ducked into an alcove to await his quarry.
It was Halloween, the night Voldemort had killed Harry's parents. Only, he hadn't killed them yet. In this place and time he was still Tom Riddle, nascent madman. Harry had reasoned that by coming back and eliminating Riddle now, he would be saving so many lives: his parents, his godfather, Professor Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Cedric, even Hedwig. Harry had done his best to convince Hermione that his intentions were good, but the truth was he was out for revenge, plain and simple.
Harry settled in for a long wait. He could afford to be patient; he had time on his side.
Harry came to full alertness. He hadn't fallen asleep; he was standing upright after all, but he had dropped into a restful state. Surviving a war had taught him to snatch rest whenever he could. That was another advantage Harry had over Riddle--he'd been through a war.
The portrait hole to Slytherin had opened and Riddle stepped out. He looked left and right, much as Harry had done earlier, before making his furtive way towards the staircase that led up and out of the dungeons.
Harry tugged his cloak over his head and followed. His soft-soled trainers didn't make a sound as he trailed after Riddle. When he turned down a familiar corridor on the first floor, Harry knew that Riddle was headed for the library. The other boy paused outside the locked door, looked around again, then cast Alohomora before slipping into the library.
Heart pounding in anticipation, Harry quickened his pace to catch up. It would be almost poetic to take Riddle out in the library, especially if it occurred in the restricted section. Generations of students forever after would be too scared to brave it, having heard the grim tale of the boy who was found dead there. Harry grinned as he wondered if Hermione would be dissuaded.
Harry's musings came to an abrupt halt when he smacked into a solid body that had just stepped from a narrow side corridor. His cloak dropped to his feet, and Harry found himself looking into a familiar face.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
"Harry, what are you doing creeping about the castle this late at night?"
"I...I was just..." Harry's voice trailed off. "Wait. How did you recognize me, Professor?"
Even in the dim light, Harry swore Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Come, let's go to my office and have a cup of tea, shall we?" Dumbledore took Harry by the arm and began leading him away from the library. Harry snatched his cloak up as he was tugged in Dumbledore's wake.
In short order, he was slumped in a chair across the desk from Dumbledore as the professor poured them each a cup of tea. These quarters were smaller, not like the opulent office Dumbledore would occupy once he became Headmaster. He pushed a bowl of candy closer to Harry. "Lemon drop?"
Harry's throat closed, and his eyes pricked with moisture. He shook his head and reached for the tea instead, taking a bracing sip.
"What brings you here and now, Harry?"
Harry sighed. The jig was up. He didn't know how or why, but he consoled himself with the fact that he'd never been able to get one over on Dumbledore. Why should here and now be any different?
"I was desperate," he admitted.
"Desperate, or angry?"
Harry toyed with his cup. "Both."
"You've traveled a long time to get here."
"How did you know?"
Dumbledore smiled, and his eyes twinkled again. "A prophecy."
Harry heaved another sigh. "Story of my life."
"I'd like to know the story of your life, but I suspect that will come in due time, yes?"
Harry sat up straight, lifting his chin with determination. "I can save so many lives," he said.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, much shorter than Harry remembered it being. "And then what?" he asked.
"Wh...what?" Harry stammered.
"Making even a small change in history can have large consequences, Harry."
Harry's mouth fell open. "But, you're the one who convinced us to go back in time and save Sirius!" he exclaimed in outrage.
"I did?" asked Dumbledore, looking rather chuffed. "It's comforting to know I won't become a completely stodgy codger."
Ridiculous. This entire conversation was ridiculous, and Harry sank back in his chair and chuckled weakly. "No, never that," he said softly.
"Harry, I understand that your intentions are good. However, if your actions here and now save many future lives, everything will be irrevocably changed when you return. Some people may, for instance, marry someone different, and children you know will never be born. Did you take that into consideration?"
Harry couldn't answer him. No, he hadn't thought about that. He'd only wanted his parents and Sirius and a world without war. Taking Riddle out before he became a soulless megalomaniac had made perfect sense at the time. Leave it to Dumbledore to unravel all of that.
Still, Harry found himself unwilling to let it go. "He deserves to die," he said flatly, meeting Dumbledore's eyes.
"You're not a murderer, Harry."
"You don't know that."
"Don't I?"
Harry reached for a lemon drop and popped it into his mouth to stall for time.
Dumbledore smiled at him again. A wise, gentle, knowing smile. "Drink your tea and go home, Harry."
Dropping his eyes, Harry said only, "You'll keep an eye on him?"
"I already am."
"But, you don't know--" He broke off when Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Small changes can have large consequences."
Harry swallowed heavily and gave a single, reluctant nod. If his parents had put him on the Hogwarts Express, would he have shared a compartment with Ron and Hermione? What if Tonks married someone else and Teddy was never born? The enormity of what he'd nearly wrought was overwhelming. Hermione had tried to talk him out of his scheme, but it had taken Dumbledore's calm reasoning to get through to him.
Harry nodded once more, this time to himself. He drained his tea cup and stood, pulling the Time-Turner out from beneath his shirt. He held it clasped loosely in one hand and simply stood there a moment, gazing at Dumbledore.
"It was good to see you again, Professor," he said, his voice breaking slightly at the end.
Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you for an interesting evening, Harry. I look forward to meeting you again in due time."
Harry produced a wobbly smile before manipulating the Time-Turner to take him back to when and where he belonged. His vision wavered an instant before he was whisked away, his Invisibility Cloak forgotten in the chair he'd occupied.
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Harry, Hermione, Tom Riddle, Dumbledore
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Less than honorable intentions
Word count: 1360
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for: Birthday gift for aubergineautumn, who gave me the prompts Harry, Riddle, revenge, time travel on Halloween. I don't believe this is what you had in mind. It's not what I had in mind, either, but I began writing, and this is how it unfolded.
Summary: Harry is out for revenge.
"Harry, it's too dangerous."
"You're having me on," said Harry, favoring Hermione with a tight smile. "You're the one who spent most of a term casually using a Time-Turner when you were only thirteen years old."
Hermione scowled, unhappy with his logic. "That was different."
Harry responded with a short laugh. "Different how?"
"I used a Time-Turner to travel hours, not years," she replied. "And, yes, I'm the one who recently figured out how to use it for longer increments, but just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done."
"What's the worst that can happen?" teased Harry. "Ow!" he yelped when Hermione smacked his chest.
"You could die, you idiot!"
Harry rubbed his chest then pulled his friend in for a hug. "I won't die."
"Do you promise?" she mumbled against his shoulder.
"Yes."
"Idiot."
After rushing into the nearest bathroom to purge the contents of his stomach, Harry took stock. He'd arrived where he wanted to, now he had to hope he'd arrived when he wanted.
He was wearing his old Gryffindor robes and tie to blend in. For once he was glad of his smaller stature. With luck, anyone who saw him would think he was one of the younger students, not an accomplished adult wizard. However, he'd like not to be seen at all. With that in mind, Harry swept his Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders and strode quietly through the halls of Hogwarts
Harry glanced left and right before descending into the dungeons. He ducked into an alcove to await his quarry.
It was Halloween, the night Voldemort had killed Harry's parents. Only, he hadn't killed them yet. In this place and time he was still Tom Riddle, nascent madman. Harry had reasoned that by coming back and eliminating Riddle now, he would be saving so many lives: his parents, his godfather, Professor Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Cedric, even Hedwig. Harry had done his best to convince Hermione that his intentions were good, but the truth was he was out for revenge, plain and simple.
Harry settled in for a long wait. He could afford to be patient; he had time on his side.
Harry came to full alertness. He hadn't fallen asleep; he was standing upright after all, but he had dropped into a restful state. Surviving a war had taught him to snatch rest whenever he could. That was another advantage Harry had over Riddle--he'd been through a war.
The portrait hole to Slytherin had opened and Riddle stepped out. He looked left and right, much as Harry had done earlier, before making his furtive way towards the staircase that led up and out of the dungeons.
Harry tugged his cloak over his head and followed. His soft-soled trainers didn't make a sound as he trailed after Riddle. When he turned down a familiar corridor on the first floor, Harry knew that Riddle was headed for the library. The other boy paused outside the locked door, looked around again, then cast Alohomora before slipping into the library.
Heart pounding in anticipation, Harry quickened his pace to catch up. It would be almost poetic to take Riddle out in the library, especially if it occurred in the restricted section. Generations of students forever after would be too scared to brave it, having heard the grim tale of the boy who was found dead there. Harry grinned as he wondered if Hermione would be dissuaded.
Harry's musings came to an abrupt halt when he smacked into a solid body that had just stepped from a narrow side corridor. His cloak dropped to his feet, and Harry found himself looking into a familiar face.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
"Harry, what are you doing creeping about the castle this late at night?"
"I...I was just..." Harry's voice trailed off. "Wait. How did you recognize me, Professor?"
Even in the dim light, Harry swore Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Come, let's go to my office and have a cup of tea, shall we?" Dumbledore took Harry by the arm and began leading him away from the library. Harry snatched his cloak up as he was tugged in Dumbledore's wake.
In short order, he was slumped in a chair across the desk from Dumbledore as the professor poured them each a cup of tea. These quarters were smaller, not like the opulent office Dumbledore would occupy once he became Headmaster. He pushed a bowl of candy closer to Harry. "Lemon drop?"
Harry's throat closed, and his eyes pricked with moisture. He shook his head and reached for the tea instead, taking a bracing sip.
"What brings you here and now, Harry?"
Harry sighed. The jig was up. He didn't know how or why, but he consoled himself with the fact that he'd never been able to get one over on Dumbledore. Why should here and now be any different?
"I was desperate," he admitted.
"Desperate, or angry?"
Harry toyed with his cup. "Both."
"You've traveled a long time to get here."
"How did you know?"
Dumbledore smiled, and his eyes twinkled again. "A prophecy."
Harry heaved another sigh. "Story of my life."
"I'd like to know the story of your life, but I suspect that will come in due time, yes?"
Harry sat up straight, lifting his chin with determination. "I can save so many lives," he said.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, much shorter than Harry remembered it being. "And then what?" he asked.
"Wh...what?" Harry stammered.
"Making even a small change in history can have large consequences, Harry."
Harry's mouth fell open. "But, you're the one who convinced us to go back in time and save Sirius!" he exclaimed in outrage.
"I did?" asked Dumbledore, looking rather chuffed. "It's comforting to know I won't become a completely stodgy codger."
Ridiculous. This entire conversation was ridiculous, and Harry sank back in his chair and chuckled weakly. "No, never that," he said softly.
"Harry, I understand that your intentions are good. However, if your actions here and now save many future lives, everything will be irrevocably changed when you return. Some people may, for instance, marry someone different, and children you know will never be born. Did you take that into consideration?"
Harry couldn't answer him. No, he hadn't thought about that. He'd only wanted his parents and Sirius and a world without war. Taking Riddle out before he became a soulless megalomaniac had made perfect sense at the time. Leave it to Dumbledore to unravel all of that.
Still, Harry found himself unwilling to let it go. "He deserves to die," he said flatly, meeting Dumbledore's eyes.
"You're not a murderer, Harry."
"You don't know that."
"Don't I?"
Harry reached for a lemon drop and popped it into his mouth to stall for time.
Dumbledore smiled at him again. A wise, gentle, knowing smile. "Drink your tea and go home, Harry."
Dropping his eyes, Harry said only, "You'll keep an eye on him?"
"I already am."
"But, you don't know--" He broke off when Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Small changes can have large consequences."
Harry swallowed heavily and gave a single, reluctant nod. If his parents had put him on the Hogwarts Express, would he have shared a compartment with Ron and Hermione? What if Tonks married someone else and Teddy was never born? The enormity of what he'd nearly wrought was overwhelming. Hermione had tried to talk him out of his scheme, but it had taken Dumbledore's calm reasoning to get through to him.
Harry nodded once more, this time to himself. He drained his tea cup and stood, pulling the Time-Turner out from beneath his shirt. He held it clasped loosely in one hand and simply stood there a moment, gazing at Dumbledore.
"It was good to see you again, Professor," he said, his voice breaking slightly at the end.
Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you for an interesting evening, Harry. I look forward to meeting you again in due time."
Harry produced a wobbly smile before manipulating the Time-Turner to take him back to when and where he belonged. His vision wavered an instant before he was whisked away, his Invisibility Cloak forgotten in the chair he'd occupied.