“Aurors…” Harry whispered to himself. “Like
Mad-Eye Moody…”
“Hey, did you know my Uncle Ron’s actually an
Auror? Cool huh?”
It took a full five seconds for Michael’s words to
process through Harry’s mind.
“Uncle What?” He said, half panicky, half
amused, half stunned.
“My Uncle Ron. And My Aunt Hermie too. They’re
aurors. Heehee. With all my clan members I can't seem to keep track anymore.”
This was getting way in over Harry’s head. Ron and
Hermione…aurors? These were not at all their intended ambitions. Well, at
least not the last time he spoke to them. Then again, now that he was in the
future…
“I wonder what else has changed in the course of
me getting sucked here…”
Without a second thought, Harry ran towards the site
where the aurors were landing, ignoring Michael’s calls.
He quickly scanned the crowd. Half the aurors landed
and the other half continued flying toward the burning Hogwarts. He looked back
at the group in front of him. He spotted a tall man. Thin, fiery red hair, stern
but determined face…bingo.
He was about to approach the man when someone tackled
him from behind.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing! You
said you were a delinquent! Not an Azkaban escapee!” Michael scolded him,
dragging him back towards the other students.
“You don’t understand!” Harry cried out,
wrestling Michael back. “This is important! I’ve got to – “
He got cut short by the same voice that kept calling
out orders since earlier that night.
“What is this racket!? What is going on here!
We’re in a state of crisis for god’s sake! You kids!”
A very tall, very dark, very wrinkled, very scary
looking man approached Harry and Michael.
“Speak now or forever hold your peace boys…”
The man said, obviously very distracted, annoyed and dangerous.
“I’m sorry Headmaster Longbottom, sir! James here
was just so traumatized by the incident that he lost himself! Please forgive us
sir!”
Headmaster Longbottom ?
Harry was in a total state of shock now.
“How about you! James is it? 250 from Gryffindor!
What have you got to say for yourself?!”
Harry was silent.
“I told you sir, it’s trauma. Perhaps if we just
return to our shelters – “
“You aren’t here to give me orders Weasley!
Another 250 from Gryffindor!”
“Aww man…” Michael said under his breath,
helping the limp Harry to his feet. “That’s 500.”
Before he could turn around, a younger voice
intervened.
“Come on Nev. Cut them some slack. These are
difficult times, especially for children.”
Harry snapped back to reality. His head shot up to
reveal…
“Grumble…all right Ron. Only because you’re an
Auror now. You’re off the hook boys.” Hogwarts Headmaster Neville Longbottom
said, eyeing them.
“Phew!” Michael wiped the sweat beads off his
forehead. “Thanks Uncle Ron.”
“No problem Michael.” Ron said smiling. “I know
what it feels like to be in trouble at school. So who’s you’re friend?” He
asked, seeing Harry, who had been staring at him.
“I’m James!” Harry cried out.
“Whoa, relax James. We’ll get this under control
in no time.” Ron replied, still speaking as if nothing happened. “We’ve
handled cases like this before.”
Suddenly, a beautiful blonde woman called out from
behind them.
“Ron! We need you here! Quick!”
Ron looked back at her and smiled. “I’m
coming!”
He turned to Harry and Michael. “Well boys, Aunt
Hermione’s calling. Gotta Work. Go on ahead to your shelters, kay?”
“You got it!” Michael said as Neville and Ron
walked away.
He and Harry started off into the opposite direction
to the 'shelter'.
Harry was in a daze. He had no idea what was going
on, where he was, or what to do. No use being reckless he told himself. I’ve
been in tough situations before, and I’ve always found my out.
But at the back of his mind, he knew this was
different. Hogwarts had never intentionally been set on fire before.
' '
'
' '
A 28-year-old Ronald Weasley walked over to a small group of huddled Aurors alongside <facially>50-year-old Neville Longbottom. He rembered his nephew’s friend James. It has been so
long he though to himself. So much has
happened…and yet I remember it all…
That boy James had somehow triggered his memory back
to the past. To when Harry first disappeared. Then as he had reappeared years
later, only to reveal himself as an ally to the dark side. Then, he disappeared
again. His first disappearance…back when they were mere fifth years.
“Harry lay off!” Ron yelled, as he hit Harry back
square in the face.
“Is this it? Is this how you’re going to repay me
after all those times I’ve risked my head for your safety!? Some friends!”
“You started it! I was only…it was…”
“Shut up you smart ass airhead!” Harry cut
Hermione off right in the middle of her sentence. She dropped to her knees and
wept.
“So this is it eh?” Harry gave them all one good
looked and stomped off into the darkness…never to return. Never. And only
because they had acted like such children...
“Ron? RON! PAY ATTENTION! THIS HERE IS
IMPORTANT!”
“Uh?” Ron looked at his brother’s fuming red
face. “Yeah, I’m in.”
He looked at his brother Fred who was laying out
their plan and situation. He had also chosen to become an Auror, just like Fred.
Not that he admired Fred more than his other siblings. It was just…he
thought. What was it again? What was the reason he had chosen to live this way?
Was it the same reason Fred had chosen to? He and Hermione were already happily
married. He had begun to apply for a position at Hogwarts. Then – it was then
that tragedy struck.
“Why?” his parents asked endlessly.
“Why?” His siblings cried out.
Why did the dark side choose to fall upon his brother
and not anyone else…
Perhaps it was because they knew many would be
traumatized. Hurt.
Fred had never been the same since George died. None
of them have. That was why…
* * *
