For you, my brightest star

26/06/1979

POV – Harry Potter

At the end Harry himself was able to enter Hogwarts without much fanfare.

And that was possible because of the absolute genius that is Pandora Avery.

In one of the talks through their notebooks, Harry had told the other three that chances are that he won’t be able to arrange magic mirrors. Thus, guiding the three of them through room of hidden things became all the more difficult, as it is quite huge and filled to the brim with all sorts of knick knacks one could imagine.

When Harry expressed his frustration at not being able to get the mirrors, his family asked him why he needed the mirrors for, when he gave them the vague answer about talking to someone at Hogwarts, Charlus had offered that he could ask James to lend his invisibility cloak for a few days and Harry could visit using it on the graduation day when the wards will be opened for other people too.

But Harry didn’t like that idea because of two reasons. First being he was a little vary of the cloak because now he knows that it really is one of the deathly Hallows. To Harry, it has lost its innocence as just the cloak of his father’s.

And second because the discussion with James and his friends had not ended on a happy note. Not only Charlus and Dorea ripped both the boys a new one but James and Harry too had a verbal spar at the end. And Harry does not want to put Charlus in the position where he had to request for the family heirloom, especially now when he is supposed to be angry at James. And if he demands the cloak then James could get further pissed at such demand.

He discussed it with his co-conspirators and the four of them had tried to come up with something on their own.

Pandora was the one who used her Ravenclaw intelligence and brought a solution which made them realize that they were being really stupid.

The solution was simple.

Harry would send a letter to the headmaster of the school saying that he is interested in attending a school for his last year of education as he was home schooled until now. He will mention about his confusion as to whether to attend the school his diseased father, Mason Charlus Potter had attended i.e. Hogwarts or the school his recently diseased mother had went to i.e. Ilvermorny.

So, he would like to take a visit to the school to reach final decision.

Thankfully, Harry received a reply within a day, addressed by Deputy headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, that he can visit anytime before the close of school on the 30^th June.

Harry had sent his confirmation stating the date of his visit.

It is not the perfect plan because the transfiguration professor could always be with Harry. Thus, giving him no time to visit the Room of requirements.

Harry would just have to go by chances here and wing it when the situation arrives.

He has selected this day specifically because the next day is the graduation ceremony. Which means the professors and staff will be busy with preparations for the farewell of the graduating student. Other students will most probably be taking the advantage of summer season and be outside nearby the black lake. Thus, Harry will be free to roam around.

Hopefully.

So, on the day of visit Harry apparated near the Hogwarts gate at 11 in the morning.

To his pleasant surprise, Amelia Bones was standing there along with Professor McGonagall. He gave a small private smile of greeting to his new friend and addressed the professor.

“Good morning, Professor. My name is Harry Potter.” He introduced himself to his old professor. Who doesn’t look very much old at this time. Harry feels a pang in his heart when he saw no recollection in the eyes of his old head of house.

Silly Harry. Of course, this McGonagall would not ooze the same warmth and comfort her counter part did in Harry’s original timeline.

When Harry just kept staring at the professor with glassy eyes and lost expression, Amelia takes over with a confused frown on her face. She holds her hand out for a shake and introduces herself as the head girl.

Harry comes out of his thoughts at this and clears his throat.

“Thanks for allowing me this visit Professor.” He says sincerely.

The professor glances his way as all three of them get moving. “No worries, Mr. Potter. Hogwarts has taught so many witches and wizards from your family. We would be honored if one more of you can join us.”

From the wistful way she is smiling a little, Harry feels that the professor is remembering his father, James- who as far as Harry gets the feel of- was one of the very few students even by his own timeline to have won a certain level of respect in the eyes of a strict professor with strong morals.

“Though you will have to excuse me Mr. Potter,” she continues after coming out of her reminiscing, “I am a bit busy due to the upcoming ceremony. I will leave you in the good hands of Ms. Bones. She will give you a tour of the school.”

And with a parting nod to both eighteen-year-old teens she was gone.

The air is a little awkward between the remaining two now that they are alone.

Harry realizes that as much as his loneliness in this new time has made him believe that he has three friends in the form of Black, Bones and Avery, in reality he has met them only twice and that too also not for friendly chat.

Yes, they have talked over the Notebook and have shared few jokes and friendly comments, meeting in real life is a little overwhelming.

He realizes that he is separate from the other three. They are friends. He is only an outsider who is claiming knowledge which in all seriousness he should not possess.

Looking a little closely at his companion, Harry gets a little cold vibe from Bones. She also has dark circles under her eyes and her hair also looks dull and hastily made. She walks with the air of a person who is carrying the world on her shoulders.

Harry feels a deep regret at involving these teenagers in his plan when he had literal adults around him who he has begun to trust. Though logically he knows that he met these three before meeting his new family otherwise he would not have any clue on how to approach the Potters. Still, he could have called this mission off.

Though once again he logically knows that the other three would not have stopped just because Harry asked them to. All three of them possessing information about the way to kill the monster who is pitting this war and all three of them are determined and honorable pupils who would want to do something rather than sitting and waiting for the others to win this war for them.

He exhales out and shakes his head to get rid of his guilt and morose feeling. He notices a little while later that he is walking ahead of Bones and making his way towards the staircase. Gratefully, Amelia didn’t ask about why he is walking like a person who already knows his way around.

Bones walks with heavy legs as if each step is costing her something. So, Harry finally decides to ask, “Uhm, Amelia are you alright?”

She just sighs and nods her head.

So, the two of them keep on walking and keep on ignoring the discomfort between them.

If Harry was being honest with himself, he can admit in the privacy of his mind that he was looking forward to meeting the three of his new friends, if he can even call them friends. But now looking at this cold treatment, he doesn’t know how he will handle all three of them together.

Once they reach the right corridor on the seventh floor, Amelia breaks her silence off and says in a hushed tone after looking around to check that no one is present, “The other two are already in the room.”

Harry nods his answer and once they reach outside the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, he walks in front of the wall three times while asking for entrance to the room of hidden things.

When he sees Bones chewing her lips and shifting from one foot to another, he asks her if he should take her to the infirmary because she doesn’t look well and tells her that the 'Wands' tend to attack on the weakest victim available.

She sighs heavily and says, “Is it okay if I don’t accompany you on this? I mean I should come as I had promised you all that I will help in this but I can’t… I mean….”

Harry cuts of her rambling by putting a hand on her shoulder and says, “Its okay. We will manage this. You get rest. Black can accompany you back….”

“No.” She almost shouts and then lets out a nervous laughter, “I mean I will go by myself. You should get to the work with the other two. You don’t have much time.”

Harry is unsure but Bones just turns back and leaves within the blink of an eye as if Voldemort himself is behind her.

He shrugs off the strange incident and enters the door which had appeared.

Inside Black and Avery are standing near a big pile of old and discarded brooms.

When Avery sees him, her face breaks into a big smile and she says, “Hello Harry. Staying with the Potters suits you.”

Harry has spent enough time with his friend Luna to not be confused by this comment, knowing fully well that Pandora means well and is merely suggesting that he is looking better than the last time they met when Harry was almost a big cloud of depression after staying alone in this new timeline for a month.

He smiles warmly at her, feeling a little light knowing that at least one person is happy to see him. “Hi Pandora.”

Black is looking behind Harry most probably confused on not seeing Bones with him. When Harry looks over at him, he finds that Black too is giving the same vibes as Bones. His is just increased it to the power of 10. Harry just nods his head in Black’s direction.

“Amelia is not feeling well so she went back to her dormitory.” Harry informs them and receives no expression from Black and a frown from Pandora.

“So, where is the diadem?” Black asks in a neutral tone. Straight to business.

“It should be somewhere in the middle. On the top of on the bust of an ugly wizard. It should be in this row…..”

Harry trails off as he walks towards the maze of the hidden things with the other two following closely behind him.

Harry realizes that the arrangement of the things has changed a little in his time. And he is not much sure now that he can find the diadem fast before overstaying his welcome at Hogwarts.

“We can split.” Pandora suggests when Harry confirms that he is not sure of the exact location.

“I don’t think that is a good idea, Pandora. This place is pretty big. It should be here somewhere.” Harry says, his frustration apparent in his tone.

Black seems annoyed at having to search for the thing when Harry had assured them that it will be a pretty quick mission, gives him such a venomous look that Harry is reminded of Bellatrix from his time. When Harry opens his mouth to ask what his problem is, Pandora nudges him and just shakes her head, her eyes pleading him, Harry huffs but let it go.

After going about an hour through this maze and still not finding the Diadem, they decide to give up, as Harry staying long in the school will look suspicious, especially when Bones is not with him.

They all decide to call it a day and plan something else when even an hour later they were nowhere near the horcrux.

Just as the three disappointed and morose teenagers reach the door to the room, an idea strikes him.

“Black! Call Kreacher. He will able to lead us to the magic he felt in the cave. Hermione says that house elves can feel magic more intrinsically as compared to us.” He says excitedly, the last part to himself though with a melancholic smile.

Black is in proper mood today though as he glares at Harry as if he had been asked something tiresome but then calls for his elf.

Kreacher pops in. He looks a lot healthy. His choga is also washed. Though his voice is still the croaky one.

He bows to his master and Pandora while casting a suspicious glance towards Harry.

Black quickly explains Kreacher what he is required to do. He nods his bulbous head and closes his eyes. A little crease appears on his forehead and then he snaps his fingers. A bright blue colored light ball appears midair and begins moving. All of them follow it through rows of the walls formed from junk material.

In the end it turns out that the Diadem was on the ugly bust but the bust itself must have been moved since Harry’s timeline because it was nowhere near where Harry remembered it being.

Nevertheless, Harry feels the same sinister magic oozing out of the pretty tiara, so he knows this is it.

His thoughts are suddenly back to the war ridden Hogwarts he left behind, the friends he will never meet again, having lost them forever- Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Fred, George. His godfather. His parents. His godson Teddy whom he never even got to meet.

It whispers to him about how Harry has dug his own grave by leaving everyone and everything he has known behind in the chase of a celebrity status free life and search of a soulmate who may never accept him.

Then the image appears of his new family killed brutally. Their lifeless eyes tormenting Harry.

He didn’t realize how long this kept on going with him standing there like a statue, tears streaming down his face. But then he hears a blood curling scream and comes out of his trance like state.

He finds out that he is not the only one effected. One hour of helpless searching has made all of them drop their defenses and the evil magic had worked its way up in their mind.

Most probably one of his other three companions had screamed from the terrific visages produced by the horcrux.

Black is on his knees shaking violently and throwing up. Kreacher is banging his head at the nearest surface and sobbing while claiming that bad elves need to be punished. Pandora looks ashen and ready to lose consciousness any second.

He rushes towards her and make her sit down in the corner then immediately calls for Micky, the Potters house elf, to take the diadem.

Harry had beforehand explained to the friendly being that Harry will call him today to take an object and secure it in the manor’s basement. And to make sure that no one can get near it from the family.

Micky had been expecting that the object will be dark so he came prepared and before the object could work its way through his defenses too, Micky levitates it an enchanted box which is a family heirloom that Dorea has kindly lent to Harry, the box will help to keep the effect of horcrux at bay.

Harry is thinking of a permanent solution to the location of the acquired horcruxes.

Try as he might though, he is not a proactive thinker at these sorts of things. It was always Ron and Hermione cleaning his mess and tying loose ends.

He feels a phantom pain in his heart where there will an emptiness forever because of the choice he has made. He closes his eyes and bites his lips to stop all these emotional thoughts.

Once Micky left along with the Horcrux, Harry too moves towards the corner where Black and Pandora are huddled together on the dusty floor, hugging each other comfortingly.

Black has meanwhile ordered his elf to stop hurting himself., now he his muttering to himself about how his mistress would be unhappy and will order him to iron his hands, if only she knew that Kreacher had not been a good elf.

“Black, you should tell him not to share what he saw here to anyone.” Harry says.

It is a testament to how drained he must have been because he does not quarrel with Harry like he usually does with everything Harry says, instead repeats the line to his elf and make sure that Kreacher understands the direct order. With a bow to his great master Regulus, the elf pops away.

Harry sits beside Pandora and wraps his arms around his own legs. And rest his head back against some random assortment of things and closes his eyes.

He tries to think optimistic thoughts and practices his occlumency to block all the negative thoughts supplied by that evil being but the emotional upheaval he went through would be solved only through lots of food, sleep. And hugs too if Dorea gets a say. And she does, everyone knows she does.

“Are you two alright?” He asks the other two.

The two best friends emerge from their hug and soon Harry is engulfed in an embrace. Pandora snifles against his shoulders. He pats at her back, not knowing how else to ease her worries.

Black’s eyes are suspiciously red but Harry doesn’t comment on it.

“Let’s get out of here.” Black says after Pandora has gathered herself, his voice rough. They all get up though Pandora still clutches onto Black's arm as they leave the room that has haunted them all.

“We should go to the kitchens.” Harry says to them once outside the room. Though it is more of a command and less of a request. The other two too drained to raise any issue.

They walk in silence. Harry takes in his surroundings, feeling a bit better at the knowledge that Hogwarts held the same comfort and warmth it always had when Harry had been a student here. Harry may have left everything and everyone he once knew behind in search of a better world for himself and the society but even if everything fails, Hogwarts will be the same for him.

Harry will try with all his might to make sure that Hogwarts never faces the destruction it did just before Harry traveled back. This place is home to so many and a symbol of magic and goodness and safety to even more people. And Harry knows in his bones that his sacrifice will be worth it in the end.

It takes them longer than it should have to reach at the kitchens. Harry takes the lead and tickles the pear, once inside he requests the elves if they could prepare three cups of hot chocolate, then he amends himself and asks for four cups.

The three of them sit on the table in silence when Pandora breaks it by saying, “So, Harry how do you like our school?”, her eyes a little mischievous, just like him she has recovered from the ordeal as well. While Black is still lost in his own mind.  

Harry knows what she is aiming at. She has correctly observed that Harry knows his way around Hogwarts just like any other student would who had walked through these halls for years. She must have reached the conclusion as to how he knows about things which he shouldn’t. And she will be mostly right in her guess.

But he still plays along, “The castle is beautiful. Though I must admit it is a bit confusing, I am afraid I may get lost.” He says while suppressing his smile.

Pandora laughs at their inner joke and her beautiful laugh is enough to bring Black out of his morose thoughts. He smiles a little at seeing his friend looking better.

Harry had begun to think of them as his friends and cares for them as such. Whether the emotions are reciprocated or not doesn’t matter to him.

When a house elf brings their hot chocolate drinks, he requests the ancient looking elf to deliver the last cup to their friend Amelia Bones in the head girl’s room. Harry hopes that whatever is the matter with her, she feels a bit better after drinking the beverage. Also, this way she would get the hint that they have competed their first task in the mission. She is part of this and she must know.

They make sure to appear as though they really don’t know each other. Harry knows that house elves are tied to the school and thus are responsible to report to the headmaster if anything seems suspicious. And Harry has no need to come under the apprehensive radius of the headmaster.

Albus Dumbledore may be a man with good intentions most of the times but he plays people like chess pieces and Harry has had enough of that.

Later, when they exit the kitchens, Pandora informs them she will head to meet Amelia and check on her. Harry is shocked when Black heads to the dungeons instead of going along with Pandora. But he knows that now is not the time to question Black’s suspicious decision to not go to his own head boy dormitory.Something is definitely on with Bones and Black.

So, he alone heads out of the school.

Near the entrance doors of the school, a familiar looking guy is leaning against the wall, his ankles crossed all the while he twirls his wands loosely in his hands, looking bored.

As Harry gets near the door, he finds the boy is almost the same height as him with a mop of straw-colored hairs, freckles covering his face. He is quite slim looking and has worn Ravenclaw robes.

Harry decides he has seen this guy somewhere in his previous life. Its just at the tip of his tongue but still the name is out of his grip.

He is assessing Harry, his brown eyes scanning him from head to toe, as if deciding his worth.

“You must be the famous Harry Potter.” Is the first thing the boy comments. Harry bristles internally, reminded of his time where he was famous for having dead parents who were more of the reason for the disappearance of the villain of the wizarding society but still Harry got all the credit and unwanted fame.

Outwardly he gives a close-lipped smile and says, “Yes that’s me. And you are?”

“I am Barty, Barty Crouch Jr. Where is Bones, by the way? I was told she was showing you around.” Says the now apparent Barty Crouch Jr. Looking around as if Bones will appear out of thin air.

And yes Harry remembers him - Barty Crouch Jr. -falling in Dumbledore’s pensive in his fourth year and watching his trial.

“Father, I didn't! I didn't, I swear it, Father, don't send me back to the dementors... No! Mother, no! I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I didn't know! Don't send me there, don't let him! I'm your son! I'm your son!"

A son pleading his parents, his father to protect him.

Harry realizes that Crouch is waiting for Harry’s reply.

“Oh, she was not feeling well so she retired to her dorms.” Barty raises his brows, most probably he had seen how carelessly Harry was wandering around the school, not at all like the behavior of a person who is visiting for the first time but gratefully he lets it slide and doesn't comment on it.

“Well, McGonagall wanted me to meet with you. So, I was waiting here. Took you too long though. Had a good look around?” He asks with a small smirk.

Harry feels a little uncomfortable under the knowing gaze of the Ravenclaw and he has no idea what to say so he just nods his head and asked the boy about why the transfiguration professor wanted the two of them to meet.

Barty gestures Harry to walk along with him. They begin to head towards Hogwarts’s main gate as Crouch says, “Apparently, she wanted the both of us to get acquainted. So that you know at least one student if you decide to enroll here. She thinks that with you enrolling so late, it might be difficult for you to adjust around so many people. Especially as you seem to have been home schooled up until now”

Harry nods his head in understanding knowing full well that he has no interest in attending the school and that it was just a ruse to get his hands on the lost diadem.

So he decides to make small talk, “Why you though? Are you her favorite or something.”

Crouch just shrugs and says, “Or something.”

“Well, you sure are modest Crouch.” Harry comments remembering how someone had told him that Crouch Jr. had 12 owls. And for a professor like McGonagall who doesn’t discriminates among houses, she must be really impressed by Crouch and must hold him in high regards.

That must be why she had wanted Crouch to be the one to meet Harry so the studious Ravenclaw could help Harry should he need.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Crouch asks him, his eyes narrowed. A red flush appearing on his skin.

Harry laughs nervously and lies through his teeth, “I mean Bones got around talking about you. She told me that I could aim for the second highest score in NEWTs since there is already a genius student in Ravenclaw who got 12 OWLs. I just guessed it must be you. That is all.”

Crouch narrows his eyes as he scans his face and nods once then says, “I prefer to be addressed by my first name.”

And Harry discerns that the boy before him hates being called by his last name because that reminds him of his father. He nods his head in understanding.

Now though as Harry thinks about it, it becomes clear to him that Barty himself really must held the strict professor in high regards too if he listened to her and actually met with Harry rather than excusing himself by saying that he couldn’t find Harry.

As they reach the gate the boy puts his hands in his pocket and says casually “You can write me if you want to ask anything about school or any subject.” His aura welcoming and genuine. So, Harry enthusiastically nods his head and says, “Yeah sure. Nice to meet you Barty.”

The boy says with a mock salute "Until we meet again Harry Potter" and turns around and walks towards the castle, leaving a confused Harry behind, unable to get a read on the boy who has the capability to become the man who had a hand in bringing Voldemort back.

Now, Harry had one more name in the list of all the names he has to consider. The third youngest death eater after Regulus Black and Draco Malfoy.

A Prospective Death eater in this timeline as Harry didn’t get the feeling that Crouch is already marked. Though who knows for how long.

But that’s the story for another day. Today he will get his well-earned rest. And then he will figure out a way to unwrap the mystery that is Barty Crouch Jr..