Mirror, Mirror

This was the first time he saw the Manor in all it’s glory. When him and Lucius were together it was a shadow of its once regal self. Draco showed him to his father’s office and left, saying he had better things to do. Dobby spied him curiously but didn’t say anything.

Percy tapped on the door he had so many times just walked in.

“Come in,” Lucius called out. A thrill went up his spine and he chastised himself. Lucius wasn’t good for him. Lucy never needed to know she was his daughter. Lucius Malfoy used people, when they were no more use, he got rid of them. In fact, that’s why they had broken up that last time. The older man thought Percy was getting too needy, too attached. That was true but only because the man had been saying he would leave Narcissa for years. He had been so young and stupid when he got with the man.

Lucius was released from Azkaban after only a year because he voluntarily had a tracking spell put on him. If he ever did magic again, the Ministry would be alerted. Draco and Narcissa both got to keep their wands and out of Azkaban because they hadn’t killed anyone. The same could not be said about Lucius. Percy would love to judge but he committed cold-blooded murder too.

Walking in, it was like a dream. When he had Lucy and Lucius came and took her away, he was going on fear and pain. Would Lucy have his gray eyes? Would she question her identity if she never knew who he was?

“Mr. Malfoy?”

“I hope you know that you’re interrupting important business with your nonsense.”

Yep, that was Lucius alright. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disrupt you. I just had some questions.” What he really needed was for Lucius to leave him alone in his office for a few minutes.

“Yes. Yes. Get on with it,” the older man said, clearly annoyed.

Before he could think of anything to get Lucius out of the office, it was taken care of for him. Narcissa swept into the office looking frazzled. “Darling, I need you to have a word with Goyle. He just showed up without any notice. I just won’t have it.”

Lucius sighed but got up. “Wait here, I’ll be a minute. Don’t touch anything. I would hate to have to remove your hands from your body if something disappeared. I know Arthur can’t afford anything but secondhand for any of you.”

Once Lucius and Narcissa were gone, he went to the bookcase and tapped the book written about the Malfoy family’s history. He had discovered it spot by accident by wanting to read it. The bookcase opened, revealing a trunk size compartment. Inside was the diary, a lot of galleons and a small gold cup with two handles on it, looking closely he saw a badger engraved on it. Was this something that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff? If it was, it was a piece of history he was holding in his hands. The thought that Voldemort turned something that was their history into something dark disgusted him. Especially since it was Helga Hufflepuff’s, one of the gentlest witches known.

Quickly, he transfigured two of the galleons into a diary and the cup. It was actually some of his best work. He had been working on it at school, making his copies identical. He had just closed it and sat back down before Lucius came back in.

“What did you want to discuss? I’m very busy.”

“Maybe I should try again some other time. I’ll get out of your way.” He ran out the door before Lucius could say anything more. Soon he was out of Malfoy Manor and headed back home. He didn’t want to risk using his wand again because in a magical home, it was usually muted by others but outside it wasn’t. Something he hadn’t learned until he worked in the ministry.

Now he had three of the horcruxes. Then he also knew one other, Harry and suspected Nagini. If he used Slytherin’s locket, Hufflepuff’s cup then maybe the other was something of either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Maybe Kingsley would know more, he knew that the Minister and Harry spoke in depth about everything that had happened to Harry before the final battle.

Neville followed his gran as they walked down the familiar corridors of St. Mungo’s. He hated and loved going to see his parents. He loved seeing them but didn’t love the vacant stare they had. He kept the bits of paper from sweets his mum would give him. He had been only a baby when they were driven mad by the Cruciatus curse. Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr. were names that live in his brain. The wizards who relished in his parents’ pain.

His gran’s shoes clicked on the shiny stone floors; it was almost trance inducing. As they neared the room that kept all the magically addled wizards, he noticed there was a lot of goings on. Healers running in and out of the room. Worry filled him. What if something had happened to his parents?

“What in the world is going on?” his gran demanded of a healer who was running by them.

“They’re healed,” the witch said, tears brimming her eyes.

“Who?” his gran asked, he could hear the slight hope in her voice.

“All of them,” the healer said before continuing on her way.

His gran picked up her pace as did he. Once they walked through the ward’s doors, his eyes widened. Every bed that was occupied had the witch or wizard sitting up and chatting excitedly with a healer. Every healer in the building was probably there. His eyes went to where his parents’ beds had been for the last ten years. His mum wasn’t in her bed, he looked over and saw her. She was in the bed with his dad, they were holding each other tightly but Neville could see they were speaking to one another.

“Gran,” he said, not believing his eyes. This had to be a dream but a dream he never wanted to wake from.

“Frankie,” his gran whispered. “My Frankie.” She grabbed Neville’s hand and pulled him with her to the two people that were hugging one another and speaking to a healer.

“Simply extraordinary,” they heard the healer say.

“How?” his gran asked once they were by the bed.

His mum looked over at them and her eyes widened. “My baby,” she said, getting out of bed and rushing to Neville. She wrapped him up in the tightest embrace and for the first time in his life, he felt wanted and whole. His gran tried but she was so broken after his parents lost their minds. His father also got up and joined them in the embrace. It was like every Christmas wish he ever asked for came true. This wasn’t in the diary. He guessed it didn’t rank for Percy, but it did for him.

“Severus Snape,” the healer said.

“What?” his gran asked, her head whipping around, looking at the healer. “I told him to only try on Frank, I will have words with him,” she hissed quietly that only Neville heard her. So, she had known Professor Snape was going to try. Why hadn’t she told him? “I never dreamed he could actually do it.”

“We caught Severus Snape giving the patients a potion days ago. He’s been sent to Azkaban awaiting trial. It’s been kept quiet because we weren’t sure what he was doing to them. So, we’ve been monitoring them. This morning, Mr. Hedgecoth looked straight at a healer and asked for a bacon sarnie. Then they all started to come around. Severus Snape shouldn’t be in Azkaban; he should get an Order of Merlin for this. I have no idea what was in that potion, but it will make him richer than his wildest dreams and a wizarding hero,” the healer said before going to check on something else.

Professor Snape scared him but if he were the one that brought his parents back to him, he would forever be in his debt. He would make sure no one said anything bad about the professor or was rude to him. He knew from the diary that Snape was one of the good ones, pretending to be bad. It still didn’t make him nice though.

“I love you,” he whispered to his parents as tears fell from his eyes.

“What do you mean he’s in Azkaban?” Sirius roared.

Remus had just heard from Dawlish that he had to take Severus to Azkaban himself.

“On what charge?” Sirius’s face was getting redder and redder with anger.

“Attempted murder of a hospital ward full of patients.”

“That’s ridiculous, why would he do such a thing?”

“They found him giving an unknown potion to the patients of the ward. I’ve just got word from Augusta. All the ones in the ward are awake and healed. Some only remember up to when their mind was damaged, but some remember being in the ward, the years being trapped in their minds.”

“What was he thinking? He was only supposed to give it to Frank Longbottom.”

Remus looked at him curiously. “Percy told him it takes four days to work. He administered it four days before Christmas. He didn’t want another year to pass with these families not whole. He was giving them something that he didn’t have, a happy Christmas.”

It shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. The short time they were together, Severus hated Christmas. The Christmas they were together they both stayed at Hogwarts. James had asked him to come home with him, but Sirius knew that Severus was staying and didn’t want him to be alone. They were able to eat together in the Great Hall without whispers and stares. There were only two others who stayed that year, both Hufflepuffs and true to their nature didn’t say a mean word to them.

Sirius had given him several gifts, most Severus just said he didn’t deserve. But one gift he had been over the moon excited about. For years he had been working with old, out-of-date potions material. His caldron looked close to crumbling on itself, and his vials were cracked, he had to keep using spells to hold the liquid. Sirius had gotten him a whole new set with the newest cauldron. He didn’t really know the difference, but Severus did and that was all that mattered.

“He healed those people and he’s thanked by being thrown in Azkaban.”

“It’s not the first time he’s been there. He’ll be fine until they realize what happened,” Remus said.

He had already been in Azkaban himself when Severus was put in for a few months until Dumbledore got him released. He remembered Severus being moved out, walking right in front of his cell. Sirius had called him every name in the book, murderer the worst.

In his heart he knew that that’s what Severus was now. Percy had made sure he understood what Severus had done, he had done as his job for Dumbledore. Meaning that he killed wizards and muggles on order of Dumbledore, which didn’t sit right with him. He knew that if Severus didn’t go along, he would be made out as a spy quick as a flash and killed.

“It doesn’t matter if he can be there, he shouldn’t have to be there.”

“The families of those he healed will call for his release. The Ministry won’t have a choice unless they want to look dark themselves,” Remus said.

“Doesn’t make it right,” he muttered.

“Severus is strong and not easily cowed. You know this, right?”

Sirius didn’t dignify that with a response. Remus hadn’t seen the gentle part of Severus. The innocence in him that he refused to let anyone see that part of him. The stories he remembered Severus telling him about his father. His own parents were horrible dark wizards, but they didn’t slam him into walls because he accidently used magic when he was four. Severus’s mother turned a blind eye to the abuse he suffered because she didn’t want to be alone. Severus had told him that his father was still a little afraid of what she could do to him. But Severus was different, he was little and couldn’t protect himself. Even after he started Hogwarts his father knew he couldn’t use magic at home. It was his curse.

His mother was doting on Lucy and Terence. Any time she caught him with the baby she would say that he didn’t need to worry about it. He had thought Terence and Lucy would be staying in his room with him but that didn’t happen. She put him in with Bill and Charlie, so Terence, and Lucy could have his bedroom. It didn’t stop him from going into the room at night to spend it there with his daughter.

Christmas came and they all got new jumpers. Even Terence and Lucy had one and she told him she sent one to Harry, one to Neville and one to Hermione. He didn’t know where she had the time because she just found out about Lucy and Terence a week and a half ago.

“Percy, it’s time for you to get your gift,” his mother said.

They all had little things but there was one big gift for each, like every year. He knew his parents couldn’t afford much so it aways made it special when they did this. Last time around, this Christmas he got a new set of writing quills, they weren’t the best money could buy but they were new.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said out of habit. He hated that they spent money on him. They could have gotten something better for the younger kids.

“Nonsense, you deserve this,” his mother said. He father stood up and left the room, coming back in with a cage. His heart started beating fast as the cover was removed. There in all his glory, looking annoyed as usual was Hermes. He never thought he’d see him again. He didn’t make Prefect, there was no reason for a reward. His parents had gotten Hermes during the summer, this was winter. Why hadn’t Hermes already had a home? He was an amazing owl. His brothers and sister used to say he was just as pretentious as him.

“What? Why? I wasn’t Prefect,” he said quietly. He had to keep his emotions in check, it wouldn’t be right for him to cry. He hadn’t the first time.

“Because we thought if you weren’t Prefect, it would destroy you. You didn’t let it get you down, you didn’t even blink. That’s someone who has proved he is growing into a wizard we are proud of,” his mother said.

The air in the room became stifling, he couldn’t handle it anymore. Jumping up, he ran out of the house. He could hear Bill calling after him, but he didn’t stop until he neared the Diggorys.

Collapsing on the ground, he fought to catch his breath. During the spring, there were sounds of birds and wildlife all around out in this area. But now, in the winter it just sounded desolate. No chattering squirrels, no rushing water from the stream that was just down the way.

“Perce?”

It wasn’t the brother he thought it would be. “Leave me alone Charlie.”

“I can’t. I lost the sickle toss.”

It was said as a joke, but something finally snapped in him. He had been the joke in his family for more years than this body had been alive. He was tired of it.

Standing up, he pushed Charlie down. Usually, his brother wouldn’t have budged if he pushed him, but Percy was very angry, and Charlie was shocked.

“What the bloody hell is wrong with you?” Charlie asked, getting up and dusting off his trousers.

“I’m living a lie and all you can do is joke.”

“What’s a lie?”

“EVERYTHING!” Overcome by anger he tried to hit Charlie but this time his brother was ready for him. Soon, he was being held by his brother’s strong arms as he fought the hold. “Let me go!”

“Not until you calm down. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but it needs to stop now. Do you have any idea how much that owl cost them? Mum put off getting that new dress she had been eyeing. Do you know how long it’s been since she’s gotten a dress, she didn’t make herself? Dad took over working side jobs. All to get you that owl. Then you throw it in their face.”

“Everything alright?”

Charlie turned them around, his arms still wrapped tightly around him, holding him in place. They saw Bill, looking distressed.

“I told you I had it,” Charlie said, sounding annoyed. Charlie hated Bill not respecting him.

“Perce?” Bill asked, his eyes sad.

“It got too much. The lies. Everything.”

“What’s going on?” Charlie demanded.

“Are you going to tell him?” Bill asked.

“No. I’m going to tell them. I can’t keep this going unless I want to go insane.”

They walked back to the Burrow, Charlie still questioning them but receiving no answer. His mum had tears in her eyes when he walked in, his dad looked cross.

“What do you have to say for yourself? Making your mother cry,” his father admonished.

“Sit down. This is going to be shocking.”

His parents looked confused, but his mother wiped her tears away and sat down, his father sitting next to her and grabbing her hand. He had always been in awe of their relationship. They loved the bones of each other. He never had that. By the time, his parents were his age they had three children and pregnant with twins.

“Bill, can you sit here,” he said pointing to one side of him. “Ron, sit there.” He pointed to the other side of him. Terence came and sat down in front of him on the floor, Lucy in his arms. Terence had seen what he was doing, and he was grateful for it. Surrounding himself with people that knew, people that would back him. Bill being here, there was no way he would allow them to take Lucy away. Both Terence and Bill were able to use their wands incase things went sideways.

“Let me finish before you speak, please give me that.” His parents nodded as did his siblings. Usually, Fred and George would joke but they must feel the wrongness in the air. “Last Christmas, I was at work. I always did work too much. I did something that was forbidden. It was something stupid that I had done before. Last Christmas I was twenty-nine years old.” He ignored the worried glance from his mother to his father. They thought he was mad, maybe they weren’t far off.

“I went into the Department of Mysteries. There is a door that if you walk through takes your right to the front of the building. You can’t get in through it but can get out that way. But this time was different, this time I heard someone calling my name. I followed the sound until I came to a mirror. I could see Fred, banging on the door begging me to let him in after George locked him out as a joke. Like I said, I was twenty-nine and seeing Fred, young and alive was too much. I reached my hand into the mirror, and it went right through, so I continued. I came out in my room, in my fourteen-year-old body.”

He could see from the looks of his family, they didn’t believe him, but they didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t know how to get back besides maybe the mirror in the Department of Mysteries, but I was a kid and not an adult working at the Ministry anymore. But being back here, back before everything went wrong, it was too much. I had to save them.”

“Save who?” Charlie asked. He seemed the one trying to believe him.

“Remus, Sirius, Professor Snape, Colin Creevy and his little brother, Lavender Brown, Alastor Moody, Tonks, Dobby, Rufus Scrimgeour, Bertha Jorkins, Professor Burbage, Fred and so many others.”

There was a gasp from his mother and his father stood up. “I will not have such lies in my house. I don’t know why you think you need this attention, but I won’t have it.”

Bill stood up and Percy supposed he was going to defend him, but Percy motioned for him to sit.

“The Order of the Phoenix,” he said simply.

His mother gasped. “How?” The first time any of them heard about the Order was years off still. His parents knew but kept it a secret. They weren’t involved the first time, but his uncles were.

“I’ve seen the photo of Uncle Gideon and Uncle Fabian. They were members, right? They died in the first wizarding war.”

“What do you mean first?” his mother asked. He was winning her over, he saw it.

“The second one is coming and it’s coming fast. I’m just trying to get all the pieces into place to take Voldemort,” His family hissed at the name. “down before he’s too powerful.”

“He’s gone,” Ginny cried, rushing to his mother. His mother pulled her on her lap and held her tightly while she cried. “Tell him to stop being mean, mummy. Fred can’t die.”

It had been forever since his sister had cried and called their mother mummy. She was such a skilled and strong witch, he sometimes forgot at one time she was a little kid.

“Tell her that you’re lying,” his father demanded. With the exception of the night they fought, he had never seen him so angry.

“I can’t. I watched him die. He was talking to me when the wall was blasted. He fell under, he died from the blast, not the wall falling. There was no way to save him.”

Percy finally took his chance to look at his twin brothers. The perpetual smirk always on their faces were gone. George looked paler than usual, he could see him gripping Fred’s arm, proving to himself that he was still there.

“Mum, he’s telling the truth,” Bill said quietly. He might as well of shouted it because every eye was on him now.

“What? Why are you playing along with this madness,” his father asked.

“Because I know it’s true. The proof is there in Terence’s arms.”

“The baby?” his mother asked. Ginny had finally calmed down and climbed off her lap.

“Your granddaughter. My daughter,” Percy told them, his voice firm.

“You really are mad. You haven’t even been with anyone, Perce,” Charlie said. “The only friend you had was Oliver and I would have heard if something was happening there.”

“You’re right, Oliver isn’t her other father.”

“I am,” Terence snapped.

Percy looked over at him as did Bill and Ron, both knowing the truth. Percy nodded. Terence was right, they couldn’t risk tell them about Lucius again, it might cause the same issues as last time.

“He’s right. Terence and I were together in the future. I was pregnant when I went through the mirror, Terence saw and followed. I didn’t know for a few months though because he’s particularly good at stealth.

“Slytherin trait,” Terence said with a smile, handing Lucy to Percy.

Finally, he was able to hold his daughter and not hide his love for her.

“If you were pregnant, why didn’t you come to me?” his mother asked, hurt in her voice.

“I thought I could handle it myself. I had been reading up on it when I was older, as strange as that sounds. Then I gave birth in a train compartment on the way back from Hogwarts for the summer with only Terence as help. We did tell you, but you gave her away, you ripped her from my arms and gave her to…” He stopped; he couldn’t tell the truth after lying. “Gave her to Terence’s parents. I couldn’t have that so we obliviated you and them.”

“You what? You messed with our memories?” Charlie asked.

“I had to because she’s my daughter and they took her away. I couldn’t let that happen. So, with the help of some other wizards, we took care of your memories.”

“What other wizards?” his mother asked.

“Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.”

“I did think it was odd of them showing up with Harry in toe. We hadn’t even met them, just heard of them,” his father said.

“I really die, don’t I?” Fred asked. The room grew quiet.

Percy nodded. “You died a hero, if that helps.”

“It doesn’t,” George answered.

“When did this happen?” his father asked. Bill, confirming it took the doubt out of his parents.

“What should have been Ron’s seventh year at Hogwarts.”

“Not Ronnie too,” his mother cried.

“No, he didn’t die, at least not as of when I left. He just didn’t go back for year seven.”

His mother shot his little brother a disapproving glare. It would have been funny if he weren’t so completely drained.

“What do we do now?” his mother asked.

“Pretend that nothing’s changed. I just couldn’t keep lying and I couldn’t keep pretending my daughter wasn’t mine.”

“Where has she been staying if not Terence’s parents?” his mother asked.

Bill scratched the back of his neck. “I’ve been caring for her at Sirius Black’s home. We take turns caring for her because we’re all working on things. But I think we do alright.”

“Can-Can I look after her while you’re at school?” his mother asked quietly, something he didn’t know she could do.

“I don’t want to put you out, Mother. You’ve raised the seven of us, I thought once Ginny starts Hogwarts you would be happy for a break.”

“Truthfully, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself once she’s at school. I’ve been dreading the day.”

“I would love for her to be cared for by the best mother in the world. I only want one thing. Professor Snape is letting me, and Terence use the Floo in his quarters to visit her whenever we want. If you really want to do this, that’s all I ask, allow us you connect your floo directly to Snape’s.”

“Severus Snape knows? He’s just been in the paper for trying to kill a ward full of patients at St. Mungo’s,” his mother said.

“No, he was healing them. He should soon be getting out. He had perfected a potion years ago but couldn’t get permission to try. Terence told him without a doubt it works, so he trusted us with his life that it did.”

“That’s wonderful,” his mother said. “So, Professor Snape knows about your mirror adventure?”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask you one last thing?” his father asked. They also looked drained but finding out one child is from the future; you have a granddaughter, and one son dies is a lot to take.

“Yes.”

“Why did you get upset with the owl?”

“Because you got me the same owl the summer between my fourth and fifth years because I did make Prefect. It was just too much, I guess. I hated lying and here you were doing all this.” His dad nodded but didn’t say anything else. “I’m going to take Lucy up for a kip.” He got up and left, Terence following after him.

Guilt ate at him for not being completely honest with the rest of them. Not even Terence knew what he had done. Kingsley had covered it up and said they wouldn’t speak of it again. Now the older man wanted to meet him in that place. The place where he killed someone in cold blood. Percy could have let him go, could have done so many things different. But all he could see was Fred dead on the ground covered in rubble.

Everything he had ever done was always planned out meticulously, including the murder of Augustus Rockwood. He wondered if he had damaged his soul by doing it. Did it even matter anymore? The reason he did it wasn’t even his own singular rage but the rage of his family after Rookwood was released. Apparently being a former Unspeakable gave him friends still high up. No matter what they did, they couldn’t make them see that he was evil. They went on about in the heat of battle people do things. They said that Rookwood hadn’t been trying to kill anyone when he blew the wall apart. That was lies, he was trying to kill all of them. Percy had killed in the battle but every time it was because he had no other option. No matter if they were Death Eaters, he didn’t want to hurt anyone. That was until the night he killed Rookwood with a spell he learned from Harry. The younger man couldn’t hold his alcohol and he shared the spell, a creation of Snape’s. One that inflicts massive amounts of pain before they bleed out and die.

He burned Rookwood’s body and a simple grinding spell later and Augustus Rookwood was no more. There was more interest in his disappearance than he was hoping. It turned out Kingsley was onto him from the beginning. Finally, months after he got rid of Rookwood, Kingsley found Percy in the spot where he committed the crime. He told him in not so many words that if he kept looking like a suspect every time someone mentioned Rookwood there was nothing, he could do to save him. A month later Kingsley made an announcement that Rookwood died in an accident while he was searching for Emberstone on an active volcano. When it erupted, Rookwood died and there was nothing left of him. He claimed he saw the memory from a tourist further down who was able to escape.

That night Percy found him and threw himself at the Minister of Magic. It was humiliating when Kingsley pushed him away, mostly because it was seen by Terence, who at the time was his rival. The promotion came not long after and he barely saw the man in the corridors after that.

“I should have guessed you would get here first, Percival.”

Percy closed his eyes, not wanting to turn around. This wasn’t the Kingsley of this time, he knew it. This was the Kingsley of his own time. Turning he took in the beautiful sight of the man. Kingsley was never one for muggle clothes but when he was protecting the muggle Minister, he proved he could look good in it. Because this was usually where muggles would come by on bicycles, they both wore muggle attire.

“Minister,” he said, his voice rough to his own ears.

“I think we’re way beyond that now.”

“How did you get here? I saw Midas so you couldn’t have come through the mirror.”

“What mirror?”

“The mirror I came through.”

“I came through no mirror. It was dark magic, I prefer not to do this again but once things started changing, I had to. It seems like I’m the only one who remembers what it was supposed to be like.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Whatever you are changing, it’s not doing what you think it is.”

“Why? How do you know?”

“Because you’ve been dead for fourteen years.”

It was like all the air in his lungs rushed out at the same time and he couldn’t breathe. Soon, Kingsley was there, rubbing his back and saying soothing things, even though he didn’t understand what they meant.

“When?” he asked hoarsely.

“Two weeks from now.”

“How?”

“Sectumsempra. You’re found dead at the edge of the Dark Forrest. I have these mixed-up memories. I remember you older and you working for the Ministry. Then I have memories of investigating your murder.”

“Did you find out who did it?”

“We did, he admitted to it and now he’s in Azkaban. That’s why I’m here. You are trusting the wrong person.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I pinpointed when my memories start to get fuzzy. That was the time I came back to. Pettigrew being captured and imprisoned, that was a big give away.”

“That was almost a year ago.”

“I know why you are here. I was helping, believe it or not.” He held out a box.

“What’s that?”

“The Gaunt family ring and Ravenclaw’s diadem. I couldn’t get into Malfoy Manor, but I suspect you have already. Same with the locket, I couldn’t get it without revealing myself. Unlike you, who took over your younger body. The me from this time is running around and I would prefer not to send him to St. Mungo’s for thinking he was mad.”

Percy took the box gently. “There are two horcruxes in here?”

“Yes. Don’t put on the ring, it’s cursed. Dumbledore found that out the hard way the last time.”

“Are you staying to help?”

Kingsley shook his head. “I’ve already messed with the timeline too much. I’m just hoping I can get back.”

“What about me, Terence, and Lucy? Do you think we can get back?”

Kingsley didn’t say anything for a minute. “I think you best not waste time when destroying the Horcruxes. The snake is hiding in a house in muggle London. Here’s the address.” He handed over a piece of parchment. “I wouldn’t go alone, she’s dangerous at the best of times.”

“That just leaves Harry. What do I do about him? I won’t let him die again, even for a moment in time.”

“It has to be after all the Horcruxes are destroyed. There is a potion called Midnight Fangore, you pour it on his scar. It will burn and it will be painful, but it will destroy the Horcrux in Harry. It will only work with the one in Harry because it was the only one that Voldemort didn’t purposely make. It has less protection than the others. Only after every Horcrux is gone should Quirrell be dealt with. Best not give him time to feel it. Don’t let Harry be the one to do it. His soul is still unblemished. Killing someone for any reason takes a part of your soul. Yours is already damaged.”

“He killed my brother.”

“I’ve put dark wizards in Azkaban for less. Just do what I say, and he will finally be gone then Harry and all the other children can have the life they deserve.”

He knew that whatever friendship between them died the night Rookwood did.

“Thank you. Merlin, you have no idea how much you’ve helped me. Just one thing. You said I was betrayed by the person who killed me. Who was it?”

“Terence Higgs.”