An Eclectic Catalogue of Ideas

Harry sat casually in a chair, waiting, a small metal case on his lap. Madame Bones would be arriving soon. He glanced over towards Sirius on the couch opposite. A green flicker appeared in the fireplace, and Bones walked into the room. "Ah, Madame Bones. Did you bring the veritaserum like I asked? I'd have provided some, but I figured it best if you brought your own," he asked her.

"Indeed. Remember that veritaserum is not foolproof, I'll still be taking whatever you say with a grain of salt," Madame Bones said.

"I want you both to promise not to reveal what I tell you. You both know Occlumency, correct?" Harry asked. At their nods, he added, "If you like, I can swear an Unbreakable Vow that I'll tell the truth as I know it in this meeting. If I do, I'd like you to give the same that you won't disclose what you hear to anyone else without my permission."

Sirius opened his mouth to protest; such vows were dangerous, but Madame Bones denied, "Not as yet. I may require that assurance, but let's see what happens with the veritaserum, first. If it's important enough, I may want to swear that oath myself, just to be safe."

"All right." Harry considered, "Here's a list of questions to ask. I want your word you won't ask any other questions outside that last until the veritaserum runs its course." He paused, "I'm trusting you. Don't make me regret that, please. And use four drops instead of the standard three."

"I will agree to that. This isn't a trial, after all," Bones told him, accepting the parchment. Her brow rose at the first few questions, and deftly administered the potion to Harry. "First question is simple. What is your name?"

"Harry James Potter."

"When were you born?"

"July 31st, 2000."

"How old are you?"

"Forty-six. Fourteen."

Madame Bones' brow rose at the next question. "How do you have two ages?"

"I was somehow sent back in time when a Killing Curse struck a Time-Turner in the Department of Mysteries. I ended up in my teenage body right before the Third Task."

"Are you a danger to anyone?"

"Only Death Eaters, Voldemort, and Albus Dumbledore."

"Why are you a danger to--" Madame Bones paused. She swore she wouldn't ask questions not on the list. "That's all the questions you gave me. I'd like to ask more, but I'll wait for the veritaserum to fade, as I promised."

Time passed, and as Harry came out of the trance induced by the potion, Madame Bones asked, "Now, why are you a danger to Albus Dumbledore."

"Are you really an old man in a young body?" Sirius interjected. Trust Sirius to find that important.

A soft sigh, "Yes, Sirius." He continued after giving Sirius a stern look, "As for Dumbledore, because quite simply, he's a manipulative wanker who did more harm than good and was obsessed with controlling the world," Harry spat, "There is a prophecy dealing with myself and Voldemort. It says that one of us must vanquish the other. He's done so much to make it come to pass, to force it to happen the way he wants it to. I talked to his portrait at Hogwarts after Voldemort's defeat, and forced it to answer my questions. They were not pretty answers. His plan was, or is right now I guess, to see me killed by Voldemort. He wanted to sweep in after I died to kill Voldemort himself once I'd weakened him. Because of this plan, he sent me to an abusive home. He kept arranging or at the least allowing through negligence meetings between myself and Voldemort at Hogwarts. Which explains my first, second, and originally my fourth years there."

"First, second, and fourth years?" Bones asked. She wasn't sure if she believed this.

"I am going to kill him. I am going to hunt him down, rip off his fucking bollocks, and make him eat them," Sirius growled. Well, at least he believed Harry.

"My first year at Hogwarts, Voldemort was possessing Quirrel. Second year, one of his horcruxes was in the school and controlled one of the students to open the Chamber of Secrets." He shrugged, "And originally, my fourth year had him use my blood to bring himself back to life. Each time, I barely escaped." He smirked, "This time, my fourth year happened a little differently, obviously."

Rubbing her brow, Madame Bones sighed, "I think all three of us are going to need to swear those Unbreakable Vows. But continue for now."

"Anyway, sadly for him, he was cursed when destroying one of Voldemort's soul containers the summer before my sixth year. So he was forced to make other plans. One of the reasons I was so adamant to get Sirius freed, other than it being a good thing, was due to one of these plans. Early in my sixth year at Hogwarts, he and Molly Weasley signed an unbreakable marriage contract between myself and Ginny Weasley. His goal was to see that if I survived Voldemort, I had the 'proper sort' looking after me. Those he chose. He also wanted to ensure that my wealth would go to those who could use it 'properly'. He was afraid it'd go to the Malfoys through the shared familial connection with the Blacks. Apparently, asking me to write a will wasn't sure enough for him; he wanted to guarantee it wouldn't go to the 'wrong sorts'. The most important aspect to him though was seeing I had the proper guidance. I am too powerful, apparently." Harry shook his head, voice full of rancor, "I should say now that the only Weasley who knew about this contract was Molly, and even she really thought I was destined for Ginny and wasn't aware of his other plans. She was merely stupid." He wrinkled his nose, "It was a great shock when I found out after the War. At least he can't sign a contract for me anymore." He looked at Sirius, "And if you do, I will kill you." He sounds serious.

Sirius lifted a hand, "I won't, don't worry. What happened with Ginny?"

"We couldn't divorce as per the contract. Dumbledore made it ironclad. So we lived together. We were good friends," Harry admitted, "But we just didn't love each other. She loved another gent and had since Hogwarts, so I looked the other way. It was the right thing to do; I couldn't make her unhappy simply because Dumbledore was a manipulative control freak."

"What about you?" Sirius asked. Madame Bones let Sirius ask questions, watching his reactions. She learned from the best and was trying to figure out if she believed all of this.

"I didn't really have anyone like that. I had a few flings over the years, but nothing else. I'd loved someone once, but she died during the final battle with Voldemort. After that, I was to be married, so getting involved with someone long-term wouldn't really be very fair, would it? I threw myself into my work, mostly." Harry shrugged his shoulders, looking tired. "I guess on the plus side, I actually started to apply myself. I was a stupid, lazy git as a kid. Though, the Dursleys didn't help. I learned to keep my head down living with them. To not stand out."

"You mentioned soul containers? What are they?" Madame Bones asked. This was a test, of sorts. She was a Bones, who were noted for their knowledge of necromancy, even if they don't use the worst sorts.

"Soul containers, or horcruxes, are objects that are created via a horrific dark ritual. You prepare the container, and then commit a ritual murder of an innocent. You have to kill them for the sole purpose of empowering the ritual, and it has to be an innocent." Harry shuddered, "Doing so splinters your soul, and you move the splinter into the object. As long as the object exists, you cannot truly die. You will exist after death as a wraith, and can be reembodied."

"So you're saying that Voldemort has horcruxes, and he didn't die in 1981, and that originally he came back after the Triwizard Tournament?" Madame Bones asked.

"Yes. This time, I captured Pettigrew and Barty Crouch Jr, and killed the homunculus he was in. He's a wraith again," Harry said calmly.

"Barty Crouch Jr is dead, though? He died in Azkaban," Madame Bones pointed out.

"No, actually, Crouch Sr replaced him with his wife, who was very ill. She was polyjuiced. She died and was buried in Azkaban," Harry explained. "Meanwhile, he kept his son locked up at home. It was his wife's dying request. I can have him brought here, if you wish."

"How did you capture him?" Bones questioned him.

"He was posing as Mad-Eye Moody through polyjuice. I knew from the last time he'd try to use the Imperius on Krum, so rushed through the maze to catch him before he did. I did, and knocked him out, then had my house elf take him away. He, too, is presently held under Draught of Living Death," Harry explained as he leans back.

"Where did you get all of this Draught of Living Death?" Bones asked.

"Hello?" Harry actually sounded insulted. "Decades of experience as an auror, and it only takes a few hours to make."

Madame Bones' laughed softly, "All right, that helps convince me a little that this crazy story might be true. You can't fake that level of insulted professionalism."

"I was a Master Auror," Harry said with a shrug, "I was offered Head Auror and DMLE Head quite a few times, but always turned it down. I hate politics."

"That's funny, you seemed to do well arranging for my release," Sirius said with a smirk.

"Not liking politics doesn't mean I haven't learned about the system," Harry told him with a shrug. "It means that I don't want to deal with it unless I absolutely have to."

"Any other proof you can offer us?" Madame Bones asked.

"How about this?" Harry tapped the metal box on his lap. "This holds one of Voldemort's horcruxes. If we go to a place where I can use Fiendfyre safely, I can show you."

"You're kidding me," Sirius interjected, "How did you get one so fast?"

"Your brother," Harry told him. "He found out about Voldemort having made horcruxes and stole this one. He died doing it, he was trying to make amends for becoming a Death Eater."

Sirius blinked. His head bowed, "Oh, Reggie, you idiot. You should've come to me, I'd have helped you."

Madame Bones suggested, "I have a place at Bones Manor we can use?"

"All right," Harry agreed, "That's as good a place as any."

Madame Bones led them to the fireplace, and said, "Wait a minute while I add you so you can come through." She disappeared into the green flames, and Harry leaned casually against the wall near the fireplace.

"I have to talk to you about something else after this," Harry observed to Sirius as they waited, "Just so you know, it is important."

Shrugging, Sirius agreed, "We can do that. I could use taking my mind off...well, all of this."

"Don't I know it," Harry said, before adding, "It's been a minute or so." He tossed the floo powder in, murmuring, "Bones Manor," before stepping through. Sirius followed him and they found themselves in a foyer.

Madame Bones stood near one of the hallways leading into the manor, commented, "The place I have in mind is in the back. Come this way."

They followed her down the hall through the manor, eventually emerging into a spacious back yard. Madame Bones led them down the path and eventually to a large, open area. "We use this for Yule. The trees are far enough away that as long as you can control it, we should be fine," the woman explained.

"Keep back. It'll talk to the nearest person, try to get into their head. If it stays open long enough, it can try to possess you." As he spoke, Harry opened the metal box, revealing a locket. Looking at it, he hissed, ~Open.~

Sirius and Madame Bones saw a figure rise from the locket. Voldemort. "You will fail, Potter," the figure whispered. "It will be worse than last time. Everyone will die, and it will be all your fault. She will die again, just like last time, and you will see it happen. You will see her screaming."

"I don't think so, no. Ignis Natus Diabolus!" Harry gestured towards the locket and a roaring dragon of red-white flames streaked towards the horcrux, striking it with a loud crack. A shrill, echoing cry could be heard as a shadow seemed to hover over the locket, and disappeared. Harry stood there, jaw firm, and the flames began to shrink, forming an orb that warped inwards upon itself until it was snuffed out of existence. Taking a slow breath, Harry stated, "And that's that."

"For Merlin's sake, that was actually a horcrux," Bones snarled. All right. It was crazy, but he delivered so far. If he actually produced Barty Crouch Jr, she'd be convinced.

"Yes, I told you it was," Harry said as he moved towards them. "I hate Fiendfyre. You have to crush its will; it always makes me feel dirty."

"You had it completely under control," Sirius said to him with shock, "It didn't waver at all."

Harry shrugged, "You need a strong will, that's all." He looked at Bones, "When would you like Crouch Jr?"

"Now would be fine. I can have him brought in from here. I'll say he was delivered by house elf," Bones stated.

"That works," Harry said, calling out, "Dobby?" When the house elf arrived, he asked, "Dobby, can you please have our other guest brought here with another vial of wiggenweld potion?"

"Yes, Harry Sir," the house elf agreed, and popped away. He reappeared not long after with another unconscious form, placing a potion vial on his chest. "Anything else, Harry Sir?"

"No thank you, Dobby. I and Sirius might need some help in the near future, though," Harry said. "So keep an ear out."

"I'm still having a hard time believing this," Madame Bones said, "But that's him. Barty Crouch Jr." She was looking at the unconscious man. "He replaced Mad-Eye?"

"Yes," Harry agreed, "Remember the dustbin incident last fall? That's when they replaced him. I made sure to have Dobby tell people that he heard moaning in the Professor's rooms after I captured Crouch. They found the real Mad-Eye; I know he was in the Hogwarts infirmary the last I heard, recovering."

"And Albus didn't realize that he was replaced?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"Oh, he knew. From what his portrait told me later, he had hoped that they would be targeting me, and he even smoothed the way a time or two," Harry said with a sigh. "He was, or is obsessed with the prophecy."

"I have a lot to think about, Mr. Potter," Madame Bones said with a sigh. "For now, I will take him to the front of the manor. You two can return to your home for your discussion."

"We'll take the floo back then, ma'am," Harry agreed, and glanced at Sirius. "Shall we?"

"We shall," was the response.

HPHPHPHPHP

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Sirius asked as they settled into seats at Grimmauld Place.

"Quite simply, you need to move," Harry said after a moment. "Well, we do, actually. I'm pretty sure Dumbledore won't take this reversal lying down. If he can't get me back to the Dursleys legally, he will try something less than legally. We need a place to stay that he doesn't know about."

"Do you really think he'd go so far?" Sirius asked. "I trust you, but I find it difficult to think he'd do such a thing."

"Yes," Harry stated bluntly, "You are aware that he knew you were innocent and didn't attempt to get you a trial, right? I was curious, so asked his portrait that as well. He knew that Pettigrew was the real secret keeper."

Sirius rubbed his brow, sighing, "Wonderful. It just keeps getting better. He is nothing like I thought he was." He suddenly sat up straight, "Dear Merlin, we need to talk to Remus, too. He's in Italy right now, working on finally getting his Defense Mastery. I kind of sat him down and forced him to let me pay for it."

Harry chuckled. "You didn't do that last time. I suppose because there was no 'return of Voldemort' this time around."

"Yeah, if Voldemort had returned, he and I would have wanted to watch over you," Sirius agreed. "What sort of house are we looking for?"

"I already own one," Harry admitted. "Or rather, 'own' one. I found a house in the Scottish countryside that's been listed as government owned for a decade. No owner. You have to love public libraries. A bit of work with the Confundus charm and now it's officially owned by one George William Sable. It comes with six acres of land. Dobby has been working on repairing it for the past week. Once things clear up, we can transfer its ownership to you or myself."

"Won't they get confused when this Sable fellow doesn't actually exist?" Sirius wondered.

"I'm putting a Fidelius on it. They won't even be able to see the records," Harry said with a shrug, "The charm isn't foolproof, but it's useful."

"Who will be the Secret Keeper?" Sirius asked curiously. "Not it," He added with a smirk.

"I wouldn't expect you to." Harry said with a shrug, "I'm actually going to probably ask Madame Bones. She knows Occlumency and is rather skilled. Last time, it took Voldemort himself to kill her."

"It worries me," Sirius said with a frown, "How casually you mention people's deaths."

"Remember, Sirius," Harry said with a sigh, "I'm actually in my forties. I've dealt with conflict all my life. Thanks to Dumbledore, even during my childhood." He shrugged, "I guess to a degree, I do have issues. But I'm used to them."

"It's not all gloomy, right?" Sirius suggested. "You're back in time. You are changing things for the better." He perked up, "Who's the bird you loved? Now that you're here, you can go after her!"

"No." Harry said this firmly. I'm far too old for her, now."

"Harry, you can be happy," Sirius told him. "You should be happy."

"It's not fair to her," Harry spit, "She deserves someone who can make her laugh, who doesn't remember seeing her laying on the ground dead, her eyes glassy. Who let her die. I need a walk." He got up, and walked out of the room.

"Well. That went well," Sirius murmured.