Tag-Team Fic, Chapter 13
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Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Title: The Other Turn
Author: luciusmistress
Chapter: 13
Rating (this chapter): G/PG
Pairings (this chapter): none
Warnings: none
Word Count (this chapter): 704
Author's Notes: I hope I didn't mess it up completely :)
Harry buried his face in his hands. Why, why, why had he ever touched the Time-Turner? What would happen if he tried to go home to a time in which he didn't even exist?
The only thing that seemed clear to him was that Salazar must be stopped. But how?
Harry tried to calm down and think. Where was Hermione when he needed her? He was sure she could come up with something to convince the other three Founders with. Why did he always have to rush off without thinking? If only he had taken Ron and Hermione with him ... Or even Luna, with her sandwiches and calming words. Remembering the sandwiches made his stomach rumble. No, no time for that. He had to think.
Before he could get anywhere, the door opened and Helga Hufflepuff came in, levitating a food-laden tray in front of her. She looked tired and older than when Harry had first seen her only a few hours earlier, but she smiled warmly at him.
'I thought you might be hungry, dear, even if you told Rowena you weren't. In my experience, young men always are.'
The tray contained a large bowl of soup and a chunk of bread. There was even a jug of pumpkin juice. Harry tucked in with a grateful sigh. The soup was hot and tasted pleasantly of mushrooms. As he ate, Helga began pacing the room just like Harry had done before, shooting anxious glances in his direction.
When Harry was done, she Vanished the tray, leaving only the pumpkin juice. Suddenly Harry remembered what he had heard in Salazar's chamber.
'Tom?' he asked anxiously. 'Where is he? Salazar said you had him.'
Helga nodded gravely. 'I took him somewhere safe to give my friends time to calm down. I don't know what barbaric future you two are from, but we are civilised people here. No one is going to kill a child as long as I have a say in the matter.'
'But where ...'
Helga cut him off before he could ask again. 'I understand that after what Salazar did you are wary of us, but you must trust me on this. He is safe, for the time being. I have something more important to discuss with you than his whereabouts, and we don't have much time. Tell me about your mother.'
Harry stared at her open-mouthed. 'But ... What? What's my mother got to do with anything?'
Helga sighed. 'She was Muggleborn, was she not? All those horrors you showed us ... They will only help Salazar to convince Godric and Rowena not to allow non-pure-bloods into our school. I need something positive to show them. Something to help me argue that half-bloods and Muggleborns are an asset, not a threat. Merlin knows I need some convincing myself.' The last words were muttered so quietly that Harry wasn't sure if he had heard correctly.
'I'm sorry,' Harry muttered. He had messed up everything. If even Helga was having doubts ... Again, he missed Hermione. She would know what to say. She was always on about these things. Harry was still more concerned about Tom. If Helga allowed him to wander off and Harry could not find him ... What would the future look like if Tom grew up here? He shuddered at the thought.
Helga pulled him into a tight, motherly hug. It felt so comforting that, like when Mrs Weasley had held him, Harry almost started to cry.
"I don't think we should keep you locked up here,' Helga said into Harry's hair. 'You should be allowed to decide this with us. Judging by all that we saw in your memories, you are a very brave and resourceful boy.'
Harry was a bit offended by her tone, but it gave him an idea. If she treated him like a child, perhaps it would help if he acted like one ...
'Please, will you at least let me see Tom? If I promise I'll think hard about the Muggleborn thing all the time?'
Helga pulled away and looked at Harry for a long minute, making Harry uncomfortable under her assessing gaze. Finally she nodded and offered Harry her hand. 'Come with me, then. But we must make it quick.'