“Granddad, do you think we could go over to Hagrid’s hut, just for a moment? I would like to take the Runespoor with me; I had left it there all the time, because I was ill; but now I should go and get it I suppose.”

“No problem, Harry, we have still time enough until dinner, so why not? Do your parents know that you are going to take the Runespoor home? Wouldn’t it be better to check this with your mother?” Harry frowned; maybe Dumbledore was right.

“Yes, Granddad, maybe you are right; my mother is quite strict; I would never have thought that father could be easier to get along with than mom. Alright then; maybe I should head back to our quarters with Marina to wash this little piggy a bit before dinner.” Albus frowned and shook his head.

“Oh, don’t call her that Harry; she’s like a little angel, isn’t she?” Harry snorted.

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He had just finished his evening discussion with Minerva and hat sat down on his favourite space in front of the fireplace to have tea with his parents and his grandmother, when Ginny arrived. Harry immediately excused himself and pulled Ginny over to his own room.

“Ginny, I am really sorry for not sending your present; although yours was the only present I had bought at all this time.”

“What happened?”

“I was thrown from one memory vision into the next and in fact missed ten days from three days before Christmas until the 1st of January. But everything is alright now; so let me give you your present.” He handed Ginny a beautifully wrapped present and waited patiently for her to open it, until he explained how it worked. Ginny was stunned.

“Oh, Harry, that’s beautiful; thank you very much!” She gave Harry a kiss and leaned happily into Harry’s arms, when suddenly Lily knocked at his door, came in and said,

“Ginny, curfew starts in five minutes. You may, once again, go through my office.” The two teens were more than surprised. How could the time have past so quickly? Harry accompanied his girlfriend through the office until the entrance of Merlin house, where they separated with a good night kiss and the promise to test the watches later in the evening.

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A few days later was the first full moon of the year, and on Friday night the Marauders gathered again in the forest. This time James and Sirius had thought of several games they could play together in their animagus forms. For the second part of the night, they had planned a party – James had brought a huge picnic basket. However, suddenly, without any warning, a heavy thunderstorm started and before they knew it, they were soaking wet.

“Quickly, grab everything and let’s head back to our quarters, we can continue the party there,” Severus shouted and they quickly packed everything back in James’ basket. Harry thought for a moment and said,

“I can flash three of you and come back for the others if you want me to.” Severus and Lily frowned, but James said,

“Alright Harry, flash Remus and your parents; Sirius and I are fast enough on your own; we will meet at your quarters.” Harry quickly transformed and flashed to his own room at home, as to not give his great grandparents a big fright – which they got anyway, when Severus, Lily, Harry and Remus emerged soaking wet from Harry’s room.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t want to give you a fright; that’s why I flashed us into my room,” Harry said. “Thank you Granny,” he turned to Minerva who had cast a drying spell on him. They spent the rest of the night holding their picnic in the Snapes’ living room, talking, eating and drinking, until it was time for breakfast. This time, Severus noticed, Harry did not get a cold from being outside during the night although he had been soaking wet – his potion must be working properly!

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As usual, the family lunchtime on Sunday, emerged as Harry’s memory vision time.

An about six year old Harry was walking around Diagon Alley with his father. After visiting the apothecary, Harry begged Severus to have a look at Flourish and Blotts to get a new book for Julia.

“Please, Daddy; I always have to read the same story to her about Harry and the dragon; maybe we can find some other story about a dragon?” Severus laughed.

“Do you know that this was your favourite book as well? But a book is always a good idea; so let’s have a look.” They ended buying a potions book for toddlers, both of them being very proud of their good choice.

“Alright, Harry, let’s go to the Leaky Cauldron and floo home,” Severus said, and, when they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, he advised “say ‘The Snapes’ place, Hogwarts’, Harry. You go first.” Harry threw the floo powder in and repeated, what his father had said, finishing with a coughing fit, caused by the inhaling of the floo powder. When he fell out of the fireplace and opened his eyes again, which he had closed during the travel, he was in a completely unknown place. ‘Where am I?' he thought frantically, tears in his eyes.

‘Where was he? What was he going to do? Could he just jump into the floo and try to get off at the correct end this time? But where would he find floo powder?’ Harry was still wondering what to do, when suddenly the door to the room opened and someone came in. Frightfully looking at the person, he suddenly recognized her – his grandmother, Eileen Prince. She gave him an astonished glance and smiled.

“Hello Harry, what are you doing here? Severus did not say you were coming. What a nice visit – come, let us have some tea.”

Here the memory ended. Harry didn’t know if he should be glad to be out of the memory, or if he should regret, that the memory ended here, because he wanted to see more of his grandmother. He downed the potion his father offered him, and went to lie down on the sofa to rest for a while. When the whole family gathered in front of the fireplace, he asked Severus,

“Dad, I just had a memory vision about your mother. Could you tell me a bit about her, please?” Severus sighed.

“Yes, Harry, I know you haven’t met her since you are back, and I am sure we can arrange something in case you want to meet her. Normally she always visits us for Christmas, but last Christmas we cancelled all our appointments due to certain family reasons…” Harry blushed and felt sorry for his family.

“I’m very sorry for you, that you had to cancel things you were looking forward to just because of me.” Lily sat next to him, hugged him and said,

“Harry, we would never think so. On the contrary, if you had not gone to the past to change everything, neither my daughters nor I would even be alive! Therefore, there is no need to be sorry for having problems because of going to the past. Believe me; we won’t forget so easily what you have done for all of us.” Harry got up and excused himself,

“Sorry, I have to go to my room; I must do some grading, until granny comes after dinner.”

“No!” his two sisters shouted at the same time, and Julia added,

“I had hoped you could help me with my Transfiguration homework?!” Harry sighed and answered,

“Julia, I will do that, but first I have to do what is my work. I don’t know if I’ll be able to work the whole afternoon, or if I will be disturbed by memories, so I really have to do this first. When the grading is finished, I will help you.” Julia pouted for a short while but agreed.

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After his discussion with Minerva about the third years’ homework and the lesson plan for the next day, Minerva told him, “I would like to ask you something, Harry. When I correctly remember, you learned by yourself to become an animagus, and you also taught your parents to become animagi; is that correct?” Harry laughed and replied,

“Yes, in fact – now Lily and Severus are my parents. It’s too funny!” Minerva smiled as well and said,

“Anyway, what I have thought about… I would like you to teach the seventh years how to become an animagus. I am fully aware that there will probably be only one or two of them, who will really manage to become one, but I think you will be a very good teacher for them. Would you be willing to take the seventh years’ class over until the Easter holidays? I know this is probably not enough time, but after the holidays, they have to start to prepare for their NEWTs, so they won’t have more time, at least not during their lessons.” Harry thought for a moment and said,

“Alright, Granny. I will try to teach them. Do you think we should ask Dad, if he could let them brew the animagus potion? Or should I just brew a batch for all of them?” Minerva stood up.

“Let’s go and ask Severus about the potion. Wait – there is one seventh year’s class on Wednesday afternoon; you cannot take that, so either I have to do it, or we have to give them a free period and hold the lesson on a different day.” Harry sighed and said,

“As long as there are no Quidditch games, I do not mind teaching on Saturdays or Sundays, but when we have a Quidditch match, I have to play.”

“I don’t think there are any matches scheduled between now and the Easter holidays – there are only six weeks anyway.”

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Suddenly Harry fell into another memory.

Five-year old Harry was sitting on the sofa, cuddling his stuffed dragon and reading a book to his little sister Julia. Albus was listening to them, while Minerva was grading parchments. Suddenly a white owl approached Harry and sat on the side of the sofa, just next to him.

#My, such a good boy – reading books to your little sister,# it said. Harry shifted in his seat, unsure about how to react, and looked questioningly at his great grandparents. While his grandmother was watching interested, Albus nodded and said,

“You can understand the owl, can’t you?” Harry nodded solemnly, but Julia answered,

“No, owls cannot say somefing, de owl onwy make stwange noise gwanddad.” Harry shook his head.

“No, Julia; the owl was talking to me.” Minerva looked at them and explained,

“Harry, Julia, there are people who can understand birds like Granddad and Harry, but most people like Julia and Granny cannot understand them. Just like Granddad and Harry can understand Fawkes. However, look at the owl – can you notice something strange about it?” Both children observed the owl eagerly but could not detect anything apart from the fact that it was beautiful and that it somehow felt familiar to them. Harry looked at Minerva enquiringly, and suddenly the owl flew down to the floor and changed… into his mom! Julia immediately clinched to Harry starting to cry, and Harry tried to calm her, although he felt very uncomfortable as well.

“Now, Julia, it’s okay, that’s mom. She can transform into an animal – isn’t that great?!” Lily came over and sat down on Julia’s other side.

“Yes, Harry, Julia, I am an animagus – your dad and your grandparents are animagi as well. Maybe if you ask them, they will transform for you.”

Harry moaned a little, until he remembered being together with his grandmother, who was watching him worriedly. He smiled at Minerva and said,

“These memories are always funny. Mom showed herself to us as an owl, when I was about five years old. Anyway, shall we go to the sitting room and have some tea?”

Severus was sitting at the table grading homework, while Marina was running around after a stuffed chicken, which Lily had charmed to run away from her daughter. Harry and Minerva proceeded to sit on the sofa, when Lily came out of her office, taking in Harry’s pale face and flashed cheeks.

“Harry, did you have a vision?” she asked concernedly. He nodded and gratefully took the phial Severus handed to him immediately. After gulping down the potion, he relaxed and asked,

“May I call Dobby to bring us tea?” Lily nodded and called Dobby herself, who came back after a minute with a huge plate of tea and biscuits. While they were enjoying their tea, Minerva explained to Lily and Severus, who had in the meantime laid his parchments aside that Harry would be going to teach the seventh years students to become animagi. His parents laughed and Severus commented,

“As he already has managed to teach Lily and me, I can’t see why he shouldn’t be able to teach a few dunderheads… Is my assumption correct, that you will need me to brew the animagus potion?” Minerva nodded and said,

“Harry suggested you let your seventh years brew it, but I don’t think they are all taking Potions.” Severus laughed again and countered,

“If I let these dunderheads brew the potions for themselves, they are likely to kill themselves with it. No, I will brew the potion, and maybe Harry can assist.”

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A few days later Harry took his seventh year class up to the room of requirement, which he had prepared, so that the students would be comfortable to transform with the help of the potion. First, he talked to the students.

“With this potion you will transform in an animal for a few minutes. If you manage to do the animagus transformation later on, you will become exactly the animal you will change into after drinking this potion. As we have a double lesson today, we do not have to do it at the same time, but have enough time to drink the potion and transform one after another, so that anyone else can watch. Please make yourself comfortable in your chairs and place your potion on the small table next to you. Before you take the potion, push the back of the chair down so that you will be able to lie down comfortably for the transformation, which might be a little painful.”

After two hours, everyone had transformed to an animal and back to human form. Many of them were stunned, others bustling with excitement because of the animal forms they had seen. Harry dismissed them saying,

“As homework please do some research about ‘your’ animal. I want a very thorough parchment with all interesting data about your animal. I don’t care how long your parchment is, but the information must be complete. Now, before I can dismiss you, I have to tell you something – please listen carefully.” When everyone looked at him, he continued, “The animagus transformation is very dangerous. As long as you not able to control it completely, you are not allowed to try to transform on your own. You only may try if either Professor McGonagall or I are with you, so that we can help in case you get into trouble. This is very important!

Furthermore, you will have a free period during your Transfiguration lesson on Wednesday afternoon; instead, we will meet on Saturday morning after breakfast. This has the advantage, that we have the whole morning to practise and don’t have to stop after an hour. Those of you who do not want to practise may leave after one hour, but let me tell you, that it will take quite a time until you will be able to transform properly, and our lessons will only continue until the Easter holidays, because after that you have to prepare for your NEWTs.”

“Professor,” a timid voice could be heard, “Are you an animagus as well? If yes, what is your form?” Harry laughed at this students, quickly transformed into Icicle and flashed to the other side of the room. The room erupted in loud rumours, and many students were applauding. Harry quickly changed back and thanked the students.

“Professor,” another student asked, “What happens if we are not able to manage the transformation until the holidays? Will we have another chance to train with you?” Harry thought for a moment and replied,

“First of all, not each of you will manage at all, because it is very difficult and affords a lot of magic. If you at least manage to change some part of you and are sure you have enough time besides your studies, maybe we can continue to meet on Saturday or Sunday mornings, as long as there aren’t any Quidditch games involving one of my teams. I will ask Professor McGonagall about it, but I think we will be able to find a way to study your transformation together.”

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During the next two weeks, only two of his students were able to even partly transform into their animals – one Gryffindor girl managed to change her arms into the furry orange front legs of a cat, and one Slytherin boy was able to add his horse’s tail to his human form. Harry noticed that the others were quite frustrated and advised them,

“As I told you, this transformation is very difficult and only a few wizards are able to manage it at all. Don’t be frustrated, just try again, and if you really try hard and cannot change even a small part of you, then you have to forget it. However, at this stage it is much too early to give up. Now, when the weather continues to be fine, let us meet outside near the lake for our next lesson. Maybe for some of you it could be easier to try outside – I don’t know, but we can try anyhow.”

One afternoon, when he was just grading a third years’ test, he was pulled into a surprising memory vision.

An about ten year old Harry was sitting on the sofa together with his mother, when the fireplace flared green and Albus’ head appeared in the flames.

“Lily, could you come to my office for a minute please? I would like to show you something,” he asked mischievously.

“May I come too, Granddad?” Harry asked immediately and his grandfather nodded.

“Of course Harry, I’ll be waiting for you; password is ‘Tutti-frutti’.” Lily and Harry exchanged a glance and went up the stairs to the Headmaster’s Office.

Dumbledore and McGonagall were awaiting them. Albus motioned to them to come around the desk and have a look in a book.

“What is this book?” Harry asked curiously. It was a huge book, and many names and dates, which looked like birthdays, were lined up in it.

“This, my dear boy,” Dumbledore explained patiently, “is a book in which all magical children who are born in Great Britain are registered automatically. From time to time I have a look at the newborns just to know how many there are. But today I found a very interesting name among the newborns. Here is a girl, Violet Dursley, born two weeks ago.” Lily gasped and said,

“Oh my, that must be Petunia’s child. Mother had told me she was pregnant again, when she wrote to me last Christmas. Oh my, what will she do to the child when she gets to know that it is magical?” Harry, who couldn’t see his mother worrying, hugged her fiercely and said,

“Mom, if they treat her badly, we will take her in, won’t we?!” Lily smiled thankfully at her child and Minerva said,

“You are right Harry, we will do that.”

Harry was stunned and thought for the first time if all the memories he was watching were actually true. So far, everything had been very likely to occur, but this memory… No, he couldn’t think properly, he had to get his potion first. He left his room and was immediately greeted by a much too energetic Marina, who was eagerly jumping around him. Ignoring her for the moment, he took the phial his grandfather held out, downed the potion quickly and went to the sofa to lie down for a while. Unfortunately, he fell asleep immediately in spite of Marina jumping up and down the sofa, and this time his sleep was not as undisturbed as it had been the whole time after he came back from the past. Albus watched Harry thrashing around with a desperate look on his face and cold sweat forming on his forehead, until Marina said,

“Granddad, he is too warm again, I’ll go and get Mummy.” Albus sighed and motioned her to stay, saying,

“No, Marina, he is having a nightmare, but I will try to wake him up.” He sat on the edge of the sofa and shook Harry awake, who had just dreamed of enduring a beating by his uncle before being locked into the cupboard.

He nearly jumped when Albus shook him awake. “Hmm? I’m sorry, uncle, it will never happen again. I don’t know how I…”

“Harry,” his grandfather interrupted him, “Your uncle is not here, you are alright; everything is fine, Harry. Open your eyes, my boy.” Harry opened his eyes and clinched onto his grandfather, sobbing into his robe. When his sobs became less, Dumbledore asked him, “Harry, can you tell me what happened in your nightmare?” Harry frowned and said,

“I had done accidental magic, and my uncle punished me for it. It was a normal nightmare, which I had very often in my old time line. Since I have been in the past, I haven’t even had one of them, but today I saw a memory concerning the Dursleys, and that must have triggered it.”

“Oh my, that was a horrible dream then. Do you need a calming draught, or do you think you will be able to sleep again?” Dumbledore asked, taking in Harry’s flushed and shaken form.

“No, I’m fine. I have to get up and finish the grading anyway,” Harry answered, ignoring his grandfather’s protests, and went back to his desk, where he did not get much work done, until suddenly his father entered his room. He made him sit next to him on the bed and asked,

“Harry, Albus said you had a nightmare? Can you tell me what it was about?” Harry groaned and explained,

“It was a memory of the Dursleys. I had done accidental magic. I was late for the bus, because my aunt made me do so many cores, so that I left too late, and the bus departed in front of my eyes. Dudley had just succeeded to get on it and was laughing at me. So I just somehow managed to apparate me onto the bus next to Dudley, and he as well as my aunt saw it. Therefore, my uncle beat me with his belt and locked me into the cupboard for a week without food.” Severus frowned and asked,

“Harry, do you often have a nightmare like this?” Harry shook his head.

“No, Dad. I had many of them in the old time line, and even sometimes in the past, but not very often. But since I have returned from the past, I have not had one of them.” Harry sighed. His stomach was churning, and he was on the verge of throwing up. He had thought everything concerning the Dursleys belonged to his old time line, which he didn’t have to consider any more. Had he been wrong? His father laid an arm around his shoulders trying to calm him. Severus scowled noticing the heat his son was radiating. Feeling his forehead, he confirmed that he was having a fever again.

“Harry, I want you to lie down in your bed and rest. I don’t want you to do any more work today; is that clear?” Harry groaned and countered,

“No, Dad, I’m fine, and I need to finish the grading, before Granny comes.” However, before they could discuss this any more, Harry was drawn into the next memory.

An about three year old Harry was walking the grounds of Hogwarts together with his parents. All of them were wearing elegant muggle clothes, and Harry was wondering where they might be going.

“Where are we going, Mommy, Daddy?” Lily sighed.

“Harry, you know, my mother, who is your other Granny, has her birthday and will become 50 today. Normally we don’t visit her, because she doesn’t like magic people like us, but today we have to go. We will apparate now, so hold on to Daddy or me, Harry,” Lily said and they were gone, only to reappear in a small street with muggle houses.

His grandmother greeted them very hesitantly and suggested for Harry to go and play with Dudley, his cousin, who was sitting in the garden, playing with blocks. Timidly he went out into the garden, sat next to his big cousin and said in a friendly voice,

“Hello, I am Harry; may I play with you?” Then he took one of the blocks in his hand in order to build a small castle. However, his big cousin jumped up to him and pulled the block out of his hand, knocking Harry over, and shouted,

“Stay away fwom my toys, you fweak. I don’t pway wif fweaks.” Harry got up from the floor shaking and went inside to sit on the sofa with his dad in order to read one of the books he had brought with him. Both his parents had watched the scene and voted to never bring Harry near Dudley again.

As soon as Harry noticed that he was back to Hogwarts and opened his eyes, Severus handed him two potions, and he fell into a dreamless sleep within seconds.

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When he went to his first Transfiguration class in the next morning, he was still shaking inwardly. Fortunately, during the first lesson he was so busy helping the students to change a teddy bear into a different colour that he didn’t have time to think about his recent memories. However, when the last of the morning classes ended, Minerva motioned him to come over to her office. Before she could say anything, Harry apologized to her for not finishing the grading the day before and said,

“However, it is nearly finished, and I can take another pack of parchments with me to grade.” Minerva shook her head and answered,

“Harry, I would like you to go and see Poppy after lunch. Tell her about your memories and your nightmare. You know that she is a qualified psychologist, and I am quite sure that she will be able to help you to get over it much better than anyone else will. I will see you after dinner, alright?” Harry nodded and said,

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Granny.” After lunch, he told Albus where he was going and very reluctantly went to the Hospital Wing for his talk with Pomfrey.