Reliving the Past, Present, and Future

Chapter 14

"Teddy, can I have a word?"

Harry stood nervously in the entry way of the kitchen and was highly aware everyone had looked up from their dinner to stare, but he kept his eyes focused on the man with brown eyes and turquoise hair.

"Sure, Harry," said Teddy lightly before wiping his mouth with a cloth and following his God-Father. There were numerous possibilities on what Harry would want to talk about or demand answers for - he had been warned before travelling here.

Harry closed the Meeting Room door behind them and nervously put a hand through his hair.

"I'm not going to bother asking about the future," started Harry, causing Teddy to raise an eyebrow. "But I think someone has tampered with the memories."

Teddy's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. "What makes you say that?"

"I haven't told anyone yet," said Harry quietly, sitting down in a chair and looking tired. "But anytime there has been... pain inflicted in the past, I actually feel it in the present... it's as if I'm reliving it. So far it hasn't left any lasting marks, but I know in the next few memories I won't be able to hide it anymore."

Teddy put his hand through his hair, a nervous tic he had picked up from his God-Father after all these years. "This is going to get complicated," he murmured to himself.

"Are you able to communicate with them, our... our future selves? Was this an accident?"

As Harry feared, Teddy shook his head. "Au-Hermione doesn't make mistakes. We tested every phial before sending it to you lot. We worked on this for three years."

"I want to save lives too but -" Harry hesitated, not sure how to word this carefully. "It seems from my letter the war is over. What changed that we needed to go back?"

Teddy was silent, debating on what he could tell Harry. He knew Harry's 5th year was a bit touchy - he didn't know that Voldemort had started to figure out the connection between them. And from what his God-Father had stated, he had been lousy at Occlumency.

"There's quite a few people eating dinner right now that die," said Teddy quietly. "It hasn't been the same without..." Teddy sighed and looked at Harry. "And it wasn't your fault," he added before rolling his eyes. "Dumbledore didn't exactly leave you a manual."

Harry thought it was odd how there was an edge of disdain when Teddy said Dumbledore's name. And he said, 'leave you a manual'... meaning Dumbledore either dies or doesn't help him defeat Voldemort...

"A manual for defeating Voldemort, you mean?" asked Harry curiously.

Teddy shook his head. "I was told to only tell you at the proper time, but -" Teddy gave Harry a look when he tried to argue. "- but if something is to happen to me while I'm here... the information will still finds its way to you."

"You're going to have to trust us, Harry," said Teddy kindly as he noticed Harry's growing frustration. "And I know that's hard for you."

So much has happened in the last two days... has it really only been two days? But the way Teddy looked at him... his God-son... he looked at him with such confidence and care. Teddy was probably the only one who truly understood what he's going through.

"Hermione also wrote me a book about practically anything that could go wrong," Teddy laughed and slapped his trousers' pocket. "I'll go over it again tonight."

Harry nodded and they both stood up, but Teddy immediately pulled him into a hug.

"You're truly an important person in my life, Harry," Teddy whispered. "I'm here for you through these memories, understand? I am on your side."