I Open at the Close

3

Harry, Ron and Hermione gathered at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. So far they'd followed their instructions to not talk about the night before. But that was an instruction that could be followed for only so long. Already Ron and Harry would look at each other for quick moments, trying to come up with an innocuous way of talking about it.

They'd met themselves from the future. And their future wanted to change the future. There was an entire can of worms that came with that thought alone. Was the future really that bad?

"Did you ever finish your Transfiguration work?" Hermione asked Ron

Ron, who had a mouth full of eggs groaned, "I knew I was forgetting something." He said, mouth still full.

"Maybe McGonagal will be understanding, she was the one to that took us to see Dumbledore." Harry said, grabbing some toast.

Ron nodded, "Yea," he said, "I'll roll her we got back so late that I couldn't get it done."

A host of owls flew into the Great Hall, carrying the days post. A small fluffy black owl landed in front of Harry, dropping a folded paper.

It read

Come back during your free period. Bring Scabbers. Don't tell anyone, don't talk about it when you're alone.

It wasn't signed, but there was no question who it was from or where they were meant to go.

"Why Scabbers?" Ron whispered

"Ron!" Hermione hissed

Ron threw his hands in the air, "Sorry!"

There conversation was brought to a quick close when Dumbledore walked into the Great Hall. A hush fell over the room. They never saw Dumbledore in the Great Hall unless it was dinner. What was he doing here now?

He walked to the podium at the front of the room and cleared his throat as if he wasn't aware the entire room was already watching him, "Due to some health issues Professor Quirrel is having Defense Against the Dark Arts will be temporarily cancelled. Once we have found a suitable replacement classes will return as normal. Now, please enjoy the rest of your breakfast and head off to your first classes."

He then walked out of the room when out another word. The trio exchanged worried looks, this had to have something to do with what happened the night before.

They left soon after for their classes. Harry found it hard to pay attention, even in his more interesting classes. Though his did note that in Transfigeration McGonagal didn't even ask for the work she'd assigned. They instead had to turn a mouse into a pinecone.

When morning break finally came around Harry and Hermione went ahead to the gryphon statue. They waited there for Ron to return from the dormitory.

"Got Scabbers?" Harry asked

Ron pulled the rat out of his pocket, "Asleep. As usual."

Harry turned to the statue, "Acid Pop." He said, and the statue moved, revealing the staircase behind it.

Together, the three of them walked up the staircase. Stopping at the closed door. Harry raised his fist to knock on the door when he heard the conversation that was happening behind it.

"What do you mean he got away?" A voice, Harry guessed his future self, yelled.

Another voice, probably older Ron, groaned, "Why can't anything we do be easy?"

"What do we do? This is different than last time?" Older Hermione asked, "We have no idea where to start looking."

"We were already planning on going for the horcrux's next anyway." Older Harry said, "We should just stick to that plan until we have a better understanding of where he went off to."

Harry and Ron looked at Hermione, "What's a horcrux?" Harry asked

"Why do you think I know?" Hermione asked, looking appalled

Ron shrugged, "I dunno. You seem to know everything."

"Not everything." She scoffed, "It's just that unlock you two, I read."

Harry was going to retort back that he'd read all of his class books before coming to Hogwarts, he instead became aware that the conversation on the other side of the door had stopped.

The door swung open to reveal Older Ron, with a smirk on his face, "Should have known." He tsked, "Never could mind our own business, could we?" He looked back at his Harry and Hermione.

The trio entered the room. Dumbledore was standing in front of his desk, Snape stood next to him with his arms crossed.

Older Harry and Ron both seemed to think that their eavesdropping was funny, Snape did not.

"Five points from Gryffindor." He drawled, "For eavesdropping."

Dumbledore nodded, "And five points to Gryffindor for following instruction." He eyed the sleeping Scabbers in Ron's hand.

In fact, the entire rooms attention was on the rat. Scabbers had awoken from his nap and was looking around the room. The rat took a special interest in the Older, Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

"Why did you want Scabbers?" Ron asked, holding his pet close to his chest.

Older Ron appeared to be cringing while Older Harry approached, "Let me hold him." He said, it was not a request, more an order.

The humor Older Ron and Harry had been sharing moments before was gone. They both looked deadly serious. Older Hermione gripped her wand while Snape and Dumbledore watched the interaction.

Ron looked like he wanted to argue. For a moment, he kept Scabbers close looking towards Dumbledore for guidance. Dumbledore smiled and nodded, so Ron began to hand his rat over.

Just before Scabbers reached Older Harry's hand, he bit down on Ron's finger, causing Ron to drop him.

"Ow!" Ron swore, "Why'd he do that?" He scrambled to chase Scabbers.

Older Hermione pointed her wand at Scabbers, just before he escaped the room, and he began to float. Still flailing his legs in the air. Now high pitched screeching filled the room. Older Harry stomped towards the floating rat, pulling his own wand out of his robes.

Older Harry, Ron, and Hermione all had their wands pointed at Scabbers, "What are you doing?" Hermione screamed

"Don't worry." Older Ron said, "It'll make sense in a moment."

All three of their wands glowed a bright blue. Scabbers stopped shrieking and for a moment, Harry thought they'd killed him. Instead he transformed. In front of Harry's own eyes, Scabbers turned from a rat to a man. A short fat man with thinning hair.

Snape's eyes went wide as he pulled his wand out as well

"Who is that?" Ron yelled, "What did you do to Scabbers?"

"This is Peter Pettigrew." Older Harry said, his green eyes still trained on the man, "He killed my parents."