Echoes of the Past

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven: Echoes of the Past

The tour through the corridors of Hogwarts continued, but the atmosphere was tense after the encounter with Harry. Aaron, or rather James, couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had settled in his gut. The older generation—now hidden behind their new identities—exchanged subtle glances, each of them grappling with the weight of seeing Harry in such a fractured state. The boy they had heard so much about, the son of his best friends, seemed like a shadow of who he should be.

As they walked, passing familiar landmarks within the castle, it was Sirius—now Alex—who finally broke the silence, unable to keep his curiosity in check any longer.

"So, um... Hermione," Alex started, his voice casual but tinged with genuine interest, "that boy we just met... Harry. He seems pretty important around here. What's his story?"

Hermione looked at Alex with a hint of caution. "Harry's been through a lot," she said carefully. "He's... well, you could say he's famous. But it's more complicated than that."

Aaron raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Remus—now Peter. "Famous? How so?"

Hermione hesitated, clearly trying to choose her words carefully. "Harry's the Boy Who Lived. He survived a curse from Voldemort when he was a baby... lost his parents because of it."

The older generation's expressions shifted slightly at the mention of Voldemort, the memories of their own battles with the Dark Lord flashing through their minds. But it was the mention of Harry's parents that seemed to hang in the air, unspoken questions lingering between them.

"And... his parents?" Alex asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though there was a slight tremor of emotion he couldn't quite hide. "Who were they?"

"Lily and James Potter," Ron chimed in, sensing the weight of the conversation but not fully understanding the depth of their interest. "They died trying to protect Harry."

Aaron felt his heart drop at the confirmation. Hearing it aloud, even though he knew what had happened, was like a punch to the gut. So that's our fate, he thought, the reality of his and Lily's future sinking in. He could feel Rosemary's—or rather, Lily's—hand tighten slightly around her wand, a subtle but telling sign of her distress.

"And this... Lyra?" Remus—Peter—asked, his tone softer, more tentative. "She's Harry's sister?"

Hermione nodded. "Well no, Lyra Black. She was raised by the Malfoys partly after... after things went wrong with her birth parents. It's complicated."

"Black?" Alex's voice held a note of incredulity. "Sirius Black...?"

"Yes," Hermione said, her eyes flicking to Alex with curiosity. "Sirius Black was Harry's godfather, and he took in Harry. It's a bit of a scandalous story, really. But he was like a father to him after he lost his parents."

The weight of the situation became clearer with every word Hermione spoke. Sirius—Alex—felt a strange mix of pride and sorrow knowing his future self had stepped up for Harry, but it was bittersweet, knowing what it all led to.

"So what led to this happening to his parents? Wouldn't they have been in hiding." It was Regulus—Timothee—who spoke up this time, his voice low, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them before Ron spoke up. "They were betrayed by a friend... someone they thought they could trust. James and Lily were killed the night Voldemort came for Harry. It's... a long story."

The room fell silent again as the older generation processed this information, the weight of the future that had been laid out before them almost too heavy to bear. But the question that had been lurking in their minds since this conversation began was finally voiced by Marlene—Venus.

"And... what about the others?" Venus asked cautiously, her voice almost a whisper. "The rest of their friends? The ones who were close to them?"

Hermione sighed, glancing down at the ground as she prepared herself to explain. "Sirius Black was framed for their deaths... spent years in Azkaban before breaking out and reuniting with Harry. Remus Lupin—one of their closest friends—taught at Hogwarts for a while. But... well, he didn't survive the war either. A lot of people didn't."

Remus—Peter—felt his heart tighten at the mention of his future self's fate, while Sirius—Alex—looked away, unable to meet anyone's eyes as he grappled with the reality of what awaited them all.

"And Peter Pettigrew?" Aaron asked, his voice low, almost dangerous.

Hermione's face hardened slightly at the name. "Pettigrew... betrayed them. He was the one who sold them out to Voldemort. He's... well, let's just say he got what he deserved in the end."

The older generation exchanged glances again, the pieces of their future falling into place with each revelation. The knowledge that one of their own would turn against them, leading to such devastating consequences, was a bitter pill to swallow.

It was then that Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini approached, having heard part of the conversation as they rounded the corner. Draco's icy gaze swept over the group before landing on Hermione.

"What's all this about, Granger?" Draco drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Giving a history lesson to the newbies?"

Hermione straightened, her expression hardening. "Just answering some questions."

"Questions about Potter, I assume," Draco sneered, his eyes flicking to the older generation. "I wouldn't put too much stock in anything about him. He's not exactly the golden boy everyone thinks he is."

Ron bristled at Draco's words, but before he could respond, Blaise spoke up, his tone more measured but no less cold. "It's not our place to judge, Malfoy. Let them ask what they want."

Draco shot Blaise a look but didn't argue, instead turning his attention back to Hermione, Ron, and Pansy. "Well, if you're done with the history lesson, maybe you can continue the tour. Some of us have better things to do than stand around talking."

Aaron—James—watched Draco carefully, his expression neutral but his mind racing. He could see something of Lucius Malfoy in the boy's sharp features and icy demeanor, but there was also a sense of something else—something darker, more calculating. Blaise, on the other hand, seemed to observe everything with a quiet intensity, his dark eyes sharp and perceptive.

Hermione nodded, though she didn't look pleased. "We should move on," she said, addressing the older generation. "There's still a lot to see."

As they continued the tour, the older generation remained quiet, their thoughts heavy with the knowledge they now carried. The future was a grim place, filled with loss and betrayal, and the burden of knowing their fate weighed heavily on them all.

But as they walked, each of them knew that they had a part to play in this new timeline. They would have to navigate their roles carefully, all while hiding their true identities from those around them. And though they didn't know how they would return to their own time, they knew one thing for certain: they couldn't let the future play out the way it had been described. They had to find a way to change it, to protect the ones they loved and prevent the darkness that had claimed so many lives.

For now, though, they would bide their time, play their parts, and learn everything they could about this new world. And perhaps, in doing so, they would find a way to mend the fractures that had torn their future apart.