Turning Time (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Revelare Viam, pt. 1

“I help him when he transforms into a werewolf.” 

Harry gasped. He looked from the drink to James’ stunned face, then bolted out of the portrait hole. With a look to make sure the coast was clear, he pulled his invisibility cloak out of his robes.

Just as he disappeared, James and Sirius came running out from around the corner. 

“Who are your best friends?” James shouted, knowing that Harry would be forced to answer if he was within earshot, and they could find him. They didn’t expect anything unusual.

“Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!” Harry shouted in an equally loud voice as he ran in the opposite direction. He tried to cast a Muffling Charm to block out any future responses, but found he was unable to do so. Then, to his relief, he found a hiding place—the humpbacked witch statue. He tapped the statue with his wand, muttered “Dissendium,” and got inside before James and Sirius caught up to him. 

Harry contemplated waiting out the potion, but figured it would take too long. If only he’d mastered Occlumency…he tried saying a lie to himself. “My name is J—J—Harry…” He stopped. What had Severus taught him in the Occlumency lessons? Clear your mind. But he couldn’t, not when he’d just given away his friend’s secret. 

Harry knew he couldn’t stand by when James and Sirius had the information. He couldn’t modify their memories without risking permanent damage…but he could body-bind the pair until the potion wore off. He left the tunnel, cloak on, wand at the ready.

“I heard something this way!” James called from down the corridor. He sprinted in Harry’s direction. 

“Are you really…” James paused, Harry hesitated, which gave James just enough time to continue, “…who you say you are?” 

Harry had no choice but to answer. “No. Petrificus Totalus!” 

“James? Where’d you go?” Sirius appeared, comically shocked when he spotted James frozen on the ground. 

“What the—” Sirius limbs snapped together and he fell to the ground before he could finish. 

Despite Harry’s relief that the information was contained, that James hadn’t asked a more revealing question, Harry was nervous. He flipped them over so they wouldn’t see him take off his cloak, then waited for the potion to wear off. 

“My name is Ha—” he mutter periodically. Ten minutes later, he felt his jaw relax, allowing him to say, “My name is Jacob Walker.” 

Harry disarmed Sirius and James, pocketed their wands, then released the two boys. They jumped up, staring at Harry, who kept his wand raised. 

“It’s impressive that you made Veritaserum.”

James glared at Harry, eyes narrowed. The expression only lasted a moment, he looked back at the ground, still processing the news. 

“I have to take you to Dumbledore. He’ll decide what to do, now that you know.” The fact hit Harry hard once more…How would Remus react? What if it was too early for them to find out, and they wouldn’t accept Remus? 

James looked as though he might resist Harry, but knew he wasn’t in a position to do so. 

The three made their way through the seventh floor corridor and down the staircase. A few students looked at them, trying to assess if they needed help, but James nor Sirius said anything. 

When the reached the third floor, James spoke. “I asked you if you were really who you said you were. You said no.”

Harry frowned. There had to be a way out of giving the truth. “I said no because…the question was really vague. I said no because I…interpreted it as if you…asked if I felt like I acted like my true self, and wasn’t putting on an act. And I feel like I am putting on an act. Everyone sees me as really good at Quidditch, and smart, but they don’t really know me. That’s a guess, I dunno why, exactly.”