All the Time in the World

Chapter Ten

Merope appeared that night too, just as Harry expected. This time, Ron and Hermione were also with him. They too wanted to meet Merope's ghost.

"Story to tell your grandkids, mate," Ron had said, "I met the ghost of You-know-who's mother!"

Hermione had rolled her eyes and told Ron not to be flippant, but Harry actually felt calmer due to Ron's attitude. He dared not allow himself to hope that he could prevail upon Dumbledore to go back to the past and change things. But surely, that might be a worthier cause and far better than to collect memories and information about Voldemort's younger days when he was Tom Riddle?

Merope appeared just as suddenly as she had the earlier two times. One moment the room was empty save the three of them, the next moment the ghost of Merope was standing in the middle of the room. She was wringing her hands again, though she was not crying.

"Is he here?" She asked.

Harry shook his head. "He's away," said he.

She looked around the room with so much despair. "What do I do now?"

"Why don't you tell us what you want Professor Dumbledore to do?" Asked Hermione kindly. "We shall tell him and perhaps he will do it."

Merope shook her head, "It can't be done without the Transtemporal. And I can't risk giving anyone but him, its location."

"Come on, you can trust us," said Ron in an encouraging manner. "We won't tell anyone except Dumbledore."

"No!" Merope's voice was full of despair. "It is forbidden to reveal its location to anyone except him. Or to his deputy, the one chosen by him to carry out the task."

"What task?" Asked Harry.

"The task of going back in time to save my son,"

Harry exchanged a glance with his friends.

"About that," said he. "What do you expect Dumbledore to do? Is he to stop you from putting that spell on your son?"

Merope shook her head, "The spell contributed to what he became, but that was not all. Tom... Tom needs to learn how to love..."

"Then perhaps, he could go back in time to meet you?" Asked Hermione, "Convince you to live for your son?"

"My fate cannot be changed," said Merope. "Not so Tom's. You have to ask him or his deputy to meet me here tomorrow! Time is running out for me!"

She vanished.

"That went well," said Ron. "But how do we convince Dumbledore to do this?"

"And what was all that talk about a deputy?" Frowned Hermione.

"She said Dumbledore should send someone else if he's too busy." said Harry, thoughtfully. "Perhaps we can convince him to send someone else."

"Like who?" Asked Ron. "In case you haven't noticed, this is a very risky operation involving time travel. Only a nutter would agree to something like this. And I don't think Dumbledore would ever force anyone to do this."

"I don't think anyone else can do this," said Hermione. "I mean, Dumbledore knew Riddle. That is why he could do this. How can someone else do it? It has to be someone Riddle knows at school."

Ron snapped his fingers. "I know!" Said he excitedly, "Hagrid! He was at school withYou-know-who! And he's a member of the order. He'll also do whatever Dumbledore tells him. He's perfect!"

"He's also a half-giant and You-know-who hates everyone who is not a pure-blood," snapped Hermione.

"Besides, Tom Riddle was quite contemptuous of Hagrid," muttered Harry, remembering the way the Riddle from the diary had spoken of Hagrid. "I don't think he's likely to listen to anything Hagrid might say."

"Well, nothing for it except talk to Dumbledore then," shrugged Ron. "We'll sleep on it."

The other two whole-heartedly agreed.