16 Back to the Future

Shortly after celebrating their fourth anniversary in the past, Harry woke up to a churning in his stomach and a sense of urgency. He dressed quickly and made his way out to the common room, where he found Helena and Hermione waiting. A moment later Neville joined them, appearing as distressed as Harry felt.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"It is time for you to go," Helena explained. "You will have today to say your goodbyes and leave messages for any you wish to."

"Can we bring nothing with us?" Hermione asked. "I've got books and books of notes!"

Helena smiled. "You may not bring it with you, but you may place it in a secure space in the castle under a stasis spell, and it will be waiting for you when you wake."

Hermione immediately rushed off to gather her books, while Neville ran for his own room. Harry took a walk through the forest, trying to figure out what he would want to bring forward with him.

He had few notes; most of his studies had been practical. His language skills and ability to transform himself would be retained in his own mind. He could always grow or harvest plants to make the healing elixirs and potions he had studied. No, the things Harry would miss the most were the animals, people, and creatures of this time. And those he couldn't take with him.

Instead, Harry went through the forest and the village, saying goodbye to those he knew. He took a dip in the lake to visit the squid and merfolk, and took his usual thestral mount, Ehl, to the ashwinder cave.

As the sun began to set, Harry made his way back to the castle; part of him sad to be going, but part of him eager to get back to his own time. After a quick stop at Essa's den, Harry headed to the kitchens for dinner. There, he, Hermione, and Neville were treated to a magnificent feast and wished well on their trip by all of the castle's resident students, teachers, and staff. The elves in particular wished Harry well, as he had spent much of his time among them, giving him a very touching farewell in elvish.

Finally, the trio met again in the founders' common room, where the four founders and Helena were waiting for them. After another touching farewell, and a few parting words for their heirs, the founders left, and Helena sent the three students to bed.

"I'll see you in the morning, in one form or another," she promised.

oOo

When Harry woke, it took him a few moments to realize that he was not in the Hogwarts he had fallen asleep in. While the room was technically the same, it had aged greatly through the years. The furniture was different, and the tapestries were dusty and faded with age. The commode was in the same place, though it had been upgraded at some point, and Harry went through his usual ablutions.

He was shocked, however, to look in the mirror and see, not the fifteen year old he had become, but the eleven year old he had been. This body was scrawny, and pale, and dressed in over-large pajamas that were Dursley hand-me downs.

Frowning, Harry concentrated on his metamorphmagus magics. There was the face he recognized, and the muscles he had worked so hard for! A wave of his hand transformed Dudley's pajamas as well, into the same kind Harry had had in the past.

Finished, he returned to his room, and found his clothes laid out for the day, just as they had always been in the past. His Hogwarts robe, sized to his younger body, and a set of Dudley's hand-me-downs sat on the chair, while his socks and trainers were tucked below it.

Annoyed, a wave of Harry's hand transformed these into something much more like what he had worn in the past, though he did take advantage of the modern fabric and construction style. The trousers, pants, and shirt were plain browns and green, and would fit him perfectly. The robes were the ones that Hogwarts had transformed for him the night of the feast, but he needed to make them a little longer to fit his older frame.

Satisfied with his appearance, Harry made his way through the Slytherin common room - also forgotten and aged, and with far fewer doors than he remembered - and into the joint founders common room. There he found Hermione and Neville waiting for him, both looking like their younger selves.

"That is so unfair," Hermione complained upon seeing Harry. "We can't all change ourselves to match how we looked yesterday." Harry smirked in reply, but before he could say anything, Helena floated into the room.

"Helena!" Neville cheered.

"Oh, should we call you the Grey Lady again?" Hermione asked, indicating their teacher's ghostly appearance.

"Helena is fine," she confirmed. "Now, if you would call for breakfast, we will bring you up to date on everything that has happened between your departure and your return."

Hermione snapped her fingers for an elf, and all three gaped when one appeared. It was a shadow of the elves they had known, hunched and wrinkly, wearing only a pillowcase with the Hogwarts crest on it.

"What cans Blinky do for Missy 'claw?" the elf asked.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione whispered, close to tears.

"We will get to that," Helena said reassuringly. "But not today. For now, simply tell her what you want."

Hermione couldn't seem to bring herself to speak, so Harry leaned forward. "Full breakfast for three, please, Blinky," he said. "And if anyone asks, we are not yet awake."

"Yessir, Master Snake!" the elf replied, bowing repeatedly, before popping away.

"Hardly anyone in the castle is awake, so you needn't worry about that," Helena said.

"Yes, we should be able to cover everything you need to know before they expect you," another familiar voice said. A moment later it was followed by Sir Nicholas, who drifted up through the table, followed by Friar Lawrence. "It is good to see you three again," he concluded.

The trio traded greetings with the ghosts and caught up with how they had each died until Blinky reappeared with their food.