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Author: jedi34 Story: Love and Sacrifice Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Reviews: 15 Words: 25,584
AN: Well, it's been over a year since I updated this story. I know it sucks, and I'm sorry. I hope I haven't lost all my readers. I'm pretty established in my new job now and we have finally settled in from our cross-country move. I plan to start writing more frequently again. If you've stayed with me this long, I really appreciate it! I know this is a short chapter, but I thought it best to work my way back into the story a little bit at a time. The next few chapters will be longer. For those new to the story, I'll give a very quick summary. Harry and Ginny bond during the events of the Chamber, allowing them to grow close as friends before eventually dating. Because of some peculiar things about their bond, Dumbledore becomes convinced that Ginny has somehow taken the Horcrux from Harry. When Ginny is killed at the hands of Voldemort, Harry uses a Time-Turner to go back four years to save her, meeting Tom Riddle in the Chamber. Got it? Good! Let the story continue. ~*~ Harry stepped back quickly, bringing his wand up. He was still under the Cloak and should have still been invisible. How can he see me? Harry began moving to the right, hoping to stay one step ahead of Tom's curses. He glanced down at the diary next to little Ginny. Suddenly his scar burst into a searing pain. I need to find some cover…what in Merlin's name? Harry came to a complete stand-still as he slowly realized that young Tom was not following his progress. The entire sequence had lasted only a brief moment. He followed Riddle's gaze, still uncertain what game his enemy was playing. There, standing in the entrance to the chamber, was…himself. Damn it, damn it, damn it!!! It took all of Harry's self-control not to scream. He had mistimed his jump. He had meant to come and be ready the first time that Riddle and Ginny appeared in the Chamber. Instead he was here, with his younger self and now he couldn't interfere lest he risk destroying himself and the future. Harry grabbed for the Turner again but it vanished into dust in his hand, the previous jump having used all its magic. Harry retreated to the corner of the Chamber as the scene from his memory began playing out. Think Harry…think. You can't interfere directly. Can you somehow direct the magic so that it doesn't impact Ginny this time around? Harry began concentrating on Ginny's small form, still prone on the floor. Maybe if I shield her or…Think! Harry clawed at his hair under the cloak, desperate not to witness what he knew was going to transpire. Maybe if I Imperious her, or put my mind in control of hers…will that deflect it…I should have thought about this, I should have expected this! As events in the Chamber continued, Harry moved closer to the edge of sanity. He was powerless to stop what was occurring. The only good news was that, as far as he could tell, Ginny had not yet been affected. Harry looked up as he somehow felt that the drama unfolding around him was coming to a close. "Just you and me, Harry Potter…you and me…" Riddle raised the wand and the young version of Harry plunged the fang into the diary. A long, piercing scream filled the chamber. As Harry looked on, he saw himself falling over, as Tom's shade twisted grotesquely. No one was watching. No one was in any state to be able to see anything. He took a chance. "Protego!" He poured himself into the shield. He didn't know if it would do any good, offer her any protection, but he had to try. Suddenly a bright light flared in the chamber. A stream of power shot out from his younger self, pushing straight though his shields, striking Ginny where she lay. "No…NOOO!" Harry screamed his rage at his shield's failure. Again, without warning, another bolt shot out, but this time from little Ginny. It hit Harry's shield and followed the inside of the curve, redirecting the bolt not toward his younger self but to him. It struck him full force before he could even recognize what was happening. Then…blackness. ~*~ Harry awoke slowly, eyes fluttering open. He was lying on his back in a cold puddle. It was dark, and his head hurt immensely. He tried to take in his surroundings but his eyes still seemed to be closed. Harry squeezed them shut and then opened them again. "Hello! Hello…am I blind?" His voice echoed in the darkness. As he sat up he realized that he was still under the Invisibility Cloak. He pulled the Cloak off of himself. He still had his wand. "Lumos." There, appearing right in front of him, was the face of a massive Basilisk. "Shit!" Harry stumbled back, losing his concentration. Again he was plunged into darkness. Breathing heavily, he again cast the light spell. I'm in the Chamber. It's over. Did I protect Ginny? He began replaying the last thing he remembered in his mind. "What was that light? It came from Ginny!" As he thought of her again, a window opened in his mind. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he was certain. He could feel Ginny. Her emotions, her fears. His ears turned red as he felt something else come from her that had to be directed at his younger self. Harry waved his wand and immediately the torches along the wall sprang back to life. He didn't know what to do, and he was very confused. I can feel Ginny, she can feel my younger me…somehow the bond got split. My shield? He began pacing, trying to make sense of what happened. I felt my scar react to the diary when I first came here. That would seem to suggest that I still have the Horcrux, not Ginny. Without warning it all clicked. "Dumbledore, you FOOL!" Harry shouted at the ceiling. "She wasn't ever the Horcrux, it was me. It was me all along!!" "Damn you and your knowledge. I came back here to stop something that didn't happen but we thought that it did because I came back to stop it because you told me it happened!" Harry abruptly sat down, tired and angry, having confused himself. How could I have caused something to happen before I came back to stop it? It doesn't make any sense…it just… "DUMBLEDORE!!!" Harry again shouted out his rage then fell silent. "Time always has a price. She told me, she warned me. Now I'm stuck for four years, all for a mistake." Harry took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. "What do I know? Ginny's not the Horcrux, I am. Our bond was split between my younger self and me somehow because of my shields. Since I couldn't feel her before I came, I'm assuming this happened before as well. That also means that I should have stopped her from being killed by Voldemort later. But I didn't… My plan failed. Whatever it was, I already tried it and it didn't work… Harry held his head in despair for a brief moment. Get a grip, Potter. All you have to do is come up with a different plan. Different from the one you tried before that didn't work. The one that you have no clue what it was…shit. Maybe my plan didn't work because I went crazy or something. I can't have contact with anyone who knows me for four years. Four bloody years. Harry stood up and grabbed his Cloak. "First order of business is getting out of here unseen…after that…bloody hell." ~*~ A few hours, luck, and multiple Apparitions found Harry slogging through the streets of London. It was already dark and it was raining. He had already put up a glamour charm, making himself look like a slightly taller blond-headed boy. I can't believe how stupid I am. I was totally unprepared for this. He had already taken inventory of everything that he had taken with him. His clothes, his Cloak, about ten Galleons that had been left over from shopping with Ginny and his wand were all that he had. That's all I have to try and stay alive for four years. I can't even get money out of my vault because of Hermione's time crap. Harry found a deserted corner by a dumpster that had an empty cardboard box. He climbed in and quickly cast some charms to keep it warm and dry inside. He pulled his Cloak over himself. Tomorrow's a new day, Potter. A new day to figure out what the bloody hell you're going to do with yourself and how you are going to save Ginny. ~*~ The next morning Harry awoke early. He had stayed up most of the night trying to decide on a course of action. He was still undecided. The only thing that he knew for certain was that he couldn't go back into Wizarding Britain for a while and he needed money and supplies now. Although he felt very guilty in doing so, he finally Transfigured some scraps of paper into Muggle money and bought himself some breakfast. It wouldn't last and he knew it, but he would be gone by the time the money changed back. "You're doing this for Ginny…don't forget!" Within a few days Harry had Transfigured enough Muggle money and changed it out at various locations all over Britain to have enough reserves to put himself up in a room. He knew that eventually the Ministry would come looking for the rogue Wizard who was disrupting Muggle currency. He tried to remain as circumspect as possible. At the end of the first week he still didn't have any idea on how to proceed. Voldemort won't regain his body for almost three years; I could find his Horcruxes now, when no one is the wiser. The diary is taken care of and Dumbledore will get the ring. That only leaves three for me to find….plus myself. Harry shook his head at the thought. I could train to make sure that when the time comes, I can protect her this time. I could learn more about how these Horcruxes work and try to find an answer that doesn't involve me…dying. Merlin, how can I do all this and not disrupt what's to come and not go crazy? How do I save her but not mess everything else up? He knew it was irrational, but part of him blamed Hermione for all the restrictions he was operating under. Stupid time theory…it always has a price, Harry…stupid Hermione. Harry again shook his head at the thought. I need to learn more about the Horcrux. Dumbledore told me his suspicions about what Tom used, but I need more. What are they, how do they work, how do I destroy them? Harry took a deep breath. It was time to reinvent himself. He was Harry Potter no longer. Harry looked in the mirror at the blond, hawkish-looking man that peered back at him. It was time to take a trip. Learn about the Dark Arts, talk to people he would have never associated with before. It was time to learn how to kill Tom Riddle. ~*~ Four years later Dumbledore was troubled as he watched Harry abruptly rise and stalk off with his friends following him. He had not wished events to unfold in this fashion, yet it was for the best. There were few students left, the majority of the professors were rounding up the stragglers and herding them toward the castle. As Dumbledore straightened, he became aware of something shocking. One of the Death Eaters had not transported away. Immediately his wand was trained on the man, whom he did not recognize. He quickly cast Anti-Portkey and Apparation charms. "Surrender and I can promise you a fair hearing," Dumbledore said softly. Amazingly, the man laughed. "Peace, old man. I'm just waiting for the Potter boy to fully commit. All will be revealed." Dumbledore didn't understand, but he didn't like the tone or the content. Anything regarding Harry was serious. The man shifted his weight and suddenly, faster than Dumbledore could have believed, his wand was flying toward the stranger who easily caught it. The man strode toward Ginny and knelt down, picking her up gently, ever so gently. Again Dumbledore was amazed to see tears sliding down the man's face. He placed a kiss on her forehead and then moved his wand over her in a pattern that the Headmaster did not recognize. Miraculously, most of Ginny's wounds disappeared and she began breathing deeply and peacefully. The man calmly turned toward Dumbledore and tossed him his wand back. "It was an illusion, you see. Necessary, needed. I would never let anything happen to her. I tricked him, I tricked everyone." The man began laughing hysterically. Ginny opened her eyes. "Oww… my head." The man quickly bent down and knelt next to her. "Ginny, oh my Ginny. You're okay, you made it." He began sobbing into his hands. "Err…Headmaster, who is this person? Where is Harry?" she said, concerned when she couldn't see him. She reached out to Harry through the bond to find him. Ginny froze where she stood. Slowly, she turned and stared at the stranger. "Harry?" she said tentatively. The man shimmered. In his place now sat an aged but unmistakable Harry Potter, crying and laughing at the same time, out of control. "Harry?" Ginny asked again, a small sob escaping her. "What happened to you?" Harry abruptly stood, his emotional state changing just as quickly. "I saved you. I told you I would. I swore on my magic that I would always protect you. You're not the Horcrux, Ginny, I am, I was, I might still be…" Harry broke out into giggles again. Suddenly there was a flash and Harry fell, Ginny jumped up and caught him. She turned to see the Headmaster grimly staring at both of them. "Oh, Harry… what have you done?"
B/N: Welcome back, Jedi34. It's so good to know things have settled enough in your life that you're writing again and want to finish the story you've begun. Your readers and I look forward to the rest of your story.
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