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Bonded chapter 45 -
🕑 Added 2023-10-27 22:32:23 +0000 UTCChapter 45 -
'What the fuck is that?!' Harry blurted out. 'The fuck are they? The fuck?!'
"I don't know," Venom growled. "What are you?!" He roared at the flying creatures.
"Time Wraiths!" They answered before charging at him, Venom leapt over the first one and hit the second one into the third before grabbing the first with a tentacle and tossing him at the other two. Venom had barely landed on the floor when four more time wraiths shot out of the cut and grabbed him, throwing him high up into the air, he slammed right into the ceiling before bouncing off it towards the wraiths, several tentacles shot out and knocked the four out of the air before Venom swung forwards and landed on the teacher's table.
"What do you want with us?!" Venom demanded.
"You're trying to change the timeline!" Another wraith hissed as it stormed out of the cut and glared at Venom before another one flew out and spoke.
"The timeline was already changed when Sirius Black survived!" It growled as its fallen brethren rose up while a few more popped out of the cut. "One more change and the timeline will collapse! The universe will fall to ash!" Half of Venom's face was pulled back to reveal half of Harry's face.
"Wait," Harry said quickly. "But Hermione used the time turner all the time and..."
"The girl did not actively change the timeline!" One hissed as five more popped out of the cut.
"She did not interfere in the past!" Another shrieked.
"You're actively changing things! Intentionally!" A different wraith roared.
"Those who travel in time cannot change the timeline, they will destroy the loop! It cannot be allowed!" One wraith cried.
"Alright, wait," Harry quickly said when another three popped out. "How can we resolve this peacefully without the whole universe going into flames?"
"I don't like flames," Venom grunted.
"You're irresponsible! Give us the time turner!" One of them hissed.
"And then you will fix your mess! The timeline must go as intended!" A different one snarled. "What has been written cannot be changed!"
"Fine, we'll give it back," Harry said.
"Must we?!" Venom complained.
"It's that or the universe collapses," Harry pointed out.
"But...we live here!" Venom said indignantly.
"Exactly," Harry said before the time turner popped out of the goo on his hand. "Damn," He sighed before tossing the time turner to the wraiths. One wraith caught it and appeared to be glaring at Venom and Harry while another went over to Karkaroff and placed a hand on his forehead, causing his eyes to briefly turn a milky white.
"What are you doing to him?" Venom asked, sounding more curious than anything.
"Altering his memory!" A wraith snapped at them.
"Leave now!" Another screamed. "Do not ever try to change the timeline again!"
"Or we will come for you!" A different wraith growled. Venom and Harry stared at them for a moment before Venom completely covered Harry's face.
"Love you too," Venom said sarcastically before jumping up into the air swinging out of the owl window at the top of the hall and swinging his way to the nearby courtyard, quickly turning invisible upon landing. "What the hell was that all about?"
'Apparently, we pissed off some supernatural forces in charge of making sure the universe doesn't collapse, not bad for a day's work.' Harry said inside of Venom's head as Venom made his way towards Gryffindor tower.
"We lost the time turner, that was a very valuable resource," Venom growled.
'Better we lose it than destroy the universe,' Harry replied. 'Still, at least we know who put my name in the goblet.'
"Yes, but why?" Venom wondered. "Why would Voldemort want you in the tournament? There are simpler ways to kill you,"
'He must have something planned,' Harry sighed. 'What do you think we should do?'
"Play along, find him, kill him...viciously," Venom answered bluntly as they heard footsteps, they quickly stepped to the side as Tonks walked by, having just left the Gryffindor corridor after dropping off past Harry (or...future...Harry...the timeline's complicated). 'Hmm,' Venom hummed thoughtfully as he watched Tonks walk past. 'Her wide hips would aid her when she births your children,' Venom noted clinically.
'Venom, kindly shut the fuck up please,' Harry begged as they rounded the corner just before past Harry disappeared out of view. Venom's goo slowly slid out of view, leaving Harry who took in a deep breath.
"Let's get this over with," Harry whispered to himself before walking up to the sleeping Fat Lady portrait. "Balderdash," Harry said.
"Hmm...sure," The portrait said sleepily before opening, allowing Harry to enter the common room. As soon as he got in he saw all of the Gryffindors staring at him. "Yeah, what?" Harry asked defensively.
"You really didn't enter your name?" One of the Gryffindors asked.
"I didn't enter, I've got better things to do than risk my life for a tournament that I didn't know about before this year," Harry snorted. "I don't need any more fame, I'm the bloody boy who lived. I'm not interested in the tournament, in fact, I was hoping Angelina would be the one who would enter and win," Harry added, gesturing to Angelina who was sitting in a corner, looking somewhat surprised yet also grateful for Harry's words. "Either way, Diggory is the real Hogwarts champion, I'm just entered against my will, providing they don't find a way to get me out of the tournament. So, if you'll excuse me, I've had a long night and I'd like to go to sleep." Harry said and quickly walked up the stairs and into his room where he found Ron waiting for him.
"So," Ron said as he was sitting in his bed. "Enjoyed your party, did you?" He asked in an odd tone.
"Party? What party?"
"The twins said they might have a party for you being the new champion," Ron said shortly.
"Well, they didn't, I came in and I told everyone I didn't enter and then I came up here," Harry replied before heading over to his own bed.
"You didn't enter?"
"No, I didn't," Harry answered firmly as he stood next to the bed.
"Look, you don't have to lie to me," Ron said, forcing a smile on his face. "Just wish you would've told me, how'd you do it? Did you use your invisibility cloak?"
"How is a cloak going to help me get across an age line?" Harry couldn't help but ask. Truth be told, he hadn't used that cloak in ages, when you have a powerful alien that can turn you invisible then you don't bother with carrying a cloak around all the time. "It'd only make me invisible, the age line wouldn't be able to see me anyway, it checks my age."
"Alright, well how did you do it then?" Ron huffed, his ears turning red.
"I didn't," Harry repeated, feeling very annoyed. "I've got better things to do than enter a tournament."
"Like what?"
"Like enjoying a peaceful year for once!" Harry glared at him. "I was hoping for one year without possessed teachers and ancient monsters and escaped prisoners! I was hoping for one school year where I'm not in danger. What the hell would I have gained from entering the tournament anyway?"
"Oh, I don't know," Ron said sarcastically as he got up from his bed. "Maybe the thousand galleons and eternal glory, who wouldn't want that?" He asked as he walked over to Harry and stood right in front of him.
"First off, I'm rich enough, I don't need an extra thousand,"
"Oh joy," Ron muttered.
"Secondly, you can't even name a winner of the tournament. Go right ahead, tell me one right now without looking it up," Harry said, his glare increasing. "Can you, huh?"
"How did you get in?" Ron asked, ignoring Harry's question.
"Did you hit your head or something? Did you get something in your ear? Activate your hearing and listen very carefully," Harry growled. "I...didn't...enter." He said slowly. "Stop being stupid."
"That's me, isn't it?" Ron glared at him. "Harry Potter's stupid friend?"
'You should consider yourself lucky,' Venom growled.
"I don't know, but you're doing a good job at acting like it," Harry told him. "Get it through your thick skull, I didn't enter." Harry rolled his eyes, about to turn away.
"Piss off," Ron muttered, only to be pushed a couple of steps back.
"What the hell did you just say to me?!" Harry demanded.
"Don't push me!" Ron rushed forward and pushed Harry who only took a step back before he shoved Ron with one hand, causing the red-head to stumble back and land on his bed.
"Or what?" Harry asked, challengingly. Ron let out a yell before charging at Harry who sidestepped and grabbed Ron by his hair before pulling him back and throwing him back on his bed. "Careful Ron, I'm not little Harry Potter anymore."
"You're a dick is what you are!" Ron shouted as he stood up.
"And you're pathetic!" Harry shouted back. "You're my friend! You're supposed to have my back!"
"Why would I have the back of a liar and a cheater?!"
"Fuck...you!" Harry hissed just as his roommates walked in.
"What's going on?" Dean asked.
"He's mad is what's going on!" Ron said angrily as he stood up and pointed at Harry. "He pushed me!"
"Shut your mouth!" Harry snapped at him. "You're the turncoat! You're the one guy who was supposed to have my back and now you're accusing me of entering a tournament I couldn't care less about."
"You did enter!"
"I didn't, you gormless prat!" Harry glared.
"Why the fuck should I believe you?!"
"Fine! Don't believe me then!" Harry stared at him intently. "I don't give second chances these days, so you had better decide good and proper how you want to act now."
"Piss off!" Ron snapped at him.
"Fine, don't come running back to me later."
'Traitor!' Venom snarled in Harry's head. 'Backstabbing parasite!'
'Agreed,' Harry said coldly.
(.)
The following day an irritated Harry Potter descended the stairs into the Gryffindor common room, finding it to be mostly empty with the exception of Hermione and a small group of first years sitting in the far corner. Hermione was reading a book while sitting in her favourite chair as usual. However, she did look up when she saw Harry approach.
"Harry," She said as he sat down on the chair next to her. "I heard that you and Ron got into a fight yesterday."
"Git," Harry scoffed. "He kept accusing me of entering the tournament and not telling him."
"Did you enter?" Hermione asked.
"What do you think?" Harry rolled his eyes. "I already told everyone I didn't. Wait...you think I entered?!"
"Honestly, you might have," Hermione said, her voice quiet yet oddly determined.
"What the hell, Hermione?!" Harry demanded. "Why on Earth do you think I entered?!"
"You've been acting different, Harry," Hermione said, her gaze locked on him. "You're more aggressive and argumentative. You accused Professor Snape of reading your mind and pointed your wand at him, not to mention what you did to him in the Shrieking Shack."
"So? He did read my mind! Or at least he tried to!"
"That's the thing, Harry, I read up on the mind arts and it is an incredibly hard-to-learn subject, not taught at Hogwarts and frowned upon by the ministry for anyone who isn't an auror or at least the level of a department head. Meaning, that Snape likely doesn't know how to read your mind and there's no way you should be able to defend yourself against him even if he did, not that I think he did. Dumbledore himself spoke up for him."
"Dumbledore's not a god, Hermione, he can be wrong!" Harry argued. "You know full well that Dumbledore has brushed off any and all complaints about Snape from the students."
"What about the school governors and the ministry?" Hermione countered. "They let him stay on, meaning they didn't think so either."
Harry couldn't help but stare at her, for all of Hermoine's book intelligence, she wasn't that smart when it came to things like this. She - like many others in the wizarding world - didn't like things that went against her worldview. In her mind, teachers were to be respected and obeyed with obvious exceptions like those with dark lord's hanging off the back of their heads. Meaning Hermione didn't believe that Dumbledore had used his massively powerful influence to get Snape free and able to keep his job. No, Snape was a vile human being but he was a teacher that Dumbledore defended, meaning as far as she was concerned, he couldn't be that bad. Harry knew better than to argue that point, she wouldn't believe him.
"What does that have to do with the goblet?" Harry asked tightly.
"You've become different," Hermione said sadly. "The Harry that I know would never have entered his name. But you...I don't even know who you are anymore. You refused to join the Society for the Promotion of E..."
"Wait, you're accusing me of cheating into a nationwide tournament because I refused to join your little elf club?!" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"The Harry I know would never have supported slave labour!" Hermione glared at him.
"I'm supporting slave labour?! No! What I'm refusing to do is jump into a club designed to change the lives of other creatures without doing proper research, something you should be bloody proud of, to be honest. How many elves do you even know personally?!" Harry glared back before he realised that the first years were staring at them. "Scram now!" He ordered and they quickly ran off.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Hermione said accusingly as the first years left. "You're more angry and violent."
"I am..."
"You were going to kill Sirius Black, Harry!" She cut in.
"I thought he was responsible for the deaths of my parents!" Harry snapped.
"That doesn't matter!" Hermione said fiercely. "A couple of years ago you would never have even considered that."
"Really? Because when I was a first year I turned a man to dust, Hermione! Remember that? You know, when I saved the world from Voldemort, again!" Harry growled.
'I told you that you should have gotten a better friend!' Venom roared in his head. 'Traitors! Traitors! All of them! Disloyal! Parasites!'
"You've changed, Harry and I don't think that..." Hermione began before Harry cut her off.
"Yeah, you know what, I have changed!" Harry said sharply. "I have changed and if you were my real friend then you would have accepted me as I am. I've changed, but you definitely have not!"
'Get rid of her! Disloyal! Untrustworthy! We need better!' Venom hissed.
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Hermione demanded, only to jump in shock when Harry leapt off of his chair and slammed his hands on the armrests of her chair, leaning his head down so he was looking her right in the eye.
"You are still the same annoying little first year that I met on the train," Harry said, softly and slowly, barely louder than a whisper. "You kept chasing after me and Ron that year, hoping to find friendship even though all you were good for was nagging and telling us what to do like you were our mum. You're not my mother, she was a brilliant and selfless woman. You and Ronald are irritating little parasites that hate anything that doesn't fit your perfect little world. For years...years...I thought that I needed you. Both of you. But that's not the case anymore, I don't need Ron and I don't need you. And once I'm gone, how long do you think it'll be before Ron stops keeping you around? Without me, that spares up more time for you to do what you do best, nag and nag and lecture until he gets too tired of you. Think about it, I was his best friend and he threw me away, how long do you think you have?"
"H...Harry..." Hermione said quietly, her eyes brimming with tears. "...Why are you..."
"We are tired of you, we are sick of you," Harry glared at her as if she were an annoying bug.
"You...you don't mean that...you and Ron are my..."
"I was your friend!" Harry hissed. "But I do not stay friends with people who call me a liar! My parents trusted Pettigrew and he betrayed them! I will not make the same mistake with my friends! You're loyal or you're not my friend. 'A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.' That's a Shakespeare quote in case you didn't know. I changed and you didn't like it and instead of sticking by me, you want to accuse me? No, you and Ron are perfect for each other. I don't need both of you anymore and I don't want either of you now." Harry scowled as he turned and stormed out of the common room.
'Traitors!' Venom snarled.
'They accuse me!' Harry responded angrily. 'Ron...I saved his sister! He was housing Pettigrew! He owes me! And this is how he does it?! And Hermione! I jumped on the troll for her! Ron was only there because I brought him there! I was the one who got her friends! I killed the basilisk! I stopped Voldemort a grand fucking total of three times if we include the diary and they still dare to accuse me?! Betray me?!'
'We can't trust anyone!' Venom told him just as they rounded the corner and nearly bumped into Tonks.
"Harry!" Tonks blurted out before quickly pulling him into a hug. "Damn, I've been looking for you! Are you okay?!"
'Well, maybe one,' Venom amended as Tonks let go of Harry.
"You look angry, what happened?" Tonks asked, sounding concerned.
"Hermione and Ron accused me of entering my name into the tournament," Harry told her with a scowl on his face.
"What?! Why?!" Tonks squawked.
"Beats me," Harry huffed. "Ron just wouldn't believe me and Hermione says it's because I'm not the same Harry that I used to be. Apparently, she wants me to act just like I did when I was a first year."
"What the..." Tonks shook her head and trailed off. "Forget them, we need to think up a way to keep you safe in the tournament."
"I appreciate your concern, Tonks," Harry couldn't help but smile at her. "But I think I'll be fine."
'I guarantee it,' Venom added.
(.)
A.N: For the record, I'm going to try and avoid the Harry Potter method of time travel in the future, I can keep up with the Avengers Endgame time travel far easier, either way I hope I got it right enough.
Comments
Darkanlan
Even if he gave up the time turner, as far as the timeline is going, it's not canon. Pretty sure those wraiths would have gone after him and venom even if he gave up the turner for how they're messing with whatever grand plan there is for the timeline. Probably should have refused them some more and not caved. Bet the basilisk venom sword from second year could have killed them if he bothered to use it or keep it for himself.
SomeFox
Busted out laughing at the "love you too!" comment.
