Temporal Paradox: The Second Chance of Harry Potter

March 25th, 1976

Blue eyes roamed over the students of the Great Hall and twinkled madly in amusement. The colors red, gold, silver, and green were represented in such large quantities that everyone immediately knew, today was a very special day. Today marked the reopening of the Hogwarts Quidditch season and the entire castle had been caught up in the wizarding world's favorite sport.

Suddenly, the noise grew even louder and Albus chuckled as several members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team entered the Great Hall. A lion's roar bellowed over all four tables, while the Gryffindor walked to the one on the left, followed by cheers. Among those students were the Lions' star Chaser, James Potter, their trusty Beater, Sirius Black, and the Gryffindor's latest addition, their Seeker, Harry Peverell.

Albus watched as the young man was greeted by his friends at the House Table and sat down for some breakfast. He was not surprised when Minerva told him about her Quidditch Captain's request to change the setup of the team right at the beginning of term. After all, the woman had told him that Harry Peverell had outflown the Gryffindor captain in an obstacle race during the Yule holiday. It was only logical to recruit him and make him a valuable member of the team.

Nevertheless, the headmaster had hoped that James Potter would set up some public tryouts, so Albus could get a feel for Harry's skill on a broom for himself. The more he could learn about the boy, the better after all. The past week had been rather quiet at the castle. Lestrange's grip on the House of the Snakes became truly palpable when the boy had been suspended for a month.

Sure, the Slytherins were still very wary of Harry Peverell. However, they no longer antagonized the boy, or went out of their way to make things difficult for him. If Albus did not know any better, he would have guessed that someone gave them orders to leave the boy alone. Someone from higher up, probably from the outside...

It had only been a matter of time before Lord Voldemort would notice someone as remarkable as Peverell. The only question was what did the Dark Lord intend to do about him? Did he regard the boy as a threat or as someone who might be recruitable? Albus personally thought that the latter was very unlikely... The boy had openly spoken against blood purists' beliefs and challenged the conservative pureblood families on numerous occasions.

Regardless, Albus had spent hours pondering over the boy. Truth be told, he did believe Peverell when the boy told him that all he wanted was to finish his education and experience a normal childhood. However, at the same time, there had to be something else about his return to the British shores. Not once had the boy not used an opportunity to step on the toes of a few important people. In addition, he openly displayed his dislike of specific prominent members of wizarding society. What exactly was his goal then?

Albus had always prided himself in having a very sharp and astute mind. Nonetheless, in the end, this had been a question he was unable to answer by himself, especially since he was lacking critical background information on the boy's ancestry. Only two other wizards might know more about the Peverell family. One of them due to his unnatural age, the other due to his obsession with the Hallows. Albus had only recently visited the latter...

Flashback:

Nurmengard castle stood opposingly on a sharp, enormous rock formation. Its high, black stone walls, towers, and roofs defied the harsh wind and unwelcoming climate of the Austrian Alps. Passing the ward threshold felt as uncomfortable as ever, yet Albus had gotten used to it over time. He was the most frequent visitor of the prison after all.

Over thirty years have passed since he had been forced to imprison his childhood friend behind these physical and magical constraints. Their original design had been the result of one of the many nights Albus and his friend spent together, lurking over ancient tomes in their study at Godric's Hollow.

The ward scheme was unlike anything that had been created before, and probably ever will. They are not powered by a ward stone, but by the magic of the prisoners themselves. The stronger the prisoners, the more powerful the ward will be, which would subdue him. Once your blood was keyed into the ward scheme and you were marked as a prisoner, the ancient sorcery robbed you of your magic and left you as a squib for as long as you remained within these walls. It was actually one of the very few occasions, in which the ICW had supported the use of blood wards, a technique usually frowned upon.

Albus greeted the wardens and climbed the spiral staircase, leading him all the way to the highest tower of the castle. Despite the hostile wards, he felt himself closing in on the presence of a wizard, powerful unlike anyone else he had met before. He pushed open the trap door and climbed up the small ladder.

"Albus..." A soft, yet firm voice greeted him with amusement: "I did not expect you back here so soon? Your last visit was only three months ago, mein Freund."

Albus climbed up the last rung of the ladder and took in the room. The space was split in half by thick iron bars. Within the actual cell, there was a small table with some parchment, a single wooden chair, and a bunk bed with the outline of a thin man sitting on it.

"A lot has changed within the last three months, Gellert." Albus sighed and walked closer to the bars: "The legends of our youth have finally caught up with us..."

"Did they, now?" Shoulder-length blonde hair was cast to the side, revealing piercing light gray eyes. A grin tucked the corner of Gellert Grindelwald's lips: "Many legends and myths caught our attention in our youth, mein Freund... You will have to be more specific with that if I am to help you."

Albus pulled a chair from across the room and said down in front of Gellert: "A boy has appeared out of nowhere. He is unlike anyone I have ever met. His name is Harry Ignotus Peverell."

Gellert stared at him with curiosity, his mouth slightly opened. Perhaps, he could not deduct whether his former friend was joking or not. Then, blonde hair shook with laughter as the man buckled on his bunk bed: "You disappoint me, Albus." Gellert shook his head: "We have researched their line thoroughly. My Aunt Bathilda did the same. There are no living Peverells left. The boy must be a fraud..."

"I thought so too." Albus smiled: "Perhaps a memory of the first time I heard of him will persuade you of the opposite. If you will allow me, Gellert?"

Gellert nodded curiously and locked eyes with the headmaster. Light blue stared into light grey: "Legilimens!"

Albus delved into the man's mind, which had never been the nicest place to be at. However, he did not come here to browse around. Albus felt Gellert lower his shields and started supplying his own memory to him... The night he received a letter from Harry Peverell. Soon after, Albus withdrew, leaving Gellert panting on the bunk: "I still prefer visiting a Pensieve together... But alas, that won't be possible for as long as I am in here..."

"What do you think about what you saw?" Albus inquired curiously.

"That is indeed very extraordinary..." Gellert mused. His gaze flickered to the thin piece of wood in Albus' hand: "I assume that the wand has not returned to you?"

"No." Albus shook his head with a frown: "The Elder Wand perished and the next time I saw it, Peverell yielded it."

"How very curious. Have you spoken to the boy about it?" Gellert asked.

"I don't know the full extent of his knowledge about his family and the legends surrounding them yet." Albus explained: "I did not think it was wise to tell a fifteen-year-old that he bears the most powerful wand in history."

"I bet he already knows. He used the sign of the Hallows after all..." Gellert chuckled: "Do you have any more memories for me? The boy is very interesting."

"I will show you two more." Albus nodded: "The first one is from his trial at the British Wizengamot. The second, is him killing a former student in a Duel of Honor."

"A Duel of Honor, you say? He certainly seems to live up to his name." Gellert laughed: "I am ready when you are, mein Freund..."

Dumbledore held eye contact once more and delved into the other man's mind to supply his own memory of the two events. Roughly half an hour later, he retreated and allowed Gellert some rest.

"Oh my..." Gellert panted heavily: "Now I truly understand your concern. He is impressive, Albus. Simply remarkable. The way he walks, the way he speaks. The way he fights and the way he kills. As if he had done so for all his life. I would have never thought a fifteen-year-old was capable of that."

"So, you agree that he is dangerous?" Albus asked carefully, the apprehension palpable in his voice.

Gellert laughed: "Of course he is. That boy is one of the most dangerous people I have ever encountered."

"Indeed..." Albus nodded: "I am very concerned about how him showing no remorse for killing another wizard."

Gellert shook his head: "You are once more blinded by naivety, mein Freund. Killing someone at the age of fifteen is not what disturbs me. I myself almost killed someone when I was a year older, which led to my expulsion from Durmstrang as you know. That Riddle boy, you told me about. He also murdered another student, even though you cannot prove it yet. No, Peverell killing some random pureblood fool is not the issue here. It's the viciousness behind it, combined with his skill and power that really troubles me."

"Would you mind elaborating?"

"Albus, the boy is three years younger than we were when we first accomplished similar feats of magic, like spell redirection and advanced battle transfigurations. The way he carried himself in that duel. He would have made a formidable opponent during the last stages of my dueling career when I was a dozen years older than him already..."

Albus hummed thoughtfully. After fleeing from Britain, Gellert had worked as a mercenary in Magical Russia and simultaneously entered the dueling circuit. His skill with a wand had quickly propelled him into the higher leagues until the man's attention returned to greater goals: "You have studied the art of dueling more extensively, Gellert. Are you perhaps familiar with his style? Do you recognize it?"

"I can't say I do." Gellert shook his head in disappointment. "You know that I am keeping up to date with everything that happens in the dueling word and yet, I have never seen his style before. It seems to be a mixture of several different techniques from all over the world. Regardless, the boy undoubtedly had trained for years already..."

"What about his magic?" Albus shifted to a different topic: "Do you really think it's the Peverell family magic?"

"I am certain it is." Gellert hummed: "I have read about that spell he used at the trial during my time in Greece. Back then, I tried everything in my power to learn Parseltongue. I only failed, since it is impossible to learn the skill... Just as Peverell explained, it has to be passed down, precisely like all other kinds of family magic. In addition, you have seen him conjure the Thestral. That specific omen of Death has been the totem of the Peverell family for over two millennia. Last but not least, the wand we both wielded contains a core of Thestral hair. All those clues point in the same direction, Albus..."

"Do you think he..."

"... might have combined the Hallows, which allowed him to unlock the Peverell magic?" Gellert grinned: "Of course, there is the possibility that he is the Master of Death already. You have seen the ring on his finger and the gemstone on it. Whether he found the Cloak as well, I can't say."

"He shows a remarkable resemblance to the Potters" Albus remarked: "They are the family Iolanthe Peverell, a granddaughter of Ignotus Peverell, married into. He was even named after the man, Gellert. I am certain he searched out the Potters because they might have the third Hallow."

"Well, can you blame him for it?" Gellert asked with a grin: "They are distantly related and if he is truly a direct descendant then his claim on the heirloom is greater. You will have to keep me updated now, mein Freund. From what I have seen so far, the wand works phenomenally well for someone with Peverell blood. I can also assure you that he has not even revealed half of what he might be capable of."

"How should I deal with him?" Albus sighed: "He expressed that he just wants to be a teenager for once, but the potential for destruction and suffering he carries is on par with that of Tom Riddle."

"And yet, so far, he only acted out against those that have wronged him." Gellert mused: "He admitted that his parents have been murdered when he was young. If I had to guess, I'd say he wants revenge for that. It might be one of the reasons why he returned to England in the first place. I certainly would not wish for anyone to be on the receiving end of his ire..."

"So, I just let him be?" Albus asked perplexed.

"Yes, Albus, you just let him live his life." Gellert rolled his eyes: "You don't always have to meddle in the affairs of others, mein Freund."

"He might be an asset in the fight against Lord Voldemort, though." Albus mused.

"I admit that this Peverell is powerful, Albus." Gellert nodded: "But even without having seen the full extent of his powers, I can tell you that he is not on a level to stop that wannabe Dark Lord. At least not yet... He certainly has the potential."

"I will watch him more closely and try to find out more then." Albus decided.

"Of course, you will, mein Freund." Gellert chuckled: "You would not be mein Albus if you behaved any differently."

Flashback End

Albus allowed for his mind to drift back to the presence, away from the cold walls of Nurmengard castle and back into the warm and well-lit Great Hall of Hogwarts. His consciousness returned just in time to see the latest development surrounding the young Peverell entering the Great Hall.

A patch of long blond curls reflected the natural light like a smooth waterfall of golden honey. Marlene McKinnon, Ravenclaw Prefect, and model student did not take a seat on the Ravenclaw Table as one might expect. Instead, she parted from her brunette friend and headed straight over to the table dressed in red and gold. Now that was something that spiked Albus' curiosity.

Great Hall

Marlene took a deep breath as she parted from Florence and headed for the Gryffindor table instead of the Ravenclaw one. She could do this! There was no reason not to do this after all! She had checked the rules several times and apart from the opening feast, students were allowed to sit at whatever table they felt like.

Of course, she was aware that her actions might have repercussions. Harry and she had been dating for almost two weeks now. Regardless, the entire castle had pretty much known about it from the moment they walked out of the Three Broomsticks together after meeting her father and Lord Black.

Admittedly, it had been rather hard to miss since Marlene had allowed Harry to place his red rose right above her ear. She even decided to give him a tentative kiss as a reward for his courage. The poor boy had been rather stunned, not expecting such a public display of affections. However, when he happily reciprocated the kiss in front of dozens of students, the news of Hogwarts' latest couple had spread like a wildfire.

Their peers' response to this recent development could easily be split into two main groups. Some students in the first group were extremely happy for them, including their close friends. The other students of said group simply thought that they look good together and fit well as a couple. At the same time, there was an even larger group of very disappointed boys and girls. They either cursed Harry, "the foreigner, who snatched away the hottest bird at Hogwarts" or scolded Marlene for taking "Britain's most handsome Bachelor out of the dating pool prematurely".

Luckily, neither she nor Harry cared about what anyone else thought. The last two weeks had been among the best in her life. Marlene was finally allowed to talk to Harry whenever she felt like it and they spent lots of time together, be it studying, completing homework, or simply taking a stroll around the lake if the weather allowed it. In addition, they had made lots of other plans for their future, like starting to work out together in the mornings, teaching Marlene's occlumency, and getting to know each other better.

Talking about getting to know one another... They also did so on a rather intimate physical level a few nights ago. Harry had pulled her in one of the small alcoves after a long study session in the library. A few innocent kisses ended up with his lips on the pulse of her neck and his hands squeezing her behind. Marlene did not even want to think about where her own hands had wandered to, just before Harry stopped them.

Of course, she was glad that her boyfriend did not push her towards physical intimacy, unlike many other boys would undoubtedly do. However, at the same time, they had waited so long for each other. She would not have minded if he did not interrupt them from crossing over to the next stage whenever they would find themselves in such a situation again. Perhaps tonight after the quidditch game?

She pushed the thought away. Now was quidditch time, not horny couple time. Marlene continued her path towards her boyfriend. She held her head high and ignored the curious whispers and chatters from the other students as they watched her stride towards the far end of the Gryffindor table.

Her boyfriend was not looking at her yet, but Sirius Black spotted her approaching them and quickly gestured for Harry to turn around. His green eyes widened slightly as he glanced over his shoulder. Obviously, he had not expected her. However, after a split second, he quickly stood up from the bench to greet her.

"Good morning." Her boyfriend whispered after he pecked her lips. Harry pulled her into his strong arms and allowed his hands to rest on her hips: "I love the outfit." He grinned down at her, his eyes roaming over her form.

Indeed, Marlene had decided to support her boyfriend today and leave no doubt which team she favored to win the upcoming match. She wore a headband in the colors red and gold, with a matching scarf around her neck. In addition, the scarf displayed Harry's jersey number (7) and the name Peverell in bright golden letters.

"Thank you, Harry." Marlene shot him a flirtatious wink while she tried her best to tidy his hair a bit: "Florence helped me with it."

"Remind me to thank her." He grinned and allowed her to comb his hair to one side: "Would you like to stay and have breakfast with me?"

"That's what I came here for, Harry." Marlene smiled and took the gestured seat next to him. Things were a bit awkward at first, even though Harry's friends had gotten rather used to her being with him over the last few weeks. She could not deny that the company of the Marauders was always highly amusing, even if most of the jokes were about Harry and Marlene and the few precarious occasions they had been walked in on already.

A few other members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team joined them while Harry and she finished their breakfast. Then, it was time to leave and get outside towards the pitch. The Gryffindor delegation and Marlene walked along the forbidden forest down towards the stadium. When they stood outside the locker rooms, Marlene pulled Harry aside once more:

"I wish you the best of luck, Harry." She kissed him softly, her lips lingering on his: "And make sure to come back in one piece!"

"I will try my best," The boy grinned confidently and pulled her in for a last hug: "I haven't played for a while, so I might be a bit rusty... I still hope you enjoy the show."

Perhaps some motivation would do then... "Fetch me the Snitch and I might even join the Gryffindor after-party." Marlene winked at him before taking her to leave and searching for her friend. The game would begin soon, and she intended to have an optimal spot to spectate her raven-haired boyfriend from.

Gryffindor locker room

The majority of the team had changed already when Harry entered the locker room. He spotted James and Sirius over in one corner and walked to them.

"Alright guys, our star Seeker finally managed to detach his lips from his girlfriend, so we can start now." James gathered the other players around. Harry briefly wondered if a motivational speech like Oliver Wood's might follow. However, instead, his father addressed them with some quick and decisive words. Their captain let his eyes roam over them one by one, lingering a tat longer on Harry and giving him a nod:

"Alright, men and women." James tightened his shoulder strap: "For the third year in a row, I want the Quidditch coup to remain as freshly polished as ever in McGonagall's office and not just because I want reduced detention sentences from her. Let's go out there and kick some Snake ass!"

"Gryffindor on three!" Sirius yelled and placed an outstretched hand in the middle of the circle they stood in.

"ONE!"

"TWO!"

"THREE!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

There was only a minute left, so Harry walked over to his locker and pulled out his latest broom. Depending on today's performance, he might be a hefty sum richer in a few days' time. With a flick of his wand, he dispelled the glamor charm on his uniform, revealing the design, which was slightly altered from the rest of his team after McGonagall had given her permission.

"You dress to impress, mate. Did a certain blonde promise you a reward for winning the game?" Sirius chuckled as he shouldered his broom and strolled next to him.

"I might give you a discount if you stop annoying me." Harry grinned and stepped in line behind him. They exited the locker room to loud cheers from the stands covered in either green and silver or red and gold. Harry could not help but grin as he breathed in the fresh air and cracked his knuckles. He would have never thought to find himself in this situation once more in his life.

"And here we have the Gryffindors, led by Captain James Potter and his chasers, McDonald and Wolpert. Copper and Black remained as Beaters and Longbottom, despite completing his NEWTs, will do his best to keep the goals clean. In addition, Harry Peverell will be playing his first match as the Gryffindor Seeker!" The announcer, whoever it was, had nothing on Lee Jordan, but he would do, nevertheless.

A significantly younger Madam Hooch was refereeing the game. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand. "Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin deputy Captain, Marcus Parkinson, a seventh-year and close friend of Lestrange, who was still suspended from playing.

"Mount your brooms, please!"

Harry climbed onto his brand-new broom and got ready to push himself upwards. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high into the air. Harry instantly took the high ground and let his sharp eyes roam over the entire pitch. Right behind him, Regulus Black tailgated Harry and watched him warily. Just as predicted, the student who did the commentary soon noticed Harry's outfit, as did the majority of his peers.

"Harry Peverell seems to be wearing a sponsored jersey!" His voice boomed over the pitch: "Indeed, one can see the name Nimbus Broom Manufacturer on the back of the jersey. Apparently, Peverell is playing on a brand-new prototype, called the Nimbus 1. It will be interesting to see how this new manufacturer compares to established brands like the Comet or the Shooting Star!"

Harry grinned faintly as he accelerated to maximum speed. The broom might not stack up to his Nimbus 2000 or Firebolt in his original timeline. However, the prototype he had been sent by Mr. Nimbus a few days ago, was leagues better than anything Galleons could buy at this point in time. This announcement was just what he had been waiting for. Time for some sponsored content! The Nimbus needed advertisement.

Harry shot past the stands with a couple of loop the loops and added a few screws for good measure. He knew Marlene would undoubtedly scold him for his risky gimmicks, but in order to boost sales of the company he held a major share in, Harry had to put on a good show. The spectators awed and cheered him on as he surged past them at incredible speed, performing one spectacular maneuver after the other.

"Absolutely incredible!" The announcer shouted: "This new broom is packing incredible speed and maneuverability. I seriously question if any other broom on the market could perform the maneuvers we have just witnessed by Harry Peverell!"

The crowd seemed to agree with him, but Harry turned his attention back to the game. This publicity stunt would only be successful if he actually caught the snitch. Otherwise, it might be quite embarrassing.

Harry watched as the game became quicker and quicker. Gryffindor was leading 60 - 30 at the moment. His father was demonstrating remarkable skill as a Chaser, having hit four of the six goals himself. A Bludger shot right past him and was returned back to the Slytherins by a heavy bang from Sirius. His godfather might not have the finesse of the Weasley twins, but he almost made up for it in raw power.

The Bludger connected with a Slytherin Chaser, who almost fell from his broom, and had to be supported by a teammate. That gave James more than enough time to outfly the remaining Chaser and score another goal for Gryffindor.

"Gryffindor is leading 70 to 30 after James Potter scores his fifth goal of the match!"

Finally, Harry spotted a ray of sunshine reflected by something golden. He accelerated to maximum speed once more and plunged down towards the Slytherin goal post where he had seen it. Neither Regulus nor the commentator or the spectators missed him. It was rather difficult not to notice the bright red flash that dived towards the ground at incredible speed.

"Harry Peverell seems to have spotted the Snitch!"

Harry worshiped moments like these. His adrenaline was running high... It felt almost like the harsh wind was whipping his face as he swooped down low. Behind him, Regulus had entered a plunge as well. The boy flew the best broom money could buy and Harry had to acknowledge that he was not without skill. However, he sacrificed a lot of control for being able to keep up with Harry. A mistake that would cost him dearly...

Harry spotted the small golden ball's reflection to his left and took a sharp turn. He almost lost command of the Nimbus, yet, barely managed to stay on top as he leaned sharply into the turn. Behind him, Regulus did significantly worse. The boy had not anticipated such an abrupt turn and his broom spiraled out of control. He was forced to pull up in a desperate emergency maneuver or risk crashing into the goalposts.

"What a ploy by the Gryffindor Seeker!" The announcer boomed over the cheers from the stands: "An incredible display of skill and confidence!"

Harry knew that the Slytherin Seeker would be out of the game for some time and returned his attention to the gold snitch. He tracked the tiny ball all the way to the opposite end of the pitch, dodging his teammates, players of the opposing team, and dangerous Bludger alike.

Suddenly, the snitch sank even lower, gliding so close to the ground that Harry had to pull his legs up or risk scuffing along the grass. He managed to diminish the distance even further, getting so close that he could already make out the golden blur that was the Snitch's wings. Harry lifted one arm from the handle of the Nimbus and pushed the broom to the maximum.

Ever so slowly, his fingers approached the tiny ball, until he was close enough to snatch it out of the air. The entire stadium roared in approval and cheered his name as he pulled up and held the golden orb firmly in his outstretched arm.

"Peverell caught Snitch after only 13 minutes and 27 seconds, making it one of the fastest victories in the last decade! The final score is 230 to 40 for Gryffindor!" The commentator announced while Harry flew a victory loop accompanied by his teammates.

His eyes searched for a patch of blonde curls as he sped along the spectators. Harry finally found her in the Ravenclaw stands, a shimmer of gold and red, surrounded by silver and blue. She followed his every movement as he broke formation from his team and dived towards her.

Marlene's cheeks were flushed a faint pink and her blue eyes beamed in ecstasy and pride when she noticed Harry approach her. He slowed down and came to a halt in mid-air right next to her. Harry held out the snitch in his right arm and handed it down to her with a confident grin: "I will see you at the after-party...