Chapter 2
Harley's emerald eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to clear the spots from her vision. Once she could see again, Harley looked around. Old thrift store furniture. Check. Bars on window. Check. Cat flap and multiple locks on the bedroom door. Check. Well, I'm definitely back at my Aunt's house. Now I just need to find out the date. Then, I have to get to Diagon Alley without being caught by the sheep. Hopefully I will be able to talk to Sirius and Remus without Dumbles catching me. Harley thought and walked to the door, slowly opening it. She paused to listen.
"Vernon, Marge called while you were in the shower. Her flight from France will arrive tomorrow at noon." Aunt Petunia's voice carried up the stairs.
Wow, looks like the ritual did work. Marge the barge came back from France 3 days after Hogwarts let out for summer. So it is June 4th. And the walkers started about 2 weeks before term started again. So around August 15th. So that gives us about 10 weeks to prepare. Will that be enough time? I have to warn Rick. We hoped we'd have more time. Harley thought frantically.
Harley pulled the backpack off and pulled out the mirror. "Mirror Call Rick." Harley waited. What if he is in the coma? Oh bloody hell! Can't anything go right.
"Harley! It worked!" Rick's blue eyes and clean shaven face appeared in the mirror. In the background Harley could see a lit up hospital room.
"Rick. Thank Merlin. I was starting to worry you were in that coma." Harley stated as she grinned at him.
"I was. But I guess the ritual made it so I woke up early. My body feels much stronger than when I woke up before. Actually, I feel healthier than I have in a long while. But I thought we weren't talking until noon Atlanta time? It's just 6 am here. What's wrong?" His eyes narrowed as he stared at her biting her lip.
"I don't think we have quite as much time as we were hoping for. I think we have about 10 weeks before the shit starts. I know we were hoping for at least 6 months, but I told you the ritual was not precise. I'm sorry." She frowned as she waited for him to blow up. Rick's face softened as he watched her look down in fear.
"Harley, look at me." She looked into his blue eyes. "10 weeks, 6 months, or even one day. It doesn't matter. Because you have given us a chance to start over and save those that we have lost. We will be better prepared this time because we know what is coming. And we know what we will need to survive. You are like a daughter to me and a big sister to Carl. I am grateful that you are a part of our family. Our family will survive. Because of you. Thank you."
Tears streamed down her face as she realised that she had something she'd never thought she'd ever have. A family that loved her. And it only happened after the zombie apocalypse. Grinning, she wiped away the tears.
"Now, daughter, get whatever supplies you need from the Wizarding World and get over here. I want my whole family together when this shit goes down. Don't make me have to send Daryl to track you down." Rick smirked at her through the mirror.
"Yes, dad. Mirror end call." Harley sighed and lay back on the bed, thinking over her plans. I need to get to Diagon Alley and Gringotts. How am I gonna keep my purchases from getting back to Dumbles? If only I had someone that could work for me without anyone knowing.
"Dobby!"
A small bouncy house elf wearing a large green pillowcase and one purple and yellow sock and one orange and red sock appeared on the bed and hugged Harley.
"Most bestest witch Harley Potter called Dobby! What can Dobby be doing for Mistress Harley Potter?"
"Dobby! How are you? I've missed you. And how is Winky?" Harley asked.
"Oh, Mistress Potter is too kind to miss Dobby. I is fine. Winky though, is being not fine. She misses working for a Wizarding family. Her magic is fading." Dobby dropped and wrung his hands.
"How can I help Winky?" Harley grabbed Dobby's hand.
"Mistress Harley Potter, the only way to help Winky is for her to be bonding to new wizard or witch."
House elves. That could speed things up. And their help would be invaluable in the future.
"Dobby, are you happy as a free elf working for Hogwarts? Or would you rather work for me? I plan to bond Winky, if she wants to bond." Dobby's eyes widened even larger and he started bouncing up and down.
"Mistress Potter, I liked being free of the bad Malfoy family, but it is Dobby's dream to be Mistress Harley Potter's house elf. And Winky would be honored to be Mistress's house elf too."
"Ok, Dobby. There are some things we must discuss before we bond. Or better yet, can you get Winky and bring me a pensieve. You and Winky need to see my memories before you decide to bond."
Dobby nodded and popped away silently. He returned and placed a silver pensieve on the bed by Harley. Then Dobby left and returned with Winky leaning on him. Dobby helped Winky sit on the bed after Harley motioned for him to put her there. Harley kneeled down and grabbed Winky's hand.
"Winky, I want you to be my house elf. Would you like to bond with me?"
Winky's vacant eyes widened as she stared at Harley before tearing up. "Winky is bad elf. Mistress Potter deserves better elf."
Harley hugged Winky. "Winky, I need help for what is to come. I'm gonna share a secret with you and Dobby. I want you to watch my memories and then decide if you want to be my house elf. But know this. I DO want you Winky as MY house elf." She put her holly and Phoenix wand to her temple and pulled several silvery strands of memory out. She deposited them in the pensieve. "Winky, Dobby, take a look." The two house elves touched the pensieve and entered the memories.
Harley watched as Cedric was hit with the killing curse.
Harley was tied to a headstone and her blood used in a ritual to bring Voldemort back to life.
Harley dueled Voldemort.
The Daily Prophet declared Harley Potter a crazy attention seeking liar.
The Ministry of Magic putting Harley under house arrest until she could kill Voldie.
Her overhearing Dumbledore, the Minister, and Malfoy planning a ritual to chain her to do their will and planning to use her for a brood mare.
Dumbledore killing Sirius and Remus because they tried to protect her.
Malfoy attacking Hermione and killing her family under Dumbledore's orders.
Death eaters destroying the Burrow and Longbottom Manor under Dumbledore's orders.
Voldermort being held captive and chained to do Dumbledore's bidding.
The deaths of Alice and Frank Longbottom, Amelia Bones, Alastar Moody, and Arthur and Percy Weasley by Dumbledore.
Her escape with the help of Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape.
Flying muggle style to America to hide.
Being injured in a car accident and taken to a hospital. Harley losing her memory of her life and magic.
Put in the same room as a coma patient.
The hospital getting shot up and her hiding herself and the coma patient.
Taking care of the coma patient.
Rick waking up in the hospital.
Helping Rick find his family.
The walkers attack the quarry.
Escaping the CDC before it blows up.
Losing Sophia.
Carl getting shot.
Shane killing Otis.
Lori is pregnant.
Shane attacks Harley. Rick and Daryl defend her.
Shane killing the walkers in the barn.
The horde overruns the Greene farm.
Starving, being on the road, searching for a place.
Taking over the prison.
Lori's death and Judith's birth.
Andrea's death by walker.
The fight with the Governor.
Merle's death by walkers.
Hershel's death by heart attack.
Losing the prison and going back on the run.
Terminus and Bob's death.
Beth's death by suicide.
Glenn and Abraham's death by walkers.
Baby Judith, Sasha, Tyreese, and Eugene's death by walkers.
Harley getting attacked and regaining her memory of her past and magic.
Harley using magic to kill walkers.
Discussion on magic, rituals, time travel, and how they would change things if they could.
The ritual to travel backwards in time.
Being back in the past.
Dobby and Winky came out of the pensieve and stared with wonder at Harley. The house elves shared a look and both became determined.
"Mistress Potter, Winky and Dobby wants to be your house elves. Mistress Potter needs all the help you can get to prepare. Winky knows several things you'd be needing. Mistress needs supplies and knowledge to complete yous mission. Old Master has many books Winky can get that would helps you. Dobby can get books from bad masters too. Mistress needs more house elves to help protect and move Mistress's friend to safety away from Dumbles and Voldie." Winky babbled as she flitted around the room packing Harley's things into her school trunk.
Harley grabbed Winky's hand as she passed by toting Hedwig's empty cage. She put the cage on the floor and pulled Winky to face her. Then pulled Dobby over to stand by Winky.
"Ok. So how do we do the bond?" Harley asked the house elves.
"Yous make a vow to bond. Words and intent make oath work. Say something like, I, Harley Potter, head of House Potter, do take Winky/Dobby as my house elf, to do my bidding and to protect and serve my family. May we be bound by magic til death. So mote it be. Says oath while hand is on house elf's head." Dobby told her.
Harley placed her right hand on Dobby's head. "I, Harley Potter, Lady and Head of House Potter, do hereby bond with house elf Dobby, as my loyal friend and servant, and as the servant and Marshal of House Potter, and as family, I adopt Dobby into the Potter family, who will from henceforth be Dobby Potter. I vow to serve, protect, and love my friend and house elf Dobby Potter. May we be bound by magic, love, and blood as family for all eternity. So mote it be."
A golden light surrounded Dobby then dissipated leaving Dobby a changed house elf. Dobby was a foot taller and stood straight. His body had more muscle and his coloring was no longer a pale gray, but instead replaced with a healthy peach. Instead of the pillowcase he normally wore, Dobby was wearing a small jungle camo shirt with olive green cargo pants held up with a green dragonhide belt. On his feet were black dragonhide combat boots with an elf-sized ebony handled combat knife in each one, an elf sized silenced glock and holster on his hip, and a short sword and sheath strapped to his back. Across the back of his shirt said SECURITY and on the front left breast was Head Elf Dobby.
Harley then placed her right hand on Winky's head and vowed "I, Harley Potter, Lady and Head of House Potter, do hereby bond with house elf Winky, as my loyal friend and servant, and as the servant and Steward of House Potter, and as family, I adopt Winky into the Potter family, who will from henceforth be Winky Potter. I vow to serve, protect, and love my friend and house elf Winky Potter. May we be bound by magic, love, and blood as family for all eternity. So mote it be."
Once again a golden light appeared. Winky was now a foot taller with perfect posture and rosy peach skin. Winky was wearing a lavender camo shirt with Head Elf Winky on the upper left breast and STEWARD on the back. She had plum cargo pants with a white dragonhide belt and white combat boots with ivory handled elf sized throwing knives in them and a dagger and sheath on her left hip with a silenced glock and holster on her right hip. She also had a plum crossbody tote bag with an undetectable extension charm on it and a notebook and pen in her hands.
"Wow! Y'all look totally different. Why the change? Why muggle clothes? And your accessories?" Harley asked as she drew her wand and conjured a mirror for them to see their new looks. Both house elves stared into the mirror with big grins on their faces.
"Mistress Potter, you have extremely strong magic. And you care deeply for the two of us. That is why we are stronger, and healthier, and bigger. Why we are talking better and wearing real clothes without being set free. You love us and adopted us as family. The outfits and accessories reflect your mission to leave the Wizarding World and prepare a safe haven for your family for the apocalypse to come. Our weapons are just another tool for us to use to protect our new family." Dobby explained.
"Speaking of the mission, we need to get a move on." Winky snapped her finger and all of Harley's things except the black backpack were packed into her school trunk, the school trunk was shrunken and placed into Winky's bag. " Put on your backpack mistress. Wear it everywhere you go. I will create a golem to take your place and put the tracking and monitoring charms that are on you and your things on the golem. It will act and talk like you for up to 3 months. Long enough that we can disappear. Ok. Now I'm going to change your appearance enough that no one will recognize you." Winky snapped her finger and a body double was in Harley's bed asleep.
"Dobby, go find as many free house elves as you can. We need to create an army of elves to protect and care for Potter Sanctuary. We will especially need skills in healing, gardening, animal care, construction, security, and warding if you can find any. But if not, they will learn." Said Winky as she wrote in her notebook.
"Meet us at Sirius Black's, but only when others are not around. I will take Mistress to Gringotts and then to see her Godfathers. Let no one know who you work for. Secrecy is priority for the security of our mission until we can get Mistress to America and safe from Old Whiskers and Snakeface." Dobby saluted and popped away.
Winky snapped her finger. Harley's red and black ponytail changed to a black updo held up by mithril hair sticks. Her scar and glasses became invisible and her eyes went from green to gray with black eyeliner creating a cat's eye with gray and silver shadow on her eyelids. Blood red lipstick emphasized her lips. Her crimson tank top changed from cotton to a black acromantula silk Chinese collar blouse with crimson stars shooting back and forth. Her burgundy denim jeans became ankle length skinny jeans in the crimson and black dragonhide of a Chinese Fireball dragon and the combat boots became knee length combat boots in the same dragonhide with crimson handled sais sheathed in each boot. Over that was a black and crimson dragonhide battle robe with a crimson wand holster on each forearm, though both were made invisible by Winky. Her backpack, the glock holstered on her right hip and the dagger sheathed on her left hip became invisible as well. She looked like a deadly pureblood teenager of great wealth when Winky was done. Harley gaped at the image of her in the mirror that Winky conjured.
"Whatâ ."
"Mistress Potter, you are the Lady of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter. You will no longer wear your cousin's too big hand me downs. It is Winky's responsibility to make sure you look the part. I know you do not wish to be recognized at this point, so there will be no Potter crest on anything. And the clothing choices will lean to your style and the practicality of the mission you have. But you will still dress the part. Do you like the outfit? I will change your hair back to the normal coloring you prefer when you are not trying to stay hidden."
Harley was speechless as she stared at herself. Harley launched herself at Winky and hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Winky. I love it. It's nice to have clothes that fit and are my style. I look so different. I don't think anyone will recognize me. And I love the make-up."
"You are welcome Mistress Harley. Now we need to be going. I have packed all of your things and put a charm on the door so no one will notice they are missing. I'll activate the golem and we can leave this place for good. Take my hand." Harley stood next to Winky and grabbed her hand. The golem of Harley sat up and blinked and spoke "Good luck!". The real Harley Potter disappeared from Number 4 Privet Drive for the last time.
-TWDHP-
The house elf popped Harley to Diagon Alley at the footsteps of Gringotts bank. No witch or wizard was allowed to pop into the bank itself without express permission beforehand. On the left side of the doorway were 2 goblin guards in full plate armor with spears taller than them, while on the right side were 3 goblins. The goblins looked over the pair, taking in the glamour on Harley Potter, the height and dress of the house elf, and the weapons on each. The Goblins crossed their spears blocking the entrance to Gringotts.
"State your business and the reason for the weapons and glamour, witch!" The goblin to the right of the door demanded. The armor he or she wore was of better quality than the other door guards, with mithril and goblin steel both in the armor.
"Mighty goblin warrior, my friend and I are armed for our protection. That is also why I am wearing this glamour. There are many that wish to either harm me or control me. I will no longer let them control me and any threats to myself or my clan will be paid for with blood and pain. I have plans to make that will ensure the protection and survival of my family and friends from what is coming. I mean no goblin harm as long as the goblins means me and mine no harm. I wish entrance into Gringotts in order to make these plans and to warn the goblin nation of a danger that is a mere 10 weeks away that will endanger every being on this planet, be they magical or mundane. I am willing to take an oath that I will not draw my weapons or wand without cause while in the bank. But neither myself nor my friend will be giving up our weapons at any point." Harley declared.
The goblin stared into her eyes as Harley talked, then nodded. The goblin turned to her comrades and spoke in gobbledegook. Then the goblin turned back to Harley and Winky.
"I am Deprak, the Head of Security and Daughter of King Ragnok. You two will follow me. I believe my father will wish to hear what you have to say. Leave the glamour on for now."
The goblins went back to attention beside the doors and Deprak entered the bank with Harley and Winky behind her. Deprak led them down a long twisting hallway of doors until it ended at a large golden double door guarded by 10 goblin warriors. Upon seeing Deprak, each goblin kneeled briefly with swords held over their chests and head bowed before standing back at attention. The 2 guards closest to the doors opened them, allowing the trio to walk in, then closed the door behind them.
They entered a large room that had weapons hung all over the walls. A large desk that looked to be made from black marble with silver and gold veining sat in the middle with an older goblin sitting behind it. The goblin wore a black dragonhide suit with a mithril vest and robe. A crown of mithril and gold was on his head.
"Deprak, why have you brought a witch and elf here?" King Ragnok asked.
"Father, this is Lady Harley Potter and her friend Winky. Lady Potter has been touched by the Sands of Time ritual and has some information about a coming danger. I thought you would want to see her right away." Deprak bowed her head before the king and waited. Ragnok looked over Harley Potter and Winky with a frown and scratched his chin.
"You were correct, daughter. That is a ritual that has not been used in a long time. Only the truly desperate choose it. How far from the future have you come, child?" Ragnok asked as he motioned for Harley and Winky to sit at the chairs before his desk. Once they sat, he turned to Deprak.
"Deprak, let the guards outside know we are not to be disturbed, and then return and sit with us."
Deprak bowed and left the room for a moment. She walked back into the room, placed her spear against the wall and sat in the third chair in front of the desk.
"Thank you for seeing us King Ragnok. I arrived in the present time around 2 hours ago. Before that, I was 5 years into the future. The world had become a terrible place. If it pleases you, I have a pensieve with memories of what I have experienced up until now. Would you care to view them?"
Ragnok looked into her eyes and then paused for a moment in thought. "Show us these memories. And we will then discuss why you have come to the bank." Ragnok replied.
Winky pulled the pensieve from her tote bag and placed it on the desk. Ragnok and Deprak touched the pensieve and entered the memories. When both goblins exited the memories, they sat down shakily. Their skin had taken a greenish tinge. Silence filled the room.