Harry Potter

And The

Tapestry of Fate

CHAPTER 4

The Visitor

Harry and Hermione let go of each other’s hands and whipped around so quickly that they both nearly tripped.

“Jumpy, aren’t you?” the voice said with amusement.

Harry stared at the speaker in awe. He was a teenaged boy, around their age, with sandy blond hair and shining blue-green eyes. He noticed that Hermione blushed at the sight of him. “Who’re you?” he asked defensively. “What do you want?”

“Nothing,” the boy said calmly, leaning against the fence.

“Answer my first question, who are you?” he repeated a bit more firmly. Ever since last year, he hadn’t been quite as trusting. A nice person wasn’t always as he seemed; he learned that to a great extent.

“Doesn’t really matter,” he said coolly, crossing his arms. “I know you, and that’s all I really need.”

“We can’t trust you if you don’t give us your name,” Hermione said.

“Doesn’t look like you will whether I do or not.”

The conversation was going nowhere. “How do you know me?” Harry asked.

“I studied.”

Of course, never a detailed answer. “What do you want from us?” Harry said.

“Well, I don’t really need the girl, but maybe I can use her anyway. You said you wished things could be back to normal? From when are you speaking about?”

Harry paused and thought. What had been the year with the least arguments, trouble, and fighting? Maybe first, definitely not second or third, and not at all fourth. “Maybe towards the end of first year,” he replied. “Why?”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” the boy said.

Hermione had gotten very curious, not at all suspicious. Her cheeks were still a bit pink. “Why?”

“Because I can grant it,” he said so slowly and melodramatically that Harry had to stifle a laugh.

“What rubbish,” he said. “Come on, Hermione, let’s go, find out who invited this twit.”

But she was staring at the boy in amazement. “Can you really?”

“Hermione, come on –” He tugged on her arm.

“Harry – oh, stop that – let go, what if he’s telling the truth?”

“I doubt it.” He looked at the boy, who was eyeing him somewhat angrily.

“Just – just hear him out, all right?” she said. “This may be good for some laughs later on.”

The boy was mad at the way they were viewing him. “Let him choose,” he said. “And then he can kick himself later on for not staying,” he said coldly.

“Fine,” Harry said exasperatedly. “What were you saying?”

“I can grant your wishes, make your fantasies reality, produce your greatest desires, and change a dream to actuality.”

Harry snorted. “You’ve got a lot of power for a fifteen year old. Or have you been practicing that line so long that you just had to say it? Sounds rather catchy.”

“Shut up,” Hermione said, nudging him.

“You – girl,” the boy said suddenly. “You’ve been having dreams. You can’t explain them, but they’re just so real. Like you’re right there, listening, but not witnessing, your best friend’s death. And it plays over and over in your mind until you can think of nothing else…am I right?”

She nodded wordlessly. “How – how?” she stammered.

“I just know,” he said, youthfulness coming to his voice. “I don’t know why – it’s a power I’ve had since I was born, though I can’t muster why. I wish I didn’t have to be –” He seemed aware of his surroundings and stop.

“Thought you could change wishes to reality or whatever,” Harry muttered, only half listening.

“You, Potter,” he said sharply, making Harry look up from the ladybug he had been watching out of boredom.

“Yeah?”

“You feel like you’ve forgotten something important…it’s happened twice before, and the first time was extremely odd. Yet you can’t remember it.”

“So?”

The boy sighed impatiently. “Look, you have to listen to me!” He again sounded like the teenager he was, not some great, wise, mystic, all-knowing god or something. “This has been bothering me for ages! I had to seek you out, and now that I found you, why can’t you trust me for a few seconds? Now you have been having that odd sensation, right?”

Harry nodded finally. How could he know? And about Hermione’s dreams too?

“Good, I was correct. Now adding that and other situations up, I’d say we have a serious problem. For you, it’s an extreme advantage that should prove handy so as to stop the Great War. But they’re not going to like this…” He ran a hand through his hair.

“Who? What do you mean?” Hermione asked. “Great War?”

“You were right. They weren’t just dreams or nightmares, they were visions.”

“I told you!” she said to Harry, but the boy looked stern.

“As I was saying, these visions, if you happen to get more, should be the key to his destruction once and for all.”

“Voldemort?” Harry asked, finally paying attention.

The boy nodded solemnly. “It seems as though someone has found the Tapestry of Fate, and they are giving you peeks at it through premonitions, only accessible in your dreams. You see death before it happens, and you may be able to prevent it from happening in the future. Use this power wisely. Never forget your dreams – and you, Harry, must work to remember it.”

He looked around, and spotted Ron walking towards them. “I have only a few seconds left. Now you asked, you get it. My name’s Whitby. Tucker. No time for formal introductions though, I have to go now, but I’ll come back. Until then –” And with a blink, he vanished completely.

“That was – odd,” Harry commented.

“Oh, I wish I could go to the library right now!” Hermione said furiously. “The Tapestry of Fate, now why is that so familiar? Whitby, isn’t that a second year?”

Harry shrugged.

Ron finally reached them. “What have you been up to?”

“Nothing,” Harry said quickly. For some reason, he had a feeling that Tucker Whitby and the things he had told them should remain between them. “Why? Do you want to know if we’re not busy so you can yell at us even more now?”

“Look, Harry, I’m sorry. I think something possessed me, but I don’t know what. I just feel this tingle of – you were right, Hermione, jealousy for some reason.”

A smile crossed her lips. “And you’re jealous of…”

His face flushed instantly. “Errr…no one. Heh, uh, yeah. Anyway I don’t want the next school year to be like that, with us fighting all the time and all.” He had changed the subject pretty quickly. Suddenly, his eyes brightened. “Speaking of next school year –” He took his hands out from behind his back.

In it were three envelopes, addressed in green ink, with the Hogwarts crest. “Just came a few seconds ago. Well, open it!” he said, thrusting the letters into their hands. They seemed a bit thicker than usual.

They read the familiar letter from Professor McGonagall, reminding them to take the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 ¾ on September first. Also, were some other flyers and notices. There was another letter from McGonagall too, it read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

I’m sure you are aware that this year, as fifth years, you are nearing the one of the most important exams at Hogwarts. The O.W.L.s, Ordinary Wizarding Levels, will be taken at the end of this year. You will be entering a school year of great preparation and intense studying, and goofing off and breaking rules shall have an even harsher punishment. You are expected to study hard and do your best.

Sincerely,

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

“Great,” Ron said. “That means all the fun is gone.”

“Maybe,” Hermione said, pulling out another letter from her envelope and scanning it. “Have either of you gotten this also?”

Harry and Ron glanced at the letter, and searched their own envelope for one. Harry found it, but Ron didn’t have one. Harry’s eyes skimmed over the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Congratulations! Based on your outstanding performance in the last four years in schoolwork and behavior –

Ron snorted; he was reading Harry’s letter too.

You have been selected to be a prefect. Your responsibility has been increased, and we hope you are up to the challenge. It is your duty to stay free from trouble and provide a good example for younger students.

 In case of an emergency, you guide everyone to safety or follow instructions given to you. At the start of term, you must help first years around the castle until they are familiar with it. You must also inform the fellow Gryffindors when a password has been changed.

The first password is: Merlin’s beard. Don’t forget it. I hope you are ready for the tremendous responsibility that comes with this. You should find your badge also enclosed in the envelope.

Not to mention, there are some perks to reward you. Don’t forget, prefects get the first two compartments in the Hogwarts Express. You are also permitted to use the prefect’s bathroom. Password: Butternut squash. I know you will have a great time being a prefect.

Sincerely.

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

Harry looked and found the gleaming, silver badge. “Step one up to Percy-hood,” he said, and Ron sniggered.

Hermione was glowing as she read her letter for the third time and examined her badge. “Congratulations, Harry!” she said, giving him another suffocating hug. “As for you, Ron, well – you got what you wanted! Now what are all these other papers?” She pulled a few out. “Hmmm…another Yule Ball, Valentine’s Dance, Quidditch Ball, End of Year Bash. Wow, we have a lot more dances now.”

“Oh yay,” Harry said sarcastically.

Ron looked even glummer than him, but he seemed deep in thought too.

Hermione, however, was grinning widely. “I’m so excited too!”

“Hermione, you know Harry was being sarcast—” But she squealed in delight.

“What is it?” Ron and Harry asked.

“Wow – read this –” she said breathlessly. She thrust a paper under Harry and Ron’s noses. They read it, trying to ignore Hermione’s delighted squeaks.

Dear students and parents,

I’m sure everyone has heard the extreme difficulty of finding teachers for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. People apparently seem to think the job is jinxed, as we have just gone right through great professors like Quirrell, Lockhart, Lupin, and Moody. All of them have had their own different reasons for leaving. The real professor Moody, as you have probably heard the story already, refuses to teach this year, fearing it will happen again.

Through several ads in the Daily Prophet and requests from personal friends, no one is quite up to taking the job. Except one, that is. I know many parents shall have some complaints, but since the exams must go on, and students must learn the ways of the Dark Arts even more due to Voldemort’s rise to power in the last few months and the death of a student, it is more vital than ever. You must put aside your grudges, I assure you, and your children are entirely safe.

The new professor is Remus J. Lupin, was the professor for the Dark Arts two years ago. I know you are concerned for your children’s safety, but the Wolfsbane Potion is entirely effective. He is easily the best teacher we have had for the position. I have total trust for him, and I hope you will too, and not be biased because of what he is by no real fault of his own. I hope you will treat him with great respect, and I know you will learn a lot!

Sincerely,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster

Harry was so excited that he was unable to speak. “I can’t believe it!” Ron too, was speechless, and Hermione was jumping up and down.

There was nothing else in the envelope, except for the list of things to buy for the new school year. Had they seen it, they would have been somewhat surprised at the items on it.

“Harry, come on, presents!” Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas shouted. Harry grinned, and he, Hermione, and Ron ran off.

“Wow!” Ron said, sounding much like a young child. But it was something to marvel at, dozens of colorful presents and gifts of all shapes and sizes. “Open them!”

Harry grinned from ear to ear as a crowd gathered around him. He picked up the package nearest to him, which was wrapped in dark blue paper with gold stars that glittered. It turned out to be a magical Polaroid camera from Colin and Dennis, who said it went with Ginny’s present.

Ginny’s was a scrapbook. She said he could take pictures of everything and put it in there to remember. Why not just a pensieve? He wondered. Anyway, most of his memories were bad ones he ached to forget, but he was grateful for the presents anyway.

This time, Ron got him a book, and it was called Death Omens: What to do When You Know the Worst is Coming. Harry gave him a very blank stare.

Then Ron burst out laughing and said it was just the cover. The real book was underneath. This was the book he had wanted in his first year. Curses and Counter-curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly Legs, Tongue Tying, and Much, Much More.)

“Too bad we couldn’t have Professor Vindictus Viridian too,” Seamus Finnigan commented.

Harry got a Quija board from Hermione, who said it scared the wits out of Muggle children, except since they were wizards, they were used to spirits. This Quija board was also authentic, from a magical antique shop. They would try it out later, after they finished with the hundreds of gifts.

This took longer than they had hoped. But finally, Harry had opened all 58 presents and cards, beating all Dudley’s records by twenty. The kids scattered off again, and Harry, Hermione, and Ron were left to clean up the endless sea of wrapping paper and boxes.

“So how about that Quija board, huh?” Ron asked excitedly, stuffing the trash into the bin. “Let’s try it out!”

“I heard Quija boards are haunted by evil spirits,” Harry said enthusiastically. “Is this one?”

Hermione shook her head. “I’d never give you a cursed present! And this Quija board is supposed to only work at night, that’s why all the letters glow. We also have to use some special candles, and those we’ll have to pick up in Diagon Alley.”

Harry looked disappointed. Then he brightened. “Are you staying here, Hermione? You can teach us how to use it!”

“No, I’m not staying here. We still have a whole month left, and I was supposed to go on vacation to—”

“Bulgaria?” Ron guessed, with a sort of grimace.

She rolled her eyes. “Didn’t I already tell you I broke up with Viktor?” she asked, irritated. “Anyway, I’m going to Greece, and there I can learn a lot about the Greek myths and gods. Zeus, Pegasus, Medusa, Cerberus, Apollo, Heracles, they’re all true, unlike Muggles think.”

Harry shrugged. “Well, we can figure out how to work the Quija board on our own. Like you said, we have a whole month, right?”

“Not exactly,” Ron said slowly.

“What do you mean?” he asked incredulity.

“Dumbledore said you couldn’t stay with us the whole vacation anymore. There have been more sightings of You-Know-Who, and he said it would be safer if you stayed with your relatives. I don’t know why, though.”

But Harry did. Dumbledore had invoked an ancient magic to give him full protection from Voldemort as long as he was in his relatives’ care. He sighed miserably. Maybe this holiday was going to be as bad as before. “So what do we do now?”

Hermione shuffled her feet and glanced at Ron. “If it isn’t too much trouble, could Harry and I talk alone for a minute?” she asked.

Ron looked suspicious, but he slowly walked off to Seamus and Dean, who were discussing this year’s Quidditch Cup in Luxembourg, where Ireland was playing again, versus Switzerland.

“What’s this about?” Harry asked curiously.

“I don’t want you to use the Quija board without me, okay? It’s more complicated than you think, and I know you may think it can come in useful to find out the things you’ve forgotten, but you’re supposed to do that on your own, like Tucker said. Over the holiday, just try your best to remember what he said and piece together everything he said, all right? No funny business or anything?”

He nodded glumly. “Now you took the fun away from everything.”

“You’re a prefect now,” she reminded him, “and you have to keep a prefect attitude all the time, even when we’re not in school.”

“So prefect-hood ruins all the fun.”

Hermione looked shocked. “Of course not!”

“Then something is taking the fun away from everything,” he said exasperatedly.

“Or someone. Think about it. The only reason why Tucker Whitby came, why you have to stay with the Dursleys, why you can’t use the Quija board, there’s all one reason. Yes, it’s dangerous, but it’s all because of Voldemort.” She shuddered. “Did I just say that?”

“Who’s Tucker Whitby?”

Harry and Hermione whipped around. “Ron!”

“Who’s Tucker Whitby?” he repeated in frustration.

“Oh, ummm…nothing,” Hermione said, turning red. “Errr…I’m starving! Who’s up for cake!” Then she ran away.

Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry for a moment, but then Harry ran after Hermione too. “Errr…I am!”

He trudged after them angrily, knowing they were hiding something from him, and someone named Tucker Whitby had something to do with it. As he slowly chewed his cake, standing a few feet away from Harry and Hermione, he decided he would do everything he could to find out about Tucker Whitby and everything else they were hiding from him.

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A/N: Well, without knowing it, Ron is doing Harry and Hermione a big favor now. Anyway, he won’t be so jealous crazed for long. Anyway, sorry I took so long to post this! I only had this chapter half finished, and I got a humongous case of writer’s block on this story. It’s been a few months I think, but I just may finish this story. A lot of people have been asking me to keep going, so I think I will. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Everything from the fic belongs to J.K. Rowling except for Tucker Whitby and everything else you don’t recognize from the books.

The Mysterious Corridor: For anyone who thinks I’m going to finish The Mysterious Corridor since I came back to this, forget it. That fic is dead. I’m going to take it down now, because I’m just not in the mood to finish it. If I get inspiration, you might see it a few years from now, but I give up. Here’s how the story was going to go: Sirius, Remus, and Peter were sent in the future to their future selves, and Lily and James leaped into Harry and Hermione’s bodies. Harry and Hermione, in their fifth year, who are secretly in love with each other (but neither knows) are awake around midnight when an urge to take a walk comes over them. They find the corridor, leap into the past Lily and James’ bodies. Ron finds out their situation, helps MPP and Lily in the future. After everyone has learned their lesson and their futures, they’re sent back to their original times. The whole story was for Harry and Hermione to learn that they should admit when they’re in love so it won’t be too late if Voldemort murders them before they get a chance to know, blah, blah, blah.