Chapter Text
Prologue – Before the Loop
It had been an exhausting couple of months for Harry, being picked up by Dumbledore from the Dursleys, meeting Professor Slughorn, someone who taught his parents, Sirius, Lupin and Voldemort, Dumbledore had given him a mission aside from the private tutoring sessions with Dumbledore he was to retrieve a memory from Slughorn and Harry had even come across a unique Potions Dairy that belonged to someone known only as "The Half-Blood Prince.
Things weren't going too well for his friends either, on one hand you had Ron who had an extraordinarily possessive girlfriend, Ron barely has time to hang with Harry anymore, which suited Harry fine, he missed his friend, but he was busy trying to work out how to get Slughorn's memory. Hermione had realized her feelings for Ron much too late, she tried to make him jealous but she was also angry with him so kept him at a distance, watching her thought process made Harry busy, which leads us in to today where Harry had decided to take a break from all of it.
Potions had quickly become Harry's favorite class, without Professor Snape making life hard and him actually getting a handle on potions he realized even without the Prince's book he was actually quite a natural at potioneering kinda like Neville with Herbology. Today however Harry was experimenting with some of the potions the Prince had created on his own but hadn't explained what they did exactly.
One potion allowed him to read peoples minds, thankfully it's effectiveness was very short, one would have to drink it continuously to get much out of it, harry put his own notes on the dairy about it, another Potion did what Gillyweed did but without the gross sensation and texture, lastly a potion that was simply titled "Deja Vu", with a few notes that in simple terms stated, will guarantee success.
Harry was placing the last finishing touches on the potion, "Finally 7 drops of Salamander Blood, one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven." as soon as the final drop of blood dropped into the cauldron a massive explosion erupted from the cauldron sending him flying into a shelf and he slides down falling unconscious.
Three Hours later, Harry awoke in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey, Albus Dumbledore, and Horace Slughorn were all standing over Harry curious as to what had happened, "Harry?" Dumbledore began, "Are you alright, you took quite the knock to the head."
Harry nodded slowly, "Yeah... what happened exactly?"
Professor Slughorn frowned, "We were hoping you could tell us my boy. It gave me quite a fright. one minute you were working away at your cauldron then the next your flying across the room.”
Harry goes wide eyed in realization, "Uh, yeah... I was experimenting."
They all repeat his words, "Experimenting?"
Madam Pomfrey, "What do you mean experimenting?"
Harry chuckled, "I was seeing what kind of potions I could create, some were duds, but I managed to make 2 that worked, I have no idea what this potion did, but I'll be sure not to make it again without being more careful."
Professor Slughorn, "Good lad, well I better go see how Mr. Filch is handling the clean up."
Harry stopped him, "Uh Professor, where's my Potion book, I had it open I was making some notes in the back."
Professor Slughorn, chuckled, "Ah not to worry, Miss. Granger came and collected your things after she learned you were hurt.
Madam Pomfrey, spoke up "She's here actually, tried to see you first but we needed to know what happened."
Harry smiled, "...and Ron?"
Dumbledore smirked, "As I heard it, he rushed over, but his girlfriend was causing such a scene Miss. Granger told him to bugger off."
Harry sighs, "I really need to fix those two... they're supposed to be friends. Uh... can I see Hermione then."
Madam Pomfrey, "Fine... but only Ten Minutes."
Harry nodded, "Sure."
The Professors all left, except for Madam Pomfrey who simply returned to her duties, Hermione walked in with a concerned look on her face, “Harry! Are you alright? Professor McGonagall said you were in an accident, there was an explosion and…”
Harry watched Hermione go into her classic tirade, any time he or Ron got hurt it was always the same, he smiled at her, “I’m happy to see you too Hermione.”
This stopped Hermione mid-sentence, “I… you…” she sighed exasperated, “You git, now can you tell me what happened?”
Harry nodded, “I was testing out some of the Prince’s original spells, I’m not sure if I failed or succeeded.”
Hermione crossed her arms and shook her head as she asked, “How can nearly blowing yourself up be a success?”
Harry shrugged, “Not sure yet, but everything in the Dairy has worked so far, I doubt this is any exception, the only description was guaranteed success at first I thought it was an improved Liquid Luck or something.”
Hermione sighed, “ I really think you should talk to Dumbledore about the Dairy Harry.”
Harry shook his head, “This isn’t like last time, with Voldemort. This is just a Potions Text Book that got left behind whoever wrote it, was an exceptional student. But I promise to be more careful from now on.”
Hermione sighed, “I guess that’s the best I can ask for. I’ll take notes for class till you get out.”
Harry smiled, “Thanks.”
Both Harry and Hermione had grown accustomed to Madam Pomfrey’s hawk like eyes making sure even if it was a simple fallen off broom bruise to keep them over night at least one night, so Harry wasn’t even going to ask if he could leave till the morning.
Hermione hugged Harry and kissed his cheek, not even paying notice to how red Harry had gotten, “See you later Harry.”
Nothing of note happened after that, the next morning Harry went down to the Great Hall for Breakfast, Hermione went over the notes for the Classes he missed. He met up with Ron after lunch and told him what had happened.
Ron thought it was much more exciting than Hermione, but he did share her sentiment about talking to Dumbledore about the diary, but Harry persisted in keeping it to himself, the year went on as normal Harry helped Dumbledore collect the memory from Slughorn, Ron is nearly poisoned after eating one too many Chocolates full of Love Potion, and Ron and Lavender break up, and Harry uses one of the Prince’s Spells that severely hurt Draco he was nearly killed, this was the breaking point Harry had to admit the Dairy was too dangerous and so left it in the Room of Requirements he had Detention for months and wasn’t even able to participate in the final Quidditch Match, Ginny won of course.
Harry congratulated the team, life went on like normal at a slow pace too slow for Harry’s liking, then something happened that shattered his heart.
One day at the Great Hall for breakfast Harry learned the news he never thought he’d hear, the news he dreaded, the news he himself didn’t realize would break his heart, Hermione and Ron were now a couple.
Ginny walked up to him with a smile and whispered, “About time, don’t you think.”
This felt like a gut punch, Harry tried to put his best fake smile on and nodded, “Yeah, totally.”
Just behind him Dumbledore walked up and asked, “Harry, just the man I was looking for could I speak to you in private?”
Harry looked curious and nodded, “Sure thing Professor?”
Dumbledore guided Harry away from the hall and once he knew they were both out of earshot of anyone asked, “Are you alright Harry?”
Harry looked confused, “Huh, yeah couldn’t be better, Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup, we’re one step closer to defeating Voldemort, my two best friends have found love with each other. Couldn’t be happier!” Those last words came out more bitter than Harry had intended.
Dumbledore smiled down at Harry with that iconic twinkle he always wore, “Harry, it’s alright to be sad, it’s even reasonable to be confused. I’ve seen many students come and go from Hogwarts begin their journey together fall in love and graduate. So…”
Harry sighed, “Can we talk about something else, anything else…”
Dumbledore nodded in understanding, “Of course, just know my office door is always open should you want to speak. Now to the reason I summoned you, I have found one. Another Horcrux, number three. This time however I cannot hope to destroy it alone. When it is time I will call for you.”
True to his word Dumbledore called Harry, despite his constant suspicion of both Draco and Snape Dumbledore even snapped at Harry because of it, but they both left to find the Horcrux it was a harrowing experience, Dumbledore explained to gain the Horcrux one must drink the potion it was submerged it, it would do everything in it’s power to stop Dumbledore from gaining the Horcrux.
Dumbledore saw his worst memories cried and screamed begged Harry to stop making him drink it, eventually they got the Horcrux, however their journey wasn’t over yet, they were soon set upon by Inferi, Harry and Dumbledore barely escaped with their lives.
But even getting back to Hogwarts wasn’t the end for someone had placed a Dark Mark above the Astronomy Tower, Harry and Dumbledore made it there only for Dumbledore to petrify him with a spell, Harry watched Helpless as Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore, Death Eaters arrived, and even Severus Snape joined them, he watched in horror as Snape killed Dumbledore, he chased after Snape and even used Sectumsempra the Spell that nearly killed Draco, Snape then reveals it is he who is the Half-Blood Prince.
Professor McGonagall prepared a wonderful funeral for Dumbledore, people attended, Rufus Scrimger tried once again to get Harry on board but Harry was having none of it.
After the funeral Harry tried to tell Hermione and Ron he was going to leave to go on his own, but that wasn’t happening, Hermione had already stolen the books on Horcrux’s from Dumbledore’s office.
So they all went home to prepare for their journey Ron to the Burrow, Hermione to her parents, and Harry to the Dursleys, each prepared in their own way, Harry had to convince the Dursley’s to move to run away and escape Voldemort, Hermione erased her parents memories and had them travel to Australia, Ron he explained to his family what he could Molly was having none of it.
Eventually the day came for Harry to make the journey to the Burrow, and the Order had come up with a plan that Harry was against from the start, taking Polyjuice Potion to look like Harry.
The end result Mundungus Fletcher ran away and Mad-Eye killed, Harry tried to run away again but Ron convinced him to stay this time, the trio stayed for Bill and Fleur’s Wedding, but the wedding ended rather abruptly with a Death Eater attack and Voldemort taking over the Ministry of Magic.
The Trio’s adventure began and it took them months of travelling being held up at Grimmauld’s Place breaking and entering the Ministry stealing the real locket from Umbridge trying to destroy it, nothing working eventually the stress got so bad and Ron had been wearing the locket for so long he snapped and left Hermione, it broke her heart.
Harry and Hermione travelled together for the next few months until Christmas when both decided to go to Godric’s Hollow and they were attacked by Nagini Voldemort’s Snake who had been pretending to be Bathilda Bagshot, Harry’s wand was destroyed in the process of escaping and in Harry’s mind he witnessed his parents’ death from Voldemort’s point of view.
Days go by and one day Harry witnessed a Doe leading Harry through the forest when he comes across what he and Hermione had been searching for, the Sword of Godric Gryffindor he got undressed and swam deep but the horcrux around his neck started strangling him he felt someone try and pull him up but it was too late…
Harry Potter was dead.