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Harry Potter and the Ritual of Love's Memory
By Forge2

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Category: Post-HBP
Characters:All
Genres: Action/Adventure, General, Romance
Warnings: Death, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 263
Summary: After the horcrux hunt implodes leaving most of those Harry loves dead, he starts a new life with a few fellow survivors far away from wizarding Britain. But the discovery of an ancient ritual that promises to send a single memory back in time sparks hope that maybe things can change. Dark ending to DH followed by a tweaked retelling of GoF through DH. Harry/Ginny. Friday updates.



Original Timeline

Voldemort's Victory - Chapter 1-5 (Feel free to skip if you don't like major character deaths)

Tenochtitlán - Chapter 6-9

New Timeline

Harry's 4th Year - Chapter 10-28

Harry's 5th Year - Chapter 29-68

Harry's 6th Year - Chapter 69-Current
Hitcount: Story Total: 236444; Chapter Total: 1125
Awards: View Trophy Room






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The last few days of November blustered by swiftly, leaving the castle's corridors chilly for students bustling about in preparation for the end-of-term festivities. Dumbledore's exceptionally late announcement of the Winter's Ball threw many students for a loop, especially regarding formal wear. A flurry of owls was dispatched from their tower to various parents and guardians with requests for new dress robes. Most of those in the fifth year and below hadn't purchased clothes for the Yule Ball during Harry's fourth year, and most of the sixth and seventh years had outgrown what they had worn.

Professor McGonagall, despite being busier than ever attempting to coordinate the headmaster's late additions to the schedule, managed to bring in representatives from Gladrags and Madam Malkin's to alleviate some of the challenges. It took most of a weekend, but students were able to choose styles from several catalogs and have their measurements taken with the promise that their robes and gowns would be ready in time for the ball. Over a mirror call, Sirius insinuated that a few of the school governors had been shaken down for gold to help ensure that the students' families didn't incur a price hike on account of late notice.

Neither Harry nor Ginny could comfortably fit into their robes from the previous ball, but both received word that purchasing something new would be fine. Sirius would have happily paid for both sets of clothes, but Ginny relayed that her parents would be able to take care of it. Not only that, but Ron wouldn't have to wear the ancient maroon robes. The Weasleys weren't frivolous with money, but having five of their seven children out of the house had freed up a little more spending money than they were accustomed to having.

The Student Lounge was often filled with a myriad of students from different years and houses, each looking for an edge in the upcoming tournament. Harry found that multiple teams and duos had taken to using the chamber for practice sessions, even when Defense Club wasn't meeting. Observing various groups, including those that Harry thought unlikely to make it past the first round, boosted his spirits. No effort to learn to defend oneself was wasted in dangerous times.

Despite the frantic pace of life at Hogwarts as the term wound down, Harry greatly anticipated the approaching meeting of those tasked with hunting horcruxes. There had been no official plans set for how they planned to capture Voldemort's snake at the previous meeting, but Harry detected a hopeful tone amid the loopy writing of the note left on his four poster that gave him the time of the next gathering.

The entire Hogwarts contingent, other than Professor McGonagall, was already in Professor Dumbledore's office when Harry arrived. He plopped down beside Bill and began to chat moments before Tonks, Remus, and Sirius stepped through the floo and into the room. Before two minutes had passed, Moody entered through the fireplace, too.

A large clock on the wall showed five minutes past the hour when Professor McGonagall swept through the doors looking particularly flustered. She strode to the circle of chairs and primly seated herself with a nod of acknowledgment.

"Apologies for my tardiness," she enunciated with deliberation, her lips narrowed dangerously. "I have found myself unexpectedly tied up with many additional tasks in the last fortnight."

Her eyes did not fall onto Dumbledore as she spoke, but Harry felt certain that she had given the headmaster an earful after his impromptu announcement.

"Not a problem at all, Minerva," replied Dumbledore with a smile, acting as though everything was perfectly normal. "With all of our number present, let us dive straight into the task at hand."

Harry found himself a little disappointed with the meeting as the minutes ticked by. Perennelle and Bill had spent more time studying the arithmancy around horcruxes, but she felt as though they were not likely to make much more progress without the snake to examine. Tonks and Moody outlined known Death Eater strongholds where Voldemort and Nagini were thought to frequent and the challenges of attempting to break through their defenses. Snape stayed fairly quiet during their report, though he occasionally corrected an unfounded assumption. Sirius and Remus relayed their work in setting up discreet alarms that could alert them if Voldemort checked in on any of the sites where horcruxes had been hidden. Harry began to feel as though his hopes for a meeting filled with important progress had been misguided.

"A wise idea, Remus. I thank you and Sirius for undertaking the task." Dumbledore nodded in their direction before addressing the whole group. "In addition to these updates, there is intelligence gleaned by Severus that merits discussion and consideration. I believe his information may prove to be an opportunity."

All eyes fell upon the potion master, whose dour look made it clear that he did not relish being the center of attention.

"The Dark Lord has grown impatient," began Snape, his tone flat as he spoke. "Though he steadily gains followers, it does not go unnoticed that his opposition grows in both number and boldness. His defeat last June gnaws at him. He has become quick to punish those foolish enough to betray a lack of certainty that he can topple those he counts as his greatest enemies."

"In Tom's defense, he and I were evenly matched before his blunder of attempting to possess Harry during our duel," added Dumbledore serenely, as if casually comparing his fighting prowess to Voldemort's was no more important than a discussion of which quidditch team was best positioned to win the cup.

Ignoring the headmaster, Snape continued. "As means of exacting punishment upon Lucius for his many failures, the Dark Lord has assigned the task of ensuring Albus' death to Draco." Several of the group nearly gasped, while others loosed potent swears. "My station among the Death Eaters allowed me to learn of this mission and the price of not fulfilling it. Should Draco fail, his life will be forfeit."

"So, the boy is a Death Eater now?" growled Moody, his magical eye fixed on Snape.

"He has taken the Dark Lord's mark and is attempting to follow his orders," answered Snape, a hint of frustration reaching his voice. "I doubt he had much choice in the matter, but he is foolishly ambitious enough to believe himself worthy of the honor."

"Wait, how long have you known about this?" asked Tonks, her voice incredulous as her eyes darted from Snape to Dumbledore.

"Severus reported this plot to me over the summer," replied the headmaster. "As his Head of House, Severus has been ideally positioned to keep a watchful eye on young Mr. Malfoy and impede him while offering aid as means of staying abreast of his plans."

"You're knowingly allowing a Death Eater to roam the halls?" Bill usually remained calm in most situations, but his voice rose in disbelief. "This is unbelievable!"

"Filius, Pomona, and I have also been vigilant in monitoring Mr. Malfoy this term," replied McGonagall, a little wearily. "We have observed nothing that would lead us to believe that he is targeting anyone other than Albus."

"And his attempts have been decidedly mediocre," added Dumbledore calmly. "Not that the aim of Hogwarts is to produce excellent assassins, but his lack of creativity and forethought prompted me to consider revisiting some of our academic standards."

"Nevertheless, his increasing fear of failure and desperation provides an opportunity to consider," interjected Snape, unwilling to cede the conversation to the headmaster's tangent. "I serve as the closest thing Draco has to an ally and confidant. For months, I have attempted to guide him into a path that would be most advantageous for our side while sparing his life. After learning about the Dark Lord's horcruxes and the need to capture Nagini, the beginnings of a plan began to form."

Harry thought that several members of the group looked ready to interrupt Snape, especially when he mentioned trying to save Draco's life. Moody's scowl deepened and Sirius shifted uncomfortably in the seat beside Harry, but both held their tongue while the potion master paused before continuing.

"I have all but convinced Draco that the Dark Lord would prefer to end Albus' life himself, rather than have another finish the job for him. Instead of focusing on the impossible task of killing the headmaster, Draco now seeks means of surreptitiously transporting him to the Dark Lord."

Remus shook his head in consternation. "That may be slightly better than just trying to commit the murder himself, but I don't see how that helps us."

Snape looked ready to snap at him, but Professor Flamel's raspy voice beat him to the punch. "If our goal is to infiltrate Voldemort's base of operations, Mr. Malfoy's gambit could provide that means. Instead of forcefully breaking in, thus giving our enemy time to flee or inflict casualties on our number, this plan would allow for the element of surprise."

"Precisely," agreed Dumbledore with a nod to Perenelle. "Young Mr. Malfoy could unwittingly aid us and provide the opportunity to capture the snake while leaving our enemies none the wiser."

"Call me crazy, but I think Voldemort will notice if you show up and steal a horcrux," suggested Sirius, his eyebrow raised. "Even if you were able to get there stealthily and take the snake without being seen, how long until he wonders, 'Hey, where's my gigantic slithering horcrux that eats people?' and possesses her to find out?"

"A valid concern, but one with a simple, though inelegant, solution," replied Dumbledore, his voice grave. "We must take all precautions to prevent Voldemort from realizing that his serpent has been captured. Instead, I would suggest that we lead him to believe that it has been destroyed."

Harry waited to see if anyone would ask the headmaster for more details, but it seemed as though all sensed the importance of the moment and let the words linger in the air.

"Imagine, if you will, a duel between the two of us," continued Dumbledore, leaning forward into the hush of the group. "Such a battle would draw a great deal of attention from any gathered Death Eaters, allowing Severus precious moments to ensnare and transport Nagini out of Voldemort's clutches.

"In the course of the duel, the strategic use of Fiendfyre would likely prove unexpected. Not only would such a curse create chaos and likely destroy an important Death Eater stronghold, but the disappearance of Voldemort's serpent would be attributed to the flames."

The memory of the fiery creatures rampaging through the arena at the Auror Training Camp flashed into Harry's mind. The heat of the beasts washing over him. How long it took for the rains to finally extinguish their flames. The wanton destruction left in their wake. By the looks on other members' faces, none were eager to unleash such fury.

"You wouldn't be able to contain it," said Moody flatly. "Fiendfyre could just as easily swallow you up in the process."

"Certainly, that is a risk of the plan," acknowledged Dumbledore. "Yet it is one that I am quite willing to undertake."

"You expect us to sign off on you allowing yourself to be captured and taken to Voldemort alone?" asked McGonagall, her voice rising. "Goodness knows how many Death Eaters would be present, any of whom could jump into the fray at a moment's notice!"

"You bring up a possibility that I believe is not as likely as it might appear. Voldemort has displayed a penchant for spectacle. By my estimation, he is a more proficient dueler than I am. The gulf between our skills may not yet be exceedingly wide, but I imagine that he overestimates himself. It would not be out of character for him to attempt to prove his dominance by defeating me on his own."

"That's still a huge gamble," noted Sirius warily. "I'm sure Bellatrix would be eager to jump in the minute you got the upper hand."

"Rather than focusing on what the gambit would risk, let us instead focus on the potential gains." Dumbledore's brow furrowed as he peered around the assembled group. "Voldemort's forces are steadily growing. Each week, their attacks grow bolder. Even when pushed back by the Aurors or members of the Order, they inflict greater and greater casualties."

Tonks, seated next to Remus, winced at the mention of the Aurors. The Daily Prophet chronicled two attacks within the past week in which Aurors had been killed while fighting Death Eaters, while another had fallen to dementors while on a patrol. Remus squeezed Tonks' hand.

From Harry's other side, Bill chimed in. "Fleur's department is in chaos after the assassination. Two heads of International Magical Cooperation dead in less than two years has scrambled a lot of their work shoring up alliances. Dad says lots of folks at the Ministry are scared they'll be next."

"And then there are the attacks on Muggles," added Remus wearily. "So many casualties in the West Country. And the Brockdale Bridge?" He let out a heavy sigh as the entire room thought of the growing terrors unleashed on the unsuspecting non-magical population.

"Voldemort is willing to wage this sort of guerilla warfare for as long as it takes. With each murder, he weakens the resolve of those who oppose him. We know that he cannot be fully defeated until his tethers to this life are severed, but that does not absolve us from the responsibility of acting when the opportunity presents itself.

"I will abide by the decision of this group, should it deem this plan untenable." Though Dumbledore spoke with a sternness and gravitas that Harry rarely heard from him, there was something Harry couldn't identify behind his words. The headmaster spoke with the same tone he'd used when challenging Harry to not allow the prophecy to make his choices for him. "But I urge each of you to consider whether this might be our best chance for success. If we forgo this opportunity, we know not when another may arise. I believe that the risks to an old man are very much worth the potential to end this war more swiftly."

Dumbledore's admonition hung in the air, awaiting response. Harry's eyes darted from one member to another. None moved to argue against the headmaster, but none appeared ready to be the one who advocated a plan fraught with such risk.

"I agree with your estimation," offered Professor Flamel, turning in her chair to face Dumbledore. "There is no guarantee that a more advantageous opportunity will present itself. With each passing week, the loss of innocent lives grows. If you are willing to risk yourself in such a way, I shall say nothing to deter you."

"The Death Eaters and their allies are digging in," added Moody, his electric blue eye slightly askew as it stared at a copy of the Daily Prophet. "The sooner we make the bastard mortal, the sooner we can end this war."

Harry's insides roiled with fear and worry as more of the group agreed that Dumbledore's plan was the best they had. In the pit of his stomach, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong to let Dumbledore risk death only for the chance of capturing the snake. He wrestled with his thoughts and feelings of guilt until he realized that the eyes of the group were on him.

"Oh! Err… Sorry," stammered Harry, trying to collect himself. "It's just a lot to take in."

"Quite understandable," replied Dumbledore kindly. "Have you any reasons why we should not move forward with plotting out the logistics of this plan?"

Harry heaved a sigh and rubbed his hand against his forehead, his fingers lingering momentarily on his scar.

"It all just seems like too much risk. I don't want anyone endangering themselves on my account, especially when so much of this plan hinges on the hope that this thing can get taken out of me. It's not worth it."

"Unless I am much mistaken," countered Dumbledore. "I believe you would willingly undertake dangers such as these on behalf of those you love. In the Department of Mysteries, you attempted to single-handedly rescue your friends from a great number of Death Eaters. You defended your classmates, at no small risk to yourself, from giants and dementors in Hogsmeade. And I daresay you would have stood against Voldemort himself had you not known that your vision of Sirius being tortured was false. I believe that you understand the necessity of risking safety on behalf of others far better than most."

Despite feeling rather small from the discussion of the lengths the group was willing to go to undo the bit of soul residing within his scar, Harry forced himself to meet the headmaster's earnest blue eyes.

"Earlier in the term, you exited my office while saying something that deeply moved me. You compared yourself to a pawn on a chessboard, making a break for the backline with the hope of helping secure a checkmate.

"As is often the case, you underestimated your own worth and value by orders of magnitude. Still, the metaphor stuck with me. A skilled grandmaster may choose to strategically risk their queen as a means of drawing their opponent out. If we seek a more swift resolution to this conflict, goading our enemy into a potential blunder could prove advantageous."

The weight of the decision felt heavy on his chest as Dumbledore peered at him from across the circle. With great effort, Harry gave a slight nod of approval.

With the meeting already running late, the headmaster adjourned after asking for volunteers to help work through the logistics of the upcoming gambit. Snape, McGonagall, Tonks, and Moody agreed to help Dumbledore with the planning, though the other members promised their aid if it was necessary.

Instead of following Remus and Tonks into the floo, Sirius decided to walk Harry back to Gryffindor Tower. Both were unusually quiet as they made their way through the mostly empty corridors. A sense of somber resignation surrounded Harry. Not far from the portrait hole, his godfather squeezed his shoulder, bringing them both to a stop.

"Look, Harry," began Sirius, taking a deep breath. "I know you hate this. I don't like it much, either. But we've got to get this thing finished so that we can finally end this war for good."

"I get it. It's just not fair that-"

Sirius cut across him. "I know it's not fair, but life's rarely fair. It's not fair that James and Lily got taken from you. It's not fair that you were raised by people who never loved you. It's not fair that Voldemort keeps coming after you. You've had more 'not fair' heaped onto your head than just about anyone. And now, someone is willing to put themself in danger to try to bend the scales of fairness back in your direction just a little.

"If I had the chance to risk it all to catch the snake, give our people a fighting chance to get this figured out, and end the war, you'd better believe I would jump at the chance. So would Remus and Tonks. And probably every other person in the group."

Sirius grabbed Harry by both shoulders, holding his godson so that their eyes met.

"It's okay to let others help you, Harry. Dumbledore knows what he's doing. Before you know it, we're going to be one step closer to this all being over."
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