Change the Future

*PS 6*

In the hospital wing the next day, Harry is lying in bed with his arm bandaged. He awakens, puts on his glasses, and sits up. There are cards and candy all over. Dumbledore approaches him.

"Good afternoon, Harry. Ah. Tokens from your admirers?"

"Admirers?"

"What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows." They both smile.

"That's true" A Ravenclaw says.

"Ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."

"Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?"

"Fine. They're both just fine."

"But, what happened to the Stone?"

"Relax, dear boy. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

"But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?"

"He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die."

The younger Dumbledore looks down sadly at the thought of losing his friend.

"How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next"

"Ah. You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me that's saying something."

"Does that mean, with the Stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?"

"Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?" Harry shakes his head. "It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark." Harry touches his scar. "No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

Lily looks at James sadly.

"What is it?"

"Love, Harry, love." He pats Harry's head gently and stands up. "Ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one, and since then I have lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee" takes brown bean and eats it. "Mm. Alas. Earwax."

"And that is why I stay away from those sweets" Rory says as some others agree with her.

"What is your favourite sweet" James whispers to his daughter.

"Sugar quills and chocolate" she tells him.

Harry with his arm still bandaged enters a corridor where up on a stairwell balcony, Hermione and Ron are talking. They stop when they see Harry and lean over the railing.

"All right there, Ron?"

"All right? You?" Harry shrugs.

"All right. Hermione?"

"Never better."

"That was so awkward to watch" Barty Crouch Jr says as some of the Slytherins agree.