Shadows Of Another Time - Harry Potter Fanfiction

# Shadows of Another Time: A Harry Potter Fanfiction

## Chapter 5: Preparations and Planning

The weeks following the Quidditch World Cup passed in a blur of research and preparation for Hadrian. The events at the World Cup had provided valuable intelligence, confirming that this timeline was still closely aligned with his memories. This was both reassuring and concerning—reassuring because it allowed him to predict and prepare for what was to come, concerning because it meant that without significant intervention, the same series of tragedies would unfold.

His cottage near Hogsmeade had become a true war room. The timeline on the wall had been expanded and refined, with additional notes about the Death Eaters he had identified at the World Cup. The section covering the coming school year was particularly detailed, focusing on the Triwizard Tournament and the elaborate plot that would culminate in Voldemort's rebirth in the graveyard at Little Hangleton.

Hadrian stood before this timeline now, a cup of tea cooling forgotten in his hand as he studied the critical points where intervention might be possible. The most obvious point was to prevent Barty Crouch Jr. from kidnapping and impersonating Mad-Eye Moody. That single act would disrupt Voldemort's entire plan, potentially preventing his return for months or even years.

But that approach came with significant risks. Voldemort was already on the path to resurrection, aided by Wormtail. If his carefully laid plot involving the Triwizard Tournament failed, he would simply devise another plan—one that Hadrian couldn't predict or prepare for. Better the enemy you know, as the Muggle saying went.

There was also the question of the Horcruxes. In Hadrian's original timeline, it had taken years to identify and destroy all of them. That time had been purchased, in part, by Voldemort's arrogance and his focus on eliminating Harry Potter rather than securing his soul fragments. A more cautious Voldemort, alerted to the fact that someone was hunting his Horcruxes, might move them or place them under even more formidable protections.

No, the Triwizard Tournament would need to proceed. Harry would need to be entered as a fourth champion, guided through the tasks, and eventually portkeyed to the graveyard. But the outcome of that confrontation could be different this time. That was where Hadrian would make his stand.

A tapping at the window drew his attention. A handsome tawny owl—not Archimedes—was perched on the sill, a letter clutched in its beak. Hadrian opened the window with a wave of his hand, allowing the bird to hop inside and deposit its burden on the desk before settling on the perch next to Archimedes, who gave the newcomer a suspicious look.

The letter bore the Hogwarts seal. Hadrian broke it open, unsurprised to find Dumbledore's flowing script:

> *Mr. Peverell,*

>

> *I trust you found the Quidditch World Cup entertaining, despite the unfortunate events that followed. Harry mentioned seeing you there when he visited my office yesterday to discuss his summer activities.*

>

> *I write to extend an invitation that may be of interest to you, given your scholarly pursuits and familial connection to one of our students. As you may have heard, Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year, a historic competition between the three largest European schools of magic. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving on October 30th, and we will be holding a welcoming feast that evening.*

>

> *As a courtesy, we are extending invitations to selected members of the wizarding community who have connections to Hogwarts but are not current staff or students. Given your relationship with Harry Potter and your evident interest in magical education across cultures, I thought you might appreciate the opportunity to witness this historic occasion.*

>

> *Should you wish to attend, please respond by owl no later than October 15th. Accommodations can be arranged in Hogsmeade should you require them, though I understand you maintain a residence there already.*

>

> *Yours sincerely,*

> *Albus Dumbledore*

>

> *P.S. I have recently been reading a fascinating treatise on the magical properties of elder wood. Perhaps we might discuss it if you attend.*

Hadrian set the letter down with a thoughtful frown. The invitation itself wasn't unexpected—the Triwizard Tournament had been an international event with many outside visitors in his original timeline. What was interesting was Dumbledore's continued probing about elder wood. The Headmaster's fascination with the Elder Wand was well-documented, but this persistent interest in Hadrian's own wand suggested something more specific.

Did Dumbledore suspect his true identity? It seemed unlikely. Even with the Headmaster's legendary perceptiveness, there was simply no logical path from "distant Potter relative with an elder wand" to "time-traveling Harry Potter from an apocalyptic future."

More likely, Dumbledore sensed that Hadrian was more than he appeared and was testing various theories. The elder wand connection might simply be one of many threads the Headmaster was pulling, looking for inconsistencies or revelations.

Regardless, the invitation presented an invaluable opportunity. Being present for the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations would allow Hadrian to observe key players in the coming drama—particularly Igor Karkaroff, the Durmstrang Headmaster and former Death Eater, and of course, the false Moody who would by then be firmly established at Hogwarts.

Hadrian penned a brief acceptance, keeping his tone cordial but not overly eager. He handed the note to the Hogwarts owl, which took off immediately through the still-open window.

With that task completed, Hadrian turned his attention back to the more immediate concern that had occupied him for the past week: the Gaunt shack and the Horcrux it contained.

According to his timeline, the ring Horcrux would remain undisturbed until the summer after Harry's fifth year, when Dumbledore would discover and destroy it—at the cost of a mortal injury that would lead to his arranged death at Snape's hands. If Hadrian could recover and destroy the ring first, it would not only remove one-sixth of Voldemort's soul from play but potentially alter the sequence of events that led to Dumbledore's weakening and death.

The difficulty lay in the protections. In his original timeline, Dumbledore—one of the greatest wizards of the age—had fallen victim to a powerful curse embedded in the ring. Hadrian would need to be extraordinarily careful, drawing on both his own considerable experience with dark magic and the specific knowledge he had gained during the years spent hunting Horcruxes.

He had spent the past several days preparing for the expedition, assembling the tools and information he would need. From his mokeskin pouch, he had retrieved a small leather case containing specialized curse-detection instruments that had been developed during the war years. These were not yet available in this timeline, giving him an advantage that even Dumbledore wouldn't have had.

He had also prepared a detailed analysis of the likely protective enchantments based on the other Horcruxes they had encountered in his original timeline. Voldemort favored certain patterns—curses triggered by proximity or touch, compulsion charms to encourage reckless behavior, and often a requirement for blood sacrifice to access the most heavily protected items.

Now, Hadrian felt as ready as he would ever be. He checked his watch—just past noon. The expedition would be best conducted in daylight, when certain dark enchantments were naturally weaker. And a weekday afternoon in late August meant the small Muggle village of Little Hangleton would likely be quiet, reducing the chance of unwanted observers.

Hadrian packed his prepared tools into a dragonhide satchel, along with several potions that might prove useful—including Essence of Dittany for wounds, a powerful antidote for common magical poisons, and a stabilizing solution that could temporarily contain cursed objects. He added a pair of enchanted gloves that would resist most harmful magic, though they wouldn't provide complete protection against a Horcrux's defenses.

Most importantly, he packed a small vial of basilisk venom. In his timeline, they had determined that only a few substances could truly destroy a Horcrux—Fiendfyre, which was notoriously difficult to control, and basilisk venom, which was nearly impossible to obtain. Hadrian had the advantage of knowing where a basilisk had been killed—in the Chamber of Secrets below Hogwarts—and had made a covert expedition there shortly after his arrival in this timeline.

With his equipment prepared, Hadrian changed into simple, practical robes that would allow freedom of movement while not attracting attention. He reinforced his Occlumency shields, knowing that contact with a Horcrux could subject him to psychological as well as physical attacks. Then, with a last check of his wards to ensure the cottage remained secure in his absence, he stepped outside and apparated.

He arrived on a hillside overlooking the village of Little Hangleton. In the distance, he could see the grand manor house that belonged to the Riddle family, where the Muggle relatives of Tom Riddle had once lived—and where, in this timeline, the disembodied Voldemort was likely hiding now, tended to by Wormtail. Closer, almost hidden among overgrown vegetation, stood the dilapidated shack that had once been home to the Gaunt family, descendants of Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort's maternal relatives.

Hadrian cast a series of detection spells, confirming that no one was in the immediate vicinity. He then disillusioned himself before making his way carefully down the hillside toward the Gaunt shack. As he approached, he could feel the malevolent magic surrounding the place—dark enchantments laid decades ago by a young Tom Riddle, then already well on his way to becoming Lord Voldemort.

The shack itself was in an advanced state of decay. The roof had partially collapsed, and vegetation had reclaimed much of the structure. The door hung askew on rusted hinges, though Hadrian knew from his timeline that this apparent neglect concealed sophisticated magical protections.

He paused several meters from the shack, drawing one of his specialized instruments from his satchel. It resembled a silver pocket watch, but instead of telling time, it detected magical fields and their properties. As he held it out toward the shack, the device began to spin rapidly, emitting a soft red glow.

"Interesting," Hadrian murmured to himself. The pattern of the glow suggested a complex web of interlocking enchantments—recognition wards that would detect and potentially attack anyone not carrying the Dark Mark, compulsion charms to drive away casual visitors, and beneath those, more sinister protections designed to actively harm intruders.

Hadrian began the painstaking process of analysis, using various instruments to map the specific enchantments and identify their weak points. This was delicate work, requiring patience and precision. One misstep could trigger the defenses, potentially with fatal consequences.

After nearly an hour of careful study, Hadrian had identified the key elements of the protective scheme. As he had suspected, Voldemort had crafted the defenses to be nearly impenetrable to conventional magical approaches but had left subtle flaws that someone with specific knowledge might exploit.

The outer layer consisted of repelling charms that would make most witches and wizards suddenly remember urgent appointments elsewhere. Hadrian countered these with a specialized shielding charm developed specifically to block compulsion magic.

The second layer was more insidious—recognition wards that would trigger harmful curses if they detected an intruder without the Dark Mark. Here, Hadrian employed a technique they had developed late in the war—a form of magical camouflage that mimicked the magical signature of a marked Death Eater just enough to confuse the wards.

With these countermeasures in place, Hadrian approached the door of the shack. Up close, the malevolent aura was even stronger, suggesting that the most dangerous protections were still ahead. Rather than attempting to open the door directly, he used a specialized revealing charm to identify the trigger mechanisms for any traps.

The spell illuminated several points on and around the door—a pattern of curses that would activate if the door was opened normally. There was also a requirement for a blood sacrifice, just as Hadrian had expected. In his timeline, Dumbledore had determined that Voldemort had designed this particular protection to require the blood of a Parselmouth, believing that this would limit access to himself or possibly his snake, Nagini.

What Voldemort hadn't anticipated was that Harry Potter was also a Parselmouth, having received that ability through the Horcrux connection. Hadrian still retained that ability, even after the destruction of the Horcrux in his original timeline. It was one of the few lasting effects of his long connection to Voldemort's soul fragment.

Drawing a small silver knife from his satchel, Hadrian made a shallow cut across his palm. He let the blood drip onto the threshold of the shack while simultaneously hissing in Parseltongue, "*Open to the heir of Slytherin.*"

The effect was immediate. The door swung open silently, and the malevolent pressure of the outer enchantments diminished slightly. Hadrian healed the cut on his palm with a quick spell before cautiously entering the shack, his wand raised and his senses alert for any sign of additional traps.

The interior was a single room filled with the rotting remains of sparse furniture. A thick layer of dust covered everything, disturbed only by the tracks of small animals that had made their home in the abandoned structure. In the center stood a rickety table, and it was there that Hadrian's detection spells indicated the strongest concentration of dark magic.

Moving carefully, Hadrian approached the table. There was nothing visible on its surface, but he knew from Dumbledore's account in his original timeline that the ring would be concealed by additional enchantments. Drawing another instrument from his satchel—a crystal prism designed to reveal hidden magical objects—he passed it slowly over the table.

The prism glowed a sickly green, and through it, Hadrian could see a small box that was invisible to the naked eye. This would be the immediate container for the ring, likely protected by its own set of curses.

This was the most dangerous part of the expedition. In his timeline, it was at this point that Dumbledore had fallen victim to the ring's curse. According to Snape's later account, the Headmaster had been overcome by the temptation to use the ring, which was not only a Horcrux but also the legendary Resurrection Stone, one of the Deathly Hallows.

Hadrian had the advantage of knowing this history, but he was not immune to temptation. The thought of using the Resurrection Stone to see his lost friends and family—Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Sirius, and so many others—was powerfully alluring. But he knew all too well the price of such folly.

Reinforcing his Occlumency shields, Hadrian cast a series of counterspells designed to neutralize the compulsion charms that would encourage him to touch or wear the ring. Then, using his enchanted gloves, he carefully revealed the hidden box and opened it without direct contact.

Inside, just as he expected, lay a heavy gold ring set with a black stone. Even through his mental protections, Hadrian could feel the subtle pull of the object—both the malevolent presence of the Horcrux and the ancient power of the Resurrection Stone calling to him, promising reunion with those he had lost.

"Not today," Hadrian murmured, steeling himself against the temptation. Instead of reaching for the ring, he levitated it directly into a specially prepared container he had brought—a lead box lined with dragon hide and inscribed with containment runes. Even this brief exposure to the Horcrux was dangerous; the longer it remained in his presence, the greater the risk of falling prey to its influence.

Once the ring was safely contained, Hadrian felt a palpable easing of the dark pressure in the room. He quickly closed and sealed the box, adding his own protective enchantments to ensure it remained secure during transport. Then, without lingering, he left the shack, replacing and reinforcing the outer protective enchantments to ensure that no one—including Voldemort himself—would realize the Horcrux had been removed.

The sun was beginning to set as Hadrian made his way back up the hillside. The expedition had taken longer than anticipated, but the result was worth the time and risk. He now possessed one of Voldemort's Horcruxes—a significant step toward his ultimate goal of preventing the dark future he had left behind.

As he prepared to disapparate, Hadrian cast one last look at the Riddle house in the distance. Somewhere inside, the wraith-like form of Voldemort was plotting his return to power, unaware that a traveler from a future he had helped destroy was systematically dismantling the foundations of his immortality.

"Your move, Tom," Hadrian whispered before turning on the spot and disappearing with a crack.

* * *

Back in his cottage, Hadrian wasted no time. The lead box containing the ring was placed in a specially prepared vault beneath the floorboards of his workroom—a secure location heavily warded against intrusion and designed to contain the Horcrux's malevolent influence. But containment was only temporary; the ring needed to be destroyed.

Hadrian had given considerable thought to this problem. In his original timeline, they had used the Sword of Gryffindor, imbued with basilisk venom from Harry's encounter in the Chamber of Secrets, to destroy several of the Horcruxes. The sword, however, was currently in Dumbledore's office and would be difficult to obtain without raising questions.

Instead, Hadrian had prepared an alternative method. From a cabinet, he retrieved a small obsidian bowl inscribed with ancient runes of containment and destruction. This was an artifact he had brought from his timeline—a tool developed by Hermione and Bill Weasley specifically for the controlled destruction of dark objects.

Placing the bowl on his desk, Hadrian carefully levitated the ring from its lead container directly into the bowl. The moment it made contact with the obsidian, the ring seemed to sense its danger. A low hum filled the room, and the temperature dropped noticeably. The Horcrux was reacting defensively.

Working quickly but methodically, Hadrian traced a series of runes around the bowl with his wand, establishing a containment field that would prevent any magical backlash from escaping. Then, from his satchel, he removed the vial of basilisk venom.

This was the critical moment. Destruction of a Horcrux was never without risk, and this particular Horcrux was one of Voldemort's first, imbued with a significant and particularly volatile fragment of his soul.

Hadrian reinforced the containment field one final time, then carefully removed the stopper from the vial of venom. With precision born of years of handling dangerous magical substances, he tipped a single drop onto the black stone of the ring.

The reaction was immediate and violent. A piercing scream filled the room, though Hadrian knew it was audible only within the containment field. Black smoke erupted from the ring, forming a shadowy approximation of a face—Voldemort's face, contorted in rage and agony.

The obsidian bowl began to glow red-hot as the Horcrux fought against its destruction. Hadrian maintained the containment field, channeling additional power into it as the struggle intensified. The ring itself began to crack, the black stone splitting as the basilisk venom penetrated to its core.

With a final, unearthly shriek, the smoke dissipated, and the glow of the bowl faded. The ring lay in the bottom, now just an ordinary—if ancient—piece of jewelry. The Horcrux had been destroyed.

Hadrian leaned heavily against his desk, suddenly aware of the toll the day's activities had taken on him. Dealing with Horcruxes was always draining, both magically and emotionally. But the satisfaction of having eliminated one of the anchors keeping Voldemort tethered to life more than compensated for the temporary exhaustion.

He carefully examined the ring, now harmless except for its identity as the Resurrection Stone. That particular property remained, and it presented Hadrian with another decision. In his original timeline, Dumbledore had eventually left the Stone to Harry through his will, encoded as the first Snitch Harry had caught. It had proven crucial during the final confrontation with Voldemort, allowing Harry to summon the spirits of his parents, Sirius, and Lupin for courage as he walked to what he believed would be his death.

Should Hadrian preserve that possibility, or was the risk of the Stone falling into the wrong hands too great?

After careful consideration, Hadrian decided on a compromise. He would keep the Stone secure for now but find a way to ensure it would be available to his younger self if and when it became necessary. The exact mechanism could be determined later, as events unfolded.

For now, he placed the ring, minus its Horcrux, in a simple wooden box with basic protective enchantments. Then he turned to update his timeline wall, marking the ring Horcrux as destroyed and adjusting his plans accordingly.

The diadem in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts would be his next target. With his upcoming invitation to the Triwizard welcoming feast, he would have a legitimate reason to be at the castle, creating an opportunity to access the Room of Hidden Things. The cup in the Lestrange vault at Gringotts and the locket at Grimmauld Place would be more challenging, requiring careful planning and possibly assistance.

As for the Horcrux in Harry's scar—that remained the most problematic of all. In his original timeline, its destruction had required Harry's sacrificial death and subsequent return, a sequence of events heavily dependent on specific circumstances and Voldemort's own actions. Replicating that scenario would be nearly impossible and ethically questionable.

Hadrian had been researching alternative methods, drawing on both his own knowledge and magical texts he had acquired since arriving in this timeline. There were theoretical approaches involving soul magic that might allow extraction of the Horcrux without harm to the host, but they were complex and risky. More research was needed before he could consider implementing any such solution.

A sudden tapping at the window interrupted his thoughts. Archimedes had returned from his latest delivery to Harry, bearing a response. Hadrian let the owl in and took the letter, breaking the simple seal.

> *Dear Hadrian,*

>

> *Thanks for your last letter. We're all settled back at the Burrow now after the World Cup excitement. Mr. Weasley's been really busy at the Ministry dealing with all the aftermath. There were some articles in the Daily Prophet about it, but they didn't say much about what really happened.*

>

> *Ron's mum won't let us talk about the Dark Mark much—she gets worried. But it was pretty scary, especially with all the panic afterward. Do you know anything about the people who did it? Ron says they were probably Death Eaters, but I thought they all went to Azkaban after Voldemort disappeared.*

>

> *On a happier note, Ron's brother Charlie mentioned that something exciting is happening at Hogwarts this year. He won't tell us what it is, but he says we'll enjoy it. Do you know anything about that? If you do, please tell me! Ron and I have been trying to guess, but we haven't figured it out yet.*

>

> *I've been practicing those shield charms from the book you sent. They're harder than they look! Hermione (she's staying at the Burrow too) has been helping me. She's really good at explaining the theory part that I usually don't understand.*

>

> *We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow for school supplies. It's hard to believe summer's almost over already.*

>

> *Hope you're well,*

> *Harry*

Hadrian smiled at the normalcy of the letter. Despite the dramatic events at the World Cup, Harry sounded like any teenage boy—curious, a bit bored, and eager for the next adventure. There was an innocence to his writing that Hadrian found both poignant and precious. It reinforced his determination to preserve that innocence for as long as possible, even as he prepared Harry for the challenges ahead.

He sat down to compose a reply, carefully considering how much to reveal about the coming year:

> *Dear Harry,*

>

> *I'm glad to hear you're safely settled at the Burrow. The events at the World Cup were indeed disturbing, but try not to dwell on them too much. You're right that many Death Eaters were imprisoned after Voldemort's fall, but not all of his supporters were identified or captured. Some claimed to have been under the Imperius Curse, others had enough influence or wealth to avoid prosecution. The display at the World Cup was likely intended as a reminder that dark forces still exist in our world, even in these relatively peaceful times.*

>

> *As for the excitement at Hogwarts this year, I do have some information, though I hesitate to spoil the surprise entirely. I will say that Hogwarts will be hosting an historic international magical competition that hasn't been held for many years due to safety concerns. It will involve students from two other European magical schools and will be challenging, exciting, and potentially dangerous for those directly involved.*

>

> *I'm impressed that you're working on the shield charms. They are indeed complex magic, well beyond ordinary fourth-year level, so don't be discouraged if you find them difficult. The fact that you're making progress at all is testament to your natural ability. Please thank Hermione for assisting you—theoretical understanding is indeed crucial for consistent spellcasting.*

>

> *Enjoy your trip to Diagon Alley. If you have time, you might consider visiting Flourish and Blotts' section on magical theory. There's an excellent primer called "The Fundamental Principles of Protective Magic" by Adalbert Waffling that would complement the practical techniques in the book I sent you.*

>

> *Also, given the international nature of this year's events at Hogwarts, it might be worthwhile to brush up on a few basic greeting phrases in French and Bulgarian. Just a thought.*

>

> *I'll be visiting Hogwarts myself in late October for a special event related to what we've discussed. Perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again then.*

>

> *Until then, stay vigilant but don't forget to enjoy the remainder of your summer,*

> *Hadrian*

After sealing the letter, Hadrian attached it to Archimedes' leg and sent the owl off into the night. Then he returned to his planning, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The successful retrieval and destruction of the ring Horcrux was a significant victory, one that put him ahead of the timeline from his original world.

If he could maintain this momentum—removing Horcruxes while carefully managing the larger events to unfold in controlled ways—then perhaps this timeline could avoid the catastrophic future he had left behind. It was a delicate balance, requiring precision, patience, and sometimes difficult moral compromises.

But looking at Harry's letter, with its youthful enthusiasm and innocence, Hadrian knew the effort was worth it. This Harry deserved a chance at the normal life that had been denied to Hadrian himself. And he was determined to ensure he got it, no matter the personal cost.# Shadows of Another Time: A Harry Potter Fanfiction

## Chapter 5: Preparations and Planning

The weeks following the Quidditch World Cup passed in a blur of research and preparation for Hadrian. The events at the World Cup had provided valuable intelligence, confirming that this timeline was still closely aligned with his memories. This was both reassuring and concerning—reassuring because it allowed him to predict and prepare for what was to come, concerning because it meant that without significant intervention, the same series of tragedies would unfold.

His cottage near Hogsmeade had become a true war room. The timeline on the wall had been expanded and refined, with additional notes about the Death Eaters he had identified at the World Cup. The section covering the coming school year was particularly detailed, focusing on the Triwizard Tournament and the elaborate plot that would culminate in Voldemort's rebirth in the graveyard at Little Hangleton.

Hadrian stood before this timeline now, a cup of tea cooling forgotten in his hand as he studied the critical points where intervention might be possible. The most obvious point was to prevent Barty Crouch Jr. from kidnapping and impersonating Mad-Eye Moody. That single act would disrupt Voldemort's entire plan, potentially preventing his return for months or even years.

But that approach came with significant risks. Voldemort was already on the path to resurrection, aided by Wormtail. If his carefully laid plot involving the Triwizard Tournament failed, he would simply devise another plan—one that Hadrian couldn't predict or prepare for. Better the enemy you know, as the Muggle saying went.

There was also the question of the Horcruxes. In Hadrian's original timeline, it had taken years to identify and destroy all of them. That time had been purchased, in part, by Voldemort's arrogance and his focus on eliminating Harry Potter rather than securing his soul fragments. A more cautious Voldemort, alerted to the fact that someone was hunting his Horcruxes, might move them or place them under even more formidable protections.

No, the Triwizard Tournament would need to proceed. Harry would need to be entered as a fourth champion, guided through the tasks, and eventually portkeyed to the graveyard. But the outcome of that confrontation could be different this time. That was where Hadrian would make his stand.

A tapping at the window drew his attention. A handsome tawny owl—not Archimedes—was perched on the sill, a letter clutched in its beak. Hadrian opened the window with a wave of his hand, allowing the bird to hop inside and deposit its burden on the desk before settling on the perch next to Archimedes, who gave the newcomer a suspicious look.

The letter bore the Hogwarts seal. Hadrian broke it open, unsurprised to find Dumbledore's flowing script:

> *Mr. Peverell,*

>

> *I trust you found the Quidditch World Cup entertaining, despite the unfortunate events that followed. Harry mentioned seeing you there when he visited my office yesterday to discuss his summer activities.*

>

> *I write to extend an invitation that may be of interest to you, given your scholarly pursuits and familial connection to one of our students. As you may have heard, Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year, a historic competition between the three largest European schools of magic. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving on October 30th, and we will be holding a welcoming feast that evening.*

>

> *As a courtesy, we are extending invitations to selected members of the wizarding community who have connections to Hogwarts but are not current staff or students. Given your relationship with Harry Potter and your evident interest in magical education across cultures, I thought you might appreciate the opportunity to witness this historic occasion.*

>

> *Should you wish to attend, please respond by owl no later than October 15th. Accommodations can be arranged in Hogsmeade should you require them, though I understand you maintain a residence there already.*

>

> *Yours sincerely,*

> *Albus Dumbledore*

>

> *P.S. I have recently been reading a fascinating treatise on the magical properties of elder wood. Perhaps we might discuss it if you attend.*

Hadrian set the letter down with a thoughtful frown. The invitation itself wasn't unexpected—the Triwizard Tournament had been an international event with many outside visitors in his original timeline. What was interesting was Dumbledore's continued probing about elder wood. The Headmaster's fascination with the Elder Wand was well-documented, but this persistent interest in Hadrian's own wand suggested something more specific.

Did Dumbledore suspect his true identity? It seemed unlikely. Even with the Headmaster's legendary perceptiveness, there was simply no logical path from "distant Potter relative with an elder wand" to "time-traveling Harry Potter from an apocalyptic future."

More likely, Dumbledore sensed that Hadrian was more than he appeared and was testing various theories. The elder wand connection might simply be one of many threads the Headmaster was pulling, looking for inconsistencies or revelations.

Regardless, the invitation presented an invaluable opportunity. Being present for the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations would allow Hadrian to observe key players in the coming drama—particularly Igor Karkaroff, the Durmstrang Headmaster and former Death Eater, and of course, the false Moody who would by then be firmly established at Hogwarts.

Hadrian penned a brief acceptance, keeping his tone cordial but not overly eager. He handed the note to the Hogwarts owl, which took off immediately through the still-open window.

With that task completed, Hadrian turned his attention back to the more immediate concern that had occupied him for the past week: the Gaunt shack and the Horcrux it contained.

According to his timeline, the ring Horcrux would remain undisturbed until the summer after Harry's fifth year, when Dumbledore would discover and destroy it—at the cost of a mortal injury that would lead to his arranged death at Snape's hands. If Hadrian could recover and destroy the ring first, it would not only remove one-sixth of Voldemort's soul from play but potentially alter the sequence of events that led to Dumbledore's weakening and death.

The difficulty lay in the protections. In his original timeline, Dumbledore—one of the greatest wizards of the age—had fallen victim to a powerful curse embedded in the ring. Hadrian would need to be extraordinarily careful, drawing on both his own considerable experience with dark magic and the specific knowledge he had gained during the years spent hunting Horcruxes.

He had spent the past several days preparing for the expedition, assembling the tools and information he would need. From his mokeskin pouch, he had retrieved a small leather case containing specialized curse-detection instruments that had been developed during the war years. These were not yet available in this timeline, giving him an advantage that even Dumbledore wouldn't have had.

He had also prepared a detailed analysis of the likely protective enchantments based on the other Horcruxes they had encountered in his original timeline. Voldemort favored certain patterns—curses triggered by proximity or touch, compulsion charms to encourage reckless behavior, and often a requirement for blood sacrifice to access the most heavily protected items.

Now, Hadrian felt as ready as he would ever be. He checked his watch—just past noon. The expedition would be best conducted in daylight, when certain dark enchantments were naturally weaker. And a weekday afternoon in late August meant the small Muggle village of Little Hangleton would likely be quiet, reducing the chance of unwanted observers.

Hadrian packed his prepared tools into a dragonhide satchel, along with several potions that might prove useful—including Essence of Dittany for wounds, a powerful antidote for common magical poisons, and a stabilizing solution that could temporarily contain cursed objects. He added a pair of enchanted gloves that would resist most harmful magic, though they wouldn't provide complete protection against a Horcrux's defenses.

Most importantly, he packed a small vial of basilisk venom. In his timeline, they had determined that only a few substances could truly destroy a Horcrux—Fiendfyre, which was notoriously difficult to control, and basilisk venom, which was nearly impossible to obtain. Hadrian had the advantage of knowing where a basilisk had been killed—in the Chamber of Secrets below Hogwarts—and had made a covert expedition there shortly after his arrival in this timeline.

With his equipment prepared, Hadrian changed into simple, practical robes that would allow freedom of movement while not attracting attention. He reinforced his Occlumency shields, knowing that contact with a Horcrux could subject him to psychological as well as physical attacks. Then, with a last check of his wards to ensure the cottage remained secure in his absence, he stepped outside and apparated.

He arrived on a hillside overlooking the village of Little Hangleton. In the distance, he could see the grand manor house that belonged to the Riddle family, where the Muggle relatives of Tom Riddle had once lived—and where, in this timeline, the disembodied Voldemort was likely hiding now, tended to by Wormtail. Closer, almost hidden among overgrown vegetation, stood the dilapidated shack that had once been home to the Gaunt family, descendants of Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort's maternal relatives.

Hadrian cast a series of detection spells, confirming that no one was in the immediate vicinity. He then disillusioned himself before making his way carefully down the hillside toward the Gaunt shack. As he approached, he could feel the malevolent magic surrounding the place—dark enchantments laid decades ago by a young Tom Riddle, then already well on his way to becoming Lord Voldemort.

The shack itself was in an advanced state of decay. The roof had partially collapsed, and vegetation had reclaimed much of the structure. The door hung askew on rusted hinges, though Hadrian knew from his timeline that this apparent neglect concealed sophisticated magical protections.

He paused several meters from the shack, drawing one of his specialized instruments from his satchel. It resembled a silver pocket watch, but instead of telling time, it detected magical fields and their properties. As he held it out toward the shack, the device began to spin rapidly, emitting a soft red glow.

"Interesting," Hadrian murmured to himself. The pattern of the glow suggested a complex web of interlocking enchantments—recognition wards that would detect and potentially attack anyone not carrying the Dark Mark, compulsion charms to drive away casual visitors, and beneath those, more sinister protections designed to actively harm intruders.

Hadrian began the painstaking process of analysis, using various instruments to map the specific enchantments and identify their weak points. This was delicate work, requiring patience and precision. One misstep could trigger the defenses, potentially with fatal consequences.

After nearly an hour of careful study, Hadrian had identified the key elements of the protective scheme. As he had suspected, Voldemort had crafted the defenses to be nearly impenetrable to conventional magical approaches but had left subtle flaws that someone with specific knowledge might exploit.

The outer layer consisted of repelling charms that would make most witches and wizards suddenly remember urgent appointments elsewhere. Hadrian countered these with a specialized shielding charm developed specifically to block compulsion magic.

The second layer was more insidious—recognition wards that would trigger harmful curses if they detected an intruder without the Dark Mark. Here, Hadrian employed a technique they had developed late in the war—a form of magical camouflage that mimicked the magical signature of a marked Death Eater just enough to confuse the wards.

With these countermeasures in place, Hadrian approached the door of the shack. Up close, the malevolent aura was even stronger, suggesting that the most dangerous protections were still ahead. Rather than attempting to open the door directly, he used a specialized revealing charm to identify the trigger mechanisms for any traps.

The spell illuminated several points on and around the door—a pattern of curses that would activate if the door was opened normally. There was also a requirement for a blood sacrifice, just as Hadrian had expected. In his timeline, Dumbledore had determined that Voldemort had designed this particular protection to require the blood of a Parselmouth, believing that this would limit access to himself or possibly his snake, Nagini.

What Voldemort hadn't anticipated was that Harry Potter was also a Parselmouth, having received that ability through the Horcrux connection. Hadrian still retained that ability, even after the destruction of the Horcrux in his original timeline. It was one of the few lasting effects of his long connection to Voldemort's soul fragment.

Drawing a small silver knife from his satchel, Hadrian made a shallow cut across his palm. He let the blood drip onto the threshold of the shack while simultaneously hissing in Parseltongue, "*Open to the heir of Slytherin.*"

The effect was immediate. The door swung open silently, and the malevolent pressure of the outer enchantments diminished slightly. Hadrian healed the cut on his palm with a quick spell before cautiously entering the shack, his wand raised and his senses alert for any sign of additional traps.

The interior was a single room filled with the rotting remains of sparse furniture. A thick layer of dust covered everything, disturbed only by the tracks of small animals that had made their home in the abandoned structure. In the center stood a rickety table, and it was there that Hadrian's detection spells indicated the strongest concentration of dark magic.

Moving carefully, Hadrian approached the table. There was nothing visible on its surface, but he knew from Dumbledore's account in his original timeline that the ring would be concealed by additional enchantments. Drawing another instrument from his satchel—a crystal prism designed to reveal hidden magical objects—he passed it slowly over the table.

The prism glowed a sickly green, and through it, Hadrian could see a small box that was invisible to the naked eye. This would be the immediate container for the ring, likely protected by its own set of curses.

This was the most dangerous part of the expedition. In his timeline, it was at this point that Dumbledore had fallen victim to the ring's curse. According to Snape's later account, the Headmaster had been overcome by the temptation to use the ring, which was not only a Horcrux but also the legendary Resurrection Stone, one of the Deathly Hallows.

Hadrian had the advantage of knowing this history, but he was not immune to temptation. The thought of using the Resurrection Stone to see his lost friends and family—Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Sirius, and so many others—was powerfully alluring. But he knew all too well the price of such folly.

Reinforcing his Occlumency shields, Hadrian cast a series of counterspells designed to neutralize the compulsion charms that would encourage him to touch or wear the ring. Then, using his enchanted gloves, he carefully revealed the hidden box and opened it without direct contact.

Inside, just as he expected, lay a heavy gold ring set with a black stone. Even through his mental protections, Hadrian could feel the subtle pull of the object—both the malevolent presence of the Horcrux and the ancient power of the Resurrection Stone calling to him, promising reunion with those he had lost.

"Not today," Hadrian murmured, steeling himself against the temptation. Instead of reaching for the ring, he levitated it directly into a specially prepared container he had brought—a lead box lined with dragon hide and inscribed with containment runes. Even this brief exposure to the Horcrux was dangerous; the longer it remained in his presence, the greater the risk of falling prey to its influence.

Once the ring was safely contained, Hadrian felt a palpable easing of the dark pressure in the room. He quickly closed and sealed the box, adding his own protective enchantments to ensure it remained secure during transport. Then, without lingering, he left the shack, replacing and reinforcing the outer protective enchantments to ensure that no one—including Voldemort himself—would realize the Horcrux had been removed.

The sun was beginning to set as Hadrian made his way back up the hillside. The expedition had taken longer than anticipated, but the result was worth the time and risk. He now possessed one of Voldemort's Horcruxes—a significant step toward his ultimate goal of preventing the dark future he had left behind.

As he prepared to disapparate, Hadrian cast one last look at the Riddle house in the distance. Somewhere inside, the wraith-like form of Voldemort was plotting his return to power, unaware that a traveler from a future he had helped destroy was systematically dismantling the foundations of his immortality.

"Your move, Tom," Hadrian whispered before turning on the spot and disappearing with a crack.

* * *

Back in his cottage, Hadrian wasted no time. The lead box containing the ring was placed in a specially prepared vault beneath the floorboards of his workroom—a secure location heavily warded against intrusion and designed to contain the Horcrux's malevolent influence. But containment was only temporary; the ring needed to be destroyed.

Hadrian had given considerable thought to this problem. In his original timeline, they had used the Sword of Gryffindor, imbued with basilisk venom from Harry's encounter in the Chamber of Secrets, to destroy several of the Horcruxes. The sword, however, was currently in Dumbledore's office and would be difficult to obtain without raising questions.

Instead, Hadrian had prepared an alternative method. From a cabinet, he retrieved a small obsidian bowl inscribed with ancient runes of containment and destruction. This was an artifact he had brought from his timeline—a tool developed by Hermione and Bill Weasley specifically for the controlled destruction of dark objects.

Placing the bowl on his desk, Hadrian carefully levitated the ring from its lead container directly into the bowl. The moment it made contact with the obsidian, the ring seemed to sense its danger. A low hum filled the room, and the temperature dropped noticeably. The Horcrux was reacting defensively.

Working quickly but methodically, Hadrian traced a series of runes around the bowl with his wand, establishing a containment field that would prevent any magical backlash from escaping. Then, from his satchel, he removed the vial of basilisk venom.

This was the critical moment. Destruction of a Horcrux was never without risk, and this particular Horcrux was one of Voldemort's first, imbued with a significant and particularly volatile fragment of his soul.

Hadrian reinforced the containment field one final time, then carefully removed the stopper from the vial of venom. With precision born of years of handling dangerous magical substances, he tipped a single drop onto the black stone of the ring.

The reaction was immediate and violent. A piercing scream filled the room, though Hadrian knew it was audible only within the containment field. Black smoke erupted from the ring, forming a shadowy approximation of a face—Voldemort's face, contorted in rage and agony.

The obsidian bowl began to glow red-hot as the Horcrux fought against its destruction. Hadrian maintained the containment field, channeling additional power into it as the struggle intensified. The ring itself began to crack, the black stone splitting as the basilisk venom penetrated to its core.

With a final, unearthly shriek, the smoke dissipated, and the glow of the bowl faded. The ring lay in the bottom, now just an ordinary—if ancient—piece of jewelry. The Horcrux had been destroyed.

Hadrian leaned heavily against his desk, suddenly aware of the toll the day's activities had taken on him. Dealing with Horcruxes was always draining, both magically and emotionally. But the satisfaction of having eliminated one of the anchors keeping Voldemort tethered to life more than compensated for the temporary exhaustion.

He carefully examined the ring, now harmless except for its identity as the Resurrection Stone. That particular property remained, and it presented Hadrian with another decision. In his original timeline, Dumbledore had eventually left the Stone to Harry through his will, encoded as the first Snitch Harry had caught. It had proven crucial during the final confrontation with Voldemort, allowing Harry to summon the spirits of his parents, Sirius, and Lupin for courage as he walked to what he believed would be his death.

Should Hadrian preserve that possibility, or was the risk of the Stone falling into the wrong hands too great?

After careful consideration, Hadrian decided on a compromise. He would keep the Stone secure for now but find a way to ensure it would be available to his younger self if and when it became necessary. The exact mechanism could be determined later, as events unfolded.

For now, he placed the ring, minus its Horcrux, in a simple wooden box with basic protective enchantments. Then he turned to update his timeline wall, marking the ring Horcrux as destroyed and adjusting his plans accordingly.

The diadem in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts would be his next target. With his upcoming invitation to the Triwizard welcoming feast, he would have a legitimate reason to be at the castle, creating an opportunity to access the Room of Hidden Things. The cup in the Lestrange vault at Gringotts and the locket at Grimmauld Place would be more challenging, requiring careful planning and possibly assistance.

As for the Horcrux in Harry's scar—that remained the most problematic of all. In his original timeline, its destruction had required Harry's sacrificial death and subsequent return, a sequence of events heavily dependent on specific circumstances and Voldemort's own actions. Replicating that scenario would be nearly impossible and ethically questionable.

Hadrian had been researching alternative methods, drawing on both his own knowledge and magical texts he had acquired since arriving in this timeline. There were theoretical approaches involving soul magic that might allow extraction of the Horcrux without harm to the host, but they were complex and risky. More research was needed before he could consider implementing any such solution.

A sudden tapping at the window interrupted his thoughts. Archimedes had returned from his latest delivery to Harry, bearing a response. Hadrian let the owl in and took the letter, breaking the simple seal.

> *Dear Hadrian,*

>

> *Thanks for your last letter. We're all settled back at the Burrow now after the World Cup excitement. Mr. Weasley's been really busy at the Ministry dealing with all the aftermath. There were some articles in the Daily Prophet about it, but they didn't say much about what really happened.*

>

> *Ron's mum won't let us talk about the Dark Mark much—she gets worried. But it was pretty scary, especially with all the panic afterward. Do you know anything about the people who did it? Ron says they were probably Death Eaters, but I thought they all went to Azkaban after Voldemort disappeared.*

>

> *On a happier note, Ron's brother Charlie mentioned that something exciting is happening at Hogwarts this year. He won't tell us what it is, but he says we'll enjoy it. Do you know anything about that? If you do, please tell me! Ron and I have been trying to guess, but we haven't figured it out yet.*

>

> *I've been practicing those shield charms from the book you sent. They're harder than they look! Hermione (she's staying at the Burrow too) has been helping me. She's really good at explaining the theory part that I usually don't understand.*

>

> *We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow for school supplies. It's hard to believe summer's almost over already.*

>

> *Hope you're well,*

> *Harry*

Hadrian smiled at the normalcy of the letter. Despite the dramatic events at the World Cup, Harry sounded like any teenage boy—curious, a bit bored, and eager for the next adventure. There was an innocence to his writing that Hadrian found both poignant and precious. It reinforced his determination to preserve that innocence for as long as possible, even as he prepared Harry for the challenges ahead.

He sat down to compose a reply, carefully considering how much to reveal about the coming year:

> *Dear Harry,*

>

> *I'm glad to hear you're safely settled at the Burrow. The events at the World Cup were indeed disturbing, but try not to dwell on them too much. You're right that many Death Eaters were imprisoned after Voldemort's fall, but not all of his supporters were identified or captured. Some claimed to have been under the Imperius Curse, others had enough influence or wealth to avoid prosecution. The display at the World Cup was likely intended as a reminder that dark forces still exist in our world, even in these relatively peaceful times.*

>

> *As for the excitement at Hogwarts this year, I do have some information, though I hesitate to spoil the surprise entirely. I will say that Hogwarts will be hosting an historic international magical competition that hasn't been held for many years due to safety concerns. It will involve students from two other European magical schools and will be challenging, exciting, and potentially dangerous for those directly involved.*

>

> *I'm impressed that you're working on the shield charms. They are indeed complex magic, well beyond ordinary fourth-year level, so don't be discouraged if you find them difficult. The fact that you're making progress at all is testament to your natural ability. Please thank Hermione for assisting you—theoretical understanding is indeed crucial for consistent spellcasting.*

>

> *Enjoy your trip to Diagon Alley. If you have time, you might consider visiting Flourish and Blotts' section on magical theory. There's an excellent primer called "The Fundamental Principles of Protective Magic" by Adalbert Waffling that would complement the practical techniques in the book I sent you.*

>

> *Also, given the international nature of this year's events at Hogwarts, it might be worthwhile to brush up on a few basic greeting phrases in French and Bulgarian. Just a thought.*

>

> *I'll be visiting Hogwarts myself in late October for a special event related to what we've discussed. Perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again then.*

>

> *Until then, stay vigilant but don't forget to enjoy the remainder of your summer,*

> *Hadrian*

After sealing the letter, Hadrian attached it to Archimedes' leg and sent the owl off into the night. Then he returned to his planning, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The successful retrieval and destruction of the ring Horcrux was a significant victory, one that put him ahead of the timeline from his original world.

If he could maintain this momentum—removing Horcruxes while carefully managing the larger events to unfold in controlled ways—then perhaps this timeline could avoid the catastrophic future he had left behind. It was a delicate balance, requiring precision, patience, and sometimes difficult moral compromises.

But looking at Harry's letter, with its youthful enthusiasm and innocence, Hadrian knew the effort was worth it. This Harry deserved a chance at the normal life that had been denied to Hadrian himself. And he was determined to ensure he got it, no matter the personal cost.