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Published:
2021-06-24
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350
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78
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A Worthy Goal

Summary:

Harry makes a different choice at King's Cross.

Notes:

Disclaimer: don't sue me, I have no money this is just for fun.
The beginning in italics is a quote from page 722 of Deathly Hollows. Also a nod to The Princess Bride.
This more of a prompt for a challenge then a fic. Specifically one I am posting on Fanfiction.net.
Anyone is welcome to adopt it and run with this. Also I long for more Dumbledore time travel...so if anyone knows of any please link them in the comments below.

Thanks for all the bookmarks, kurdos, and subscriptions everyone. It warms my heart.

Work Text:

 

 

 

"But you want me to go back?"

"I think," said Dumbledore, "that if you choose to return, there is a chance that he may be finished for good. I cannot promise it. But I know this, Harry, that you have less to fear from returning here then he does."

Harry glanced again at the raw-looking thing that trembled and choked in the shadow beneath the distant chair.

"Do not pity the dead Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. By returning, you may ensure that fewer souls are maimed, fewer families are torn apart. If that seems to you a worthy goal, then we say good-bye for the present." 

 

'The present...hmm but what about the past?' thought Harry to himself. 

"If you could return and possibly do those things would you?" said Harry.

"Yes, Harry but--" Talking over him Harry said " But if you could you would?"

"Yes, yes of course I would but let's not linger on the impossible--"Before he could finish a disembodied voice interrupts Dumbledore.

"I don't think that word doesn't mean what you think it means and," says the voice, "Master, you risk not being born and/or if you are born you will not remember the life you have lived up to this point, additionally, you may not become my master." 

"I understand." Harry nods. He looks at Dumbledore. "Seven is the most magical number, right Headmaster?" He says winking at Dumbledore with a pranksters' gleam in his eyes.

"Master, by your will and his thrice agreement, so be it."  

As Dumbledore's vision swirls the last thing he hears..."By the way you sound you have more regrets than I do, sir. Going back farther than just the present you can prevent far more souls from getting maimed and fewer families including your own from being torn apart." Harry's voice fades to a near whisper "I think that's a worthy goal, don't you?"

 

The next thing Dumbledore knows is the sounds of a house in the early morning that he has not heard in over a hundred years.