To See Someone

"Either possibility..."

Dumbledore's voice sounded unusually clear. "...means that we may be facing a threat more terrifying than Voldemort or Grindelwald."

Wade's heart sank. Midsummer sunlight streamed through the window onto him, yet it could not dispel the chill spreading from deep within his heart.

He thought of Harry from the original story.

Under the Headmaster's arrangements, the Savior had stumbled forward in confusion, always complaining that Dumbledore told him nothing and kept him in the dark. Only when he was forced to face the storm did he learn the truth, defeating his opponents in a muddle.

Now, it seemed that knowing everything was not as good as he had imagined...

At least when Harry knew nothing, he had the mood to fall in love, play Quidditch, argue with friends, worry about homework and exams... and be annoyed at Dumbledore for hiding the truth from him.

The price of gaining intelligence was knowing that the storm was coming, yet not knowing when it would arrive. He could neither observe the story's development from a detached reader's perspective nor, like Harry, simply be happy and troubled.

His choices might affect the future fates of many people, and this real world had diverged more and more from the original story. He could no longer see the entire board. But even blindfolded, he still had to keep moving forward.

Dumbledore gathered all the Time Particles back into the kettle, then lightly tapped its side with a finger, producing a clear, low chime.

"When a problem is bound to happen, worrying at home is of no use," Dumbledore said. "More importantly, there is another matter that needs handling right now."

"Another matter?" Wade thought for a moment, then said, "The Golems told me they did not kill Barty Crouch Jr."

This was what he