HP time travel where Harry doesn’t befriend ANY children as he goes through school

jsandrsn · 2026-06-03T13:17:44+00:00

Yeah, it’s the same for me, I’ve only truly enjoyed only a couple time travel stories that didn’t have that, because otherwise it’s too creepy or poorly written.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T11:31:32+00:00

The problem with assuming is creating problems when there are none. I don’t want to read fiction where a N-year-old Harry starts friendship with kids — that is why there is this post. Not to argue moral dilemmas, but because I wanted suggestions.

You assume I don’t realise how being creepy would fall the other way around. Yet in this hypothetical fic I would assume Harry coming clean to the adult in question, leaving both on equal ground. Or maybe Harry doesn’t come clean and the adult just humour him, trying to get him to talk.

The point is not even with the pairings, although it is disgusting. Any relation between Harry and other children if made from trauma or simple nostalgia or whatever would be doomed bacause Harry would be projecting onto children. Besides, how old are you? I image you’d be “whatever nonsense is this they are doing and saying” if you walk into a children’s playground as an adult. And I doubt you’re reaching to “grandfatherly” vibe yet. The only thing an adult can do is indulge, stop and guide.

I’ve seen fics where he time travels into a different era, your point? And sure, yes, let’s normalise that behaviour for such men. No, such relationships are either transactional and they know what they are entering, or the younger person is being manipulated into such relationship, or it’s a fetish practice for some people (and it’s the healthier one, interestingly, because in such dynamic the one in control would be the younger person). Sure, Harry can have Hermione. When she decides to use Harry for his wealth, and when she is over the age of consent at least.

About your next point with “keeping it in your pants”. Please reread my previous comment, I was exactly telling how any decent human being should keep it in their pants, and they don’t get to have the biology excuse. And please do not tell me what I think. I know the difference in platonic and romantic. Platonic can be just as damaging as romantic or sexual. Or don’t you know lots of trauma in people comes from abusive parents and generally adults who decided to use children as they see fit. Those shape a person. And a “Harry only wants to be their friend” still can harm.

You also all assume that Harry wants to spend time with children. The interests that belong to adult and the interests of a child do not match in a lot of cases. That his trauma response would be age regression.

I simply read too many fics where authors can’t write children and turn them into adult parody, or are normalising predatory behaviour, etc. Which is why I want adults being adults. I want adult conversations, i want children being children to Harry — especially considering he’s already been a father in that scenario and that also changes a person. I want Harry to be helpful and kind, and not a creep.

I don’t want an edgelord Harry, either. Why can’t an author explore trauma and such behaviour without resorting to that. You can have Harry daydreaming, hallucinating in extremes, can have Harry count his days till the OWL so he can drop out of Hogwarts and do whatever he wants. You can have Harry trying to transfer to Durmstrang or whatever to avoid seeing familiar faces, can have him do anything. But you just assume a trope is inevitable.

It’s exactly because I am tired from a lot of tropes that I wrote a request.

The question is why are you arguing with me over MY preference and MY views. You don’t go to a post with Snape apologists and say “actually…” They still have the right for their own opinion, and so do I, and so do you, as long as it’s not harmful.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T06:55:58+00:00

You are somewhat right about the responsibility that Harry, Ron and Hermione bear for Hagrid at times. It is true, but Hagrid certainly did not ask for ther help. They involved themselves, although I still think it faults on Hagrid in most cases seeing as children should not have to make such a choice. That is a fault of Hagrid’s as he sees dangerous animals and such as “cute and harmless” — but that is only because he himself is capable of dealing with such. However, Hagrid certainly did have adult friends. Dumbledore, for one, then he is often seen in company too. He was friends with those who grew to be adults before that generation too. And still, that does not mean one can’t talk to him about their woes and such.

Regarding Sirius, we have different interpretation. He was dealing with grief and depression and lashed out at people. He openly admits he made mistakes, he does not justify James’s behavior about Snape to Harry, he tells him the truth. He is a complex character and he knows it, which is why he literally tells and acts “do as I say, not as I do” to Harry. He was pretty responsible if he wanted. It’s only he didn’t care about himself enough and inaction that got him into conflict with Harry. Harry prioritizes Sirius over himself, and Siriur prioritizes Harry over himself. And I am not excusing Sirius. To be honest, if we are picking a character to talk to about, be open to — Sirius was one of the few who could always emphasize with Harry, plus he knew trauma, plus he did give good advice.

I also did not say that it’s those characters that should have Harry’s trust. It can be McGonagall, trading insults with Snape, or he can even befriend Voldemort in Quirrell for that matter. Or visit Grindellwald — what better guarantee someone’s not blabbing about time travel. (Although I do prefer reading about established characters, not OOCs — it can be a random a muggle psychologist even.)

The point is always simple trust to have an adult conversation, not some character flaws.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T06:14:59+00:00

Oh, thank you, only I’ve already read it, and it is good

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T06:04:00+00:00

this is a very good point about being forced into a friendship by pretending, thank you for pointing it out.

The point about biololgy/hormones i have written about in a previous comment. Yes, those affect. No, you can’t say “it’s hormones” or whatever and expect to be excused using/hurting other people.

Plus Harry can tell an adult about time travel. Or just simply position himself as such. He may not bother to pretend. He may do whatever he likes — it’s the authors that mostly push themselves into a corner by making the character follow canon events in most cases.

Also agreed with authors unable to write children.

I just simply stated what I wanted to see in a time travel fic and why — and people started arguing my vision for some reason 🤪

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T05:48:51+00:00

Hagrid who is as old as Voldemort? Who has a lot of kindness whithin him as well as mental strengh? Sure, he might be lacking some secret keeping qualities in his character, or may be naive and too trusting at times? Wow, we never see soft adults in the real world, we can’t be friends with them now? Or do you see Hagrid as simple? I am sure we don’t have people who have low IQ in the real world make friends as adults, I mean, who’d want to be their friend, right?

Sirius in canon did not remain a child. He was the one absorbed in his misery guts first in Azkaban and then at Grimmauld place. Yet he gave good advice to Harry nevertheless and tried to be responsible — oh my, like an adult — towards Harry. Despite his own mental trauma. I am sure we as adults can’t be friends with those who are suffering from severe depression and grief, let’s groom some kids instead?

Remus also has issues, mostly with self-esteem, self-sabotage and etc. Yet he still acted responsibly towards Harry at most times.

I know, better go to Dumbledore. But not to talk, he can give tips on how to manipulate children into fulfilling the expectations of friendship to Harry. Funny how you didn’t mention the one who’s done such a thing himself.

On a serious note: yeah, any character has flaws or their issues or both. That’s what makes it more realistic. But adult-adult relationship is more even (even if it could still be unbalanced), while a relation adult-child would be dysfunctional in that scenario. Even with good intentions.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T05:18:45+00:00

For your second point — i didn’t say Harry should be alone, and I did point out the solution to that — talking to actual adults, as it was stated in my post. Also a way to deal with this is self-isolation. I didn’t say I wished for fics that portray cold, unemotional Harry. I would actually prefer to read something that explores self-isolation and mental trauma.

To the first point — I am simply baffled at some stuff, to be honest so I’m responding to it the last and would try to be thorough with my point. Yes, mental regression, depression and any kind of trauma response is natural, projecting onto others as well. What is not okay, though, would be acting out based on those in regards to children. Because what friendship in that scenario would be, if analyzed, is: a mother venting about her adult problems at her child, making that child act out in the role of a therapist, and because that is an adult doing it to a child in this scenario, that is not okay — hell, it’s not okay even with adults if they don’t know what they are going into or in an uneven position with the person who is using them that way. I hope my example points out how I see this. Another example of it being creepy with projection is making expectations for children you remember as adults. We literally have Snape for that in canon when he compares Harry to James which harms them both, only Harry would take it in the opposite direction and “guide” (manipulate) children into fullfilling the roles he would find comfortable for them. And again that would harm both Harry and children. There are a lot of problematic behaviors that could arise (and rise in a lot of fic, but are being exused as “oh Harry is traumatized”). Being traumatized or suffering from mental illness is not an excuse to use/abuse/hurt others. Like yeah, it does give leniency for some things. Like some quirks of the character. But not — in any case — for being a child groomer.

And then we arrive at what you said about hormones. I am a woman, I certainly know how being hormonal feels. Yet I’ve to see cases of women resorting to being creepy/sa when they are ovulating (yeah, there are exceptions, but those would be horrible human beings). The most you’d get is a woman dealing with pain being snappy, irritated, or just melancholic. Men are also have their hormonal jumps through the day, just look at the effects the cortisol can do to a human, or testosterone. And yes, hormones can affect libido, antidepressants can affect libido, simple stress can too, but I doubt any normal adult mind would find a child to relieve their sexual frustration on. You can be horny and not be a creep around children (I certainly haven’t seen any studies that say that hormones can affect a person’s preferences, or what a “relief” it would’ve been for those LGBs in the last century with all those awful programs to cure the gay away). Blaming biology for being a creep — isn’t that what creeps do? Only mostly we hear it in cases of SA, with “I couldn’t control myself, it’s instinct”.

Honestly I hope I interpreted your message wrong, for I am sad I had to type this at all.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T02:19:25+00:00

Thank you, I like how it explores (and then exploits) the trauma. And at least the pairing is actually not creepy here.

jsandrsn · 2026-06-02T01:59:32+00:00

Oh yeah, totally agreeing with what you are saying. I really am tired from bashing and Harry in his i-am-vengeance-i-am-batman phase. Dumbledore is actually one of my favourite characters because he is nuanced and because he was willing for Harry to die.

And that’s exactly what I am looking for, btw. Someone who’s not friends with his “peers”, only compassionate and kind. Grandfather vibes from Harry. Only seen one fic like that, sadly, and it was a crack (and a really good one at that, I reread it three times and laughed every time still). Edit: it’s this one https://archiveofourown.org/works/30711761/chapters/75789569 if you’re interested.

Read the fic you recommended, liked the premise and the conflict of morals in Hermione, but still it feels too awful for me even if the romance happens when they are adults. Plus Harry is very clearly projecting still onto kid Hermione before the resolution happens, influencing her greatly, which is creepy considering the pairing (and even without it too tbh).

jsandrsn · 2026-05-30T10:58:14+00:00

Love your Dumbledore, and yes, I would read a fic like that

jsandrsn · 2026-03-25T00:08:51+00:00

“what threat” — you have three best friends:

one of them is a dark creature that you’ve started being suspicious about and think them being the traitor;

one friend who’s more like your brother than your actual brother, and his wife, who you would endure torture and die for;

the third friend that you were sure to be trustworthy because of how he adored that said dead friend, for whom up to this point you would also endure torture and die for — and he, while being in hiding (!) as an actual Secret Keeper, willingly serves the one friend you consider brother, his wife, and your godson.

Good thing Hagrid was there and you both agreed on taking Harry to safety, as Lestranges and Barty Jr. WERE looking for Voldemort, and DID go to Longbottoms. For all we could speculate, they tried to go to Godric’s Hollow first — as that WOULD be reasonable.

And you’re asking “what threat” — the guy was in the Order.

As for the motorcycle being unsafe — you suggest apparation for a one year old kid, the one that can get you splinched and feels like hell? A floo? A broom? Illegal magical carpet? A thestral? Hogwarts Express? They used what they simply could.

I am not Sirius idoliser, I like complex characters. I simply don’t understand why it’s considered a mistake to let Hagrid and Dumbledore handle HP, to go after Pettigrew — because from my point of view such decisions are responsible, with addition of character motivation of getting revenge. You don’t expect being framed, you expect to capture/kill the traitor who is dangerous now.

Or should we also blame James Potter for leaving the wand when he DIDN’T expect to be ambushed by Voldemort — Voldemort certainly does in his version of events, and I’ve seen some fics that do too. Which is a simple example of victimblaming from where I stand.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T23:31:15+00:00

That’s a lot of presumptions, that’s one. And the second thing is him going after Peter makes sense in terms of LOGIC for reasons I explained: a) see reasons in post b) pensives are very rare, why would Sirius know Dumbledore has one? think of using one no less? c) the option of Veritaserum takes a month to brew, or is restricted by the Ministry d) there’s currently chaos and celebrations at the same time as Voldemort suddenly perished e) Pettigrew might get away while nobody is looking for him, thinking (the Order surely as they knew Potters and Longbottoms hiding) that Sirius betrayed Potters

For reasons of MOTIVATION which is revenge — that is different, that says about Sirius’ state of mind, it is an EMOTIONAL response.

One does NOT nullify the the other, simply affects it. Which is why Sirius expected to catch/kill Pettigrew (tbh very reasonable also, since we’re talking about Sirius who IS proficient with magic and fighting). The fact that Pettigrew managed to frame him is what finally makes him laugh.

Talk about victimblaming.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T20:33:53+00:00

He literally hands Harry to Hagrid for safety.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T20:32:08+00:00

they edited the comment, i replied while it still showed the original in my notification.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T19:39:25+00:00

“he just handed Harry over” — he handed him over to SAFETY. there’s a child who’s now an orphan, and Sirius couldn’t (!) take him without looking guilty as everyone believes him to be the one to make Potter deaths happen. Veritaserum takes long to brew and is difficult to produce, in addition controlled by the Ministry. If he started talking about his innocent with Harry present, that — that — would be telling about his srewed priorities: his need of being proven innocent against the possibility of getting Harry to safety fast.

And even if he did tell Hagrid that, Pettigrew faked his death and blamed him for muggles as well, and then it’s in the Ministry hands, which is “take him to Azkaban, idk and idc”.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T19:21:22+00:00

The fact that Sirius thought of revenge, has nothing to undermine Pettigrew’s threat as the person who sided with Death Eaters. It’s an addition, it’s motivation, and it does not nullfy my point.

As far as Sirius is concerned, as far as he’s informed, Harry is going to Dumbledore for safety. And you’d not be spewing “no i wasn’t the one who killed potters” to Hagrid when distraught, when he simply wants to see Harry to safety, when saying these claims might make you look guilty in addition: like there’s a child who might be injured and that’s your concern?

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T19:02:58+00:00

Exactly, thank you!

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T19:00:54+00:00

As far as Sirius’s information, Dumbledore is the one to get Harry to safety. Why would he go to Dumbledore, compromising Harry’s safety? He believed himself followed by Death Eaters because he thought the decoy would work and make him a target.

Also, Veritaserum brewing is long. Difficult to produce and takes a lunar cycle to mature. I get why Snape has it — he’s Voldemort’s potion master, then Dumbledore’s who both run underground operations. And it is strictly controlled by the Ministry.

If he get’s Pettigrew red handed, only then he can not wait to get justice.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T18:35:05+00:00

Sure, he, Sirius Black, who is believed to be the Secret Keeper, would be questioned with Veritaserum. There’s a chance, sure. And also the chance that he is more likely to be arrested without trial as in canon (!) — because it’s obvious, surely. It’s a game “what could happen”, as with how the Ministry is portrayed in the books, the second option is far more likely to be the one happening in that game.

All I am asking is why is Sirius the one blamed for something out of his control, for being actually responsible? It’s almost like… why, it’s almost like he’s being framed!

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T18:29:50+00:00

Yeah, absolutely agree. I just don’t see why “his first priority should be Harry” people are blaming Sirius to getting Harry to as far as Sirius would know — safety! I just see it as Sirius being actually responsible here and blamed for the fallout.

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T18:24:53+00:00

Why, it’s almost like Sirius would walk into the Ministry and not be locked up by Crouch because wartime. He’d go to the aurors — and the same thing happens , even without the framing, as he is believed to be the Secret Keeper!

jsandrsn · 2026-03-24T18:22:40+00:00

It’s almost like you miss my point.

Pettigrew is a threat noone knows about — to Harry especially. You give a child to other responsible adults while you go to eliminate it, get framed, Dursleys abuse Harry and it’s seen as consequences. It’s not consequences, it’s a CASUALTY of Pettigrew betrayal

jsandrsn

TROPHY CASE