A/N: I swear, I say one thing and then completely do the other! All right, so I told you all that Unbreakable would be the very last installment of the Innocence series right? WRONG! Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the sequel to Unbreakable. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Not mine—not now, not ever.
Summary: Sequel to Unbreakable. Sirius is Harry's guardian—until Harry wakes up to find that everything he'd gone through with Sirius and Remus wasn't real? One way or another, Harry's going to get his normal life—and his guardians—back. Now all he has to figure out is how this all happened…
Another Authors Note: The beginning of this chapter will start from the ending of the last chapter of Unbreakable. I also advise anybody who has NOT read the previous installments of the Innocence series to PLEASE read them, because you will not understand some of the things that might go on. Thanks!
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Chapter 1
As Harry continued down the sidewalk, he couldn't help but smile to himself. He had his family back, and the person that had threatened to break up that family was gone. Everything was perfect again.
He whirled around as he heard somebody calling out his name. Sirius came running up, looking out of breath.
Sirius took a few seconds to get his breath back before he spoke. "I … forgot to tell you … to pick up some milk, too."
Harry stared at his godfather. "Milk?"
Sirius nodded, wiping his forehead. "Yeah. Milk. We don't have any left, and … I forgot to tell you. Hey — did you see that Allyson's moving?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah."
He still couldn't believe that Sirius had chased him just to remind him to pick up milk at the grocery store. He returned Sirius's smile as his godfather turned around and ran back.
Yep, Harry confirmed himself as he resumed walking. Everything was good again.
-
Startled, Harry jerked out of bed, his chest rising up and down rapidly as he wiped sweat off his brow. He had been dreaming something, he knew it, but he just couldn't remember what…
"Padfoot?" Harry called sleepily as he slowly got out of bed. He let out a sigh before his eyebrows briefly knitted together in confusion. Where was he? This wasn't their house. Or at least, it wasn't Harry's room. Harry called out Sirius's name, but didn't get an answer.
Harry stepped out of the bedroom, and immediately he heard a voice in the kitchen. Where was he? Where was Sirius and Remus? This wasn't right. Harry began to get nervous as he approached the kitchen. He pushed the door open and saw three people that were complete strangers to him sitting around a table, glaring at him.
"Boy, we've called you far too many times to come down and get started with breakfast," a large man snapped at Harry. "This is going to cause you extra chores. Let's just hope it doesn't happen again!"
"C—chores? What type of chores?" Harry stuttered, looking at them in confusion. Where was Sirius and Remus?
"What did we tell you? Don't ask questions!"
Harry gulped, stepping away from them. Without another word he ran back upstairs to the room where he woke up. He found an old, ratty pair of sneakers, but put them on anyway. As he went back down the stairs, he listened to what the three called each other.
So far, Harry had only heard the names "Vernon" and "Dudders". Still, even as he knew the names of at least two of the three, he had no idea who they were.
Harry jumped as he was about to open the door at a voice behind him.
"Where do you think you're going, boy?"
"I—I have to go!" Harry ran out of the house before the man could stop Harry. Harry ignored the yells, and even the threat of if he left he would never be able to go back. He didn't want to go back though—right now, all he wanted to do was find Sirius, Remus… maybe even Isabella!
Harry didn't know how long he was walking for. He just wandered around, looking at the houses until he spotted Isabella Jessup's house. She'd know what was going on, Harry knew she would.
Then, Harry saw it: Isabella's house. He felt a rush of relief at the familiar house. How could he explain what was going on? He didn't even remember what happened yesterday at all… it just seemed blurry, but now all of sudden he was in a house with three people that he didn't even know?
Harry stood on the threshold, knocking on the door. Isabella appeared, looking exhausted and grumpy.
"Can I help you?"
"It's me," Harry said. "Harry."
Isabella sighed, shaking her head. "Who?"
Harry frowned. "Harry. Harry Potter—Sirius Black's godson."
Isabella continued to look grumpy as she shrugged her shoulders. It was obvious that she had no idea who Harry was—but how was that possible? He and Matt… they used to be best friends… what was going on? Something wasn't right. Harry just didn't know what to do.
"You really don't remember me?" Harry whispered. Isabella shook her head.
"I'm sorry, maybe you have the wrong house," she suggested unhelpfully.
"No, no… I live just down there," Harry insisted. "I was best friends with your son, Matt, remember?"
Isabella visibly stiffened. "How do you know of Matt?"
"I was best friends with him! Mrs. Jessup… you—you really don't remember, do you?" Harry sighed, defeated.
Isabella looked at Harry curiously. "You knew that my last name was Jessup."
Harry looked up, shrugging his shoulders. "You're sort of like my mother in a way, I guess, Mrs Jessup. I was friends with your son before the… before the accident. You got married to Julian Jessup and he has a daughter, Willow. You two had another daughter and you named her Nevaeda. Mr Jessup is a wizard, too, just like me, Sirius and Remus."
Isabella took in a breath, looking uncertain. Quietly, she stepped back, letting Harry in. With an awkward, grateful smile, Harry stepped into the house.
"I usually wouldn't do this," Isabella said. "You just seem to know everything. What did you say your name was?"
"Harry," Harry answered. "I really don't know what's going on. I really just want to go back to Sirius and Remus… Er, Mrs Jessup, who lives in the white house down the road? Number 617?"
"Alex George and his family," Isabella answered. "Why?"
Harry sighed, leaning against the closed door. This Alex George wasn't supposed to live there. He was; Sirius and Remus too! But if they didn't live there anymore, where exactly were they now?
"No reason."
They both drifted into an uncomfortable silence.
"Can I get Julian?" Isabella suddenly asked. "Perhaps… perhaps he could do something to help you. You seem so lost…"
"I kind of am," Harry admitted. "If you would, please. I think he could really help."
Harry waited patiently as Isabella went in the other room to explain, and get, Julian. A while later, Julian appeared with a smile, energetically shaking Harry's hand.
"How nice it is to meet you, Mr Potter!"
"Er… yes," Harry said awkwardly. They hadn't just met though—Harry knew Julian. They were friends…
"Isabella says you need help," Julian continued. "Finding—who was it again? Sirius? Sirius Black?"
Harry let out a relieved breath. "So you know him?"
"Of course I do," Julian said. "He was in the Daily Prophet. I'm sorry, Mr Potter, but I can't help you find him exactly. I could tell you where he was, but getting to him would be rather…"
Harry looked at Julian warily. "Rather what?"
Julian frowned. "You know as well as I do. That day… in the Department of Mysteries?" The confusion grew on Julian's face. "Are you feeling well, Mr Potter? You really don't remember what happened?"
Harry shook his head.
"Sirius Black, he died. Fell through some sort of veil?"
Realization crossed Harry's face. "Oh, yes! Yes, I remember… but Mr Jessup, Sirius didn't die. I found him, he's quite alive. Don't you remember?"
It was Julian's turn to shake his head. "I'm afraid not, Mr Potter. Sirius Black is gone."
"That can't be," Harry muttered. "What—what about Remus? Remus Lupin?"
"I could try to help you find him. Is he a wizard?"
Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes he is. He'll remember; he'll know what's going on," he said firmly.
"One minute," Julian said, frowning. "I'll just get Dumbledore. He might know who Remus Lupin is. Why don't you take a seat, Mr Potter? Isabella can get you a drink, or something to eat if you'd like."
Harry sat numbly on the sofa. First, he woke up in a strange house with people like Vernon, Dudders, and another woman who actually did resemble a horse—whom he didn't even know! Then he went to find Isabella, and she didn't know who he was—now he was being told that Sirius was gone?
Harry looked around nervously. What was he going to do?
-
"Remus!" Harry jumped up as the familiar man stepped in front of him. Harry ran over and threw his arms around Remus's neck. "You don't know how glad I am to see you," Harry said. "You have to tell me what's going on, Remus. Mr and Mrs Jessup didn't even know who I was—and I woke up in a weird house—and then I'm being told that Sirius is really gone!"
Remus Lupin's brow furrowed in confusion. "Harry, are you all right? Why are you here and not at the Dursleys? Do you even know these people?"
Harry stepped away from Remus, taken aback. "Who're the Dursleys? Remus—of course I know these people! It's Isabella and Julian Jessup… everyone in this room knows each other!" Harry let out a breath, studying Remus's puzzled expression. "Remus," he said slowly. "Where's Sirius?"
"Harry," Remus said softly, "Sirius fell through the veil. You were there."
"I know," Harry said loudly. "But don't you remember? Don't you remember what happened after that?"
"Harry…" Remus said his name again, shaking his head.
"This isn't right! Something—something's going on. Do you remember Allyson, Remus? Do you remember how Sirius was dating her, and—and both of us didn't like her that much? Do you remember Allyson McGregor?"
"Harry—"
"Stop saying my name!" Harry yelled, scowling. "Just answer the question!"
Remus gave Harry a look. "No, Harry, I don't know an Allyson McGregor; I never did. Sirius wasn't dating anybody by that name—ever."
Harry slumped back onto the couch, holding his head in his hands. "This is so wrong. I just want to go back."
"All right, let's take you back to the Dursleys then. Maybe you'll calm down," Remus suggested softly. "Maybe you just dreamt all this, Harry."
"I couldn't've," Harry said in a quiet voice. "It was too real to be a dream. Who even are the Dursleys in the first place? I honestly don't know anybody by that surname."
Remus sat down beside Harry, looking concerned. "Did you hit your head or anything, Harry?"
"I'm fine," Harry snapped.
"Look, let's take you to Dumbledore and see what's going on, shall we?" Remus waited until Harry slowly nodded and stood up.
Harry said goodbye to Isabella and Julian sullenly as he went into the fireplace. He suddenly felt lonesome knowing the fact that Sirius wasn't there. Harry pushed the thought out of his mind. Then it struck him, as to who the Dursleys were. He remembered them now, but just vaguely.
They were his Aunt and Uncle. Why had Harry woken up in their house? Was Remus right? Had everything that happened since he was seven-years-old just been a dream?
But then again, how could it? It all seemed so real and vivid. It couldn't have been a dream. Maybe—just maybe Harry had somehow gone into this weird, alternate universe? Harry convinced himself that that was it—but how was he going to get back to his right universe, with Sirius?
Somehow, Harry told himself, some way… he would.
-
A/N: The idea struck me just like that… so I couldn't just forget about it and not write a sequel to Unbreakable, since some people actually had asked me recently if I was planning on writing one. As for the title of the Fic—Well, I really hadn't a clue in the world what to call it. This just came to me… I wasn't really going to use it… but then it sort of grew on me, so I thought why not?
Please R and R, I'd appreciate it—it leaves me something to look forward to! The next chapter will be up soon.