If anyone was on FFN some years back you probably remember the "Harry Potter cast reads the books" fanfictions that dominated the community. If not, then it is exactly what it sounds like. Dozens upon dozens of fics flooded the HP fanfiction community all following this plot. Each was different in its own way as people showed their own different ways of how they thought characters would react to Harry's life story. Unfortunately, not long after this rise in fic they were all removed from the site under copyright laws. (A great deal of amazing fics were lost and I have to admit I still mourn over the fact that I did not save them to my own personal files.)
However, in recent months a similar trend has arisen from the ashes. And this trend is "Harry Potter cast reads [fanfiction]" While this trend itself it not something really all that new, it is only now that I've really been seeing fics around doing this. And since I was too slow on the uptake to write a story about the cast reading the series I jumped at the idea of writing about HP characters reading one of my favourite fanfictions. Thus this story was born.
The original fanfiction is The Best Revenge by Arsinoe de Blassenville. I suggest that you read that if you haven't already since it is that fanfiction that the trio will be reacting to. It can be found in my favoute stories section on my profile. Though, you don't exactly need to know/read the story because it will be in this story. BUT if you like the story I mustinsist that you favourite/review the original one (as well as this one). Also because I will NOT be addressing any questions that are about the content of the reaction fic itself. Arsinoe de Blassenville addresses many questions/points in the author notes of the chapters. I will answer questions about things I write, but not what they write.
I'm going try to update every week or sooner if my schedule will allow me the time to write. I am a full time college student.
That's all I have to say for now. I hope you like the fic. Feedback, criticism, and questions are greatly appreciated!
This chapter is unbetaed.
I got permission right from Arsinoe de Blassenville to write this story. All credit for the original fanfic goes to them.
Warnings: canon ships and non-canon ships, but the story does not focus on romance.
The week after Voldemort's defeat was anything but peaceful and easy. With multiple trials, meetings, and funerals to addend Harry, Ron, and Hermione never seemed to get a break. And even if they did have time it was primarily spent on rebuilding Hogwarts so it would be in good standing for the new wave of students coming September. The castle has sustained immense damage to both the structure and the magical wards. It would take every Order member and Hogwarts staff to sort it out since the Ministry could barely spare people to help. Mr. Weasley and Percy had commented at a dinner get-together than everyone in every department was swamped with work and at the recent Order meeting Kingsley had said that every Arour was out on missions to hunt down the remaining Death Eaters that had avoided capture after Voldemort's defeat. It also certainly didn't help the trio relax with Rita Skeeter trying every trick in the book to corner Ron, Harry, and Hermione for an interview. More than once Hermione contemplated informing the Ministry of Skeeter being an illegal Animagi just to get her off their backs. Harry had half a mind to tell her to do it.
It wasn't until late Tuesday afternoon a little over a week after the Battle of Hogwarts that the trio found some time to actually relax and Harry wanted nothing more than to sleep for the rest of the week. Unfortunately he couldn't quite yet since in about two hours he was due to be at the Burrow for dinner. So he settled for collapsing face first into a throw pillow on a deep red couch in the living room of the newly improved Grimmauld Place. One of the first things Harry did after Voldemort's defeat was renovate the House of Black from the bottom up; leaving only three rooms—Sirius, Regulus, and the Family Tree room—untouched. The portrait of Mrs. Black was also untouched, but after Hermione sealed the curtains around her closed and cast muffliato everything was fine.
"Three trials in one day," Harry complained, his voice muffled by the pillow, "I knew the Wizengamot was cold, but I didn't think they were sadistic. I never want to set foot in there again. Why are there so many in one day?"
"They're so many trials in one day because the more the Death Eaters sit around in the cells the higher the chance of another breakout," Hermione said as she collapsed into an arm chair across from Harry. "We have more trials to attend tomorrow and the day after that, and the day after that, and all next week."
"Not to mention we have the Malfoys' trial this Friday. All three of them at the same time." Ron moaned as he leaned against the side of Hermione's chair.
Harry let out a long suffering groan. Turning over onto his back so he could actually be heard he said, "Just what I need to end the week—the Malfoys."
"I hear you, mate. I don't want to see their faces either," Ron shrugged, "I don't even see why we have to attend these trials. It's not like we have any power in the Wizengamot."
"We were the heart of the war, whether we want to admit it or not," Hermione began, "and because of that we can testify in trial. They just want us there in case there is something we can add or correct. Cover all their tracks, you know? So they don't make another mistake like they did with Sirius…" Hermione trailed off at the end as she cast a nervous gaze at Harry.
Harry didn't show any signs of being upset. He had reached his closure with Sirius' death after seeing him in the Forest with the Resurrection Stone. Harry still felt a mix between sadness and anger when he thought about the unfairness of Sirius' trial. Silently, he agreed that the Death Eater's deserved fair trials if only to avoid another life-destroying mistake.
"I'm not sure what exactly to think about the Malfoys," Hermione said quietly, "Sure they were Death Eaters in both wars and in Voldemort's Inner Circle not to mention are huge blood supremacists, but if Mrs. Malfoy hadn't lied to Voldemort in the forest then who knows what could have happened."
"Right," Ron said with some acknowledgement, "Voldemort could have won and we'd all either be killed or forced to live under his rule." Ron shivered, "scary thought that is. Good thing she turned when she did. Still strange to think that a Malfoy would help you out Harry, but you can never really know in war I guess," He shrugged.
Harry agreed, "Snape didn't turn on Voldemort until right around the end of the first war too and then from that moment on worked for Dumbledore as a double agent."
"And in our first year we were so certain that he was out to kill you and steal the Philosopher Stone for himself."
"You can't always judge a book by its cover," Hermione mused.
"Mind you he didn't really give us a very good image of himself to judge him by," Ron added, "Gliding around like a great bat and all. Breathing down our necks every moment he could."
There was a heavy silence cast over the trio as each fell back into their own thoughts on their late Potion Professor. His death while necessary and almost heroic was tragic and too brutal for words. Harry found that he could not resent the man no matter how much logic said he should—it just wasn't in his heart. Harry wondered, what would the war would have been like if Snape had never turned against Voldemort. Or if from the start his relation to Harry's mother was known to Harry. Or even, if Snape had never turned towards the Death Eaters; what could have happened?
From that string of thoughts Harry's mind began to drift further into various 'what if' situations. What if Voldemort had created more than seven Horcruxes? Less than seven? What if Horcruxes never even existed in the first place? Would the world be much different if Reamus wasn't a werewolf? Or if Dumbledore hadn't died? Or his parents? What would Harry's life had been if his parents had survived that night?
Deeper and deeper into his thoughts, Harry became deaf to his surroundings. Lost in his own imagination of a world where things had gone differently. Wishing for things that were impossible to achieve.
That is, until a pillow smacked him right in the face.
"Bloody hell!" He cried out springing up to a sitting position. Snapping his head in the direction the pillow had flown from Harry's eyes landed on a laughing Hermione and a sheepishly grinning Ron.
"Sorry mate, but you weren't paying attention. We started getting worried we'd lost you there for a moment," Ron shrugged, "Hermione has been calling your name for a while now. Throwing that pillow was our last resort."
Harry snorted clearing not buying that bit.
"What were you thinking about, Harry?" Hermione questioned, "Whatever it was had to be pretty serious."
"Yeah, you had that look you usually wear when you're thinking about depressing stuff." Hermione sent a well-deserved elbow jammed into his ribs.
Harry laughed at Ron's expense as Ron sent a playful glare at Harry and Hermione, which only caused Harry to laugh more. "Well," he began, "have you two ever wondered what our life could have been like if something went differently? Good or bad."
Hermione and Ron were silent for a moment before Hermione spoke up, "When I was younger, back in first year, I used to wonder what my life might have been like if I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor or if I wasn't a witch and I was a muggle like my mum and dad."
"You guys probably already guessed that I've wondered what my life could be like if my family was… well… you know…" Ron trailed off in a soft voice, clearly still not all that comfortable voicing his reserves about the Weasley's financial problems. Harry and Hermione only nodded in response. "Other than that, I've wondered about how different things would be if Ginny was just another Weasley son rather than the first Weasley daughter. Much probably wouldn't have changed, mind you, but I still wondered for a while."
"Before I even knew I was a wizard," Harry twiddled his thumbs a bit, "I used to wonder what my life would be like if my parents were around or even if I was raised by someone other than the Dursleys."
"I think everyone has had 'what if' thoughts before," Ron concluded, "I mean, it's only normal. Especially if something doesn't go exactly right in your life and a lot hasn't gone right in ours," that earned Ron another elbow to the ribs from Hermione. "That bloody hurt's Hermione!"
"It's supposed to, Ronald," She huffed. "Learn some tack already. Though you are right about how it's normal for people to wonder about what could have been."
"Yeah," Harry sighed, "too bad none of it's possible."
"Not for this world anyway," Hermione quickly replied. Both boys sent her puzzled looks, clearly wanting her to elaborate. "I mean, well, have either of you heard about the Multiverse or Metauniverse theory?" Both shook their heads. "Oh boy, well in short, it's the theory that there are an infinite number of universes and realities other than our own. And each one of these realities is different from each other in either the largest way possible or the smallest way possible.
"For example, in one alternate reality it is entirely possible that the Potters survived while in another it's possible that only one of them survived. While there could also be a reality where it is exactly the same as ours to the T, but Harry's birthday might be a day or two off from the date it is for us. Do you two follow?"
Ron and Harry were both staring at Hermione with somewhat confused and somewhat understanding expressions. Not unlike the ones they wore when she would go off on one of her long expiations of things they didn't know. Or when they were reading their textbooks.
Harry was the first one to snap out of stupor, "Uh, yeah, I think I got that. Basically other realities exists that can be different or almost the same as ours except for a few changes? So anything is possible really, but it just exists… somewhere else?"
Hermione nodded, "in the most simple of terms, yes. You're right."
"Wow," Ron finally said, "that's a lot to wrap your head around if it's true. It almost seems too ridiculous to believe, but after the things we've seen and done I'll believe just about anything is possible now."
"I wonder if there are any books in the wizarding world that relates to this theory." Hermione mused more to herself than anyone else, "The muggle world has entire departments dedicated to this study and even though it's primarily focuses on the muggle science of logic it seems almost magical when you think about it. It's entirely possible that there are books since the muggle world and the wizarding world do overlap in a lot of senses." Harry could already see the glint of interest in her eyes.
Ron shrugged his shoulders, "It might. Something like different universes seems entirely possible if you put it in terms of magical origins. If any sort of study like that really does exist then it would probably be locked up in the Department of Mysteries. Something like that wouldn't be in found in the library."
Hermione viably deflated, "I suppose you're right about that. It's probably for the best too. I don't want to think about what kind of trouble could arise if someone managed to figure out how to control space."
Harry agreed. If someone like Voldemort discovered that kind of power then it might have been even harder or even impossible to defeat him. Harry wished that the information about Horcruxes had been locked up by the Unspeakables. Maybe he's mention that to Kingsley at the next Order meeting since he was the current acting Minister.
Ron then stood up straight and stretched his long arms above his head, his shoulders making a sounding pop much to Hermione's displeasure. "I'm going to Floo back home now. Have to get out of these damn Wizengamot robes and get ready for dinner tonight. You two are still coming right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Harry said with a grin. "Mrs. Weasley's cooking is something I will never get tired of." Hermione agreed with a wide smile. If there was anything that could make them feel better after a long day it was Mrs. Weasley's dinners. "We'll be there at seven like planned."
"Right then," Ron said as he grabbed a hand full of Floo Powder from the small pot next to the fireplace, "I'll see you guys real soon then," with a cry of 'The Burrow' Ron disappeared into a flash of green flames.
Hermione stood up from her chair and rolled her neck a few times wincing at its stiffness, "I don't know about you, but I'm going to go take a quick shower. I have no desire to go to the Weasley's smelling like that old trial room. Honestly, it so musty in there I don't know how anyone can stand it." Harry just shrugged. Turning on her heel Hermione then vanished from the room and Harry could hear her footsteps going up the stairs.
Hermione was temporarily living with Harry at Grimmauld Place since it was easier for her to go back and forth between the Ministry, Hogwarts, and various other wizarding places than it would be to hook up her parent's home to the Floo and travel from there. It also ran the risk of unwanted visitors appearing at the Grangers and the possibility of a muggle seeing her.
At first Ron had been a bit reluctant to agree with the arrangement since Hermione and he were (finally) dating and he didn't see what was wrong with her staying at the Burrow. Ron and Harry and settled any misunderstandings between the two of them about Harry and Hermione's relationship, but that didn't stop Ron from being a bit jealous and protective at times. It wasn't until Hermione explained that the Burrow, while nice and cozy, was too noisy for Hermione to properly work and focus; especially, since Bill, Flure, Charlie, Percy, and George were all staying at the Burrow again until things settled down.
Harry stared down at the floor getting lost in his thoughts once again. Other realities where things were different—where things went right. It was something that made Harry feel a bit envious. Why did it have to be him that had live in such an awful and cruel universe where many of the people he loved died? Almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind Harry mentally scolded himself. There were probably millions of other Harrys who had lived much worse than his and were probably thinking the same thing.
Harry continued to just sit on the couch silently listening to the sounds around him. The sound of some muggle children playing outside, the cracking of the fire not too far away, and he could faintly hear the sound of water running upstairs. He twiddled his thumbs a few more times as his mind drifted back to the idea of alternate realities. He couldn't lie to himself and not say that the concept wasn't intriguing. He wondered if there was a way to communicate with another version of himself—or anyone else really—and learn what their lives were like. Harry didn't care if their life was better or worse than his own, he just wanted to know how differently things could have gone.
The sound of water stopped and Harry could hear Hermione's feet walking across the floor.
"Harry! I'm out now so if you want to take a shower I suggest you do so now!" Hermione called down the stairs, "It'll be time to go to the Weasley's sooner than you'll realize!"
"Alright, I'm coming!" Harry yelled back. He pushed the thoughts of other world's to the back of his mind. There was no use thinking about them now anyway. Not when there was a Weasley dinner waiting for him. After all, it wasn't like it he'd actually be able to contact another universe. Right?
The end of Wednesday was similar to the end of Tuesday—and every other day before that—Harry collapsing onto the living room couch face first with Ron and Hermione collapsing into the arm chairs across from him.
"I hate trials so much," Harry moaned into the pillow and he toed off his shoes. They fell to the floor with a heavy clunk. Just because he was the savior of the world didn't mean he wasn't still just a seventeen year old teenager; thus, he was still in perfect right to complain about things that he didn't care for.
Ron and Hermione's exhausted moans were enough of a response to confirm that they felt the same way.
"Just two more days and then we're free for the weekend," Ron said. That fact that the only thing that was really keeping them going.
Just then Kreacher popped into the room and startling all three of them—Harry most of all since Kreacher had popped in right next to the couch where Harry's head was resting.
"Kreacher!" Harry yelled in shock as he jumped up from the couch. His hand clutching his shirt as he tried to get his heart to stop beating rapidly, "don't pop in right next to my head. Please."
After the Battle of Hogwarts and Grimmauld Place had been deemed safe the elderly elf returned as he wished to fulfill his duty of serving the house until his eventual death.
Kreacher bowed deeply, "My apologies, Master Harry. Kreacher will pun—"
"No punishing yourself, Kreacher," Hermione cut in quickly putting her wand away. She and Ron had drawn it on instinct the moment the pop sounded.
Kreacher, while he had immensely improved from what it was a year ago there were times where he still lapsed back into old elf habits. Hermione had come to terms with the fact that she'd never be able to completely change Kreacher's behavior since he was too old to change, but that didn't stop her from keeping him from lapsing back into the self-destructive habits the Black family elves were bought up in.
Kreacher bowed towards Hermione, "Whatever you say Madam Hermione."
Now that all their hearts has returned back to their normal rhythmical patterns, Harry sat up straight and addressed Kreacher, "What is it that you're here for?"
"There is a package for Master Harry," Kreacher snapped his boney fingers and a rectangle packaged wrapped in brown paper appeared in his hands. "The package is very odd. While Masters and Madams were out Kreacher was cleaning the inside of the oven when Kreacher heard a pop. When Kreacher climbed out of the oven that was sitting on the table with Master Harry's name written on it. Kreacher checked it for unkind spells or traps without opening and found none."
"Thank you, Kreacher," Harry took the package from Kreacher's hands and sat on the couch. True to his story the words To Harry J. Potter was scrawled on the top in black was a bit perplexed at he stared at the package, "You can go back to doing whatever you were doing, Kreacher. We can take it from here."
"Yes, Master Harry," Krecher bowed deeply once more before vanishing with another pop.
"Well, what does it say?" Ron edged on, now sitting on the edge of his chair looking curiously at the package.
"Just my name, there's nothing else other than that." Pulling out his wand Harry cast a few security and detection charms. There was no response. "It seems safe to open, but I'm still unsure. The way it suddenly appeared is really suspicious." Harry turned the package over a few times examining it. "It looks like it's a book of some kind."
"A book?" Ron echoed, "You sure that it's for you and not Hermione?" The girl in question sent a glare at Ron.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Carefully Harry unwrapped the package and tossed the wrappings to the floor by his feet. It was a book just as he guessed. It was extremely thick and bound in black leather with gold lettering at the top. "The Best Revenge?"
"That doesn't sound good at all," Hermione said warily. "Are you sure it's safe to open?"
"Yeah, you know what happened last time we came across a mysterious leather bound book." Ron said with some venom in his voice.
Harry nodded, "I cast the security spells on it and nothing came back. And I don't feel any dark magic coming from it. But I agree that a title like The Best Revenge is really unnerving." Harry tried opening the book to a random page to see what was inside only to be met with resistance. He tried again, but he couldn't open it at all. "What the hell?"
"Who'd send you a book you can't open?" Ron asked.
"Maybe there is a note in the front cover," Hermione suggested, "just open the cover up and see."
It was worth a try so Harry did as Hermione said and we surprised to see that the book opened as easily as any other. Laying there in the book was an envelope with more gold lettering on it. This time though, the words 'Do not open in front of those you don't trust completely.' Harry couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen this writing before. He stared at it for a few more moments trying to figure out where it came from before it suddenly hit him like a stunning jix to the head, "This is Snape's handwriting!"
This attracted the absolute attention of Ron and Hermione who jumped up from their seats so they could sit next to Harry on the couch and look at the writing themselves.
"Blimey," Ron breathed, "you're right. It is Snape's handwriting."
"But, how is Snape sending you something? He died in the war and that was weeks ago." Hermione said with a hint of uneasiness in her voice. "This just doesn't sit right with me."
Harry shrugged, "Maybe he had this already before the battle and just never delivered it to me and now someone found it and delivered it for him?" Harry knew that was a stretch even for Snape, but he wasn't really unsettled by this as the others were; though, he wasn't sure why this was.
"It's still really strange…."
"Well, let's see what Snape has to say from beyond the grave," Ron said humorously to lighten the mood.
Taking the letter in hand Harry flipped it over and examined the wax seal on it. It was one he didn't recognize, but assumed stood for Snape since it was an elaborately designed S set in green wax—typically Slytherin. Harry broke the seal and pulled out a single parchment folded neatly. On the parchment was the scrawl of the late Professor in elegant green ink.
To Harry J. Potter,
This letter and package is probably most puzzling and unnerving to you. ("Damn right it is." "Ronald!") Especially considering that war with Dark Lord you just ended for the good of the Light. ("How does he know the war ended with us as the winners? Wasn't this written before it ended?" "If you were quiet, Ron, we might find out." "Sorry Hermione.") Yes, I know the war ended and that the Light side came out victorious. Though, my explanation for knowing this may not be what you would expect. It would be best for me to explain this to you 'in person' of sorts, but in short I am not exactly the Professor you think I am.
Sincerely,
Severus T. Snape
It was silent for a moment before Hermione spoke, "Not the professor we think he is? That's really worrying. I don't have a good feeling about this."
"Me either, but what does he mean by in person of sorts? He's dead!" Harry explained.
Before any of them could say another thing a blinding white light came from the letter. Harry immediately threw the letter away from him with a yelp. The trio had pulled their wands out and had them trained on the letter that was now glowing on the floor. Nothing immediately happened which just put the three of them even more on alert.
"Keep your wands trained on it. At the first moment that anything that is even something slightly dangerous could happen—blast it," Harry instructed. Ron and Hermione nodded.
The letter's glow got brighter and brighter until it reached such an intensity that the trio had to shield their eyes. The bright light lasted only a moment before it dimmed down and they could look back towards the direction of the letter. What they saw was shocking and made their jaws drop and their grips on their wands slack. Standing there in front of them was Severus Snape looking as if he never been attacked by a Nagini. In fact he actually looked healthier than he did even before he was attacked.
"Snape?" Harry asked as he took a tentative step towards the figure.
Hermione then grabbed hold of the back of Harry's Wizengamot robe, "Harry!" She said in an urgent voice, "He's translucent!"
Taking a closer look at Snape in front of him Harry saw that he was indeed translucent, not unlike the ghosts of Hogwarts. However, his colours were dulled and diluted rather than the silver colour the ghosts were, but the Snape in front of him was still clearly see-through. Even his feet were missing. From his knees down his body faded away into nothingness so he appeared to be floating in front of them.
"Is he…. Is he a ghost?" Ron asked still stunned at seeing the Potion Professor.
"I am not a ghost," The Snape said stiffly. Hermione opened her mouth the words 'then what are you' on her lips, but Snape spoke again cutting her off, "I am nothing but a projection of a message—a recording. I cannot reply to any of your questions nor am I aware of exactly whom I'm speaking to. I only know that Harry is in the room as the book and letter could not be opened by anyone other than himself."
The usage of his given name did not go unnoticed by the trio who stared at the recording of Snape.
He continued speaking after a pause, "I cannot know what you will say or are saying. I can only guess based off the behaviors and responses I know our Harry would say. Yes, I said our Harry. By this I mean I am a Snape from another dimension, universe, reality, worlds. Whatever term you wish to use I don't care so long as you know that I am not the Snape that you know."
"So that's what he meant by that! He is a Snape, but not our Snape!" Hermione cried out in sudden understanding.
This was getting all too much for Harry to wrap his head around. Just yesterday they were talking about the idea of other universes and barely twenty-four hours later were being reached by a recording of a different reality Snape. He could feel a headache coming on, but the recording of Snape continued speaking.
"You must be wondering why and how you are getting this letter so short after thinking about the possibility of other worlds. Harry stop looking at me with that ridiculous face—I know you are making one." Harry was making a face, his eyes were wide and his mouth agape in shock that the Snape in front of him knew him so well. "The reason I know you so well will be explained if you read the book. As I was saying, the reason you received this when you did was because I spelled the book to be delivered the moment you voiced thoughts about alternate worlds after the war in your world ended.
"The content of the book is our world's story. Our world's Harry's story. I collected the memories of our Harry, myself, and every other person who played a major role in his life and assembled them into that book. I got this knowledge because I discovered a long forgotten document in a palace I cannot disclose to you yet and then from that done what you see here.
"I compared our two words and while it was impossible for me to see the details of what happened in your world I was able to see that our words were identical up until the summer of 1991, right before you attended Hogwarts. This one difference set off a chain of events in our world that made our world vastly different from yours. There may be a few smaller details that differ between our worlds, but none of them have such an impact as the event that happened in the summer of 1991.
"I have to be honest and say that the main reason for doing so was simply to see if I could, if communication with other worlds was possible. Whether you actually read the book is entirely up to you. All you have to do is open the book and read—I'm sure you know how to do that." There was a smirk across Snape's face that reminded Harry of the snarky part of the man's personality.
"If you do not wish to read and learn about our world then you just have to leave the book alone and not open it for twenty-four hours. After this time frame expires the book and letter will simply vanish. Though, I will entice you to read by saying that there is a surprise for you once you finish the last part of the book—and no you cannot simply skip ahead to find out. That would be cheating.
"Whether you read this alone or with other I do not care just so long as you read it only with those you trust and deem responsible enough to keep this a secret. Yes, a secret. You surly know what could happen if others found out that communication between universes was possible."
The other world's Snape then gave a small smile that seemed out of place to Harry as the Snape he knew never smiled, but Harry had a feeling that a smile wasn't as uncommon on this Snape. "I have reached my limit for this message. I hope that you listened to my drawling better than you do in class. Good-bye."
There was another flash of light causing the trio to cover their eyes again. Then in place of the other world's Snape was the letter.
The trio stood in silence for several minutes as the three of them tried to sort out exactly what had just happened. It was Harry who moved first. Steeping forwards towards the letter and picking it up.
His head was a mess of confusion and thoughts; not exactly what to think about everything that the Snape had just said. He was able to clearly follow that was going on, but that didn't make it at all any less confusing. Everything was happening all too fast for him; though he should have been used to this by now. Everything in his life had always happened too fast for him to a hundred percent comprehend.
"So, now what?" Ron broke the silence and attracted Harry and Hermione's attention, their head turning towards him. "Are we going to read the book or not?"
"I'm not sure," Harry said slowly.
"It is all very overwhelming," Hermione added, "the other Snape did say we had twenty-four hours before the book would vanish so we have some time to think it over."
"Yeah, but we might not get back from the Ministry tomorrow before the twenty-four hours are up. And if we are going to read it I don't think we should take that risk," Ron said with a shrug.
Hermione hummed in realization, "You are right there, but it isn't up to us. It's up to Harry since the book was delivered to him. He might not even want us to be here when he reads it." Her eyes drifted over towards Harry who had stayed silent and was still holding the letter tightly in his hand.
"Of course I want you two here when I read it," Harry said instantly. They were his best friends and after everything they had been through he couldn't had imagined ever doing anything even akin to an adventure without them.
"So you are going to read it?" Ron asked.
Harry was quiet again. Looking down at the letter in his hand he stared at the familiar handwriting. His mind spun around in a few circles as he thought. Sure, yesterday he had said he'd be fine learning about his life in another universe be it good or bad, but now that the opportunity was serving itself to him on a gold plate he found himself unsure. What if he didn't like what he read? Something that was highly possible. He could just leave the book alone and then it would be gone out of his life forever and he wouldn't have to worry himself. But a feeling inside of him was pulling at him…
"Yeah," Harry said softly after what seemed like forever of thinking to Ron and Hermione, "I'm going to read it." He looked towards Ron and Hermione with smiles, "And I want you two to read it with me. I might need some emotional support." They all laughed weakly.
"You know, since this is about your life—and one where things are different from now—then Ron and I might not even play a part in it or the part we play might be completely different as well."
Ron shuffled his feet a bit, "It's bloody weird to think that we all might not be friends in another world, but I don't think we really have a say in it after all. We can't really control space."
Harry shrugged and smiled, "I guess we'll just have to read and find out."