I decided to post the first chapter so you get a feel for the story. I won't post more until I get to chapter ten of Desperation because updating that story is my main prority (on ff) right now. Please enjoy.
Parallel
Chapter One
The Traveler
Lily Potter nee Evans found herself in the Black library long into the early hours for the upteenth time since she heard the prophecy months ago. Today, unlike all those before she was into something. The book in front of her had all the information she had been searching for these past few months.
"James! James! I finally found it!" She called out, breaking the silence that had fallen over her temporary home.
There was a loud clatter as the three other inhabitants of the house made their way up stairs and into the library.
"You found a way to do it?" Remus asked, his eyes lit up with a thirst for knowledge.
"I told you Sirius' library would have something in it to help us." James said picking up the old book off the table his wife was seated at.
"So you really think we'll be able to pull this off?" Sirius asked quietly. "Summoning someone from a different universe."
"It has to Sirius." Lily replied solemnly. "Or we're all doomed.
Albus Dumbledore stood from his chair at the end of the kitchen table when the last person he called to headquarters took their seat.
"Every one of you here has heard it before," He said as an introduction. "But, I'll repeat it once more before we get to the reason I called you here.
"The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches... Born to those of another world, an equal with power the dark lord knows not... The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches."
"Albus," Harry Potter spoke from the other end of the table. "Isn't it dangerous to keep speaking the prophecy since he-who-must-not-be-named doesn't know about it."
"Yes Mr. Potter you are correct to be cautious." Albus said almost patronizingly. "But it is indirectly the reason I called you here."
Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the only people beside Harry who didn't know what the meeting was about leaned forward in interest. Alice Longbottom shared a look with her best friend Lily Potter and leaned back in her chair. Her husband sat beside her, an unreadable look on his face. Their son Neville sat next to Harry, his attention fully on the old wizard.
"What do you mean Indirectly?" Tonks said unable to stop the words from leaving her mouth.
"As you all know, the person this prophecy is about is not of our world." Dumbledore continued as if he was never interrupted. "I called you here Today because we've found a way to bring this person here and bind them to complete the prophecy."
"We don't even know if we'll be able to trust this person.." Moody said in his typical manner. "They could just arrive and kill is all."
"He'd be weak, the ritual weakens the traveler. I doubt he'd be able to cast a spell." Lily said in an attempt to reassure the old auror.
"Why would he kill is?" Harry asked. "He's destined to kill he-who-must-not-be-named."
Albus, seeing the conversation was heading towards a debate, cleared his throat to get the attention back on him. "You all know Voldemort is rising in power. We don't have the time to hesitate in making a move to fight him." He said a bit too calmly. "So I'd like to perform this ritual today. Of course all of you must be willing. If you don't wish to be apart of this you may leave now."
No one made a move to get up, and after a moment Dumbledore spoke again. "I see all of you have made your decision. Lily, why don't you lead us in the ritual."
Harry James Potter had just apparated home from a particular nasty fight with death eaters. He knew he should have gone to Saint Mungo's first but he found himself wanting to sleep at least once in his own bed. Even if he had been living in his and Ginny's flat for almost five months now, he had yet to sleep in his own bed. He find himself either asleep on the couch, away at the Burrow, or in a bed and Saint Mungo's.
He had just slipped off his shoes and socks when a rush of dizziness swept over him. He assumed the cause was the laceration on his chest from a well aimed cutting curse was the cause until his vision went black and his stomach churned as if he was traveling by portkey.
When his bare feet landed unsteadily on cool hardwood flooring, he drew his wand from its holster on his leg. His vision was butted with pain and the loss of his glasses, which fell from his face when he landed.
"Accio." He muttered without really thinking. He caught his glasses and put them on in one movement.
James and Lily stated at the dirt and blood stained man in front of them in shock. He was their son, well not their son, but a version of him. His hair was longer and messier, and he had a few noticeable scars on his face and arms. The most noticeable one was shaped liked lightning on his forehead. But, the man was most definitely Harry Potter.
Alice and Frank moved to the couple's side in an instant. Their main focus was on supporting their friends. The other people in the room were watching the traveler closely. None of them besides Remus noticed the blood dripping onto the floor.
"He's hurt, I reckon the traveling made any injuries he had worse." The werewolf observed.
"The lad is an auror." Moody said from his spot behind Harry. His wand didn't waver but his time suggested he was impressed.
"A team leader too." Kingsley said from Harry's left side. "Look at his badge."
"What the hell is going on here?" Harry asked, already processing the situation. "What did you do?"
"Harry, I presume you already have an idea, why don't you share-" Albus began but Harry cut him off with a look.
"I really don't what to deal with your round-about way of dealing with this Albus. Someone explain to me what exactly is going on here."
"Harry, uh that is your name right?" Alice said her eyes on the blood showing through his robes. "Why don't you let me heal you first and then we'll tell you everything.."
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I'd rather know the situation before I let you do anything." Harry said, his voice colder than everyone was used to.
"We summoned you here from your world so you can fulfill a prophecy and defeat he-who-must-not-be-named." This world's Harry said, not bothering with sugarcoating it.
"Bloody hell." Harry muttered, eyes on his counterpart. "What is this prophecy?"
"Do you think it'll be wise to tell him?" Neville asked, speaking up for the first time that day.
"The last time someone kept the contents of a prophecy from me, Tom Riddle used my lack of knowledge against me, and my godfather, the only living family I had left died." Harry said before anyone else could say anything.
"Later, right now it is imperative that you let Alice and Lily heal you. After you are well again we will speak of everything that led to us bringing you here." Albus tried to reason.
Harry observed everyone in the room, not allowing any emotion to be felt while he was in the center of attention. He wouldn't even allow himself to feel the pain of the cut on his chest which was made worse by the traveling, or the other similar injuries scattered around his body. Realizing he really had no choice, he sighed and met his mother's counterpart's eyes. "Fine, but you must tell me everything, if you don't I can't properly do what you summoned me for." He said, and moved back and collapsed in the nearest recliner as he succumbed to the pain.
The rest of the chapters will be longer but I felt this was the best place to end this chapter. I know it's a bit awkward but with the information the next few chapters give it would be too much if I added more.
I'm looking for a beta for this story when it gets to that point, but mainly for Desperation. If you know someone, or are one go ahead and PM me.
Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome! Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Haley
