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"Harry!"
Harry groaned again and stared at the man who was dead. Harry tore his gaze from Dumbledore and slowly patted his no longer transparent body. He didn't feel any injuries but his body was sore everywhere. If felt as if it went through a tight suction tube. Harry lifted his head and looked around the room. He gasped when he saw his parents.
"Am I dead?" Harry didn't release he spoke aloud until Lily dashed towards him and engulfed him in a tight hug. He grunted in pain and tried feebly to free himself but she held on tightly.
"Lily, please release him. He is in pain." Harry mentally thanked Dumbledore when Lily let go of him. She didn't move away from him though. Instead she remained crouched on her knees in front of him. Her similar green eyes stared at him and she gently touched his face.
"I don't know how the spell brought you back," Lily sniffled and wiped her eyes. "And I don't care. You're back." Lily's body spontaneously jerked before she threw herself at him again crying freely. Harry groaned internally as she pressed her chin on his shoulder. Harry looked around her shoulder and saw the many shocked faces, minus Moody, he looked suspicious as always. Harry noticed that James, who was standing next to Remus, looked like a frozen statue. His face was slightly cocked and mouth was wide open. Remus facial expression wasn't much better. Harry turned to look at Sirius and had to choke back a sob.
"Sirius." Harry whispered. Sirius took a hesitant step forward and then jerked to a stop, shaking his head frantically. Harry sighed in gratitude when Lily finally let him go. As the pain was starting to subside, he was finally able to really look at his mum. He smiled sadly as he returned the favor and slightly touched her face. "I can't believe it's you." Lily's smile was watery when she replied,
"Shouldn't I be saying that?"
Harry laughed lightly. "It's a shame I had to die. But I'm glad I'm with all of you now." Harry looked around the room with happiness. This isn't the train station, but maybe that doesn't happen all the time.
"Stop all the talk about your death. You're alive now! Oh Terry's going to be so happy when he hears the news!" Lily started to stand and dusted off her robes. "I'm going to go tell him."
Harry recoiled in shock, "What?"
Lily turned to look at him in confusion. "What's the matter?" Harry looked around the room again. Everybody was still staring and watching the conversation between the two. Harry looked at Dumbledore but even he had an inquiring look on his face. Those dreams…or whatever they were…this can't be real. Harry remembered the twin brother of his lookalike was Terry. Harry dropped his chin to his chest. Harry just assumed death was showing him another life he could have had. He thought it was weird, but magic and death were unexplainable at times. So he wasn't dead, but whatever curse his attacker hit him with when he was on his way home, must have brought him here. Wherever 'here' was. And these people thought he was the lookalike Harry that had died.
"Harry." Harry looked up at Dumbledore as he walked forward, "What is the problem?" Harry didn't want to hurt them by telling them that he was not their Harry and that their Harry was indeed dead. But he couldn't lie to them either.
"I'm not Harry-" Harry stuttered. "-Well I am Harry, but I'm not the Harry you know." He looked up hoping they would understand without further explanation.
"Do ya think the spell messed with his head?" Tonks asked. Others started murmuring and nodding their heads. What spell?
"No no, I think a curse brought me here." Harry tried to explain.
"Well you got dat part righ' boy." Moody growled. "You're sittin on it." Moody nodded to the ground. Harry looked down to see what appeared to be a ruined star. The salt was smeared from where his body had laid and where Lily and walked in it. "We brough' yer back." Moody said.
"It was you?" Harry slowly rose to his feet. "I wasn't attacked. You brought me here?"
"I think you were right Tonks, something went wrong with the spell." Remus walked towards Harry and gentle laid a hand on his shoulder. "Harry do you remember us?" Harry shoved Remus hand off his shoulder.
"I am not your Harry." Harry yelled. Harry crossed his arms and folded into himself. How to make them believe me? "I know! Your Harry didn't have a scar." Harry lifted his hair to show his lighten bolt shape of a scar.
Remus peered closely at his forehead, "wow." Everybody moved closer to Harry and started gawking. Harry noticed that Lily, James, Sirius, and Dumbledore stayed back.
"If you are not Harry, then who are you." Remus asked.
Harry let his hair fall and started to answer when Molly interrupted him. "How about we move to the kitchen. Give the boy some food." Harry had to smile. Even here, Molly was still trying to put food in his belly. Slowly, everybody started to walk out. Harry waited until the only people left in the room were his parents and Dumbledore. James was the first to speak.
"If you are not my son, who are you." James tone could rival the steel in his eyes. He had his arm around Lily whose face was buried in his chest.
"Now is not the time James. Let's listen to Molly and continue this after he has eaten." Dumbledore gestured with his arm for Harry to follow him out of the room. Harry did it gladly because it was awkward and he wasn't ready to be with his so called parents. Harry walked down the long hallway that was only decorated with candles that floated by the walls. They lit up as they walked by and blew out as they passed. Because of this, Harry could only see so far ahead of him, and had to depend of Dumbledore's guidance. Soon they arrived at a large kitchen. It wasn't fancy but held the basics. There was one long wooden table in the middle with two equally long benches for sitting. Everybody that was in the room that Harry appeared in, were sitting at the table looking at him expectantly. Harry blushed and sat at the end of the table, closer to the door. Dumbledore and his parents were standing on the wall right of him. As soon as he sat down, Molly placed a bowl of soup in front of him. Harry's facial expression must have given away his confusion because Molly replied,
"It's all we have on such short notice." She smiled at him. "But eat up, it's good." Harry tentatively took a sip and was pleasantly surprised that she was correct. No matter how softly Harry tried to sip on his soup, it seemed to echo in the extremely quiet room. When he lifted his last spoon full, the bowl and spoon magically disappeared.
"Explain." James demanded.
Harry glanced at him, "this needs to be a trade. Information for information. And since apparently, it was you that brought me here, I think you should explain first." Harry didn't know whether to consider James and Lily as his real parents, but until he made that decision he would treat them as strangers but with respect and he expected the same. James opened his mouth in a rebuttal but Sirius said,
"That sounds reasonable." Harry couldn't stop the feeling he would not name from feeling up his chest. He didn't know why he felt different towards Remus and Sirius then he did from his parents. Maybe because they were actually a part of my life when my parents were not.
"You were brought here by an ancient spell." Dumbledore replied. "We asked it of only one thing, something to help us defeat Voldemort. It brought us you."
"Your turn boy." Moody growled. Harry noticed that his hand was lightly touching his wand. Harry felt for his wand, and sighed in relief when it was tucked safely in his pocket.
"My name is Harry Potter." Lily gasped softly. "But like I said earlier, I'm not the Harry you know. Your spelled took me from where I come from."
"So you are from another dimension or something?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded in response. "Is that even possible?"
"It is." That was the first time Lily said anything since she learned about Harry. "There are other dimensions that parallel to ours. Some may be so similar and only differ by a person's hair color. While others differ so greatly."
"Was the spell intended to do that?" Remus asked.
"Not specifically no." Dumbledore replied. "We asked and it delivered. It didn't matter where it came from."
"Well I thought it would at least come from this world!" Sirius sputtered.
"Oh my-" Molly gasped. "Did we take you away from your family? Your life?"
Harry nodded, "I was on my way home when I felt the spell activate."
"Oh no, we must send you back." Molly walked over to Harry and put her arm on his shoulder nodding vigorously. Her statement started an onslaught over different reactions. Everybody started speaking at once. Harry could only hear some things.
"But how?"
"I agree!"
"But how will we kill He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"No, the spell brough' him here. He stays!"
"Quite!" Dumbledore but only had to speak the word and everybody calmed. "I am sorry dear Molly but we cannot send him back. The spell cannot be reversed until it has accomplished its goal." Harry stomach dropped.
"But why can't it? It brought us the one to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Arthur stated. "Isn't its goal accomplished?"
"Not fully. It brought us Harry, but the goal will not be completed until Harry helps defeat Voldemort."
Harry groaned and mumbled, "Even dead you find ways of involving me in your plans."
"What was that Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Harry shook his head in response.
"Fine, it's late, let's give Harry some rest. We can continue tomorrow." When Molly spoke, nobody disagreed. "He can sleep in the room with the boys."
"No!" Never mind, when Molly spoke, nobody disagreed but Lily. "He can't sleep with the boys. Terry can't see him." Lily walked to Molly and placed her hands on her hips. "Do you know what that would do to Terry to see him?" Harry wasn't fond of how she addressed him. "We should stay here and figure out what to do."
"How about a compromise ladies. Harry can stay in the room with me." Sirius stated.
"I think that's a great idea. We will regroup in the morning. Until then, Molly if you could make a place for Harry in Sirius room. Lily, James, be sure to brief Terry of Harry's arrival before the meeting in the morning." Molly hurriedly left the kitchen and Lily and James were right behind her. Harry rose and tried to blend in as everybody started to leave the kitchen. He made it to the door and noticed Lily and James standing in the far corner having a heated whispered discussion. He was about to inch closer into hearing distance when a hand landed on his shoulder to stop him.
"It's not good to eavesdrop on people." Harry turned to see a wicked smile on Sirius face, "especially your parents."
"There're not my parents. Not really." Harry replied automatically. He felt guilty afterwards when Sirius frowned at him.
"You're right. Come on, let's head up to my room before Molly come down and –" Sirius made a scared looking face and shivered dramatically. Harry laughed aloud. Lily and James both looked at the two of them before rounding the coroner and disappearing. Harry followed Sirius upstairs to his room. There was nothing interesting about it but it did have two beds in it.
"Does somebody else sleep here?" Harry gestured towards the other bed.
"Yea, Remus does." Harry noticed the pallet of blankets and pillows on the floor some folded clothes and wash clothes next to it. "The bathroom is just down the hall and to the left. You can't miss it, because it's the only door on the left." Harry retrieved the toiletries and walked down the hall. Sirius was right, there was only one door on the left and it was slightly ajar with light shining through. Harry paused in mid stride. What if it's Terry? Or one of the boys Harry was about to turn around when he heard the water turn off and the door close. He turned to see Molly smiling at him.
"I just finished cleaning the bathroom. The boys can make a mess. Go right on in; we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." She stood there until Harry walked inside and closed the door. Harry leaned his back against the door and sighed. Why do these things always happen to him? He had to find a way to get back home. But if what Dumbledore said was true, Harry would have to help Terry defeat Voldemort. Harry just got out of a war he did not want to go back into another one. He had to find a way out. A good start would be to get his hands on the book that described the spell. He wished Hermione was here.
When he left the bathroom, Molly was still standing by the door. "Couldn't risk one of the boys seeing you." She smiled. She started walking him back to Sirius room. "How was it in your world?" She suddenly asked.
"So far it was kinda similar to this one." Harry said before he entered his room. Remus was already sitting on his bed in his night clothes reading a book. Sirius was lying down tossing his wand up in the air.
"Sirius one day you are going to poke your eye." Molly scolded.
"He already has Mrs. Weasley." Remus snickered.
"Really Remus? Did you really have to divulge on one of our deepest darkest most kept secret?" Sirius stopped tossing his wand and glared at Remus. Harry smiled as he got in his cot and lifted the covers over his head. At least those two men had not changed.
Harry woke up the next morning surprisingly well rested. He had thought he would not be able to sleep or that Remus and Sirius would interrogate him for answers. He sat up to find the room empty. Harry quickly changed clothes and opened the door to find the hallway also empty. He slowly and quietly walked down the hall and towards the step that would lead to the kitchen. As he got closer Harry could hear voices. He stopped and listened to the conversation.
"He will have to find out sooner or later." James said. "We can't keep this from him."
"I know James! But first let's get as much information before we put Terry through this." Lily replied.
"You know Terry. He knows we are keeping something from him. He's going to try to figure it out. He doesn't have to look hard. What are we going to do if he stumbled upon him?" Harry peeked around the coroner and saw James pacing by the doorway to the kitchen.
"We will tell him before then. After this morning's meeting." Lily suddenly looked up and saw Harry. Harry tried to jump back but it was too late. "Come down Harry. We have things to discuss." Harry knew his face was crimson as he walked down the stairs.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Harry shrugged.
"No worries, the meeting is about to begin." Harry followed Lily and James into the kitchen and saw everybody from last night there already. "Nice job guys, watching Harry. He was roaming the halls." Lily pointed look was at Remus and Sirius.
"Well since you shipped the boys to the other location we didn't think it was a bad idea to leave him to his privacy." Remus replied as he buttered his toast. Harry walked over to the edge of the seat, where he sat last time. A plate of food magically appeared this time.
"How did you sleep Harry?" Molly smiled at him.
"Good." Harry took a bite out of the toast to keep from saying anything more.
Soon thereafter, Dumbledore walked into the room, and everybody came to attention.
"I hope everybody is well?" Varies people nodded and murmured their yes's. "Good, good. I wish we start this early for I have a pressing issue to attend." Dumbledore looked at Harry.
"Same terms from last night." Harry demanded. He was brought here against his will but he was not going to follow their demands. "What is the status of the war here?"
Dumbledore nodded, "very well." Dumbledore turned to look at James and gestured with his hands that James had to answer.
James stood, "Voldemort has for the most part become ruler." Harry failed at keeping his mouth from dropping. "He first took over the Ministry. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade were taken simultaneously. Hogwarts was the last to fall about six months ago." The atmosphere in the room suddenly became suffocating. Harry wondered if that was the time the lookalike died during Harry's third vision.
"Then where are we now?" Harry asked. "And where have Terry and the other's gone?"
"For security reasons, that will be answered lata'" Moody growled. The until we trust you hung in the air.
"How is the war in your world" Tonks asked.
"Over." Harry replied. The responses to his answer ranged from shock, happiness, to disbelief.
"But how?" Lily whispered.
It felt strange to have people not know his life story. "I don't know where to begin."
"The beginning is always a good place to start." Dumbledore said.
"Well if I go by the memories or visions I got from your Harry-"
Lily jumped up from the bench and stood next to James. "What are you talking about? What visions did you get from our Harry?" She demanded.
"Weren't you people the one who did the spell? I thought you knew about the visions." Harry stated in confusion.
"We did the spell out of desperation Harry!" Lily replied. She walked around the table and started at him. "We didn't know what it would bring us, only something to help win us the war. The spell didn't outline the details. Now tell me, what visions did you have of my son." When she finished she was close enough that her spittle hit Harry in the face.
"There were three. The first was of his first day at Hogwarts. I was placed into his mind, so I could hear all his thoughts and feelings." Lily gasped and covered her hand over her mouth. "It was like I was him, but I knew I wasn't. I felt his feelings at being place into Slytherin. He didn't like it, in fact he was thinking about asking James to help he get out of it."
"I never knew that." James replied. During Harry's story, he had walked up to stand next to Lily.
"The second memory was during the night Dumbledore asked him to spy on Voldemort. He was angry and hurt but determined. Very determined."
"That was Harry; he would do anything for those he loved." Remus replied. Not too different from myself.
"And the third was umm-." Harry fidgeted on the bench. Lily looked as if she was barely holding on. He didn't want to hurt her.
"Please." Lily whispered.
"It was of his death." Lily closed her eyes and leaned against James. "He was happy that he got to see Terry and explain. Afterwards, after Terry believed him. He was ready to go. He knew that he had made a difference and that was all that mattered." Harry knew that feeling, he had that same feeling the night he went to face Voldemort.
"His death was not in vain." Sirius replied. After what seemed like an hour in silence. Lily lifted herself up and nodded sharply once.
"Thank you. You may continue." She and James slowly returned to their seats.
"Right, umm, well one main difference was that in my world I do not have a twin brother. The two worlds are the same with Voldemort coming into the room and attempting to kill, only to have the Aveda Kedra backfire. That is their only similarity. In my world, I am the boy who lived."
"I see, and that is where you got your scar?" Dumbledore asked.
"Exactly. I don't know what happened in your world that night, but in mines, Lily and James arrived after being betrayed by Wormtail, to the house and tried to fight Voldemort and protect me." Harry was never good with speeches and hated when everybody stared at him. He looked only at Lily and James. "The two of you died trying to protect me." James nodded his head as if he expected as much.
"You grew up without us? With no parents." Lily asked. Harry shrugged in answer.
"You poor boy," Molly sighed. Harry wanted to tell her that he was no longer a boy. "Then who did you stay with?" Harry cringed.
"With Lily's sister, Pertunia and her husband and son." Harry avoided looking at Lily.
"If they were anything like they were here, and I suspect that they were by your body language, then I am sorry you were put in such a place." Harry stared at Lilly and nodded in understanding. "How did you end up there?" After everything Dumbledore been through, Harry didn't want to tarnish his name again.
"I guess it was just bad luck." Lily didn't seem to believe it but thankfully let it go. "Anyway, it was the love of Lily that protected me from the killing curse. What was it here?"
"Nobody knows." Arthur replied. "We were also betrayed by Wormtail, but when we got there, Voldemort had already been injured by Terry." Harry admitted only to himself that it felt weird hearing that somebody else defeated Voldemort.
"What happened to Wormtail?" Harry asked.
Sirius lip twitched, "He is dead. I saw him trying to escape and dueled him." The pride in Sirius voice was unmistakable.
"Voldemort tried to revive himself my first and second year. Each year I stopped him." Harry didn't tell them about his parseltongue, he wasn't sure how they would react to it. "He did revive himself at the end of my forth year. Ever since then, I had been trying to kill him. I succeeded at the end of my seventh year." Harry knew they wanted to know, how, but he was wary telling everybody about the Horcruxes. If Dumbledore didn't want anybody to know in his world then Harry believed it should stay the same in this one. It was dangerous information to know, and if it got into the wrong hands, Harry wasn't trying to get pulled back into this dimension to save them again. "I'm assuming there was a prophecy in this world?" Harry recanted his prophecy aloud to them. "Why else would Voldemort go for your sons?" Harry asked James.
"Yes there was a prophecy. Surprisingly it's the same one as yours."
Harry furrowed his brows. "Really?"
"Yes, and we narrowed it down to the twins and the son of Alice and Frank Longbottom. For whatever reason, Voldemort decided to attack our sons first. And when we arrived, Teddy had the scar, and Harry didn't."
"And that is how you decided who was The-Boy-Who-Lived?" Harry stated in disbelief. "Over a scar?"
The fireplace in the kitchen suddenly erupted and out ran the boy with that Harry only saw in the lookalike memories. The boy that also looked like Harry. The boy with a scar going down his right eye.
"Hurry, there's been an attack-" His frantic brown eyes looked around the room before stopping on Harry's in shock.
And there you have it folks.
Hope you enjoy.