Fragmented fate
Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter 3
Harry felt like he was living a never ending nightmare. He was astounded. Tom Riddle as a Hogwarts Professor?!... This had to be some sick joke. He had gathered that this new world would be some what different but...it was a mockery. How this world will be able to function when Voldemort is teaching Darks arts in Hogwarts ?!
Harry completed rest of his shopping in haze. He had got shock after shock ever since he landed here. Now he dreaded to find out more. He lost his all earlier enthusiasm. Only good moment in that remained trip was when he brought Hedwig.
"Hello my friend, I missed you very much. Guess what... We are again going for a unknown journey. "
Hedwig hooted. Harry smiled sadly.
Atmosphere in the Dursley's household was tense but they mostly ignored him as long as he did his assigned chores. Harry had done this precarious balancing of his work with all that extracurricular reading. He had brought many books to get information about recent wizarding history. What he had found out was not assuring at all. He had not found a single mention of Potter name in any book. One or two books did mention the Order of phoenix and sacrifice of its members. They had played important role in the hidden war against the Dark lord. Harry guessed that his parents must have died in some confrontation. This war was ended with demise of the Dark lord on Halloween night. He had been killed by rebounded killing curse. Boy who lived was survived...with his famous scar.
And Neville was the boy who lived. How predictable! Harry was expecting it to be somewhat more dramatic.
'Like Malfoy as BWL?' a sarcastic voice questioned... Harry huffed.
'Oh great... Now I started to speak with myself. This situation will definitely drive me insane, ' he thought irritably.
So lets get facts straight ...Riddle is teaching in Hogwards. Neville was marked and the wizarding world's new dark lord had no name.
The Dark lord, as he was equolently named , was defeated by BWL. Wizarding world had celibrated that day. Terror was ended and now world was living in peace. What a happily ever after!
Harry was befuddled and annoyed...Merlin! he could not explain it. He tore his hair with frustration.
"Bloody Hell! How these people and Dumbledore could be so blind?"
Harry didn't believe in this new lord theory. All things had Voldemort's nefarious name written all over it. Most obvious fact was the dark mark! This so called Dark lord used the same dark mark. But maybe in this world, people did not know about the connection between the dark mark and Voldemort.
Harry paced in garden, unable to concentrate on the work. Oh...the world was heading for a disaster...train wreck in slow motion. Was he the only one left who could see that?
Harry thought deeply about the situation. Theories after theories formed and discarded. Ultimately only plausible solution left was to wait and watch. At present he could not do anything. He was just stupid ignorant eleven old boy in eyes of the world. He was nobody. No one would listen to him even if he showed his memories and after that he would definitely end up as Guinea pig for the unspeakables. Harry was grateful to his auror training due to which he could perform adequate occlumency to hide his thoughts. It would be disastrous if anyone found out crucial information from his mind. He knew many secrets...'Horcrux' word flashed against his eyes.
'So it means... Now Neville must be the accidental horcrux here'... Harry wondered.
Harry had not seen any familiar faces of his friends during the shopping. He had not given any conscious thought to that. He never thought of possibility that his friends might be different here, but now in light of recent developments he started to have doubts.
'How would he know the extent to which his knowledge would apply here? What if people he had known have different personalities in this world? '
His mind conjured images of a friendly Malfoy, snobby Ron and benevolent Snape. Harry shuddered.
No, He should think this more logically. Even Harry had known about alternate universe phenomenon. That phenomenon depends on the different outcomes of a single event. Different possibilities which generates different parallel worlds. Main timeline was diverged at some point... means whatever event that caused this timeline's divergence could not affect things like very personalities of people involved... Well, unless said people were too closely involved in that event.
'Hmm, there should not be any drastic changes. I dearly hope so. '
Harry thought that he knew exactly which event must have caused this divergence.
They left him on the platform. He did not wait for the Weasleys this time. Harry had decided that he would not actively seek out his friends. There was chance that he would accidentally slip and mess up things.
'Go with flow, Harry. Remember that you are an ordinary boy who grew up in muggle world with no knowledge of magic ', he reminded himself again.
He was seating in compartment, thinking about his next plans when he heard sudden commotion outside. People had got excited. There was whispers... all gathered people were trying to see someone. "He is really here", "Boy who lived!"
"Mom! I want his autograph", a little girl near window shouted excitedly and nearly tugged her mother in that direction.
After some time two black robed wizards controlled the excited crowd and Harry finally saw him. The Boy who lived... Neville Longbottom. Harry was amazed. He looked same as Harry remembered him... round and chubby boy but similarities ended there. Neville was very different here. This boy stood there... Proud and confident...charming smile on his face as he signed autographs for little children. Famous lighting bolt shaped scar was clearly on display. He posed for a photographer and greeted the crowd with natural grace and long familiarity. His grandmother stood by his side, in her usual familiar attire... looking smug and basking in all this attention.
'Oh, where is that little, meek Neville? ' Harry stared at the scene before him, speechlessly. He added another mark in his list of odd, weird things.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed and read this story. Your response is amazing. I do not have time to write long chapter... Maybe next one will be longer . R & R
