Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling.
Hey, thanks so much for all the reviews. Here's the next chappie, Enjoy!
Chapter Seven
AU World
The ride on Hogwarts Express was very different to the usual ride Harry experienced. For a start he wasn't sitting in a compartment with Ron and Hermione. Instead, he was seated with his mum and dad in the Professor's compartment. Harry watched the scenery whip past him from the window. He was lost in his thoughts. He knew Damien was angry with him. He refused to speak to him at all during the car ride to Kings Cross. As soon as they passed through the magical barrier and arrived onto Platform 9 ¾, Damien rushed to a compartment near the end of the train, without as much as a single word to Harry. James and Lily had looked at Harry with surprise and James had asked if he and Damien had a falling out. Harry shrugged his shoulders in response, not having it in him to come up with a false argument.
Harry let out a sigh as he thought about the younger boy, he understood his fears and knew he was risking his cover by going to Hogwarts but he couldn't sit back and stay by himself when he had the chance to stay with his parents. He looked up at Lily as she sat with James, both going through a list of what needed to be done once they got to Hogwarts. He smiled as he saw the way Lily's eyes lit up when she met his gaze. She looked away again as James asked for her attention.
Harry was happy to sit in silence and just watch his parents discreetly. The next time he looked out of the window he was surprised that the sun was already settling, the sky was growing darker with every minute. He felt someone sit down next to him and he pulled his gaze away from the window and looked up at James. His dad was sitting next to him and was looking at him carefully, a hint of concern in his large hazel eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Harry nodded his head, not being able to speak. He had a burning desire to hug his dad and his mum also but the Harry of this world never hugged his parents and so Harry had to force himself to stay in his seat.
"Harry, I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you're coming with us." James started. Harry grinned mentally. At least someone was happy to have him at Hogwarts. "I know that the decision must have been difficult but I'm glad that you made it. I want you to know that I understand your decision about not taking up Dumbledore's offer."
Harry was lost again. What offer did Dumbledore make that Harry had refused? He idly wondered what kind of relationship Harry and Dumbledore had? From what he had deduced so far, it didn't seem as if they were very close.
Harry realised that James was waiting for a response of some kind. He cleared his throat and looked up at him.
"I didn't want to stay alone. I thought that even though I don't want to take up Dumbledore's offer, I could stay at Hogwarts with you and mum." Harry said the words carefully, making sure he didn't say anything that betrayed his confusion.
James nodded his head at Harry.
"I had told you that you were welcome to stay with us even if you didn't want the job. Dumbledore won't have any problems with you staying. Although, I think he'll try and offer you the job again. Just do me a favour and be nice, okay? Don't insult him, he's only offering you a job. Decline it if you must, but do it as politely as you can."
Harry blinked back up at James. His shock was such that he couldn't form any words to reply. The Harry of this world was rude to Dumbledore? The most powerful wizard who even intimidated Voldemort! That was something Harry was sure he would never hear. He shook his head, to clear it but James took that as a response to his plea.
"Harry, please. He's not your enemy. Just…just ignore him if you have to but don't talk back to him. I know how much that hurts him."
Harry forced his words out to show that he wasn't arguing with his dad.
"Okay, dad. I won't talk back to him."
James opened his mouth to speak but the words Harry had spoken penetrated his mind and he stopped in shock. He snapped shut his mouth and stared at Harry in surprise. He was ready to fight the case and wasn't expecting Harry to give in so soon. He shared a look with Lily before turning back to Harry.
"Okay then, that's…well…thank you, for that." He stuttered, not knowing how to show the gratitude that Harry listened to him.
Harry was taking his dad's reaction in with an ache in his heart. His dad seemed so happy that his son listened to him. He realised that the Harry of this world had a very awkward relationship with his dad. It was painfully obvious that he didn't listen to his dad. Harry couldn't help but think the old phrase he once heard, 'those who have it, don't appreciate it, those who don't, yearn for it.'
xxx
Harry walked onto the Platform at Hogsmeade and took in his surroundings. Things seemed like his own world for a moment. He could see the castle in the distance, twinkling in the darkness, inviting him back home. The rush of the students, all wearing their school robes, rushing to get out of the cold and into the castle as fast as possible. Harry saw the group of small, slightly scared looking students and he knew they were the first years. With a sudden pang he remembered Hagrid. He looked around the station, searching for his half giant friend, but he couldn't see him anywhere. With Hagrid's size, it was usually quite easy to make him out. He saw another Professor, grey haired and rather plump, guiding the students to the boats.
Without thinking he whispered to himself;
"Where's Hagrid?"
"What?"
Harry looked around to find James staring at Harry, his eyes slightly round and wide. He figured he wasn't as quiet as he thought he was.
"Nothing, I was just wondering where Hagrid was?" Harry said, not knowing what else he could say that would disguise his words. After all, nothing logical rhymed with 'Hagrid'.
He regretted it instantly as James' shocked look turned to one of anger.
"How do you know about Hagrid?" James asked, a harsh undertone to his voice.
Harry was starting to break out into a sweat. He didn't like the way James was looking at him, angry and annoyed. He figured out by now that the Harry of this world didn't know a Hagrid.
"I heard a few students mention him last year." Harry lied, panicking at his slip. "They were saying that a half giant by the name of Hagrid used to work for Hogwarts. I just wondered where he was."
He watched with a painfully thumping heart as James relaxed slightly. He was still looking at Harry with suspicion. He didn't say anything though and dropped the topic of conversation when Lily reached them.
Harry followed them through the crowd of people, too engrossed in his own mistake to notice the other students staring at him in surprise. He had his eyes fixed to the ground, just taking note of where his parents' feet were. It was only when he noticed his parents stop next to a carriage that he looked up. He almost wished he hadn't. His breath caught in his chest as he looked up at the carriage. The carriage itself was identical to the ones in his world. But the thing attached to the front of the carriage was something Harry had never seen before. A large horse like creature was strapped to the carriage, its large skeletal body was standing still, its face dragonish and foreboding, its white shinning eyes was making Harry's skin crawl. Harry noticed the large spidery wings at its side and felt his stomach clench with fear. What were those things? And why were such ferocious looking creatures in the midst of children?
"Harry?"
Harry snapped his head round to look at James and Lily, both looking at him with concern.
"Sorry? What?" Harry said, thinking maybe they were talking to him and he hadn't responded.
"Are you okay?" James asked with a worried expression. "You've been acting funny the whole way here."
Harry ducked his head in embarrassment. If he couldn't last the trip up to Hogwarts how was he going to last a week with them in the castle?
"I'm fine." He lied and he knew he was far from convincing.
James held open the door and told Lily and him to get inside. Lily climbed in at once glad to get out of the cold. Harry approached the carriage warily and couldn't stop looking at the strange horse dragon creature. James looked behind him and looked back at Harry.
"What is it now, Harry? What are you looking at?" James asked, growing tired with his son's strange behaviour.
"Nothing, it's just," Harry gulped as the horse gave a grunt before swishing its tail. "What, what is that, that thing?" Harry had to ask, the creature was freaking him out.
James looked behind him straight at the horse and then looked back at Harry.
"What thing? What are you referring to?" he asked.
Harry looked pointedly at the horse.
"The creature pulling the carriages. What is it?" Harry asked.
James's hazel eyes widened with surprise. He looked back at the carriage and then at Harry. A look of suspicion filled his hazel orbs, making Harry gulp again nervously.
"You don't know what these creatures are?" James asked, pointing straight at the horse.
Harry shook his head.
James was visibly stunned. He took a few minutes to speak.
"They're called Thestrals. They pull the carriages up to Hogwarts, they always have. They're harmless." James added, at seeing the look on Harry's face.
Harry had to admit he was relieved to finally learn what the creature was. He looked at James with a much relaxed expression.
"Oh, okay." He said quietly.
"Did you not notice them last year?" James asked, eyeing Harry closely.
"I don't think so." Harry replied.
"I would have thought you above everyone else would have seen them." James said quietly.
Harry didn't know what to make of that. He kept quiet and didn't respond. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it or not but James had sounded almost aggrieved at that last comment.
xxx
James followed Harry into the carriage and sat down, staring at him the whole way up to Hogwarts castle. They sat in silence, Lily looking between the two with a questioning look. Harry didn't make any eye contact and sat in silence. He was starting to see what Damien was talking about. He was going to blow his cover before he even got to the castle!
Luckily for Harry he got to the castle without anymore slip ups
Harry walked into the huge castle and couldn't help the smile that graced his face. He loved Hogwarts. He was relieved to find the castle just as it was in his own world. The same portraits, the same magical stairs that moved on their own accord, the same furnishings, it was if Harry had stepped back into his world. As he walked past the hallway and headed to the Great Hall, he noted that the main hallway looked slightly different.
Harry walked into the Great Hall and had to fight the smile threatening to break over his face. He loved the familiarity of his beloved school; he took in the floating candles, the four house tables stretched across the length of the hall and the long table on the stage, intended for the staff. He glanced up at the roof and saw the enchanted ceiling showing the cloudy sky and the drizzle of light rain.
He followed his parents up to the staff table. Harry suddenly realised that all the whole of Hogwarts was going to be able to see him sitting at the staff table. The realisation made him feel very apprehensive. He hated people looking at him as it was, and with him sitting at the staff table, in plain view to everyone, he was going to attract everyone's attention. It wasn't as if he could stop now though, so he trudged his way over to the staff table and sat on the seat near the edge. He noted a few members of staff already sitting at the table, he saw the Quidditch teacher, Professor Hooch, Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout and a few others he couldn't recognise. Slowly the hall started filling with people; firstly it was mostly the staff and then came the students. Harry couldn't help but look at the masses of students come pouring into the hall, all clad in their robes. He noted the looks he got and had to wonder what his counterpart was like to warrant such reactions.
Many of the students stopped in their tracks at the sight of him, mouths open in surprise, others audibly gasped and gestured towards him and started whispering with one another, no doubt about him. The sight made Harry squirm uncomfortably. He looked to his mum who was sitting next to him and she put a comforting hand on his own.
Harry drew strength from the comforting action and got through the stares and whispers. He had done it before. But there was something painfully different about the stares and whispers he was getting here compared to the ones he got back home. He wasn't sure if he was misreading it or not but it seemed as if the students here were eyeing him like they were afraid of him. Harry had to admit the other Harry did seem a little foreboding even to him. He was quiet and the way he looked at you gave you the impression he was calculating which curse to hit you with. It wasn't the best of feelings. But that same boy had given Harry a chance to see and meet his parents. Harry couldn't think badly of him. There was also the fact that the boy was his alternate self. How could he be afraid of himself?
Harry came out of his musings when he heard a door behind him close. He looked around in his chair and saw the Headmaster walking gracefully towards the middle of the table, heading for his chair. Harry took the moment to observe the Dumbledore of this world. He was the same; tall, graceful, the essence of magic coming from him in strong waves, the same crooked nose with the half moon glasses resting on it, silvery hair and beard, everything about him was the same. The only thing that was different was his eyes. They seemed more haunted and tired. His true age reflected in them more than they did in Harry's own world. Harry wondered the reasoning behind that. Sure this world was three years ahead in the timeline but three years wouldn't make that much of a difference.
Harry watched as the Headmaster greeted the school in his usual way. Making up weird words and making the students laugh. The sorting was, as always fun to watch and Harry finally caught a glimpse of Damien as he sat at the Gryffindor table, Ginny sitting next to him. He suddenly realised that Ginny was going to be here as well. He groaned mentally, he was definitely going to blow his cover with her, there was no doubt about that.
xxx
As soon as the feast was over, James and Lily led Harry over to Dumbledore. Harry was starting to get nervous. Apparently the Harry of this world was rude to Dumbledore. He could never dream of being rude to Dumbledore but he couldn't be his normal self either. James was already growing suspicious of him and his 'strange' behaviour. As steadily as he could, Harry approached the Headmaster's chair, his mum and dad in front of him.
Dumbledore stood up at once and met James and Lily warmly. His blue eyes met Harry's and the fifteen year old couldn't help but flinch. It wasn't that the look was cold or anything of that sort. Dumbledore had looked at him just as warmly as he had with the senior Potters. It was more to do with the realisation that he couldn't lie to Dumbledore. The wise and powerful wizard was going to see that the Harry before him was not the Harry of this world. How could he not? He was very talented and couldn't be fooled. What was he thinking coming here?
Harry quickly diverted his gaze and looked at the ground before him. Then realised that that action was very unlike the Harry he had met and quickly looked over to his left, scanning the hall in the pretence that he was bored. His eyes unexpectedly met Damien's and he saw that the boy was deliberately hanging back so he could watch the interaction between Harry and Dumbledore.
Harry heard the words his dad was saying and tried to get his thumping heart to slow down so he could understand what was being said.
"…if it would be okay, Harry is going to stay here with us?"
Harry sneaked a look at Dumbledore and was relieved to see he was smiling.
"Of course, that's not a problem. I will have the house elves prepare his room." he turned to look at Harry and again, Harry had to fight the urge to lower his gaze.
"Welcome to Hogwarts again, Harry." He said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Harry to literally bite his tongue to stop the 'thank you' from coming out. Instead he nodded his head tightly and looked away. He felt awful for acting distant with his Headmaster but he had to act this way. He couldn't let the others find out the truth. They would act differently with him, not to mention the trouble the other Harry and Damien would be in. He looked over to find Damien hovering near the door, his classmates urging him to hurry up.
xxx
Harry took in his quarter with interest. It was adjacent to his dad's quarter and was near enough identical to his. There was a spacious living room with similar furnishings as his dad's. A door led to the bedroom with a four poster bed and a small dresser. Another door led to the bathroom suite. Harry was very impressed. He had spent a few minutes just taking everything in. He had peeked into his dad's quarter first before being led to his own.
The first thing Harry did when left alone for the night was to take a long hot shower. He ached with tension and was more than happy to stand under the hot shower for almost twenty minutes. He had nearly messed everything up today. James kept shooting him weird looks, like he thought his son was losing his mind. Harry cringed as he brought back the day's memories. He had to be more careful. He didn't want to blow his cover.
Harry walked out of the shower at long last and took his time dressing into pyjamas. Absent-mindedly he walked to the sink and started his night time routine. He glanced into the mirror and had to take a moment to recognise the face staring back. He still hadn't gotten used to his new appearance. This was the end to his third day in this new world and with all the things happening he had not had the chance to really take in his new appearance. He still kept reaching for his glasses, which no longer sat on his nose. He noticed at once how big and vibrant his eyes seemed without his glasses hiding them. His features were the same, the same eyes, nose, mouth, everything was the same but somehow looked different. His hair was longer and if possible, messier. But Harry found that his hair only added to his new look. He had to admit that he looked good. He glanced down at his chest and quickly stripped out of his top. He examined the well built and toned torso, his muscled arms and strong hands. Harry had worked hard on building his body, that much was obvious. Harry found himself wondering what kind of training facility it was that Harry attended which not only enhanced ones magical capacity but emphasised on the physical attributes as well.
Harry brushed back his bangs away from his eyes, intending to have a closer look at his face, and that was when he noticed it. On his forehead, a faint scar in the shape of a lightening bolt. Harry froze, staring at the familiar scar, hand still holding back the bangs that had been obscuring the scar until now. Bringing up his other hand a finger reached out and traced the scar, as if to be sure it really was there. 'How could I not have noticed this up until now?' he thought to himself. The last few days, he had just rushed through his showers and routines, not paying himself much notice. It was only now when he had took the time to study his appearance that he noticed the scar.
"Why would Harry have the scar? He was never hit with Voldemort's killing curse." He questioned himself.
Then a sudden frightening thought came to him. What if this was his scar that was somehow coming through the glamour spell? Harry peered at the scar again. It looked faint but was still visible. His scar was usually a lot fiercer that this but maybe it looked faint because it was fighting through a glamour spell. Harry quickly covered the scar with his hair, brushing his hair down over his forehead in a bid to hide it. He looked in the mirror and was glad to see that his bangs completely hid the scar.
He finished up in the bathroom and quickly crept to his bed. He lay down and tried to relax. He had to be very careful, if anyone noticed the scar his game would be over. He was certain that the scar on his head was his own, coming through the glamour.
'After all, why would the Harry of this world have a scar when he has never faced Voldemort?' Harry questioned himself just before he fell into an exhausted sleep.
--
Canon World
Harry stared at Remus and tried to digest the words spoken. He was to come with them. They were here to transport him to another place. But Harry knew he couldn't leave. He had to stay here so when Damien and the other Harry showed up in hopefully a week's time, he could go back to his own world.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked.
Remus looked at Moody and whispered.
"I can't say. You'll see soon enough." He responded.
Harry knew better that to insist on staying at Privet Drive. It was obvious that the other Harry hated staying with his horrid relatives and would most likely jump at the chance of leaving. The thing was, how could Harry stay without arousing suspicion.
"Harry? What's wrong? I thought you would be happy to leave." Remus questioned.
Harry looked up at him and found himself stuck. He had to go, it was too suspicious not to. And it wasn't any problem for him to apparate back here. He could tell Damien to tell him beforehand when they were intending to come back. Harry could easily apparate back to Privet Drive in time.
"Yeah, I'll just pack. Give me a few minutes." Harry said as he left the kitchen and headed upstairs.
He wondered where they were going to take him. He figured it was probably Remus' house. He was his dad's best friend; he would probably take Harry in for the rest of summer.
Harry wondered what to pack. All of Harry's clothes were in his old room and in a horrendous condition. Harry had transfigured some of the tattered clothes into his own clothes and that was how he had managed these past few days. Harry grabbed those clothes and threw them into the trunk he had moved from Harry's old room. He ignored the school supplies, Harry could do his own packing when he came back.
Within a few minutes he was back downstairs his trunk at his feet and Hedwig sleeping in her cage.
"Ready?" Remus asked.
"Ready" Harry confirmed.
"Where's your broom, boy?" Moody asked as he eyed him.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the Auror.
"The name is Harry, not boy." He answered with a hint of anger. "And my broom is in the cupboard." He lied, he had no idea where the other Harry's broom was.
"Well, Harry, go and get it. You'll need it." Moody answered.
Harry walked past him and wanted to silently hex him for his cheek. He refrained himself and headed to the hallway. He opened the cupboard and stepped inside. He grimaced at the tight space but focused on the situation. He whispered 'accio Harry's broom' and then stepped out of the cupboard. He heard the broom come zooming down the stairs and he caught it with one hand, just seconds before Tonks walked into the hallway, followed by the rest. They spotted Harry standing with the Firebolt in his hands, and the open cupboard door behind him.
"You got it? Good, let's go now." Tonks said as she headed towards the door.
Just as Harry approached the door, his trunk carried out by Kingsley, he heard a faint scuffle and a creak. He looked behind him and saw two figures, one large and round and the other tall and skinny, peeking from the top of the stairs.
Harry's lips curled into a smirk and turned around on the spot to look up at his uncle and aunt. They had probably woken up when his broom came flying out of their room and down towards Harry.
"Are…are you going, Harry?" Vernon asked, the name of his nephew rolling awkwardly from his tongue.
Harry's smirk deepened at that.
"Yeah, I'm leaving early." He replied.
He saw the relief on his relatives' face as they looked at each other. Harry walked a few steps near the front door but before he walked out he turned to face his relatives.
"Don't worry, though. I'll be back for the summer."
The smiles slipped of both adults faces and they looked at him with terror. Harry laughed before walking out. The group were waiting for him, none of them heard the parting conversation. Moody started instructing them on how they were going to make this trip. Harry hardly listened. He looked back up at the house and his eyes flickered to the window. He saw a figure standing at the window, staring down at them. Harry recognised his at once, it was Dudley.
Just as Harry mounted his broom he looked up at Dudley and saw a faint wave of his hand. Harry smiled at the sight. He raised his hand and gestured goodbye to the muggle boy before he kicked off from the ground. He knew Dudley had looked surprised at the sight of Harry flying on his broomstick but along with the shock there was a hint of awe as well.
Harry lined his broom next to Tonks and gave Dudley and the house a final look before racing towards his next destination, which was what he still didn't know.
xxx
The flight was long, cold and boring. Harry had to keep his speed down as he was supposed to be following he others. Moody was annoying as hell, as he kept taking them around long winded paths and insisted they do this to 'throw of any followers'. Harry cursed as his hands began to feel numb with the cold.
Finally Harry was given the gesture to land. He pulled up to the ground and jumped off the broom gracefully. He waited as the others landed and reached him.
"That was some flying. I heard you were good but you were amazing!" Tonks said, winking at Harry.
Harry smiled.
"Thanks, Tonks." he said with a grin.
Tonks looked surprised but her grin widened.
"You pick up things fast, don't you?" she commented. "My name is Nymphadora Tonks, but I hate me first name. I don't know what my mother was thinking. I get everyone to call me Tonks." She introduced.
Harry was about to respond when Moody intervened.
"Introductions can wait until we are inside safely!" he snapped at Tonks.
The pink hair turned red as she glared at the Auror but she obediently kept her mouth shut.
Harry was taking in the darkened street they were on. He had never been here before. It looked like a muggle street. Moody thrust a piece of folded parchment into his hand and told him to read it. Harry opened the paper and stopped short. The slanted writing on the parchment read an address Harry hated with vigour. He looked up at Moody with shock.
'Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.' He repeated mentally to himself.
Before his eyes, a house squeezed between two other houses and Harry was left gaping at the sight. He was going into the Order of the Phoenix, and once again, he was going there against his will.
xxx
As Harry grudgingly walked inside the darkened house, he had to stifle the noise of surprise. They house was the same as in his world but it looked very, very different. Firstly there was the smell. The musty, rotting smell gave away the fact that the house had been vacant for quite some time. The narrow corridor was lit by a few torches and the flickering light threw the house into more shadows than light. Harry walked inside and felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. He hated this place but it belonged to his Godfather, to Sirius. Seeing it in the state it was in now only reinforced the fact that Sirius had suffered in this world. The deteriorating state of the house signified the withered life Sirius was forced to live after the deaths of his best friends.
Harry saw a door open and a red haired woman came out, looking tired and rather frazzled. It took Harry a moment to recognise her. The red haired woman spotted Harry and the others and for the first few minutes she simply looked past Harry, not recognising him. Then she did a double take and stared at Harry.
"Oh my Goodness! Is that you, Harry dear? I didn't recognise you." She exclaimed, her tired face breaking out into a motherly smile.
Harry had no idea why Mrs Weasley was talking to him in such a fashion. He remembered the other Harry saying he was best friends with Ron Weasley but he didn't think that meant he was close to all of his family as well.
Harry stood where he was as Molly Weasley rushed over to him and before Harry even had the chance to greet her, she engulfed him into a motherly hug. Harry's fists clenched hard at his sides to stop himself from throwing the woman aside. He hated hugs, he barely endured the hugs his mum gave him. Gritting his teeth he managed to make it through and as soon as Molly had released him he took a step backwards, out of her reach.
Molly gushed at him, smiling with teary eyes.
"You look wonderful." She said.
"He had a little accident with a mind strengthening potion. It affected him physically." Remus supplied as he headed past Molly to the room she had walked out of.
"Oh, well, at least it worked out for you. But really, Harry dear, you shouldn't be messing about with potions. What if something bad happened to you?" she exclaimed.
Harry knew he had to get away from her. She meant well, but boy was she getting on his last nerve!
"Are you hungry dear? I'm afraid dinner is going to be awhile. Why don't I show you your room?" Molly said and started leading him towards the stairs.
Harry followed her and looked around at the walls decorated with severed house elves heads. 'Nice' he thought sarcastically to himself, disgusted with the sight.
Mrs Weasley led him to a door and stopped in front of it.
"Here you go, dear. We'll bring your stuff up later. Try and rest for a bit. Once the meeting is finished I'll call you down for dinner." She reached out and gently patted Harry's cheek.
Harry watched her as she hurried back downstairs. He let out a frustrated sigh. He hated people touching him, especially motherly gestures, they bothered him immensely. With a sigh Harry opened the door and walked into a large room. The first thing he noticed was the twittering bird, flying around the room in circles. There were two beds in the room. One was empty but on the other one sat a red haired Ron and the ever bushy haired Hermione.
Harry felt the annoyance at Mrs Weasley fade away as he took in the alternate forms of his friends sitting on the bed, apparently in the middle of a talk. Both looked up at Harry as he entered and at first there was the usual confused stare before recognition hit.
Hermione gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.
"Bloody hell!" Ron gasped, wide eyed and open mouthed.
Harry smiled and closed the door.
xxx
Harry stood next to the door and watched as Ron and Hermione rose to their feet.
"Oh my…Harry? What happened? You look so…so…" Hermione was speechless as she took in her friend's new look.
Ron was still open mouthed and was not taking his eyes off of Harry.
"I sort of had an accident." Harry explained his smile in place.
"That's not how I would define it." Ron commented.
"I was trying to make a mind strengthening solution but it didn't work. I had to substitute some ingredients and I guess it caused it to back fire on me. I ended up looking like this." Harry said.
It was strange for Harry to see a younger Ron and Hermione. They were the same age as the Harry of this world, so that meant they were fifteen. The Ron and Hermione Harry had left behind in his world were eighteen. It was only three years, but it made quite a difference. Hermione seemed to pick up the same thought and stared at Harry closely.
"You look older." She commented.
"Is that all you've noticed?" Ron asked.
She ignored Ron and set all her attention on Harry.
"What ingredients did you substitute?" she asked, intrigued.
"Quite a lot of them." Harry answered cryptically.
"But still, what did you do that caused such a…a reaction?" Hermione was obviously itching to research the potential side effects of substituting ingredients in potions.
"Hermione, give it a rest, will you." Ron groaned and turned to Harry.
"Any possibility you have some of that potion left?" he asked with a hopeful look.
Harry grinned back.
"Sorry, all gone." He answered.
"Drat!" Ron cursed.
"What made you decide to brew the potion? I mean it was rather dangerous drinking a potion with the wrong ingredients. And didn't your aunt and uncle get upset with you?" Hermione asked with concern.
"Actually they did kick up a fuss, but I dealt with it." Harry dismissed easily. "As for the potion, I wanted to see if it had worked. I figured, with Voldemort back, I needed to gather all the strength I could."
As Harry suspected, both Ron and Hermione stilled as he spoke Voldemort's name. Ron let out a scared noise which he disguised as a cough and Hermione had flinched but otherwise didn't do anything. They stared at Harry with an expression that was a mix of sympathy, understanding and strange as it was, fear.
"So, what have you two been up to?" Harry asked to change the topic.
Hermione cleared her throat.
"Cleaning, mostly. This place has been empty for so long it was growing things! Seriously! We've done most of the lower level but there is still so much to do." She fussed.
"So that's what you meant when you said you were busy." Harry said, referring to Hermione's letter.
"Yeah, it's been a nightmare trying to get rid of some of the stuff…"
And off Hermione went with explaining what they had discovered and what they had fought against. Harry listened with pretend interest, saying 'yeah' and 'oh?' and 'wow' at regular intervals.
Hermione only stopped talking when two loud pops were heard and Harry saw the Weasley twins appear.
"Blimey! Just 'cause you two can apparate now, doesn't mean you have to do it every minute of every day!" Ron groaned.
Fred and George ignored him and turned to stare at Harry.
"Gosh, Harry, you've grown a lot in the last month" Fred said staring at him.
"And grew out of your glasses" George added.
"And filled out"
"And grew your hair"
"And aged a few years"
The twins looked at each other before talking in unison.
"What did you do?"
They all laughed at the twins antics before Ron explained how Harry messed up his potion.
"Well, there's a mistake I wouldn't mind making." Fred laughed, elbowing George.
Harry didn't say anything but laughed along with Ron. Hermione was not amused at all.
"Really, you shouldn't encourage him." she huffed at he older boys. "He substituted the ingredients, something really bad could have happened."
"But it didn't!" Ron fought back.
Harry was distracted when the door opened and a red haired girl walked in, holding a ginger cat in her arms.
"Hermione, Crookshanks is wanting…" she trailed off as her brown eyes met Harry's.
Harry was expecting to see the younger Ginny any time now but still gaped at the sight. She was only fourteen in this world but she was identical to the girlfriend he had left behind in his world. Nothing about her seemed different, except being younger. She was staring at him, open mouthed and speechless.
It was only when the room quietened down that Ginny snapped out of her stupor.
"Harry! I…what did…you look…wow." She stuttered, her eyes taking in every detail of his.
Harry couldn't fight the grin away and responded with;
"Potion mistake, long story, don't ask."
Ginny smiled at Harry, making the boy's heart skip a beat. It was at this point he realised how much he missed his girlfriend. He would have to wait a week to see her. The knowledge made the week seem longer than before.
The teens sat in the room, talking mostly about the changes in Harry's appearance. But Harry smoothly moved the topic of discussion to the Order. He had to be careful as he didn't know if the Harry of this world knew of the Order or not.
"So this meeting happening downstairs, when is it finishing?" Harry asked.
"Merlin, knows, they've been talking for ages!" Ron moaned.
"It's the Order of the Phoenix meeting, Ron. It can take a few hours." Fred admonished.
Hermione quickly jumped in at this point to explain to Harry.
"The Order of the Phoenix is a group founded by Dumbledore. It's to fight against You-Know-Who."
The group hushed up around Harry and the carefree atmosphere seemingly vanished.
"Who's in the Order?" Harry asked, wanting to know if the same people were in it as in his world.
"Professor Dumbledore, naturally, Professor McGonagall, mum and dad, Bill, Charlie, Remus, Moody, Sirius, Tonks and a few others." Ron counted off his fingers.
"Oh and Snape." Ginny supplied.
Harry's head snapped in her direction.
"Snape?" he asked.
"Yeah I don't know why. The slimy git is not to be trusted but you know Professor Dumbledore, gives everyone a second chance." Ron said with a sour look.
Harry didn't know why he had not considered the possibility of Snape being alive in this world. He guessed he didn't really care either way but it was strangely comforting to know the man hadn't been brutally murdered in this world.
He sat back and listened to the others chat and let his mind wander to what else was different in this world.
xxx
It was at least an hour before Mrs Weasley came up to get them. Harry walked down the stairs alongside Ron. He noted that everyone grew quiet as they entered the hall. Harry wondered why.
He found out in the next moment.
Tonks had come out of one of the rooms and her gaze was set on the approaching teens. She waved at them and the next moment, her foot caught an ugly umbrella stand, in the shape of a troll leg, and she fell to the ground rather spectacularly. The troll leg stand fell on top of her.
At once a fierce shrieking filled the hallway;
"FILTHY MUDBLOODS! DISGUSTING CREATURES TAINTING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS! OUT WITH YOU! OUT!"
Harry scanned the dark hall for the source and found it in the form of a portrait. A life size portrait of an old woman who was drooling, her eyes rolling, the yellowing skin of her face stretched taut over her face. She was screaming like she was being tortured and was the one screaming abuse.
A door was flung open and Harry watched a dark haired man come barging out. He yelled at the portrait before yanking the velvet, moth eaten curtains over the portrait, in effect silencing her.
He turned around and brushed his long hair out of his face so Harry could see him clearly. The dark haired man and Harry stared at each other in complete surprise.
"Harry!"
"Sirius?" Harry asked as he took in the sight.
Sirius was smiling at Harry. He was obviously surprised, like the rest, with his physical differences but Harry was too distracted to note what he was saying. He felt like an invisible hand had reached into his chest and was squeezing his heart. The man before him was a dreadful version of his Godfather. He was thin, sickly thin and his hair was damaged and straggly long, his face was gaunt and hollow and his eyes, his eyes were haunted beyond anything Harry had seen. They held such pain that it hurt to just look at them.
Harry couldn't believe that the handsome, charismatic man he had grown to love was the alternate form of the man standing before him. Harry had inkling that it wasn't just Azkaban that took away his beauty. It was the loss of loved ones he had endured as well.
"Harry?"
Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Sirius call to him.
"Yeah"
"I was saying what happened to you? How did you manage to give yourself a transformation?"
Harry repeated his lie again and this time he felt his words falter. He couldn't believe the effect Sirius was having on him. The unseen pressure on his heart hadn't lifted yet and it seemed to get worse the longer Harry looked at him.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. After I heard about the Dementor attack I was worried sick." He said, his eyes showing his concern.
Hermione gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth. Bringing her hands down she stared at Harry.
"Oh God, Harry! I'm so sorry. We didn't even ask you about it. What happened? How did you get away? Why were…?"
"I think we can discuss it while eating. I'm famished." Remus cut across and led them into the dining room where everyone started helping Mrs Weasley with dinner.
Harry sat across from Sirius and just watched him as he spoke about the place being his home and the woman yelling abuse at everyone was his dear old mother. Harry kept quiet and listened with the ache still in his heart.
It was just as Ginny laid a plate setting before him that Harry gave a little jump. The vibrations of his phone caused the reaction from him. Ginny looked at him strangely but Harry ignored her. He excused himself from Sirius, saying he needed the wash up before dinner. He quickly got up and disappeared into the nearest bathroom.
Once inside he answered his phone, after applying his privacy spell on the door.
"Hello, Damien." Harry answered.
"Harry, you're not going believe this!" came Damien's annoyed voice.
"What happened? Are you in Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, and guess who came with us?"
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