Simon Says
by
Thunderspeak

Disclaimer: I do not claim any of J.K Rowling's wonderful work. Hence, the disclaimer.

Summary: During the summer after his fourth year, Harry learns about the darkness within himself, discovers the power the Dark Lord knows not, and makes a new friend.
Eventual Slash

AN: Review please?


Albus dismissed Poppy, using the excuse of a shortage of healing potions. After she was gone he lingered in the bathroom, listening as Minerva spoke in hushed worry of the boy she had earlier met. She planned to enter the Chamber and rescue Harry. It was an admirable cause, but Albus felt her motivation was flawed—he detected guilt in her voice. She was attempting to redeem herself in Harry's eyes, and he could sympathize.

Albus was reluctant to do it but his options were limited. Even now, the vow hummed within his core, urging him to lift his wand and erase her memories of the night, of Simon.

When she turned from him, he woefully did so. Slowly, her body slackened in confusion and her eyes glazed over.

"What am I doing here?" she slurred.

He guided her into the corridor. "You've had a stressful day, my dear. It seems you drank just a tad too much Firewhiskey."

She dumbly nodded and followed Albus to her bed chambers, where she immediately collapsed onto her bed and began to snore. As Albus left her rooms, he was startled by the tip of a wand pointed directly at his nose, forcing him to cross his eyes.

"How dare you Albus," Severus growled, his face flushed in anger.

"I had no choice."

"There are always choices!"

Albus thought of the vow he had been subjected too. "Not always," he sighed as they walked along the corridor, side-by-side.

"I should have been with you in the case of an emergency. You may be powerful, but you are not invincible."

"I am aware of my mortality, Severus," he said, then asked curiously, "How did you manage to get here?" Severus flushed even further and spoke resentfully.

"Alastor released me."

Albus barely concealed his amusement. The Auror frequently taunted and teased Severus but was actually quite fond of the slytherin. Despite their complaints they both enjoyed their sparring more than they let on.

Soon they entered the glowing bathroom. Goosebumps prickled on Severus' skin and the magic in the air lifted his hair as if he were submerged in water.

"What is this?"

"The magic of the castle." Albus sat on the tile floor and leaned against the wall, shifting to get comfortable. They would be here for a long time.

Severus stared at the floor in disdain. "Why are we here?"

"Harry is in the Chamber of Secrets."

"Again?"

"Amazing, isn't it? We will simply wait for his return."

"How did the fool manage to enter Hogwarts?"

Albus thought of Simon's instructions: allow Severus to continue believing his existence was a delusion, therefore believing that the horrifying memories of Harry's abuse were also false. As he considered telling the truth, the vow rattled in his chest. He winced and thought, Bollocks, it seems I have to lie.

"I haven't the faintest idea. I'm sure with his intelligence he found a way."

"More like his disgusting ability to achieve the impossible."

Albus laughed. "That too."

Severus sat next to him, and together, they waited.


It was no surprise that Harry had always wanted a family but he also sometimes fantasized of having a brother or sister—a confidant, a partner in crime, a best friend. Living with the Dursleys would have been so much easier with just one person by his side. But fantasies are fantasies and this couldn't be true.

Harry remained still as he let the shocking words settle. He thought it bizarre that he didn't struggle, shout, or burst into tears, but he was too damn tired. After much silence, Harry extracted himself from Simon's arms and stared, disbelieving. This had to be impossible because he had no family other than the Dursleys, no one to call his own.

Simon repeated his words. "I'm your brother."

"Dumbledore would've told me about you," Harry said lowly, feeling a twinge of doubt. Would he? Dumbledore wasn't known for being forthcoming with information. He would've kept it from Harry for his own good.

Simon shook his head, dispelling Harry's negative thoughts. "He doesn't know. I mean… I'm not even sure because I'm Harry Potter's brother, but am I your brother?" Simon wondered.

"I'm Harry!"

"You are. But isn't it possible there's another Harry somewhere else?" Simon pushed, searching for comprehension on his face.

Harry slid backwards across the floor until his shoulders touched the wall, needing the space, needing the cold air to wake him. This declaration was too much of a shock after such a long day. Even with the magic from Hogwarts coursing through his veins, he felt exhausted.

He clenched his fists, anger churning on his face and hissed, "I don't have a family so stop mocking me."

"I'm not mocking you. My full name is Simon Benjamin Potter. My mother was Lily Potter and my father was James—"

"Don't say their names! You can't be—you can't be my brother…" Harry wheezed. He wouldn't allow himself to believe this dream, because he hated good dreams, and all good dreams end-

Simon abruptly stood and placed his hands on his hips, radiating impatience.

"Look at the signs. I resemble you—"

"No," Harry objected while knowing it was a lie. They did look uncannily alike, although Simon looked… deader.

"You know it's true. Haven't you ever wondered how I know you so well?"

"That's hardly an argument. You could be a stalker."

Simon choked a laugh. "You do have an imagination. But no, I'm not a stalker. I am your brother."

"You're messing with me."

"Bloody—fine, just shut up and let me fully explain."

"Don't tell me to be quiet!"

"Listen or—"

"Or you'll force me? Your own brother?" Harry spat, "Why don't you just imperio me while you can."

Simon's eyes lit. "Ah, so you'll be my brother only when it benefits you. Very manipulative- very slytherin."

"I'm a Gryffindor."

"Maybe, maybe not. I, on the other hand, am a Slytherin—"

"You never went to Hogwarts!"

"Of course I did. I prowled these halls by your side as we wrought havoc and fooled our so-called superiors."

Harry was shaking. "I can't believe you. It's too far-fetched." I don't want to believe it. Of all people to be my brother, why you?

"I've stood by your side," Simon paused thoughtfully, "Well crouched by your side all summer. You can trust me."

"We're just friends, not bro—"

"I'm your only friend."

"I have Hermione and Ron," Harry weakly countered. He had nearly forgotten them over the summer. He had been busy—with Simon, with the Dursleys, with the nightmares he awoke from nightly.

Simon skeptically rose an eyebrow and said, "Look, I'll make it simple. I can take Veritaserum."

"Where are you getting it?"

"Snape's classroom. He's bound to have it."

Harry tried to remain stoic but soon his lips twitched and he smiled. "Well, I can't pass up the chance to steal something from the greasy git."

"You?" Simon snorted, "You're not doing anything."

"What? No, I'm coming-" before Harry could finish speaking, Simon had vanished from where he stood. Harry stared at the empty space, half-annoyed and half-curious. Could Simon apparate within Hogwarts?


"Have you determined why Hogwarts has gone dark?"

Albus hummed thoughtfully. There was only one possibility he could imagine—"I believe Hogwarts has loaned Harry its magic."

"But why?"

"To heal him."

Severus stiffened, panic chewing at him for some unidentifiable reason. "You still believe those muggles abused him? I told you it was a delusion."

"Either way, Harry was injured somehow. Their living room attested to it."

"Perhaps," Severus huffed, "Though Hogwarts doesn't simply lend its magic for entertainment."

"Hogwarts likes Harry."

"Of course. The Boy-Who-Lived is best mates with an ancient, powerful castle!"

"Don't fret Severus. It likes many people. That's how I'm able to apparate within its walls."

"Anyone else Hogwarts likes?" suspicion filled him, "Merlin forbid, is it one of the Weasleys?" It would explain his breached wards and missing shampoo, replaced with some garish muggle brand.

"It enjoys the company of Miss Lovegood."

"The Ravenclaw girl?"

"She does have a name, Severus."

"Useless information," he dismissed, "How does Hogwarts like her?"

"The walls and stairs talk to her. I can only imagine what fascinating conversations they must have."

Severus chose not to reply. They sat in companionable silence until Severus finally spoke. "Honestly Albus, you've gone senile with age."

"It's not age," Albus laughed, "I've always been this way."


When Simon apparated into the chamber he nearly slipped and cracked his head open on the stone floor. He had always been the clumsy one in the family whereas Harry reaped all the athletic genes. He fondly remembered cheering in the stands as his brother zoomed after the snitch.

He found Harry lying prostrate on the ground, completely still. Unwanted images of battlefields and tattered bodies reared their ugly heads, and his frozen heart jumped.

"Harry?" he choked.

"I'm dying of boredom," Harry mumbled into the floor.

Simon frowned, annoyed at himself for feeling unnecessarily worried. Harry was capable of taking care of himself. He held up the small vial. "Right. Well, I have the potion."

"You ready?"

Simon nodded and sat on the floor cross-legged so they faced each other. "I have to take two drops."

"How do I know that's it? It could be water."

"You'll just have to trust me," Simon murmured, "Now remember to ask the right questions."

"Don't worry, I will. Now take the bloody potion."

Simon glared at him but took a deep breath and slipped two drops onto his tongue, hands trembling. As the potion took affect he slumped forward and his eyes glazed over. It was almost comical to see Simon, so proud and arrogant, to be in such a state of vulnerability. Harry felt a little sick.

"Simon?" he asked softly. His friend remained silent.

Harry worried his lip as he thought of the possibilities—the many questions he could ask. Having Simon at his mercy filled him with a bizarre sense of power.

"What is your name?"

"Simon Benjamin Potter," was the flat reply.

Harry jerked back in shock. He hadn't prepared himself for that answer. Simon must have the same last name. Coincidentally, he tried to rationalize. "Are you my brother?"

"I am Harry Potter's identical twin."

He clenched his fists, furious and disbelieving. If it was true… then where had Simon been all these years? Where had he been when Harry was bitten by a basilisk? Or when he was tortured in the graveyard? He stood and began to angrily pace.

Although they looked similar enough to be brothers, they clearly weren't identical. Why did Simon say he's Harry Potter's twin? he questioned, thinking the more appropriate response would have been I am your brother.

"We're identical twins?" he clarified.

"Yes."

"Then why do we look different?"

"I wasn't abused as a child, therefore my growth process wasn't hindered—"

"Of course!" Harry threw his hands up, "I could've been tall and muscular if I hadn't lived with the Dursleys. Bloody fantastic. But no, I'm just this tiny, weak, ugly little freak—"

"Plus, I was hit by the killing curse."

Harry froze, his lips parting in surprise. "You were?"

"Yes."

"When was this?" he shouted in disbelief. It would have been common courtesy for Simon to have told him this tidbit of information sometime during the summer, but alas, it was news to Harry.

"The first day I met you."

Harry remembered. Simon appeared in the cupboard, coughing heavily before passing out on the cot.

"How-how did it happen?" he asked softly. He felt a new connection with Simon—they had both survived the killing curse, making them anomalies, outsiders, two people hovering on the edge of the world.

"I was in battle when Lucius Malfoy shot the curse towards me. I wasn't fast enough in my departure and it struck me."

"But… how did you survive?"

"I performed Vicis Varietas. While half in this world and half in my world, it hit me. Therefore, I am half dead."

Harry stopped pacing and stared at him. What? This sounded like one of the science-fiction movies the Dursleys watched.

"What did the spell do?"

"It allows the traveling between worlds."

Harry fell to his knees, crawling closer to Simon until their noses nearly touched. "Are you talking about a parallel universe?"

"Yes."

He sat back, reeling. "Dear Merlin." He tried to remember the limited knowledge he had of parallel universes and only drew forth one important question.

"What was the difference?"

"Lily Potter had two sons. From then on, the universe branched apart from this one."

Harry swallowed, his eyes watering. "Did they… did they still die?"

"Yes," Simon said without emotion, his voice echoing throughout the large room.

Harry pulled back. He had a thousand questions but not nearly enough time to ask them all. In another world he had a brother—his eyes suddenly widened. That meant there was another Harry Potter, another version of him.

"What happened after they died?" he continued.

"We were dropped off at the Dursleys. They raised us and then we attended Hogwarts together—"

"I thought you said you weren't abused. Don't tell me they developed compassion for us?"

"No. They hated both of us, but they were more afraid of two wizards than one. Plus, together we were able to develop our magic sooner and acquire food for ourselves."

Harry was beginning to resent this other world where everything seemed to be better. His other version was a lucky git.

"Am I different from the other Harry Potter?"

"In some ways. You are insecure and more temperamental. But you are also purer—you are more Gryffindor."

"Wasn't he in Gryffindor?"

"No. He was in Slytherin."

Harry remembered what the sorting hat had said to him first year- ""Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that..."

"Was he evil?" Harry asked, his voice small.

"You could never be evil no matter what world you reside in. Although you two have differences, to the core you are the same."

Harry was relieved to know that his counterpart wasn't evil, although it was distressing to know that the other Harry had family all these years, whereas in this world he had been denied that privilege. He envied his counterpart.

Guilt stung at him. Harry wouldn't have ever considered leaving Simon with the Dursleys if he had known. It was abandonment of the worst kind. On second thought though… Harry thought of Simon's harsh words and barely tolerable company. He leaned forward, hungry for some type of revenge.

"If we're brothers, do you love me?" he asked mockingly.

"Yes."

Harry stilled. He hadn't expected Simon to answer yes, although the declaration filled him with warmth. No one had ever loved him for himself, only for the jagged scar on his forehead. But along with the happiness was a sting because Harry didn't want Simon to be his brother.

After much reflection over the summer Harry had realized he was gay. The epiphany had opened his eyes and he found himself watching Simon and thinking of him in a highly inappropriate manner. Harry had even thought himself in love. But they were brothers, twins-

More memories assaulted him, this time of the casual brush of fingers, crooked smiles, and the companionship they had shared. Harry remembered frequently awaking to a strong arm clasped around his waist, feeling safe and worthy.

He loved Simon, wanted to touch him—which was a miracle in itself—but Simon was his brother. His heart collapsed at the thought. Harry wanted someone to trust, to share himself in the most intimate way possible. And dammit, they couldn't be brothers because Harry wanted to furiously kiss him.

"How long until you're back to normal?"

"Approximately ten minutes."

He took ragged gulps of air and thought, I'm bloody crying again, but couldn't bring himself to feel embarrassed.

Then he was stumbling through the pipes away from Simon, unable to look at his face because all he could see were his own features reflected back.

He arrived to the stone exit and hissed Open. It slowly slid apart, light flooding in, and Harry wiggled through the small gap before collapsing on the tile floor. He bean to sob and claw at the tiles as if he could dig himself a grave to fall into.

"Harry?"

It was Dumbledore with pity on his face.

"Get away from me!" Harry snarled, sparks of magic bursting off his fingertips. He felt powerful.

Snape loomed in front of him and threatened, "Potter, cease this foolishness of I will force you too."

"Go ahead!"

He didn't want to see their faces. He hated Snape's hateful sneer and Dumbledore's sympathy because they didn't know and could never fully comprehend what they had done to him, how they had failed him.

"You rotten, spoiled, boy—"

Harry hated being called boy. The first couple of years with the Dursleys he didn't know his name, didn't have one, because he was just a freak and they didn't deserve names.

The windows began to rattle and the room spiked in temperature, becoming too hot for comfort. He trembled with magic, and above the roar he distantly heard Dumbledore's voice pleading with him to control himself.

'Why don't you control me? Like you always have—because I mean nothing to you!'

The windows shattered, the porcelain sinks exploded, and Harry heard terrible screams before everything went white.



quote from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers/Philosophers Stone by J.K. Rowling.
Vicis Varietas is Latin for 'Time Diverges'

Hello Readers.

Note One: I know some people dislike parallel universe fictions. Well too bad. I can promise you that this is not like the many parallel universe fictions.
Note Two: I also know that some people will be uncomfortable with Harry's strange "crush" on Simon. Look at it this way: abandoned with the Dursleys, he latches onto the first person to give him any form of affection. He comes to the realization that he is gay and displays his feelings towards the first viable male he finds. This will not be incest (look at the pairing in the summary guys!) There will be drama though. DRAMA I SAY.

Also, I thank all of you so much for so many alerts/favorite/reviews. I do appreciate them. And when I put off writing for Glee, your reviews prod me along. I hope you enjoyed this chapter because it was a bitch to write (dialogue is evil). Please continue to review and such!

much love, thunderspeak :)