Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Here's the next chappie. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty One
AU World
Harry blinked up at James, panic blossoming rapidly inside him, making it difficult for him to breathe. He saw James stand up and walk slowly towards him. Damien next to him shifted uncomfortably. Harry didn't look away as James' gaze bore into him. He looked really upset.
James came to rest before Harry. For the first few moments no one spoke, then James let out a sigh and his hand came to rest on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, I don't know what to say."
Harry blinked back up at him. He turned to look at Damien, prompting him to speak.
"I've told dad everything, Harry." Damien said in a quiet voice.
Harry's heart leapt painfully in his chest, everything? Damien had told their dad everything? Harry swallowed nervously, not daring to look at the man now, for fear of seeing rejection in his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" James asked.
Harry looked at the ground, keeping his gaze fixed at his feet.
"Tell him, Harry," Damien prompted. "Tell him about Selena."
Harry looked up at him confused.
"Selena?" he asked.
"The witch who told you about the memory spell. I told dad about her." Damien said calmly.
Harry realised what was going on. Damien hadn't told his dad the truth; once again he had come up with some sort of lie.
"I thought you would know better." James said, his voice laced with sadness.
Harry looked up at him then, noting the empathy in his father's eyes. Harry didn't say anything but held his dad's gaze.
"Harry, I know how you feel about losing those memories," James started with a sigh, his grip on his shoulder tightening. "But once someone's mind had been obliviated that's it, those memories that are erased by the spell can't be recovered, not by a spell or a potion or by any other means. You know that, I know that you do." He said a note of desperation in his voice now.
Harry hung his head again, trying to process this new piece of information. Harry's memories had been taken away from him, he had been obliviated. He felt his head spin, had anything ever gone right for his counterpart?
"Dad, I think Harry's had enough." Damien cut in, stepping forward. "I think the lecture can wait until tomorrow."
"And I think you better stay out of this, you're in enough trouble as it is." James told him sternly.
Harry glanced sideways at Damien to see him pull him a face.
"I told you, I only found out what Harry was doing a few minutes before he went into the pensieve." Damien offered.
"You knew that a woman sold Harry a spell that would bring back his obliviated memories. You knew he was trying it out in his pensieve. You should have come straight to me or your mum." James said, clearly annoyed. "Merlin knows what spell it was and what it could have done…" he trailed off, suddenly turning to Harry with a concerned look. "Did it work?" he asked quietly. "Did you remember anything?"
Harry shook his head slowly.
"No, it didn't work." Harry said, his voice sounding hollow and empty to his own ears.
James looked at Harry with even more sympathy now, hearing how broken his voice sounded.
"What spell did this, this Selena give you?" James asked, anger evident in his voice.
Damien opened his mouth to answer but Harry beat him to it.
"It doesn't matter. It didn't work. I don't remember anything of my forgotten memories. Let's not make a huge deal about this, okay?" Harry spoke tiredly.
"But, Harry…"
"Dad, please," Harry cut across him. "I just want to forget this day happened. Please, just drop it."
James stared at Harry for long minutes. Finally he nodded his head, somewhat reluctantly.
"Alright, but I don't want you to ever risk using an unknown spell again. You don't know how much of a risk you took." The fury was back again now and Harry understood why he looked so angry when he had just returned from the pensieve. "There are plenty of people wanting to get to you, Harry. You can't put yourself at risk…"
"I won't, I promise." Harry said quietly.
James didn't say anymore and nodded his head once at Harry.
"Are you guys coming?" James asked as he neared the door.
"In a minute, I just…" Harry trailed off.
"I understand," James said as he opened the door. He looked to Damien but he nodded at Harry gesturing that he was going to stay with him. James nodded back. "I'm sorry," he said suddenly to Harry. "I can imagine how much you wanted that spell to work. I'm sorry it didn't." James said.
Harry nodded his head again, not knowing what to say to that.
xxx
James left, leaving only Harry and Damien in the room. Both boys let out a deep sigh of relief. Damien turned to look at Harry.
"How, how are you now?" Damien asked, clearly uncomfortable.
Harry opened his mouth but no words came out. He realised that Damien was staring at him and he knew that he probably looked like a mess. He had cried, been sick, yelled and screamed. He probably looked like he had been through hell and back. It a sense that was true, all he had seen and felt in that pensieve had felt like going through hell.
Harry nodded his head, not sure himself what he was trying to gesture. Damien turned to the pensieve and tapped it with his wand. It shrunk and transformed into the ring again. Damien picked it up and turned to Harry.
"Is there more you need to see? You can take it if you want. Once you're satisfied, you can return it to me."
Harry took the ring and slipped it on. He felt his head spin again and he barely made it to the seat and collapsed into it.
"Here," Damien placed a plate of sandwiches next to him. "You haven't had anything to eat all day." He sounded a bit ashamed, which Harry couldn't understand. Damien wasn't responsible for him going without food. Harry actually had forgotten all about eating. Watching the horrific memories and seeing how twisted his life had been in this new world, Harry had been completely unaware of his rumbling stomach.
He didn't feel much like eating now either so he ignored the plate. He sat in silence, Damien chancing small glances at him. Long minutes ticked by but neither boy spoke. Hesitantly, Damien started the conversion.
"I told Harry, about what happened. He said that if you wanted to talk to him, you could."
Harry looked up at Damien and saw him offering the phone to him. He shook his head, what was he supposed to say to Harry? Nothing he could say would mean anything.
"Okay, if you change your mind, just let me know." Damien pocketed his phone. They lapsed into silence again. This time it was Harry who broke it.
"What was dad talking about?" Harry asked quietly. "Just now about, about Harry's memories. Who obliviated him?"
"Voldemort." Damien answered. "Harry found out that when he was growing up he had been obliviated by Voldemort many times. If Harry ever learned anything that Voldemort didn't like, he obliviated Harry."
Harry processed this, feeling his chest tighten again.
"How did Harry find out?" he asked.
Damien looked at Harry for a moment before answering slowly.
"Peter Pettigrew told him."
Harry's eyes widened with surprise.
"Peter?"
Damien nodded his head, looking down at the ground.
"How did, when did Harry meet Peter?" Harry asked, astonished.
Damien gave Harry a strange look.
"Will you believe me now? Aren't you afraid I'll lie to you again?"
Harry didn't answer right away, he thought about it and realised he still trusted the boy, even after all the lies he had told him.
"Somehow, I don't think you'll lie to me now." Harry said quietly.
Damien looked relieved. He let a small smile cross his face as he nodded his head.
"I swear, no more lies. I didn't like lying to you but I had to, you understand now why, right?" he asked uncertainly.
Harry felt his throat tighten again at the recollection of what he had seen. He nodded his head again, dropping his gaze from Damien.
"What did you see? What memories did you see?" Damien asked, leaning closer to him.
Harry shut his eyes as the images of the memories flashed before him.
"His childhood, him running away, meeting him…" Harry shook his head before burying his face into his hands. "I still can't believe this. I can't believe this happened, what he did to Harry, how he tricked him…!"
"I know, he used Harry, made him believe his parents hated him and wanted to hurt him. He broke Harry, just so he could build him and mould him into an obedient follower." Damien said his anger clear in his voice.
"I…I saw what he did to…to dad." Harry said after a short pause. "He nearly killed him." Harry whispered.
Damien's face lost its colour; he looked ready to be sick.
"You saw that?" he asked, remembering that awful day in December when his dad had been thrown off a cliff by Harry.
"He wanted to kill him," Harry continued. "He was fighting him and trying to get away but he wanted to hurt him, to kill him. I could feel it, Damien. I could feel everything Harry felt at that time. He really wanted to kill dad. He hated him so much…"
"Don't, Harry. Just…don't tell me." Damien pleaded, shaking his head.
Harry looked up at the boy and saw his pale complexion.
"Sorry," Harry quickly said. "I didn't mean to, sorry."
Damien let out a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down.
"I've tried to block that day out. I've made myself believe it never happened." explained Damien. "If I think about it, I…" he shook his head and rubbed his face tiredly. "I'll drive myself mad. I keep imagining what would have happened if Uncle Sirius never got to him, if he never saved him." Damien whispered the last words.
Harry remembered his Godfather's yell and the sound of his footsteps rushing to help his friend.
"Thanks to Sirius, dad survived. He must have got dad to the hospital in time for them to stop the bleeding." Harry mused.
Damien looked at Harry in confusion.
"Actually, Uncle Sirius brought dad back to Hogwarts." He said, remembering that day all too well.
Harry looked shocked.
"What?! But why? He should have taken him to St Mungos! That blade had almost cut dad's throat open! He should have been taken to St Mungos at once." Harry cried out.
"Harry, what are you talking about?!" Damien asked now completely confused.
"Dad was attacked by Harry. He threw a blade or something like that at him. It had hit dad here," Harry said gesturing to the side of his neck. "The last thing I saw was dad collapsing on the ground as his blood ran down his hands and clothes!" Harry said, tears threatening to spill over at the memory.
Damien sat still, his hazel eyes fixed on Harry unwaveringly.
"That was Harry?" he asked in a whisper. "Harry…Harry did that to him?"
Harry calmed down and stared at him.
"You, you didn't know?" Harry asked.
Damien shook his head, his face had lost its colour and Harry was certain the boy was either going to pass out soon or be violently sick.
"I remember, seeing dad in hospital. I remember visiting him. His injury," Damien's hand involuntarily travelled up to his neck, "was deep and took time to heal. I know he was attacked but I…I didn't know it was Harry who..." Damien trailed off.
Harry felt a surge of pity for the boy. He could see how much this revelation had hurt him.
"I'm sorry." Harry said, not sure why he was apologising but it felt the right thing to do. Harry turned to Damien after a pause. "What were you talking about then? If you didn't know Harry had attacked dad, what were you talking about when you said Sirius saved him?"
Damien gave Harry a bitter smile.
"It seems Harry's tried to kill dad a few times." He said miserably.
Harry listened to Damien as he recalled the day Harry had tricked James and took him to the isolated point in Hogsmeade and had hurt him before throwing him off the cliff.
"…luckily, Uncle Sirius managed to arrive just in time and stopped dad's fall, before he hit the rocks. He saved his life." Damien finished.
Harry sat still, his hands clasped tightly together, jaw clenched hard. He knew it wasn't Harry's fault, he was only avenging the atrocities done to him as a child, but it was too difficult not to place blame on him. James was innocent. He had suffered for no reason at all.
"How can dad be okay with him?" Harry asked at last. "Harry tried to kill him, twice! How can dad forgive him?"
"Because he knows Harry was tricked. He knows that Harry would never have hurt him if he knew the truth." Damien explained. "Besides, dad would never blame Harry. Harry does enough of that himself." He added sadly.
Harry suddenly realised that was most likely true. His counterpart was bound to feel guilty over trying to kill the man who did nothing but love him. The pieces of the puzzle that was his counterpart started moving into place and Harry finally began to understand this other Harry.
"That's why he fights with dad." Harry said in a small voice. "He feels guilty but dad treats him just like normal and that frustrates him."
Damien looked taken aback. He recovered and asked in a whisper.
"Do you reckon that's what it is?"
"Yeah, I do. Think about it, if dad had argued with Harry, yelled at him, blamed him for threatening his life, Harry would have felt punished and he could start mending the relationship. But if what you're saying is right, and dad never placed the blame on him then Harry feels guilty but has no way of making up for it. He can't get over it because he feels he's not been punished for it." Harry finished.
"I think Harry's been punished enough." Damien was quick to retort.
Harry looked up at Damien, his gaze softening.
"I never said he deserved to be punished. I'm just saying what I think he feels. I know that's how I would have felt." Harry said in a low whisper.
Damien calmed at that and looked down.
"He does have guilt issues," he said slowly. "Too many actually."
Harry looked intrigued but Damien shook his head.
"It's really late now, you've had a really long day, all of us have actually. I think the rest should be left until tomorrow."
Harry agreed and got up, his limbs feeling oddly stretched and painful, like he had not used his muscles in days. He had reached the door before Damien spoke.
"Harry, you won't go to Dumbledore, will you?" he asked nervously.
Harry took a moment answering.
"No," Damien looked deeply relieved. "But I still don't understand why Harry doesn't trust him. Dumbledore would never hurt Harry."
Damien gave him a withering look.
"Just wait until you've seen all his memories." He said opening the door.
xxx
A soft pop echoed in the night. The wizard that had just apparated pulled his cloak tightly around himself. He walked towards the magnificent manor in front of him, taking care not to slip on the frost covered ground. His footsteps echoed loudly as the man reached the door.
He stood in front of the main door and hesitated for a moment before knocking twice. The door was answered quickly; the muttered incantation to reveal who was visiting was heard momentarily before the door swung open.
The blond haired man held the door open, his grey eyes narrowed at his late night visitor. His mask of indifference slipped and his surprise was visible for a few seconds before the mask was replaced.
"Potter? To what do I owe this honour?" Lucius asked silkily.
James scowled at him in response.
"You think I could come inside? It's freezing out here."
Lucius smirked but moved aside to let the man enter. James hurried inside, trembling from the cold. The door closed with a soft click and Lucius lead his unexpected visitor into the large parlour.
James looked around the impressive room, idly taking note of how much bigger the place was compared to Potter Manor.
"You can take a seat, Potter." Lucius drawled as he sat down in the chair next to the dying fire.
James sat down, feeling very uncomfortable. Never in his life did he think he would come to Malfoy Manor by his own free will.
Silence ensued between the two men. The ex Auror shifted uncomfortably while the ex Death Eater watched him quietly, no emotion visible on his face.
"Narcissa?" James enquired quietly.
"She's already retired to her bed." Lucius answered politely.
James nodded his head.
"Yeah, I guess it is quite late." He mused. Lucius didn't respond. James shifted again and then looked up to meet the man's questioning gaze. "You're probably wondering why I'm here." James started.
"It did cross my mind." Lucius smirked.
James took a deep breath, deciding to just come out and say it.
"I need…I need your help." James gritted out with difficulty.
Lucius laughed at that and picked up his half filled glass and swirled the amber liquid around.
"My, my, the famous James Potter needs my help?" He drank from his glass and looked smugly at James. "Why would you think I would help you?"
"Because we helped you. Sirius took you in when…"
"Correction, you never helped me and neither did your mutt! If anyone helped me it was Harry." Lucius cut in.
"And now I need your help for Harry." James said.
Lucius stilled, his expression changing to one of worry.
"Harry? What's wrong with him?" he asked at once.
"I don't know." James admitted with a sigh. "But he's been acting really strange lately."
Lucius calmed down, the concern on his face changed into a sneer.
"That's why you've come to me? Because your son is acting strange?" Lucius looked at James smugly. "How would you know if Harry was acting strange? You don't even know him well enough to draw such a conclusion?" Satisfied that his words had struck a nerve, he added with a chuckle, "I never thought the day would come when you would come to me for help. The high and mighty James Potter asking for help; I must say, this is…refreshing."
James closed his eyes, his fists clenched hard and tight. He let out a slow breath. 'Harry, I'm doing this for Harry' was the mantra he kept repeating to himself.
"You're the only one who can help me." James grit out with difficulty
Lucius let out another chuckle and sat back in his seat, eyeing the man before him.
"Really?"
James looked at Lucius, his eyes fixed to the arrogant man.
"I'm asking for your help, not because I want to but because you owe Harry. He saved your life as well as your son's."
Lucius' smirk fell from his face at the mention of Draco. He sat still in his seat.
"Whatever debt I have to Harry is my personal matter. Unlike you, I know Harry. My relationship with him is…" Lucius was abruptly cut off as James let out a sudden bitter laugh.
"Relationship? What relationship, Malfoy? On what base did you build this relationship?" James asked, his eyes burning now. Lucius stayed quiet, not offering an answer.
James leaned over in his seat, his face closer to the sitting form of Lucius.
"You took away my son." James said in a quiet voice filled with intense hatred. "Don't think for a second that I have forgotten or that I have excused the fact that you hurt my baby boy."
Lucius' pale face suddenly lost more colour. He stayed in his seat but his fingers were suddenly clutching the armrests of his seat, his fingers digging into the material.
"I saw what you did," continued James, "I saw how you hurt him, how you treated him. So don't sit there and brag to me that you have a closer relationship with my son when you were the one who hurt him mercilessly." James cocked his head to the side, fierce hazel eyes pinning the other man to his seat. "What age was he, Malfoy? What age was my Harry when you started to hurt him? Did you enjoy it? Did you beat my son, hurt him, make him bleed and then come home to your wife and tuck your son into bed with a kiss to the forehead? Did it not occur to you that the boy you were breaking, were hurting was the same age as your son? Did that never bother you?"
Lucius was deathly quiet, his sneer and mask of indifference was gone. His face was ashen, grey eyes fixed on James, not daring to leave the man's face. Thin lips were pressed tightly together and his fingers had nearly dug holes into the armrests.
"Don't delude yourself that you're still in one piece because I can't hurt you. The only reason I have left you alone is because that's what Harry wants. It is only for him that I have refrained myself from hurting you." James' icy glare faltered when he next spoke, his voice betraying the hurt he felt. "There's not much I can offer my son, so I'm not going to take away what he has."
Lucius still sat in silence, even when James had finished. Finally, Lucius stood up and walked over to the fireplace. He stood before the large portrait of his family, Narcissa sitting with Lucius and Draco standing on either side of her.
"I'll do what I can for Harry." He said, his back to James.
"Good." James responded, still seated.
Lucius turned to face him his face still drained of colour and his usual pride.
"What is it Harry needs?" he asked quietly.
James stood up to face the blond man.
"Give him back what he took." James said with a hard look in his eyes. "Give Harry back his lost memories."
Lucius' face gave away his surprise and disbelief. He recovered almost instantly but his voice still shook when he spoke.
"That is impossible, you know that, Potter."
"Maybe not," James argued. "You were there. You were part of his inner circle. Most of Harry's life with Voldemort was probably spent in your company. The memories that Voldemort took from Harry, you were probably a part of them too. Harry was obliviated but you weren't. You can give Harry your memories." James explained.
Lucius' eyes widened and he swallowed reflexively.
"I don't think that is a wise." He started. "Nothing good will come of watching those memories."
"That's not for you to decide." James fought back.
"Potter, trust me. Harry is better off not remembering those…events. He won't feel any better."
James shook his head again.
"Harry wants to know what was taken from him. He's been trying to figure out a way to get back his memories. It's bothering him to the extent that he's taking risks to uncover what was taken from him. Give him your memories and it may bring Harry some sort of peace." James finished.
Lucius opened his mouth to argue but then changed his mind. He sighed deeply as he looked to the ground, thinking deeply about this. Finally he nodded.
"Very well, I will speak to Narcissa. She has many memories of Harry. All of them had been removed from Harry's mind. Both of us will prepare the memories. Give me a few days."
That was all James needed to hear. He nodded once and almost immediately started moving towards the door. His purpose fulfilled, he had no other reason to remain with the man.
xxx
Harry woke up to a series of rapid knocks on his door. He blearily opened his eyes and struggled to pull himself out from his warm, comfortable bed. He quickly crossed the length of his room and opened the door to find the red haired seventeen year old standing before him, Damien standing next to her.
"Oh, sorry, were you still asleep?" Ginny asked with a blush.
"It's okay. What time is it?" Harry asked, stepping aside to let them come inside.
"It's past noon." Damien informed him. "We skipped lunch to come and see you, to make sure you were, you know, okay?"
Harry was horrified.
"It's past noon!? Already?!" he ran a hand through his messy locks. "I can't believe I overslept."
"It's okay. Yesterday was…a big day. A lot happened, you were obviously shattered." Ginny consoled.
Harry could feel a blush forming at her words. He had really acted horridly yesterday. He recoiled in shame at how he had spoke in front of all of them. Ginny picked up on this and gave him a warm smile.
"How are you now?" she asked, sitting on the foot of his bed, Damien sat down next to her.
Harry looked away as he answered.
"Better, I guess."
"Mum and dad will probably want to talk to you later on today." Damien informed him.
Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah, I know."
"Why don't you get changed. We'll grab lunch together. You've not had anything to eat since yesterday." Ginny suggested.
Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah, I was going to go back into the pensieve." He said quietly.
"You should probably eat something first." Damien said.
Harry grabbed his clothes before heading towards the bathroom. Ginny and Damien got up as well, intending on waiting outside for him. Before any of them could leave the room, a small hoot was heard, accompanied by the flapping of wings. Damien turned around to see an owl come swooping into the room from the open window. It sat at Harry's desk, its amber eyes scanning the three occupants of the room. Damien figured it was delivering a letter but he couldn't see anything attached to the owl's leg.
Harry walked over to the owl and held out his arm. The owl hopped onto his arm, its talons gripped tightly around Harry's arm. Damien stared at the bird. It had white and blue feathers, large amber eyes and a small sharp beak. Its smooth feathers glistened in the sunlight; the blue in it was of a shimmering intensity. It was quite a cute little thing. It was gazing at Ginny and Damien, cocking its head to the side.
Harry walked over to Damien and held out his arm with the small owl perched on it. Damien stared at the owl before looking up at Harry. The messy haired boy smiled sheepishly at him.
"Happy Birthday" Harry said tentatively.
Damien looked back at the small owl, hazel eyes wide with surprise. The owl was for him, his birthday gift from Harry.
"I'm sorry. I let her out to go hunting just before the party. I was planning on giving her to you after the party but…" Harry trailed off, looking very embarrassed.
"It's okay. I wasn't expecting anything from you, especially not something like this." Damien said gesturing to the fascinating bird perched on Harry's arm. "This is…wow. You really didn't have to, Harry." Damien said with a smile.
Carefully, Harry guided the bird onto Damien's arm. The owl hopped from Harry to Damien happily, gazing at Damien, her large amber eyes blinking at him. She kept tilting her head to either side, making it look like she was studying Damien.
Damien felt a little awkward holding the bird. His arm was bent and held stiffly with the bird perched on it. He had dealt with owls before, receiving the odd letter from Remus or Sirius during his stay at Hogwarts but he had never held an owl before. But even still, he found he liked the comfortable weight on his arm and the bird was possibly the cutest owl he had seen. Her white and blue feathers gave her an interesting look. He chuckled at the way the owl was studying him. Gently and a little hesitantly, he lifted his hand and with the back of his fingers, he stroked her belly, smiling as she let out an appreciative hoot.
"Her name is Neelam." Harry provided, smiling at the sight of the owl and her owner.
"It's pretty." Damien commented.
"The name or the owl?" Ginny asked, reaching out to stroke the head of the bird.
"Both." Damien beamed. He turned to face Harry. "Thank you, Harry." He said with sincere gratitude.
Harry smiled broadly, relieved Damien liked his present after all.
xxx
"You did what?" Sirius asked, forgetting the half eaten biscuit in his hand.
James sighed before taking a sip from his mug.
"I said I…"
"I heard you the first time!" Sirius snapped. "You went to see Malfoy!? Have you completely lost it?"
James put down his mug, looking at his best friend.
"I knew he was the only one who could help me." James explained.
Sirius' eyes widened and a look of horror passed over his face.
"Oh, prongs, you didn't!" he pleaded.
James shrugged and looked down.
"I had to."
Sirius shook his head.
"You asked Malfoy to help you?" he asked. His upper lip curled with scorn. "I bet that sardonic bastard loved that!" He spat with anger.
James didn't say anything. He lifted his mug and took a sip of hot tea.
"He agreed." James said after a few minutes.
Sirius snorted.
"Yeah, but at what price? Malfoys don't do anything for nothing! He'll demand something from you in return, mark my words!" Sirius seethed.
"I don't care," James responded calmly. "I don't care what he'll ask for. I'll give him everything if he can give Harry his peace."
Sirius stilled and sat staring at James.
"Is it that bad?" he asked, a lot quieter now.
"You didn't see what he looked like when he came out of that pensieve." James responded. "I've never seen him look so…broken." James met Sirius' concerned gaze. "He looked so lost, so…confused. Sirius, I can't see him like that. I want my son back the way he used to be, his attitude, his confidence, I want all that back."
"I thought you liked the changes in him. You said he was opening up to you a lot more, spending time with you and Lily." Sirius said.
"I do, I really love that Harry wants to spend time with me and that he comes to me without being invited first. But he's not opening up to me, if anything I think he's keeping secrets." James ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "I know this is bothering him, his obliviated memories. I could see how defeated he was when he came out from his pensieve, after realising the spell he was given never worked. If Malfoy helps him get back even a fraction of his memories, then that will pacify him and he won't feel so lost."
Sirius was silent for a few minutes just observing his friend.
"I hope Malfoy's memories do the trick. I would hate for your efforts to go to waste." He said, meaning every word.
James shrugged again.
"I just want my son to be happy."
--
Canon World
"I'm not happy!" Harry complained, sitting across from Hermione, wearing a frown.
The bushy haired girl let out a sigh and lowered her parchment.
"It's for your own good." She told him.
"I was doing just fine." Harry shot back.
"I knew something was up with you. If you don't listen to us and change your behaviour, everyone will catch on that you're not really Harry." Hermione explained.
Harry's frown deepened.
"I am Harry!" he hissed.
"You know what I mean." Hermione said, waving her hand.
"But why Longbottom? Can't you choose someone else?" Harry asked a definite whine in his voice.
Hermione looked exasperated.
"I already told you, Harry is good friends with Neville. The way you act with him is bound to get him suspicious. Start being nicer to him, don't ignore him and talk to him." Hermione advised.
Harry huffed and crossed his arms.
"Fine! But like I said, I'm not happy about it!"
Hermione smiled.
"We can work on that."
A knock on the door drew their attention and Hermione crossed the length of the room in a hurry to answer the door. Ron's shock of red hair was clearly visible as Hermione cracked open the door. Hermione opened the door wide and let her friend come inside.
"I thought you two might be in here." Ron said as he walked over to Harry. "I swear this Requirement Room is starting to feel like a secondary common room." Ron laughed.
"I prefer it, much less crowded and a lot quieter." Harry said. Then looking at the two Gryffindors he added, "Well, it used to be anyway."
Hermione ignored the comment and started picking up her loose parchment.
"We should head for breakfast soon." she said.
"I just got here." Ron complained.
"You didn't travel far!" Hermione scolded.
"What time did you two come here?" Ron said as he pulled himself out from his chair.
"Too early, couldn't sleep." Harry said. He was having one of those days that came every two months. The painful withdrawals from his sleeping potion addiction would hit him hard for a few days, usually about three, and he would fall quite ill and found he couldn't sleep very well. Harry was trying his best to seem normal but his body was starting to ache and the headache blooming behind his eyes was going to make him hurl soon.
"I woke up at my normal time but I thought I would come here and study before breakfast. I figured I could use the peace and quiet. I mean I still have that Charms paper to complete and I thought I could cross check my work for Transfiguration with Murdop Gilligan's Guide to …"
"Stop, stop, Hermione. It's too early in the morning." Ron said, throwing his hands up in the air.
Hermione huffed at him a little but didn't finish her explanation.
Harry followed the two out the door and walked slowly down to the Great Hall. He stuck his hands into his robes pockets, hunching his shoulders as shivers wracked through him. He closed his eyes, willing the pain to subside and let him reach the Gryffindor table. He hated how these withdrawals affected him. It always left him feeling so damn weak and ill.
Harry sat down and pulled a plate towards him, willing his empty stomach to stop rolling. He had to eat something, even if it was only a few bites.
After a measly breakfast of a few spoonfuls of porridge, Harry and the two Gryffindors set off for their first class of the day. Before they could walk into their classroom, they saw a large group of students huddled around the Main Hall notice board. Wondering what had been posted on it now, the trio walked over and joined the large group of flustered students.
Harry read the notice silently to himself, sensing the growing anger radiating from the two on his either side.
Educational Decree Twenty-four
By Order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts;
All student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor, Professor Umbridge.
No student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
High Inquisitor
Hermione was shaking with suppressed anger.
"I can't believe this!" she seethed, all the way back to their classroom. "She can't do this! She can't get away with doing this!"
Ron was just as red faced as she was.
"She's gaining more and more control with these growing educational decrees!" he spat as he slammed his bag onto his desk. "She's going to take over the whole bloody school if this goes on!"
Harry didn't say anything and sat down in his seat. He wasn't really all that bothered, as long as Umbridge left him alone, he was happy to ignore her too. Hermione looked at him and opened her mouth to say something but then abruptly shut it again. She looked away from Harry, shaking her head as if debating over something in her head.
Harry closed his eyes and rubbed at his eyes, he wished he could go back to his bed. But he couldn't. He would need to go and see Poppy if he wanted to miss classes and that wasn't a good idea. One blood test to see what was wrong with him and Poppy would find out about the addiction.
He opened his eyes with a sigh and almost jumped in shock. Angelina had suddenly appeared and was standing only a few inches away from his face.
"Harry!" she yelled.
"Yes!" Harry responded at once.
"Do you know that, that, that woman, is including Quidditch as part of the decree?" she positively screeched.
"I didn't before but I do now." Harry grumbled as her high pitched voice drove right into his head, worsening his headache.
"We have to get permission, permission! from that woman to reform our house team! How unfair is that!" she groaned.
"Yeah, unfair." Harry agreed, just so the girl would leave.
"I'm going straight to McGonagall about this! It's not on!" Angelina turned and marched out of the door.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione with a confused look.
"Why did she just come in here and yell at me?" he asked.
"She wasn't yelling at you. She was yelling around you." Ron explained.
Harry pulled a face.
"Well, there's to be no yelling anywhere around me and especially at me." Harry groused. "There's only one female who gets away with yelling at me." He added.
Hermione's eyes softened at the comment and she whispered.
"Your mum?"
Harry smiled back at her.
"Actually, I was thinking more about my girlfriend."
Hermione's eyes widened at that and she smiled brightly.
"Really, who is she? Someone we know?"
Harry couldn't help but glance at Ron. He lowered his head and grinned.
"Perhaps" he answered.
xxx
There was no one around. Every student was busy in class, all but one. The blond haired boy pushed past the numerous items before him as he searched. His grey eyes narrowed as he studied the various things before him.
"Come on, it has to be here. Where is it!" he whispered to himself.
He pulled out the invisibility cloak and for a moment his eyes clouded over with greed.
"So it's true, Potter does have one of these." He mused out loud. He folded the cloak over and placed it beside him, intending on taking it with him once he was finished.
He pushed the other items out of the way, muttering curses under his breath.
"Seriously, Potter, cram your pathetic trunk with more junk why don't you!" he hissed.
At last he came across what he was looking for. With a hesitant pause he lifted the piece of parchment and stared at it with large eyes.
"Oh, good God! It's true!" He whispered as he stared at the sketch of the golden compass.
He roughly snapped the trunk closed and pushed it back under the bed. He put the sketch of the golden compass into his robes and grabbed the invisibility cloak in his hands. He stood up and turned around to leave but stopped suddenly at the sight before him.
Green eyes were fixed on him, a calm yet terrifying expression on the handsome face. Draco gulped and took a step back when he saw Harry standing at the door, leaning casually against the frame.
"Well, I know why I'm here. Seeing as this is my dorm but the question is, why are you here?" Harry asked, his voice light and playful.
Draco didn't answer. Harry's eyes fell on the cloak and he looked back up at the fifteen year old Slytherin.
"Tut Tut, Draco, stealing and from a Potter no less. What would your father say?" he taunted.
"I know who you are." Draco whispered.
Harry straightened up and walked further inside. The door closed behind Harry and the loud click told Draco it was now locked.
"Everyone knows who I am." Harry said with a smirk. "What makes you so special?"
"I know who you really are. Where you come from!" Draco said meaningfully. "I know you're not this world's Harry Potter. I know you come from an alternate universe." He smirked at Harry. "I know everything about you."
Harry cocked his head to the side, looking Draco over.
"I sincerely doubt that." He said with an amused grin.
Draco shook his head and pulled out the sketch Harry had painstakingly made to perform the location spell. He held it out in front of Harry.
"I know what this is," Draco said with a smug look. Harry didn't look fazed at all. He had already seen Draco take the sketch out of his trunk. "I was wondering how Potter suddenly developed a spine. And that story about a messed up potion fooled no one!" he smirked at him.
"You're not really one to talk about developing spines, seeing as yours has yet to grow." Harry returned.
Draco's smirk faltered but he forced it to remain.
"Come on, Potter. I'm not your enemy. You could use a friend, especially in a world you don't know anything about." He said slyly.
"I know enough about this world." Harry answered with a shrug.
Draco looked at him, lost as to what to say now. He placed the sketch back in his pocket and met Harry's gaze.
"Fine, if you don't want to have a helping hand then so be it. I can see it doesn't matter which universe you belong to, Potters always end up making the wrong choice and knocking back offers they shouldn't." His grey eyes narrowed at Harry.
"It's what makes us special." Harry answered dryly. "Now, why don't you stop with your nonsense and tell me something useful like, how you got into my room, and how you knew that sketch was going to be here. And Draco," Harry took a step nearer, his green eyes darkening instantly, making Draco gasp in surprise and fear. "Don't hold anything back."
xxx
Harry walked into the Great Hall for lunch, his mood noticeably darker. He sat down next to Ron and Hermione, rubbing at his eyes again.
"Are you okay? Did you go to see Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione asked, concerned for this version of her friend.
Harry nodded his head and then dropped his hands away so he could look at her.
"Yeah, she gave me a vial of pain relief and told me to go back to class." He said.
"But you've been away the whole morning, what happened?" Ron asked.
Harry glanced around, pulling at his collar uncomfortably.
"I wasn't feeling like I could sit through class. I mean, I've done it all before. I've finished with Hogwarts. It's not like I'm missing something important, so I thought I would go back to my dorm, maybe have a little rest." He answered.
Hermione nodded her head.
"That was sensible. I have to say, you frightened the life out of me. When I saw your nosebleed in class, I didn't know what happened to you." She furrowed her brow. "You said this happens to you often? Why is that?"
"It's not important," Harry shook his head. His desire to skip class had been granted when blood started seeping out of his nose, ten minutes into the lecture. Harry had forgotten that happened sometimes during the periods of his withdrawals. He was excused from class and told to go to the hospital wing at once. It was after his brief encounter with the school nurse that he met Draco in his room, stealing his possessions. "I have to tell you something." Harry said, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Malfoy knows."
Hermione's eyes widened and she let out a gasp. Ron's reaction was similar.
"What?! How?!" Hermione asked.
"From what he told me, he was suspicious about me ever since I did that spell on him that rendered him unable to speak." Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione and Ron gasped again. "Will you both stop doing that!" he snapped at them. "He said he figured out the truth about me and used an excuse to skip class to come into my room and look for clues."
"He was in our dorm?! How did he get in?" Ron asked.
"He overheard it, thanks to your idiot friend who kept blabbering to everyone that he wouldn't forget the password now as it was the same as his pet plant!" Harry answered.
Hermione and Ron looked over at the oblivious Neville, busy eating his lunch.
"What did he find?" Hermione asked.
"The sketch of the compass I used to come here." Harry answered. "He was planning on stealing it, along with my cloak."
"Harry's cloak." Ron quickly pointed out.
Harry just looked at him.
"Sorry, I don't know why that came out." Ron apologised with a sheepish look. Harry ignored him.
"It's safe. I caught him in the act and took back my things." Harry finished.
"Did you…did you obliviate him?" Hermione whispered.
Harry paused before answering, his fingers tapping the table softly.
"No"
"What? Why the hell not?! He's going to blow your cover!" Ron whispered as quietly as he could.
"I know, but I can't obliviate him." Harry answered, looking at the staff table again.
"Harry I don't understand…" Hermione began.
"Look, if there is one person I can say I know better than myself, it's Draco." Harry said. "He was lying to me. There is no way he came looking for that compass, he couldn't have known about it. He was afraid of me and what I could do to him but he still lied to me. That tells me one thing; he's even more afraid of someone else. I have a pretty good idea of who that someone else is and if I'm right, then that means that Draco is being used to spy on me."
Hermione and Ron had forgotten their food before them and were staring at Harry with scared expressions.
"Harry, are you talking about him?" Hermione asked, referring of course to Voldemort.
Harry nodded his head.
"The one and only."
"But then you should obliviate him! He's going to pass on information to…to him!" Ron said in an urgent whisper.
"He doesn't have anything to report. I'm pretty certain he already knows where I came from. He wouldn't have told Draco to look for the compass or something to do with it if he didn't already suspect the truth." Harry said. "As for now, Draco doesn't have anything on me. He doesn't know anymore about me then he already does. Nothing of any real substance has been disclosed and I'm going to keep it that way." Harry said quietly. "If I obliviate Draco it will gain me nothing. It's better for me to have Draco continue this game, let him think he's winning."
Hermione and Ron were both visibly worried.
"Harry, I don't know, this is really dangerous." Hermione said, biting her lip.
"Trust me, Hermione. If there is one thing I know how to deal with, it's him." Harry replied.
xxx
The dark room smelled of blood and fire. Droplets of crimson liquid stained the marble floor where a wizard sat with his eyes closed. His snake like face was twisted in concentration. Indecipherable mutterings fell from his mouth as he sat before a golden object.
Long pale fingers touched the surface of the glass dome and the hissed muttering rose in volume. Magic crackled in the air and sizzled as the wizard spoke words and incantations with fury.
Not far away, Nagini sat curled up with her large eyes fixed on her master. She hissed in her serpent tongue along with her master. The echoes of the two mingled together to magnify the sound.
Suddenly the mutterings stopped, crimson eyes flew open at once. Lord Voldemort looked down at the golden compass lying before his sitting form. His lips twitched into a satisfied smile as he saw the hovering, translucent image of another compass directly over the real one. His eyes took in the different settings of the image, noting where the five hands were pointing and what point the two rings were set at.
"Perfect" he hissed in delight as Nagini slithered over to him. He pet her large reptilian head and smiled a terrifying smile.
"Perfect"
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