I couldn't believe it. How did I end up back here? Had it all been a dream, or had I actually been transported home? I tried to get up but something was pushing me down.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Ally," Fred mumbled. He got off me but I froze, too shocked to move. Fred was here. In my room, in Kensington, in 2011. I almost fainted but the shock of the other people in the room prevented me.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all looking around the room with interest. Hermione, being Hermione, went straight to my bookcase and started rummaging through the titles.
"Is this part of the room?" Ginny asked, looking back towards the closet. The passageway seemed to have sealed up and it was filled with my clothes. I couldn't move. I just sat in the same position, gapping at the scene.
"Hey Harry, look at this," Hermione called. "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets... The Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of-" She Broke off and pulled off the last book on the shelf. "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows." Harry and Ron rushed over as Hermione filled through the pages, stopping near the back.
"Nineteen years later," she read curiously. I suddenly sprang into action, having no control of my actions whatsoever. Making a noise that was a cross between a growling dog and a strangled cat; I snatched the book from her hands and hid it behind my back. They could not read that epilogue. Or any of the book for that matter.
They all stared at me curiously as though I had gone insane. I think I had to be honest.
"Hey, this boy looks like you Harry," Ginny said, pulling a Harry Potter DVD off the shelf. She opened it up and started curiously spinning the disk on her finger. They were a nosy bunch. They were practically dismantling my room.
"Come on guys," I said, putting the DVD back. "We don't want to make too much of a mess."
"Why, the room will clean it up," Ron said, flopping down on my bed. He sighed in content. "What I would give for a proper night's sleep."
Hermione hit him hard and tried to pull him up. "Come on Ron. We have two horcruxes to destroy. And nothing to destroy them with. This is no time for sleeping! Let's just go back to the others."
She marched over to the closet but found that the passage way was gone. "It's gone, we can't get back to the room!" she ran over to the window and squealed in fright. "Oh my god. We're in London?" Harry, Ron, Fred and Ginny all joined her at the window with frightened expressions.
"It has to be Voldemort," Harry said immediately. "He must have sent us here to stop us getting the Horcrux."
"But how Harry? You can't apparate inside Hogwarts," Hermione asked.
"He's the Darkest Wizard of all time. He'd find away," Fred said.
I looked around my room. Everything seemed the same, yet different. I picked up my phone from the bed and pressed the home button.
05:29
Friday, 29 April.
I had been gone less than a day. Three years their time, Eighteen hours here. Now that was messed up.
"Are you ok Ally?" Ginny asked. They all turned to stare at me.
"You need to know something," I sighed. "You won't like it, but you need to know." I sighed again as they stared at me in anticipation. "I'm not from America, I'm from here. This is my room. And it's really 2011.
One day after a fight with my dad I went into my closet, it's what I always do, did, when I was sad. But when I opened my eyes I was in an Alleyway and then I was attacked by a vampire. And then when I woke up I was in Grimmauld Place."
"Yes, we know," Harry said, sounding slightly exasperated.
"Yes, but that is the setting to a book, the Harry Potter book. Somehow, I was transported into the books. So I made up the story about being from America, but everything else's true, I swear."
They all stared at me as though I had grown ten heads. "I don't understand," Ron said, finally. I walked over to the bookcase and pulled out The Philosophers Stone.
"In this world, you guys are all book characters, written by J.K. Rowling. Although you're obviously not, to everyone in this world you are just characters, fiction."
Hermione seemed to understand my poor explaining. She gasped and took the book off me, skimming through the pages like she did before.
"Look, when we were attacked by the troll. No one was there but us. So you were somehow transported into the books?" she asked. I nodded and pulled out Order of the Phoenix. All the books on the row fell down, but I didn't care. I went straight to Chapter 35 Beyond the Veil.
"I came at the beginning of the fifth book," I continued. "But at the end, Sirius dies. I couldn't let that happen so I took the curse for him."
Hermione snatched the book from me and read the first few pages. "Oh my god, this is extraordinary. Have a look."
The group standing by the window seemed to be in shock. Not one of them had moved since my big reveal. But at Hermione's words, they all ran over to her and the book.
"Theres nothing you can do... Nothing... He's gone," Harry read. He snatched the book off Hermione and went straight to the manufactures page. "Published in 2003," he whispered in pure shock.
"This isn't one of your jokes is it," Ginny asked. Her eyes were wide and she had gone exceptionally pale.
"No, I'm telling the truth. I'm so sorry I didn't say sooner, but I just didn't know how to tell you."
"Dont apologise," Ron said. "I wouldn't have believed you anyway. I would've thought you were mad and not spoken to you again." I had to smile, it was impossible not to.
"Well this is great," Harry said, picking up the Deathly Hallows. "Now we can find out how to defeat Voldemort."
I snatched to book off him again. "You can't read that book, there's an epilogue," I said, awkwardly.
"Then rip it out," Ron said.
I gasped in horror. "It's a first edition. They all are. Apart from the first one. What I would give to get my hands on..." I shook my head and tried to regain my thought. "You can't spend time reading, you have to get back."
"How long has it been in this time?" Hermione asked.
"Three years your time, eighteen hours here," I answered. "Which means you need to get a move on."
"No, I really think the time works for you. We could spend well over a fortnight here and mere seconds would go by."
We all stared at her as though she had gone mad. There was a lot of that this morning. They were all trying to get their heads around what was going on, and I was trying to get my head around Hermione. She could not be serious.
"We need to get back," I said desperately.
"And how do you suppose we do that?" Fred asked scathingly. I knew Fred would not be as forgiving as the others. I had blatantly lied to him after promising I wouldn't. And then I broke up with him and insulted his whole family. I was such a bitch.
"Here's what I don't understand," Fred said, sounding cocky and sure of himself. "How is your mother Bellatrix?" he was trying to catch me out. Trying to get me to admit that it was a prank. Sorry, sweetheart but that wasn't happening.
I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a baby picture of her and I. Even then she looked peeved off about something.
"Bellatrix Lestrange had a twin. Her parents believed she was a squib so they disposed of her here. She grew up and got married and had me. Then one day she transported back to your world where she discovered she was actually a witch. She also discovered someone who looked like her. Bellatrix. She killed her and then took over her identity. Then, years later I was sent there to join their ranks."
"Wait, so you have to be sent?" Hermione asked sounding paniced.
"No, we got back and she got there in the first place. There's obviously a way. Anymore questions?"
Ron raised his hand but then lowered it again, looking sheepish and embarrassed. "Who knows about all this?" he motioned wildly around the room.
"Dumbledore did, Bellatrix obviously. Voldemort, Snape, I think the Malfoy's might do. And Sirius suspects something's up, but he knows I'll never tell h-"
My phone on the bed lit up and the lyrics to 'Whip My Hair' echoed throughout the room.
"I remember this," Ginny grinned, swaying along. "You taught it us in the first DA. Is it coming from this?" She picked up the phone and accidently knocked the 'Accept' button.
"Hello?" Jack's voice sounded from the phone. I had completely forgotten about him. I picked up the phone and pressed it tightly to my ear.
"Hey Jack," I said, trying to sound normal. I heard him sigh loudly.
"Jesus Ally, where have you been? Cher when ballistic when you didn't show up yesterday." Three years ago, you mean. I grinned to myself.
"Sorry, but I was Ill and i really wasn't up for It. And my phone went dead and I couldn't find the charger."
He seemed to relax a bit after my excuse. "Well you missed a good one. Your boyfriend missed you." Fred's ears perked up at the word boyfriend. So did mine.
"What boyfriend?" I asked. He laughed loudly.
"You know that old codger who called you a witch."
Suddenly it all came flashing back to me. The man lived in a flat next to the bar they were at yesterday. He might be able to help us get back.
"He lives next door right? I need to get there," I looked at the clock and saw it was 5:45.
"Why, Most the roads are closed for the wedding of the century."
"Wedding of the Century?"
"Have you been living in a different dimension or something. William and Kate are getting married today."
I groaned loudly. While I was all for happy ever after and I really did want to see her dress, why did they have to get married today. It would be absolutely impossible to get to the other side of London.
"I'll see you later," I muttered before hanging the phone up. I turned back to my visitors to find the all sitting in a line on my bed, staring up at me as though I was the answer to all their problems. But in reality, I had less of an idea what to do than them.
I clapped my hands together and took off my grenade belt. I don't think the royal guard would take too kindly to that.
"Right gang, we're going on a field trip. There's someone across town who may be able to help us, but we may have to walk. All the roads are closed."
I lead them down the stairs and to the front door. The sooner we were going, the better.
"Can't we apparate?" Harry asked.
I shook my head. "No, we'd definitely be seen. The streets are full."
We crossed the road over to the post office where there was an ATM. I only had five pounds on me.
It was weird to think that if it wasn't for me being broke, I would never have gotten into the argument with my dad and I would have never got to Grimmauld Place.
I took out £50 and lead them down to The Kensington Road. The quickest route to the bar would be past Buckingham Palace. It would take hours to push through the crowds on The Mall alone.
"Why are there so many people?" Ginny asked, looking around with interest.
"Prince Williams getting married," I said, offhandedly. We were only by Hyde Park and things were about to get a lot worse.
"Isn't he a little young to get married?" Harry asked.
"He's in his late twenties now, don't forget," I grinned. I was looking desperately around for a taxi or bus, but all the roads were closed off.
We travelled in mostly silence, and it wasn't until we reached The Palace Gardens did someone say the words I had been dreading to here.
"Haha, that kid's dressed like Harry Potter!" a boy, not much younger than me laughed. Harry stopped with interest, so I tried to pull him along. But it was too late and we had gained the attention of the other passers-by.
"And it's Ron and Hermione too," a little girl cried. Some people laughed and began to take pictures as Harry angrily drew out his wand.
"Remember, they think your dressed up," I whispered. "Just keep moving."
More people stopped for pictures on The Mall. One cheeky boy even asked who the hell was I supposed to be. I don't think his mother was too happy with the hand gesture I supplied. When we got to Charing Cross Road, they all stopped and grinned.
"Why can't we just go to The Leaky Cauldron, that's around here isn't it?" Hermione asked. "I recognise the road. Of course, it looks a lot different now."
"There is no Leaky Cauldron. It doesn't exist here." a depressing gloom fell over them.
After almost an hour of tiresome walking we finally made it to the little bar. A few 'friends' of mine were sitting outside. They called me over but I just ignored them. I couldn't even remember half of their names.
I walked straight up the steps next to the bar and rang the doorbell. I held my finger down on the buzzer, so he had no choice but to answer.
"Whose there?" a deep voice asked from the intercom. He had a cockney accent and he sounded tired, as though he had just woken up.
"I'm Ally, you told me I was a witch before and I need your help."
The intercom turned off. We waited for a few minutes; nothing happened. Just as I turned to leave the door swung open to reveal the man. He was very old, and there was something familiar in his eyes. He gave me a weary look, but his eyes gleamed when he saw my company.
"Come in," he ushered creepily. Normally I wouldn't go in to weird people's houses, but I was desperate. I pulled out my wand and went into the flat with the others following me.
I went up the stairs and then waited for the man to let us in.
"It's open," he called. I opened the door but then took a step back. The place reeked of incense and perfumes. Fred, who was behind me, began to splutter and cough loudly. I nudged him hard, telling him to stop being dramatic. He gave me a coy grin before sitting down on the sofa. I sat down close to him but then shuffled away to give some distance. As much as I wanted to, we weren't a couple anymore. That cute grin he gave when we came in made me feel like everything was fine, but it wasn't.
"So Alyssa, what brings you here?" he asked, flopping down into an arm chair. He acted so young, but he was at least 65, maybe even 70. I was about to tell him the story, but then I realised something.
"You called me Alyssa. I told you my name was Ally."
He ignored me and continued to stare, waiting for an answer. I told him everything that had happened. He listened looking quite bored, as though it was a story he had heard before.
It really bugged me how familiar he seemed. His gaze, his accent, his mannerisms. I had met him before, but something told me it wasn't in this time...
When I finished telling my story, he laughed humorously. "So what do you think about all this?" he asked, his eyes falling on Fred. "It's crazy isn't it. The Liar, The Bitch and The Wardrobe." He laughed loudly at his little joke. I scanned the room and saw a box of wizard cigarette on the table. Suddenly, it clicked why he was so familiar.
I was about to call him out, but he put his finger to his lips. I nodded and grinned at him. I couldn't believe he was here. But he was. And he was going to save my ass once again.
"So Mr..."
"Pratt, Psycho Pratt ." I tried not to laugh. I could see the cogs turning in Fred's eyes but he didn't catch on.
"How do we get back?"
"Well, it's all in here." he pointed to his heart. I tried not to laugh again. "There are two ways to transport between the worlds. The first is the calling, but that's very difficult magic and the second is the will."
"The Will?" Harry asked sceptically.
"Yes, you have to want to get there, with absolutely everything in you. I suspect just before you came back, the only thing you wanted was to get away from everything?" I nodded dumbly.
"Then how are we here?" Fred asks.
"When the portal opens, it stays open for about twenty seconds. You followed her."
"So only one of us needs 'the will'?"
He nodded. "But it's difficult. It's kind of a spur of the moment thing. It's very hard to open the portal on demand."
I nodded and then stood up to leave. If we were to get back, we needed to start trying as soon as possible. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, I told them to wait outside while I fetched my wand which had fell out of my pocket.
He was waiting for me, as though he knew I would come back. I grinned and hugged him tightly.
"I don't know how the hell you are here, but thank you Scaboir."
"No, I owe thanks to you."
I pulled back. "For what?"
All though he was an old man, his mischievous grin never changed. "You'll find out soon enough."
:-:
I opened the closet for the fiftieth time to find it still filled with my clothes. I groaned loudly and turned to the others who were watching The Half-Blood Prince on DVD. It had been hours since we had visited Scaboir and it was now past 10pm.
The guys insisted on watching the Harry Potter films. After the initial shock and many mutters of "this is so weird." They actually began to enjoy it.
"Seriously, when did this fire at The Burrow happen?" Ron laughed.
"Guys, do you want to give me a hand?" I asked, motioning toward the closet. They shrugged and turned back to the TV.
Apparently they were having 'a day off.' With virtually no time passing in the other world, they decided it was best if they had a well-deserved rest. Hermione even had a bath, something she hadn't had for almost a year.
"Seriously, aren't you concerned?"
"Just relax Ally," Ron mumbled, his mouth full of pizza. "We'll try tomorrow."
I shrugged and went to sit beside them. There was no point me trying if they didn't even want to go back yet.
Unfortunately, the only free space on the floor was next to Fred, who was leaning up against my bed. I squished down next to him and propped myself up with my hand. I was subconsciously leaning toward him. But I didn't move.
I noticed his hand, propping himself up like mine, just inches away. Without thinking, I brushed my pinkie finger against his.
Fred inclined his head toward mine and grinned. I looked down and pulled away, but he put his fingers over mine.
My phone vibrated for the thousandth time, ruining the moment. Fred picked it up off the bed behind us and began to inspect it.
"What is this thing?" he jumped a bit when it lit up.
"It's an iPhone," I said without thinking. I didn't think I'd need to explain. Everyone knew what an iPhone was. But then again, these people were from a different time.
Fred stared at in with interest. "So you don't hold it to your ear, you hold it to your eye." Before I could stop him, he brought it up to his face and poked it into his eye. I could help but laugh.
"Don't laugh that hurt," he whined, rubbing his eye. "Stupid eye-phone."
"You don't hold it to your eye. It's called an iPhone because... Well I don't actually know. Apple just put 'i' in front of everything."
"Who are Apple?" Ginny asked. She'd kind of lost interest with the movie after the Room of Requirement scene made her look 'desperate and tarty.'
"They're the company who make them."
I spent the next few minutes explaining about their products and gave them the phone to play with. They somehow ended up on 'fat booth' though. I took it off them to demonstrate.
Ginny found the 'fat Fred' absolutely hilarious.
"I don't see any difference," I said in the most serious voice I could muster. He mock glared at me before taking my picture. I looked awful. He picked up a piece of paper and cast Copricio, copying the photo onto it.
"Not this again," I laughed. I grabbed the paper and cast the spell over his fat face.
After the Harry Potter marathon, Hermione wanted to watch the final Pirates of the Caribbean. She had heard me talk about it and wanted to know what the fuss was about.
As much as I wanted to go back, it was fun just to relax. In my room, there was no war. Fred and I hadn't broken up; I hadn't lied for the past few years. We were just all relaxed, like we were at Grimmauld Place. We knew there was trouble, but there was no need to worry. We were safe for the moment.
:-:
"It's no good, I don't think we're going to be able to get back," Harry admitted. We had been trying to get back all morning but with no such luck. We took it in turns but we just couldn't manage it.
"Ok, I think we just all need to say what we want most, and then we could channel it into getting back," Hermione said. "Fred what do you want the most?"
"Ally," he shrugged casually, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. I couldn't hide my grin.
I was standing next to Fred, so Hermione motioned for me to go next. "Fred," I said, in the same tone as Fred did. Hermione sighed in annoyance.
"Well does anyone have anything that doesn't involve love?" We all shook our heads.
"Well, I want you all to be safe," Harry said. "But your safe here."
"But everyone else is ready for battle. You need to go back to defeat Voldemort. If you don't, everyone will die," Ginny said dramatically. It was supposed to be serious, yet it sounded quite comical. I struggled not to laugh and I could see Ron doing the same.
"Let's eat, and then we'll try again," Ron suggested. "Can we go out for lunch, I need some air."
"Ron, you've been living in the forest for the past ten months, you do not need air," I said. "Besides, I think it's best if you stay inside. We don't want a repeat performance of yesterday."
"Please can we go out? We can transfigure our hair or something," Ginny said.
"Well no offense, but the main problems Harry," I said, giving him an apologetic glance.
"That's sorted. Harry can stay here and we'll all get lunch," Ron said. He started to walk toward the door but I pulled him back.
"Harry come here a sec. Can you see without your glasses?" He shook his head. "And you call yourself the chosen one, pshh."
I showed Hermione a photo of Justin Bieber and got her to charm Harry's hair like it. The sweeping fringe would cover up his scar; it was that which caused the most questions.
We went to McDonalds. It was the nearest place, and I didn't want them out for too long.
They were so cute with new things. But As I watched them play with the ketchup dispenser in awe, I began to have second thoughts. They obviously didn't belong here, but did I belong there? I came back for a reason, and that must be it. Although I was happier there, I just seemed to cause trouble.
"Hey what's up," Fred asked, sitting next to me. He was covered in ketchup. It was quite comical but I wasn't really in the mood to laugh. I just grinned and shook my head.
"Do you want to get home?" he asked.
"This is my home," I mumbled. He stared at me for a moment before his face turned serious.
"Ally, I know that tortured Martyr look. You're going to stay."
"I have to," I said earnestly.
"No you don't. I really don't get you sometimes. As soon as something good happens, you just run away. And -" he stopped abruptly and then smiled to himself.
"What?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing." he gave me a small smile before turning his attention to the Happy Meal toy.
"Seriously, what?"
"You'll come," he said, matter-of-factly.
"I will?" I challenged.
"Yeah you will. Not right away but as soon as we leave, you'll regret it. And then you'll find a way to join us. Just face it Al, I know you better than you know yourself."
I opened my mouth to argue but then shut it. He was right on that part. Fred knew me better than anyone. He held his head high in triumph and stood up.
"Hey, we're leaving," he called to the others, before marching out to the left.
"I live the other way you numpty!"
He casually doubled back, as though it was supposed to happen.
We walked back in silence. Fred was being smug and annoying so I ignored him. If he was going to be an ass and ruin our last moments together then so be it.
Once in my room, Fred went straight to the closet. "Harry, do your thing. Oh and Ally, have you told them your news. She's 'not coming.'" he did the air quotes and everything. I rolled my eyes.
"Fred, please just stop this. This is going to be the last time we see each other."
"No it isn't," he said, grabbing me by the shoulders.
"Who are you trying to convince; me or you." I gathered up enough courage to look him in the eye. He looked angry, annoyed and sad. I looked down like the coward I was.
I could hear the others whispering about us, but I just ignored them. Though I was sure I heard the words 'turbulent relationship' come from Ginny.
"Well, I best get my goodbyes in now," I said, tears springing to my eyes. "Remember, you can't tell anyone about this."
"You're seriously not coming?" Ginny asked. "What about Sirius, Tonks, Remus and Teddy. You're his godmother." she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. "What about us, and me. You're my best friend Ally. Despite the fact you're kind of insane, and a bit of a bitch. And you're pretty vain too..."
"This this supposed to make me feel good about myself?" I laughed, my vision blurred because of the tears.
Ron went to hug me but I took a step back. "No I'm sorry, but no more sad goodbyes. You know I don't do sloppy stuff. I want to remember you all as happy."
When they all went to the closet, I grabbed Fred's hand and pulled him over to the corner. "That rule doesn't apply to you."
He grabbed my other hand and kissed them both. "Please Ally, just come."
"I can't," I whispered hoarsely.
"Well I can't say goodbye. It's just too difficult."
"Fred quick, Harrys gone through," Ron shouted before herding Ginny and Hermione in.
Fred gave me one last regretful glance before going through himself. As soon as he went through, the closet turned back to its usual state.
I don't know which annoyed me more. Fred's lack of goodbye or that he was right. I did regret not going as soon as they left. But with these conflicted feelings, how the hell was I supposed to get back.
Chapter dedicated to 350th Reviewer: ClassroomoftheMysteries.
Congrats to all those who guessed Fred, but no one guessed that the whole gang would come a long. This chapter was the hardest to write so please cut me some slack ;)
I am really sorry. I thought I already posted this last Wednesday, but obviously not. But I have almost finished the next chapter, so that will be up by the end of the week.
I know that they were all very accepting about Ally lying, but this was a long chapter and I didn't want it to be even longer with 'I hate you… I don't like you… I'll forgive you…' it's just unnecessary drabble.
Thank you all so much for the reviews. Every single one makes me so a little Happy dance. Classroomofthemysteries, Magical . Melody, DragonWand, Alou Kerr, LilyAlice Cullen Black, GreyHaru, misa-chan46, Writer . of . the . Gods, Lenie954, Flowelle, Natsumi-Reiko, Mottie, Aki-blood-dark-princess, inusgirllovesmonkeys, ForgeandGred4Ever, ..Yesterday, , Chuck the Girl, Sensula, Aerilynblack, People-Are-Crazy, FutureAuthoress176, 2featherbraids, Blue is the Sea, x..x.x, Smores503, Spot'sGalFrom1899, WantToBeSomebody, Georgie Monsoon, Nemo-Chan, RumbleRoaar, desigirl97, FallenArchangel, LadyOblivious, BigTimeRushGleek, MrsFredWeasley21xx, and EllieJTriX.
Thanks for reading, let me know what you think : ) xxx