This is going be the lighter than I thought because even I felt sorry for dear Harry, and just to cut him some slack. He's going to have lots of love and support before all the bad things happen. ^_^ Oh! And adding in small pairings, or going-to-be pairings: Ron/Hermione, and Blaise+Harry. Mwahahaha... Don't worry- it's still going to be Harry and Draco. ^_^ But just to warn you- it's a pretty sad/disturbing Draco/Harry.
Shamera
It was shortly after Lily left the two of them with a smile and a wink that things began to feel extremely uncomfortable. Almost as if a tension had built up the moment that she left- or maybe had been there all along, but had been held at bay by Lily. But after Harry had said good night to his newfound (or was it old…?) friends, Lily had dragged Padfoot away from the scruff of his neck and smiled at them, leaving father and son to their much-needed talk.
After all, the last true conversation that they had (and the first, to think of it) had been in the infirmary where James had accused Harry of being a Death Eater in disguise. So it wasn't unexpected that it would be hard to start up a conversation again.
So the two of them had walked in an awkward silence near the Forbidden Forest, glancing at each other every few seconds only to feel even more nervous about talking to each other. Neither of them really knew what to say to each other, only knowing that they had to somehow heal the gap created, even before Harry had arrived.
The scene they walked in held a false tranquility in the bright colors of the setting sun. Watching the clouds drift past with the meandering wind, Harry was once again struck by how strange it was that it was still so beautiful in a world where Voldemort had never gone. He had always expected death and destruction as a result, considering that all the elder wizards and witches had told him of what dark times Voldemort reigned.
Yet the world was still as beautiful (even more so, it seemed!) than the one he remembered. It was almost like a collapsing dream, a fading fantasy that he had made for himself in denial over the fact that he was fighting Voldemort. In fact, he almost believed that theory when in came in mind. Was this reality created by his imagination? Because he was in denial?
But if that were the case, what was he in denial over? He had faced Voldemort for many years, and this had never happened before.
Staring at the reddish gold color of the setting sun, Harry was once again reminded of the burning flames that constant surrounded him, making him freeze in their absence. He shivered slightly, rubbing his arms absentmindedly as he dwelled on the thought of his still healing burns.
James had been watching, and his eyes flickered in concern for a moment before the look faded away. It was confusing for him to watch someone who looked so much like him with a magnitude of expressions that had never crossed the elder man's face before. Such hollowness not unlike the hopelessness that he felt at certain times, yet different as well. So much joy in laughter and seeing a familiar face, yet the doubt that the person before them was real.
"I'm sorry."
The words were spoken so softly that James almost missed it, even though the area that they were walking in was disturbingly silent. He startled a bit, staring at the boy inductively through styled spectacles. He wanted to ask why Harry was sorry, what he had done to make him sorry.
"This must be really hard on everyone." The boy was still staring up at the sky, the colors reflecting off his glasses.
For a moment, James felt bad for thinking the boy to be guilty of something he did. "It's not your fault."
"What if it is?" Harry tilted his head to the side, eyes that were so much like Lily's staring at the man who was supposedly his father. "I don't remember anything of the last year or so. What if something I did caused this? That I somehow came here willingly, and how everyone else is suffering for it."
James sombered deeply at that. "Not everyone is suffering. There are many people who think that your coming here is a blessing."
"But for the most part, I'm not wanted here." Harry shook his head before James could respond. "I know what people are thinking. Mom… Lily, thinks of me as someone else. Someone I'm not. Sirius is suspicious of me, and thinks that I'm here to foul up the plans of the Light. Professor Dumbledore probably hasn't made any decisions yet, although he claims to trust me."
He looked James straight in the eyes. "And you don't want me here either. You don't know what to make of me."
"That's not exactly true." James defended himself, feeling unnerved that the boy could predict so much. But still, he was wrong to a certain extent. "I'll admit that I don't know what to think of you- that you do understand what people's reactions to you have been for the most part. But it doesn't mean that I don't want you here. I am confused. I don't understand how something like this could have happened, how you could have appeared. But it doesn't mean that I would condemn you because of that."
Harry was silent.
James sighed, running a hand through his unruly black hair. This was going to be just as hard as he thought… "I… I always believed that everything happened for a reason, just as Lily used to believe that no one could be completely evil. It was just something to carry me though the war, you understand? I always thought that somehow every action and retribution led to something greater. That perhaps we were just part of a greater picture, that's all.
"It was what I believed in when my son died. That perhaps it had something to do in the greater scheme of things. That he wasn't just a victim of war, but someone special- and had been a part of the tangled web that we believe to be fate. Lily doesn't believe that, but she never argued with me on it. Just like I never argued with her on her beliefs. I had thought that perhaps Harry… my son, had been a catalyst to something. That maybe in given time, his death meant the end of the war."
Harry looked uneasy, not wanting to say anything to that belief. Such a morbid thought… that everything you did led up to something else, meaning that your actions were being controlled. But he supposed that in times of war, one would be able to push off grief and responsibilities to Fate. It was just easier to explain all the things one did… all the things that happened.
"Do you believe in Destiny, Harry?"
A pause in the scratching of a quill on rough parchment. "Professor?"
"Destiny, Harry. That our actions are dictated by a higher power, and that everything that happens was meant to be."
"I… can't say that I do, Professor Dumbledore."
Blue eyes turned to him, partially masked behind half-moon spectacles, it's amusement obvious. "And why not, Harry?"
The quill was set down for a moment of contemplation. "Because I don't like the idea that everything I do is already pre-destined."
A twinkle. "Wouldn't it sound more romantic and accepting for your friends if you could tell them you believe that you and Draco were destined to be together?"
A blush. "I suppose so… if I believed that."
"So you don't believe it?"
"No, sir." A hesitation. "I think… that I'd rather say I fell in love instead of the love being predestined. Destiny makes everything sound so… empty. Like you don't mean it. It makes everything that a person strives and works for sound so meaningless. If you're meant for something, it would happen no matter what."
"Ah, I suppose you are right." A small smile. "But it was an interesting concept, was it not? Especially to those people who actually do believe in it…"
"I can't speak for those people, Professor. They have their own reasons for their beliefs."
"…That they do, Harry. That they do."
"You believe in Destiny, then?" Harry asked.
James was surprised by the question, but no less happy that he had successfully gotten a conversation going. "I wouldn't put it so drastically. I think that Destiny means everything we do was meant to be… but I don't believe that. I just think that our actions lead to a greater cause, that is all. That way all our actions, whether it is good or bad, mean something."
Harry looked away again when he saw something flash in the edge of his peripheral vision. He didn't want to be the one to tell the person who could have been his father that he didn't believe in anything of the sort, because he thought of Destiny or any version of it to be an excuse for not atoning for one's actions. It wasn't his belief to criticize, after all.
"Maybe it's not the best idea to base life on, yes. But it makes thing so-" James also startled for a moment, having noticed something moving. "What in the world-?"
It was barely a moment later when Harry was shoved violently towards the ground and he heard the sound of smoothness like silk sliding over silk.
The moment that the door slammed behind him, Sirius had no doubt that he was in more than deep shit. It didn't matter that he was still in dog form, or the fact that Moony looked completely shocked to see both him and Lily back so early without James or Harry. He felt more than saw Lily's furious expression even before he got back, and the scruff of his neck still hurt from how hard she was dragging him.
"Lily?" Remus exclaimed, shocked. "What happened-?"
"That idiot," Lily hissed, leaning against the door and pointing an accusing finger at Padfoot, "ruined everything!"
Sirius changed back quickly, feeling that if he were to ever defend himself, barking at her would only cause to make her even more livid. And as much as he loved his best friend's wife and knew that they could never stay mad at each other long, he didn't feel light getting into an all out fight. Probably because Lily never held back in any of those fights, and he really didn't want to visit the Hospital Wing anytime soon.
"I think I have a right to be cautious here!" Sirius protested, voice tense after the experience he just had. Seeing someone whom he had buried and grieved over coming towards him wasn't exactly the best memory of his life.
"Being cautious is one thing, but being utterly cruel is another!" Lily's voice was only raising, with no intention of backing down. Her eyes flashed a brilliant green as she fisted her hands, refusing to take her frustration out on Sirius in any way other than verbally.
Remus looked confused now.
"You shouldn't trust so easily, Lily!" Sirius was shouting, her own anger and frustration building up. He had, after all, spent the entire day before worrying over his friends, and he wanted a reason for all that worry. "He could be a Death Eater in disguise! He could be a walking time bomb! He could have spells on him that would allow Voldemort to see through his eyes, or hear through his ears! He's most likely here to get information out of us, or to blunder, hinder, and shock us! You hate Death Eaters, Lily, I know you. Yet just because one of them donned your dead son's form doesn't mean for you to trust-"
Lily was across the room before either man could register her moving.
SLAP!
Remus was frozen to the spot, kind brown eyes widened considerably. He knew he should help Sirius… or even try to calm Lily down. But at the moment, he wasn't exactly sure what good he could possibly do if he interrupted the scene. As much as Lily shouldn't have slapped Sirius (especially so hard, and with such good aim), Sirius should never have said anything like that either.
"You," Lily started with barely contained fury, eyes focused on Sirius's shocked face, and absentmindedly noting the redness that was starting to blossom on his cheek. "Will not talk about Harry like that. You might know the facts… I might have told you what happened… but you don't understand the situation! You don't understand…" Her eyes were tearing up. "You don't understand what this means to me… you can't understand how I know that Harry isn't working for Voldemort.
"I know it, Sirius. Call it a woman's intuition… or even better, call it a mother's intuition. But I know that Harry would never work for Voldemort, whether he were raised by me or my sister." Tears were actively running down her cheeks now. "You don't understand how much I've longed for something like this to happen, Siri…"
All the anger seemed to drain out of Sirius at those words, and he visibly slumped, looking very tired. "I know a little bit, Lily. I loved Harry as well. But… Wishes don't come true like that. Miracles like that never happen."
"If miracles like that doesn't happen, what does?" Lily challenged, eyes still wet with tears. "Have we finally sunk so low that we would be so suspicious of good news? That we would turn our backs to the chance of something good happening? Have we forgotten magic?"
"We haven't forgotten magic." Remus stated quietly from where he was standing, taking in the scene before him. "But Sirius is right… something like that just doesn't happen."
"But can't you believe? Even for a moment? For me?" She pleaded.
"It could mean your death, Lily." Sirius said. "It could mean the deaths of us all."
The redhead was silent for a moment, before speaking strongly. "You used to say that I was too selfless. That I believed too much in the good of people and that I always put the welfare of my friends and family above myself. Well, now allow me to be a little selfish. If you can't believe in miracles… then believe in me. And allow me to take full responsibility for this situation. Not because I'm putting other people before myself, but because I want this. I need this.
"If you can't trust in Harry, then trust in me."
It was the sound of hissing that brought Harry out of his dazed confusion. His mind suddenly went clear as pain blossomed from where his body had hit the floor. His head banged sharply against the hard soil of the much-used road as he gritted his teeth from the light that flashed underneath his eyelids. He was dimly aware of his glasses cracking, and the arms of said glasses pressing painfully against his temples.
He could feel a large weight pressing down on his back, the only thing registering from that being the painful pressure on his spine and ribs. He also heard James' startled cry from where the man was standing a foot or so away.
Shit, his mind processed, understanding danger even if he didn't. And knowing how hard it would be to move- the disadvantage he was placed in. Shit, shit, shit!
The weight shifted as that hissing sound came again, clear and threatening.
Myturfmylandinvadersinvadersinvaders
James' sharp intake of breath came before his yelled out a random spell, knocking whatever it was off him in moments.
Nonononomyplacefinallyleavemealonejustleavemealone
Harry was up in an instant despite the pain in his body, and he gazed dazedly through cracked glass. His hand was at his wand in an instant, and his eyes widened when he saw the large snake that had attacked him just a moment before. Large and tense, the hissing coming off as a warning to those who dared to approach it.
But the snake looked so familiar…
"Harry," James was saying in a low, quiet voice, pushing the boy back behind him. "Are you alright?" Brown eyes stayed on the hissing serpent, as if daring it to come closer.
Harry winced as he wiped a few drops of blood from his forehead. It was just a small cut on his hairline, but was bleeding profusely. Figures- head injuries always gave him the most trouble.
"I'm fine." He said, wiping his hand on his robes. The other hand held on firmly to his new wand, and he stared at the snake that was hissing so loudly at them.
Nagini.
"Damned snakes." James was muttering, raising his wand and about to banish the creature.
Badbadbadnonomustleavebabieswillworrywillbeindanger…
"Wait!" Harry cried, holding on to James' arm. "I think… I think we're on her territory… her grounds. That's what she attacked us. All we have to do is back away, that's all." Green eyes settled on the large snake, willing her to calm down. He didn't want to speak in Parseltongue before James, didn't want people to start suspecting him of anything again… not when suspicions were still abound anyway.
There were several black shapes that slithered up to Nagini, making the mother snake look extremely protective.
Harry tugged on James' sleeve impatiently, not wanting the man to hurt any of the snakes. There was a reason that Nagini had attacked him, after all. And all he wanted to know was why Lord Voldemort's trusted pet was doing on Hogwarts grounds- with children, no less!
James looked frustrated and worried, but lowered his wand. However, his grip on it remained tight enough to turn his knuckles white as he backed away slowly from the large, hissing snake. Harry did the same thing, promising himself that he would try to look into this later. If Nagini was working for Voldemort and was listening into things said by the students at Hogwarts…
"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing," was all James said once they were far enough away from the giant snake for them to relax.
Dumbledore sighed deeply as he gazed out of his office window. The sunset was producing many brilliant colors that reflected off various magical objects in the room. And with Fawkes perching peacefully on his stand, doing nothing but trimming his feathers, a normal person could be deceived into thinking of peaceful times. After all, the picture was near perfect.
But it was not so. And now in the past week, there had been an added complication. A newcomer to an almost familiar game of dodge and chase. And while Albus Dumbledore held the newcomer as a good omen to this war, he was still weary of the boy. There was something… powerful about him.
A curt knock on the door broke his thoughts as he cheerfully called out a, "Come in!" to the person. It wouldn't make do, after all, for the rest of the school to see him so troubled by recent events. Hogwarts had never really been a part of the war, despite the fact that it was headquarters to an important fraction of it. The students had always been sheltered, never really learning of the horrifying experiences until they either received letters of mourning or left to school only to be shocked by the carnage they found outside.
Minerva McGonagall looked more than prim and proper as she entered, as if she hadn't just suffered through a day of teaching teenagers who were more than likely daydreaming rather than paying attention to her class.
"Albus." She spoke, walking up to his desk in a brisk manner, giving an acknowledging nod to Fawkes. "I have some… well, startling to say the least, and a little disturbing I'm sure, news." She paused for a moment, looking hesitant to really say something.
"What is it, Minerva?" The Headmaster had turned his attentions on her, eyes looking much more troubled than they ought to be as he concocted various situations in his mind. But then he shook his thoughts off, for the situation at hand certainly couldn't be as bad he could imagine.
"Well, this could be good news," Minerva admitted. "It's about the Potter boy… has anyone taken him to get his wand?"
"Why, no, I believe not." The professor smiled slightly in remembrance. "I believe that James Potter just handed him an old wand that had been lying around in the practice rooms… to make sure he couldn't really do anything to hurt anyone. Though I don't think the boy noticed it was a practice wand."
The Transfigurations teacher looked even more perturbed at that. "Are you sure…?"
"Quite sure." Albus nodded. "Why, whatever is the matter?"
"I have… so rarely seen someone who excelled so much in my classes. When I had been teaching the sixth year Gryffindors, Mr. Potter looked as shocked at his results as I felt! I thought that perhaps back where he came from, his wand hadn't suited him, but now it finally did…" She looked to be at a loss for words.
Professor Dumbledore took his time to take in this account. Yes, the boy had to be much more powerful than he had first depicted. Would the Harry Potter of that world have been as powerful had he grown up? Was that why the boy had been killed at such a young age?
No, it couldn't be. It had to be just coincidence. After all, young Harry had barely shown signs of magic, mostly just baby magic. Things he couldn't control. There were differences in the six-year-old Harry and the young man who had appeared to them a week ago, after all. And the only reason that Voldemort had gone after Harry in the first place was because James was a trusted member of the Order.
Wasn't it?
*gasps in delight* As always, thanks so much for all the support! To sk8reagle, HPIceAngel, Fireangle, Myk, SwirlyStars, Rebuky, Lady Phoenix Gryffindor, MerlinHalliwell, tima, amythest, destinywriters, Kana, Fanny chan, Relle, smilez, and Phoenix353 again!! ^___^ And thanks to starsong for telling me about problems with the chapter. ^^;; The dimension hopping will be explained later- you might have already caught it, though. ;) And yes, the snake was Nagini.. *g* Why will also be explained later. Harry's trying his best not to lead Lily on, but she's a little crazy here. ^^;; I mean, she died for him when she had only spent a year with him- in this universe she spent six years raising Harry and he died. No parent should have to outlive their child. And I've finally figured out the ending to this. ^_~ You'll have to see if it's happy or sad.
And also thanks to those who reviewed the side story! It takes place in the time before chapter 7. ^____^
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