Chapter 13 A Merry Christmas For Harry
When December arrived to the School the weather became rather cold. All the students wore scarves when they were out of the Casttle. Especcially when they had Care of Magical Creatures.
After they had finished with Snakes (much to Harry's thanks), Lily started to teach the Fifth Years about Phoenixes. The first 2 classes were theorical and Lily explained what the creatures were, their magical properties and other things.
"Why don't we see a Phoenix, Professor?" Asked Parvati with curiousity.
"No way!" Said Harry when his mother turned to see him. The teen caught her intentions quickly: she wanted to show Falcore to the class.
"Please, I can't get Fawkes to come. He will be burning soon and Albus wants him in his Office." Said Lily with a plea.
"You'll pay me for this one." Said Harry defeatedly before he left the class and went to his parents' Quarters to get his pet from there.
"Shouldn't you be with Lily now, Harry?" Asked Remus when the teen entered there. The werewolf was talking with James and Sirius at the living room.
"Don't ask." Said Harry simply before he went to his room and Falcore placed himself at his shoulder.
When the teen and the Phoenix returned to the class, all of the students turned and saw the bird in awe. Falcore watched them with amusement and sang a few notes while Harry petted his head.
"Class, this is a very strange kind of Phoenix and they are very unusual to be seen. Falcore is a Peregrin Phoenix and Mr. Potter is his Master." Said Lily while Harry went to the front of the class so all of the students could see the bird better.
"How did you get him, Harry?" Asked Dean shocked.
"I bought him at a pet's shop this summer. Actually his egg. I didn't have any idea what kind of Phoenix he was." Said Harry chuckling, while Falcore let out more notes.
"How did you get one if they are so hard to be found?" Asked Malfoy with a sneer.
"Luck I guess." Said Harry with a smile.
While Lily went on explaining more things about the Phoenixes and Falcore, Harry tried to do something he had done only once and at his own Universe: call Fawkes. His mother told him that the bird would burn soon so he wanted to show them that scene.
"I hope this works." Thought Harry before he tried to call Fawkes.
A few moments later, a new song was heard and Fawkes went to the class. Before anyone could say or ask anything, Fawkes burned to flames and reborned from the ashes second later.
"Wow!" Said everyone at the same time watching Harry taking the little bird from the ashes.
"What you have seen, is the reborn of a Phoenix. This happenes once every year. This is my second sight of one burning." Said Harry to everyone who watched them at awe.
Lily was the first to recover herself from the shock and explained the class everything about what had happened. Harry stayed silent watching them and with Fawkes at his arms and Falcore on his shoulder.
"I see that he's here." Said Albus with a smile watching Harry with the tiny bird.
"Yes." Said Harry simply giving the bird to his master.
"May I ask how did Fawkes come here?" Asked Lily to her son.
"Did I mention that when Fawkes saved my life, I called him to come to the Chamber?" Asked Harry with inocence.
"You didn't." Chuckled Albus while Lily watched her son at shock.
"I thought so." Laughed Harry petting his own Phoenix.
"You never told that you could call the Phoenixes!" Said Lily when the 2 adults and the teen returned to the Casttle after the end of the class.
"You never asked me." Said the students with an inocent smile before he went to his parents' quarters to leave his bird there and go to lunch at the Hall.
"Where are them?" Asked Dean when Harry took his usual seat at the Table.
"Fawkes with his Master and Falcore at his place at the Professor Potter's Quarters." Said the Prefect knowing that his yearmate was asking about the 2 Phoenix that had been seen at Class.
"You never mentioned that you had a Phoenix." Said Alicia to Harry.
"You never asked me if I had a pet. If you had done, I would have told you that I have a Phoenix and an owl." Said Harry with a smile
"We never did." Laughed Fred.
Suddenly and from nowhere, a snake appeared at the Hall. It was really big, it had almost 10 meters. It was green slythed around the Hall. Everyone was scared and the teachers stood and went to solve the problem.
"COVER YOUR EYES AND DON'T WATCH HER TO THE EYES!!!" Shouted Harry magnifying his voice to the great Hall.
"Harry, what...?" Asked Dumbledore shocked with his actions.
"It's a Basilisk." Said the teen recognizing the kind of snake it was. Although it wasn't as big as the one that he had killed at the Chamber at his Second Year he would recognize one of those snakes everywhere.
Inmediately, everyone covered their eyes, knowing that the snake's look was deathly. The Basilisk continued slythin looking for someone. Harry knew he had to act quickly.
"Come here, Beassst, I'll be your prey." Hissed the teen in parselmouth.
"A Ssspeaker. I haven't ssseen one in more than 40 yearsss." Hissed the snake in answer.
"If your intention isss to kill anyone, you'll have to fight me. And I'll tell you that I have already killed one of your kind." Hissed the teen.
"Don't worry, Ssspeaker. I'm not here to kill." Said the snake.
"Then what are you doing here?" Asked Harry confused and not noticing that some students and teachers were wacthing them.
"Sssomeone hasss been trying to open the Chamber once more. I don't know who but it'sss a human. Someone iss trying to free the Beassst there. A sssnake called Laura hasss told me that at thisss place there wasss a Ssspeaker that was on the light ssside. I thought you would like to be warned." Hissed the beast before she left the Hall.
Inmediately the Pandemonium burst at the Hall. The students were whispering about Harry's abbility and the Snake. The teachers were trying to control the Chaos at the Hall, while Harry was in his seat in deep thoughts.
"Who the hell is trying to open the Chamber again?" Mumbled Harry to himself ignoring everyone else.
"Harry?" Asked someone next top him stopping his thoughts.
"What do you need, Fred?" Asked Harry without turning to see the twin.
"What happenned?" Asked the redhead in a low and terrified voice.
"Someone wants to bring the hell to the School again and I don't know who." Said the teen before he turned to Dumbledore and said: "We have to talk now."
Albus nodded and left the Hall with Sirius, Remus and both Potters. Minerva stayed there trying to control the Hall while the other teachers tried to do the same.
"Go and tell Falcore that I need him." Said to his mother before he turned to his Grandfather and said: "Bring the Hat and find me at Mirtle's Bathroom." Said this, he started to walk towards the bathroom with the Marauders following him.
"Harry, where are you going?" Asked Sirius confused following his Godson while Lily and Albus went to look for the things that the Teen had asked.
"I'm going to a place that I thought that I would never go back. The Secret Chamber." Said the teen seriously.
A few moments later, the 4 men were at the bathroom waiting for Albus, Lily, Falcore and the Hat. When they arrived, Harry took the Hat and put it over his head.
"I need your help." Said Harry to the Hat.
"What do you need? Maybe a change in your decision for House?" Asked the Hat curiously.
"In my Universe, 3 years ago when I needed help, you gave a sword that belonged to Godric Gryffindor. Do you know what sword I'm talking about?" Asked the teen while the adults looked at his confused.
"Yes." Said the Hat. A few moments later, Harry took off the Hat and a sword fell to the floor.
"Thanks." Said Harry giving the hat back to Dumbledore.
"Harry, what the hell is going on??" Asked Lily confused.
"Someone has been trying to open the Chamber once more. I'll stop the Hell before it starts." Said Harry putting the sword at his belt.
"Why do you need the sword?" Asked James.
"I won't face a giant Basilisk only with my wand!" Said Harry before he turned to the entrance of the Chamber and hissed in Parsel: "Open."
The entrance was opened and the adults took a look at it, while Harry got ready to enter at the place that had given him nightmares for months.
"Stay here. If we don't return in a few hours, destroy this place." Said Harry to the adults before he entered there with Falcore flying near him.
"Banzaiii!!" Shouted Sirius following him a few minutes later, before any of the others could say something.
"He's mad." Said Remus before he followed them at the shout of: "Banzaiii!"
"Be careful and return with them alive." Pleaded Lily to her Husband, knowing that nothing would stop James of following his son and friends.
"I will." Said James before he entered shouting: "Banzaii!!!"
"We'll have to wait." Said Albus to his daughter when both adults were alone.
"I know it." Said Lily simply, sitting to wait till they returned.
****
After 2 hours, father and daughter started to worry about the luck of the others. There hadn't been any noise form inside and they didn't know if they were alive or not.
Suddenly, they heard a song of a Phoenix that they recognized as Falcore's. They turned their atention to the entrance and saw Sirius, Remus and James holding Harry while they touched the Phoenix's tale.
"We have to bring him with Poppy!" Said James urgently taking the teen in his arms and leaving the bathroom running towards the Infirmary.
"We'll destroy the Entrance." Said Remus who was pale and shaking while Sirius nodded.
When Lily and Albus reached to the Hospital Wing, James was sat outside waiting for news. Both adults could see the the old Potter was pale and shaking. Lily sat next to him and hugged her husband.
"Now I understand why he never wanted to go back there." Said James when he finished the hug.
"What happened there?" Asked Albus worriedly.
"We went through a few corridors trying to find Harry. When we did it, he was fighting against a Basilisk that made this morning's look like a little baby. It was huge.
"When the beast saw us, he went against us. It was blind, it seemed that Falcore had taken off his eyes. Harry went against it once more and continued fighting. He killed it but the beast hit him with the tail and sent him back 20 meters and he hit a huge statue. He was unconscious when he reached him. We touched Falcore's tail and we came here." Finished James his tale.
"That place was horrible." Said Sirius returning with Remus and listening his words.
"How was it?" Asked Dumbledore.
The 3 Marauders described the place like it was. When they finished, Albus and Lily understood too why Harry didn't wish to go back there. The 5 adults remained in silence waiting news from the teen's health.
"Albus!" Said Minerva going to the Headmaster and the others, with a few teachers.
"What's wrong, Minerva?" Asked Albus turning his atention to the members of the staff.
"The School is in chaos after the events of the breakfast!" Said Flitiwick as if the answer was obvious.
"How shall we explain that Harry can speak Parsel?" Asked Lily understanding the reason of the chaos.
"No idea." Said Remus simply while the others nodded.
"You know it and you never told us?" Asked in disbelief Sprout.
"We knew from the beggining." Said James watching the entrance of the Infirmary intently.
"He could be a Dark Wizard! We should have known it!" Shrieked Sinistra shocked.
"Excuse me. It's too much for me for one day." Said Remus standing form his seat and leaving.
"Where are you going, Remus?" Asked Sirius confused.
"I never tolerated the bazophy. So excuse me if I don't pay atention to what the students or teachers say about Harry and his ability." Said Remus before he asked Sirius: "Do you still have the bottle of Firewhiskey? I need a few drinks of it!"
"I need them too!" Said Sirius following the werewolf.
"We'll talk about this later. Now, if you excuse us, we are waiting some news about a student's health." Said Albus to the teachers very seriously.
"We'll continue it." Said Flitwick leaving with the rest of the teachers, except Minerva who stayed there.
"What happened?" Asked Minerva worriedly to the adults.
"I'll tell you later." Said Albus at the same moment that Poppy left the Infirmary and turned to the 4 adults that were waiting there.
"How is he?" Asked all of them at the same time.
"Unconscious. He received a hard hit at his head. He'll be fine, don't worry. He should wake up in 2 days, 3 at last." Said Poppy to the 4 teachers who let out a breath of relief with the news.
"Thanks, Poppy. Tell us as soon as he wakes." Said Albus. The nurse nodded and went back to her place of work.
"I'll join Remus and Sirius at the drinks. I need them too." Said James before he stood and went to find his friends.
"Can anyone tell me what happened since the Basilisk entered at the Hall at breakfast and now?" Asked Minerva to Albus and Lily.
"I'll be with him, you explain her." Said Lily to her father entering at the Infirmary leaving Albus and Minerva alone.
"Come to my Office." Said Albus and went there with McGonagall waiting for an explanation or something that could be called like that.
****
Harry woke up 2 days later and left the Infirmary the next day. None of the adults talked to him about the Chamber or what had happened there, thing that Harry thanked. It wasn't a good memory.
When he entered at the Common Room, everyone started to whisper and point him. Harry who was used to this, simpy ignored them and took seat at an empty table alone and far from most of the students.
"Hey." Said Mary sitting near him.
"Hey, Mary. How are you?" Asked the teen with a smile to his sister.
"Worried about you. What happened after you left the Hall?" Asked Mary worried.
"That's a story you don't want to hear about. And it's a story that I don't wish to talk about." Stated Harry with a serious tone of voice.
"That bad was it?" Asked Katie sitting next to them listening their words.
"Not bad, it was horrible." These words were said in a tone that informned Katie and Mary that he wouldn't continue that line of chat.
"You became famous now at the School. Everyone thinks you are a Dark Wizard!" Said Alicia with sarcasm joining the group.
"Really? What a miracle!" Said Harry with even more sarcasm than the Chaser.
"What did you mean with the someone bringing the Hell to the School again?" Asked Fred joining the group with his twin, Paul and the last Chaser.
"Not here." Said Harry making a circle with his finger.
The whole group tried to understand what he meant and looked around them. Everyone was watching them and listening their words intently. They realized that that chat shouldn't be held there with all of the others listening them.
"Let's go to a more private place to talk." Said Alicia standing from her seat and leading the group to her private Common Room.
The 8 students stood and started to walk to the Head Student's dorm to have the chat without anyone listening their chat. The rest of the House started to whisper and the group igonred them.
"Someone tried to open the Secret Chamber lately. That's what the Basilisk told me that day during breakfast." Said Harry when all of them were sat at the armchairs and sofas.
"Who?" Asked all of them at the same time.
"No idea, but he or she won't do it again. The entrance was destroyed and the beast there, killed." Said Harry touching the back of his head that still hurt of the hit.
"That's what you did that day?" Asked Katie. Harry just nodded.
"You went to the Chamber of Slytherin?" Asked Fred in shock.
"This was my second visit. That place gave me nightmares for months. And I'll have them again for a while." Said Harry in disgust of the idea of the nightmares.
Before any of them could say something else, they heard a nock on the door. After Alicia opened the door magically, Dumbledore entered there holding a sword at his hands.
"Did you see the name?" Asked Harry recognizing the sword as the one that he got from the hat.
"What name?" Asked James entering at that moment with Lily and Minerva.
"This one." Said the teen and showed them the hilt of the sword. The 4 adults and the 7 teens took a look on it and saw a name there: Godric Gryffindor.
"It was of Gryffindor??" Asked Minerva shocked.
"Yep. I got it in the same way that I did it the other day. The Hat gave it to me at the Chamber when I was there the first time 3 years ago." Said the teen rubbing his head, before he added with a groan: "Add headaches to my nightmares."
"You should rest. The hit that you received was very hard." Said Lily with worry.
"This time I ended better than the last time. At least I didn't need Phoenix's tears to survive." Said Harry before he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"What time is it?" Asked the teen with another yawn.
"It's 9.30 pm, why?" Answered James checking his watch.
"Wake me in 2 hours. I have Astronomy tonight." Said Harry before he left and went to his dorm to sleep a while.
****
"Do you know what's the difference between me and a time bomb?" Asked Harry to Fred one night at dinner a few days after the incident.
"No idea." Said the twin.
"What's the difference?" Asked Paul listening their chat and joining it.
"There isn't. Don't push because no one wants to see me exploding." Said Harry with a groan.
Those days had been a nightmare pure and simply. The teachers and students alike watched him as if they though that he would attack them soon. Others said that he was a Dark Wizard. And, not to his surprise, there were some people who said that he was Slytherin's Heir.
Harry decided to do the same that he had done last year after the end of the Tournament and Cedric's death: he ignored the chats and went on with his life as normal as he could.
"I don't care what they think by the simple reason that I went through this once and survived. I only care what think my friend and family. The rest can think or say whatever they wish that I won't pay them more atention than the needed." Said Harry to Albus when the Headmaster asked him how he could continue as if nothing had happened.
Like the people that Harry talked about, didn't mind this abbility, although the twins and the Chasers were shocked at the beggining, they went on with the friendship and the they never though or saw him as Dark Wizard. It was more than obvious that Harry wasn't one.
"Problems coming for you." Whispered Katie to Harry pointing to the Entrance of the Hall.
Harry and the rest of the team turned their atention to where the Chaser pointed and saw a few adults. Among them was Lucius Malfoy. They went to talk with Dumbledore.
"School Gobernors?" Asked the Prefect to Alicia who nodded in answer.
"Do you want to bet that Draco Malfoy is planning something?" Asked Paul pointing to the blonde who watched their Table with a look of malicious.
"Let's go. I don't want to be here when he does what he is planning." Said Harry standing from his seat and going to the exit of the Hall, followed by the others.
When they had almost left, Malfoy pointed his wand at the center of the Hall and whispered something. Harry saw this and nudged the others to pay atention. Inmediately at the Hall appeared a big sanke, even bigger than the one who appeared the other day.
"He's wrong if he thinks that I'll fall at this. You don't trick a Marauder's son so easily." Said Harry to the others before he continued his walk out of the Hall.
"We have to do something." Said Alicia worriedly watching that the snake was moving dangerously around the Hall, where the students were scared out of their wits.
"We will but not now." Said Harry before he casted some invisibility charms at the whole group and returned to the Hall.
The Hall was in a pandemonium again. The students tried to scape from the Snake. Everyone turned to look for Harry but he wasn't there. Dumbledore looked around the Hall and saw the teens under the invisibility charms watching the Hall in silence. Harry caught sight of him watching them and put a finger on his lips to tell him to not say where he was. Albus nodded while he and the other teachers tried to control the situation and calm the students.
"When I say, point your wands to the snake and say Aguelarius. We'll kill the snake without me speaking in Parsel." Said Harry to the Seventh Years who nodded and waited for the signal that came 2 minutes later, just after Harry removed the charms and the 8 were visible.
"Aguelarius!" Shouted the 6 students with their wands pointed to the Snake.
Inmediately, 6 eagles appeared from their wands and went against the snake who tried to fight against them but failed and was killed by their work together.
"What shall we do with them?" Asked Katie to her friends while her Eagle placed herself over her shoulder. The students and the staff recovered themselves from the shock of the Snake's attack and now were watching the 6 teens in confussion.
"I'll keep mine. I'm sure that Mom wouldn't mind having an eagle for mailing. What do you think, George?" Asked Fred to his twin while he petted his own Eagle.
"Errol is old, so 2 Eagles would be better than one." Said George with a smile.
"I'll give mine to the School. A Phoenix and an owl are enough for me." Said Harry while his Eagle went to the Owlery which would be her new home, after she heard the teen's intentions towards her.
"Ahem!" Cleared his throat someone behind them stopping their chat.
"Professor Dumbledore, what do you think of our actions?" Asked Angelina who had her Eagle at her shoulder.
"Impressive. Can anyone explain us what has happened here please?" Asked the Headmaster that had went to the group with the Gobernors, Minerva and some of the Teachers.
"Easy. Mr. Malfoy made appear a Snake at the Hall. Why he did it, It's something beyond my knowledge." Answered Harry simply.
"Is this true, Mr. Malfoy?" Asked McGonagall who turned her atention, alike the rest of the Hall, to the blonde Slytherin who became very pale with this.
"I didn't do it. He's lying!" Exclaimed Draco trying to defend himself, pointing to Harry.
"Why should we believe at the word of a Parselmouth? They are Dark Wizards! How do we know that he isn't the one who made it appear?" Asked Lucius to the staff.
"Accio Draco Malfoy's wand!" Said Harry pointing his wand to the blonde.
The wand of Malfoy flew from his pocket to Harry's hand. Before anyone could protest this, he casted a Priori Incantatem at the wand and from Draco's appeared a Snake like the one that had appeared at the Hall a few minutes before.
"Is it enough for you?" Asked Harry with a smile to Lucius, before he added in a whisper that only the blonde could hear: "If you want to play dirty, you'll find someone who plays worse." Said this, Harry left the Hall who was watching Malfoy with hate.
Dumbledore took the wand that had fallen to the floor and without words, he snapped it at 2, much to the shock of everyone. Especcially Draco and Lucius.
"You are expelled from this School for putting in danger the lives of all the students. Go and pack your things, you'll leave inmediately." Said Albus very seriously to Draco before he left the Hall in search of Harry.
He found the teen a few moments later, leaning against a wall trying to catch his breath. When Albus went to him, Harry raised his hand to stop him.
"Can you help to go back to the Tower?" Asked the teen when his breath was normal again. Before Albus could answer, he fainted.
****
"I guess that you'll stay at the Casttle for Christmas." Said Fred to Harry a few days later during lunch.
It seemed that everyone realized that Harry wasn't a Dark Wizard after the incident in which Malfoy was expelled. If he was one, why didn't he cast the Snake? Why did he kill it instead of giving her orders to kill someone at the Hall? Was what everyone thought.
Harry continued his life as usual, ignoring their talks. Now that the opinion of everyone had changed and they didn't see him as a Dark Wizrd anymore, his life returned to the normal routine without any problem with students or teachers.
"Yes. I always stay at the School for the Holiday anyway." Said Harry remembering his last 4 Christmas: the Mirror of Erised, the Polijuice Potion, the Firebolt, the Ball and all the others things that had marked those holidays in some or another way.
"Don't you get bored?" Asked George listening his words.
"You never get bored with me!" Laughed Harry before he took a parchment and his wand and asked to the twin: "Choose an animal."
Those simple words caught the atention of the whole table. Everyone knew that when Harry said them, he was going to make a teddy. All the students from first to seventh year, turned their heads to see the new work.
"A dog." Answered George who knew what was going on as the rest of the House.
"What do you like more: Dracula or Robin Hood?" Asked Harry to Dean who knew about Muggle's stories as him.
"Dracula. I love the Horror films!" Answered the teen with a wide smile.
"Dracula in dog's form. It's a nice mix!" Laughed Harry before he started with his work.
First he transformed the parchment in a puppy dog, then in a black cloak. The next thing was a pair of fangs. After that, the fangs were transformed in a little vial with a blood. The last changes were into a goblet and a little bat.
"Now let's finish it." Said Harry before he flicked his wand by last time.
In front of him there was now, a teddy dog showing 2 big fangs at his jaw wearing a black cloak. On his shoulder, there was a bat and in his hand was a goblet full of a red liquid that was blood. The liquid was also at the fangs and his eyes were red as if they were bloodied.
"Usual price." Said Harry before he made 2 copies, one for Dean and the other for George.
"Where do you get the ideas to make so many teddies?" Asked Minerva to her Godson when the Fifth years were at her Classroom for their first class of that afternoon.
"Personal experiences, imagination, books I read, everything is welcome to give me ideas." Answered Harry simply before McGonagall started the class.
****
"Now that the class is over, I'll pass the list to know who of you will stay at the School for the Christmas Holidays." Said Minerva giving them a parchment after the end of her class a few days later.
Harry, as had been his habit since first year, signed his name on it inmediately. His mind was in the old battle again: returning or not to his Universe. This would be one of his hardest task. For all of his previous years, Ron and Hermione, in her case except in their first years, had stayed at the Casttle tom be with him. This year the 3 of them would be separated.
"Thinking about it again?" Asked Minerva to Harry when the other students had left the Classroom and both of them were alone.
"Yes. I should be happy because I'll spend my first Christmas with my family, but... don't know why I'm not." Said Harry sadly.
"You know it. Your friends." Said Minerva.
"All the matter returns to the beggining: what will I do? And I still don't have an answer to that question." Said Harry before he returned to the Tower.
He decided to do what he always did when he was in need to talk: he went to Alicia's Private Rooms. She looked like the only one capable to talk with for a while.
"Are you up to a little chat?" Asked Harry to Alicia when he entered and found the Head Girl reading a Charm's Book.
"Always. A chat with you is always more interesting than studying." Laughed Alicia before she asked: "Only both of us or the whole group?"
"Just us." Said Harry sitting near her.
"I listen to you." Said Alicia after she locked the door magically.
Harry took a deep breath and told her everything about what happened in the duel, what was going on at his Universe, the Death Eaters' plan to come there and his doubts about what to do when both Universes met.
"I don't know what to do. I have to choice between things that I love: my family and my friends. The family I never met and the one that I'll lose if I return there and the friends that were like my family and will lose if I stay here." Finished Harry closing his eyes.
"It's not an easy decission." Said Alicia when he finished his tale.
"Nothing's easy with me, Alicia." Said Harry sadly.
"No one said that life is." Said the Chaser turning on a cigarrete.
"In 2 months or so, the people of my Universe will come for me. I don't know if I am capable to stand everything again: the fame, the hate... everything. If I return, I'll be seen as the Boy-Who-Live-Killed-Voldemort- Died-And-Return-From-Death. No one will care if I came here." Said the Seeker turning on a cigarrete too.
"Harry, your decission is yours. There will be people who will accept it and people who will not. Follow your heart and try to find a solution so you can be happy. If you return or stay here, you'll have people who will love you. I wish I could do more for you than just give you this piece of advise, but I can't. You are the one who has to decide what to do and where to live." Said Alicia with a sad tone of voice.
"I know it. Thanks for listening, I needed someone to talk with about this." Said Harry and stood to leave.
"Do Mary and Paul know about this?" Asked Alicia before he closed the door.
"No, and I don't have any idea of how to tell them." Said Harry closing the door and going to his dorm. He needed some time to rest and think all about this.
****
"Did you buy the gifts for Christmas?" Asked Fred to Harry a the Friday before the start of the break that would begin on Monday.
"No. Why don't we go to the Alley?" Asked Harry with a mischievious smile.
"Are you mad? How shall we get permission to do it?" Asked George perplexed at his suggestion.
"If I get the permission, are you up to it?" Asked Harry with an evil smile.
"Yes!!!" Said the twins interested at the idea.
"Ask to the others if they want to come while I get the permission." Said the Prefect looking at his father and Godfather who were entering at the Hall in that moment.
"What do you need, Harry?" Asked Sirius when the teen reached to where they were.
"Could we speak alone?" Said Harry inocently shooting an indirect look towards Albus, Lily and Minerva.
"Of course." Said James guessing that his sons was prepairing some prank.
"I need your help, but not a for a prank." Said Harry as soon as the 3 were at James' Office.
"Then for what?" Asked James and Sirius at the same time confused with his words.
"If I convince Dumbledore to give us permission to make a shopping trip to the Alley, would you come with us as the responsible adults in charge of a group of students?" Asked Harry knowing that both adults were everything except 2 responsible adults.
"You want us as responsible adults of you in a trip to Diagon Alley???" Asked the 2 Marauders not sure if they had listened right.
"It's insane I know it, but if I don't get 2 adults to come with us, Dumbledore won't give us the permission. And I'm not crazy enough to ask this favour to mom and McGonagall." Stated the teen knowing that Lily and Minerva would not even consider the idea of allowing them to go to the Alley.
"He's right. Albus won't give them permission if someone doesn't go with them in charge of the group." Said James to Sirius.
"So?" Asked Harry impatiently.
"Sure!!" Said both teachers with wide smiles.
"Now I have to convince Dumbledore of giving us the permission." Said the Prefect leaving the Office and going to his Grandfather's Office.
"Come in!" Said someone from inside when he knocked the door.
"Hello." Said Harry with an inocent smile when he sat in front of Dumbledore and Minerva who were talking before he entered.
"What have you done this time?" Asked both adults noticing the smile and beggining to worry about it.
"Nothing yet. I came because I need your permission for a little trip." Said the teen to the Headmaster.
"A trip to where?" Asked Lily entering in that moment and listening his words.
"Just Diagon Alley." Said Harry as if it was a minor detail.
"Excuse me?" Asked Lily and Minerva confused while Albus looked at him amused.
"A shopping trip to the Alley. And before any of you ask, I got 2 adults to be in charge of us in the trip." This words were said with an inocent smile.
"Who are these adults? And who will make the trip?" Asked Albus curiously.
"We'll go me, the twins and some of the players. Fred and George were asking them when I went to get the help of the responsible adults."
"You asked to James and Sirius to go with you as responsibles of the trip?" Asked Minerva not sure if she wanted to listen the answer.
"10 points for Gryffindor." Said Harry amusedly.
"You asked James and Sirius to be in charge of all of you in a trip to the Ally and they said yes?" Asked Minerva shocked.
"Yes."
"When are you planning to make this trip?" Asked Albus very amused with the whole situation, especcially the shocked and bewildered faces of Lily and Minerva after listening the news bout the trip and James and Sirius being involved in all.
"Tomorrow." Said Harry before he asked: "So, do we have permission?"
"I'll give it with the condition that any of the students that makes this trip will not go to Hogsmeade for the next 2 allowed Weekends." Said the Headmaster after thinking for a few moments.
"You have a deal!" Said the teen before he left the Office and went to tell the news to the others.
Before he closed the Gargoyle, Harry heard to his mother shouting: "I'LL KILL THEM!!!"
****
"Let me get this straight." Said Katie to Harry the next day when the whole team plus Lee and Ginny were waiting till they could make the trip to the Alley. "You got us the permission to go to the Alley to make the trip with the only condition that we won't go to Hogsmeade for the next 2 weekends?"
"Exactly. Isn't it a good deal?" Answered Harry with a smile.
"Who will come with us? Dumbledore wouldn't let us go there alone!" Said Lee while the others nodded in agreement.
"We'll go with 2 responsible adults." Said Fred while Harry nodded..
"And who are these adults?" Asked Alicia with doubts about the words of her teammates.
"Us!" Said James entering with Sirius at that moment and listening the Chaser's words.
"You mean that the 2 most irresponsibles adults of this School, will be in charge of us during this trip?" Asked Angelina with a shocked face to Harry and the twins.
"Do you prefer McGonagall and my mom?" Asked Harry with an inocent smile.
"Let's go." Said the Chaser prefering to not answer that question.
One by one, the teens and the adults used the Floo Network to go to the Alley. Today was opened just for them and would be closed again when they returned to the School.
"First stop: Gringotts!!" Exclaimed Sirius when the whole group had entered at the Alley.
"I already have my money." Said Harry taking his moneybag from his robes. The coins there were fruit of the teddies sold for Christmas that year at the Schools, that were a lot.
"Wait for us at Flourish and Botts while we get our money." Instructed James while he and the others went to the bank and harry went to the books' shop.
While he waited for the others, Harry started to look for some gifts. In a shelf he found a book called "Legends of the Ancients Ages." He remembered that his mother had talked about it and that she wanted to read it but couldn't find it, so it would be her gift. For his brother he found one called "Pranks and Jokes to terrorize your family and friends." It would be perfect for Paul, he decided. For Hagrid, he bought a thick book about Dragons and all the information about them.
"We are here." Said Sirius to Harry while the teen went on looking at the shelves.
"Ok. See if the others want to buy books. I'm seeing if I can find more gifts here before I go to another shop." Said Harry to his Godfather taking a book called "History of the Founders of Hogwarts." It was for his sister who had been looking for it for a while and couldn't find it.
"Have you found interesting gifts?" Asked Katie to Harry when both of them were paying for the books and they were wrapped for gift.
"One for Paul, another one for Mary, another one for Hagrid and the last one for my Mom." Said Harry before he asked: "You?"
"One for my sister, another one for Alicia, and a last one for my dad." Said the Chaser while they left and waited outside of the shop till the others had finished their shoppings.
"Shouldn't you 2 be at the School?" Asked sternly Mrs. Weasley to the teens going to them.
"We came with the rest of the team to make the shopping. And we came with 2 teachers." Answered Harry while the rest of the group left the shop and saw Molly who was doing the same that them.
"Hi, mom." Said Ginny hugging her mother.
"Hi Molly. I see that you came to do some shops today." Joked Sirius.
"Yes, I did." Said Molly greeting the other teens and James.
"What's next on the list?" Asked James to the teens.
Everyone started to talk at the same time without listening what the others said. It took James 10 minutes to control them and ask the question again. Once more the Chaos broke.
"Why don't we sepparate our ways and we meet again at the Leaky Cauldron in 2 hours? In this way all of us can buy everything that we have to without going to some shops that they don't want." Said Harry stopping the chats.
"Be at the Cauldron in 2 hours." Said James after all of them agreed to the idea.
Harry's first stop after the departure of the group, was Zonko's. There he bought some products for his Father, Sirius and the Twins. After Zonko's, he went to the Quidditch's Shop to buy some gifts to the 3 Chasers. For Alicia he bought a book with tips about the Captaincy of a Team. To Katie a book about the great Chasers of the History. To Angelina, a pair of gloves for players. Also he bought a new microphone for Lee. After the Quidditch's shop, he went to a candy store and bought 2 bags of Lemon Drops for his Grandfather.
"Now, I just have to find something for McGonagall and I'll be done with the shoppings." Thought Harry checking a list with names and possible gifts for his friends.
"Have you finished, Harry?" Asked Sirius to Harry while the teen was looking for something for his Godmother.
"I'm looking for something for Minerva. Any suggestion?" Asked the teen looking at shop's windows.
"Forget books, everyone buys her those for her birthday and Christmas every year." Said Sirius thinking a little.
"I've found the perfect gift." Said Harry entering at a shop leaving Sirius watching him confused.
"What did you buy in there?" Asked the Marauder to his Godson. The shop sold statues and articles for decoration.
"It's a surprise." Said the teen misteriously before he saw that it was almost time to meet with the others at the pub.
He and Sirius took their bags and went to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for the others. When they entered they saw to Katie and Alicia who were waiting for the others with their bags next to them.
"Shall we stay for dinner?" Asked the Head Girl to the Potion's Teacher when he and Harry sat down next to them.
"Of course." Said James who entered in that moment with Paul and Mary and listened her words.
When they started to order their food, entered Lee, the Twins, Angelina, Ginny and Molly. Mrs. Weasley decided to join them at the meal and the whole group spent a few hours laughing before the students and the teachers had to return to the Casttle and Molly went back Home.
****
For the break, Harry and his siblings moved to their parents' Quarters. They were the only students that stayed at the School for the Holiays so no one could say something against them moving there.
"How many students stay usually at the School at your Universe?" Asked Lily to her son on Christmas' Eve. They were the only ones awake. James, Paul and Mary had gone to bed earlier anxious of the next day.
"Few. Except in last year, we weren't more than 10. In third we were 6 I think." Said Harry reading "Hogwarts: A History of Quidditch."
"Why except last year? What happened?" Asked Lily curious while he checked the gifts and put the names on it.
"There was a Yule Ball because of the Tournament." Said the teen closing the book and going to sleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up by the noise done by James and Sirius. It looked like the Marauders wanted to wake him not nicely. He pointed his wand to himself and created a new shield before he went on faking his sleep.
"Don't worry. We won't wake you like this today." Said James who noticed his son casting the shield.
"Then?" Asked the teen making dissapear his shield.
"We'll wake him!" Said Sirius emptying a bucket of water over Paul's head.
"Wh... wha.. what is going on???" Asked Paul being woken by the water.
"Merry Christmas!" Shouted Harry hitting his brother with his pillow.
"Pillow Fight!" Shouted James making appear 2 pillows, one for him and another one for Sirius.
Instantly the 4 started a pillow fight hitting each other. James and Sirius teamed themselves to attack the teens while Harry and Paul did the same to defend themselves.
"May I ask what's going on here and why is Paul soaking??" Asked Lily in a thunderous voice entering at the dorm.
"Attack her!" Shouted Sirius and the 4 started to hit her with the pillows.
"STOP!!!!" Shouted Minerva entering at the dorm with Albus and making them stop inmediately.
"I'll go to change my clothes." Said Paul who was soaking because the bucket of water.
"You ruin our fun!" Pouted James kissing his wife.
"Harry go and change your clothes. We'll wait for you and Paul at the living room." Said Lily to her son.
"Where is Mary?" Asked Harry before he started to change his pj's.
"I'll wake her now." Said Lily going to her daughter's dorm.
After Paul and Harry finished changing their clothes, both boys went to the licing room where their parents, sister, Remus, Siris, Minerva and Albus were waiting for them around the piles of gifts that were around a big Christmas tree.
"I have 4 words before we start to open the gifts: Merry Christmas for everyone!" Said James before he took a package of his pile and opened it.
"How did you get it?" Asked Mary to Harry when she opened his gift which was the first of her pile.
"I found it at Flourish and Botts when we went to the Alley." Said Harry opening Sirius' gift: a bag of pranks from Zonko.
"Does it also go for this?" Asked Lily opening her book. Harry nodded before he opened the team's gift: a book called "The Greatest Seekers of the History".
"I said no to an Eagle and you give me a cat?" Asked Harry sarcastically to his Godmother opening her gift that was a little brown kitten.
"Compaired with an owl and Phoenix, a cat is normal and they are allowed at the School." Said Minerva with a chuckle.
"Excuse me, but I never heard that Phoenixes were not allowed here. He has one after all." Said the teen pointing to his grandfather before he asked him: "Are you still waiting to get some socks for Christmas?" In that moment the Headmaster was opening his fifth gift that was a book as all of the other ones.
"It's my dream." Chuckled Dumbledore opening the bags of sweets from Harry and said: "At least someone decided to give another thing that a book."
"You are welcome." Said Harry opening his mother's gift: a winter cloak that was dark blue.
From his father he got a book of pranks and another bag of pranks, this time of the twin's products. Remus gave him a book about the History of the last 50 years of this Universe. His btothergave him a pack full of quill that he could use for making teddies. With his last gift, there was a note that read:
"We thought that you would like to remember the Christmas of your Universe getting this package.
Fred and George."
Inside, there was a brown sweater that had a drawing of 2 worlds and a key in the middle of them. After receiving one for 4 years, Harry recognized it easily as one of Molly Weasley's. Harry smiled and promised to thanks them for the gift. With the sweater there was also a package of sweets.
"Another sweater from Molly?" Asked Remus seeing the sweater that Harry got form the Weasleys.
"Just to keep the tradition!" Laughed the teen openening his sister's gift, a book about the history of Gryffindor's Heir. Harry promised himself to read it to understand and know more about his heirloom.
"Where did you get this?" Asked Minerva to her godson opening his gift. It was a little statue of a persian cat that changed of colour its fur acording to the owner's mood.
"The Alley. There is a list of the colours and their meanings. It's with the package, I guess." Said Harry opening Albus' gift: a big and thick book about rare kinds of Phoenixes. It was marke at the page of the Peregrin Phoenixes.
"It seems that everyone chose to give you books." Laughed Remus opening Harry's gift.
"It seems so." Said Harry opening his last gift, Hagrid's. It was a jar with sweets. His own knowledge about his cooking abbilities, told Harry to eat them with extreme care.
"Is anyone up to a snowball fight?" Asked James when evryone had finished opening the gifts and put them aside to take them later to their own dorms.
"I have a better idea. Breakfast!" Said Pual when his stomach made a noise that made everyone laugh.
"I second that motion!" Exclaimed Harry leaving the room and going to the Hall for breakfast, followed by the others.
****
The Christmas Holidays went on in a blur and before Harry could realize it, they were over. He, Paul and Mary returned to the Tower the night before the end.
"How were the Holidays at the Castle?" Asked Fred to Harry when everyone sat for breakfast the first day of classes.
"Good. Better that the old ones." Answered the teen before he added: "Thanks. You know what for."
"It wasn't hard to convince Mom to make another sweater for a friend." Said the twin knowing why Harry was thanking him for. He nodded with a smile.
"What gifts did you get besides our book?" Asked Alicia joining their chat.
"A cloak, 2 bags of products for pranks, a kitten, a bag of quills for making teddies, some food from Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid, a few books. Nothing else." Said the Seeker before he asked: "You?"
"Books, make up, the Weasley sweater, and cloth." Said the Chaser. For a while, the whole team told their gifts. Harry noticed that everyone got a Weasley Sweater.
"When are we playing the next match? Against who?" Asked Katie suddenly.
"Against Hufflepuff and we play it on February. The 15th or 16th, I have to check the date to be sure." Said the Quidditch Captain before everyone stood and took their bags and went to class.
****
January arrived and went at the School without many things that should be mentioned. The only important thing had been the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff that had been won by the Badge's House by 400 to 200. Ravenclaw would play against Slytherin in march and Hufflepuff would play against Gryffindor in February.
During the last days of January and the first ones of February, Harry had been nervous and everyone noticed this. His mood changed a lot: he passed from happiness to sadness and depresion in matter of days. Everyone who knew the doubts of the teen, knew what bothered him: his own Universe would come for him soon and he had to make his decission soon.
"The only thing you can do, is wait and decide when they are here, Harry. Not before." Had told him Alicia one day when both of them talked in her private rooms about this.
Harry knew that she was right, but the doubts were still there. He could hardly think in another thing. His mood began to take effect in class and all the teachers noticed that he wasn't acting as usual in them. He could hardly concentrate in them and he was having problems with simple things that under other things he could do them easily.
In the only thing he could find time to concentrate was the Quidditch. Harry used to spend a lot of time on his broom at the pitch flying and training with or without the team. Some teachers had suggested that he should be removed from the team till his grades improved.
"Whatever you do, don't do it, Albus. Taking the Quidditch from him, could be a hit very bad. He needs it to release tension." Said James to the Headmaster when Harry's parents and godparents were talking about this in his Office.
"He's right and you know it." Said Sirius agreeing with him, alike the others.
It was decided to wait a while to see if the teen changed his mood and his behaviour in class. They told Harry that he had to improve in them because if not, he would have problem with the other members of the staff.
"I'll try to do it." Said the Prefect simply, knowing that he was very far from his yearmates at every subject.
"Ask help if you need it." Said Lily seriously while the others nodded.
"I will." Said the teen before he left the Office.
Since that day, Harry tried to become the old student he was. For the Friday before the match, he was at his old level and in some subjects as Transfiguration and Defense, he was ahead of most of the other students at the class. He also continued the special training with Minerva. He had already got right the transformations in the Hawk, the Gryffin and the Tiger. He had to domain the Phoenix and the Dragon. At that moment he was training to for the first one.
****
"Ok, guys. This is our second match and we have to win it." Said Alicia beggining the pre game talk at the lockers when the team was changing their robes to play the match.
"If we win, we'll have the Cup almost in our pockets." Said Harry continuing her talk.
"We have to worry only by Diggory. We can't let him catch the snitch. It's your work, Harry." Said Fred going on with the talk.
"And the Chasers have to score as much as they can so we'll have more points for our match against Ravenclaw." Finished George, before he nodded to Alicia so she would finish the talk.
"You'll give the talk for our next match, guys." Said Alicia shaking her head. This year she hadn't been able to finish the talk because Harry and the twins also interrupted her and continued with it.
"Anytime." Said the three with a smile and a bow to their Captain.
"LET'S WIN!" Shouted Alicia putting her hand in the middle of the locker and being followed by the rest of the players.
"GRYFFINDOR!!!" Shouted the 14 of them before the tirulars went to the Pitch and the reserves to the stands.
"And here comes Gryffindor!" Announced Lee when the Team entered at the Pitch. Harry saw that Lee was using the Microphone that he had given to him for Christmas. "Mary Potter! Angelina Johnson! Katie Bell! Alicia Spinnet! Fred Weasley! George Weasley! Harry Potter!"
All of them went to where Madame Hooch was waiting for them with Hufflepuff standing near her. Alicia and Cedric shook hands and Hooch blew her whistle signaling the start of the match.
Harry took his usual spot at the Pitch, 15 meters above the game's level, trying to find the Snitch and also watching for Cedric's movements. Both of them felt this match as a rematch, but for different reasons each of them. Cedric wanted revenge for the Feint that Harry had done to him that summer, while Harry felt this as his chance to beat him after the match in his Universe where he lost because of the Dementors.
The match was closed. After almost 2 hours, the score was 100 to 70 with Gryffindor up. The Anitch hadn't given any signal of life and both Seekers went on flying around the Pitch watching each other movements and looking for the ball, while the match continued.
"MacMillan passes the Quaffle to Summers... Bells intercepts the pass and goes to the Hufflepuff's poasts... she shots and scores!" Announced Lee when Katie scored the 110 for Gryffindor.
Suddenly Harry saw the Snitch and started to dive towards the little winged ball. Cedric who saw Harry diving followed him, thinking that he had seen the Snitch.
While he was diving, Harry felt a pain at his scar and everything went black and continued his fall without stop. This wasn't noticed by anyone. All of the students and teachers thought he was making a feint.
As unexpectedly as he had lost his conciousness, Harry woke up once more a few meters before he would crash against the floor. Still dizzy and confused, he saw the Snitch near him and caught it ending the match. He went up again, without hearing the crash produced by Cedirc who had hit the floor.
"Great feint, Mate!" Exclaimed Fred while Poppy took Cedric to the Infirmary and Hooch blew her whistle signaling the end of the game.
"Help me to get out of here now, Fred." Whispered the Seeker in an urgent tone of voice to his teammate.
"What's wrong?" Asked Alicia joining them and listening Harry's whispers.
"It wasn't a feint what I did. I fainted when I dived to catch the Snitch." Said Harry leaning on Fred's shoulder looking for support there. Around them the rest of the School was congratulating them, ignoring what had happened and the chat between the players.
"PARTY AT THE COMMON ROOM!!" Shouted the twin trying to get them space, helping Harry to stand. It did the needed effect: everyone started to go to the School talking about the match and the Feint that Harry had done.
"Take him to my rooms! I'll fetch Dumbledore, McGonagall and the Professors Potter!" Ordered Alicia to Fred before she ran towards the teachers.
"You heard her." Said Fred helping Harry to go to the Tower.
With some difficulty, both players arrived to the Common Room and went straight to the Head Student's Private Quarters. Harry sat in an armchair and started to take breaths while he and the twin waited for Alicia and the teachers' arrival.
"What happened?" Asked Lily worriedly when she, James, Sirius, Albus and Minerva arrived to the room with Alicia and the other players.
"When I was on my dive, I fainted and my scar hurt again. I don't know why but it happened and isn't good news, I can tell it with security." Answred the teen drinking some water that Alicia gave him.
"Does it have to do with what we talked in Halloween?" Asked Dumbledore with a mix of worry and seriousness.
"It probably means that one of the sides have arrived. It's a matter of days before the other does it too." Answered the teen before he took one of Alicia's cigarreted and turned it on.
"Harry!" Exclaimed all of the adults shocked with seeing him smoking.
"What? I'm sure that it's not the first time you see someone smoking." Said Harry with an inocent smile.
"What did you mean with the sides arriving here?" Asked Paul suddenly before any of the adults could answer to Harry's words.
"People from my Universe. Today arrived one of the sides: the one who wants to kill me or the one who wants to take me back there." Said the teen leaning against the sofa and falling asleep with the cigarrete laying on the ashtray.
"Let him sleep." Said Albus conjuring a blanket and covering Harry with it. Alicia nodded turning off the cigarrete.
"That's why he was behaving so strangely lately, right?" Asked Mary to her parents.
"Yes. He doesn't know what to do: stay and live here or returning to his own Universe." Said James sadly watching his son sleep.
"Why don't you go to the party? He won't wake in a while." Suggested Albus to the students after a while of silence. The 7 teens nodded and left the room with the adults. All of them understood their friend's situtation and knew that he would need them there in the moment he took the decission.
****
"When were you going to tell us about this?" Asked Mary to Harry the next day to the match. Both Potter were walking at the edge of the lake while the rest of the School was in a Hogsmeade trip. The trip wasn't allowed to go because of the trip they had done to the Alley fro Christmas. This was the last of the 2 weekends when they couldn't go.
"No idea. I guess that I thought that the best would be wait till both sides were here or I had made my decission." Said Harry knowing that his sister was talking about the situation that was happening and his decission.
"And did you take a decission?" Asked Mary watching her brother intently.
Before he could answer the question, his scar hurt again. Although this time he didn't faint as the day before, he knew that both sides had arrived to this Universe. It was a matter of time before he found them.
"Are you ok?" Asked Mary worriedly noticing that Harry had made a signal of pain.
"The sides are here and the war will start soon." Said Harry sitting in the grass to rest a moment.
"Let's go back to the Casttle. Mom and Dad will want to know this." Said Mary understanding the meaning of his words.
"Let's go." Said Harry standing again and going to the School with his sister.
While they were walking towards their parents' quarters, both teens heard a shriek that made them stop at the spot:
"HARRY!!!!"
When December arrived to the School the weather became rather cold. All the students wore scarves when they were out of the Casttle. Especcially when they had Care of Magical Creatures.
After they had finished with Snakes (much to Harry's thanks), Lily started to teach the Fifth Years about Phoenixes. The first 2 classes were theorical and Lily explained what the creatures were, their magical properties and other things.
"Why don't we see a Phoenix, Professor?" Asked Parvati with curiousity.
"No way!" Said Harry when his mother turned to see him. The teen caught her intentions quickly: she wanted to show Falcore to the class.
"Please, I can't get Fawkes to come. He will be burning soon and Albus wants him in his Office." Said Lily with a plea.
"You'll pay me for this one." Said Harry defeatedly before he left the class and went to his parents' Quarters to get his pet from there.
"Shouldn't you be with Lily now, Harry?" Asked Remus when the teen entered there. The werewolf was talking with James and Sirius at the living room.
"Don't ask." Said Harry simply before he went to his room and Falcore placed himself at his shoulder.
When the teen and the Phoenix returned to the class, all of the students turned and saw the bird in awe. Falcore watched them with amusement and sang a few notes while Harry petted his head.
"Class, this is a very strange kind of Phoenix and they are very unusual to be seen. Falcore is a Peregrin Phoenix and Mr. Potter is his Master." Said Lily while Harry went to the front of the class so all of the students could see the bird better.
"How did you get him, Harry?" Asked Dean shocked.
"I bought him at a pet's shop this summer. Actually his egg. I didn't have any idea what kind of Phoenix he was." Said Harry chuckling, while Falcore let out more notes.
"How did you get one if they are so hard to be found?" Asked Malfoy with a sneer.
"Luck I guess." Said Harry with a smile.
While Lily went on explaining more things about the Phoenixes and Falcore, Harry tried to do something he had done only once and at his own Universe: call Fawkes. His mother told him that the bird would burn soon so he wanted to show them that scene.
"I hope this works." Thought Harry before he tried to call Fawkes.
A few moments later, a new song was heard and Fawkes went to the class. Before anyone could say or ask anything, Fawkes burned to flames and reborned from the ashes second later.
"Wow!" Said everyone at the same time watching Harry taking the little bird from the ashes.
"What you have seen, is the reborn of a Phoenix. This happenes once every year. This is my second sight of one burning." Said Harry to everyone who watched them at awe.
Lily was the first to recover herself from the shock and explained the class everything about what had happened. Harry stayed silent watching them and with Fawkes at his arms and Falcore on his shoulder.
"I see that he's here." Said Albus with a smile watching Harry with the tiny bird.
"Yes." Said Harry simply giving the bird to his master.
"May I ask how did Fawkes come here?" Asked Lily to her son.
"Did I mention that when Fawkes saved my life, I called him to come to the Chamber?" Asked Harry with inocence.
"You didn't." Chuckled Albus while Lily watched her son at shock.
"I thought so." Laughed Harry petting his own Phoenix.
"You never told that you could call the Phoenixes!" Said Lily when the 2 adults and the teen returned to the Casttle after the end of the class.
"You never asked me." Said the students with an inocent smile before he went to his parents' quarters to leave his bird there and go to lunch at the Hall.
"Where are them?" Asked Dean when Harry took his usual seat at the Table.
"Fawkes with his Master and Falcore at his place at the Professor Potter's Quarters." Said the Prefect knowing that his yearmate was asking about the 2 Phoenix that had been seen at Class.
"You never mentioned that you had a Phoenix." Said Alicia to Harry.
"You never asked me if I had a pet. If you had done, I would have told you that I have a Phoenix and an owl." Said Harry with a smile
"We never did." Laughed Fred.
Suddenly and from nowhere, a snake appeared at the Hall. It was really big, it had almost 10 meters. It was green slythed around the Hall. Everyone was scared and the teachers stood and went to solve the problem.
"COVER YOUR EYES AND DON'T WATCH HER TO THE EYES!!!" Shouted Harry magnifying his voice to the great Hall.
"Harry, what...?" Asked Dumbledore shocked with his actions.
"It's a Basilisk." Said the teen recognizing the kind of snake it was. Although it wasn't as big as the one that he had killed at the Chamber at his Second Year he would recognize one of those snakes everywhere.
Inmediately, everyone covered their eyes, knowing that the snake's look was deathly. The Basilisk continued slythin looking for someone. Harry knew he had to act quickly.
"Come here, Beassst, I'll be your prey." Hissed the teen in parselmouth.
"A Ssspeaker. I haven't ssseen one in more than 40 yearsss." Hissed the snake in answer.
"If your intention isss to kill anyone, you'll have to fight me. And I'll tell you that I have already killed one of your kind." Hissed the teen.
"Don't worry, Ssspeaker. I'm not here to kill." Said the snake.
"Then what are you doing here?" Asked Harry confused and not noticing that some students and teachers were wacthing them.
"Sssomeone hasss been trying to open the Chamber once more. I don't know who but it'sss a human. Someone iss trying to free the Beassst there. A sssnake called Laura hasss told me that at thisss place there wasss a Ssspeaker that was on the light ssside. I thought you would like to be warned." Hissed the beast before she left the Hall.
Inmediately the Pandemonium burst at the Hall. The students were whispering about Harry's abbility and the Snake. The teachers were trying to control the Chaos at the Hall, while Harry was in his seat in deep thoughts.
"Who the hell is trying to open the Chamber again?" Mumbled Harry to himself ignoring everyone else.
"Harry?" Asked someone next top him stopping his thoughts.
"What do you need, Fred?" Asked Harry without turning to see the twin.
"What happenned?" Asked the redhead in a low and terrified voice.
"Someone wants to bring the hell to the School again and I don't know who." Said the teen before he turned to Dumbledore and said: "We have to talk now."
Albus nodded and left the Hall with Sirius, Remus and both Potters. Minerva stayed there trying to control the Hall while the other teachers tried to do the same.
"Go and tell Falcore that I need him." Said to his mother before he turned to his Grandfather and said: "Bring the Hat and find me at Mirtle's Bathroom." Said this, he started to walk towards the bathroom with the Marauders following him.
"Harry, where are you going?" Asked Sirius confused following his Godson while Lily and Albus went to look for the things that the Teen had asked.
"I'm going to a place that I thought that I would never go back. The Secret Chamber." Said the teen seriously.
A few moments later, the 4 men were at the bathroom waiting for Albus, Lily, Falcore and the Hat. When they arrived, Harry took the Hat and put it over his head.
"I need your help." Said Harry to the Hat.
"What do you need? Maybe a change in your decision for House?" Asked the Hat curiously.
"In my Universe, 3 years ago when I needed help, you gave a sword that belonged to Godric Gryffindor. Do you know what sword I'm talking about?" Asked the teen while the adults looked at his confused.
"Yes." Said the Hat. A few moments later, Harry took off the Hat and a sword fell to the floor.
"Thanks." Said Harry giving the hat back to Dumbledore.
"Harry, what the hell is going on??" Asked Lily confused.
"Someone has been trying to open the Chamber once more. I'll stop the Hell before it starts." Said Harry putting the sword at his belt.
"Why do you need the sword?" Asked James.
"I won't face a giant Basilisk only with my wand!" Said Harry before he turned to the entrance of the Chamber and hissed in Parsel: "Open."
The entrance was opened and the adults took a look at it, while Harry got ready to enter at the place that had given him nightmares for months.
"Stay here. If we don't return in a few hours, destroy this place." Said Harry to the adults before he entered there with Falcore flying near him.
"Banzaiii!!" Shouted Sirius following him a few minutes later, before any of the others could say something.
"He's mad." Said Remus before he followed them at the shout of: "Banzaiii!"
"Be careful and return with them alive." Pleaded Lily to her Husband, knowing that nothing would stop James of following his son and friends.
"I will." Said James before he entered shouting: "Banzaii!!!"
"We'll have to wait." Said Albus to his daughter when both adults were alone.
"I know it." Said Lily simply, sitting to wait till they returned.
****
After 2 hours, father and daughter started to worry about the luck of the others. There hadn't been any noise form inside and they didn't know if they were alive or not.
Suddenly, they heard a song of a Phoenix that they recognized as Falcore's. They turned their atention to the entrance and saw Sirius, Remus and James holding Harry while they touched the Phoenix's tale.
"We have to bring him with Poppy!" Said James urgently taking the teen in his arms and leaving the bathroom running towards the Infirmary.
"We'll destroy the Entrance." Said Remus who was pale and shaking while Sirius nodded.
When Lily and Albus reached to the Hospital Wing, James was sat outside waiting for news. Both adults could see the the old Potter was pale and shaking. Lily sat next to him and hugged her husband.
"Now I understand why he never wanted to go back there." Said James when he finished the hug.
"What happened there?" Asked Albus worriedly.
"We went through a few corridors trying to find Harry. When we did it, he was fighting against a Basilisk that made this morning's look like a little baby. It was huge.
"When the beast saw us, he went against us. It was blind, it seemed that Falcore had taken off his eyes. Harry went against it once more and continued fighting. He killed it but the beast hit him with the tail and sent him back 20 meters and he hit a huge statue. He was unconscious when he reached him. We touched Falcore's tail and we came here." Finished James his tale.
"That place was horrible." Said Sirius returning with Remus and listening his words.
"How was it?" Asked Dumbledore.
The 3 Marauders described the place like it was. When they finished, Albus and Lily understood too why Harry didn't wish to go back there. The 5 adults remained in silence waiting news from the teen's health.
"Albus!" Said Minerva going to the Headmaster and the others, with a few teachers.
"What's wrong, Minerva?" Asked Albus turning his atention to the members of the staff.
"The School is in chaos after the events of the breakfast!" Said Flitiwick as if the answer was obvious.
"How shall we explain that Harry can speak Parsel?" Asked Lily understanding the reason of the chaos.
"No idea." Said Remus simply while the others nodded.
"You know it and you never told us?" Asked in disbelief Sprout.
"We knew from the beggining." Said James watching the entrance of the Infirmary intently.
"He could be a Dark Wizard! We should have known it!" Shrieked Sinistra shocked.
"Excuse me. It's too much for me for one day." Said Remus standing form his seat and leaving.
"Where are you going, Remus?" Asked Sirius confused.
"I never tolerated the bazophy. So excuse me if I don't pay atention to what the students or teachers say about Harry and his ability." Said Remus before he asked Sirius: "Do you still have the bottle of Firewhiskey? I need a few drinks of it!"
"I need them too!" Said Sirius following the werewolf.
"We'll talk about this later. Now, if you excuse us, we are waiting some news about a student's health." Said Albus to the teachers very seriously.
"We'll continue it." Said Flitwick leaving with the rest of the teachers, except Minerva who stayed there.
"What happened?" Asked Minerva worriedly to the adults.
"I'll tell you later." Said Albus at the same moment that Poppy left the Infirmary and turned to the 4 adults that were waiting there.
"How is he?" Asked all of them at the same time.
"Unconscious. He received a hard hit at his head. He'll be fine, don't worry. He should wake up in 2 days, 3 at last." Said Poppy to the 4 teachers who let out a breath of relief with the news.
"Thanks, Poppy. Tell us as soon as he wakes." Said Albus. The nurse nodded and went back to her place of work.
"I'll join Remus and Sirius at the drinks. I need them too." Said James before he stood and went to find his friends.
"Can anyone tell me what happened since the Basilisk entered at the Hall at breakfast and now?" Asked Minerva to Albus and Lily.
"I'll be with him, you explain her." Said Lily to her father entering at the Infirmary leaving Albus and Minerva alone.
"Come to my Office." Said Albus and went there with McGonagall waiting for an explanation or something that could be called like that.
****
Harry woke up 2 days later and left the Infirmary the next day. None of the adults talked to him about the Chamber or what had happened there, thing that Harry thanked. It wasn't a good memory.
When he entered at the Common Room, everyone started to whisper and point him. Harry who was used to this, simpy ignored them and took seat at an empty table alone and far from most of the students.
"Hey." Said Mary sitting near him.
"Hey, Mary. How are you?" Asked the teen with a smile to his sister.
"Worried about you. What happened after you left the Hall?" Asked Mary worried.
"That's a story you don't want to hear about. And it's a story that I don't wish to talk about." Stated Harry with a serious tone of voice.
"That bad was it?" Asked Katie sitting next to them listening their words.
"Not bad, it was horrible." These words were said in a tone that informned Katie and Mary that he wouldn't continue that line of chat.
"You became famous now at the School. Everyone thinks you are a Dark Wizard!" Said Alicia with sarcasm joining the group.
"Really? What a miracle!" Said Harry with even more sarcasm than the Chaser.
"What did you mean with the someone bringing the Hell to the School again?" Asked Fred joining the group with his twin, Paul and the last Chaser.
"Not here." Said Harry making a circle with his finger.
The whole group tried to understand what he meant and looked around them. Everyone was watching them and listening their words intently. They realized that that chat shouldn't be held there with all of the others listening them.
"Let's go to a more private place to talk." Said Alicia standing from her seat and leading the group to her private Common Room.
The 8 students stood and started to walk to the Head Student's dorm to have the chat without anyone listening their chat. The rest of the House started to whisper and the group igonred them.
"Someone tried to open the Secret Chamber lately. That's what the Basilisk told me that day during breakfast." Said Harry when all of them were sat at the armchairs and sofas.
"Who?" Asked all of them at the same time.
"No idea, but he or she won't do it again. The entrance was destroyed and the beast there, killed." Said Harry touching the back of his head that still hurt of the hit.
"That's what you did that day?" Asked Katie. Harry just nodded.
"You went to the Chamber of Slytherin?" Asked Fred in shock.
"This was my second visit. That place gave me nightmares for months. And I'll have them again for a while." Said Harry in disgust of the idea of the nightmares.
Before any of them could say something else, they heard a nock on the door. After Alicia opened the door magically, Dumbledore entered there holding a sword at his hands.
"Did you see the name?" Asked Harry recognizing the sword as the one that he got from the hat.
"What name?" Asked James entering at that moment with Lily and Minerva.
"This one." Said the teen and showed them the hilt of the sword. The 4 adults and the 7 teens took a look on it and saw a name there: Godric Gryffindor.
"It was of Gryffindor??" Asked Minerva shocked.
"Yep. I got it in the same way that I did it the other day. The Hat gave it to me at the Chamber when I was there the first time 3 years ago." Said the teen rubbing his head, before he added with a groan: "Add headaches to my nightmares."
"You should rest. The hit that you received was very hard." Said Lily with worry.
"This time I ended better than the last time. At least I didn't need Phoenix's tears to survive." Said Harry before he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"What time is it?" Asked the teen with another yawn.
"It's 9.30 pm, why?" Answered James checking his watch.
"Wake me in 2 hours. I have Astronomy tonight." Said Harry before he left and went to his dorm to sleep a while.
****
"Do you know what's the difference between me and a time bomb?" Asked Harry to Fred one night at dinner a few days after the incident.
"No idea." Said the twin.
"What's the difference?" Asked Paul listening their chat and joining it.
"There isn't. Don't push because no one wants to see me exploding." Said Harry with a groan.
Those days had been a nightmare pure and simply. The teachers and students alike watched him as if they though that he would attack them soon. Others said that he was a Dark Wizard. And, not to his surprise, there were some people who said that he was Slytherin's Heir.
Harry decided to do the same that he had done last year after the end of the Tournament and Cedric's death: he ignored the chats and went on with his life as normal as he could.
"I don't care what they think by the simple reason that I went through this once and survived. I only care what think my friend and family. The rest can think or say whatever they wish that I won't pay them more atention than the needed." Said Harry to Albus when the Headmaster asked him how he could continue as if nothing had happened.
Like the people that Harry talked about, didn't mind this abbility, although the twins and the Chasers were shocked at the beggining, they went on with the friendship and the they never though or saw him as Dark Wizard. It was more than obvious that Harry wasn't one.
"Problems coming for you." Whispered Katie to Harry pointing to the Entrance of the Hall.
Harry and the rest of the team turned their atention to where the Chaser pointed and saw a few adults. Among them was Lucius Malfoy. They went to talk with Dumbledore.
"School Gobernors?" Asked the Prefect to Alicia who nodded in answer.
"Do you want to bet that Draco Malfoy is planning something?" Asked Paul pointing to the blonde who watched their Table with a look of malicious.
"Let's go. I don't want to be here when he does what he is planning." Said Harry standing from his seat and going to the exit of the Hall, followed by the others.
When they had almost left, Malfoy pointed his wand at the center of the Hall and whispered something. Harry saw this and nudged the others to pay atention. Inmediately at the Hall appeared a big sanke, even bigger than the one who appeared the other day.
"He's wrong if he thinks that I'll fall at this. You don't trick a Marauder's son so easily." Said Harry to the others before he continued his walk out of the Hall.
"We have to do something." Said Alicia worriedly watching that the snake was moving dangerously around the Hall, where the students were scared out of their wits.
"We will but not now." Said Harry before he casted some invisibility charms at the whole group and returned to the Hall.
The Hall was in a pandemonium again. The students tried to scape from the Snake. Everyone turned to look for Harry but he wasn't there. Dumbledore looked around the Hall and saw the teens under the invisibility charms watching the Hall in silence. Harry caught sight of him watching them and put a finger on his lips to tell him to not say where he was. Albus nodded while he and the other teachers tried to control the situation and calm the students.
"When I say, point your wands to the snake and say Aguelarius. We'll kill the snake without me speaking in Parsel." Said Harry to the Seventh Years who nodded and waited for the signal that came 2 minutes later, just after Harry removed the charms and the 8 were visible.
"Aguelarius!" Shouted the 6 students with their wands pointed to the Snake.
Inmediately, 6 eagles appeared from their wands and went against the snake who tried to fight against them but failed and was killed by their work together.
"What shall we do with them?" Asked Katie to her friends while her Eagle placed herself over her shoulder. The students and the staff recovered themselves from the shock of the Snake's attack and now were watching the 6 teens in confussion.
"I'll keep mine. I'm sure that Mom wouldn't mind having an eagle for mailing. What do you think, George?" Asked Fred to his twin while he petted his own Eagle.
"Errol is old, so 2 Eagles would be better than one." Said George with a smile.
"I'll give mine to the School. A Phoenix and an owl are enough for me." Said Harry while his Eagle went to the Owlery which would be her new home, after she heard the teen's intentions towards her.
"Ahem!" Cleared his throat someone behind them stopping their chat.
"Professor Dumbledore, what do you think of our actions?" Asked Angelina who had her Eagle at her shoulder.
"Impressive. Can anyone explain us what has happened here please?" Asked the Headmaster that had went to the group with the Gobernors, Minerva and some of the Teachers.
"Easy. Mr. Malfoy made appear a Snake at the Hall. Why he did it, It's something beyond my knowledge." Answered Harry simply.
"Is this true, Mr. Malfoy?" Asked McGonagall who turned her atention, alike the rest of the Hall, to the blonde Slytherin who became very pale with this.
"I didn't do it. He's lying!" Exclaimed Draco trying to defend himself, pointing to Harry.
"Why should we believe at the word of a Parselmouth? They are Dark Wizards! How do we know that he isn't the one who made it appear?" Asked Lucius to the staff.
"Accio Draco Malfoy's wand!" Said Harry pointing his wand to the blonde.
The wand of Malfoy flew from his pocket to Harry's hand. Before anyone could protest this, he casted a Priori Incantatem at the wand and from Draco's appeared a Snake like the one that had appeared at the Hall a few minutes before.
"Is it enough for you?" Asked Harry with a smile to Lucius, before he added in a whisper that only the blonde could hear: "If you want to play dirty, you'll find someone who plays worse." Said this, Harry left the Hall who was watching Malfoy with hate.
Dumbledore took the wand that had fallen to the floor and without words, he snapped it at 2, much to the shock of everyone. Especcially Draco and Lucius.
"You are expelled from this School for putting in danger the lives of all the students. Go and pack your things, you'll leave inmediately." Said Albus very seriously to Draco before he left the Hall in search of Harry.
He found the teen a few moments later, leaning against a wall trying to catch his breath. When Albus went to him, Harry raised his hand to stop him.
"Can you help to go back to the Tower?" Asked the teen when his breath was normal again. Before Albus could answer, he fainted.
****
"I guess that you'll stay at the Casttle for Christmas." Said Fred to Harry a few days later during lunch.
It seemed that everyone realized that Harry wasn't a Dark Wizard after the incident in which Malfoy was expelled. If he was one, why didn't he cast the Snake? Why did he kill it instead of giving her orders to kill someone at the Hall? Was what everyone thought.
Harry continued his life as usual, ignoring their talks. Now that the opinion of everyone had changed and they didn't see him as a Dark Wizrd anymore, his life returned to the normal routine without any problem with students or teachers.
"Yes. I always stay at the School for the Holiday anyway." Said Harry remembering his last 4 Christmas: the Mirror of Erised, the Polijuice Potion, the Firebolt, the Ball and all the others things that had marked those holidays in some or another way.
"Don't you get bored?" Asked George listening his words.
"You never get bored with me!" Laughed Harry before he took a parchment and his wand and asked to the twin: "Choose an animal."
Those simple words caught the atention of the whole table. Everyone knew that when Harry said them, he was going to make a teddy. All the students from first to seventh year, turned their heads to see the new work.
"A dog." Answered George who knew what was going on as the rest of the House.
"What do you like more: Dracula or Robin Hood?" Asked Harry to Dean who knew about Muggle's stories as him.
"Dracula. I love the Horror films!" Answered the teen with a wide smile.
"Dracula in dog's form. It's a nice mix!" Laughed Harry before he started with his work.
First he transformed the parchment in a puppy dog, then in a black cloak. The next thing was a pair of fangs. After that, the fangs were transformed in a little vial with a blood. The last changes were into a goblet and a little bat.
"Now let's finish it." Said Harry before he flicked his wand by last time.
In front of him there was now, a teddy dog showing 2 big fangs at his jaw wearing a black cloak. On his shoulder, there was a bat and in his hand was a goblet full of a red liquid that was blood. The liquid was also at the fangs and his eyes were red as if they were bloodied.
"Usual price." Said Harry before he made 2 copies, one for Dean and the other for George.
"Where do you get the ideas to make so many teddies?" Asked Minerva to her Godson when the Fifth years were at her Classroom for their first class of that afternoon.
"Personal experiences, imagination, books I read, everything is welcome to give me ideas." Answered Harry simply before McGonagall started the class.
****
"Now that the class is over, I'll pass the list to know who of you will stay at the School for the Christmas Holidays." Said Minerva giving them a parchment after the end of her class a few days later.
Harry, as had been his habit since first year, signed his name on it inmediately. His mind was in the old battle again: returning or not to his Universe. This would be one of his hardest task. For all of his previous years, Ron and Hermione, in her case except in their first years, had stayed at the Casttle tom be with him. This year the 3 of them would be separated.
"Thinking about it again?" Asked Minerva to Harry when the other students had left the Classroom and both of them were alone.
"Yes. I should be happy because I'll spend my first Christmas with my family, but... don't know why I'm not." Said Harry sadly.
"You know it. Your friends." Said Minerva.
"All the matter returns to the beggining: what will I do? And I still don't have an answer to that question." Said Harry before he returned to the Tower.
He decided to do what he always did when he was in need to talk: he went to Alicia's Private Rooms. She looked like the only one capable to talk with for a while.
"Are you up to a little chat?" Asked Harry to Alicia when he entered and found the Head Girl reading a Charm's Book.
"Always. A chat with you is always more interesting than studying." Laughed Alicia before she asked: "Only both of us or the whole group?"
"Just us." Said Harry sitting near her.
"I listen to you." Said Alicia after she locked the door magically.
Harry took a deep breath and told her everything about what happened in the duel, what was going on at his Universe, the Death Eaters' plan to come there and his doubts about what to do when both Universes met.
"I don't know what to do. I have to choice between things that I love: my family and my friends. The family I never met and the one that I'll lose if I return there and the friends that were like my family and will lose if I stay here." Finished Harry closing his eyes.
"It's not an easy decission." Said Alicia when he finished his tale.
"Nothing's easy with me, Alicia." Said Harry sadly.
"No one said that life is." Said the Chaser turning on a cigarrete.
"In 2 months or so, the people of my Universe will come for me. I don't know if I am capable to stand everything again: the fame, the hate... everything. If I return, I'll be seen as the Boy-Who-Live-Killed-Voldemort- Died-And-Return-From-Death. No one will care if I came here." Said the Seeker turning on a cigarrete too.
"Harry, your decission is yours. There will be people who will accept it and people who will not. Follow your heart and try to find a solution so you can be happy. If you return or stay here, you'll have people who will love you. I wish I could do more for you than just give you this piece of advise, but I can't. You are the one who has to decide what to do and where to live." Said Alicia with a sad tone of voice.
"I know it. Thanks for listening, I needed someone to talk with about this." Said Harry and stood to leave.
"Do Mary and Paul know about this?" Asked Alicia before he closed the door.
"No, and I don't have any idea of how to tell them." Said Harry closing the door and going to his dorm. He needed some time to rest and think all about this.
****
"Did you buy the gifts for Christmas?" Asked Fred to Harry a the Friday before the start of the break that would begin on Monday.
"No. Why don't we go to the Alley?" Asked Harry with a mischievious smile.
"Are you mad? How shall we get permission to do it?" Asked George perplexed at his suggestion.
"If I get the permission, are you up to it?" Asked Harry with an evil smile.
"Yes!!!" Said the twins interested at the idea.
"Ask to the others if they want to come while I get the permission." Said the Prefect looking at his father and Godfather who were entering at the Hall in that moment.
"What do you need, Harry?" Asked Sirius when the teen reached to where they were.
"Could we speak alone?" Said Harry inocently shooting an indirect look towards Albus, Lily and Minerva.
"Of course." Said James guessing that his sons was prepairing some prank.
"I need your help, but not a for a prank." Said Harry as soon as the 3 were at James' Office.
"Then for what?" Asked James and Sirius at the same time confused with his words.
"If I convince Dumbledore to give us permission to make a shopping trip to the Alley, would you come with us as the responsible adults in charge of a group of students?" Asked Harry knowing that both adults were everything except 2 responsible adults.
"You want us as responsible adults of you in a trip to Diagon Alley???" Asked the 2 Marauders not sure if they had listened right.
"It's insane I know it, but if I don't get 2 adults to come with us, Dumbledore won't give us the permission. And I'm not crazy enough to ask this favour to mom and McGonagall." Stated the teen knowing that Lily and Minerva would not even consider the idea of allowing them to go to the Alley.
"He's right. Albus won't give them permission if someone doesn't go with them in charge of the group." Said James to Sirius.
"So?" Asked Harry impatiently.
"Sure!!" Said both teachers with wide smiles.
"Now I have to convince Dumbledore of giving us the permission." Said the Prefect leaving the Office and going to his Grandfather's Office.
"Come in!" Said someone from inside when he knocked the door.
"Hello." Said Harry with an inocent smile when he sat in front of Dumbledore and Minerva who were talking before he entered.
"What have you done this time?" Asked both adults noticing the smile and beggining to worry about it.
"Nothing yet. I came because I need your permission for a little trip." Said the teen to the Headmaster.
"A trip to where?" Asked Lily entering in that moment and listening his words.
"Just Diagon Alley." Said Harry as if it was a minor detail.
"Excuse me?" Asked Lily and Minerva confused while Albus looked at him amused.
"A shopping trip to the Alley. And before any of you ask, I got 2 adults to be in charge of us in the trip." This words were said with an inocent smile.
"Who are these adults? And who will make the trip?" Asked Albus curiously.
"We'll go me, the twins and some of the players. Fred and George were asking them when I went to get the help of the responsible adults."
"You asked to James and Sirius to go with you as responsibles of the trip?" Asked Minerva not sure if she wanted to listen the answer.
"10 points for Gryffindor." Said Harry amusedly.
"You asked James and Sirius to be in charge of all of you in a trip to the Ally and they said yes?" Asked Minerva shocked.
"Yes."
"When are you planning to make this trip?" Asked Albus very amused with the whole situation, especcially the shocked and bewildered faces of Lily and Minerva after listening the news bout the trip and James and Sirius being involved in all.
"Tomorrow." Said Harry before he asked: "So, do we have permission?"
"I'll give it with the condition that any of the students that makes this trip will not go to Hogsmeade for the next 2 allowed Weekends." Said the Headmaster after thinking for a few moments.
"You have a deal!" Said the teen before he left the Office and went to tell the news to the others.
Before he closed the Gargoyle, Harry heard to his mother shouting: "I'LL KILL THEM!!!"
****
"Let me get this straight." Said Katie to Harry the next day when the whole team plus Lee and Ginny were waiting till they could make the trip to the Alley. "You got us the permission to go to the Alley to make the trip with the only condition that we won't go to Hogsmeade for the next 2 weekends?"
"Exactly. Isn't it a good deal?" Answered Harry with a smile.
"Who will come with us? Dumbledore wouldn't let us go there alone!" Said Lee while the others nodded in agreement.
"We'll go with 2 responsible adults." Said Fred while Harry nodded..
"And who are these adults?" Asked Alicia with doubts about the words of her teammates.
"Us!" Said James entering with Sirius at that moment and listening the Chaser's words.
"You mean that the 2 most irresponsibles adults of this School, will be in charge of us during this trip?" Asked Angelina with a shocked face to Harry and the twins.
"Do you prefer McGonagall and my mom?" Asked Harry with an inocent smile.
"Let's go." Said the Chaser prefering to not answer that question.
One by one, the teens and the adults used the Floo Network to go to the Alley. Today was opened just for them and would be closed again when they returned to the School.
"First stop: Gringotts!!" Exclaimed Sirius when the whole group had entered at the Alley.
"I already have my money." Said Harry taking his moneybag from his robes. The coins there were fruit of the teddies sold for Christmas that year at the Schools, that were a lot.
"Wait for us at Flourish and Botts while we get our money." Instructed James while he and the others went to the bank and harry went to the books' shop.
While he waited for the others, Harry started to look for some gifts. In a shelf he found a book called "Legends of the Ancients Ages." He remembered that his mother had talked about it and that she wanted to read it but couldn't find it, so it would be her gift. For his brother he found one called "Pranks and Jokes to terrorize your family and friends." It would be perfect for Paul, he decided. For Hagrid, he bought a thick book about Dragons and all the information about them.
"We are here." Said Sirius to Harry while the teen went on looking at the shelves.
"Ok. See if the others want to buy books. I'm seeing if I can find more gifts here before I go to another shop." Said Harry to his Godfather taking a book called "History of the Founders of Hogwarts." It was for his sister who had been looking for it for a while and couldn't find it.
"Have you found interesting gifts?" Asked Katie to Harry when both of them were paying for the books and they were wrapped for gift.
"One for Paul, another one for Mary, another one for Hagrid and the last one for my Mom." Said Harry before he asked: "You?"
"One for my sister, another one for Alicia, and a last one for my dad." Said the Chaser while they left and waited outside of the shop till the others had finished their shoppings.
"Shouldn't you 2 be at the School?" Asked sternly Mrs. Weasley to the teens going to them.
"We came with the rest of the team to make the shopping. And we came with 2 teachers." Answered Harry while the rest of the group left the shop and saw Molly who was doing the same that them.
"Hi, mom." Said Ginny hugging her mother.
"Hi Molly. I see that you came to do some shops today." Joked Sirius.
"Yes, I did." Said Molly greeting the other teens and James.
"What's next on the list?" Asked James to the teens.
Everyone started to talk at the same time without listening what the others said. It took James 10 minutes to control them and ask the question again. Once more the Chaos broke.
"Why don't we sepparate our ways and we meet again at the Leaky Cauldron in 2 hours? In this way all of us can buy everything that we have to without going to some shops that they don't want." Said Harry stopping the chats.
"Be at the Cauldron in 2 hours." Said James after all of them agreed to the idea.
Harry's first stop after the departure of the group, was Zonko's. There he bought some products for his Father, Sirius and the Twins. After Zonko's, he went to the Quidditch's Shop to buy some gifts to the 3 Chasers. For Alicia he bought a book with tips about the Captaincy of a Team. To Katie a book about the great Chasers of the History. To Angelina, a pair of gloves for players. Also he bought a new microphone for Lee. After the Quidditch's shop, he went to a candy store and bought 2 bags of Lemon Drops for his Grandfather.
"Now, I just have to find something for McGonagall and I'll be done with the shoppings." Thought Harry checking a list with names and possible gifts for his friends.
"Have you finished, Harry?" Asked Sirius to Harry while the teen was looking for something for his Godmother.
"I'm looking for something for Minerva. Any suggestion?" Asked the teen looking at shop's windows.
"Forget books, everyone buys her those for her birthday and Christmas every year." Said Sirius thinking a little.
"I've found the perfect gift." Said Harry entering at a shop leaving Sirius watching him confused.
"What did you buy in there?" Asked the Marauder to his Godson. The shop sold statues and articles for decoration.
"It's a surprise." Said the teen misteriously before he saw that it was almost time to meet with the others at the pub.
He and Sirius took their bags and went to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for the others. When they entered they saw to Katie and Alicia who were waiting for the others with their bags next to them.
"Shall we stay for dinner?" Asked the Head Girl to the Potion's Teacher when he and Harry sat down next to them.
"Of course." Said James who entered in that moment with Paul and Mary and listened her words.
When they started to order their food, entered Lee, the Twins, Angelina, Ginny and Molly. Mrs. Weasley decided to join them at the meal and the whole group spent a few hours laughing before the students and the teachers had to return to the Casttle and Molly went back Home.
****
For the break, Harry and his siblings moved to their parents' Quarters. They were the only students that stayed at the School for the Holiays so no one could say something against them moving there.
"How many students stay usually at the School at your Universe?" Asked Lily to her son on Christmas' Eve. They were the only ones awake. James, Paul and Mary had gone to bed earlier anxious of the next day.
"Few. Except in last year, we weren't more than 10. In third we were 6 I think." Said Harry reading "Hogwarts: A History of Quidditch."
"Why except last year? What happened?" Asked Lily curious while he checked the gifts and put the names on it.
"There was a Yule Ball because of the Tournament." Said the teen closing the book and going to sleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up by the noise done by James and Sirius. It looked like the Marauders wanted to wake him not nicely. He pointed his wand to himself and created a new shield before he went on faking his sleep.
"Don't worry. We won't wake you like this today." Said James who noticed his son casting the shield.
"Then?" Asked the teen making dissapear his shield.
"We'll wake him!" Said Sirius emptying a bucket of water over Paul's head.
"Wh... wha.. what is going on???" Asked Paul being woken by the water.
"Merry Christmas!" Shouted Harry hitting his brother with his pillow.
"Pillow Fight!" Shouted James making appear 2 pillows, one for him and another one for Sirius.
Instantly the 4 started a pillow fight hitting each other. James and Sirius teamed themselves to attack the teens while Harry and Paul did the same to defend themselves.
"May I ask what's going on here and why is Paul soaking??" Asked Lily in a thunderous voice entering at the dorm.
"Attack her!" Shouted Sirius and the 4 started to hit her with the pillows.
"STOP!!!!" Shouted Minerva entering at the dorm with Albus and making them stop inmediately.
"I'll go to change my clothes." Said Paul who was soaking because the bucket of water.
"You ruin our fun!" Pouted James kissing his wife.
"Harry go and change your clothes. We'll wait for you and Paul at the living room." Said Lily to her son.
"Where is Mary?" Asked Harry before he started to change his pj's.
"I'll wake her now." Said Lily going to her daughter's dorm.
After Paul and Harry finished changing their clothes, both boys went to the licing room where their parents, sister, Remus, Siris, Minerva and Albus were waiting for them around the piles of gifts that were around a big Christmas tree.
"I have 4 words before we start to open the gifts: Merry Christmas for everyone!" Said James before he took a package of his pile and opened it.
"How did you get it?" Asked Mary to Harry when she opened his gift which was the first of her pile.
"I found it at Flourish and Botts when we went to the Alley." Said Harry opening Sirius' gift: a bag of pranks from Zonko.
"Does it also go for this?" Asked Lily opening her book. Harry nodded before he opened the team's gift: a book called "The Greatest Seekers of the History".
"I said no to an Eagle and you give me a cat?" Asked Harry sarcastically to his Godmother opening her gift that was a little brown kitten.
"Compaired with an owl and Phoenix, a cat is normal and they are allowed at the School." Said Minerva with a chuckle.
"Excuse me, but I never heard that Phoenixes were not allowed here. He has one after all." Said the teen pointing to his grandfather before he asked him: "Are you still waiting to get some socks for Christmas?" In that moment the Headmaster was opening his fifth gift that was a book as all of the other ones.
"It's my dream." Chuckled Dumbledore opening the bags of sweets from Harry and said: "At least someone decided to give another thing that a book."
"You are welcome." Said Harry opening his mother's gift: a winter cloak that was dark blue.
From his father he got a book of pranks and another bag of pranks, this time of the twin's products. Remus gave him a book about the History of the last 50 years of this Universe. His btothergave him a pack full of quill that he could use for making teddies. With his last gift, there was a note that read:
"We thought that you would like to remember the Christmas of your Universe getting this package.
Fred and George."
Inside, there was a brown sweater that had a drawing of 2 worlds and a key in the middle of them. After receiving one for 4 years, Harry recognized it easily as one of Molly Weasley's. Harry smiled and promised to thanks them for the gift. With the sweater there was also a package of sweets.
"Another sweater from Molly?" Asked Remus seeing the sweater that Harry got form the Weasleys.
"Just to keep the tradition!" Laughed the teen openening his sister's gift, a book about the history of Gryffindor's Heir. Harry promised himself to read it to understand and know more about his heirloom.
"Where did you get this?" Asked Minerva to her godson opening his gift. It was a little statue of a persian cat that changed of colour its fur acording to the owner's mood.
"The Alley. There is a list of the colours and their meanings. It's with the package, I guess." Said Harry opening Albus' gift: a big and thick book about rare kinds of Phoenixes. It was marke at the page of the Peregrin Phoenixes.
"It seems that everyone chose to give you books." Laughed Remus opening Harry's gift.
"It seems so." Said Harry opening his last gift, Hagrid's. It was a jar with sweets. His own knowledge about his cooking abbilities, told Harry to eat them with extreme care.
"Is anyone up to a snowball fight?" Asked James when evryone had finished opening the gifts and put them aside to take them later to their own dorms.
"I have a better idea. Breakfast!" Said Pual when his stomach made a noise that made everyone laugh.
"I second that motion!" Exclaimed Harry leaving the room and going to the Hall for breakfast, followed by the others.
****
The Christmas Holidays went on in a blur and before Harry could realize it, they were over. He, Paul and Mary returned to the Tower the night before the end.
"How were the Holidays at the Castle?" Asked Fred to Harry when everyone sat for breakfast the first day of classes.
"Good. Better that the old ones." Answered the teen before he added: "Thanks. You know what for."
"It wasn't hard to convince Mom to make another sweater for a friend." Said the twin knowing why Harry was thanking him for. He nodded with a smile.
"What gifts did you get besides our book?" Asked Alicia joining their chat.
"A cloak, 2 bags of products for pranks, a kitten, a bag of quills for making teddies, some food from Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid, a few books. Nothing else." Said the Seeker before he asked: "You?"
"Books, make up, the Weasley sweater, and cloth." Said the Chaser. For a while, the whole team told their gifts. Harry noticed that everyone got a Weasley Sweater.
"When are we playing the next match? Against who?" Asked Katie suddenly.
"Against Hufflepuff and we play it on February. The 15th or 16th, I have to check the date to be sure." Said the Quidditch Captain before everyone stood and took their bags and went to class.
****
January arrived and went at the School without many things that should be mentioned. The only important thing had been the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff that had been won by the Badge's House by 400 to 200. Ravenclaw would play against Slytherin in march and Hufflepuff would play against Gryffindor in February.
During the last days of January and the first ones of February, Harry had been nervous and everyone noticed this. His mood changed a lot: he passed from happiness to sadness and depresion in matter of days. Everyone who knew the doubts of the teen, knew what bothered him: his own Universe would come for him soon and he had to make his decission soon.
"The only thing you can do, is wait and decide when they are here, Harry. Not before." Had told him Alicia one day when both of them talked in her private rooms about this.
Harry knew that she was right, but the doubts were still there. He could hardly think in another thing. His mood began to take effect in class and all the teachers noticed that he wasn't acting as usual in them. He could hardly concentrate in them and he was having problems with simple things that under other things he could do them easily.
In the only thing he could find time to concentrate was the Quidditch. Harry used to spend a lot of time on his broom at the pitch flying and training with or without the team. Some teachers had suggested that he should be removed from the team till his grades improved.
"Whatever you do, don't do it, Albus. Taking the Quidditch from him, could be a hit very bad. He needs it to release tension." Said James to the Headmaster when Harry's parents and godparents were talking about this in his Office.
"He's right and you know it." Said Sirius agreeing with him, alike the others.
It was decided to wait a while to see if the teen changed his mood and his behaviour in class. They told Harry that he had to improve in them because if not, he would have problem with the other members of the staff.
"I'll try to do it." Said the Prefect simply, knowing that he was very far from his yearmates at every subject.
"Ask help if you need it." Said Lily seriously while the others nodded.
"I will." Said the teen before he left the Office.
Since that day, Harry tried to become the old student he was. For the Friday before the match, he was at his old level and in some subjects as Transfiguration and Defense, he was ahead of most of the other students at the class. He also continued the special training with Minerva. He had already got right the transformations in the Hawk, the Gryffin and the Tiger. He had to domain the Phoenix and the Dragon. At that moment he was training to for the first one.
****
"Ok, guys. This is our second match and we have to win it." Said Alicia beggining the pre game talk at the lockers when the team was changing their robes to play the match.
"If we win, we'll have the Cup almost in our pockets." Said Harry continuing her talk.
"We have to worry only by Diggory. We can't let him catch the snitch. It's your work, Harry." Said Fred going on with the talk.
"And the Chasers have to score as much as they can so we'll have more points for our match against Ravenclaw." Finished George, before he nodded to Alicia so she would finish the talk.
"You'll give the talk for our next match, guys." Said Alicia shaking her head. This year she hadn't been able to finish the talk because Harry and the twins also interrupted her and continued with it.
"Anytime." Said the three with a smile and a bow to their Captain.
"LET'S WIN!" Shouted Alicia putting her hand in the middle of the locker and being followed by the rest of the players.
"GRYFFINDOR!!!" Shouted the 14 of them before the tirulars went to the Pitch and the reserves to the stands.
"And here comes Gryffindor!" Announced Lee when the Team entered at the Pitch. Harry saw that Lee was using the Microphone that he had given to him for Christmas. "Mary Potter! Angelina Johnson! Katie Bell! Alicia Spinnet! Fred Weasley! George Weasley! Harry Potter!"
All of them went to where Madame Hooch was waiting for them with Hufflepuff standing near her. Alicia and Cedric shook hands and Hooch blew her whistle signaling the start of the match.
Harry took his usual spot at the Pitch, 15 meters above the game's level, trying to find the Snitch and also watching for Cedric's movements. Both of them felt this match as a rematch, but for different reasons each of them. Cedric wanted revenge for the Feint that Harry had done to him that summer, while Harry felt this as his chance to beat him after the match in his Universe where he lost because of the Dementors.
The match was closed. After almost 2 hours, the score was 100 to 70 with Gryffindor up. The Anitch hadn't given any signal of life and both Seekers went on flying around the Pitch watching each other movements and looking for the ball, while the match continued.
"MacMillan passes the Quaffle to Summers... Bells intercepts the pass and goes to the Hufflepuff's poasts... she shots and scores!" Announced Lee when Katie scored the 110 for Gryffindor.
Suddenly Harry saw the Snitch and started to dive towards the little winged ball. Cedric who saw Harry diving followed him, thinking that he had seen the Snitch.
While he was diving, Harry felt a pain at his scar and everything went black and continued his fall without stop. This wasn't noticed by anyone. All of the students and teachers thought he was making a feint.
As unexpectedly as he had lost his conciousness, Harry woke up once more a few meters before he would crash against the floor. Still dizzy and confused, he saw the Snitch near him and caught it ending the match. He went up again, without hearing the crash produced by Cedirc who had hit the floor.
"Great feint, Mate!" Exclaimed Fred while Poppy took Cedric to the Infirmary and Hooch blew her whistle signaling the end of the game.
"Help me to get out of here now, Fred." Whispered the Seeker in an urgent tone of voice to his teammate.
"What's wrong?" Asked Alicia joining them and listening Harry's whispers.
"It wasn't a feint what I did. I fainted when I dived to catch the Snitch." Said Harry leaning on Fred's shoulder looking for support there. Around them the rest of the School was congratulating them, ignoring what had happened and the chat between the players.
"PARTY AT THE COMMON ROOM!!" Shouted the twin trying to get them space, helping Harry to stand. It did the needed effect: everyone started to go to the School talking about the match and the Feint that Harry had done.
"Take him to my rooms! I'll fetch Dumbledore, McGonagall and the Professors Potter!" Ordered Alicia to Fred before she ran towards the teachers.
"You heard her." Said Fred helping Harry to go to the Tower.
With some difficulty, both players arrived to the Common Room and went straight to the Head Student's Private Quarters. Harry sat in an armchair and started to take breaths while he and the twin waited for Alicia and the teachers' arrival.
"What happened?" Asked Lily worriedly when she, James, Sirius, Albus and Minerva arrived to the room with Alicia and the other players.
"When I was on my dive, I fainted and my scar hurt again. I don't know why but it happened and isn't good news, I can tell it with security." Answred the teen drinking some water that Alicia gave him.
"Does it have to do with what we talked in Halloween?" Asked Dumbledore with a mix of worry and seriousness.
"It probably means that one of the sides have arrived. It's a matter of days before the other does it too." Answered the teen before he took one of Alicia's cigarreted and turned it on.
"Harry!" Exclaimed all of the adults shocked with seeing him smoking.
"What? I'm sure that it's not the first time you see someone smoking." Said Harry with an inocent smile.
"What did you mean with the sides arriving here?" Asked Paul suddenly before any of the adults could answer to Harry's words.
"People from my Universe. Today arrived one of the sides: the one who wants to kill me or the one who wants to take me back there." Said the teen leaning against the sofa and falling asleep with the cigarrete laying on the ashtray.
"Let him sleep." Said Albus conjuring a blanket and covering Harry with it. Alicia nodded turning off the cigarrete.
"That's why he was behaving so strangely lately, right?" Asked Mary to her parents.
"Yes. He doesn't know what to do: stay and live here or returning to his own Universe." Said James sadly watching his son sleep.
"Why don't you go to the party? He won't wake in a while." Suggested Albus to the students after a while of silence. The 7 teens nodded and left the room with the adults. All of them understood their friend's situtation and knew that he would need them there in the moment he took the decission.
****
"When were you going to tell us about this?" Asked Mary to Harry the next day to the match. Both Potter were walking at the edge of the lake while the rest of the School was in a Hogsmeade trip. The trip wasn't allowed to go because of the trip they had done to the Alley fro Christmas. This was the last of the 2 weekends when they couldn't go.
"No idea. I guess that I thought that the best would be wait till both sides were here or I had made my decission." Said Harry knowing that his sister was talking about the situation that was happening and his decission.
"And did you take a decission?" Asked Mary watching her brother intently.
Before he could answer the question, his scar hurt again. Although this time he didn't faint as the day before, he knew that both sides had arrived to this Universe. It was a matter of time before he found them.
"Are you ok?" Asked Mary worriedly noticing that Harry had made a signal of pain.
"The sides are here and the war will start soon." Said Harry sitting in the grass to rest a moment.
"Let's go back to the Casttle. Mom and Dad will want to know this." Said Mary understanding the meaning of his words.
"Let's go." Said Harry standing again and going to the School with his sister.
While they were walking towards their parents' quarters, both teens heard a shriek that made them stop at the spot:
"HARRY!!!!"