Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling. I don't own
any of this and as much as I love reading HP, wouldn't want to be in charge
of writing the real thing!
I know I promised, but I didn't count on spending a week and a half in the hospital. Apparently traveling with pneumonia and then staying out in the rain because your parents locked the door and forgot to give you a key is not the best idea in the world.
Just to make it up to all of you here's two very long chapters and another one within the next week. I hope they're not too confusing. I wanted to do more POV's but I was getting confused and my sick brain won't think in that many directions, so tell me if its too bizarre, hard to understand etc. ( I know you will any ways cuz you're all great reviewers)
I can't believe I got so many reviews! You all rock.
Thanks so much to gaul1, solar1, psalatino, Lady Shang, Darcey, and Quacjen for reviewing.
Naia: Love ur stories n thanks for reviewing mine. I always find it strange when so much happens and Ron, Harry and Hermione don't change at all in relation to each other or change completely, so I tried to make Ron still slightly thoughtless but more mature, Hermione still a rule lover but more than willing to see reason and Harry..well..grown up. I also always think that after going through something like they did you have to have a certain amount of craziness and humor about it – glad you like it.
danniegirl85: Ur story's great. N yeah, 300 is really big number but I'm convinced Poppy is of very good constitution.
Wytil: I'm not sure if everyone is gonna find out about dimension travelers quite yet or if its gonna be a secret, but I'm leaning towards more of a secret – makes things more interesting and get rid of some other problems with Hermione and such.
Syron13: sorry bout not updating. Escape is coming up, but not as easy as they think n the Snape- harry confrontation should be very interesting indeed, but its not coming till chapter 9 at least – too much else 2 do n say!
GwEnDoLyN P. MaLfOy – Poppy's one of my fav characters n she's really fun 2 do so I had lots of fun. Hope you like the next few chapters.
Romm – sneakers will be uncovered very shortly and I think sneaking implies tentative trust and interest, but you'll see.
Hope you all like it! My brain is currently confused so the language is even more a mix of Brit and American English than normal – my sincerest apologies.
"regular speech"
~ telepathy/mindspeech ~
'thoughts'
***Last Chapter***
~Not again. Please tell me Poppy is on vacation.~ he practically later...
Poppy: "As I am finally allowed to examine my own patients, I will now conduct a fully examination of each of you so I can start a medical record for each of you, seeing as there isn't one in this dimension." At this all three of them gulped, Harry most noticeably as he was sure a full examination and compilation of all past injuries could take weeks, possibly months.
********
Chapter 6
6 hours, 23 interruptions, 8 visitation attempts and about 14 screaming fits later, Madam Pomfrey had finally gotten a near-complete list of all of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's past significant injuries and a some idea of how the more important or unusual ones, like a puncture wound from a very large basilisk's fang, had occurred. She had also managed to treat Harry's leg and several other rather minor lingering injuries the three of them hadn't bothered to heal yet - they were fully capable of doing so, but they just hadn't had the energy or the time. Then she proceeded to drug the food the house elves brought up for them, knocking them out for a good 14 more hours.
That night, the hospital doors were shut after an alarm was put on the door by a very satisfied and gloating mediwitch, leaving 3 quietly sleeping dimension travelers who were going to be very mad when they woke up, and two crafty, gleeful, and most importantly 2 invisible visitors.
The next morning, Harry woke groggily from a very nice rest with a groan. "I am going to kill that rotten witch. I can't believe she did that to me again!"
Not that he didn't love getting the sleep, but being tricked into it grated on his nerves and it always took him forever to wake up, which was one of the reasons why Poppy loved to do it in his world. It was about the only time he wouldn't fling her to the other side of the room when she woke him up.
Ron and Hermione who were still half asleep sent him grumbled grunts of agreement, which were entirely expected.
However, he also got an answer he was not expecting. A voice full of irony that he had not hoped to hear again floated to him from the once empty chair. And I, my ssssilly friend, can't believve that you all fellll for that again. Shhhe mussst have lotssss of experienccce with Pottersssss.
Vixen?!!! Exclaimed all three in parseltongue, opening their eyes and sitting bolt right up, turning to look at the chair just next to Harry's bed.
Once again though, the expected was not to be. For while, yes, the beautiful silver and scarlet snake they had come to know as Vixen was lounging on the arm rest of the chair, she was not alone. The chair was empty to the normal eye, but they were not normal.
A very clear red aura laced with silver, much like Harry's own looked before he accessed his full power was lounging lazily in mid air. He also saw the tell tale power signatures of an invisibility cloak. Tsk tsk, people today trying to sneak around while not bothering to cloak their auras or magical artifacts. Of course very few people had enough power or control to actually see auras and he had never bothered until he started getting special training, but still, it was the principle of the matter!
"Take off the invisibility cloak very slowly and place it at your feet." He growled menacingly, pulling his wand and training it on the chair as Ron and Hermione did the same. Sure they could all do wandless magic, but without the more advanced controls placed first the spells would turn out like his silencing spell earlier.
"Wow. Chill there." The voice said again as the invisibility cloak was removed to reveal a human of the female variety and appearing to be about 16 years of age sitting in the chair. She had long, silky black hair, a slightly tanned complexion, and a slim athletic build. She also looked very much at home in the hospital wing. However, what struck Harry, Ron and Hermione the most was the shade of her eyes. They were the exact same shade of emerald green as Harry's were and she was currently using them to study each of them very acutely. Furthermore, she didn't appear at all appalled by their use of parseltongue. Merely fascinated if her shrewd glance towards the snake and back to them was any indication.
When she finally got to Harry's face their eyes connected and she jumped slightly, seeing her eyes in his face. After all, 'eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad' are not exactly common. And they rarely twinkled in the exact same way as Dumbledore's did. However, here were two people with both those odd characteristics applying to their eyes.
With a slight quirk of her mouth and a glint of mischief in her eyes she continued, hands raised and palms out in the muggle symbol of surrender. "I'm not here to kill you or anything. I've already been on the receiving end of some of your hexes. If anything I'd say I was the one in danger here. Quite amazing if I do say so myself, although I personally favored what you all did to McGonnagal and Snape. Absolutely brilliant prank work if a bit rushed and lacking an appropriate audience. Decided I had to meet the masterminds behind it, so here I am." She ended with a rather disarming grin. "Plus, I couldn't miss the opportunity to show up my godfather, the twins, and Dumbledore by being the first to break Pomfrey's perimeter defense."
At that they all laughed, and realizing she posed no real threat lowered their wands.
"I take it she laced your food with sleeping potion. Don't worry, she does it to all of her regular customers, and it seems she never gets tired of it either." Harry groaned and fell back onto the bed.
"I know. Believe me I know."
~She's telling the truth, and she's horribly curious to find out who we are. A lot like we were before the war actually~ commented Hermione, analyzing the readings she was receiving from the girl.
~She's got lots of psychic potential too, although none active.~ Said Ron speculatively. He was one of the few people in the world that could safely awaken latent talents, although unfortunately he had only harnessed that ability after all of their other powers had awakened under extreme duress and other unusual manners. Some of them he couldn't have done anyways since except in extreme cases only talents with partially open channels can be awakened. During the war they had used Ron's ability to their greatest advantage, awakening as many latent talents as possible and putting them to use. Investigating gifts and their training had become a hobby of sorts for all of them, seeing as between them they had a variation or degree of just about anything you could think of from beast speaking (parseltongue and corresponding animagi forms only) and telepathy to morphing and elemental magics.
~That's all very interesting, but what I want to know is why she looks so much like me. She could be my sister! I have this strange feeling I've known her forever.~
There was a slight snort, but Harry either ignored it or just didn't hear it.
~Good question Inspector Gadget. Why don't you ask that to the only person in the room that knows the answer and isn't part of this conversation?~ Ron said
Or you could asssk me, you know. I may not be a persssson but I am cccertainly more intelligent that you three bozossss. If you had bothered to remember that I wassss the one that had shocked you sssso much in the firsssst placccce I could have told you that she wassss no danger. Vixen interjected
Harry started a bit at the voice before switching into parseltongue. Niccce of you to join the conversssation, although itsss not nicccce to eassssedrop, assss you well know. Good point though. How did you get here, assss in thissss dimension anywaysssss? He said pointedly, still unmoving although senses alert, fully aware of the scrutiny he was receiving.
I have abssssolutely no idea. You realllly should have exsssspected it though. I mean I am your familiar of sssortsssss. Ssspeaking of which, Aetra, Lily, Kendo and Silassss are all here asss well. That ssstupid nazzzzi of a nursssee has thrown all of us out countlesssss timesss in the passst few weeksss. I finally got the idea to try and hitch a rid with a human, but they haven't had much luck either until thisssss brilliant little lady. Vixen tilted her head at the girl and then slithered to a warm spot near to where Harry's head had been on the pillow, having finally made it up the bed. They all relaxed the rest of the way as Vixen said this. The snake wouldn't have made any such claims of harmlessness unless she was absolutely positive.
Well that issss good to know. I wassss beginning to missss all of you and I don't know what we would have done when we were awake long enough to feel the absssenccce of the bondssss.
Actually cut in Ron, Thissss issss probably part of the reasssson that the ssspelll continued to drain ussss after we had already arrived. It wasss probably bringing them over asss extensionssss to ourssselvess. I don't underssstand it, but it fitssss with the energy drainage I sssaw.
Thankssss for that Eissstein – be careful or you jussst might turn into Hermione here. All I can sssay issss that you owe ussss big time. It isss highly unpleasssant to be in the middle of a niccce invigorating tryssst with a handsome, cold ssssnake one moment and ssssucked into a gaping hole in the universssal fabric to a new world the next, not to mention without one'ssss partner. Vixen complained quite indignantly.
Oh I did not need to hear that! exclaimed Ron
Before Ron could insult the rather touchy snake, Hermione intervened. Our apologiessss for the inconvenience Vixxxxen, but we were not intending on doing any traveling ourssseelvesss. It issss wonderful to ssssee you. she said placatingly
Apology accepted. Vixen said stuffily before breaking into a snake's version of a grin.
It issss wonderful to be here asss well, regardlessss of the annoyanccce in the meansss of transssport. I can't believe you would ever conssssider leaving me behind! However, the girl'sss identity issss her own ssssecret, much asss your'sss isss, sssso even though I can tell you, I think it bessst if you asssk her on your own, and explain thisss asss well.
Alwayssss ever sssso helpful Ron replied, laced with sarcasm
Harry slipped his wand back up his sleeve and turned to the girl. With a mirror image of her slight smirk he addressed her. "I'm Harry. And these two are Hermione and Ron. Welcome to my humble corner in this home away from home, fully equipped with jailers and drugged food, as well as screeching alarm bells and overly white everything." At a slightly hissing he hurriedly added, "And this lovely little lady who you so kindly allowed to hitch a ride in your master infiltration plan is Vixen, one of my familiars." He held out his hand to the girl and she took it, firmly shaking it.
"Aurora. And thank you for your impeccable hospitality. Your décor is absolutely astonishing and getting in proved a worthy and exciting challenge." Eyeing him up and down she gave a slight grimace. "I see you are all victims of Dumbledore's fashion."
Hermione snorted. "And I take it you have been a fellow sufferer." With a smile at the girl she added, "My apologies for hexing you before. We were merely startled."
Auroras face took on a slightly sad quality and smiled back with a nod of acknowledgement. "Understandable and no need to apologize. I don't think I'll ever forget McGonnagal tied up in her own ears and hair colored orange and pink! Even we, Fred and George and I, haven't been able to pull off something quite that good on McGonnagal on such short notice."
Ron shook his head wisely. "One of our greatest accomplishments to date I must say. Congratulations for being the first to successfully penetrate out domain outside of Pomfrey's knowledge."
Aurora nodded with mock severity, "I know. You're standing in the presence of greatness. Of course escaping Poppy is just a family thing. Some of my other quirks are far more interesting and unique. Speaking of which," she smoothly manipulated topics, "How on earth did you all come to be parseltongues? I mean it's incredibly cool but its also supposed to be one of the rarest gifts in the world and here in the infirmary are three!" She quirked her eyebrow at Harry in question.
Harry, who had long ago learned to lie masterfully without blinking an eye simply continued, amused at how such a simple question they were unprepared for could make Ron and Hermione freeze up. Their reaction was only obvious to him, but still! Of course, they hadn't lived 10 years with the Dursleys covering up for bruises, accidents, and numerous other magical mishaps...
"We had an accident with a very nasty magical snake a few years ago. We would have died, but Vixen here, being the wonderful lady she is, helped save us. The accident, needless to say, left us with some odd side effects and links to snakes, one of them being the ability to speak parseltongue.
~Yes, a nasty snake by the name of Voldemort, and I think 13 direct run ins in 8 years with the worst sissy of a Dark Lord ever is a bit of an understatement.~ Said Hermione wryly.
~Oh yes, and 'some odd side effects' is a very good summary of our abilities Harry.~said Ron, laced with sarcasm.
~Well what did you want me to say? Lets try this: Voldemort tried to kill me when I was 1, after killing my parents, and it backfired destroying his body, transferring his power to me, allowing me to speak parsletongue. I then grew up in the muggle world and went to Hogwarts, when she obviously has never seen me here before, where I learned I could speak in my second year when the Chamber of Secrets was opened and I ended up killing a giant basilisk and a 16 yr old Tom Riddle as a consequence. After he came back through a dark ritual using my blood during my fourth year I was charged with killing him and in order to make sure you would be able to help and protect me we performed a blood-sibling ritual that bound our blood, souls and magic together, allowing you two to speak parseltongue?~
~Right. In that case, good cover up Harry.~ Ron said in a congratulatory.
~That's what I thought.~
"Cool...I think. Sorry, didn't mean to imply dying is cool, but I never knew that parseltongue could be 'learnt' that way." Aurora said excitedly.
Neither did, I until now and I'm a ssssnake. Sssstrange isssn't it, and here I thought I wass the one who gave you the powersss. Hmmm, wonder why I don't remember that. Maybe itsss becaussse the sssstory wasss a ridiculousss but rather nicccely conssstructed lie?
Harry glared at vixen. Hey, I resssent being called a liar. Everything I sssaid wassss true.
Yessss agreed Hermione with barely controlled laughter, but I think that wasss the mossst abbreviated version of the life of Harry Potter the world hasss ever ssseen.
Not thissss world. Said Harry cheekily.
Hmmph. You lot should take over for fate and dessstiny. You could get out of jussst about any messs with time you got into on thossse ssssilve tonguesss Vixen paused a moment, Or maybe not. The world would never ssssurvive with all the trouble you lot attract.
All three were now glaring at the snake, and Aurora was supremely confused. "Um, hello?"Aurora interjected hesitantly. She didn't want to seem overly pushy, but she also had to get in all her questions. I mean, Madam Pomfrey was due to open up shop any minute and if, or more likely when she was found she'd be in for a very nasty hiding and she wanted to make it worth it.
They all looked up rather sheepishly. "Sorry, vixen's being cheeky." Hermione explained.
Am not!
"But, yeah, we didn't know either until it happened. It was a very close call and have never found another case of it happening."
~Well, she doesn't seem disgusted~
They all exchanged another quick look before Harry continued tentatively. "So, does this mean you don't mind that we're parselmouths? You don't think we're evil?"
"Of course not! Well, I don't know you're not evil, but after what you did to Snape I couldn't care less." She said with a grin. "Besides, outside of Gred and Forge my next closest friend is a vampire and my godfather is a werewolf, so I think disliking you for being parselmouths would be a little silly hmm?"
~I like her, and anyone who doesn't like Snape is fine by me, even if he did turn out decent in the end. But Gred and Forge? She has to mean my brothers, but what are they doing here still?~
~Dunno. Ask~
"Great. Can you maybe not tell anyone though? I mean, we're not ashamed, its just it tends to cause a fuss." Harry asked carefully. He didn't want to make her think they had anything to hide – suspicion always complicates things
"Of course.. About the pranks then – what were those spells you used.? We're dying to know." She put on her best puppy dog face and waited, quill and parchment ready.
"Well, Harry was the one that did most of that, but first, would we be in reference to the Weasley twins?" Ron said cautiously.
"Yep. We're the marauders second generation, also known as the Raiders, not that that means any thing to you."
At that all of had to restraint snorts, sharing the thought. ~If only she knew.~
"Briefly put, we're the official pranksters of Hogwarts and Fred and George are planning on going into business for themselves after they leave at the end of this year, selling prank items we've come up with. I'll be their partner, but I have a separate career path I want to take." She said enthusiastically, getting the same dreamy look about pranks as most girls would about their boyfriends.
~Well well well. Looks like we have some company in our pursuits of mischief, not that Gred and Forge didn't always fill that position, but I've never even heard of her before. Wonder who her parents are.~ Ron said plottingly, already thinking of pranks to be done.
He had really taken to them after Fred and George had graduated, saying he had to carry on the family tradition, but it also had become one of their only outlets for fun, acceptable to their training because it kept them on their toes and taught them covert ops techniques none of them would have ever even considered otherwise. Sirius of course had been their primary trainer in this.
Unfortunately for Ron though, he was thinking rather loudyly. Hermione, getting tired of the distractions in the back of her mind scolded him slightly testily ~ If you let us get on with the conversation rather than aimlessly speculating maybe we'd actually get some of your questions answered Morpheus. And I would say that if we go just by names, we are far superior. I mean raiders? At least don't go with a direct synonym. Really.~
She switched her full attention back to Aurora. "Sounds wonderful. The spells really weren't all that difficult, just unusually applied."
Harry nodded, "I used a stretching hex combined with an engorgement charm normally used on shrunk clothes on McGonnagal's ears and hair and followed it up with the standard charm used on ribbons to wrap presents. Elastigorgio and ribicorum"
Aurora paused in her writing. "But where did the colors come from? You couldn't possibly have had enough time to do separate charm word just for those."
Hermione didn't bother to correct he on that assumption, but simply went into her lecture mode. "Actually, the colors were a side effect of the spells. You see we modified them to target and work on human ears and hair, but when the three are combined the have the unusual side effect of coloring the appendages orange and pink. You see..."
Before she could continue the lecture that Harry knew from experience would have lasted well over 15 minutes in length on the mechanics of the spells working together, he cut her off, smoothly continuing her past sentence, "..it was a complete accident, but a welcome one which I'm sure Hermione will be glad to explain in detail at a later time if you're interested."
She nodded agreeably, putting up the expected front for Aurora. However, she didn't let Harry off so easily. ~I wasn't finished yet!~ She directed at him indignantly.
~I know 'mione , but I also don't think the hospital wing is a proper place for an extensive lecture on spell modification. Hmm?~
~Oh alright, but I'll be sure to pull her aside once we get out and explain. Wouldn't due to have her use it without full understanding.~
~Quite right.~ Harry agreed, making sure to fully shield his amusement at her academic fervor. They had all found an interest in their studies over the past few years, mainly out of necessity, and Hermione had loosened up a lot, but she still had her funny quirks and strong sense of righteousness, especially when it came to learning.
~And you mister, are getting a full lecture on conversational manners next time I get the chance.~ Hermione added, just before he started speaking again, making him grimace slightly at not getting away with it like he thought he had. Hermione had a unique ability to pound just about anything into him when she wanted to, but she had different ways of doing so, and when she felt it merited she made sure it wasn't a very pleasant experience.
"On Snape we used a modified shoe-tying charm that was combined with a very minor tangling hex, minglus bowesa. The rest was just a stupefy and wingardium leviosa."
Aurora nodded, putting away the parchment and quill. "Simple yet effective, as the best pranks are. You don't mind if we try and adapt this into a sweet or more devious form for merchandise do you?"
"No," said Harry, smiling at the memory of the sweet the twins had created in their world modeled on these spells. "Just provide us with some when we want, or give us the recipe, for personal use only of course."
"Oh, and make sure to test them on people who are already accustomed to the sensation, if you know what I mean." Added Ron with a wink
Aurora smiled back. "Brilliant. Pleasure talking to fellow pranksters." She shook each one's hand professionally.
She leaned back in the chair once more and crossed her legs. "Now that business is done, I must do some reconnaissance for all the curious folk outside since other than your names the only bit of information I know is something I'm sworn to secrecy on."
"Of course."
~Hermione – your turn. We need truth but not a lot of it, since we don't want people accusing us of lying just after they first meet us and we have no clue who she'll tell.~
~Right.~
"Lets make this quick. I think we're running out of time, so how about basic info and I'll swap you. Poppy is sure to be here soon, and as much as she loves keeping me here when I'm injured, I don't think she'd be so happy with me being here at the moment." Aurora suggested, well aware they were probably just as curious about her.
"Too right" agreed Ron and Hermione who had suffered Poppy's wrath while breaking into the hospital wing to see Harry far too many times.
"Sounds fair." Agreed Harry.
(Note: all of the following normal conversation is between Hermione and Aurora until otherwise said.)
"Okay. Age?"
"All of us are 18, give or take a few months."
"16. Where are you from?"
"Originally I'm from just outside of London, Harry's from Surrey, and Ron is from St. Ottery Catchpole. We came from quite far away though."
~Yeah, several dimensions.~
"Middle of nowhere outside of London. So where do you all go to school?"
~What is with this school thing – she knows we're 18 so shouldn't we have graduated?~ Ron said confused.
~Apparently some things are different here Ron~ (mione)
~Really? Like everyone who was dead in our world being alive? I hadn't noticed.~
"We were going to school quite similar to this, but we have left that place for good now I think so we will probably end up trying to go here."
~I do hope so. What a great opportunity to finish our educations!~ Exclaimed Hermione while the other two wisely kept silent.
"I obviously go here. Why are you in the hospital wing, if you don't mind?"
"Exhaustion. The trip took a lot out of us and we had overdone it before hand what with preparing to leave and all. We also met with some unfriendly characters along the way."
~Yes, if you consider Voldemort and his army of about 100,000 deatheaters and over 200,000 dark creatures 'some' and 'unfriendly' and overdoing it taking out the stupidest nastiest Dark Lord of the past few millennia and then traveling dimensions.~
~Thank you for the anecdotes guys, but you did want me to be truthful. How do you propose doing that without glossing over everything a lot?~
"I'm here to visit you. Imagine that! Why are you at Hogwarts?"
"We got lost and when we found we were near Hogwarts we decided to come and visit some old friends, catch up on the news, and maybe stay for a while."
Yessss, a while being a cccentury or more.
Not you too.
Like friend like familiar.
"Okay, I'm satisfied. Hope I get to talk to you all later once you escape. Hogwarts is really great – I'm sure you'd love it here." Aurora ended enthusiastically, standing and picking up her invisibility cloak.
"It was a pleasure to meet you as well Aurora, and thank you for the distraction." Hermione said graciously, always one for manners.
~But we never found out anything!~ Complained Ron
~Oh hush. We'll find out later and she has to go before Poppy comes in for her morning rounds. Besides, at least by then we will have already talked to Dumbledore in full and know more about how much of the truth we should or can actually tell. Less thinking for me.~
~Why Artemis. I think you just admitted to being lazy.~ Ron teased.
~And I think you should know its called a tactical withdrawal.~ She said coolly.
~Yes, well don't expect any help from me in 'tactical planning' until I get all my info then.~
~I think itssss sssafe to sssay she never exxxpected any help at all from you Ronald~ Added vixen.
~Vixen, didn't Hermione tell you earlier that it is rude to easedrop on others' conversations? ~
~Actually~ Hermione said slyly. ~That was Harry, but that is true. Remind me to include vixen in that lecture on manners, and it wouldn't be amiss for you to listen to it as well Ronald.~
~Thanksss a lot Ron~ Vixen grumbled
Just before she left Aurora added to vixen, "And it was a pleasure scheming with you as well vixen. If you get discovered and need help breaking in here again just ask. Shame it takes so much effort for you to talk to me, I found it quite enjoyable."
At that comment the three exchanged a shocked glance.
~None of that psychic potential was active right Ron?~ Harry asked shakily
~Right.~ Ron replied, carefully checking her over again.
In unison they yelled at her "WAIT!"
"Yes?" She asked, one hand on the curtain, the other lowering the invisibility cloak she had been about to don. She was curious as to their strong reaction to her talking to the snake, as it was obviously something they did all the time.
"She mindspoke you?" Asked Harry slowly and on edge. He was now had the sheets clenched in his hands with tension.
"Yes – That's how she ended up hooking a ride with me and helped me get in. I assumed it was one of her talents as a magical snake, is it not?" Wondering what all this was about.
"It is, but only in special cases." He said glancing at vixen nervously, not sure if he wanted to go where this had to lead. Hermione and Ron were each watching him carefully, hoping that this was not just some fluke. If it meant what they thought it would be something Harry had dreamed about his whole life – something they had not dared to hope for here, even after seeing everyone else.
Why didn't you tell me Hissed Harry out of the corner of his mouth at Vixen.
It wasss not mine to tell, and I told you to asssk her. vixen said calmly, tring to lighten the mood a little.
Harry merely grimaced and looked back at Aurora with a dull hope as their eyes connected.
"Which are?" she asked, taking a step closer, although a little unnerved by the emotions he was showing. During all of their talking only polite facades of emotions had flickered back across his, or either of the others', faces or clear mimicries of her own expressions. She knew enough from observing people for so long to know that. But here he was, radiating true tension from the knowledge she had had a discussion with his snake, which he had done several times since she had been here.
Never leaving her eyes he slowly explained. "You see vixen is a soul snake. She can talk telepathically to whomever she had a bond as a familiar with. However, the only other people she can do that with is someone who is.."
"Harry!" Screamed Pomfrey cutting him off. She had obviously come into the hospital wing sometime in the last minute or so while they had all been distracted. "What on earth do you think you are doing up...Aurora Potter! How did you get in here? I would think you were in here enough as it is on you own accord without sneaking in to bother my other patients. What will Lily and James say when I firecall them to tell them you were harassing my patients, even if one of them is your brother?"
Thunk. Apparently even prewarned the shock was too great.
Ooof, someone get the number of that truck!
~Well that would explain the resemblance, not to mention why we don't know her.~ Commented Ron.
"Goodness. Well I guess that's one way to make him stay put. Never thought of using that, but I suppose if it works I might have to try it more often if he's in here as often as he claims he is."
"Oh he is." Chuckled Hermione who had now gotten up to tuck the fainted Harry back into bed affectionately and rescue Vixen from her predicament trapped under Harry's head. "But somehow I think after today you wont get him to do this again. Blackmail is always good though."
"Yes the great Harry Potter, fainting. Oh its even better than Sirius!" Said Ron. He then paused. "Of course if I just found out my parents who I had never met were alive and I had a sister I might have fainted too."
"What in Merlin's name is that animal doing in here?" Screeched Pomfrey, having noticed the snake now settling around Harry's neck.
"Oh that's just Vixen, Harry's familiar." Said Hermione unperturbed, now smoothing down the covers.
"Oh. My apologies then Vixen," she said addressing the sake. "As you probably know I normally make it a policy to allow familiars into the infirmary where I would otherwise not since they are beneficial to their 'masters' recoveries. If I had known you weren't a mere pet I woudn't have thrown you out so often."
Vixen gave a slight hiss Apology accepted. Of course Poppy didn't know that's what it meant.
She then turned her sharp gaze back to the two conscious human dimension travelers. "Back in bed both of you." Ordered Madam Pomfrey sternly before turning to continue scolding Aurora, only to find a girl in a very different state from when she had last been shouting at her.
'Oops. Shouldn't have let that one slip quite yet.' Poppy thought, but once in 15 years wasn't so bad, especially since the girl would have found out in less than an hour anyways.
*******Aurora's POV*******
"Sister? BROTHER?" Aurora said eyes wide, voice at a strangled whisper. Either this was some elaborate joke, which she doubted since Madam Pomfrey seriously disapproved of them, or something very weird was going on here. Looking confoundedly at the unconscious Harry. She had heard all her life about her older brother who had died as a baby due to the treachery of one of her parents' former best friends, taking out Voldemort with him when a killing curse mysteriously rebounded or malfunctioned, no one new the exact specifics of how it all happened. The keyword there was died. So this couldn't be him –could it?
It had been almost scary how at ease she felt with them despite their original intimidating appearance in the Great Hall. In fact she felt so 'at home' talking to them that she'd almost forgot to ask them about who they were – I mean the conversation had definitely taken a long curve in getting there that was definitely outside of her normal style. She had forgotten to ask for last names. Dad always said she had the tact of a bludger bat and the direction of a griffin-fletched arrow when it came to something she was interested in something.
He certainly looked a lot like her Dad, although the long hair, scars, and lack of glasses definitely made him his own person, and his presence and other quirks easily outshadowed his looks making one easily forget the resemblance. But those eyes. She had only ever seen that shade of green before on her mother, in her own reflection...or in pictures of Harry. Even her younger brother David didn't have those green eyes. And what had he been about to say before Madam Pomfrey had come in?
~He wasss going to ssssay that I can only mindssspeak thosssse who are already telepathic or are related by blood to him.~ Vixen said helpfully
Oh. Ohhhhhhh. ~So I'm not telepathic right?~ She tentatively tried out. Sure she had done this earlier, but then she hadn't known she wasn't supposed to be able to.
~Right~
~And you just read my mind and spoke to me and I spoke back right?~
~Right.~
~Which means I'm related by blood to him?~
~Yesss~
~I don't have any cousins do I?~
~Asssss far assss I know, no wizarding onesss.~
~And his name really is Harry?~
~Yesssss~
~Okay. Thanks~
~No problem, and its no strain to talk to you now that Harry's acknowledged the blood bond so feel free to come by and chat or plan excursions anytime.~ Vixen said kindly and quite proud of herself. After all, its not every day you engineer the meeting of your 'master' and a sister from another dimension he had never knew existed.
~Right.~
Normally Aurora was very skeptical and cautious about taking things at face value. Growing up with three marauders and a little brother did that to one. However it's not every day you meet three people you feel like you've known forever and a talking snake, and Madam Pomfrey never went for jokes and rarely let things slip, sooooo...
"I need to sit." Aurora said abruptly.
Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to realize the bombshell that had been dropped on her and the lack of the need for a scolding at the moment nodded, putting down the tray of potions she had brought and kindly and pulled over the chair from beside Harry's bed. After all, she was mostly stern and unyielding when it came to her patients, but that didn't mean she didn't have a heart. She just had realized long ago that it was the only way to make sure they did what she told them.
"How?" Aurora croaked at Hermione, who seemed to be radiating calm and reassurance, something she could definitely do with.
Hermione looked at her sympathetically and with no little bit of sisterly affection. "Suffice it to say we're not from this world. I think we had better wait until Dumbledore comes to check up on us. We still owe him the full story as well and I think your parents as well as a few other people should be there too. I don't want to have to repeat all this."
Aurora simply nodded. She still wasn't sure what to think and she wasn't about to press he luck and miss maybe the only chance she had at finding out.
*****Normal POV*****
~Poor Harry~ Hermione thought. ~What a shock, although definitely a good one.~
~Poor Harry? Hah. After all the shocks he's given us over the years he was overdue. Besides, think of all the wonderful teasing you can do and blackmail to get him to work.~
~Ron~ She said sternly ~You know I haven't had to blackmail either one of you into work since 5th year.~ With a sharp glance across the room at him she added. ~And I better not have to start again~
~No need. I promise I'll be good mommy. Think we should wake him?~
~Of course. I was just waiting to make sure Poppy was calm. An unconscious Harry is always a good distracter otherwise.~
~Smart~
~I know.~
~And smarmy~
~Look who's talking.~
Pulling out her wand she 'enervated' Harry, who came to with a hiss, literally.
I am sssssooooo going to get you for thissss Vixen
Yesssss, but I can alwayssss blackmail you into ssssilenccce with the fact that you fainted. Besssidesss, one would think you would be happy to find out your family wassss alive.
~Yeah mate, and you already got her. You landed on her when you fainted.~Ron supplied helpfully.
~You idiot, Harry. Poppy is here. Thankfully you were so quiet I don't think she noticed. Hermione scolded.
~Oopsss. ~ Harry said guiltily, looking around the room. Indeed, thankfully Poppy was tending to Aurora, checking to make sure that in her shock she hadn't medically got into shock as well.
Hermione shook her head. They never would have made so many slips in a year during the war. They'd have to be much more careful if they wanted to keep some of their secrets. Madam Pomfrey could know a lot of them and already did, but somethings were too hard to explain and the older witch wouldn't fall for half-explanations with medical anomalies like Aurora had.
"Morning Poppy." Harry said, causing the mediwitch to turn around and regard her most troublesome patient, or at least who she was sure would be.
"Good morning Harry. I take it you won't be fainting on us again today?"
"Um yes. Sorry bout that. I hadn't expected to find I had a sister." He said giving the still shocked Aurora a smile.
~I don't suppose you'd be inclined to forget that would you?~
~Nope. Now we have good material on you and Sirius.~ Said Ron evilly. ~I'm sure he'd love to hear about this.~
~Shit~
~Harry! Language!~
~Sorry 'Mione, Voldy's diapers!~ Sending them all into silent laughter
~Much better~ She gasped mentally through her distraction. She still didn't like swearing but she herself had picked it up as well, I mean what soldier doesn't, so she had compromised with 'constructive' insults.
"Indeed. Well here are your potions." She said, handing each of them three vials of unidentified substances.
"Aside from bringing you your potions and checking up on you, I was also here to tell you that Dumbledore has arranged for a meeting with all applicable parties, or at least the main ones, in his office in about an hour. While I do not approve Albus has insisted so I expect you all to return here directly after. Apparently you will be having your breakfast there. Albus has sent down some...clothes, if you can call them that, to wear. However, should you prefer something less eye-shocking than Albus's normal attire I believe your own robes have been cleaned." Her face scrunched slightly in disapproval of both Dumbledore's robes and their own, after all, what mediwitch approves of battle robes or robes so bright they could blind you? Both detrimental to one's health.
"I think we would all prefer our own robes to Dumbledore's ...unusual tastes." Hermione said with a remarkably straight face.
"Very well. I will be back with them in just a minute. Now drink those potions." Giving them each a scathing look before she ducked out of the curtains.
~What do you think they are?~
~Not sure.~
~To drink or not to drink. That is the question.~
Poppy returned to see her patients eyeing the still full vials of potions. "Oh for heaven's sake, drink them already or I'm not letting you out of here!"
"What are they?" Asked Harry bravely. He felt no urge to drink anything that might put him out for another half-day or more.
Aurora gave a muffled giggle at that and mumbled something that sounded like "That's what you get for drugging your patient's food."
"One is a potion for restoring muscles to their full previous capabilities, one is a replenishing potion, and the last is a simple Pepper-up. You haven't been out of those beds for over two weeks, or you shouldn't have been." She said suspiciously. "Now drink!"
Reassured they were not going to suddenly find themselves unconscious, or at least not due to one of Poppy's potions they drank the potions. Poppy gingerly placed their robes, dragon hide under robes and multiple holsters and sheaths on the tables at the end of their beds.
"Your knives, are in Dumbledore's office." She added with even greater distaste, noticing them looking for them.
"I expect you know your way to the bathroom. Take no longer than about 30 minutes and then return here so I can check you all over before you make your way to the headmaster's office. Aurora, come with me. We must discuss your detention. Professor Dumbledore also requested your presence, although at the time I must admit I couldn't see why he was telling me."
"Detention?" She gulped. Detentions with Madam Pomfrey could rival those with Snape, and she'd had more than her share of those.
"Yes. Breaking into the hospital wing is in clear defiance of school rules young lady. Now off you all go!"
As she was being dragged off a voice drifted into Aurora's mind.
~Don't worry, Harry will ressssscue you before they leave. He wantsssss you to come with them assss he thinksssss thisssss will be about why and how they are here. Asssss hisssss sssissster you have a right and need to know. He'ssss very good at breaking out of the infirmary ssooo you shouldn't have a problem.~
~Thanks vixen.~
~No problem. Ssssee ya!~
*********************************
Ta da! Chapter 6 has now landed. Thank you for flying Fanfiction airlines and we (uhoh, im thinking in the plural) hope you had a pleasant flight. If you are continuing on with us to our final destination please remain in your seats and go to the next channel for your in-flight entertainment. Thank you! (yes I have finally cracked and gone mad. Whoopee! IB does that to a person)
I know I promised, but I didn't count on spending a week and a half in the hospital. Apparently traveling with pneumonia and then staying out in the rain because your parents locked the door and forgot to give you a key is not the best idea in the world.
Just to make it up to all of you here's two very long chapters and another one within the next week. I hope they're not too confusing. I wanted to do more POV's but I was getting confused and my sick brain won't think in that many directions, so tell me if its too bizarre, hard to understand etc. ( I know you will any ways cuz you're all great reviewers)
I can't believe I got so many reviews! You all rock.
Thanks so much to gaul1, solar1, psalatino, Lady Shang, Darcey, and Quacjen for reviewing.
Naia: Love ur stories n thanks for reviewing mine. I always find it strange when so much happens and Ron, Harry and Hermione don't change at all in relation to each other or change completely, so I tried to make Ron still slightly thoughtless but more mature, Hermione still a rule lover but more than willing to see reason and Harry..well..grown up. I also always think that after going through something like they did you have to have a certain amount of craziness and humor about it – glad you like it.
danniegirl85: Ur story's great. N yeah, 300 is really big number but I'm convinced Poppy is of very good constitution.
Wytil: I'm not sure if everyone is gonna find out about dimension travelers quite yet or if its gonna be a secret, but I'm leaning towards more of a secret – makes things more interesting and get rid of some other problems with Hermione and such.
Syron13: sorry bout not updating. Escape is coming up, but not as easy as they think n the Snape- harry confrontation should be very interesting indeed, but its not coming till chapter 9 at least – too much else 2 do n say!
GwEnDoLyN P. MaLfOy – Poppy's one of my fav characters n she's really fun 2 do so I had lots of fun. Hope you like the next few chapters.
Romm – sneakers will be uncovered very shortly and I think sneaking implies tentative trust and interest, but you'll see.
Hope you all like it! My brain is currently confused so the language is even more a mix of Brit and American English than normal – my sincerest apologies.
"regular speech"
~ telepathy/mindspeech ~
'thoughts'
***Last Chapter***
~Not again. Please tell me Poppy is on vacation.~ he practically later...
Poppy: "As I am finally allowed to examine my own patients, I will now conduct a fully examination of each of you so I can start a medical record for each of you, seeing as there isn't one in this dimension." At this all three of them gulped, Harry most noticeably as he was sure a full examination and compilation of all past injuries could take weeks, possibly months.
********
Chapter 6
6 hours, 23 interruptions, 8 visitation attempts and about 14 screaming fits later, Madam Pomfrey had finally gotten a near-complete list of all of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's past significant injuries and a some idea of how the more important or unusual ones, like a puncture wound from a very large basilisk's fang, had occurred. She had also managed to treat Harry's leg and several other rather minor lingering injuries the three of them hadn't bothered to heal yet - they were fully capable of doing so, but they just hadn't had the energy or the time. Then she proceeded to drug the food the house elves brought up for them, knocking them out for a good 14 more hours.
That night, the hospital doors were shut after an alarm was put on the door by a very satisfied and gloating mediwitch, leaving 3 quietly sleeping dimension travelers who were going to be very mad when they woke up, and two crafty, gleeful, and most importantly 2 invisible visitors.
The next morning, Harry woke groggily from a very nice rest with a groan. "I am going to kill that rotten witch. I can't believe she did that to me again!"
Not that he didn't love getting the sleep, but being tricked into it grated on his nerves and it always took him forever to wake up, which was one of the reasons why Poppy loved to do it in his world. It was about the only time he wouldn't fling her to the other side of the room when she woke him up.
Ron and Hermione who were still half asleep sent him grumbled grunts of agreement, which were entirely expected.
However, he also got an answer he was not expecting. A voice full of irony that he had not hoped to hear again floated to him from the once empty chair. And I, my ssssilly friend, can't believve that you all fellll for that again. Shhhe mussst have lotssss of experienccce with Pottersssss.
Vixen?!!! Exclaimed all three in parseltongue, opening their eyes and sitting bolt right up, turning to look at the chair just next to Harry's bed.
Once again though, the expected was not to be. For while, yes, the beautiful silver and scarlet snake they had come to know as Vixen was lounging on the arm rest of the chair, she was not alone. The chair was empty to the normal eye, but they were not normal.
A very clear red aura laced with silver, much like Harry's own looked before he accessed his full power was lounging lazily in mid air. He also saw the tell tale power signatures of an invisibility cloak. Tsk tsk, people today trying to sneak around while not bothering to cloak their auras or magical artifacts. Of course very few people had enough power or control to actually see auras and he had never bothered until he started getting special training, but still, it was the principle of the matter!
"Take off the invisibility cloak very slowly and place it at your feet." He growled menacingly, pulling his wand and training it on the chair as Ron and Hermione did the same. Sure they could all do wandless magic, but without the more advanced controls placed first the spells would turn out like his silencing spell earlier.
"Wow. Chill there." The voice said again as the invisibility cloak was removed to reveal a human of the female variety and appearing to be about 16 years of age sitting in the chair. She had long, silky black hair, a slightly tanned complexion, and a slim athletic build. She also looked very much at home in the hospital wing. However, what struck Harry, Ron and Hermione the most was the shade of her eyes. They were the exact same shade of emerald green as Harry's were and she was currently using them to study each of them very acutely. Furthermore, she didn't appear at all appalled by their use of parseltongue. Merely fascinated if her shrewd glance towards the snake and back to them was any indication.
When she finally got to Harry's face their eyes connected and she jumped slightly, seeing her eyes in his face. After all, 'eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad' are not exactly common. And they rarely twinkled in the exact same way as Dumbledore's did. However, here were two people with both those odd characteristics applying to their eyes.
With a slight quirk of her mouth and a glint of mischief in her eyes she continued, hands raised and palms out in the muggle symbol of surrender. "I'm not here to kill you or anything. I've already been on the receiving end of some of your hexes. If anything I'd say I was the one in danger here. Quite amazing if I do say so myself, although I personally favored what you all did to McGonnagal and Snape. Absolutely brilliant prank work if a bit rushed and lacking an appropriate audience. Decided I had to meet the masterminds behind it, so here I am." She ended with a rather disarming grin. "Plus, I couldn't miss the opportunity to show up my godfather, the twins, and Dumbledore by being the first to break Pomfrey's perimeter defense."
At that they all laughed, and realizing she posed no real threat lowered their wands.
"I take it she laced your food with sleeping potion. Don't worry, she does it to all of her regular customers, and it seems she never gets tired of it either." Harry groaned and fell back onto the bed.
"I know. Believe me I know."
~She's telling the truth, and she's horribly curious to find out who we are. A lot like we were before the war actually~ commented Hermione, analyzing the readings she was receiving from the girl.
~She's got lots of psychic potential too, although none active.~ Said Ron speculatively. He was one of the few people in the world that could safely awaken latent talents, although unfortunately he had only harnessed that ability after all of their other powers had awakened under extreme duress and other unusual manners. Some of them he couldn't have done anyways since except in extreme cases only talents with partially open channels can be awakened. During the war they had used Ron's ability to their greatest advantage, awakening as many latent talents as possible and putting them to use. Investigating gifts and their training had become a hobby of sorts for all of them, seeing as between them they had a variation or degree of just about anything you could think of from beast speaking (parseltongue and corresponding animagi forms only) and telepathy to morphing and elemental magics.
~That's all very interesting, but what I want to know is why she looks so much like me. She could be my sister! I have this strange feeling I've known her forever.~
There was a slight snort, but Harry either ignored it or just didn't hear it.
~Good question Inspector Gadget. Why don't you ask that to the only person in the room that knows the answer and isn't part of this conversation?~ Ron said
Or you could asssk me, you know. I may not be a persssson but I am cccertainly more intelligent that you three bozossss. If you had bothered to remember that I wassss the one that had shocked you sssso much in the firsssst placccce I could have told you that she wassss no danger. Vixen interjected
Harry started a bit at the voice before switching into parseltongue. Niccce of you to join the conversssation, although itsss not nicccce to eassssedrop, assss you well know. Good point though. How did you get here, assss in thissss dimension anywaysssss? He said pointedly, still unmoving although senses alert, fully aware of the scrutiny he was receiving.
I have abssssolutely no idea. You realllly should have exsssspected it though. I mean I am your familiar of sssortsssss. Ssspeaking of which, Aetra, Lily, Kendo and Silassss are all here asss well. That ssstupid nazzzzi of a nursssee has thrown all of us out countlesssss timesss in the passst few weeksss. I finally got the idea to try and hitch a rid with a human, but they haven't had much luck either until thisssss brilliant little lady. Vixen tilted her head at the girl and then slithered to a warm spot near to where Harry's head had been on the pillow, having finally made it up the bed. They all relaxed the rest of the way as Vixen said this. The snake wouldn't have made any such claims of harmlessness unless she was absolutely positive.
Well that issss good to know. I wassss beginning to missss all of you and I don't know what we would have done when we were awake long enough to feel the absssenccce of the bondssss.
Actually cut in Ron, Thissss issss probably part of the reasssson that the ssspelll continued to drain ussss after we had already arrived. It wasss probably bringing them over asss extensionssss to ourssselvess. I don't underssstand it, but it fitssss with the energy drainage I sssaw.
Thankssss for that Eissstein – be careful or you jussst might turn into Hermione here. All I can sssay issss that you owe ussss big time. It isss highly unpleasssant to be in the middle of a niccce invigorating tryssst with a handsome, cold ssssnake one moment and ssssucked into a gaping hole in the universssal fabric to a new world the next, not to mention without one'ssss partner. Vixen complained quite indignantly.
Oh I did not need to hear that! exclaimed Ron
Before Ron could insult the rather touchy snake, Hermione intervened. Our apologiessss for the inconvenience Vixxxxen, but we were not intending on doing any traveling ourssseelvesss. It issss wonderful to ssssee you. she said placatingly
Apology accepted. Vixen said stuffily before breaking into a snake's version of a grin.
It issss wonderful to be here asss well, regardlessss of the annoyanccce in the meansss of transssport. I can't believe you would ever conssssider leaving me behind! However, the girl'sss identity issss her own ssssecret, much asss your'sss isss, sssso even though I can tell you, I think it bessst if you asssk her on your own, and explain thisss asss well.
Alwayssss ever sssso helpful Ron replied, laced with sarcasm
Harry slipped his wand back up his sleeve and turned to the girl. With a mirror image of her slight smirk he addressed her. "I'm Harry. And these two are Hermione and Ron. Welcome to my humble corner in this home away from home, fully equipped with jailers and drugged food, as well as screeching alarm bells and overly white everything." At a slightly hissing he hurriedly added, "And this lovely little lady who you so kindly allowed to hitch a ride in your master infiltration plan is Vixen, one of my familiars." He held out his hand to the girl and she took it, firmly shaking it.
"Aurora. And thank you for your impeccable hospitality. Your décor is absolutely astonishing and getting in proved a worthy and exciting challenge." Eyeing him up and down she gave a slight grimace. "I see you are all victims of Dumbledore's fashion."
Hermione snorted. "And I take it you have been a fellow sufferer." With a smile at the girl she added, "My apologies for hexing you before. We were merely startled."
Auroras face took on a slightly sad quality and smiled back with a nod of acknowledgement. "Understandable and no need to apologize. I don't think I'll ever forget McGonnagal tied up in her own ears and hair colored orange and pink! Even we, Fred and George and I, haven't been able to pull off something quite that good on McGonnagal on such short notice."
Ron shook his head wisely. "One of our greatest accomplishments to date I must say. Congratulations for being the first to successfully penetrate out domain outside of Pomfrey's knowledge."
Aurora nodded with mock severity, "I know. You're standing in the presence of greatness. Of course escaping Poppy is just a family thing. Some of my other quirks are far more interesting and unique. Speaking of which," she smoothly manipulated topics, "How on earth did you all come to be parseltongues? I mean it's incredibly cool but its also supposed to be one of the rarest gifts in the world and here in the infirmary are three!" She quirked her eyebrow at Harry in question.
Harry, who had long ago learned to lie masterfully without blinking an eye simply continued, amused at how such a simple question they were unprepared for could make Ron and Hermione freeze up. Their reaction was only obvious to him, but still! Of course, they hadn't lived 10 years with the Dursleys covering up for bruises, accidents, and numerous other magical mishaps...
"We had an accident with a very nasty magical snake a few years ago. We would have died, but Vixen here, being the wonderful lady she is, helped save us. The accident, needless to say, left us with some odd side effects and links to snakes, one of them being the ability to speak parseltongue.
~Yes, a nasty snake by the name of Voldemort, and I think 13 direct run ins in 8 years with the worst sissy of a Dark Lord ever is a bit of an understatement.~ Said Hermione wryly.
~Oh yes, and 'some odd side effects' is a very good summary of our abilities Harry.~said Ron, laced with sarcasm.
~Well what did you want me to say? Lets try this: Voldemort tried to kill me when I was 1, after killing my parents, and it backfired destroying his body, transferring his power to me, allowing me to speak parsletongue. I then grew up in the muggle world and went to Hogwarts, when she obviously has never seen me here before, where I learned I could speak in my second year when the Chamber of Secrets was opened and I ended up killing a giant basilisk and a 16 yr old Tom Riddle as a consequence. After he came back through a dark ritual using my blood during my fourth year I was charged with killing him and in order to make sure you would be able to help and protect me we performed a blood-sibling ritual that bound our blood, souls and magic together, allowing you two to speak parseltongue?~
~Right. In that case, good cover up Harry.~ Ron said in a congratulatory.
~That's what I thought.~
"Cool...I think. Sorry, didn't mean to imply dying is cool, but I never knew that parseltongue could be 'learnt' that way." Aurora said excitedly.
Neither did, I until now and I'm a ssssnake. Sssstrange isssn't it, and here I thought I wass the one who gave you the powersss. Hmmm, wonder why I don't remember that. Maybe itsss becaussse the sssstory wasss a ridiculousss but rather nicccely conssstructed lie?
Harry glared at vixen. Hey, I resssent being called a liar. Everything I sssaid wassss true.
Yessss agreed Hermione with barely controlled laughter, but I think that wasss the mossst abbreviated version of the life of Harry Potter the world hasss ever ssseen.
Not thissss world. Said Harry cheekily.
Hmmph. You lot should take over for fate and dessstiny. You could get out of jussst about any messs with time you got into on thossse ssssilve tonguesss Vixen paused a moment, Or maybe not. The world would never ssssurvive with all the trouble you lot attract.
All three were now glaring at the snake, and Aurora was supremely confused. "Um, hello?"Aurora interjected hesitantly. She didn't want to seem overly pushy, but she also had to get in all her questions. I mean, Madam Pomfrey was due to open up shop any minute and if, or more likely when she was found she'd be in for a very nasty hiding and she wanted to make it worth it.
They all looked up rather sheepishly. "Sorry, vixen's being cheeky." Hermione explained.
Am not!
"But, yeah, we didn't know either until it happened. It was a very close call and have never found another case of it happening."
~Well, she doesn't seem disgusted~
They all exchanged another quick look before Harry continued tentatively. "So, does this mean you don't mind that we're parselmouths? You don't think we're evil?"
"Of course not! Well, I don't know you're not evil, but after what you did to Snape I couldn't care less." She said with a grin. "Besides, outside of Gred and Forge my next closest friend is a vampire and my godfather is a werewolf, so I think disliking you for being parselmouths would be a little silly hmm?"
~I like her, and anyone who doesn't like Snape is fine by me, even if he did turn out decent in the end. But Gred and Forge? She has to mean my brothers, but what are they doing here still?~
~Dunno. Ask~
"Great. Can you maybe not tell anyone though? I mean, we're not ashamed, its just it tends to cause a fuss." Harry asked carefully. He didn't want to make her think they had anything to hide – suspicion always complicates things
"Of course.. About the pranks then – what were those spells you used.? We're dying to know." She put on her best puppy dog face and waited, quill and parchment ready.
"Well, Harry was the one that did most of that, but first, would we be in reference to the Weasley twins?" Ron said cautiously.
"Yep. We're the marauders second generation, also known as the Raiders, not that that means any thing to you."
At that all of had to restraint snorts, sharing the thought. ~If only she knew.~
"Briefly put, we're the official pranksters of Hogwarts and Fred and George are planning on going into business for themselves after they leave at the end of this year, selling prank items we've come up with. I'll be their partner, but I have a separate career path I want to take." She said enthusiastically, getting the same dreamy look about pranks as most girls would about their boyfriends.
~Well well well. Looks like we have some company in our pursuits of mischief, not that Gred and Forge didn't always fill that position, but I've never even heard of her before. Wonder who her parents are.~ Ron said plottingly, already thinking of pranks to be done.
He had really taken to them after Fred and George had graduated, saying he had to carry on the family tradition, but it also had become one of their only outlets for fun, acceptable to their training because it kept them on their toes and taught them covert ops techniques none of them would have ever even considered otherwise. Sirius of course had been their primary trainer in this.
Unfortunately for Ron though, he was thinking rather loudyly. Hermione, getting tired of the distractions in the back of her mind scolded him slightly testily ~ If you let us get on with the conversation rather than aimlessly speculating maybe we'd actually get some of your questions answered Morpheus. And I would say that if we go just by names, we are far superior. I mean raiders? At least don't go with a direct synonym. Really.~
She switched her full attention back to Aurora. "Sounds wonderful. The spells really weren't all that difficult, just unusually applied."
Harry nodded, "I used a stretching hex combined with an engorgement charm normally used on shrunk clothes on McGonnagal's ears and hair and followed it up with the standard charm used on ribbons to wrap presents. Elastigorgio and ribicorum"
Aurora paused in her writing. "But where did the colors come from? You couldn't possibly have had enough time to do separate charm word just for those."
Hermione didn't bother to correct he on that assumption, but simply went into her lecture mode. "Actually, the colors were a side effect of the spells. You see we modified them to target and work on human ears and hair, but when the three are combined the have the unusual side effect of coloring the appendages orange and pink. You see..."
Before she could continue the lecture that Harry knew from experience would have lasted well over 15 minutes in length on the mechanics of the spells working together, he cut her off, smoothly continuing her past sentence, "..it was a complete accident, but a welcome one which I'm sure Hermione will be glad to explain in detail at a later time if you're interested."
She nodded agreeably, putting up the expected front for Aurora. However, she didn't let Harry off so easily. ~I wasn't finished yet!~ She directed at him indignantly.
~I know 'mione , but I also don't think the hospital wing is a proper place for an extensive lecture on spell modification. Hmm?~
~Oh alright, but I'll be sure to pull her aside once we get out and explain. Wouldn't due to have her use it without full understanding.~
~Quite right.~ Harry agreed, making sure to fully shield his amusement at her academic fervor. They had all found an interest in their studies over the past few years, mainly out of necessity, and Hermione had loosened up a lot, but she still had her funny quirks and strong sense of righteousness, especially when it came to learning.
~And you mister, are getting a full lecture on conversational manners next time I get the chance.~ Hermione added, just before he started speaking again, making him grimace slightly at not getting away with it like he thought he had. Hermione had a unique ability to pound just about anything into him when she wanted to, but she had different ways of doing so, and when she felt it merited she made sure it wasn't a very pleasant experience.
"On Snape we used a modified shoe-tying charm that was combined with a very minor tangling hex, minglus bowesa. The rest was just a stupefy and wingardium leviosa."
Aurora nodded, putting away the parchment and quill. "Simple yet effective, as the best pranks are. You don't mind if we try and adapt this into a sweet or more devious form for merchandise do you?"
"No," said Harry, smiling at the memory of the sweet the twins had created in their world modeled on these spells. "Just provide us with some when we want, or give us the recipe, for personal use only of course."
"Oh, and make sure to test them on people who are already accustomed to the sensation, if you know what I mean." Added Ron with a wink
Aurora smiled back. "Brilliant. Pleasure talking to fellow pranksters." She shook each one's hand professionally.
She leaned back in the chair once more and crossed her legs. "Now that business is done, I must do some reconnaissance for all the curious folk outside since other than your names the only bit of information I know is something I'm sworn to secrecy on."
"Of course."
~Hermione – your turn. We need truth but not a lot of it, since we don't want people accusing us of lying just after they first meet us and we have no clue who she'll tell.~
~Right.~
"Lets make this quick. I think we're running out of time, so how about basic info and I'll swap you. Poppy is sure to be here soon, and as much as she loves keeping me here when I'm injured, I don't think she'd be so happy with me being here at the moment." Aurora suggested, well aware they were probably just as curious about her.
"Too right" agreed Ron and Hermione who had suffered Poppy's wrath while breaking into the hospital wing to see Harry far too many times.
"Sounds fair." Agreed Harry.
(Note: all of the following normal conversation is between Hermione and Aurora until otherwise said.)
"Okay. Age?"
"All of us are 18, give or take a few months."
"16. Where are you from?"
"Originally I'm from just outside of London, Harry's from Surrey, and Ron is from St. Ottery Catchpole. We came from quite far away though."
~Yeah, several dimensions.~
"Middle of nowhere outside of London. So where do you all go to school?"
~What is with this school thing – she knows we're 18 so shouldn't we have graduated?~ Ron said confused.
~Apparently some things are different here Ron~ (mione)
~Really? Like everyone who was dead in our world being alive? I hadn't noticed.~
"We were going to school quite similar to this, but we have left that place for good now I think so we will probably end up trying to go here."
~I do hope so. What a great opportunity to finish our educations!~ Exclaimed Hermione while the other two wisely kept silent.
"I obviously go here. Why are you in the hospital wing, if you don't mind?"
"Exhaustion. The trip took a lot out of us and we had overdone it before hand what with preparing to leave and all. We also met with some unfriendly characters along the way."
~Yes, if you consider Voldemort and his army of about 100,000 deatheaters and over 200,000 dark creatures 'some' and 'unfriendly' and overdoing it taking out the stupidest nastiest Dark Lord of the past few millennia and then traveling dimensions.~
~Thank you for the anecdotes guys, but you did want me to be truthful. How do you propose doing that without glossing over everything a lot?~
"I'm here to visit you. Imagine that! Why are you at Hogwarts?"
"We got lost and when we found we were near Hogwarts we decided to come and visit some old friends, catch up on the news, and maybe stay for a while."
Yessss, a while being a cccentury or more.
Not you too.
Like friend like familiar.
"Okay, I'm satisfied. Hope I get to talk to you all later once you escape. Hogwarts is really great – I'm sure you'd love it here." Aurora ended enthusiastically, standing and picking up her invisibility cloak.
"It was a pleasure to meet you as well Aurora, and thank you for the distraction." Hermione said graciously, always one for manners.
~But we never found out anything!~ Complained Ron
~Oh hush. We'll find out later and she has to go before Poppy comes in for her morning rounds. Besides, at least by then we will have already talked to Dumbledore in full and know more about how much of the truth we should or can actually tell. Less thinking for me.~
~Why Artemis. I think you just admitted to being lazy.~ Ron teased.
~And I think you should know its called a tactical withdrawal.~ She said coolly.
~Yes, well don't expect any help from me in 'tactical planning' until I get all my info then.~
~I think itssss sssafe to sssay she never exxxpected any help at all from you Ronald~ Added vixen.
~Vixen, didn't Hermione tell you earlier that it is rude to easedrop on others' conversations? ~
~Actually~ Hermione said slyly. ~That was Harry, but that is true. Remind me to include vixen in that lecture on manners, and it wouldn't be amiss for you to listen to it as well Ronald.~
~Thanksss a lot Ron~ Vixen grumbled
Just before she left Aurora added to vixen, "And it was a pleasure scheming with you as well vixen. If you get discovered and need help breaking in here again just ask. Shame it takes so much effort for you to talk to me, I found it quite enjoyable."
At that comment the three exchanged a shocked glance.
~None of that psychic potential was active right Ron?~ Harry asked shakily
~Right.~ Ron replied, carefully checking her over again.
In unison they yelled at her "WAIT!"
"Yes?" She asked, one hand on the curtain, the other lowering the invisibility cloak she had been about to don. She was curious as to their strong reaction to her talking to the snake, as it was obviously something they did all the time.
"She mindspoke you?" Asked Harry slowly and on edge. He was now had the sheets clenched in his hands with tension.
"Yes – That's how she ended up hooking a ride with me and helped me get in. I assumed it was one of her talents as a magical snake, is it not?" Wondering what all this was about.
"It is, but only in special cases." He said glancing at vixen nervously, not sure if he wanted to go where this had to lead. Hermione and Ron were each watching him carefully, hoping that this was not just some fluke. If it meant what they thought it would be something Harry had dreamed about his whole life – something they had not dared to hope for here, even after seeing everyone else.
Why didn't you tell me Hissed Harry out of the corner of his mouth at Vixen.
It wasss not mine to tell, and I told you to asssk her. vixen said calmly, tring to lighten the mood a little.
Harry merely grimaced and looked back at Aurora with a dull hope as their eyes connected.
"Which are?" she asked, taking a step closer, although a little unnerved by the emotions he was showing. During all of their talking only polite facades of emotions had flickered back across his, or either of the others', faces or clear mimicries of her own expressions. She knew enough from observing people for so long to know that. But here he was, radiating true tension from the knowledge she had had a discussion with his snake, which he had done several times since she had been here.
Never leaving her eyes he slowly explained. "You see vixen is a soul snake. She can talk telepathically to whomever she had a bond as a familiar with. However, the only other people she can do that with is someone who is.."
"Harry!" Screamed Pomfrey cutting him off. She had obviously come into the hospital wing sometime in the last minute or so while they had all been distracted. "What on earth do you think you are doing up...Aurora Potter! How did you get in here? I would think you were in here enough as it is on you own accord without sneaking in to bother my other patients. What will Lily and James say when I firecall them to tell them you were harassing my patients, even if one of them is your brother?"
Thunk. Apparently even prewarned the shock was too great.
Ooof, someone get the number of that truck!
~Well that would explain the resemblance, not to mention why we don't know her.~ Commented Ron.
"Goodness. Well I guess that's one way to make him stay put. Never thought of using that, but I suppose if it works I might have to try it more often if he's in here as often as he claims he is."
"Oh he is." Chuckled Hermione who had now gotten up to tuck the fainted Harry back into bed affectionately and rescue Vixen from her predicament trapped under Harry's head. "But somehow I think after today you wont get him to do this again. Blackmail is always good though."
"Yes the great Harry Potter, fainting. Oh its even better than Sirius!" Said Ron. He then paused. "Of course if I just found out my parents who I had never met were alive and I had a sister I might have fainted too."
"What in Merlin's name is that animal doing in here?" Screeched Pomfrey, having noticed the snake now settling around Harry's neck.
"Oh that's just Vixen, Harry's familiar." Said Hermione unperturbed, now smoothing down the covers.
"Oh. My apologies then Vixen," she said addressing the sake. "As you probably know I normally make it a policy to allow familiars into the infirmary where I would otherwise not since they are beneficial to their 'masters' recoveries. If I had known you weren't a mere pet I woudn't have thrown you out so often."
Vixen gave a slight hiss Apology accepted. Of course Poppy didn't know that's what it meant.
She then turned her sharp gaze back to the two conscious human dimension travelers. "Back in bed both of you." Ordered Madam Pomfrey sternly before turning to continue scolding Aurora, only to find a girl in a very different state from when she had last been shouting at her.
'Oops. Shouldn't have let that one slip quite yet.' Poppy thought, but once in 15 years wasn't so bad, especially since the girl would have found out in less than an hour anyways.
*******Aurora's POV*******
"Sister? BROTHER?" Aurora said eyes wide, voice at a strangled whisper. Either this was some elaborate joke, which she doubted since Madam Pomfrey seriously disapproved of them, or something very weird was going on here. Looking confoundedly at the unconscious Harry. She had heard all her life about her older brother who had died as a baby due to the treachery of one of her parents' former best friends, taking out Voldemort with him when a killing curse mysteriously rebounded or malfunctioned, no one new the exact specifics of how it all happened. The keyword there was died. So this couldn't be him –could it?
It had been almost scary how at ease she felt with them despite their original intimidating appearance in the Great Hall. In fact she felt so 'at home' talking to them that she'd almost forgot to ask them about who they were – I mean the conversation had definitely taken a long curve in getting there that was definitely outside of her normal style. She had forgotten to ask for last names. Dad always said she had the tact of a bludger bat and the direction of a griffin-fletched arrow when it came to something she was interested in something.
He certainly looked a lot like her Dad, although the long hair, scars, and lack of glasses definitely made him his own person, and his presence and other quirks easily outshadowed his looks making one easily forget the resemblance. But those eyes. She had only ever seen that shade of green before on her mother, in her own reflection...or in pictures of Harry. Even her younger brother David didn't have those green eyes. And what had he been about to say before Madam Pomfrey had come in?
~He wasss going to ssssay that I can only mindssspeak thosssse who are already telepathic or are related by blood to him.~ Vixen said helpfully
Oh. Ohhhhhhh. ~So I'm not telepathic right?~ She tentatively tried out. Sure she had done this earlier, but then she hadn't known she wasn't supposed to be able to.
~Right~
~And you just read my mind and spoke to me and I spoke back right?~
~Right.~
~Which means I'm related by blood to him?~
~Yesss~
~I don't have any cousins do I?~
~Asssss far assss I know, no wizarding onesss.~
~And his name really is Harry?~
~Yesssss~
~Okay. Thanks~
~No problem, and its no strain to talk to you now that Harry's acknowledged the blood bond so feel free to come by and chat or plan excursions anytime.~ Vixen said kindly and quite proud of herself. After all, its not every day you engineer the meeting of your 'master' and a sister from another dimension he had never knew existed.
~Right.~
Normally Aurora was very skeptical and cautious about taking things at face value. Growing up with three marauders and a little brother did that to one. However it's not every day you meet three people you feel like you've known forever and a talking snake, and Madam Pomfrey never went for jokes and rarely let things slip, sooooo...
"I need to sit." Aurora said abruptly.
Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to realize the bombshell that had been dropped on her and the lack of the need for a scolding at the moment nodded, putting down the tray of potions she had brought and kindly and pulled over the chair from beside Harry's bed. After all, she was mostly stern and unyielding when it came to her patients, but that didn't mean she didn't have a heart. She just had realized long ago that it was the only way to make sure they did what she told them.
"How?" Aurora croaked at Hermione, who seemed to be radiating calm and reassurance, something she could definitely do with.
Hermione looked at her sympathetically and with no little bit of sisterly affection. "Suffice it to say we're not from this world. I think we had better wait until Dumbledore comes to check up on us. We still owe him the full story as well and I think your parents as well as a few other people should be there too. I don't want to have to repeat all this."
Aurora simply nodded. She still wasn't sure what to think and she wasn't about to press he luck and miss maybe the only chance she had at finding out.
*****Normal POV*****
~Poor Harry~ Hermione thought. ~What a shock, although definitely a good one.~
~Poor Harry? Hah. After all the shocks he's given us over the years he was overdue. Besides, think of all the wonderful teasing you can do and blackmail to get him to work.~
~Ron~ She said sternly ~You know I haven't had to blackmail either one of you into work since 5th year.~ With a sharp glance across the room at him she added. ~And I better not have to start again~
~No need. I promise I'll be good mommy. Think we should wake him?~
~Of course. I was just waiting to make sure Poppy was calm. An unconscious Harry is always a good distracter otherwise.~
~Smart~
~I know.~
~And smarmy~
~Look who's talking.~
Pulling out her wand she 'enervated' Harry, who came to with a hiss, literally.
I am sssssooooo going to get you for thissss Vixen
Yesssss, but I can alwayssss blackmail you into ssssilenccce with the fact that you fainted. Besssidesss, one would think you would be happy to find out your family wassss alive.
~Yeah mate, and you already got her. You landed on her when you fainted.~Ron supplied helpfully.
~You idiot, Harry. Poppy is here. Thankfully you were so quiet I don't think she noticed. Hermione scolded.
~Oopsss. ~ Harry said guiltily, looking around the room. Indeed, thankfully Poppy was tending to Aurora, checking to make sure that in her shock she hadn't medically got into shock as well.
Hermione shook her head. They never would have made so many slips in a year during the war. They'd have to be much more careful if they wanted to keep some of their secrets. Madam Pomfrey could know a lot of them and already did, but somethings were too hard to explain and the older witch wouldn't fall for half-explanations with medical anomalies like Aurora had.
"Morning Poppy." Harry said, causing the mediwitch to turn around and regard her most troublesome patient, or at least who she was sure would be.
"Good morning Harry. I take it you won't be fainting on us again today?"
"Um yes. Sorry bout that. I hadn't expected to find I had a sister." He said giving the still shocked Aurora a smile.
~I don't suppose you'd be inclined to forget that would you?~
~Nope. Now we have good material on you and Sirius.~ Said Ron evilly. ~I'm sure he'd love to hear about this.~
~Shit~
~Harry! Language!~
~Sorry 'Mione, Voldy's diapers!~ Sending them all into silent laughter
~Much better~ She gasped mentally through her distraction. She still didn't like swearing but she herself had picked it up as well, I mean what soldier doesn't, so she had compromised with 'constructive' insults.
"Indeed. Well here are your potions." She said, handing each of them three vials of unidentified substances.
"Aside from bringing you your potions and checking up on you, I was also here to tell you that Dumbledore has arranged for a meeting with all applicable parties, or at least the main ones, in his office in about an hour. While I do not approve Albus has insisted so I expect you all to return here directly after. Apparently you will be having your breakfast there. Albus has sent down some...clothes, if you can call them that, to wear. However, should you prefer something less eye-shocking than Albus's normal attire I believe your own robes have been cleaned." Her face scrunched slightly in disapproval of both Dumbledore's robes and their own, after all, what mediwitch approves of battle robes or robes so bright they could blind you? Both detrimental to one's health.
"I think we would all prefer our own robes to Dumbledore's ...unusual tastes." Hermione said with a remarkably straight face.
"Very well. I will be back with them in just a minute. Now drink those potions." Giving them each a scathing look before she ducked out of the curtains.
~What do you think they are?~
~Not sure.~
~To drink or not to drink. That is the question.~
Poppy returned to see her patients eyeing the still full vials of potions. "Oh for heaven's sake, drink them already or I'm not letting you out of here!"
"What are they?" Asked Harry bravely. He felt no urge to drink anything that might put him out for another half-day or more.
Aurora gave a muffled giggle at that and mumbled something that sounded like "That's what you get for drugging your patient's food."
"One is a potion for restoring muscles to their full previous capabilities, one is a replenishing potion, and the last is a simple Pepper-up. You haven't been out of those beds for over two weeks, or you shouldn't have been." She said suspiciously. "Now drink!"
Reassured they were not going to suddenly find themselves unconscious, or at least not due to one of Poppy's potions they drank the potions. Poppy gingerly placed their robes, dragon hide under robes and multiple holsters and sheaths on the tables at the end of their beds.
"Your knives, are in Dumbledore's office." She added with even greater distaste, noticing them looking for them.
"I expect you know your way to the bathroom. Take no longer than about 30 minutes and then return here so I can check you all over before you make your way to the headmaster's office. Aurora, come with me. We must discuss your detention. Professor Dumbledore also requested your presence, although at the time I must admit I couldn't see why he was telling me."
"Detention?" She gulped. Detentions with Madam Pomfrey could rival those with Snape, and she'd had more than her share of those.
"Yes. Breaking into the hospital wing is in clear defiance of school rules young lady. Now off you all go!"
As she was being dragged off a voice drifted into Aurora's mind.
~Don't worry, Harry will ressssscue you before they leave. He wantsssss you to come with them assss he thinksssss thisssss will be about why and how they are here. Asssss hisssss sssissster you have a right and need to know. He'ssss very good at breaking out of the infirmary ssooo you shouldn't have a problem.~
~Thanks vixen.~
~No problem. Ssssee ya!~
*********************************
Ta da! Chapter 6 has now landed. Thank you for flying Fanfiction airlines and we (uhoh, im thinking in the plural) hope you had a pleasant flight. If you are continuing on with us to our final destination please remain in your seats and go to the next channel for your in-flight entertainment. Thank you! (yes I have finally cracked and gone mad. Whoopee! IB does that to a person)
