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!
&&&&&Last Chapter&&&&
His jaw closed with a snap and everyone, despite the seriousness of the answer given looked highly amused. "Well then," Dumbledore said, trying to regain his composed image and state, "I think you should all start from the beginning then and explain how this, you, everything came about." He popped one of his lemon drops into his mouth hurriedly and visibly perked up. "We have all day after all. Lemon drop anyone?"
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Back to his old tactics Harry observed dryly.
At that moment they all thought the same thing – New things happen all the time, but somethings never change.
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$ - telepathy
#- parseltongue
(I liked my squiggles and arrows, but this database doesn't support them anymore :( )
Chapter 8
Everyone sat in stony silence waiting for one of the three dimension travelers to begin their tale.
Hermione, now fully in control again looked around with a calm and carefully guarded expression before beginning. "Well, I hope everyone is comfortable because this could take a while. We'll tell you as much as we can. Some of it is just too recent. I hope you understand. I…suppose all of this begins on the same night and with the same person it ended for all of you: October 31, 1981 and an emerald-eyed baby named Harry Potter." She glanced over at Harry and his subtly clenched jaw, carefully studying everyone's faces. "However, as he doesn't seem to want to talk, I will."
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$Harry, Shadow, I have to tell the full truth here, nothing less will do. I can leave out the prophecy though, since I assume the people that need to know already do.$ she carefully prodded him.
$Just do it$ he grunted, clearly uncomfortable with it all.
$You already knew this would happen, thus me telling everyone everything myself. I will edit, so its won't be so bad. Try and add a little yourself when you can though – I feel weird talking all alone.$ (Hermione)
$Yeah mate, could be worse – at least you don't have to tell them how you survived the next 10 or so times and how we all killed Voldy – yet.$ Ron joked, trying to comfort him and failing miserably
$Oh shut up Ron. Bad dog! I thought we had trained you to keep your big foot out of your mouth, although how you got it up there in the first place is what really beats me$ (mione)
$Well excuse me for trying to be an optimist. And I'm not a dog. I'm a wolf so I would thank you very much to give my other form the respect it is due and not lump me in with our drooling, tail wagging friend over there.$
$Will you two stop acting like a bloody married couple already and just let Sekhmet over there get on with explaining how I'm a freak, my parents are dead and my total existence defies all logic?$ Harry groaned irritably. This was not his favorite topic.
$We do not act like a married couple!$ they chorused together.
$That would be just…wrong. She's like my sister!$
$Ditto brother, but sure Harry, I'll get on with it. However if you call me Sekhmet or yourself a freak one more time I'm cursing your ass to Antarctica exactly like I did to Lucius Malfoy when he abused his house elf for the first and last time in front of me, anti-apparition field or not!$
She and Ron had been forced to be very stern with him after fourth year and the Dursleys about calling himself a freak. Harry thought far too little of himself, and they had worked very hard at making sure he knew that insulting himself and doing crazy self-sacrificing things that put him at insane and unnecessary risk was not ok.
Harry paled remembering her usual forms of retribution and conceded eagerly. Never piss off an overachieving know-it all who's a war general and has almost permanent PMS – very bad combination.
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"Just like here, Peter was the Secret Keeper. Sirius was supposed to be but they switched at the last minute to try and fool people. However, some things happened differently." Hermione said with a glance at the Potters. She didn't want to tell Lily and James they were dead, but she had to, and she figured Aurora already knew or guessed, as Harry hadn't known he had a sister. Or maybe it was that Aurora looked about to bite through her lip that clued her off to that tidbit. Hmm, have to ponder that later, although it is rather irrelevant.
"Instead of incapacitating James and Lily, Peter simply relinquished the secret to Voldemort" everyone winced again and she just rolled her eyes. "Voldefart," there was a snort of amusement this time but no wincing, "came to the house, as far as we know alone. First he killed James as James attempted to hold him off so Lily and Harry could escape. Next he killed Lily who wouldn't move from protecting her baby."
Surprisingly it was McGonnagal who gave the strangled half-sob she ended up stopping for, coupled by a horrified look in the direction of the three Potters she already knew, and one of pity at Harry, which only proved to make him cringe to the accustomed eye and ripple with frustration. Then again, McGonnagal had always been a softy underneath and the second war hadn't hardened her into the witch they'd known as Minerva.
Hermione chose to ignore her, continuing "Then he tried to kill Harry. As you said happened here, the curse rebounded and Harry survived. Voldemort became a spirit of sorts, surviving, we suspect, through his link to Harry." She stopped here for the moment so they could absorb this much – the rest of the story was just as shocking so she figured might as well take it easy to start.
"How? What link?" Dumbledore queried with rapt interest before she could continue any more, voicing the question that had been in everyone's minds. How had Harry had somehow survived The Curse only to die by the knife? It was a mystery that had always bothered him since that night and one he had never had the chance to discover the answer to.
All three of them sighed. No escaping it – they knew this would happen. Dumbledore had just been the one with the nerve. "You see, Harry is unusual." Hermione said delicately. Harry, if he didn't have what she called their 'statue face' on would have been blowing raspberries at her for that comment.
Shaking her head to herself she continued. "He is closer to magic than most wizards and witches and as a baby, he unconsciously tapped directly into the magical plane, the reservoir of pure magic where all of our normal magic originates from. The magic saved him, turning him into a channel for that one second that linked the spell back to Voldemort in a full cycle. Voldemort didn't die though. He too is unusual in a similar way to Harry and we believe, although are unsure, that he used the same link Harry had created to transfer some of his power into Harry and draw on Harry's magical essence to stay alive, linking his existence to Harry's through the spell. That is why Voldemort's essence disappeared a few blocks away from Godrics Hollow here. Harry died, so Voldemort, not strong enough yet to survive on his own as he might have been able to in a more corporeal form, died as well." Dumbledore was nodding his head at this idea and looked rather amazed that an 18 year old would understand or even theorize something like this. Granted it did involve her very closely.
"However, in our world Peter wasn't there, and Lucius and the others were still outside, so Harry survived. The blood magic of Lily's sacrifice for her baby, while not strong enough to stop the Avada Kedavra (although it could have had something to do with the magic's 'willingness to help' if you can think of it as sentient), protected Harry until he could be removed from the rubble of the house and later was the power base and enabling factor for further blood magic protections to be set up for Harry so that when the Death Eaters tried to find him or Voldemort returned he was relatively safe."
"So this…method of escaping the Avada Kedavra wouldn't work for anyone else?" Lily asked. She was a spell researcher and a very good one too – but this wasn't only a matter of professional pride. With all the new Death Eater problems one of her biggest projects and worries was on how the Avada Kedavra could be blocked. It was definitely the less horrible of the three Unforgivables in regards to long-term effects and what happens to the victim in life, but the idea that James or any of her children could so easily be dispensed of made her shiver with terror.
"I wouldn't say that." Spoke up Ron. "It would just work for a very specific few. We only figured out all of this, the logistics and all, very recently but so far the way Harry saved himself as a baby seems to be purely instinctive, and the only two that seem to be…naturally unusual enough, that we have encountered, are Harry and possibly Voldemort." Ok the cringing was starting to piss him off.
"Voldemort" he said with emphasis, unwilling to humor them and inwardly disgusted but oddly thankful at his family's naiveté, "would probably have had a better understanding as he spent 13 years figuring out how to return from whatever happened, and he used a similar technique in the first place to stay alive. Unfortunately, or actually fortunately he's now dead – in both worlds. Frankly, its not one of my top priorities either. There a much worse ways to die."
'Its worth misleading them to save the sanctity of the curse and prevent even worse ones from popping up here like they did in our world.' Ron thought dispelling the slight guilt he felt for 'lying' to Lily about this, so obviously concerned for her family.
What he was saying here wasn't precisely true, since Hermione and himself could do it as well, and he could probably figure out everything needed for it to work at will in this dimension with lots of willing-to-die test subjects and a few weeks, but the Avada Kedavra had been the least of their worries in his world. Ron himself had found a counter to it early on, reluctantly using prisoners and terminally ill volunteers as test subjects, and it had been highly effective, though painful. However, once the dark side discovered this they began the development of even more horrific spells. Regardless of the disparity found in the casual taking of a life, there are much more painful ways to die that result in the same end as the Avada. He didn't think this peaceful world could handle the appearance of something of that nature yet.
Those who used the Dark Arts, as in evil not simply the 'darker' side of magic as all magic is only good or bad upon intent, were lazy and Ron could safely hide this knowledge knowing that so long as no one gave them a reason they would continue using the Avada so long as it worked.
Besides, he had truthfully answered the question. The truth spell would have allowed nothing less. No one else could use the exact method Harry had used, and still did to escape, the curse. It was an method that had to be personalized. The counter they had developed was very different.
&&&&&&&&&Molly's POV &&&&&&&&&
Oh those poor poor children. They must have been through so much to speak so casually of death as Hermione did. So much like the Hermione of this world, the sweet girl her Charlie and Gred and Forge, as she affectionately thought of them, had befriended. Intelligent, logical, and always so thoughtful and intuitive…and yet it wasn't the same girl. This one was far older, not so much in years, but maturity forced by circumstance. She was so controlled, and there was a…well a presence that all of them had that was comforting and yet intimidating.
What had really rocked her, even more than some of Fred and George's experimenting was prone to do, was the difference in Ron.
'I can't believe this boy is my Ron!' Molly had thought shocked. 'Okay, well not my Ron precisely, but still, a version of my Ron. He's so…self-composed, competent, and, well, humble.'
Arthur had clenched her hand when Ron started to talk, almost afraid to find the son they knew here in this 'new' son. But they were oh so wrong. It was most of the reason they had kept so quiet – hoping to keep up the illusion of Ron as they had always hoped him to be in this one. When her eyes widened as Ron began to explain the Avada in perfect competence but lacking any and all pretentiousness Charlie simply smirked at her. Despite him not being allowed to say anything he had warned them that appearances are deceiving.
Don't misunderstand, Molly and Arthur loved their Ron very much, but he was no where near who they had hoped he would become. He could be very sweet, but for the most part acted like, well, a 'stuck up prissy git,' as Bill termed it, always looking for attention and willing to do anything but study to gain money or fame. He was very successful with Quidditch being captain of the B team and first reserve for the A team, but he was very unhappy with that and jealous of the twins.
'And he had hated Hermione and anything academic more than his 'impoverished roots' as he would have called it, if he knew what impoverished meant' Molly thought bitterly. Yes, her Ron was not who she had hoped for, but he was still her son, that she knew. What she didn't know was what to do about this Ron. Technically he was her son, and he appeared to be a person she would very much like to get to know, but how much would he accept her as his mother?
She glanced over at Lily and thought of her response to Harry, continuing her gaze on until she came to Ron, once again stony faced and calmly waiting.
'Well he'll just have to accept me.' She thought firmly, coming to a decision. 'I'll make sure he knows that as soon as he leaves here, and maybe before, and Arthur can follow or not.'
Molly Weasley had made up her mind and when she does so, there is little force, earthly or divine willing to try to contend with her will.
&&&&&&Normal POV&&&&&&
"Well that settles that matter for now rather solidly then doesn't it?" Dumbledore said paradoxically cheerfully to be concluding a discussion on death and unforgivables. Hermione was tickled to he was vigorously munching on yet another lemon drop which she thought they all could use and Moody's eye was still rolling around at a rapid pace. Did the man ever stop? Molly looked highly determined…which if Hermione knew Mrs. Weasley meant an adoption, informal or otherwise was soon to come – the woman was just about the most stubborn and mothering person ever to exist – it was good to have her back. McGonnagal had a look of familiar pity on her face that she knew Harry would hate if he happened to see it, and Arthur and Charlie simply looked as if they were at a loss for what to do. Sirius seemed stricken at the idea of the death of his best friend and his friend's wife, but also excited about something.
Lily once again was the first to speak. 'Have to remember to thank her for taking the initiative,' Hermione thought.
"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry." He began to get a glint in his eyes which she correctly interpreted and cut off rather snappishly, "Oh it's not pity, I'm just…well sorry. I know how it feels to loose someone that way- obviously. At least Sirius was there to take care of you." She smiled at her husband's best friend. "I bet that was some adventure."
"Yeah Harry, I bet I was a great Dad. Taught you all the tricks of the trade." Ah, so that was what he was excited about.
Hermione was about to explain the situation when Harry did it for her. Damn that boy and his pride. Now she'd get to siphon off the emotional backlash. Ack! Men!
"Actually, I never even knew you existed until the beginning of my third year in Hogwarts. I'm sure 'Mione will tell you about that in a minute though." Harry said in an emotionless voice.
Sirius looked like he was about to go cross eyed with confusion. "Why? Did I die too."
Harry raised an eyebrow at his persistence, or possibly at the face Sirius was making. "Strike one. No. You were in Azkaban for killing Peter Pettigrew, 12 muggles and betraying my parents to Volde…wart." He finished as if it was the simplest thing in the world, which, compared to a lot of things they had been through, it was.
"What!?!" exclaimed James practically jumping out of his seat. "But Sirius would never betrayed us! And…wait. Didn't you say Peter was the Secret Keeper? So how…? Why?"
Sirius who was spluttering managed to finally say, "Yeah, what he said!"
"Oh chill both of you." Harry said much calmer than Hermione knew he was. Looking at Sirius he tried again, "Down doggy. Yes, I said he was in Azkaban for betraying my parents. I never said it was true. You," sending a pointed look at James, "told Dumbledore and anyone else who needed to know that Sirius was the Secret Keeper. When you switched and then died the only living people who knew of the switch were Peter and Sirius. Sirius, being the crazy and unthinking mutt he is,"
"Yes Sirius, you are," Lily assured the disgruntled animagus who was about to object.
"chased Peter down, where, in the middle of muggle London the stupid rat shouted out how Sirius betrayed Lily and James and then blew up the street, and faked his own death by cutting off his own finger and scampering away. Sirius, was then taken to Azkaban without a trial and left there only to escape 12 years later during my third year using one of his…specific talents.
Quite a funny story actually. Peter had been hiding as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers who faked his own death again, causing Ron and Hermione to not talk to each other all year. We also had to suffer through Dementor guards. It was all fine though because after we found out the truth we got to curse Snape into unconciousness. Peter got away when Remus transformed, what with the full moon, but we saved Sirius from a Dementor's Kiss by flying him out on a hippogryff that we had saved from execution earlier, or was it later?, that evening, all using Hermione's timeturner. The wonders of a dense and uncooperative ministry."
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$Harry, you really need to calm down. I'm redirecting your emotions the best I can but you're about to explode. The rat is dead. Calm down.$ (mione)
$Yeah mate, I've drained off enough energy to fill four power stones and you're aura's still vibrating and pulsing. The shield and filters won't hold up if you get any more riled up.$
$Ok. The rat's dead. He's dead and he's blue and scaley. The rat's dead, we stuck his head up his butt almost literally. The rat's dead and so is Moldyfart. Think happy thoughts. Aunt Marge as a balloon, no more Dursleys, my parents are alive, Snape in drag –ooo bad image! Alright I'm good.$
$Thank Merlin.$
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"Timeturner?! A third year student?" McGonnagal squeaked.
Hermione smiled fondly at her and her rule abiding mentality that hadn't been loosened by years of what they termed 'Harry exposure.' "Yes, my possession of one was actually one the least law-bending activities we've engaged in, although what we ended up doing with it was a different matter, and it was all your and Dumbledore's idea too."
"Oh dear." Was all the response McGonnagal was able to muster.
"So did you live with Remus then? Tara has always wanted an older brother." James asked.
"He was a great DADA teacher so I have no doubt he is most likely a great father. He actually lasted the longest of any of our DADA teachers, even if he only made it to the final week of his first year. However, the ministry of our world outlawed the allowance of werewolves to be parents or even guardians shortly after the first fall of Voldemort so, strike two. Guess again."
"Strike?"
"Muggle term sorry- it means no."
"Yes, three strikes and you're 'out' so to speak, but Muggle?" Lily pondered allowed, "They don't teach about baseball in Muggle Studies until 9th year…unless. No." Eyes wide she snapped out of her wandering thoughts. Blazingly, she fixed he attention directly at Dumbledore with disgust and distaste at her recent revelation. "You didn't." She looked at Harry with trepidation, "He didn't, did he?"
"I'm afraid so." Harry confirmed.
"I can't believe you Dumbledore! Of all the…I specifically said NOT them! You stupid stupid man, I can't believe you let my son live with them."
The whole room was repressing snickers at the sight of a 5 foot 1 inch Lily Potter standing in front of one of the most powerful wizards in the world, giving him the verbal hiding of his life for something he obviously had no clue about.
&&&&James's POV&&&&
As skeptical of the trustworthiness of these three newcomers as he was, there was no denying that this was the truth and Harry was his son. Not only did he look identical, but the truth spell was undeniable proof, and done at their behest. James was having a hard time getting his head around all of it, but it was coming. Since he had come into this room he had fluctuated between confusion, outrage and distrust, but amusement was definitely breaking through right now. After all, how often do you see Dumbledore cowed and by your own wife no less? He most definitely sympathized with Dumbledore as he'd been on the receiving end of that temper far too often, but it was a nice change to sit back and watch – and very amusing.
'Oh dear' he thought as Lily's rant didn't wear off. 'I suppose I had better go rescue him before she gets too carried away.'
James moved to get up and retrieve his wife, but before he could even begin to shift his weight he was frozen by a look from his…son?
Damn. The boy had Lily's eyes to the fullest extent. Identical and just as expressive. But why didn't Harry want him to stop Lily? After all, she hadn't even said who she was so angry about.
And that's when he did it and shocked my socks off. In marauder hand talk, clear as day, he discreetly signed, Just wait Prongs. You'll see. If it gets out of hand I'll take care of it. The old man deserves a good telling to every once and a while, even if this Dumbledore is completely innocent for once.
And with that Harry went back to his stoic self and turned his attention to the scene unfolding before them that was becoming more and more amusing. Sirius, who had also caught the signing just smiled and winked.
So that's what changed his mind so fast. I didn't think Sirius was ever that trusting, but that is some pretty compelling evidence. The boy knows the hand talk?! How on earth? I never even taught Aurora or David that! We agreed that only after they come of age and are animagi of their own, and then maybe not! Only those trust worthy… So Moony and/or Padfoot of his world had trusted him implicitly. Was he an animagus as well? And at least he knew of the nicknames, but so did Wormtail, the traitorous rat. Should have known by the form….disgusting.
But he was so cold. So distant…except for that one moment, the look in his eyes. And the power. Harry was surrounded by this aura of intimidating control. All three of them were, but Harry the most. How could a son of his have turned out like that?
A voice in the back of his mind whispered 'If you trust him you might find out,' but he put it aside for another time. Acceptance, maybe. Trust? Not without a good more information. Power is far to easily abused and trust even more so.
Still, James found himself amazed at the patience and control of the three dimension travelers…no, Harry, Ron and Hermione he corrected himself. He wasn't ready to accept them without question, without many questions in fact, but he had decided he would force himself to welcome them, and Harry was his son. His Harry. Right? He had always wondered what Harry would have turned out like.
Well, it definitely wasn't in the same circumstances he had imagined, but here was his chance, and Sirius seemed eager enough, and that was highly unusual for him – he'd have to find out why later…but first…How did they keep such a calm exterior when the rest of them were in chaos? Granted the revelations of this world probably didn't seem such a shock comparatively, but these three were the ones who essentially had to create a whole new life and while they seemed ready to react to any circumstance if needed, they were lounging around and casually tossing out astounding information without so much as a twitch! And they weren't even over 20 yet – they were supposed to be impatient and impulsive. They reminded him of the greasy bat, and that was never good. They were even dressed in all black and billowed.
"Um, Lily," Dumbledore tentatively tried sitting as far back in his chair as possible, a chair that had mysteriously grown feet and was cautiously backing away, "it might help if I had some clue as to why you are yelling at me."
Well, at least the old man had some sense and bravery left. He didn't let her get to a full blown rage…although he doubted if Dumbledore recognized this as Lily on only a moderately angry mode.
"Why, I am yelling at you? Why?" she asked in a dangerously quiet voice, "Because YOU put my SON in the care of the DURSLEYS!"
Oh dear. That would be a bad thing, he wouldn't wish the Dursleys on any magicborn child, much less an orphaned one…the poor boy…not mine…whispered his evil concience…not mine to worry about…but he was. He was human and compassion was one of the greatest traits in a human. So a bad childhood probably led him to be well on his way to emotionless then. That could explain it. But no trust still. Can't give trust. Trust kills.
Note to self…draft up provisions for checking on and dealing with children of muggleborns in case of possible abuse because of magicalness. Abuse in general even. There were very little Ministry laws on such. Children were property in the magical world still. That had to change. Can't have too many more Voldemorts or emotionless Harry's walking around.
As Hermione once again started up her constantly interrupted explanation James shook himself out of his wanderings wanting to get all of this, after all, as Minister of Magic it was his responsibility to be an ambassador for this world – yeah right, he was just reallllllllllllllllly curious and always had been about anything out of the ordinary and that could affect him. Auror's first rule: absorb any and all new information that comes your way, and even some that doesn't, as it may one day save your life or the life of another in the most bizarre way possible.
&&&&Normal POV&&&&
"Uh, Lily…Mum," Harry said, placing a hand on her arm trying to bring her back down to a normal state of mind. As much as he loved her outrage on his behalf, this Dumbledore was, for once entirely innocent of all accusations. "You do realize it wasn't him, right? I mean, this Dumbledore had nothing to do with it and it wasn't as bad as it could have been."
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$Yesssss Harry, after all there were all thosssse Death Eaterssssss and some malevolent vampires who would have been ssssso much worsssse.Vixen said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.$
$Yeah, imagine that. They could have starved you, beaten you up, made you into a human house elf, locked you in a cupboard, and worst of all lied to you most of your life – all those things the Dursleys never did right?$ Ron continued.
$Shut the Hell up!$
$Shut hell up already – been there, done that, and if I'm not mistaken so did you and 'Mione.$
$Oh really Ron, he's trying to calm his mother down, not make her even more upset, and he's doing a good job of it too. See, she's back to her seat and so is he. That and my empathic headache is fading so its all good.$
$Just like Jerry Springer.$
$No more TV for you! Bunch of American junk!$
$'Mione, your turn again$ (harry)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Sorry Albus." Lily apologized with a blush.
"Think nothing of it my dear, a mother's rage for an injustice to her son is never something to apologize for, and entirely understandable." Dumbledore smiled, relieved. His chair walked back to its original position with him in it.
&&&&&&&&&Aurora's POV&&&&&&&&&&&
The girl, Hermione, continued. Until Ron (?) had spoken up about the Avada she had taken her as the brains of the group. Now she wasn't so sure.
"Anyways, Harry went to live with the Dursleys for his own protection, blood magic and all. He didn't know the truth about his parents, his fame, or magic until his 11th birthday though, when Hagrid, after many attempts, finally came and delivered Harry's Hogwarts letter in person. His first letter had been addressed to the cupboard under the stairs, just to give you an idea."
Ouch, okay Harry definitely had a crappy childhood, and, judging by the look that broke his stoicism he didn't want that known, but really. A cupboard?!!! At the same time, in the back of her mind, the marauder and prankster in her worshiped how Hermione was projecting just the perfect amount of the right emotions to make the story so compelling she could have been talking about the composition of toe hairs and made it sound interesting and had them all convinced it was the most important topic in the world. Note to self: Make them teach me how to do that. Perfect for pulling off pranks. However, for now, back to the issue at hand.
"A cupboard?" Aurora voiced aloud, mirroring her mother's glare at Dumbledore, "You better have taken him out of there when you found out about that one…sir." With no hint of sheepishness or discomfort for scolding her headmaster.
She knew she was often too blunt for her own good and had very little sense of propriety unless she specifically chose to, but she was a Gryffindor, so what could she say?
McGonnagal, who should have scolded Aurora in turn, look suspiciously like she was going to burst out laughing. Dumbledore, at the prospect of having to possibly endure another Potter female rampage, had raised his hands in surrender and subtly moved his chair back a bit, but still managed to stay composed while he replied rather meekly and defensively, "Unfortunately, I have no idea, as I too am hearing this story for the first time. I would like to think so, but I would also like to think I have more…sense than to leave any child with unknown relatives for 10 years without checking up on their well-being or to leave them in bad conditions without reason."
"Yes, well in his defense, there was a good reason. He used the protections given to me by my mother's sacrifice to create a set of extremely strong protection wards on my person and house, but they would only work so long as I lived for at least five years and at least a month and a half after that with a blood relative of mine on my mother's side, as they were tied to her blood. The logistics are a little more involved, but it did save my life 6 or 7 times, until they finally broke when I was 16." Harry said calmly. Too calmly.
Her brother had just essentially said his life had been in peril at least 6 times in his first 17 years after the 'Incident,' as the family called it, and seemed to find it entirely normal. No wonder he is so suspicious. Mum looked about ready for another outburst, but controlled herself.
'Interesting' Aurora thought, 'Dad seems to be loosening up.' Thoughts turning around in her head. Indeed. It was almost as amusing as watching the headmaster was. Her Dad seemed to have unconsciously donned an expression of outrage and pride while still trying to look cool and collected…like the Minister of Magic rather than James Potter.
She had known he'd be the hardest to get to accept this once she'd heard. He had always refused to even hear mention of Harry and was so overly paranoid she sometimes thought a cloistered convent would be more liberating. It was a weird combination with his penchant for pranks. Well, if he didn't accept Harry, or at least pretend to, he could count on falling victim to some of the new hexes Hermione had recently taught her. Poetic justice and the most effective pathway to him undoubtedly. The twins would be thrilled too. So far she loved the new Ron. And Hermione! Imagine. A pranking, walking encyclopedia! Oh the number of spell possibilities, not to mention potions and plans! And an older brother who wasn't a bookworm, rule-obsessing prick or a quidditch/sex driven egotistical and overly ambitious prat. Yes. This arrangement definitely suited her.
Aurora had a strong sense of justice, and what had been done and allowed to be done to her long lost brother had sent off all sorts of protests in her. However, she was also highly perceptive, skilled at reading others through years of pranking, but also as a sort of inborn talent. At times she felt as if she could almost read the thoughts of others. She knew when to let a subject drop. Dumbledore was uncomfortable with the cupboard issue, Lily was uncomfortable, but most importantly Harry was uncomfortable with her new tangent, so the prompting from Vixen in her mind to Let it drop. I will exxxplain later was entirely unneeded.
"Right." Aurora said neutrally and with that left the subject with a final glare at Dumbledore that was mirrored by Molly, the ever-perfect mother figure who had the tendency to adopt any and all children she came across into her large heart and family. Harry, Ron and Hermione simply appeared to be waiting, but content nonetheless to wait out the confrontations.
'Dumbledore's gonna get a few surprises this week' she thought happily. 'And they're going to be rather embarrassing. Mwahahahaha' The sorting hat had always said she'd do well in Slytherin with her scheming but she still had the heart and justice of a Gryffindor – rather entertaining combination as far as she was concerned, and lots and lots of fun when two redheads were added.
While her thoughts of revenge had been spinning, Hermione continued, almost without Aurora noticing, much to her chagrin.
'Pay attention silly girl! He's your brother and she was your friend, you should know this if for no other reason than its more secrets and you will believe them even if the others are skeptical.' She reprimand herself. She was glad she did.
"If it helps at all, we kind of got him back with all the trouble we caused. That and he seemed to be interminably searching for a lasting DADA teacher, mainly due to whatever adventures we got into. We have never had the same Defense teacher for more than a year. In fact, now that I think about it, I don't think any actually made it a full year."
"Why?" asked Dumbledore curiously. They had a one-year only teacher currently in Sirius, but the last had been here for 6 years and he couldn't imagine how 7 different teachers, or even 5 could have all chosen to leave or done something bad enough to get fired.
"Well, the first had some very serious personal issues that needed attending to, the second had an rather unfortunate accident with a memory charm, and the third was Remus and when people found out about his lycanthropy he chose to resign rather than risk Dumbledore getting in trouble. The fourth was no who he seemed, as I will shortly explain, and the fifth was a horrid woman from the ministry who overstepped her boundaries. The sixth was a casualty of war and we never got a seventh due to the circumstances of the time, but I'll get to all of that soon enough."
"Oh my, you do seem to have been rather hard on them after all. Please be kind to poor Sirius here when you join his class – it took me quite a while to convince Minerva to let me take him on, and I'd hate to see what would happen if I had to as one of the Weasley twins to step in at the last minute as student teacher." Dumbledore commented lightly with a mischievous glint that was quickly covered at McGonnagal's glare. The man had to be certifiably insane. There was no other explanation.
"Anyways, Harry met Ron on the Hogwarts Express and they became fast friends after Harry turned down an offer," she said the word tinted with disgust, "made by Draco Malfoy in favor of Ron, beginning a bitter rivalry that would last till almost the end of the war." That would explain it.
"All three of us were sorted into Gryffindor, although for two of us it was close call." That statement was greeted with nods or quiet murmurs of approval by all in the room. Aurora noted with amusement that everyone in the room, with the exception of Mad-Eye was a Gryffindor, and he was a Slytherin, her next best choice regardless of rumors.
'Guess it runs in the family.' She thought wryly. 'That and trouble.'
'Some things may change, but whatever dimension or time, a Potter is a Potter and some characteristics will always run true.'
&&&&&&&Normal POV&&&&&&
"I became their friend the night of the Halloween feast after Ron and Harry saved me by wrestling a troll who had me cornered in the bathroom and knocked it out with its own club."
"A troll! As first years?" Exclaimed the three older women in an amusing unison.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Wonder what they'll say when they found out about the philosopher's stone, the basilisk and the Triwizard Tournament, not to mention everything we're not telling today?$ Harry pondered, tickled by the outrage. No one in his world even thought for a second about him defeating a troll anymore. It was just, 'Oh he's Harry Potter, go send him to clean up those 100 remaining Death Eaters and 50 or so Dementors for homework. He'll be back within the hour.' Ok, very over exaggerated, but that's how people were.
$My idea is to shock them so much with all the little stuff and tell them as much of that as possible so they are too overwhelmed to ask many questions otherwise.$ Hermione said matter of factly.
$Yeah, sorry, but personal issues? Disintegrating as a result of touching me while Voldemort is possessing the back of your head qualifies as personal issues? Well who woulda thunk.$ (harry)
$Yeah, and I wouldn't exactly term Lockhart's backfired obliviation spell that would have caused Ginny to die and us to not remember a thing an 'unfortunate accident.' I quite enjoyed seeing him in that state. Cornish pixies indeed.$ (ron)
$I sssstill ssssay Voldemort wassss your besssst teacher. I mean he really motivated you to learn your sssstuff.$ (vixen)
$Definitely, but sadly he was never officially given the position.$ Harry said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
$Yes, well I have an explanation to get back to and aren't you two a little slow? 'That was like sooooooooo 10 minutes ago girlfriend.'$ She finished in a perfect imitation of Parvati after her initiation into Muggledom. And with that she turned back to the conversation at hand.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"How did it even get in the castle? There are all sorts of precautions against that, and three first years would hardly be let off or put alone if something like that did happen."
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$What in twinklemort's belly button lint!? What did absolutely nothing dangerous happen in Hogwarts for the last 17 years here? Harry wasn't that good at attracting trouble. I mean…it wasn't only here because of him, right? Something had to have happened and this is like nothing. Absolutely bonkers.$ (ron)
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"The short explanation is that our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at the time, Professor Quirrel, had let it in. The long one, which is the continuation of the story, I am going to ask you not to interrupt as otherwise we'll never get this done. We're only at Halloween of the first year and we have 6 more to go, well, 3 in detail which are much more eventful." Once everyone nodded their silent consent, curious as to what else could have happened to make the year more eventful. Wouldn't they be surprised.
"Our first year continued with a failed attempt at a wizard's duel, smuggling Hagrid's baby dragon Norbert out of Hogwarts, and Harry receiving his father's invisibility cloak. The cloak led to the discovery of the Mirror of Erised, which shows the heart's deepest desire. The incomplete wizard duel led to us discovering the third floor corridor, which had been off limits, and consequently, Fluffy, the giant three headed dog inside guarding a trapdoor, all to escape Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris." There were lots of muffled snorts at the name 'Fluffy' from everyone in the room and knowing looks passed around indicating that everyone here was far too aware of Hagrid's passion for dangerous animals.
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$Well sure it was fluffy – Its left head was bigger than my cupboard and that was the smallest one! And don't expect to get away with that little slip Se..sweetheart.$ (harry)
$That last comment included both of you as well $ (hermione)
$Yes, but this is so much more fun!$ Ron retorted with a wink
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"Yes," interjected Ron verbally," that and Hermione's famous comment on how she was 'going back to bed before you get us all killed, or worse, expelled!'" Everyone laughed lightly and Hermione just glared.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$You deserved that$ (ron)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Shortly put, after that we were curious and began to do some snooping. We discovered that someone named Nicholas Flamel was involved. Professor Dumbledore will probably know where this is going now, but after months of research we discovered what was being hidden: The Philosopher's Stone, a supposedly mythical alchemical stone rumored to produce an endless supply of gold and the elixir of life.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Stupid not so recent claim to fame – I never wanted to see another library again$ (ron)
$And yet, every year we always seem to spend more than half our lives there$ (harry)
$Yes, well 'Mione would do that anyways$ (ron) Hermione just ignored them.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Not long before this, Harry had been put into detention with Hagrid. In that detention they went into what would become an annual excursion into the Forbidden Forest, looking for a wounded unicorn. There he saw a wrath drinking the unicorn's blood and was rescued by a centaur, Firenze."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Bloody annoyingly cryptic creatures – Dumbledore must be related to them somewhere far in his ancestry$ (harry)
$Oh would you all just SHUT UP!$ (Hermione)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"From all of this and the fact that Harry's scar hurt at that encounter, we concluded Voldemort in some form was trying to regain his life. However, we suspected the wrong person. Snape. Just after exams the final piece came together as to how it was to be done – Hagrid had slipped, by accident, the key to getting past Fluffy to the stranger at the pub who had given him the Dragon. We tried to tell the other Professors, but Professor McGonnagall wouldn't believe us and Professor Dumbledore was gone. So we went. We played the tune to put Fluffy asleep then got through the Devil's Snare placed by Professor Sprout for the stone's protection."
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$A fire? How? There isn't any wood!$ Ron sent mischeiviously. Ouch! that would be a slap.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Harry, caught the key we needed while flying on a broom and being chased by the remaining 1000 or so keys to get through to the next chamber and the troll, Quirrel's specialty, was already dead. Ron, after a tough game and sacrificing himself, beat Professor McGonnagall's giant wizard chess set in, what Dumbledore said, was the 'Best game of chess Hogwarts had seen in many years.'"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$That bloody hurt!$ (ron)
$Which, the chess game or Hermione's slap?$ (harry)
$Both!$
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Without even twitching an eyebrow Hermione went back to ignoring them to finish the explanation. She knew they were just trying to feel more comfortable with the situation by joking. They all did it. "Then, Harry and I continued alone. The next chamber was Professor Snape's poison and logic puzzle, which I deciphered. However, there was only enough for one person to travel forward through the flame wall, and one to go back, so Harry continued, and I returned to care for Ron and get help. Harry, got to the next chamber to find Quirrel, not Snape, and the Mirror of Erised, charmed to only give the stone to someone who wanted the stone desperately but not to use it – Harry in this case. Quirrel was being possessed by Voldemort and when he tried to take the stone, Lily's protection and the spells Professor Dumbledore had followed it with kept Harry safe long enough for the Headmaster to return to the rescue and dispose of him."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$See Harry, there. I made it sound like your mum did all the work. No sweat. Hermione said with false bravado knowing the reactions to come wouldn't be great.$
$Yesssss, well asss Harry hasss already pointed out you alsssssso think posssssesion transsslatesss asss perssssonal issuesss and that turning ssssomeone into dussst qualifiessss asss disssposssing of them. Very effective if ssslightly messssy. Musssst remember that one for later.$
$Ah, Vixen. Thank you for joining the peanut gallery. Now get in line like a good little snake.$ (Hermione)
$But no one elssse ssssseemsss to want to talk but me ssssso would you like me to ssssing?$ She asked innocently, and she was right.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Complete silence overwhelmed her ears and her connection to Harry, the connection from Harry shutting his emotions down entirely, which would later piss her off tremendously but she didn't have time to deal with now, and her ears from everyone's shock. She could just imagine it. Three eleven year olds broke through the protections of seven Hogwarts teachers, including three of the strongest wizards of the century and basically single-handedly stopped Voldemort from returning to power. It also might have helped her imagination that she'd been through this retelling and others several other times with even less believing audiences. That and the fact that Lily was projecting emotional imagery along with her shock, outrage, pride and confusion so loudly Hermione was willing to bet that empaths in Australia were picking her up.
After a few minutes of no response other than some closing jaws and a few twinkles from a mischevious and very pleased looking Dumbledore she decided to try a new tactic.
"And so ends the abbreviated tale of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Year One, co-starring with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." Still silence.
"Any questions?"
"Personal issues?" Aurora snickered, finally breaking away from her thoughts. "So personal issues translates to possession by evil madmen. Must keep that in mind." That seemed to set off a chain reaction in the rest of them. Oh dear, Lily was starting to ripple again. Deciding to head that off, Hermione quickly continued.
"Yes, and you think entirely too much like Harry and our mutual friend, Vixen, Aurora dear." And Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that a little snake had tipped her off on that comment. Literally. "Well second year was a little more eventful."
"More eventful?" Squeaked Professor McGonnagall. "How can it get more eventful than the last one?" How little she knew
With a mischevious smile that had more emotion than all three had shown since this started Hermione wryly continued. "Very easily. You don't know Harry, trouble-magnet extraordinaire. Our second year was the year we literally broke every school rule in existence. To do that with me in tow, especially as I was at the time, is no small feat."
"Every rule!!!!!! How did I survive? How on earth did the school survive?" She screeched appalled. Minerva was every inch the rule abider and if occasion arose, their most avid enforcer. She hadn't had 7 years of 'Harry exposure' to mellow her either. Sirius looked positively thrilled. And even James, who was still radiating distrust and wariness above all seemed excited.
"How did you manage that? We tried all seven years to do it without going so far as to get expelled, of course, but we were always short. The closest we ever got was 23 rules away. Even the twins and Aurora haven't managed that and they broke our detention record when Aurora was a second year and they were fifth years. You must have pulled some amazing pranks."
"And spent most of the year in detention." Said Aurora knowledgably "However did you find time to make new pranks?"
Hermione just raised an eyebrow in a very Snape like move. "Whoever said we did it intentionally, or in the name of pranking and fun?"
"But…" James started with a frown.
"Yes, we broke every rule in the school, but never once did we prank anyone, unless you consider drugging Crabbe and Goyle so Harry and Ron could take their places using Polyjuice Potion." Hermione explained calmly.
"Never complain a potion tastes bad until you have to drink a portion of someone else in what smells and tastes like sewer sludge." Ron added sagely.
Shaking her head of old memories Hermione continued. " Yes well, we also were almost never caught, except for the incidents with the car that I will soon explain, so we actually had very few detentions."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Our specialty, getting into and out of absolutely impossible and ridiculous situations.$ Harry said with a sigh.
$Yes, meaning you attracting the trouble and us trying to extract you from it alive.$ Ron clarified.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"It began with a jailbreak- literally. Harry was locked up in his 'new' room, the windows barred, after Dobby, an overly protective house-elf got him in trouble with the Ministry for supposedly practicing underage wizardry, which he didn't. Fred, George and Ron, after not hearing from Harry in an overly long time, flew the family car to Harry's house and broke him out. Harry spent the rest of the summer at the Weasley house. However, getting to school wasn't so uneventful. Harry and Ron were to be the last ones to go through the portal to the train, but they were blocked so, instead of deciding to wait like sensible people would," she added with a loving but reproachful look, "they flew the Ford Angela (is that right?) to school, crashed it into the Whomping Willow, and broke the record for the quickest ever of receiving detention and from Snape no less. School hadn't even begun. That year, Gilderoy Lockhart was our DADA teacher."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Ug. We had to suffer through your horrible crush on him.$ (ron)
$I was 12!$ Hermione protested feebly
$You knew his favorite color was VIOLET.$ (ron)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"What was I thinking?" Dumbledore muttered, quite amused at Minerva's reactions. He had always know Gilderoy to not be what he claimed, and he had been exposed to the public as a fraud only a few years ago.
"I don't know what you were thinking, but at this moment I don't particularly care." Interrupted Mrs. Weasley. "You boys and I are going to have a nice long talk once this is finished about proper modes of transport and acceptable behaviour. I don't care if you already got one or that it was 5 years ago Ronald Weasley – I'm here now and you had better listen." Turning to Arthur she quickly wiped the smile off his face to be replaced with pure nervousness. "And you and Arthur, are having a long talk of our own later about that car." Nodding, content with that for the moment she turned to Hermione. "Please continue dear and thank you for trying to keep them in order, even if it didn't work too well."
Hermione winced slightly. "I wouldn't be thanking me too soon. It is safe to say Gilderoy was entirely incompetent. Not only couldn't he handle simple Cornish Pixies, but he also removed all of the bones in Harry's arm once after a Quidditch game where a rogue bludger, set on him by Dobby, the Malfoy house-elf, to once again try to convince Harry to go home where he would be safe, broke it. On that Halloween, the Chamber of Secrets was reopened. In an effort to discover the identity of the heir I stole ingredients from Snape and we brewed Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, but discovered nothing more than the fact that Lucius Malfoy was somehow involved."
"Yes," added Ron, "and the we would be Harry and me. Hermione turned here self into a human-cat crossbreed by accident. It was recorded in history as the only time she ever made mistake, even if her plan was bl…" he stopped the word just in time, recovering, "blooming brilliant otherwise."
"Yes," Hermione replied and blew a mental raspberry, "well everyone is allow one mistake in a lifetime, even perfectionists. Now what was I going to say?" She tapped her fingers on the table for a moment. "Lets see. Lockhart, Polyjuice, oh yeah! After I was petrified in the library, Dumbledore was removed from the school and Hagrid thrown in Azkaban, suspected of opening the Chamber of Secrets again like it was 50 years ago where a girl actually died. However, he left a message for Harry and Ron to follow the spiders. So, once again entering the Forbidden Forest, they followed the spiders and met Aragog, the giant Acromantula. There they found out that Hagrid was truly innocent, that the creature in the school was the Acromatula's greatest fear, and almost got eaten, rescued only by the Ford Angela, now wild in the forest."
"You almost forgot all of that? Nevermind. It appears we should have a nice little meeting with Hagrid later about restoring his magic license." James commented softly during Hermione's pause.
"A nice little meeting indeed." Dumbledore agreed, winking at Hermione's obvious intent there: to see what the situation was with Hagrid here and clear it up if it wasn't the same. "Not that Acromantula's are safe, but harboring them as pets when they are small shouldn't be cause for expulsion."
Charlie looked slightly incensed at the insinuation that there was something wrong with Acromantula's but quieted at the reception of a stern glance and slight shake of the head from both Ron and Harry. Now was not the time, and James was definitely not in a good mood to hear complaints about the treatment and opinions of magical creatures, especially after all he had done for them already, defying much pressure from the general public and some more influential individuals while doing so.
"Once they returned they came to visit me where they found in my hand the page from the book I had been reading when I was petrified. With that they discovered that the creature in the Chamber had to be a basilisk. No one had been killed because no one had seen it directly. Anyways, Harry and Ron went to tell the teachers but never got to do so, just overhearing a declaration that the school was to close as Ginny Weasley had been taken into the Chamber. Lockhart was supposed to save her, having claimed he knew where the entrance was. Harry and Ron went after him only to find him packing to run. They essentially captured the imbecil and then went to open the Chamber themselves with him, having figured out that the entrance was in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, her being the victim of the first opening of the Chamber. They got halfway through the outer Chamber only to be stopped by Lockhart who was going to turn back, Obliviate them and then claim to be the hero like he had in all his other tales. However, he was using Ron's wand, which had been broken since the beginning of the year and it backfired, causing himself to be obliviated, the tunnel to partially collapse, and Ron and Lockhart to be stuck on one side and Harry the other. Harry continued on, where he found Ginny and the now almost solid 'memory' of Tom Riddle, who had placed all the memories of his 16 year-old self in a diary Ginny had been writing in. Unknown to her, she had been slipped the diary by Lucius Malfoy. Tom Riddle tried to kill Harry with the basilisk, but Fawkes first blinded the basilisk and then the sorting hat gave Harry the sword of Gryffindor which he killed the basilisk with. Fawkes healed him, Harry used the poison in the basilisk fang to destroy the diary, and Ginny woke up. The End…well for that year, other than the special awards to the school and Harry tricking Lucius into freeing Dobby."
Silence once again followed but this time accompanied by some very quiet squawking from a 'muffle' charmed Mrs. Weasley who had started exclaiming overly loud when she heard about the Acromantulas and Ginny's abduction and was therefore partially silenced by her husband. The other Weasleys had paled but kept quiet, hoping to hear the good ending that did indeed come.
A few seconds later, everyone in the room jumped several feet as they were brought out of their thoughts by the sudden arrival of a large table in the center of their semi circle, covered in steaming food and an assortment of drinks. A moment later there was a slight 'crack' announcing the arrival of Kibbles.
"Master Dumbly sir, Mister Minister, Mistress Lilies, Mistress Rory and masters and mistresses guests, Lunch and tea is served. If yous be needing anything, anything at all sirs and ladies please just be giving us a snap and we will be popping in to take you requests. Be having a good meal!" And with another 'crack' Kibbles disappeared once again.
"Ah! Nourishment."
$Beware the pink pumpkin cider.$ Ron sent with a chuckle
$Calming potion?$ (Hermione)
$No. I think the twins got into this one. Nose Nobbling Nectar.$
$Ug.$ Hermione thought remembering her first encounter. Permanent transfiguration conditions and temporary transfiguring potions, especially randomly chaotic ones, don't mix too well.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
All of a sudden, about three quarters of the way through the blue and silver colored meal Harry started chuckling under his breath. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy as it was a huge change from his total apathy.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
$Did he overdose on hidden lemon drops or something? (ron) He's not reading like he did.$
$No, just slight hysteria and his normal self.$ (Hermione)
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"Sorry. I just realized we never went back and got the corpse later on to dispose of. Poor children and teachers, in a couple more years that whole school is realllllllllly going to stink, as the pipes from the Chamber run throughout the whole school, and unless they make friends with a snake anytime soon, or Voldemort returns from hell in a very good mood I have absolutely no clue as to how they are going to get it out. Granted there's not much of a school left, but oh well. Shame too. I've heard tell that basilisk parts are slightly rare and valuable."
"Slightly?! The last known basilisk to be killed and harvested was in 1802 by some crazy Russian whose name I can't pronounce." Charlie commented dreamily with a sigh. Everyone in the room recognized the tone of his voice and look on his face as what the trio termed the 'fantastical beast fantasy' look. Hagrid got it all the time – the drifting dream of days surrounded by crazy, huge, and extremely dangerous creatures ready to kill you any second. It was like when the trio's Charlie got started on his dragons. Rule number one in the family when dealing with Charlie is never ask Charlie about his dragons. Ask about his work, his injuries, but if you get him started on the dragons he'll never stop. He is…was worse than an overly proud mother talking about her sons.
Back to the food!
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After the meal had cleared away"Well, not to be rude, this is all fascinating and shocking, but how does this relate to Albus's original question?" James asked, slight impatience creeping into his voice. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time for life stories, as adventurous as they might be, after the general sketchings of the war you mentioned and the state of Voldemort in your world have been covered." Surprisingly he managed to say this without sounding offensive – probably from all of his time as Minister – but he still received an elbow in the ribs from both his wife and daughter which sent Mad Eye's peg leg stomping several times in warning for effect. The man was far too paranoid – they were family for goodness sake!
In the same patient and yet overly-tolerant tone of voice, Hermione responded, "Well, other than the fact that both of these are Voldemort's attempts to return to life and power the really isn't much relevance other than the fact that Dumbledore told us to tell him everything. Simply put, these are the precursing events to the war that we know of."
James tilted his head, thinking for a moment, and then as all the meaning of the information she had been telling them dawned on him his eyes widened and he merely nodded.
Sirius furrowed his brow. "How does some Tom Riddle setting a basilisk on Harry and the school have anything to do with Voldemort? I know Voldemort was the heir to Slytherin and the Chamber of Secrets was supposedly his creation, but Tom Riddle was probably just some kid that got lucky."
"Actually Siri, I can answer that." James replied. "Tom Riddle, was also known by another name. Lord Voldemort. It was some crazy creation of his during school that he liked."
"Close," Harry corrected with a tilt of his head, "and if the diary memory hadn't told me myself I never would have known either. It was lots of fun to taunt him with late though. You see Mr. Potter, Sirius, Voldemort was not what he claimed to be. He was in fact what he despised most. A 'mudblood' as he would call it. A halfblood really. His father was a muggle, his mother a witch. His father left them as soon as he found out about their magic and his mother died, leaving him in an orphanage – a bad one at that, beginning his life-long hatred for muggles. His true name was Tom Marvolo Riddle after his father. Observe this little trick he showed me." Harry took his wand and repeated what Riddle had done all those years ago in the Chamber, drawing fiery letters in the air.
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
And with a flick of his wand they rearranged into
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
Everyone with the exception of Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Dumbledore who already knew gasped at the revelation and understanding.
"Yes, dear old Turdemort had far too much free time on his hands." Hermione said rolling her eyes. "That and the man tended to obsess overly much. Well, Mr. Potter is right, this is taking a little too long, well, longer than I had thought it would, so I'll speed it up. Our third year you already know pretty much as it was the year Sirius escaped. The only effect that had on the war other than giving us Sirius back to help us with the fight, was the escape of Peter Pettigrew back to Voldemort who was, at that time, little more than a wrath. Our fourth year was the Triwizard Tournament to which Harry was illegally entered as the fourth champion for the Triwizard Tournament by Moody, along with Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour from Beaubaton, and Victor Krum from Durmstrang….Hush Moody. I'll explain in a minute. Almost no one believed Harry hadn't done it though so there was a lot of problems and I started the Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare. He faced dragons, merpeople and a giant maze. However, once he and Cedric Diggory reached the cup in the center of the maze after helping each other throughout the entire tournament they took the cup together, but it turned out to be a portkey. They arrived at a graveyard where Diggory was killed and Harry bound, his blood taken and used in a ritual which resurrected Voldemort. Harry escaped with Diggory's body using the portkey which Moody gotten lazy on and not made it one way. Now I've been calling him Moody since it was easier, but that's only who we thought had been our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the year. It hadn't been him but rather Barty Crouch Jr. using Polyjuice Potion. We discovered this once Harry had been returned and Moody, or rather Barty had tried to kill him, and Dumbledore saved Harry, then discovering through Veritaserum the truth and freeing the real Moody from his imprisonment under the Imperius in his own trunk. Previously, Barty had been under the Imperious put on him by his father. Through the pleadings of his mother he had been broken out of Azkaban as the real first escapee, sorry Sirius although you were the only one to do it unaided, and switched for his own mother as she was already dying. He had lived under invisibility and Imperious. However he had broken it and returned to Voldemort. Voldemort had been nursed back to corporeal survival as a doll-like scab by Pettigrew at this point. That was, in a nutshell, our fourth year."
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$Hermione. How you could ever call that thing a doll? Granted if that's what normal dolls look like its no wonder kids have nightmares. I wouldn't know though since I never had a doll or even a GI Joe, so I'll take your word.$ Harry rebuked.
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"Wood, Kenderson. The millisecond we get back to headquarters you two are checking into Crouch, his son, his son's grave, and anything else applicable. Understood?" Growled a very disgruntled Auror Moody. After all. The man was probably the world's most paranoid living creature and here he had just been told he'd been captured and held hostage for almost a year by someone he thought safely imprisoned.
"Understood." Said Wood and Kenderson in unison. The two men, make that three men, had to be incredibly bored. That had been the first word uttered by any of the three Ministry escorts since the introductions. Oh well, not her concern.
She decided to give it another few minutes for processing time before she dove into fifth year, which, while tame in comparison, began on the real realm of the question, and the beginning of the requirement for serious censoring and evasion tactics on her part. Processing time for them her ass. She needed the time to think.
All of a sudden Charlie burst out, unable to control his curiosity anymore, "What type of dragon?"
Hermione groaned, but was happy to find Harry answering so she could go back to thinking and she sent him her sentiments, to be answered with the emotional equivalent of 'Don't worry 'bout it.'
"Well, I went against a Hungarian Horntail. Cedric went against a Swedish Short-snout, Fleur faced a Welsh Green and Krum got the Chinese Fireball. All nesting mothers too. Some nasty run ins. Actually, you were one of the handlers that came with them"
"Brilliant. Ah I miss my babies but working here is wonderful." Charlie said with a sigh, his eyes glazing over. Well, so much for that distraction.
The only problem was now the silence was getting a little daunting. What to do about ….
"So," Aurora spoke up also picking up on the tension, "you've had Possesion, Pest problems, if a basilisk qualifies, Prison breaks, and Polyjuice.. What's next in you're P-series. Hopefully its not infinite? Those are nasty blighters." (note: so sorry. Math High joke. If you don't get it, move on – had to include it to relieve exam stress. Cringe)
Only those who had taken Advanced Arithmancy got it, but everyone took a short laugh and the tension broke. 'Must remember to give that girl and her mother a huge award at next opportunity. Don't know what award, but they deserve it for all the times they've saved this little gathering from turning into a torture chamber.' Hermione thought.
Aurora, sensing the need for a little more 'half-time entertainment' gave Sirius and discreet but solid kick to the shins followed by a wink and a nudge.
"Huh? Oh. Well I am certainly impressed at their rulebreaking record." He commented proudly. "And mine too for that matter. Only man to ever escape Azkaban alone and all for my godson!"
"Well I, am not Professor Black." Snipped McGonnagal. She was in slight shock at the story and still processing it so at least she could regain some control by properly dealing with Sirius.
"Oops."
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$They are taking this quite well considering.$ Harry observed with a surprised tone. $Lots of silence and long pauses, but no recent screaming fits or complete denials.$
$Yes, well I think, 'Hi, I'm your dead son from another dimension,' or something of the sort kind of out does most of the rest of this, especially with Hermione's censoring.$ (ron)
$Once it all registers I have a feeling we're in for a bit of a longer discussion, but I suppose I'll move it along for now. Thanks to Aurora and Sirius I think I have all of this straight. Vixen, send her my thanks for now. I'll think of a more fitting show of gratitude later. Probably prank tutelage or help, etc.$ (Hermione)
$Of courssse my gracioussss Missstressss.$ Vixen mock bowed
$Incorrigible beast.$ Hermione muttered with a smile $Just like her real master.$
$Oi!$ (harry)
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"Oh leave poor Sirius, he just never grew up. Yes, it was a nasty P-series, that actually continues, although I would say this one could whoop an infinite series' any day. I have to say our next problem would be a Psychotic Dark Lord on a general level, and, on a more personal and immediate level, two Psychotic bitches – one from the ministry and one a dear and very insane convict."
$And psychic links as the most important problem and event, but I'm conveniently forgetting that for the moment. $ She added for her psychic audience. If they were going to make random comments in the back of her mind she might as well participate.
"For Harry, Dumbledore and all associates, including the Order of Phoenix which, after the conclusion of the Triwizard Tournament and the subsequent news became immediately active, Voldemort's Second Rise and the war officially began that summer. Unfortunately for all aforementioned parties and the rest of the world, wizarding and muggle, the completely incompetent and self-serving idiot Minister, Cornelius Fudge, refused to believe Voldemort had returned. Therefore, Dementors remained in control of Azkaban, and Voldemort was essentially given free reign to terrorize and rebuild for almost a whole year.
In June, not even a month after he regained his body, he began sending his Death Eaters on their traditional raids, and in December of that year he began going himself. However, Fudge covered up all evidence of Death Eaters.
Now we weren't actual members of the Order yet so I really can't tell you much more about that situation other then everyone was taking sides with the Ministry or Dumbledore and everything was full of discord and denial.
At Hogwarts, Fudge had appointed the new DADA teacher – a Professor Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to Fudge. She was, to put it mildly, an unholy terror that made all of our lives unbearable.
Several months into the year the Ministry invented this position of 'High Inquisitor' which she took up. It essentially made her dictator of Hogwarts. Around January she got Professor Dumbledore kicked out, and was going to arrest him if he hadn't escaped. Trelawney had already been kicked out, and Hagrid soon followed.
Umbridge outlawed any school clubs or organizations not made by her and she essentially outlawed Quidditch at Hogwarts since the only team of any quality allowed was Slytherin's, and the only reason I use quality as a term in reference to their team is that the team left for Gryffindor essentially consisted of Neville Longbottom and such others who couldn't even ride a broom higher than a few feet.
The outlawing of clubs actually came around because we had decided there actually needed to be real Defense taught, not the pure, and might I say incorrect, theory we had been taught all year by her with no practical.
Earlier that year the three of us had begun special training for survival with the Order, as Harry was high on Voldemort's 'capture and kill' list, and therefore so were Hermione and I, among other reasons.
Professor McGonagall would have been next to be forced to leave, but due to an unfortunate accident that may have been slightly orchestrated by the students and some Professors she was unable to continue her duties as assumed Headmistress and High Inquisitor. So ended the term of the fifth and shortest reigning Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor of our tenure at Hogwarts. The position of High Inquisitor thereafter died and Professor McGonagall took over as acting Headmistress until Professor Dumbledore returned at the end of the year following the First Battle of the Ministry that was truly just a raid conducted by Voldemort to 'officially' announce his returned presence and power to the world.
After that Fudge grudgingly admitted Voldemort was back, but it was far too late for him to catch up in preparations. That summer Voldemort…Gosh dangit stop the cringing!"
She had had it with the cursed twitching. "It's a name not a summons and the man's, yes man as much as he looked like a snake demon, man's been dead around here for about 17 years. You don't have to say it just don't cringe. Got it?"
She narrowed her eyes at this dimension's Weasleys and McGonagall daring them to say no. When they all nodded she gave them a satisfied look and then tested it. "Vol-de-mort." She said very slowly. No cringe. Several clenched jaws and wide eyes, but no cringe. Good.
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$You know technically he wasn't a man, nor a human. That was a complete lie my dear. I'm surprised at you Artemis. Around the truth spell and all$ Harry rebuked playfully. Oh goody, emotional denial always made him giddy and overly ridiculous.
$Yes, well here he was human. It wasn't until after he spent 13 years as a wrath and other various forms of half-existence surviving on unicorn blood, snake poison, and who knows what else before taking your blood and resurrecting himself into a half snake, among other things, that he became essentially immortal in body, and partially in soul/mind. Hermione corrected seriously. Then less seriously. And besides, after all the omissions and grammatically but not 'interpretedly' correct phrases I have placed in there for our sanity, a little white lie for their own good won't go astray. If the spell accepts it it's good enough for me.$ She paused for a minute, about to continue her story.
$Ack, Shadow. You made me forget what I was going to say you brat! $
$Yup. He's always great at distracting endlessly talkative know-it-alls. His specialty after attracting and disposing of dangerous Dark Lords, although this one's from long term exposure rather than pre-birth prophecies. $ (ron) Silence. Then $Ouch!$ That would be yet another mental slap.
$You know, speaking of training, I could do with getting our weapons back. I sense them, now that I'm paying attention.$ (harry)
$That's why I'm so nervy! Well get on it then, and just Call them back once you do find them. I think your father would be more than slightly alarmed to see a rather large arsenal flying through the air, not to mention Moody. Thank Merlin we took precautions in our world just for the occasion of running into another eye like his. Now if I could only remember what I was saying rather than every spell encased in the blades and sheaths.$
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Stalling, she took of her tea. After a few more seconds her trusty memory returned.
"I believe that before I had to set some of you straight I was saying that that summer after our fifth year Voldemort attacked the Ministry a second time, and this time he completely decimated it. Fudge was killed, I actually have to say thankfully, and all Aurors and Unspeakables became under the direct control of the Order. The Ministry in exile was led by Arthur Weasley, appointed by all the Department Heads and nominated by Harry. You see upon the official declaration of Voldemort's return, Harry turned from a crazy psycho to the lone voice of truth and dear hero once again. He became a figure-head for the Light side against Dumbledore, thus his honorary title as General. As his best friends we also became figure-heads that loyalty and determination could win out over evil. Recruitment tools." She added bitterly. They had all hated that it was their names, their images, that had drawn so many young and naïve children into the fight. They were fighters sorely needed, but also ones that died all too quickly. But she musn't think of that now. Story to tell and all that. Brave face, wot wot.
"Hogwarts continued functioning as a school until the end of our sixth year. Nymphadora Tonks became our Defense Professor during sixth year, but she was killed in the Battle of Diagon Alley. By our seventh year Hogwarts had been turned into one of the largest safe havens in Britain and the central headquarters of the Light for the war. Anyone age 9 or older was trained and set to fighting. It was, we were told, worse than anything during Voldemort's first rise. He already had a strong base of followers and a network. He had an effective system of terror developed already and everyone feared him so much that they only ever called him by You-Know-Who, not even the fake name he favored." She added with a pointed look at those she had rebuked earlier.
"Many," Breathe 'Mione, "Many people died." She resisted adding the phrase she though- almost everyone we knew. She wasn't ready for that. With another breath and sip of her tea she calmly slipped into her 'zombie' face.
Control. But its all my fault. But I miss Ginny, Mum, Dad, Remus. I miss…everyone and everything. I miss my home. No. Control. She felt a surge of love and reassurance from Harry and Ron, in addition to the random 'sneaky sneaky' and 'precioussss, my precioussss what has it done with my precioussss' 's that signaled the search for the weapons continued and were oddly soothing.
She could do this. 'Home is where the heart is' after all, and 'there's no place like home.' Gods she loved those boys. And they knew how hard it was to tell all of this. After all, she thought wryly but not without deep affection, they had loaded this explanation all on her, the little cowards.
"The war ended at Hogwarts on July 31, 1998, with the destruction of Voldemort and the subsequent victory of the Light over his followers. It was three and a half years after Voldemort's return and, strangely enough, on Harry's birthday. As some of the only remaining survivors of the main Order sect and the bloody poster children of the Light we got our Order of Merlins, First Class, not that they asked us if we even wanted them. Think of it as a birthday present they said. Utterly, frigging, disgusting" She didn't condone swearing and got a stern glance from McGonagall at her language, but she felt the Order of Merlin deserved it.
"But its such a great honor." Said James bewilderedly. "Why wouldn't you…"
"Because it reminds us of everyone who didn't survive!" Cut off Harry in a growl reminiscent of an enraged panther, barely controlling the waves of power beating at their internal shields, standing up with the force of his words, his search for his weapons briefly forgotton. He rarely lost his temper and could remain cool in the face of any insult, pain, or difficulty, but give him stupidity or ignorant arrogance and watch out. Abruptly after he did this he looked chagrined and walked to the very edge of the fire and stared into it, his voice drifting back as he spoke, emotionless once again.
"Sorry."
He wasn't really.
"It's just the Order of Merlin shouldn't have been given to us. We never wanted any awards, just to live in peace. The awards should have gone to those who gave their lives for our freedom. They should have gone to the Order as a whole instead if the Ministry refused to give one, even a third class award, to all those who died. We were just children who were used."
He turned around and returned to his seat, still looking every inch the predator he was. A now fully, and yet inconspicuously, armed predator too with fully and inconspicuously armed friends. (Inconspicuous as in notice-me-not variations on the plainly visible weapons, automatically activated.) Sneaky sneaky, indeed. When confronted directly with the fireplace he had seen what he hadn't seen before. The area just above the fireplace was layered with multiple complex glamours concealing a rather stunning weapons display that he had entirely forgotten about. Their Dumbledore had kept weapons there too, but for the past three years they had never once gone back to their resting place as they were put to constant use. However, that was not the only thing to be putting up a front of sorts.
James looked, well, affronted. But he remained silent, sensing the underlying threat in Harry's final comment. Dumbledore, for once, had no comment but seemed to be lost in his own past, probably his own similar sentiments about his Order of Merlin. Irony of all ironies, one of the most coveted awards of all time was generally forced on those who in the end only saw it and all that accompanied it with scorn, disgust, and utter loathing.
How else could you save the world but to become utterly disillusioned, give up everything you hold dear and destroy everything you love in order to triumph over evil. Brilliant, no? Sadly only those to do exactly that and get the award would understand. Order of Merlin Second Class was generally achieved through a bit of skill and a great deal of an excess of pure luck. No where near close, and as everyone knows, most second place winners always covet the first place they missed by so little, and yet so much. No. They would give no pity or sympathy to James at all. Not for this.
Ron however, decided to ease the crudeness a bit though. "You see all we had ever wanted was for it to be over. We hated the war, and once it was done we wanted to help rebuild and move on. However, all people wanted from us was to act like heroes we weren't – the constant interviews about battles and pictures of dead friends being thrust in our faces asking how we felt. It just had bad results for us." That seemed to have done the trick at least for now as James' face softened in understanding. He had gone through something similar with the press about baby Harry, and had hated it.
$Good job Ron.$ (Hermione) He winked back.
"Well, that's about it for now, unless you have any more questions. There's all the battles, but as there are about 30 main battles and hundreds of small ones I hardly think I should get into those right now." She said with a false smile. Yes, they shouldn't get into that right now, partly because it would necessitate lying about large chunks.. That and it would require remembering. No remembering allowed.
"Just one." Dumbledore said, his blue eyes murky and slightly clouded still. The remenants of his memory trip. "How did Voldemort die? Who got rid of him? Well, I guess that's two, but still."
Oh dear. Oh dear? No, this was another situation that warranted a Bloody – Voldyfarting – HELL!! Conference time.
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$How the RIDDLE do I answer that one?$ Hermione asked snappishly, worry and pressure (and more so an inability to do something) making her slightly tempermental.
$Chill Artemis. If it's bothering you that much I 'll do it.$ Harry answered.
$Actually, let me.$ Ron said with a slightly detached tone. Cracking a big mental grin and changing his tone to conspiratory he added. $I think I have a very Dumbledorish answer that should make them all satisfied until they try to analyse it too much, and after all we have just told them it should be sufficiently long enough to figure out a better answer so we aren't completely lying.$
Harry and Hermione grinned at the image Ron had sent them of a picture of himself and Dumbledore meshed into one person. Ron's hair, scar and resemblance to the twins combined with Dumbledore's eyes was a rather delightfully scary thought.
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"Voldemort," Ron began, catching everyone's attention, which had been focused on Hermione up until that point, "you could say was defeated by our loyalty and love – by all of us. He was worn down over time by a series of battles and left with few to watch his back. He was defeated through treachery by those in his upper ranks and the brave actions of many others. In the end his soul was trapped and his body destroyed."
The somber silence that followed was broken only by a slight hissing audible only to the three Parselmouths who also happened to have enhanced senses.
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#Very Dumbledoreish indeed. You tied your tail in a knot not ssssaying anything more precise than he died and he can't come back while ssstill sssssounding like you gave the mosssst complete explanation in all the world.#
$Why thank you Vixen. I was very proud of it myself. You should use telepathy though.$
$But I wassss getting a dry mouth from all thissss ssssilence!$ She pouted. $I wassss beginning to be concccerned I COULDN'T ssspeak anymore!$ with her best whimper face.
$Alright you crazy snake. No harm done.$
$Of courssse not. But you ssssilly humanssss reallllly have to get a better way to show shock. All of thisss sssilence is making a certain sssnake very compelled to ssssing and she can't becaussse she issss ssssworn to verbal ssssilenccce compounded on no mind ssssinging by her tassstelesss masssterssss.$
$Oh poor baby$ Hermione drawled with a complete lack of sympathy.
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"Well what a story! At least having to find a new DADA Professor for your sixth year wasn't so much of a chore for me and with all of that going on I didn't even have to bother finding one for your seventh year or the year after that!" Dumbledore commented with a benevolent smile, twinkling once again.
He's Baa-aaa-ck! So the shock was over and the meddling would soon commence. Oh Joy!
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