Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling. In a month and a half, though, that won't matter anymore, because I'll have the sixth book, and I'll be happy.

A/N: Well, we're really near the end now. I don't know if this is the last chapter or not; there's a very good chance that it is. If it is, I'll let you know at the end.

Also, you reviewers seem to be a lot nicer to Harry than I am. (Well, except for you, Sodapop, having read your fic.) But I'm going to tell you right now what you'll find out in about two seconds anyway; Harry is not going to live with Christine. I'm very sorry, and I understand why you want him to, but that's just not what happens. You'll see.

On the morning of August 2, 1995, Christine Walker sat at the breakfast table in her house, sun pouring in through the open windows. England had been in a drought for a few weeks, and even at nine in the morning, it was closing in on 90 degrees.

Across from Christine sat her daughter, Jessica. Jessica was reading a newspaper, her head bent over, long blonde hair cascading over her freckled face.

Christine often worried that she didn't talk with her daughter enough. Jessica was thirteen, and about to enter her third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Christine wasn't a witch- according to Jessica, she was what was called a "Muggle"- and she didn't really understand her daughter's world. During the summers, she tried to talk with her daughter about the world of magic, but it seemed to her that Jessica got very irritated by her ignorance, so they talked about other things.

Jessica put down the Daily Prophet and shook her head.

"I don't know what's gotten into Dumbledore. Really! All this business about You Know Who…"

"Who's You Know Who, and what does he have to do with your headmaster?" asked Christine, intrigued.

"Didn't I ever tell you about You Know Who?" asked Jessica.

"I don't think so," said Christine.

"He was a wizard that was so evil that people are afraid to say his name even now, when he's been gone for almost fifteen years."

"He was that bad?"

"Yeah, that bad. Anyway, now Dumbledore's saying that he's back, which is just ridiculous."

Christine was confused. "But I thought that you thought Dumbledore was brilliant?"

"Well, yes," said Jessica, "but he must be going senile or something. I mean, there's no way that You Know Who can be back. There's just no way. Besides, if he really were back, I'm sure the Minister of Magic would know, and he's been publicly denying You Know Who's return."

"Well, does anyone else say that You Know Who's back?" asked Christine. "I mean, where's Dumbledore getting the story?"

"Well, there is one supposed witness to his return…but he's almost certainly clinically insane…"

"Who is it?" Christine asked.

"Harry Potter."

Harry Potter? There was no way… It must be a coincidence… But then Christine remembered, as if from a distant past, the night Vernon Dursley's voice had been mysteriously silenced.

"This Harry Potter… Who's he?" asked Christine.

"Well, he's the Boy-Who-Lived. When he was one, You Know Who came after him. He killed Harry Potter's parents, but when he tried to kill Harry, the curse backfired- no one knows why- and You Know Who was destroyed."

So Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, had dead parents…

"You say his parents are dead… Who does he live with?" asked Christine.

"Er, I think he lives with relatives… His cousins. No! His aunt and uncle!"

The Boy-Who-Lived lived with his aunt and uncle. There were too many coincidences. Christine had to say something.

"This Harry Potter, does he have black hair?" asked Christine.

"Yeah."

"Glasses?"

"Yeah."

"Green eyes?"

"Erm, I think so."

"Does he have a lightning shaped scar on his forehead?" Christine knew that if the next answer was yes, there could be no doubt.

"Yes, he does! It happened when You Know Who couldn't kill him! But how do you know about that?" said Jessica suspiciously.

Christine sighed. "Jessica, do you remember when you were seven, before we knew you were a witch, how we went on that show, Wife Swap?"

"Yeah…" said Jessica.

"Do you remember the woman who stayed with you, Petunia Dursley?"

"Yeah, she was a jerk," said Jessica.

"I think she's Harry Potter's aunt."

"What!" said Jessica.

"I went to stay with the Dursleys, and they had a nephew, Harry. Harry Potter. Harry Potter, who had black hair, glasses, green eyes, and a lightning shaped scar on his forehead."

"Oh…my…God," said Jessica. "You know Harry Potter!"

"I know Harry Potter," said Christine, nodding.

"I- I can't believe it," said Jessica.

"So he's saying that this You Know Who is back?" said Christine.

"Yes, but like I said, he's insane. He can talk to snakes, and he's constantly fainting or saying that his scar hurts."

"He didn't seem crazy when I knew him," said Christine.

"People change, Mom," said Jessica.

"Well just…give Harry a chance, Jessica. Listen to his story. He's had a hard life," said Christine.

"Sure, Mom," said Jessica incredulously, picking her newspaper back up and beginning to read.

Her conversation with Jessica had given Christine a lot to think about. She thought about Harry as she saw her daughter off, wondering if he was nearby, wondering if he was alright. She thought about Harry every day during the school year. She thought about him when Jessica came home over Christmas vacation and announced that he had disappeared a few days before the start holidays, along with his best friend, and no one knew where he had gone.

Then one day in very early spring, Christine received a thin cylindrical package from her daughter. The owl was also carrying a note which read simply, "Read this. Love, Jessica."

Christine ripped open the package with trembling hands, and out popped…a magazine. On the cover was a picture of a boy who looked about fifteen years old. He had messy black hair, green eyes, round black glasses, and a lightning shaped scar. He was unmistakably Harry.

Christine opened the magazine to the page noted on the cover and began to read. By the time she was halfway through the article she was openly crying. Hadn't this boy gone through enough? Wasn't it enough that he'd grown up in a house where nobody liked him, let alone loved him? Did he really have to go through this?

David, Christine's husband, found her, red eyed and pale, at the kitchen table an hour later.

"Christine? Christine, what's wrong?" he asked concernedly, sitting next to her.

"Oh, David," she moaned, and then she buried her head in his shoulder, the tears flowing again.

That summer, Jessica came home with more distressing news.

"I was talking to this girl in my house that's a year ahead of me," she told her mother, "Her name is Luna Lovegood, and she's a bit crazy. Anyway, she told me that Harry Potter's godfather is dead. Apparently he was that guy who everyone thought was a crazed mass murderer… Anyway, he's dead."

"His…his godfather's dead?" said Christine. It wasn't exactly a question.

"Yeah. Well, Luna said something about Harry maybe seeing him again someday, but Luna's a bit dotty that way."

Christine spent the next month debating what to do. She knew that she wanted to talk to Harry. This was the last straw. She had to do something to help him.

At first, she had considered sending him a letter. But no, that wasn't personal enough. She needed to meet him face to face. She knew where he lived during the summer, but unless the Dursleys had changed drastically over the years, they would hardly appreciate her showing up at their doorstep unannounced.

Finally, Christine decided to send a letter to the one person who would surely be able to set up a meeting between her and Harry- Albus Dumbledore.

After asking her daughter if she could borrow her owl, Christine sat down at the kitchen table with a roll of parchment and a ballpoint pen- she never could get the hang of those quills.

Dear Sir,

My name is Christine Walker. My daughter, Jessica Walker, is going into fourth year at your school. She is a Muggleborn; I am a Muggle.

Seven years ago, I appeared on a Muggle television show called Wife Swap. I switched places with the wife in another family. The woman with whom I switched was named Petunia Dursley.

During the two weeks I stayed with the Dursleys, I grew to know and care about the boy named Harry Potter, without ever knowing who he was in your world. Since then, he and I have lost touch. However, I have learned of the events surrounding him and a wizard known as "You Know Who" and also of his godfather's death.

Right now, I would like nothing more in the world than to be able to see Harry and speak to him. I don't want to send a letter, but to see him face to face. As that appears to be impossible during the summer, I am most humbly asking for your help to set up a meeting during the school year.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Christine Walker

Christine sealed the letter in an envelope which she addressed to Albus Dumbledore. Then she sent her daughter's barn owl off with the letter tied to his leg.

For a week, Christine waited anxiously for a reply. Finally, on Monday morning, the barn owl tapped on the window of her kitchen while she, David and Jessica were eating breakfast.

"Carrie!" said Jessica, going to get her owl. Carrie was the owl's name. Jessica untied the letter that was attached to the owl's leg and handed it to her mother.

"It's for you," she said.

Sure enough, on the front was written "Christine Walker" followed by her address.

Christine ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

Dear Ms. Walker,

I was already aware of your connection with Mr. Potter, having checked in on him on more than a few occasions during his childhood. I would like to help you to meet him this year.

On the morning of September 5 of this year, a woman will come to your door. If she can change her appearance to that of you daughter, you will know that she is safe. Go with her and do what she says, and you will see Mr. Potter soon.

On a completely unrelated not, I would like to congratulate you on your daughter's excellent scores on her recent exams!

-Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, First Class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot

It was actually going to happen. She was actually going to see Harry again. It was going to happen.

Christine felt that she was happy enough to burst.

The morning of September 5 came. Christine had seen Jessica off on the Hogwarts Express just four days before. It hadn't been as sad as most of their start-of-term goodbyes were, because Christine was planning to stop in and see Jessica after her meeting with Harry. Maybe she could introduce the two of them…

Christine was in the living room watching the morning news when she heard the doorbell ring.

"I'm coming!" she shouted, hurrying to the door. She opened it to see a girl with spiky pink hair who was wearing ripped jeans and a T-shirt to match her hair.

"Wotcher, Ms. Walker!" said the girl, inviting herself in. Christine shut the door after her.

"Call me Christine," said Christine.

The girl extended a hand, which Christine shook.

"I'm Nymphadora Tonks," said the girl, "but call me Tonks. Everyone does."

"Okay Tonks," said Christine.

"Oh, right!" said Tonks, narrowly avoiding knocking over the coat stand. "I'm supposed to transform into your daughter!"

"Right," said Christine, a little overwhelmed.

Tonks wrinkled up her face. Christine watched in amazement as she turned into Jessica- short, blonde, and freckled.

"How- how…" stammered Christine.

"I'm a Metamorphmagus. I was born able to do that."

"Okay," said Christine, more than a little fazed.

"Right," said Tonks, changing back to her original self. "So, now it's time to get to Hogwarts. Here, take this." She handed Christine a coat hanger.

"What?" Christine tried to say, but before she could get the word out, she felt a funny sort of jerk behind her navel, and then she was lost in a whirlwind of colors and sounds.

She landed in a heap on the floor of what appeared to be a pub. Tonks was already there, sitting on a table. She rushed forward to help Christine up.

"Sorry about that. I reckon I probably should have told you about the Portkey."

"The what?" asked Christine, straightening her shirt.

"The Portkey. It takes you places instantaneously. I Apparated here, which is sort of like taking a Portkey without touching anything, but only wizards can do that."

"Oh," said Christine.

"Right. We're in the Three Broomsticks, which is in Hogsmeade," said Tonks.

"Hogsmeade? The place that I had to sign the form for Jessica to go to?" asked Christine.

"The very place. It's right outside Hogwarts. From here we're going to Floo into the Gryffindor common room," said Tonks.

"Floo?" asked Christine. Her ignorance of her daughter's world had never been more apparent than it was right now.

"Er, travel through fire places. It's a lot easier than it sounds," said Tonks.

They went into a back room, where a curvy woman who Tonks identified as Madame Rosmerta, the owner of the pub, was waiting.

"The Floo powder is in the can on top of the fireplace," Madame Rosmerta said before leaving the room.

"Right," said Tonks, "now what you have to do is take some of that powder, throw it into the fire, step inside and say 'Gryffindor Common Room."

"I step into the fire?" said Christine skeptically. This did not sound like a good idea.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt you," said Tonks cheerfully as she went to get the can of Floo powder, nearly knocking it over in the process.

"Er- if you say so," said Christine. She took a pinch of the glittering green powder and threw it into the flames, which turned an emerald green.

"Now just step into the flames and say 'Gryffindor Common Room'. You should automatically come out in the right room, but keep an eye out for red and gold furniture, just in case."

"Okay," said Christine. "Are you coming?"

"No. When you get to the common room, just wait for Harry to come."

"Alright," said Christine. "Thank you."

"No problem. Now go!" said Tonks.

Taking a deep breath and trying to remember all of the instructions she had been given, Christine stepped into the fire.

"Gryffindor Common Room!" she called.

In an instant, she was spiraling through what appeared to be a very sooty tunnel. In a matter of seconds, she was deposited into an empty room decorated in red and gold. There were cushy armchairs around the fire place, and tables lined the walls. Off to one side, two spiral staircases led up to a place that Christine couldn't see.

Christine looked down at her watch. It was 11:20. She didn't know what time Harry was supposed to come, so she decided to sit down while she waited.

She didn't have time, however. Before she had even chosen which chair she wanted to sit in, she heard the sound of a door opening behind her.

She turned around and saw a boy in Hogwarts robes coming into the room through what appeared to be not a door, but a portrait. He was a short boy with messy black hair, green eyes, and a lightning shaped scar. He was unmistakably Harry.

"Hello?" Harry called. "Is anyone in here? I got called out of Potions class to come see someone in here."

"Hello, Harry," said Christine.

Harry stopped and looked at her. He seemed to hesitate, then said, "Is- Is that you, Christine?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How- How…" he stuttered.

"Apparently, my daughter's a witch. She goes to school here," said Christine, smiling.

"She is?"

"Yeah, she's a fourth year Ravenclaw."

Harry still looked confused. "But- But why are you here?" he asked sitting down on one of the chairs.

Christine sat down across from him. "I wanted to see how you are. The news my daughter's brought be hasn't been… the best."

"No, I wouldn't suppose it has," said Harry, rubbing his forehead.

There was an awkward silence. Then-

"Why didn't you ever answer my letters?" asked Christine.

'"You never sent me any!"

"Yes I did," said Christine.

"Then I never got them…"

"Three guesses as to who intercepted them," said Christine grimly.

Harry made a sound that sounded half like a laugh and half like a sigh. "I really only need one."

"Why didn't you ever write to me?" asked Christine, although she was pretty sure she knew the answer.

"They wouldn't let me. They wouldn't let me call, either."

"That certainly sounds like them."

"Yeah."

"So, did you stay in your new room?" asked Christine.

"No, they moved me back to the cupboard pretty much as soon as you left. They got rid of the new clothes too."

"Why?" asked Christine. She still couldn't understand these people.

"Why?" said Harry. "Well, it's because of this. Because I'm a wizard. They knew it, and they never told me. I didn't know until I got my letter."

"So everything they did to you was because you're a wizard?"

"Pretty much."

The entire conversation had the air of two old friends who hadn't spoken for years suddenly picking up the phone and calling each other. And that was sort of what it was.

Christine noticed that there was something different about Harry. As guarded as he had been when he was nine, he seemed even more so now. There was no longer any sense of innocence about him. He seemed almost…resigned.

"Harry, what's the matter? What's wrong?"

Harry bit his lip and shook his head. "Everything. It's just- It's just too much."

"What's too much, Harry?"

"What I have to do. It's too much," he said, leaning back into his chair.

"What do you have to do?" asked Christine.

Harry looked as though he was fighting with himself. He was quiet for a moment, then he said, "I can tell you, but I have to start at the beginning. I kind of have to tell you my life."

"We have all the time in the world."

So Harry started talking. He told Christine about the night his parents were killed, about going to the Dursleys. He told her about his first year, and what he'd found out, and then he told her about his second year, and the basilisk. He told her about finding out he had a godfather. And then he told her about his fourth year. Christine had already read about what had happened, but somehow hearing it from Harry's mouth made it all the worse. She started crying again.

Harry started in on his fifth year. As he started to tell Christine about going to Dumbledore's office after Sirius died, he stopped for a moment.

"Why are you stopping?" asked Christine through tears.

"This next part- I haven't told anyone about this next part yet," said Harry.

"You don't have to tell me," said Christine.

"No, I want to."

Harry told her about the prophecy, and what it meant that he had to do. He told her how he was afraid to tell anyone.

"Oh, Harry," said Christine, and she reached out and pulled him into a hug.

And as Harry started crying, he thought that maybe people wouldn't be afraid of him if they knew what he had to do. He thought about all of his friends, and realized that what he had really wanted had been there ever since he had started at Hogwarts. He had friends, he had people who loved him. He had someone to turn to.

A/N: I'm really sorry for the cheesy ending, but I just couldn't think of how I wanted to phrase it. I've known the last sentence of this fic since chapter three, I think.

This is the ending. This is the last chapter of this fic. It's also the longest- fourteen pages. I'd like to give a special thank you to american-born-confused-desi, who gave me my first ever review, although she didn't review chapter 7. Thank you to each and every person who reviewed this fanfic. I've really, really appreciated them.

And, I just couldn't help myself. I'm making a sequel. (Actually, it may turn into a trilogy.) It's called Alone in the Universe, and this time, Harry's on… Survivor! It's going to be set in the same universe as this fic, so you'll probably hear from Christine again, and you'll definitely hear from Jessica. If the first chapter isn't up by Thursday, it'll be up by June 22, so keep checking my author's page. Anyone who reviews this chapter will have their review answered in the first chapter of Alone in the Universe.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

power214063: I feel so mean! Everyone is reviewing, asking me to please have Harry go live with Christine, and here I am, making them lose touch for seven years! Unfortunately for Harry, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this fic when I started it. I didn't want it to actually change the canon plotline, and I didn't want Harry to live with Christine. The story isn't even officially AU yet, actually. God, I feel like such a horrible person…

Sodapop CurtisDX: Thank you. You're the return of merry, right? Yeah, when I originally had the idea for this fic, Dudley's discipline wasn't in it. I added it because… I guess because I felt like it. I'm really glad that you think I captured the characters, because that was one of my main objectives going into this.

sabrina: Oh, you're making me feel like a horrible person again. Oh! I sort of used your idea of Harry and Jessica getting married in that line where Christina's thinking about maybe introducing the two of them. I've also decided to have them dating in Alone in the Universe. After that, I just don't know. AndI'll have to check out that story. Thanks for the suggestion!

Violet Aiken: Whenever someone meets me for the first time, they always call me "Madeline," like the character from the children's book. This has had the unfortunate side effect of making me absolutely adore Madeline, even now, when I'm well out of my preschool years. And yes, I noticed our characters' last names, but I forgot to mention it in the review. It's weird, isn't it? Yes, it's been fun having someone on Harry's side. That's part of what I like about this story. I'm glad you like this story, and I'm sorry that you had to come into it so late. If you read Alone in the Universe when I post it, though, I'm going to keep it in the same universe as this story, so you'll get to hear from Christine and Jessica.

Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed this story. Please review again!