A Special, supper duper thank you to those who reviewed!
Fudgebaby: Thanks, here you go!
Silver-Entrantress-Elf: I'm glad it's different.
Marikili 68- Thanks, here's the update.
Dnd4ever: Thank you though I'm not quite sure what you're talking about with the whole delete thing.
T.L. Maraudett: I got a little carried away but he's (Harry) been through a lot. This Harry is not the same as the old Harry. As for Lupin, he's been hanging around with the Mauraders a bit more than our Lupin so his outlook, or at least the "self" he shows around Sirius and James is a bit different . Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I hope this chappie isn't quite so out-there.
Annie: All will be answered in good time. Thanks for reviewing.
Gibblegobbelthesquirell: Thanks for reviewing again.
Me: Thanks and I intend on continuing.
I-want-to-fly: Yes, everyone is still in shock. Thanks for reviewing and all will be answered.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Thanks, I'm glad you like it.
Now on with the fic
Harry lay awake for as long as possible. He knew that dreams the likes of which he couldn't even imagine awaited him as soon as he closed his eyes. He was slightly upset with himself for not telling Dumbledore about the final duel. Somehow, it had always been beneficial to talk it out with Dumbledore after his many encounters with Voldemort. Now he had to contend with them alone. The horrors of the battle swam around in his mind, as poignant as if they had taken place only seconds before. He didn't want to wake or worry his "parents" who were only across the hall, Maddie, or Madeleine as he later found out her name was from a photo album, Lupin who was in the guest bedroom, or Sirius who was on the couch. He knew they hadn't fully absorbed his story; he hadn't fully taken it in either for that matter.
Eventually though, the weeks of sleepless nights and dueling with the Dark Lord caught up with him. Not able to fight sleep anymore, Harry felt his eyelids fall heavily over his eyes. The bed was very comfortable, charmed to be perfectly cool, even under all the blankets and sheets. The pillows were the softest Harry had ever felt. For a fleeting moment he felt like he belonged, like he was home.
No sooner had he drifted off to dreamland then a voice flew into his head. "I thought you'd never doze off." Harry recognized the voice instantly; it was Dumbledore.
"What do you want? Wait, tell me, why in the BLOODY HELL did you send me here? Are you mad, bloody barking mad?" Harry was angry that he had been tossed into this emotional hurricane without so much as a warning.
"Harry, please understand. I needed to show you what you've done for the wizarding community. You see, if you hadn't come along, if you hadn't fulfilled the prophesy, Voldemort would not have been defeated at all. You didn't just hasten the process, you enabled it. Anyway, we haven't time for this. I have some things to tell you that need explaining," Dumbledore spilled out desperately.
"No joke Professor!" Seeing that sarcasm wouldn't help the situation, Harry continued. "Professor, where is the Harry of this world?" he asked hastily.
"He's here Harry. That's not the point I-"
"So how are people reacting there?" Harry didn't care that he was interrupting; he felt rather entitled to some answers.
"Time's somewhat frozen here. No one will know about the switch."
"But you're speaking to me!"
"I put the spell in place. Harry, I don't have much time; just hear me out. You will only return here when Voldemort of that world is gone."
"That's not fair!" Dumbledore ignored Harry's complaint.
"The cruel truth of the matter is this: you can not have it both ways. Either you have your family but also the constant threat of Voldemort putting them in danger or you haven't got your family but you've got friends and no Voldemort. When you've made your decision I'll know, or, I suppose if you choose the world in which you are I won't know… Anyway, Harry, I think you know the right decision and, choices aside, enjoy your parents. Enjoy Sirius and Remus and anyone else who's there." His words might have been harsh but it was a harsh but necessary situation. Harry had never been given the chance to choose. He at least deserved that.
"I've got a sister, Madeleine." Harry said faintly.
"That's lovely," Dumbledore responded dismissively. His voice seemed to be fading, growing muffled.
"What was the incantation you said?" But even before the question was out of his mouth Harry felt emptiness fill his brain. Dumbledore was gone and Harry had a feeling he wouldn't be receiving any more contact with the Professor. Dumbledore's conversation faded seamlessly into a particularly vivid dream of the last battle. The next thing he knew, someone was shaking him. He jerked awake to find five figures hovering over him with concerned looks on their faces.
"I-I'm sorry I woke you," Harry mumbled groggily, groping for his glasses. Someone handed them to him and he shoved them on.
"It's all right," a voice he recognized as Sirius' replied quickly. "You were screaming. It sounded like Cru-"
"Crucio? Yeah, there was a bit of that," Harry replied vaguely. This was clearly not a normal thing to say for those standing above him. They all assumed horrified looks and he felt he needed to elucidate. He pushed himself up against his pillows and found himself in a great deal of pain. He winced before explaining. "I've gotten Crucio dozens of times. Sometimes it's almost a relief," he admitted softly.
"So it wasn't a dream," Remus breathed. Harry shook his head.
"I'm sorry to say that it wasn't though I'm sure most people in my world are quite happy. I know I should be happier that he's gone but-"
"No, I mean it's not a dream that you're here," Remus hastened.
"Oh, well, no, that's not a dream either. It's quite a dream come true for me though. I haven't seen my parents in almost seventeen years, Sirius for around two, and the last time I saw you Pr-I mean Remus was a month ago. I've never met Madeleine. I know you wish I wasn't here but, well, I love it…." Harry trailed off, realizing he was rambling. They were silent for a moment before James made like he was going to speak.
"It's just that, well, I'm curious," he began, rubbing his eyes distractedly (his glasses were clutched, forgotten, in his hand). "How did you defeat Voldemort?" Harry grinned manically. It had taken so long to figure it out but it was so simple.
"I'm afraid it won't help you," Harry conceded. "I'm the only one who can, or, well could have defeated him. You see, Voldemort, on the day of your deaths, bestowed some of his powers on me. He didn't mean to mind you but he did. I was protected by pieces of him and pieces of Mum. The thing that finally finished him off was a very old incantation. He stood no chance against pure, unblemished love. That's what did him in." It sounded more complex then Harry had intended. The hardest part of their duel had been summing up enough love or passion for the thing to work, that is, there was that and the matter of keeping himself alive long enough to administer it.
The people around the bed looked slightly downcast. Harry was about to tell them what Dumbledore had said and that he would soon rid their world of Voldemort but stopped. He wanted a little more time to make his decision. He knew that, from this reality or not, they would not dream of putting him in danger. He was Harry after all and they felt they needed to protect them. If they had lasted this long with Voldemort they could stand a bit more time.
"I'll just but a silencing charm on the room," Harry stated almost cheerfully.
"What?" Lily asked, baffled.
"I don't want to wake you all up again," Harry reasoned, sobering his mood to match theirs.
"Harry, that's not necessary. If you have to suffer through them then we can too," James said sternly. Harry nodded, glad for once that he had someone who wasn't afraid of him. In the end, most people held a certain amount of fear around him. She even had feared him in the end…
"What is it?" Sirius asked as Harry got a glassed over look in his eye.
"Just thinking about.."
"About what?"
"Ginny," Harry answered. "Did Harry have a girlfriend here?" suddenly interested in Harry's life here. How much was different? How much was the same? James nodded.
"He's dating a Ravenclaw, Cho Chang. Who's Ginny?"
"Well, before I started dating her she was just the little sister of my best friend, Ron Weasley. Am I friends with Ron Weasley?" He looked around at the group in front of him. They, excepting Maddie, had averted their eyes. Madeleine looked just as stumped as he felt. "What, what happened to the Weasleys?"
"Well, it was in the paper. You were two and, well, Molly Weasley along with her four youngest were killed while shopping in Diagon Alley. Arthur's never been the same," Remus stated slowly. Harry's heart stopped. Mrs. Weasley, the twins, Ron, Ginny all of them were dead!
"A Death Eater?" James shook his head.
"Apparently the little girl was powerful. Voldemort killed them himself. At first the Ministry thought it was because of Molly's line. The Prewitts were always big enemies of the dark side but then Arthur kind of inadvertently set everyone straight. He was distraught and the Prophet was interviewing him-"
"Bloody gits!" Sirius put in helpfully.
"He was in hysterics, talking about his little girl in a prophesy. Dumbledore had kept it secret but someone was informing Voldemort, someone in Dumbledore's inner circle." James finished with a sigh.
"It was horrible. I couldn't even imagine…" Lily trailed off. Harry's heart hardened in his chest. He couldn't just sit around and allow Voldemort to kill more people! He couldn't be selfish; he would save this world and go back where he rightfully belonged.
"Before I had the dream about the final battle Dumbledore came to me," Harry began in a slightly trembling voice.
"What?" Harry held up his hand, wanting to get it out before he changed his mind.
"It was the Dumbledore of my world, not yours. He told me I'd go back to my own world once I've defeated Voldemort again." Everyone drew in sharp breaths. "I was going to just wait, spend a little more time with you all but I can't. I wish I could but I can't. It's more important for me to know you're safe."
"Harry, you can't possibly mean you'll face Voldemort!" James exclaimed, a worried look in his eye.
"I'm the only one who can defeat him. Even your Harry can't, not without being marked. I've got a distinct advantage in the this situation. Voldemort doesn't know what powers I possess nor will he be expecting me to seek him out. It's the only way."
"But you could die." Lily said breathlessly.
"THEN I'LL DIE!" Harry shouted. "It would be better to die for something then live for nothing. Don't you understand? I'm your only hope! If I don't do this you will never be safe. At least now I can know that everyone I love is either with me or safe somewhere else. I can hold you all in a kind of mental locket which I can open at will. I can see your faces, smiling, and I'll know I helped you in some way."
Everyone was crying, tears slipping down their faces in shiny turrets. Slowly, each put a hand on Harry, trying to impart something they couldn't explain, and Harry felt a warmth flow over him. A river of comfort began to flow from his heart and he knew, he knew he would have no trouble drumming up enough love to annihilate Voldemort this time.
A/N- This fic has proved my easiest to write. I hope this chappie has answered some questions and isn't quite as emotion filled as the last. Anyway, you know the drill, Review or I'll be forced to weed you out like the blaggards you are! Oh, I'm going on a Choir tour for ten days so I probably won't be doing any more updating for a while. Then there's the fact that when I return I'll have the sixth book (ecstasy of ecstasies) to read so, well, bye for a while. That will give you plenty of time to review, review, review!