SUMMARY
After spending half his life trying to rid the world of Voldemort, Harry Potter finally succeeds. However, the price has been high. Too high. Unfortunately, when Harry risks his life to go back and 'do things right', something goes wrong.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank…
S'TarKan – It was his story that gave me the idea for this story's starting point. Also, if you want to know what kind of Harry Potter my main character is (they've had similar experiences, losses etc), or just want to read a good Harry Potter fanfic, then read 'Harry Potter & the Nightmares of Futures Past'.
The creators of QUANTUM LEAP and SLIDERS – Anyone who's seen either of these shows might recognise elements of both shows central ideas in this story. The situation my Harry gets himself into was indeed partially inspired by the central features of both of these shows.
This website – For providing a forum where people like me can write stuff that people will actually get to see.
J.K. Rowling – They are her characters after all.
CHAPTER EIGHT – Meeting 'The Guys'.
So, is that this reality's version of me? wondered Harry as he watched 'Michael' follow Ron & Hermione into the Great Hall. Or is he some alternate sibling I never had? If that's the case, then where am I? Am I even here at Hogwarts?
Harry stared involuntarily at the usual splendour of the Great Hall as he entered. Already, it was packed full of students, eating breakfast and probably discussing their plans for the day. It was a stark contrast to empty, debris filled space that Harry had seen when he was last at Hogwarts. He looked around the bustling hall, his eyes immediately settling on the teacher's table. There he recognised Professors Flitwick, Sprout, McGonagall, Trelawney…
Dumbledore! he exclaimed silently as he caught sight of the purple robed old man with the long white beard and the half-moon spectacles. He breathed in, trying not to think of the night he had watched Snape killed the Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot as he watched Dumbledore exchange words with the Potions Master. I could probably kill that greasy git right now, thought Harry. But I'd better not. After all, I can't assume every reality's gonna turn out the same as mine. I mean, I either don't exist in this reality or I'm not in Gryffindor, so what's to say that this Snape won't turn out to be a traitor. Speaking of which, I'd better try and find out what I can while the going's good. He took one last look at the teacher's table, wondering where Hagrid was as he noticed the half-Giant's absence, as well as noting the other empty seat, and made his way towards the Gryffindor table, where 'Michael', Ron and Hermione were busy eating breakfast.
"Well, Mum, Dad and Ginny are going out to Romania to visit Charlie for Christmas, so I'll probably have to stay here over Christmas with the twins and… Percy," said Ron, shuddering slightly as he mentioned Percy's name.
"Oh, for goodness sake, Ron," exclaimed Hermione. "Percy may be a bit bossy, but he's not that bad."
"He is when he's your brother," replied Ron. "So what about you, mate? You going home for Christmas?"
Michael nodded. "I've already had a letter asking me that. Everyone wants to know everything I've been doing at Hogwarts, especially Annie." He sighed. "As if having to write all those letters home wasn't bad enough."
"What about Harry?" asked Hermione. "Is he going home with you or is he staying here?"
So I do exist here, thought Harry when he heard this. He quickly scanned the rest of the table, then the other house tables, but failed to spot anyone looking vaguely like him. Guess he hasn't come down for breakfast yet, he reasoned.
"Dunno," said Michael. "Mum hopes so, but we've kinda been giving each other a wide berth since he visited me in the Hospital Wing after that Troll incident a month ago, so I wouldn't have a clue."
"He visited you?" exclaimed Hermione." "Why didn't you tell us?"
"The conversation we had didn't really go well," Michael sighed. "I was in pain and feeling miserable, plus we've never really got along well, as you've probably already figured out. We ended up arguing about something. I've still no idea what about though. I said something about him coming to gloat, what with him becoming Slytherin's seeker and me being in the Hospital Wing and we argued for a while about Merlin knows before he said something about me being an attention-seeker who people only like because of something that didn't even happen to me, or something like that. Before long, Madam Pomfrey came through with a face like thunder and sent Harry away."
Several thoughts were going through Harry's mind as he heard this, I'm in Slytherin?!? being the main one.
"Famous for something that didn't even happen to you?" repeated Hermione incredulously. "You mean he thinks…?"
"Maybe," shrugged Michael. "I mean, he probably has just as much right to be called the 'Boy-Who-Lived' as I do. No one even knows who Vol… sorry… You-Know-Who…" he corrected himself as he saw Ron flinch. "… actually tried to kill first that night. For all we know, Harry might be the one who deserves the fame and glory. But Dumbledore reckons it's me, so unless someone proves otherwise, I am the 'Boy-Who-Lived', whether I like it or not. Besides, that wasn't the first time he's said something like that…"
Harry's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions at this point as he watched Ron begin to say something, but stop in mid-sentence. "Oh Merlin," he heard Ron mutter.
"What?" said Michael, though he quickly realised what his friend was talking about.
"Good grief!" exclaimed Hermione. "Can't those guys go one day without starting a fight with Malfoy's lot?"
Noticing that the three of them were now looking in the direction of the entrance to the Great Hall, Harry turned and saw what they were seeing – Draco Malfoy and a couple of Slytherins having what looked like a confrontation with four other Slytherin boys. He immediately recognised one of the four boys and started to make his way towards them as both parties drew their wands.
XxXxXxXxX
"Well?" Malfoy, whose party had drawn their wands first, sneered at the four, ignoring the gasps and murmurs that had erupted around them. "What're you Mudblood lovers going to do? Hex us in front of the whole school?"
The grips on Harry, Blaise and Spencer's wands tightened as Roger, who hadn't drawn his wand, watched them wide-eyed. However, before any Hexes could be thrown, the confrontation was broken up by several teachers, including Hagrid, who had just entered the Great Hall just behind Harry and co.
"All righ'!" he said, placing one of his huge arms in front of Harry's group. "Tha's enough!"
"Absolutely!" agreed McGonagall. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves, starting fights like this, in the Great Hall of all places!" she scolded. "Fifty points from Slytherin for…"
"Ahem!" interrupted Snape from just behind her. "I believe I am the Head of Slytherin House and, as such, am responsible for discipline on behalf of the students of Slytherin."
McGonagall glowered at Snape. "Very well," she relented.
"Five points from Slytherin for all those who drew their wands," proclaimed Snape – conveniently, the total deduction of points as a result of this was less than McGonagall's proposed point deduction. "Now, either sit down and eat your breakfast or leave," he instructed. "And if I see or hear of either party starting another fight with the other, I will see to it you all serve detentions every weekend for the rest of the year!"
Harry, Blaise and Spencer all glared at Snape, then at Malfoy's posse, before turning and leaving the Great Hall, closely followed by Roger and, unknown to them, the Disillusioned Harry.
"I say we just Hex 'em next time," growled Spencer as they walked down the corridor.
"Better not," mumbled Blaise shaking his head.
"You what?" said Harry incredulously. "You're not worried about Snape's threat, are you?"
"No," elaborated Blaise. "It's just that I was this close to using the Cruciatus Curse on Cuthbert back there."
"What? No!" exclaimed Roger, wide-eyed. "Guys, this is starting to go too far..."
"Roger, they need standing up to!" shouted Blaise. "It's their kind of racist drivel that almost makes me ashamed to be a pure-blood."
"I know, I know," stammered Roger. "But surely there's a better way – a way that isn't likely to eventually get us expelled."
"Maybe," relented Spencer. "But next time they start with the 'Mudblood' bollocks, they suffer."
"Agreed," nodded Blaise.
"Dementor," Harry said out loud as they approached the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. The portrait nodded and opened up when it heard the password. The four boys stepped up through the portrait hole into the common room. They continued talking as they headed across the common room and up the staircase to their dorm, closely followed by a still unseen Harry.
Oh well, at least my other self hasn't become a stereotypical Slytherin, he thought with some relief. And I never knew Blaise Zabini was so 'anti anti-mudblood'. He always seemed to be a part of Malfoy's little gang of Muggle-haters whenever I saw him. Then again, I didn't really know him, so for all I know, he was just playing along whenever he was with the other Slytherins. He paused slightly, wondering how many other Slytherins he had misjudged while at Hogwarts. After all, he had since realised that the not all Slytherins were 'evil', as common belief would have it. I wonder who the other two are, he thought as he unpaused and continued following the four boys up the stairs. I think I recognise 'Roger' from Potions classes and the other one looks a bit like that guy who became Slytherin's best Chaser in third year, Westwood. He followed them to the top of the staircase and into their dorm. He was amazed at how similar this dorm was to his own one back in Gryffindor Tower. It even had a window, though the room was only slightly higher than ground level. Nice view, Harry noted as he glanced through the window at the lake in the near distance.
"Why're you guys taking this so seriously?" Harry heard 'Roger' ask. "I'm the one they constantly throw insults at. Besides, I'm not worth all this fuss..."
"You're our friend!" interrupted Spencer. "Isn't that reason enough for all this?"
"Look, whether you like it or not, none of us're putting up with their kind of thinking," said Blaise. "I've had to put up with that sort of thinking all my life, even at home from my family. Plus, Hal and Spence's parents nearly died fighting against it," he added, nodding towards his friends. Hal? thought Harry, looking at his other self. Guess I'd better not try using that alias with this lot. Good nickname, though.
He watched his other self sigh and pick up a piece of parchment from beside his bed. "Alright Rodge," he said. "If you really want us to let them walk all over you and spurn your very existence, then fine. Meanwhile, I have a History of Magic essay to make a start to."
He looked at Spencer and Blaise, hoping they would realise what he was trying to do. They both quickly recognised their friend's intention and the three of them left, leaving Roger alone, or so they thought.
Roger sighed and sat heavily on his bed. "Bloody hell," he mumbled.
"Your friends are right, you know," said an unseen voice suddenly. "You should listen to them."
Roger immediately sprang up and drew his wand. "Who's there?" he exclaimed, his voice full of fear.
"Huh?" said the voice. "Oh, right. Sorry. Forgot to cancel the Disillusionment Charm. Hold on."
"What? What are…?" Roger stammered, stopping as a long-haired figure in a leather jacket suddenly faded into view. He pointed his wand at the stranger. "Who… who are you?"
"It's complicated," said the stranger in the leather jacket as he put his wand in his jacket pocket and turned to face the fair-haired boy.
Roger stared at the stranger incredulously. "Hal?" he gasped, having seen Harry's scar. "Is that you?"
"Sort of," shrugged the stranger that looked like an older Harry Potter. "I never had a nickname when I was at Hogwarts. I have used the name 'Hal' as an alias a few times though, but that's a long story." He looked at the boy named Roger, who was still staring at him, fear and confusion etched on his face. "My name's Harry Potter," he said plainly. "And I'm from another reality." If that is Roger Appleby, then hopefully that's all I'll have to say.
"You… what… another reality?" Roger stuttered. "You mean…?"
"I'm another version of your friend, Harry Potter, who just happened to live a slightly, or in this case very, different life," elaborated Harry.
Roger looked at the 'alternate' version of his friend uncertainly. He has the scar, but he could still be some kind of impostor. "If you're Harry, then you'll know what position you play on the Quidditch team."
"I was Seeker for the Gryffindor team," said Harry. "Youngest Quidditch player at Hogwarts in over a century," he added.
"And what type of broom do you ride?" Roger asked, his voice still shaking slightly.
"Until third year, a Nimbus 2000," answered Harry.
"And what do the four of us call ourselves?" continued Roger.
"You mean you, Blaise Zabini, Spencer Westwood and 'Hal'?" said Harry. "No idea. I wasn't in Slytherin. But if I were to come up with a name for a Marauders-esque group, then I'd probably come up with something that sounded a lot more innocent than 'Marauders'. Something like 'The Guys' or 'The Posse' or 'The Clique', something like that."
"Actually," said Roger as he lowered his wand. "It was me who came up with 'The Guys'. Someone said something like 'you guys are pathetic', so I suggested it and it kinda stuck." He looked at the Harry curiously. "You really are another Harry Potter aren't you?"
Harry nodded.
"But if you're from 'another reality', then what are you doing here? How'd you get here?" asked Roger.
"Doesn't matter," said Harry, changing the subject. "What does matter is that your friends are right about Malfoy and his cronies."
Roger looked away slightly. "Look, I can handle the PFBs, okay? I don't need the others getting themselves into trouble over me."
"PFBs?" Harry found himself asking, though he reckoned it would probably be something along the lines of…
"Pureblood Fanatic Bastards," explained Roger. "Spence started calling Cuthbert, Malfoy and the others that and the initials kinda stuck, a bit like 'The Guys'."
"Oh," said Harry. "Hold on, who the hell is Cuthbert?"
"Cuthbert Garrett," said Roger, looking at Cuthbert's bed. "Our roommate."
"Cuthbert Garrett," mumbled Harry. He did know of Cuthbert Garrett – Ron had once received a Detention after Hexing him for calling Hermione a 'mudblood whore'. Come to think of it, Harry had thrown a few Hexes in his direction too, before being forced to kill him several years later.
"Yeah," sighed Roger. "Anyway, it doesn't matter…"
"It does matter," interrupted Harry. "Your friends are right when they say you shouldn't put up with it. Besides, no one has any respect for someone who lets themselves be bullied, especially when their friends are so willing to defend them."
"But…" stammered Roger. "I'm not worth all this fuss! I mean, I'm only one person…"
"Who's worth more than anyone like Malfoy or Garrett," interrupted Harry. He sighed before trying a different tactic. "Do you want to know what my reality's version of Roger Appleby was like?" he asked.
"I thought you didn't know him," said Roger, looking at Harry suspiciously.
"I didn't," relied Harry. "I talked to him once or twice though. That was all I needed to figure out what his life was like. It was quite sad really. He always seemed to be alone, never laughed along with the other Slytherins whenever Snape taunted the Gryffindors in Potions, never seemed to be a true member of Slytherin and probably never had the friends you've been lucky enough to have."
Roger looked at Harry, speechless, as he realised that all that would probably be true for him if it weren't for Hal, Blaze and Spence.
Harry sighed. "Look, it's your choice kid, but if I were you, I'd at least let your friends make the lives of Malfoy and his goons as miserable as possible. In fact, I'd join in, but I guess it's up to you…"
Roger stared at this 'other' version of Harry Potter, somehow listening to his words in a way he couldn't listen to the words of his friends. They had essentially been telling him the same thing for ages, but somehow, the words of this stranger in the leather jacket were having an effect on Roger Matthew Appleby. The knowledge that there was another Roger Appleby, whose life had been made miserable by the PFBs seemed to infuriate him in a way his own treatment hadn't. After all, he had friends who were trying to stand up for him, which always seemed to make it tolerable. But they shouldn't have to stick up for me, Roger thought. I should be the one sticking up for myself, but instead, my best friends are risking expulsion, all because I'm too spineless to stand up for myself!
Harry watched as Roger Appleby wrestled with his own thoughts. C'mon, kid, thought Harry. You know your friends are right. Just accept it, stand up for yourself and help them give Malfoy's mob hell!
They both stood in the dormitory, one's mind in turmoil, the other one waiting patiently, neither one of them speaking. Eventually, Roger broke the silence.
"Look, um…" Roger began. "I… uh. I… well…"
"If you're about to tell me that I'm right and that you're sorry for letting Malfoy's lot give you a hard time, then don't," interrupted Harry. "I'm not the one you should be saying it to."
Roger sighed. "I guess you're right." He looked past Harry at the door. "Y'know what? I think I'll tell 'em now," he said as he started walking towards the door.
However, as he was go through the door, someone else beat him to it…
"Hey, Rodge, you okay?" asked Spencer as the three boys entered the dorm. "We were starting to get kinda worried…"
He stopped as he, Blaise and this reality's Harry spotted the strange figure in the leather jacket and the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. The three stood in the doorway, staring at both the friend and the stranger.
"Rodge?" said Blaise quietly, hoping that either his friend or the stranger would give an explanation.
Roger sighed and looked at the Harry in the leather jacket.
"Harry," said Roger, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Meet the Guys…"
-
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Admit it. You thought Harry would be done with this reality by the end of this chapter, especially after I said in previous notes that there would be three chapters in this reality, two of them involving the Lone Traveller. Well, all I can say about that is that Harry isn't quite done with this reality just yet.
Concerning Canon Blaise in HBP. After I created the 'Blaze' character in chapter 6, I did become aware of Blaise's actions and words aboard the Hogwarts Express in 'Half-Blood Prince'. I could just say 'this is an alternate reality', but that wouldn't be too easy an explanation. The way I see it, Canon Blaise and 'Blaze' are different in that, because of Harry/'Hal', 'Blaze' met and became friends with a Muggle-born (Roger Appleby), whereas Canon Blaise didn't. Canon Blaise and Blaze probably had the same views (rejecting those of his parents), in first year but Canon Blaise was either eventually forced to conform to the pureblood fanatic way of thinking or simply pretends to agree with it when around the likes of Malfoy.
Korrd. Concerning Harry/Ginny in this reality, I doubt I'll have that relationship in the spin-off (Yes, I will do it at some point, probably quite soon.). Right now, I'm thinking of having Hal meeting someone during second year, though who exactly that girl is, I'll leave for you to figure out.
Concerning the end of the story. I'm probably going to write a first draft of the Epilogue fairly soon, and I've pretty much decided The Lone Traveller's fate will be already. Want to know what that fate is?
Tough. You'll just have to read the rest of the story.