Hey everyone,
So there will be a few significant changes and differences between the Darkened Light Version and this Original Story version.
However, just like Darkened Light there will be severe Dumbledore Bashing in this story and Voldemort will meet a pretty swift end. A big difference between this and the DL version though
James is alive,
Venquine1990
Preview #29
A Potter-Peterson's Reunion
19th of December 1995
London, England
Harry's POV
Just like Preview #25, this starting portion is from HP OotP, the start of Chapter 23.
Was this … right now –
"I'm sorry, are you alright, honey?"
A soft and strangely familiar voice asks me and I look up.
Straight into a pair of almond shaped, emerald green eyes, identical to mine.
My eyes instantly widen and all thoughts of Voldemort, the connection, my potential to be the weapon Voldemort wants and what I overheard in St. Mungos earlier fly from my mind.
"Wow, Lils, he looks just like me, don't you think?"
"Yeah, he does, James. But – he has my eyes."
"Holy magic, he does. Wow, he – hey, how old are you?"
I can't answer. My mind is utterly blank. I can barely focus, let alone understand how two people, who look like my parents but then older, are seated in front of me. And a quick look to my right proves that the Weasleys feel the same.
I look back at the two in front of me, but then the man, amazingly enough named James, looks up and curses as he says: "Crap, this is our stop. Well, it was nice meeting you."
The train halts to a stop and the two get up. The woman, clearly out of instinct, softly runs a hand through my hair and whispers: "I hope you'll feel better soon, dearie."
And this motherly gesture of love, their looks and the fact that they asked me questions has me respond. Out of nothing but emotional instinct, I shoot out of my seat and, before Mrs. Weasleys can follow after me, Ginny and I rush through the closed doors of the train.
Ginny worries and frets over this and looks around in fearful worry, but then the woman named Lily: "Hey, don't worry, it's okay. Where are you headed?" But Ginny clamps down, obviously unwilling to share Grimmauld Place's address with them.
"Our stop was two stops from here." I answer, the same instinct that often saved my life and that got me to follow them guiding me. Ginny gapes at me, but I don't care. The man looks at her in confused intrigue and says:
"Well then, then you have nothing to worry about. The next train that stops there is in less than ten minutes. Why don't we head for a place to eat and wait there. Lils and I'll make sure you get back on the right train. Heck, we'll even pay for new tickets."
Ginny wants to argue this, but the woman smiles and says: "Not for free, of course. In return ,you explain why you're so anxious, your friend explains why he looked so pale earlier and you answer a few other questions of ours. Naturally, in return we'll answer any questions you might have for us. It's only fair, after all."
Ginny clearly doesn't like the idea of answering questions, but the chance of getting some of her own questions answered clearly silences her.
At the same time I can't help it. I keep staring at the two adults in front of us, my eyes drawn to the woman more and more, especially because of how she smiles back at me the entire time, her face warm and full of love.
I wonder if she even realizes that she's looking at me like that. Apparently she does as her face tints red a little and she says: "I'm sorry for staring, young man. It's just – you look like you could have been – my – my eldest's age."
Ginny and I share a glance at this and the man, obviously her husband, tells us to just come with them, that they can explain over some burgers. Ginny looks intrigued over this and because I have never had a burger in my life, I instantly follow after them. And Ginny follows my lead.
A few minutes later we're seated in what is apparently a private corner for the couple in a moderately busy fast-food restaurant. The man and I have a double hamburger with cheese and egg in front of us, while Ginny kept herself to just a simple hamburger and a bottle of water. The woman, on the other hand, ordered merely a few snacks, such as a few chicken nuggets.
The woman nibbles on one with a sigh on her face as she says: "I'm really sorry you missed your stop because of us. It's just, like I said, you look like you're the same age as my eldest. I lost my – my little Harry – to a miscarriage when I was three months pregnant of him in 1980. We were, trying to survive that terrorist that was plaguing our country back in the 70's."
I have my burger halfway up my mouth and Ginny puts down her bottle of water as we share a shocked look. The man lies a comforting hand on his wife's as he says: "At least we have our little Jeremy. He's, I think, four years younger than you. And this year, he went to this really nice private school all the way in Scotland."
Instantly both of us make the connection and I whisper: "You mean – Hogwarts?"
The two look at me startled and Ginny and I nod, silently telling them that we're wizards too.
Yet at the same time I can't help but focus on what the woman told me about her firstborn, when he would be born and his name.
"Okay, forget the train. You two are coming home with us. We'll talk everything out, you know, the stuff we can't discuss in public and then after that I'll drive you to the other station myself. How's that sound?"
Again Ginny seems hesitant to accept the idea, but I whisper: "We don't have money for the train, let alone actual normal money. We also don't have the required notes and there are too many coincidences piling up together.
This is just like the Stone, this is just like the Chamber, this is just like Snuffles, Gin. And besides, would you rather focus on this – or on what we heard Moody say?" My friend grimaces at this as I tell the other two that their idea sounds lovely.
The two smile and after we finish our meals, the woman pays and we head out. Yet while we head over to wherever the two live, Ginny asks: "I'm sorry, we never introduced ourselves or got your names. I'm Ginny Weasley and this is Harry, Harry Potter. Yeah, that –."
But while the two had wide eyes for a moment, they shrug my name off a moment later. Ginny stares at them and at me, yet I stare at them for a different reason. That shrug didn't look natural, something felt off about it.
"It's nice to meet both of you, dears. I'm Lily Rose Peterson and this is my husband, James Charlus Peterson." The woman, Lily, tells us and the man, James, tells us that he's named after his father with his middle name and that it's a tradition.
For some strange reason I feel a strong sense of pride at these words and then it hits me why. The man is named James, which is my second name. And only then I realize that I never asked anyone about the names of my grandparents. Silently I curse my mistake. Yet at the same time I can definitely imagine my grandfather to be named Charlus.
Then the man looks up and says: "Ah, this is our place. Come on in. You up for a cup of coco? Or do you prefer something more spooky?" Ginny gives the man a deadpanned stare, yet I snicker at his attempt at both a joke and a hint in one.
I look up at the house the man mentioned and instantly my heart misses a beat. A three-story house that has a large garden that seems to go all-around the house. The house also has a bit of a cottage kind of feel with the exterior design, especially the two stone chimneys on either side of the building and the straw-filled roof.
"It used to be a stone-roof, but we got some contractor to attach the straw to it. We also helped said contractor to build both chimneys."
"We actually wanted to buy a place in Godric's Hollow, but no house ever came available. It was always so that, when we thought we could get a place, someone else beat us to it. After 13 tries, we just gave up."
Yet again I can't help but share a shocked look with Ginny, whose eyes seem almost wider than my own right now. "You guys really need to explain those looks when we get inside." James tells us as he leads us inside.
We head into the living room where the two take a loveseat while Ginny and I take to a single chair with a straw backrest that flows into the armrests each.
"So, you're magical too? Our boy, Jeremy, got his Hogwarts letter just this year. The Headmaster was even kind enough to add all of his supplies to the letter. In it, he told us how he had done this for all First Years, because of that terrorist being back. Is this true?"
I nod, while Ginny asks: "Didn't you say your name was Peterson? I think a friend of ours, Hermione, knows your son. He's in Ravenclaw. I saw her when she helped him a bit with his Charms' homework a few times. Apparently he doesn't like the help he gets offered by his own Prefects very much."
The two nod in agreement to this and Lily tells us that Jeremy told them the same thing in his letters. And while James asks us to thank our friend for her help and her kindness, a sudden thought strikes me. And just like when I got off the train, I let this thought and my instinct guide me.
"Lily, it's him!"
"Take Harry and run! I'll hold him off!"
I had almost whispered the first part of the line, but James is on his feet, shouting the second line, even as he rushes for the doorway.
But halfway there he falters and turns around, even while Lily rushes for me and tries to pull me from my seat. And as James stares at us, as Lily falters in her attempts, as Ginny gapes at all of us, I can only think one thing:
"They really are
My parents."
But then suddenly, out of nowhere, both of them start to scream in pain. Instantly I call out to both of them and Ginny yelps, while both of them clutch at their heads while they continue to scream. Ginny and I stare at each other, both of us feeling utterly helpless.
For several minutes my parents cry and scream out in pain. Mum buckles through her knees and instantly Ginny is at her side, trying whatever she can to help her, even though my friend can't do more than hold the woman comfortingly.
I also rush for dad and try to hold him up while he screams. And while he has one hand stuck to his temple, his other is squeezing my shoulder extremely hard. I hold back a wince at this as I don't believe the pain in my shoulder is anything compared to the pain the two of them are in.
Still every minute that the two of them scream and cry in pain tears at my heart and I try my hardest to hold back my tears at hearing them in so much pain. Thankfully, they only scream for another minute before they start to pant and breath deeply.
Ginny and I share a relieved, yet worried look,
But then suddenly something else happens.
In a burst of flame that would normally fill me with relief and comfort, but that now consumes me with a sensation of dread, Albus Dumbledore appears in the living room with his phoenix. Instantly I remember what dad told me about Jeremy's letter and his supplies.
The man seems horrified at seeing Ginny and me crouched over and standing with my mum and dad respectively. And in his moment of horrified shock, my instinct kicks in and I shout:
"DOBBY, GET US OUT OF HERE, NOW!"
And just as Dumbledore pulls his wand,
A pop is heard and the four of us vanish.
And reappear in a familiar, dreadful kitchen.
Back to Grimmauld,
And what is Dumbledore's problem? How did he get the Potters back? And did anyone notice that I didn't reveal that in either preview? Also, don't worry, I already have plans ready on how they will circumvent the whole thing with Dumbledore being the Secret Keeper. Either way,
Vote please,
Venquine1990
PS. in the original version I had Hermione instead of Ginny. I forgot that Hermione was still at Hogwarts and hadn't come to London until later down the chapter. Thankfully, I remembered before I posted this chapter.