(A/N: Thank you for all the nice reviews. Let's continue on. :)
Chapter 2
Harry woke up suddenly, not sure why. The room was dark. He was warm and comfortable with a warm body snuggled in front of him, causing him to smile. He was in a tent again and he had no real pajamas, just some transfigured from his magically cleaned clothes; but he was a real bed with plenty of food in the other room and he didn't have to save the world.
A few minutes later he felt Ginny awake with a start. A moment later he heard her say, "Potter, that hand better not move."
He cleared his throat lightly. "I'm trying to figure out where it is and can't decide what I want the answer to be," he joked. He felt her grab his wrist and lower his hand down her stomach a few inches before she turned over to face him.
"What am I going to do with you?" she asked.
He wished he could see her face, but it was dark. "I can think of a few things if you can't," he joked.
She slapped his chest lightly before she moved away and crawled out of bed. "I'll take the bathroom first for that." Her wand lit and he watched her leave the bedroom for the only bathroom. This was the only bedroom that had a larger bed instead of the singles the others had. Fortunately, it hadn't been hard to convince her to sleep with him. He suspected her quietly crying herself to sleep and him holding her had been the reason she'd said yes.
He arose too and turned on the light in the room before heading to the kitchen. He could start breakfast and use the bathroom afterwards. They'd need to make a list of things to go shopping for today. If he were Hermione, the name giving him a brief moment of sadness at the loss of his two best friends, he'd make a list of things they needed to talk about too.
Breakfast was half made when she joined him and helped him finish. They didn't talk much as they ate. "Probably should make a list of things to go buy today," he said finally.
Ginny looked at her toast before she shoved the last two bites into her mouth, probably to give herself a moment to think. When she could talk she said, "Probably a good idea. I think we're covered for food for several days unless there's something special you want. So clothes, toothbrushes, that sort of stuff."
"Not sure I want to go into any Wizarding areas," he commented before he finished his eggs.
"Probably safer not to and I don't think we need to," she agreed.
"It'd be nice to have a pair of brooms," he said casually.
She smiled at him. "That it would if it wouldn't bring attention to ourselves."
Harry made a face. "Sadly, I have to agree and that sucks."
"We'll have to keep our eyes open for a way to fly. Who knows what we'll find. What about disguises? Did you three do that?" she asked.
"No, we rarely needed to be in public, but it's a good suggestion. A Coloring charm on our hair would be a good start," he suggested.
"Let's start there," she agreed. "Go get ready for the day and I'll cleanup."
Harry put a few Galleons in his pocket anyway, but the entire stack of Muggle money came with them. He gave half to Ginny so he didn't have to carry it all.
A couple of stores had most of what they needed. Harry was surprised how fast they spent half of the money. For fun, he took his brunette girlfriend out for pizza for lunch; he was a dark blond. They were in no hurry and so talked leisurely over lunch.
"What about your family and what they expect of me, us?" he finally asked after they'd make plans for the afternoon.
"I'd like to visit again," she answered.
"No surprise," he grinned at her and she made a face at him.
"How about this evening after dinner? she suggested.
"Sure."
"What about your parents? I also wonder if Sirius is alive since Remus was," she looked intently at him.
"Eventually," he admitted after some thought. "Remember it's not the same for me. I haven't had them to miss."
"Except for Sirius," she countered before she took a drink of her soda.
"He won't be the same."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "None of them are exactly the same. You said we should plan on if we can't go back. I don't think there's anything to plan on if we can home other than to go. I'd go back in a heartbeat; what about you?"
"Probably, yes. It's a known thing," he finally told her.
"Not a ringing endorsement," she commented.
"No, I guess not. Look," he said and stared into her eyes, "the best thing in my life is you and I hope to have you in either place. So if you want to go back, we'll go back. If we have to stay, we stay. Either way, I win."
She snorted and laughed for a moment. "I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Ginny." He noticed that despite his question about it, neither had said anything about the war and their involvement.
— — —
The kitchen had a little grill in the stove, so they grilled some chicken and it turned out reasonably well; some vegetables rounded out dinner. They were in different clothes for the first time in almost three days and felt good about that.
Eventually, Harry felt he couldn't ignore the question any longer. "Ginny, what do you really want to do about the war here? Are we going to be in it?"
She pushed a few stray peas around her plate. "I've been thinking about that. Last night I said I wanted to help them; but I thought about what you said too. Is it wrong of me to say I want to help them but I don't want to do any fighting? And I don't want you to fight either?"
He smiled slightly. "No, because I think that I want about the same thing. I don't want to see them hurt, but I'm tired of going up against the bad guys. It really makes me rethink my idea of being an Auror to always be chasing the bad guys year after year."
"Harry," she said with a tinge of disappointment, "being an Auror in normal times is not the same as having to fight a war."
"I know," he retorted, "but you get called in if you're on the force when war breaks out."
"All right, that's fair I suppose," she admitted. "So we want to help, but we don't want to fight. Those sounds like the two ends of an argument. Is there a compromise in the middle?"
He nodded. "Right, fight or flight are the two ends. Something in the middle… Helping but not having to chase Death Eaters or You-Know-Who? Hmm, I wonder if they have the Taboo here or not. We should ask."
"Rabbit trail, Potter," she accused him with a grin.
Harry made a face at her but returned to the question. "What else is there?"
"Well, what was the one thing you wished you'd had been given or had known that would have made it easier?" she wondered. "Could we do that for them?"
"Sure, that's easy. I didn't have a clue about the Horcruxes, and if I'd known…" Harry stared ahead for a moment before he looked at her with a huge grin. "You're a genius!"
"Of course I am," she agreed imperiously. "What is your idea?"
"The biggest problem I had was lack of information, things Dumbledore never told me. There's no guarantee that they have to face what I did, but if they even have to get close, then I can speed them up by months, maybe even years."
Ginny laughed because his enthusiasm was so infectious. "We got it! Let's go!"
"Ten minutes to clean up and go to the bathroom," Harry said, still smiling as he rose with his plate in hand.
It was fifteen minutes later before they were ready to go. They had had a couple of extra hours before dinner so they had worked on Apparation. Ginny had managed to make it work - once.
"Want to go on your own or shall I take you?" Harry asked.
"I think you should take me there tonight. I want a little more practice beyond going two steps away," she admitted as she held out her hand.
He intertwined his fingers with hers and they were gone … then standing in the little clearing outside the wards to The Burrow. He pulled his wand out and did the same ward detection spell as last night. He also cast several spells like he had around the tent to keep intruders from sneaking up behind them.
Arthur was on his porch in seconds and smiled when he saw them. He also pulled out his wand and sent a Patronus spell off, one that seemed to look a lot the Hufflepuff badger before it raced away. Putting his wand away he grabbed a bench from the porch and walked towards them, stopping only a little closer than he had yesterday before he put it down and sat.
"Jolly good to see you again. The other parents, as we think of ourselves, will be here shortly. How are you doing?"
Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smiled, also holding in a chuckle and giggle at his comment.
"We fine today, thank you," Ginny told him. "Thank you for the tent. It was much better than what we had the previous night."
"Oh good, that's good," Arthur gushed before he turned around at the sound of a crack behind him.
There stood James and Lily Potter.
Harry could see why everyone said he looked like the man, beyond what he'd noticed in his old photo album. They weren't twins or anything that close, but there was definitely a family resemblance. He was also slightly taller than Harry, maybe the width of a few fingers, but it wasn't by much. He stood there in confidence.
Next to him, and a little shorter or about Harry's height, was a woman with fiery red hair and green eyes just like his. She too had a confidence about her that couldn't be missed. They each looked to be in their early thirties even though he knew they were approaching forty; then again, magical people tended to be slower in showing their age.
Arthur stood as the other parents walked over. "Perhaps formal introductions aren't required, but I shall anyway. This is James and Lily Potter. James and Lily, please be introduced to Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."
"Hello's" were spoken by all four. James pulled out his wand and almost negligently waved it causing the bench to widened so it would to hold the three of them comfortably before his wand went away. Harry conjured a bench for the two of them.
"Perhaps a warning about emergencies?" Lily suggested to Arthur.
"Yes, quite right," Arthur said quickly. "While I'm willing to add you to the wards here, I recognize everyone else might not be quite so quick to agree. So in the meantime, you'll notice a stick on the ground in front of you. If we're attacked, come to but not over that. I'll come and reach out. When you grab my hands I can pull you inside safely. I really don't think that will be needed, but it's always good to be prepared."
James cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I'd like to start with an apology from the two of us. I am truly sorry for not only agreeing with the plan, but more so for participating in bringing you here. Albus can be quite charismatic and persuasive, but we've realized we did not think about this from the point of view of the person, and now persons, who would be brought here. At the very least it was presumptuous, but honesty requires me to say it's probably criminal. As much as I'd like to get to know you, you have our word that if we can help to send you back home we will. In the meantime, you're family and you can expect that support from us."
"Hear, hear," Arthur said heartily. "I tried to say most of that last evening, but if rambled so much the message was lost, I fully agree and am on board with all of that. I said you were family and I meant it."
Harry was actually humbled by the apology and support they were showing. It was far beyond what he was expecting. Looking at Ginny, he saw a single tear started to go down her cheek. When he reached up to wipe it away, she looked at him with shiny eyes practically begging him to say yes.
"That," he had to stop to clear his throat. "That is very … kind of you and we accept," Harry said thickly. Everyone smiled, happy to reach that point so quickly and easily.
Lily charged ahead. "So now that we have that important part out of the way, we'd like to get to know you. Harry, I believe you should be finishing school this year, so do we need to sign you up for the NEWT exams that are about to start? And Ginny, I believe you're at the end of your sixth year?"
Ginny answered first. "Yes, I was in my sixth year this year, but I won't be going back if there is war ongoing, not if it was anything like what I came from - no thank you."
Lily was stunned and Harry only made it worse. "I should have been in my seventh year, but I skipped it to fight the war. At this point, I don't see any reason to go back. I had considered being an Auror, but I now think that would be a bad choice for me."
The Potter parents looked at each other in surprise. "Well, perhaps that is a topic to be shelved at the moment and until alternatives can be discovered," James said diplomatically. "It also makes me wonder if perhaps more is going on at Hogwarts here than we know about. The children will be home soon and we can find out."
James brightened. "Yes, children. So, Harry, you have a - hmm, step-sister? I suppose that will do for now. Yes, you have a step-sister named Rose that is finishing her fifth year now. You also have a step-brother names Charles-"
"Never Charlie," Lily interjected with a grin.
James snorted. "So true. Charles is finishing his second year. I have no doubt they'll want to get to know you when they come home in another month. What do you enjoy doing? Each of you?"
Harry was surprised at the potential of more family, but to the question he shrugged. "I like to fly. I was the Seeker on the Gryffindor team since first year."
"Yes!" James shouted and raised an arm in the air while his wife shook her head, but she was smiling. Harry and Ginny each laughed.
"I enjoy Quidditch too, but was only on the team for the last two years because some very good girls were on it before me," Ginny said. "I hope to try out for the Harpies one day."
It was Arthur's turn to beam. "That sound excellent. I'm sure Charlie will be proud. He almost tried for a professional team but his love for dragons won out. Fred and George were Beaters on the Gryffindor team."
"Yes, my brothers were amazing as Beaters," Ginny said, trying not to think about the other Fred. "Perhaps the best to play that position while I was in school."
Arthur continued to look very happy.
"What about outside of school?" Lily asked, sorry she had when Harry's expression turned sour.
"The least said the better. Dumbledore sent me to live with Petunia and Vernon; it was not good," the boy told them.
Lily gasped in surprise, her hand going to her chest. "No! If they were anything like the sister I have, well, they hate magic. I haven't talked with her since she rejected my wedding invitation."
Harry nodded despondently. "Sounds like they're about the same."
"And yet it looks like you rose above it, conquered it like a real Potter," James said with admiration. "Good job."
"Thank you," Harry said quietly, now looking more relaxed, even pleased for the praise.
Not wanting it to get awkward, Ginny said, "Fortunately, life at The Burrow worked pretty well. There was almost always chaos going on, but I knew I was loved and it was a wonderful place. Mum and Dad could be strict at times, but looking back now, I can see they were trying to do it for our own good. They also invited Harry over as much as they could once he started Hogwarts." When she looked at him she saw him smiling and he put an arm around her shoulders.
"A little better than here with a mother, I'm sure," Arthur said carefully, "but generally the same. Fred and George are eager to talk with you, and I think Charlie will be too when he comes home next and learns about you. Percy is a bit more cautious but still positive. I'm still trying to figure Bill's feelings on this out."
Ginny laughed. "I always got along with the twins the best, although Ron was a close second or maybe I should say third, at least when he acted his age. Charlie was good too. Percy was always a loner, but he eventually came around to understand, unfortunately just before we left. Bill was cool and great." She sighed. "If he's like my brother Bill, he's overly cautious because I look like family and he's afraid I'm not real."
"That if he gets too close he'll be hurt?" Lily suggested.
"Something like that, I think," Ginny agreed. "He's obviously not the same … nor are you," she said looking at her father's doppelganger. "My father was the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department, the sub-department head. He loved his job; thought Muggles where amusing and yet clever at what they did without magic. Now that I've learned more, I can see how little he really knew about them, approaching it like a Pureblood. He wasn't the best person for that job, but he carried on anyway and did his best and he was an amazing father and a loving husband. He was easy going yet there was steel in him as well." Ginny had to wipe her eyes. The "I love him" was easily inferred by all.
Arthur was looked down, hiding his face.
"Most of what you just said applies to this man as well," James said seriously as he looked at the man next to him then put an arm around the man's back. "The strength to raise five boys while also holding down a full time job … it amazes me when I think about it. He's no longer in Misuse of Muggle Artifacts as Perkins runs it, but he's a special consultant in the Auror Division, reporting directly to the Head Auror. Amelia Bones did that to give him more flexible hours and more pay before we lost her, may she rest in peace." He slapped the man on the back heartily.
Arthur wiped his eyes and said, "Thank you," very softly.
While the two men gathered themselves, Harry looked at Ginny. "Should we bring it up?" he whispered.
"Might as well," she whispered back.
"I have a question, really two now that I think about it," Harry said and gathered the attention of the others. "First, is there any word on us going home?"
"I'm afraid not," Lily said. "I mean, we have no answer. A search has been performed but we've been unable to find anything among Albus's possessions about this ritual."
"Unbeknownst to many, Albus has a brother and I went to talk to him," said James. "He took me to the Dumbledore family house and we could find nothing of relevance there either. We won't stop looking though."
Harry nodded. "Thank you for trying, perhaps something will eventually be found." He didn't feel or sound hopeful. "About the thing you brought us here for. What do you want from us?" Ginny gave him an interested look, but he only smiled at her. He wanted to know if maybe they wanted something different than what he and Ginny had assumed.
The three parents looked at each other, giving mostly embarrassed looks. "Well, it depends on who you talk to," James tried.
"True," Arthur agreed, "but we don't have any expectations."
James quickly agreed with that with a "Very true, none at all."
Lily rolled her eyes. "You two," she said to the fathers. "Harry, after the mess we've made of things, we three really don't have any expectations, but others do. As far we're concerned, you both can come live at Potter Manor where we have excellent wards and do whatever you want. Fly, learn about the family business and join in, do self-study to finish your NEWTS - which I highly advise you to do - make new friends, or perhaps even get married if you so fancy and Ginny agrees."
She looked pleased to see them blush and look at each other, perhaps thinking what it might be like.
"Others would like to put you on the front line for your experience since you've beaten You-Know-Who before. But whether it's that, you decide to sit it out, or anything in between is up to you two to decide and in whatever time frame you want. There's no pressure from us. In fact, some would say it'd be smart if you quietly left and went west to Ireland and had a quiet life. If that's what you want, we'll help you do it.
"The only other thing I'll say about all of that is that it's your decision and we really hope you'll let us be part of your life." Lily finished on a hopeful note.
"That's very fair, thank you," Harry told them, very thankful deep down for that answer. He looked at Ginny and spoke while still looking at her. "I think we'd like to get to know you, although I'm not sure how fast that might go."
Ginny broke out in a smile while holding his gaze. "I fully agree."
He gave her shoulders a squeeze. "As for the war, I'm actually tired of it and have no desire to be on the front lines."
"And I don't want him on the front lines," Ginny said firmly. "I thought he'd died for a bit and I lost all hope and wondered if I was going to die."
"Technically, I sort of did die for a moment. I don't recommend it," Harry said. Ginny threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. He rubbed her back and everyone sat quietly and until she calmed down. She blushed prettily once she realized she was the center of attention and why.
"If I may offer a suggestion?" Harry queried.
"Yes!" "Please!" "Of course."
Harry smiled at them. "Perhaps the reason I was chosen to come here wasn't because I can fight, although I am capable enough when luck is on my side. I'm wondering if the reason I was chosen is because this place, this dimension, is just enough alike that the information I have is what you really need. If I'd known at the beginning what I know now, except for the final battle, then I could have been done in less than a week instead of the year it took us."
While the three looked interested, it was Lily that really perked up. "Yes, they say that knowledge is power, or at least a form of it. We've been trying so many things but none seem to work. Alastor even swears he killed You-Know-Who once but the dark wizard was seen again the next day."
Harry was a bit vindictive now. "I'd say to go check out some things I can tell you about, and if true, take care of them and then someone get a Muggle weapon and put a bullet in his head to see if that ends it or not. If not, perhaps you'll buy yourself some more time, hopefully more than a day."
He sighed. "I really am tired of the war, but I do recognize that some tough decisions are going to have to be made, some tough actions taken. While I prefer to avoid violence, sometimes you must fight violence with violence.
"My personal opinion is to just kill everyone who has a Dark Mark on their arm, no leniency; because they had to earn that mark which means they're willing to overthrow the government. Fine, we all believe we have the better idea on how to do things, but to overthrow the government and take over like the Death Eaters are doing by killing their opponents is seriously wrong. That being said, if your Ministry is like ours was, maybe it would be best to clear it all out and start over in a lawful way, but resorting to terrorism is not the right way."
"You're not the first we've heard say something like that," Arthur told him, "and it wouldn't be hard to find others who'd agree. I think I'd even agree with most of it. The cleaning probably would need to start with the Wizengamot; we might even need to set up something different, perhaps more like what the Muggles have. The Wizengamot really should not be making the laws and also be the judges."
"Since I have a seat on the Wizengamot," James said, "I'd agree we should not do both, but I think politics is a topic for later. I like Harry's idea on the information." He looked at his "step-son". "Do you think there is an easy way to test your ideas without attracting the attention of the other side?"
"Yes, but I'll need someone who really knows what's been going on here and isn't afraid of working with Dark items. Wait," Harry smiled, "does anyone know a Hermione Granger? She should be my age and if she got her wish would be Head Girl this year."
The parents looked at each other for a moment. Lily finally volunteered, "I'm reasonably sure she's not Head Girl, I think a Hufflepuff named Abbot is."
"Hannah Abbot," Harry said.
"Yes, that sounds right. I've heard the name Granger before. Muggle-born?" Lily wondered.
"Yes," Harry was getting excited. "She's very smart, maybe like you."
Lily smiled. "Thank you. I know I've heard her name once but it was years ago. If she was Muggle-born, could she have had a reason to leave early? It happens sometimes."
Harry thought about that. "In our first year, some things didn't go so well." He definitely wasn't going to mention what Ron did to cause the problem. "She was attacked by a troll and it would have gone badly if a couple of students hadn't saved her. We became friends after that. Sirius called her the smartest witch of her generation, just like you."
Lily smiled at the compliment, but James responded first. "Sirius is someone else who'd like to meet you, and if I ask I'm sure Remus Lupin would too. Did you know them?"
"Yes," Harry said quickly and brightly. "I know Sirius was my godfather. I saw Remus when we arrived; he's part of why I was confused because he died in the Final Battle."
"Both of them are very much alive here. I'll arrange something soon," James said, looking pleased.
Lily cleared her throat softly and her husband gave her a quick apologetic look. "Your story has caused me to remember a conversation with Minerva McGonagall. I believe something similar happened here, except there was no one to save her as soon."
Ginny gasped, afraid of where this was going.
"I'm going to guess you were one of her rescuers?" Lily went on.
Harry felt embarrassed for some reason he couldn't name, but gave a meek, "Yes, Ron and I saved her actually." He saw Arthur give him a pleased look.
"Hermione survived the attack." Lily noticed each of the teenagers relax. "However, she was very badly injured and I suspect emotionally scarred. She left Hogwarts after she was healed. I haven't heard about her since, although I could ask Minerva."
Harry nodded slowly. "That's too bad. I'm not sure I could have defeated You-Know-Who without her help."
"Would I do as a substitute?" Lily suggested completely serious. "I have masteries in Potions, Charms, and Arithmancy. I am one of the Potions Masters for St Mungo's and I am certified as an Assistant Healer."
Harry gaped at her, he couldn't help it.
"I know exactly how you feel, Harry," James told him with compassion. "I only have a mastery in Transfiguration; I feel so outclassed by her."
A glance at Ginny showed her to be as stunned as he was. Then almost before his eyes he saw Ginny start to shrink into herself. It wasn't hard for him to guess what she was thinking. He poked her in the side and watched her come out of her funk and glare at him. He leaned over and whispered, "None of that. You are amazing and the witch I want. There is no need for you to be like her. I like you as you are."
Ginny lost her pique at his poke and put an arm around his waist and squeezed. "Thank you," she whispered. The byplay between them was overtly ignored by the parents.
"Yes," Harry finally said, "I think you'll fill that spot well. You may need to go ask a few questions of Professor McGonagall and possibly others, but I think you won't have too many problems. When did you want to do it?"
"I have tomorrow off if that's not too soon for you," Lily suggest with an easy smile.
"You do?" James asked.
"I do now," she insisted and he didn't ask any more. Turning back to Harry she said, "Otherwise, suggest a day."
"Err, OK, tomorrow is fine as we don't have anything planned, other than giving Ginny more practice at learning Apparation," Harry agreed, amazed at how fast this was going.
"I think I can arrange the morning off, if you'd like me to help you," Arthur said, looking at his pseudo-daughter.
Ginny looked a little embarrassed but said, "Thank you, I'd like that."
"Where would you feel most comfortable discussing all of this?" Lily asked. "You're welcome to come to Potter Manor. Arthur can come over too, he says he likes my cooking for some reason." She leaned forward and smiled at the man, who smiled back.
"All right, I guess we can do that," Harry agreed.
"How about meet us here at nine tomorrow morning," James suggested. "We'll take you to our place. Lunch and dinner will be available. I'll give you a tour and you can even fly with me tomorrow if you like."
Harry felt and understood the temptations being offered. He knew Ginny would want to go home if they could, but maybe this was the start to working out something if they stayed here. "All right, we'll see you tomorrow at nine. Just the five us though; there will be some very secret things."
"I understand," Lily told him and her husband agreed as they stood.
"Good night," Arthur told him pleasantly as he stood. The young couple echoed him.
A moment later Harry and Ginny were back in their tent. Harry sank into the couch. "That was intense. Everything is moving so quickly."
Ginny sat beside him and grabbed his hand. "It is, but you'll get through it, we'll get through it. You may get those parents you've always wanted too."
He smiled at that. "How are you feeling about your family? They definitely aren't the same."
Ginny sighed. "No, they're not. Inside I supposed I'm confused about Fred; he's gone and yet he's not. Mum is about the same in that I have her and yet I don't. Ron may be the worst in that I know he's alive but he's lost and no one has any real memories of him like you and I do. Honestly, I'm still trying to sort it all out in my head."
Harry rubbed her back to try to give him some comfort.
"Harry, thank you for what you said to me. I like Lily, but she's intimidating."
Harry pulled and with her help eventually moved Ginny so she was sitting across his lap, like they did a few times in the Gryffindor common room. "I meant what I said. I like you and wouldn't have you any other way. If it makes you feel any better, I agree with you. She is intimidating."
They kissed and talked for a while longer. Eventually, Harry stopped so he could make some notes and a few crude drawings for tomorrow in a notebook he'd picked up today.
Finally, they went to bed. There was no crying tonight, just two tired teens who didn't feel like the world was against them quite as much as the day before, but they were still a little confused.
The next morning, Harry woke slowly and sort of luxuriated for a few minutes just thinking. He couldn't see it the clock well, but thought it showed it was fifteen before eight. Therefore, he had some time to just lie here and think about a number of things.
Without much thought, he absently started to stroke Ginny's hair since she was lying half on top of him, her head on his shoulder, a hand on his chest, and one leg draped over his. As he stroked it he pulled it to the side slightly so it wasn't in his face.
Eventually, Ginny stirred a little and mumbled, "You're hired forever if you'll keep that up."
Harry chuckled quietly, more of a rumble in his chest. "Playing with your hair is sort of fun, maybe even mesmerizing."
"Please continue to be mesmerized," she encouraged him, sounding a little more awake. "Since I haven't heard the alarm, why are you awake?"
"It's about to go off. I don't know why I woke up but I've been lying here thinking," he replied easily.
"About what?"
"Lots of things," as he continued to slowly run his fingers through her hair. "I think I might be starting to catch my breath or maybe unwind from the war. It's going to take a while to be fully relaxed, probably months, but I'm starting to feel not so on edge like I have for … well, I don't know, years."
"Since you started Hogwarts?"
He thought for a long moment. "Maybe longer. Maybe for as long as I can remember. Living at the Dursleys wasn't a picnic either. You know, maybe having a family who wants me will be a big help in recovering. I know Sirius wanted me too, but it wasn't the same since we couldn't really get together much."
"Hmm, I can see that," she replied as she started to slowly caress his chest with the tips of her fingers.
Harry enjoyed the feeling of her caresses even through the cotton pajama top. "I know things could change at any time, but I'm starting to like it here … or at least I do right now. I know I'll miss our friends there, but I'll also get to walk away from a number of problems."
"Like what?"
"We broke into Gringotts and stole a dragon. I'm sure they're furious over that … but now we're here and this Gringotts doesn't know so no trouble."
Ginny froze for a moment. "Seriously! You broke into the bank, and I'm guessing a vault, then stole a dragon?! What were you thinking?" Her voice at the end showed she was fully awake now.
"We were trying to end the war and get away alive," he told her calmly. "That trouble is all gone away - poof! Oh, and no more being gawked at because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived, or people staring at my scar because of a story they hear that was made up as far as I can tell. I mean, it could be correct; but no one can say for certain."
Ginny restarted her caresses on his chest. "I can see the appeal of that. Have you thought about the fame we'll have if or when everyone finds out we came from another dimension? That could suck."
"I have," he said. "We'll probably have to change our first names, but it wouldn't be too hard to say we're cousins from somewhere else and our families here were good enough to take us in. In fact, we should probably talk to them about that."
"I suppose that might work," she said slowly. "I'll have to think about a name."
"Gin?"
"Hmm?"
"How serious are we?" he asked.
"Serious enough," she replied. "I'm not ready to get married."
He snorted. "I'm not either, but we should probably figure this out, maybe before we leave this morning."
Ginny stopped her ministrations and pushed herself up to lean on her left elbow; her hand was still on his chest. "Why?"
"We could probably live here for some time, but we'd really need to ask Arthur who owns this land. It'd probably be a lot better and safer to live under real wards for a property, but I've come to like living with you and don't want to give it up. Still, think about that for a moment. If you like this situation too, then that would mean rooming together at either the Weasleys or the Potters. Can you see them letting this happen, even if I am almost eighteen and you're almost seventeen?"
Ginny considered his questions and looked at the slightly glowing clock; the alarm would be going off any moment.
"Maybe they would, but I can understand your concern. I will agree I like our … arrangement here. Maybe there's someone else we could stay with who wouldn't care. What about Sirius?"
The alarm went off and Ginny grabbed her wand and did the spell to shut it off since she couldn't reach it directly. With the wand in her hand, she carefully found the side of his head and leaned down and kissed him gently. "We'll figure out something." She cast the spell to turn the lights on in the room and got up. She stopped and looked at him and smiled. "We'll figure out something," she repeated before heading for the bathroom.
Harry was heartened by her answer of liking their arrangement. He rose and got dressed. He also let Ginny make breakfast as he went over his notes and added a few more things he thought were important.
While they cleaned up the meal, he told her. "You do pretty well in the kitchen. That's a useful skill; Ron sure didn't have it."
Ginny laughed as she cleaned the stove with a quick spell. "As a girl, my mum made sure I knew how to cook. The boys were shown if they cared, but since it wasn't required and Ron was generally lazy in my opinion, he didn't bother to learn; or at least I never saw him cook anything much more complicated than toast or a sandwich. You, on the other hand, would have made my mother proud. I'm glad you know this useful skill." She grinned at him as she finished cleaning a few other spots and then put the last of the food away.
Harry grabbed his notebook with his pen before he took Ginny back to the Weasleys just before nine. To their surprise, they were greeted by the twins sitting on the bench.
"Good morning, you two."
"Yes, salutations. We have a couple of question that we hope you'll answer."
Harry noticed his bench was still there, so he walked over and sat on it. Ginny joined him.
"Ask, I may even answer," Harry replied with a smile, sure this could be a fun conversation if these two were like the ones they left behind. It was also very nice to see Fred alive.
The two chuckled. "Fair enough. If we understood you, then our … uh, counterparts, did manage to open a joke store. Can you please tell us how they did it?"
"Oh, sure; that's easy enough," Harry replied. "At the end of my fourth year, so sixth year for you; I gave them 1000 Galleons seed money. They spent their seventh year expanding their products showing off to the students to build clientele, and started their mail-order business. At the end of the year, they opened a shop in Diagon Alley and were a success."
Ginny looked at him and then started to laugh. "I had wondered if you had something to do with their shop since they gave you preferential treatment. Mum about had kittens trying to figure out how they got the money to do that."
"I think I was like twenty percent owner, a silent owner obviously." Harry noticed the twins looking at each other and whispering for a moment.
"You also mentioned contacting one of the Marauders. I assume that was for the financial investment?" a twin asked.
"Yes," Harry agreed. "I'd be happy to do it but I don't have the money here. Hmm, how much do you think you need?"
The other twin took this one. "At least 600 G's; 800 would be better. We can certainly see how 1000 would be truly helpful in getting a shop in Diagon Alley."
"Hmm," Harry said as he thought this through. The two he knew were really inventive. "I'll tell you what. Write up a proposal of what you'd like to do and what you think it'd cost. Also include a list of your products that you have and that you'd like to do. If the name doesn't make it obvious, a short description would be helpful. I promise that write-up won't go to anyone else other than Ginny and myself, plus any Marauders I approach and I might only approach one. We'll help you get your shop going. I'll also create a list of possible products your counterparts, as you call them, created as a help. I have no idea how they did what they did, but they were brilliant jokesters and inventors and I'm hoping you're the same way. Ginny?"
"I agree, Harry. I'd like to see these two be successful also." She beamed at them.
"You are awesome!" the two said in stereo and raised their hands and arm above their head before mock bowing towards them.
"Thank you for recognizing that," Ginny told them with a straight face, before all four started laughing.
One twin shot off a Patronus Spell that looked a lot like a ferret. The other said, "We asked the Potters to give us a few minutes with you. I'll go get Dad." He rose and left for the house.
"Thank you," the remaining twin said seriously. "Helping us with our dream means a lot to us, as does the extra help. We'll work out something with you and any investor."
"Life is difficult at times and we all need a good laugh," Harry told him as a crack sounded a little behind the bench the twin was on, revealing the Potters.
Arthur came out of the house with the missing twin. "Lovely, we're all here. Good conversation sons?"
"Yes, Dad," the one with him said. "I'm sure we'll have more questions for them later, but we're happy for now."
"Excellent. Now if I can just get Bill to feel the same way," said the man with a tone of long suffering. "James, Lily, good morning. Shall we get this started?"
"Good morning, Arthur, Harry, Ginny," James called out in a jolly way. "Yes, let's. You can go on over. We're going to take these two to the gates. It's the best place for the moment."
James and Lily walked towards them, right through the wards and stopped in front of them as Arthur Disapparated.
"Other than Arthur, there shouldn't be anyone else where we're going, or there wasn't a couple of minutes ago. Only our two house-elves are home, so we'll have the place to ourselves. On my honor and magic," James said seriously, "we will protect you like family while you're there." He grinned, "And maybe in other places too."
Lily backhanded her husband on the arm. "Stop clowning around; now is not the time. Ginny, may I?" She held out her hand. Ginny took it and they were gone.
Harry took James's outstretched hand and a quick moment later they were standing in front of large iron gates with a "P" on each and the family shield in the center - right next to the two redheaded women with Arthur not far away. There was a well-manicured lawn that was bordering on expansive before a large manor house that was two stories tall in most places, but three stories on at least two of the corners because of turreted towers.
"Wow," Harry said in admiration. "I never saw a Potter place like this."
"It's the main house," the family head said, "has been for generations, but we can talk about it later. I'd prefer not to stand out here for too long."
James walked towards the left gatepost and beckoned Harry to follow. "Slowly, place your hand near the gate post but do not touch. If you feel anything unusual, especially tingling, pull your hand back immediately. Like this." He put his hand less than an arm's length away and then moved his hand to be only a few centimeters from the post before pulling it back.
Harry did as indicated. "I don't feel anything."
"Half the distance, careful not to touch," James said and stood to the side, watching intently. When Harry did it and shook his head, the man said, "Tap it with a fingertip but don't hold it there."
Harry did so with no ill affect.
James looked at his wife in surprise before saying, "All right everyone, let's go in. Ginny take Lily's hand and do not touch the gates. Harry, place your palm on the center of the shield in the center of the gate."
Harry did as commanded and the gate opened wide for them, allowing them all to walk in.
James grabbed one gate and swung it back to the center and both gates closed. "Ginny, come here please." He grabbed one of her hands before he touched the backside and the shield and said something quietly. He looked at her and smiled. "You can now open and come in the gates at any time by touching them, but please don't do so if anyone you don't know well is here."
Ginny recognized the great privilege she'd been given and curtsied. "Thank you, Mr Potter, for your trust. I shall not betray your family."
"Excellent, let's head on," James said as he clapped his hands as if a job was well done and led them towards the house.
"I take it I don't have to do that?" Harry asked as he walked next to James. Ginny walked with Lily behind the two and Arthur fell in next to Ginny.
"The fact that you could touch the gate tells me that the wards recognize you as a blood-Potter," the man explained. "I wasn't sure if that would happen or not, although it does simplify some things." He shrugged a bit. "It could complicate other things, but it helps far more than it hurts."
"If you'll tell me I'll try to fix it," Harry offered quickly.
James snorted and shook his head. "I know how to fix part of it. The other may not be so easy. However, there's also the question on if I want to fix it and there is no hurry for me to do anything. No Harry, this is not your problem and there is nothing for you to do but to enjoy our hospitality as we receive whatever you decide to offer.
Harry couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about the situation despite the man's assurances. Still, there was nothing he could do since he didn't know the problem and James was obviously not going to share it - at least not now. So he made sure he smiled and said, "As you wish, but if there is anything I can do in the future to help, please let me know."
James nodded and said, "Thank you for your offer.
"Now here we are at the main house." James walked up the steps onto the wide front porch. "As the two of you have been added to the wards, you can Apparate to right here." He coughed lightly. "At least as long as no one touching you has not been added to the wards. If that is true, you won't make it inside and the wards can be somewhat violent about that, more so to your visitor than to you, but you won't find it pleasant I can assure you … from personal experience learned the hard way."
Lily actually giggled for a second before she schooled her features and winked at Harry. "They always tell you not to Apparate when drunk because you can Splinch yourself, but being drunk can also make you forget important things too."
James sighed while his wife smiled, obviously there was a fun story there. James looked like he was going to argue a point but stopped himself. "Let's go in and decide what we want to do. Tour at the beginning, at lunch, or before dinner? Thoughts?" he led them through the foyer and into the parlor at the front.
When no one said anything for a moment, Lily said, "I'd like to propose the tour be around lunch time for a good break. I believe Arthur's time is limited so that would give him more time for Ginny's lesson too."
No one disagreed, so James said, "Arthur, I'd suggest outside, anywhere that you like, although the back garden might be best to avoid prying eyes that happen to go by on the road."
"Of course, sounds like a good idea as I like your back garden." He looked at his step-daughter. "Shall we?"
Ginny looked at her boyfriend. "I guess I'll see you at lunch."
"Don't worry," Harry told her as she rose, "I'm sure you'll be very good at it by then."
She smiled before leaving with her father towards the back of the house; he obvious knew where he was going.
James asked, "Do you mind if I stay and listen? I've told the office that I probably won't be in today."
"I don't mind," Harry answered, "but can I ask what you do? Lily said she works at St Mungo's as a Potion Master."
"Not at all," James said casually. "I manage the family finances and business. For multiple generations, the Potters have run a real estate business, generally for commercial properties. We own nearly forty percent of Diagon Alley and lease it out, which is where most of our wealth comes from. We also own about ten percent of the commercial property in Hogsmeade, plus a few residential properties there too. Although, while we don't generally do the residential side, I know people who do if you'd like to get a house when you want a place of your own," he smiled broadly, "say when you're really to settle down with a special someone in your life."
Harry could feel his face heating a little. A look at his step-mom (he finally decided to adopt those terms like they were) showed her to be smiling at him in gleeful amusement. All he could really do was soldier on lest there be more teasing. "Thank you for the explanation. Perhaps we should get started? A table with comfortable seats would be best."
"I think staying here would be easiest. A little conjuring would take care of what we need," Lily said, letting the embarrassing topic go. She pulled out her wand and conjured a sturdy looking round table in the middle of the room, along with two very padded looking chairs, one in front of him and the other on his right near her.
"I don't get one?" James protested good naturedly.
"You're not a guest and can do your own," Lily said as she sat. A quick summoning spell had a notebook and pen whizzing into the room from not far away. She noticed his notebook as he pulled it out and smiled broadly. "Yes, someone else who uses a spiral notebook and pen. Habit from your Muggle school?"
"Yes," Harry admitted as he took his place and found that the chair was indeed very comfortable and a good height as he rested his elbows on the table.
"Ginny and I talked about this and it was her idea that perhaps information was really what you needed most. Dumbledore has really made this so much worse than…" Harry had to stop for a moment.
"I'm sorry. I should probably tell you up front that I'm going to be saying some unkind things about various people. I will try to be as objective as possible, but when someone has hurt you, it can be very hard to stay objective. I also recognize that just because someone I know did something, doesn't mean that same person who lives here did the same thing. In fact, that's obviously so from even what little I've learned so far."
Lily reached over with her left hand to pat his right hand, since it was closest to her. "Harry, I understand what you're saying and I promise not to jump to conclusions if I can help it. However, I fully acknowledge that we are all human, and we all have feelings, and we all make mistakes. The fact that you just told us that in your own words shows me that you will do your best, including double checking as much as possible with an open mind.
"Now," she smiled at him, "I believe you were about to say that Albus Dumbledore has made this war worse than it needs to be. I can complete your statement because I have had the suspicion for a long time that that statement is true. Our Albus Dumbledore can be a very secretive man and he can also be very manipulative. It won't be hard to find people who agree with that.
"What is harder to find agreement on is exactly how good he is at various things. He's highly regarded at being very knowledgeable; however, there is no consensus on what he's good at. Some say everything, some say many things, some say only a few things. There is no doubt he's powerful magically and politically, which makes going against him difficult.
"Lastly but not least, I've found it very difficult to change his mind on some things, even when I have hard evidence on another answer. He can be quite stubborn, and even according to some, arrogant, believing no one else could have a better answer than he. Yet for all of his faults, he's a genuinely good man most of the time. Perhaps your Albus Dumbledore is different?"
Harry managed to avoid gaping, but only just. "I once admired him a lot. Now? Not nearly as much. I think our two Dumbledores are very similar and you finished my statement correctly. I believe he wants You-Know-Who defeated, but he held so many secrets, including a plan for how to win the war that was overly complicated. While I managed to mostly follow it, I think I won more because of luck than because of his plan." He shook his head.
"Let's just jump straight to the worst part. It sounds like our history is similar enough I can ask the question: If You-Know-Who, whose real name is Tom Riddle, really died in 1981, which we can believe to be true because he went unseen for a number of years, how did he survive that? It didn't happen for us, but if Moody really did kill him again within the last few years, how did he come back the next day?"
"It's an excellent question that some of us have asked but not answered successfully" Lily agreed. "What is the answer?"
"Our You-Know-Who cheated death with devices called Horcruxes. Have you heard of them?" Harry saw Lily look at her husband with slightly wider eyes.
"I have come across the name in my research, but only at Sirius Black's house and not in any useful detail," she admitted. "You should assume I know nothing more than the name."
He watched her write the word in her notebook before he explained about them, the concept of how to create one, and the three ways he was aware of to destroy one. All was written down, even if in an abbreviated form.
James spoke up as his wife wrote. "We're coming back to the question I asked last night. Is there a way to test this without the other side being aware?"
"Well, if you find one you should know for sure. If you can get one of the early ones, you'll actually feel uneasy when holding it as it tends to bring out feelings of distrust and animosity towards friends. The later ones can be held and you won't notice a thing," he explained. "Well, the device itself won't hurt you while it's dormant; but at least half had some really bad curses on them, including compulsion spells to get you to trigger the curses. So treat every one of them as very dangerous."
"So they get weaker," Lily said thoughtfully. "I would guess the early ones are stronger, perhaps they have a bigger portion of the soul for influence. That indicates there is a limit on the number that can be made and is good for us."
"And you know where they are?" James said, leaning forward and letting a little excitement into his voice.
"I know where I found the ones I hunted for. If you're lucky, you'll find your set in the same places … assuming he made them," Harry pointed out. "Also, one of mine was found and moved to another location. It's really best if you can get those that might signal what you're doing last and as quickly as possible. We did the last three on the same day, although the very last was done as the Final Battle started."
"Lily is very good at planning," James assured him, "but your warning is still a good one. How can we test to know if an item is a Horcrux?"
"I don't have a spell, which is what I think you're asking. We just sort of figured out what they had to be," Harry admitted.
"Hmm, I wonder if a Human Revealing spell would who that, even if the glow is only slight," Lily mused. "I also wonder if they are based on the ancestor of the Protean charm given what you've told me. I'd have to have two to really know, I think."
"Is there an easy one to get to test this? You know if they exist or not." James asked. "I could go get one while the two of you are talking."
"No you don't!" Lily ordered. "No one goes after any of these by himself."
"That's really good advice," Harry stressed. "One of the more difficult ones will make you want a Curse Breaker. Bill Weasley was in the Order yet Dumbledore wouldn't take him with him but went by himself. Dumbledore missed a Withering curse on the object and because of it died less than a year later."
Lily nodded. "Yes, a good example of his arrogance, or some would say hubris."
"I could take Sirius and probably Remus too," James pleaded his case.
Harry flipped a few pages and held his book out to Lily. "Can you duplicate this page?"
She did so twice, keeping a copy for herself. "What are the pictures… Oh, these are the Horcruxes; six as you said."
"To be completely honest, there was an unintended seventh, which was in me, in my Curse Scar. However, you don't have to worry about that as no one lived through that battle on Halloween of 1981," Harry pointed out.
"Unless they left before we arrived," James said thoughtfully. "All in the house were dead and there two Death Eaters outside, but I killed both because they were inside the wards and couldn't Apparate away."
"If the wards were still up, how did they get in?" Harry asked.
"Because they didn't take them down. Instead, they weakened them and then opened a hole to walk through," James explained. "Running out to escape wouldn't have been a problem, hence why I had to kill them quickly; so they couldn't hide and then leave later. I would have loved to have captured one to interrogate as to how they got in and how they found out that was a good night to attack. Sadly for our side, I didn't have that luxury."
"So, is one of these easy to get to?" Lily asked.
"The easiest as far as original locations is at Hogwarts, the tiara or crown looking thing," Harry said. "The locket might be the easiest as we found it at Sirius's family house at #12 Grimmauld Place. But that was the one that moved. The original hiding place had traps you need to be careful of."
"So I could go to Sirius and ask if he had this, and if so then bring it back and we could try to determine a test," James said carefully.
"Yes. Question, was his brother Regulus a Death Eater and was he killed?" Harry wondered.
"It's a sore subject for Sirius, but yes to both," James confirmed.
"Then go asked him if that's in the house and if so then bring it back. We'll probably need his help for another one of these anyway, but if you can avoid saying the word 'Horcrux' it might be best for now," Harry told him. "Oh, does he have a house-elf by the name of Kreacher?"
"He used to," James said, sounding like it was a topic he didn't care to discuss.
"Check where he used to stay, which I believe was in the boiler room," Harry suggested. "Otherwise, we found it in the Parlor, but I suppose it could be anywhere. It's a heavy gold locket with a snake on it, like in the picture. This is a safer one to handle if it's there; but I'd still advise you to conjure a box and levitate it into the box and seal it in order to carry it back."
James nodded and stood, looking at his wife. "I promise to be very careful and I'll be back as soon as I can." After Lily nodded, James left the room and a crack of Disapparation was heard.
"Let's discuss each of these and what we'll find around them or on them," Lily requested.
(A/N: Sorry for the split here, but the day is very long and this is about the size I like for chapters. I will try to upload the next one a little sooner than normal.)