Harry Potter: Otherworld

Making Friends

***No own no sue. ***

*Twitter for updates, Angelslayer135

I will keep a running list of male to female names as characters are introduced at the end of each chapter.

***HP:O ***

The rest of the starting feast had gone much as Harry remembered from his own years, although without any mentions of gruesome deaths and more than a few other faces he didn't recognize among staff and students. The other irritation came as Harry realized despite his own lack of celebrity in the world, he was still receiving stares and hushed whispers from those around him.

At least it didn't seem as bad as his own first year, and soon enough they were being led back to the Slytherin dorms.

It felt wrong, being forced to live in such a deep place, away from the sunshine and heights that he had always craved in his earlier years. The Slytherin common room was dark by comparison to Gryffindor, and instantly felt foreign to him, far more than Gryffindor's had when he was first brought there.

"My name is Grace Riddle, and I will be your Head of House." the woman began once everyone had been brought into the chamber. "I expect everyone here to help each other and behave. You are not boisterous Gryffindors, shy Hufflepuffs, or antisocial Ravenclaws. We are the house of the cunning and ambitious. We pride ourselves on our resourcefulness and determination. I expect all of you to take this to heart, and the older students to help the younger as you were helped during your early years. Finally, should there arise any issues I expect you to come to me first."

She glanced around the room, eyeing the first years each in turn until reaching Harry. On him they lingered, far longer than on anyone else, before moving on after what felt like an eternity later. "Well then, you have all had a long day and classes will start tomorrow in the morning. Try to get some sleep. First Years will follow me to your rooms."

Before she could continue Crabbe quickly raised his hand. "Uhm, what about boys?"

The giggles and laughs echoed from the large group of women, earned a swift glare from the Head of House. "The males are in a separate passage that is Warded to prevent anyone else from sneaking in." Here, once again, she sent a warning look to the vast majority of the students. "The rest of you have a separate doorway for each year at Hogwarts."

With that they were dismissed, and one of the older boys gestured for them to follow towards a doorway on the opposite side of the other seven. "Here's where we are. There's a small room for each year so don't expect much, you can sleep easy though, like the Professor said, girls can't get in."

The words seemed to relax both Crabbe and Goyle, earning curiosity from Harry. He recalled in his own world the steps to the girl's Gryffindor rooms being Charmed against any boys from sneaking up, was this reversed here for some reason?

Without knowing how to ask, and not draw attention to himself, Harry merely followed along to the room he would be sharing with the other two. Sure enough, it was significantly smaller than his previous living spaces at Hogwarts, but with only two roommates it would be plenty.

"So, uh Harry, right?" He had to remind himself that this wasn't the Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle from his own world, and merely nodded. "My name's Vincent, this is Gregory. Nice to meet you."

"Same, do you two know each other from outside Hogwarts?"

The, thus far silent, boy nodded with a grin on his face. He wasn't sure what to expect, but even in the previous world, the two Slytherins weren't exactly known for their conversational skills.

"Our families are both old-tradition Slytherins and we knew each other from a long time ago. Do you mind if we take the beds farthest from the doorway?"

He shrugged but noted that it seemed to put some ease into their postures. Clearly, they were concerned about something.

"Thanks"

***HP:O ***

"Settle down children, this is not the class for excited movements or loud conversation." Harry stared, and yes, he knew he was staring but it wasn't like he could help it. Not only was Snape a woman, Professor Serena Snape, but she was sort of nice. His own version would have already been deducting House Points, calling students names, and generally making everyone miserable for breathing the same air as her.

As she reached the front of the room her eyes darted across the students, observing the Gryffindors first, with a noticeable frown directed at his 'sisters' which only further confirmed her identity in his mind, then proceeding with Slytherin.

When she came to him, however, the woman's eyes narrowed even further. Perhaps she wasn't as different as he thought she would be, Harry mentally noted.

"I will not be teaching you fancy Wand movements or cumbersome incantations." She spoke to the, now silent, room. "Instead, it is something far more useful, subtle, and calculated. To brew a potion is more than just placing ingredients into a cauldron and stirring. It is balancing the inert Magical properties contained within and making the calculated reasoning to best bring out these qualities. We are creating entirely new substances, and many require precise practice and knowledge. For that reason, I will not tolerate any foolishness in this classroom, do I make myself clear."

Huh, Harry already liked this Snape better than his own. At least she hadn't started with...

"Amaryllis Potter."

And he had clearly spoken too soon.

The redhead raised her hand, earning a scowl. "Put your hand down you dunderhead and tell me, what is the primary ingredient we will be using first."

Amy bit her lip but didn't answer and Snape's gaze remained focused despite the snapping of an arm upright to answer from a certain curly-haired bookworm. "I... don't know."

"No? Then perhaps your sister can answer." Said sister immediately nodded, but whatever she was prepared to say was cut off by the professor's voice, "How many stirs are needed in the final step of the boil removal potion?"

Harry frowned as the other Potter failed at answering this new question as well. It was similar to his own year, only this time she seemed intent on embarrassing his entire family by any means possible.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for poor preparation." Snape called out, before shifting her eyes once more. This time they landed on Harry himself, and he returned the look with as much confidence as possible. He had done a bit of studying prior to classes beginning, just to see if the curriculum had changed from what he remembered.

He was ready for anything, save for an incredible ridiculous question, that she could throw at him.

"Miss Malfoy, the two answers please."

Said blonde looked eager to prove herself, "Crushed snake fangs professor, and the number of times is three, counterclockwise of course."

"Of course, thirty points to Slytherin. Now prepare your cauldrons and tools. We will have ingredient collection in a moment."

***HP:O ***

"Harry, could you wait a second?" The boy turned to look at his dark-haired sister. She was waiting in the hall, book held in front of her torso, pressed back against the wall as if trying to hide. She reminded him of Hermione, or what he felt like his own first year.

Scared, confused, alone.

He took a few steps towards her but stopped when he was well outside of her comfort zone, not wanting to make his own 'sibling' uncomfortable. "Hello Harriet, how are you?"

"Uhm, okay, I mean good I guess." He nodded, waiting to see what she had wanted to talk to him about. Moments later she seemed to understand, blushed a bit, and continued. "Did mom an… I mean James and Lily, did they talk to you about school and the professors?"

Sympathy flooded him for a moment, he didn't want to make the two girls uncomfortable talking about their own parents, regardless of what happened to his versions. "You can just call them 'mom and dad' Harriet, it's okay, but no not really. Other than shopping we didn't talk much."

She nodded, "Lil- I mean mom, she told us to be careful around Professor Snape."

He blinked in surprise. It wasn't as if he expected a warning about Riddle, but he certainly wasn't expecting a condemnation of Snape. Is this what it would have been like in his own world if his parents had survived?

But that raised another question. "Did she say why?" In his own timeline Snape had called his mother a 'Mudblood' which had destroyed their friendship. In this world such a thing wouldn't be seen as insulting, or even used in such a way.

So, what had happened?

Harriet shook her head, "No, but she wanted us to be careful, especially you. Dad looked uncomfortable too, so maybe it involved him?"

It definitely did, if his own world was any indication. The Marauders had been one of, if not the major, catalyst for the destruction of that friendship.

"You could ask them?" she softly suggested, bringing his attention back to her and out of his own past.

"Not sure if that is something I want to put in a letter."

"I mean when they come in for visitation. Did they not have that in your world?" A second after she asked her eyes widened in horror and she began to stutter out apologies, only for Harry to interrupt.

"Harriet, it's fine I understand what you meant. We didn't have anything like that though, which is odd. Family never visited Hogwarts although students went home over winter and spring breaks."

She seemed to relax a bit and they continued towards their next classes, talking easily as if they always had been siblings.

***HP:O ***

Ron was pouting, Neville looked as if he had been saved from a horrifying death, Crabbe and Goyle looked… well like Crabbe and Goyle always looked, and as for Harry himself? He wasn't quite sure how to feel.

Quidditch is restricted to women only unless approved by both the student's parents and Head of House.

Quidditch had been a major part of his life at Hogwarts, had been a source of freedom, a stress relief, and just a way to rub it in Malfoy's face how he could trounce him. Now said activity was just out of reach, or at least it seemed to be. Sure, he could write to James and Lily requesting permission, but he also frowned a bit at the thought of speaking to his Head of House regarding it.

Dumbledore could probably override, but Harry held back on the idea. Even with just a few interactions It hadn't missed his attention how much his redheaded sister loved the sport. If he pursued the same path as in his life, would it mean he would be flying against her? Was it fair to even consider doing such a thing? He had years of experience as an advantage, it likely wouldn't be difficult to beat her if they both became Seekers.

But what if she became discouraged? What if she began to hate the sport? What if she began to distance herself from him? Would Harriet be forced to take sides? Would James and Lily as well?

It wasn't worth the risk, and it wasn't as if he didn't have other things he could focus on. He could take school more seriously, change the classes he took his third year and after, find his own path.

There was no evil lurking around the corner, no greater good that needed to take priority over everything else, and no Slytherin arseholes who needed to be…

"Looks like the Potters can't fly worth a bollocks either, what a surprise."

Well, maybe he had thought too soon. Sure, enough it was Malfoy, because who else would it be, running her mouth just like Draco would have done and just like the first time around it was a Potter who stood up to her.

This time though it wasn't Harry, but rather his redheaded sister who answered the call. "Don't flatter yourself Malfoy, you barely got off the ground without almost falling off your broom, even if you acted like no one noticed."

Said blonde scowled but refused to back down. At least, Harry noted, Neville wasn't in danger of losing a family artifact this time around. A thought struck him about asking the other boy about his parents. He knew that they had been tortured into insanity in his own timeline, did that mean they were perfectly fine in this one?

He hoped so.

Meanwhile, other Slytherins and Gryffindors had begun to gather on opposing sides, glaring at each other with a rivalry only surpassed by what Harry remembered from his own world.

"If you somehow forgot, Slytherin is in the lead for House Points." Bliss taunted.

"Only because Snape is so blatantly favored towards her old House." Lavendar countered.

The argument escalated until the professor intervened, breaking the groups up and telling them to save it for the Quidditch field.

***HP:O ***

Half of the week was already finished, and Harry was beyond bored with most of his classes. He had been sitting through lectures he vaguely remembered covering topics that were almost common sense to him at that point.

The only bright side thus far, apart from Snape not being a complete wanker, was McGonagall.

And speaking of which, "Mr. Potter, please stay behind for a moment after class."

He did so, earning a few hushed whispers from other students as the room vacated, leaving them alone. Moments later the woman smiled down at him with warmth he remembered from his own world.

"I was your parents' Head of House when they were in Hogwarts, I'm not sure if they told you this."

He wasn't sure either but figured it logically would have come up. "I think one of them mentioned it."

She nodded, a hesitant look in her eye as if she wanted to step closer but was held back for some reason. "I don't know what possibly could have possessed them to do what they did Mr. Potter, but I assure you that when I see them next there will be more than a slight scolding."

Harry was confused for a moment, before he remembered their cover story. "Oh, uhm thank you but don't be too harsh on them. I… don't want to cause trouble." At least it wasn't a complete lie and served to earn a snort of disagreement from the woman, "I damn well taught them better than this, abandoning their own bloody child. James is bad enough even if he has the excuse of being raised in a Magical family, but Lily has no excuse."

He wanted to defend them, knowing that her ire was unjustified, but couldn't see a way to do so without raising further suspicions. So he went with the next best tactic, changing the topic.

"Were you close to them when they were in school, professor?"

This earned him a pause, and if he wasn't mistaken a faint blush from the woman. "I was their Head of House," she reiterated, "and while I was very close to your mother in terms of certain ideologies, I shared a certain bond with your father as well. I'm not sure if they mentioned this but he was a prodigy in my own subject, Transfiguration, and so I tutored him."

Such a thing didn't sound familiar from his own time, save for Remus helping him in his third year, and Harry was more than a little curious, "Is that normal? For teachers to give students private lessons?"

"Some extra help is far from uncommon, when a student needs additional assistance or excels a bit in a certain class, but private tutoring is generally reserved for those who show above average promise in certain areas. Skill of that level tends to only appear once a decade or less. It is also common for some of the older families." Harry remained silent, earning a soft sigh, "Try not to worry about things like that Mr. Potter. Just focus on your own studies. You are still only in your first year, and a week in at that."

He nodded in acceptance, earning another warm smile before being dismissed.

***HP:O ***

"Mister Potter"

He waited as the girl who had spoken to him approached, eying her up in curiosity. She was a bit older than him with the pale complexion that was so common among the 'upper class'. Her hair was dark, eyes as well. She was Slytherin in sorting, appearance, and personality, but for the life of him Harry didn't understand what she wanted, or why she seemed oddly familiar.

"Uh, hi"

She waited for a few moments, before coming to some sort of conclusion, "You were not informed about me, were you?"

Nothing came to his mind, either from his parents, professors, or sisters, and so he shook his head.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, "My name is Marie Rosier, I am Sirius' daughter."

The boy's eyes immediately widened in surprise. Sirius was married? More importantly, he had a daughter!? "Nice uhm, to meet you."

Her nod was short and curt, "You as well, I am something akin to a cousin to your sisters, and thus you as well."

Well, now he had a cousin, hopefully one better than Dudley. "Sounds… good."

If his uncertainty and confusion were obvious then she made no reaction to them. Instead giving him another nod before departing, leaving him even more bewildered than before.

***HP:O ***

It was a class he had both been dreading, and excited for. Defense Against the Dark Arts was the subject he had informed Dumbledore that he was best at, and thus was the one he could relax in and not try so hard to fake. Sure, he couldn't start casting high level spells or rattle off strategies, but he could at least act like a normal student during lessons.

That being said, it was also the class taught by a probable sociopath who was the female representation of the man who had not only murdered his parents, but also forced Magical England into at least one war.

So, pros and cons existed.

"This class," Grace Riddle began as she strolled down the center aisle, attention shifting between Gryffindor and Slytherin alike, "will likely be your most focused while here at Hogwarts. Unlike your other subjects which take a broader view of Magic and teach you a variety of Spells and techniques this one is focused on protecting yourself, identifying threats, and combat."

Excited whispers from both Gryffindor and Slytherin equally, emanated from both sides and were ignored by the professor.

"It will test your mental resolve, your strength of will, your cunning, and your intellect. I expect each and every one of you to take this class seriously, as mishaps or inappropriate behavior will have far dire consequences than they would in Charms or History." This earned a few giggles from the students. "Now then, we will begin with a simple spell, the Knock Back Jinx. It is easily performed and even at low strength can produce a noticeable effect. I want you each to begin practicing it, as shown on page twelve of your textbooks."

With that she turned to make her way back to the front of the room.

Nearby, Cleo Malfoy snickered and whispered to the girl seated next to her, "I doubt any of the boys could even pronounce it."

"Five points from Slytherin." Riddle declared, without so much as turning towards the blonde, whose jaw promptly dropped. "As your other instructors have likely already informed you, we do not tolerate such behavior at Hogwarts."

It was surprising enough that Harry caught himself staring as she continued her stride, books already opening around him and a certain blonde brat muttering to herself. He hadn't expected the Head of Slytherin to so easily taken points from her own House, but she had, even when it could have been ignored.

As students began to practice, however, the male Potter's mood dropped. He hadn't tried any Magic since arriving and wasn't sure how well he would do in comparison to the other students.

At least a few were having some success, with Hermione and several others even pushing light objects several inches across their desks.

Harry stared at several of the items before him. A book, his quills and ink, and a bag of school supplies. Deciding to start off with a heavier object, and a normal amount of power, the boy figured it would be a good gauge on what his own capacity would be, then he could up it little by little to the point of being a bit above average for the class.

It might be dull, it might be a bit slow for his own tastes, but at least it would keep too much attention from being focused on him so early in the year.

With that in mind he pointed his Wand and muttered "Flipendo".

***HP:O ***

Grace Riddle held back an audible sigh. It wasn't as if she hated teaching first years, quite the contrary really, she enjoyed seeing the new potential and getting to know them on their journey through school. The problem was that first-year classes were so dreadfully dull. At such a young age most students would struggle with even the basic spells. Sure, there were the occasional ones who showed unusual promise. Hermione Granger, she noted, seemed to have better Magical control than most, but it would still be years until the girl came to her true potential. Years before any of them would begin thinking about creating new spells, about testing their boundaries, about specialized Magic and…

A loud bang interrupted her thoughts and served to silence the roomful of children more efficiently than a threat of weekend detention ever could.

Looking towards the source she found herself staring at a textbook, which had been launched across the room. Tracing the path back the professor found herself, once again, confronted with the current enigma of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter

His Wand was still pointed towards his desk, eyes wide with shock. "Sorry"

Before any of the students could react, she had already made her decision. "Front of the room Mr. Potter." He stood slowly but followed her as she quickly made her way to the destination.

"I didn't mean to…"

Without even pretending to hear him the professor gestured towards a large, unused, table. "Again."

He blinked in confusion, clearly expecting a punishment of some sort, she merely repeated her command.

"Again, on the table this time."

Understanding flickered into his eyes, and although there was still hesitation in his movements, he once more performed the spell. This time it was the, far heavier, table to be flipped through the air, landing with a crash several meters away.

Now awed whispers replaced the silence, and embarrassment turned the boy's face red.

"Thirty points to Slytherin, you may sit back down Mr. Potter."

Although she continued her rounds, which had the students practicing once more, and began giving advice, her focus was on one person and one person only. The amount of power he had shown was extraordinary, but it wasn't just that which drew her excitement. No, it was his control as well. If any other first-year had been that powerful they would have likely just damaged the object in question rather than moving it.

The boy was a natural, the only thing left to be seen was how far this talent went.

***HP:O ***

"Bliss Zabini" the dark-skinned girl spoke as she extended her hand, palm up, and looked expectantly at Harry who merely stared back in confusion, earning a snort from nearby.

"Don't you read the papers Zabini? He wasn't raised in Magical society. He probably wouldn't know what to do even if he were." Malfoy taunted, earning a frown from the Potter.

Another girl in their year rolled her eyes and interrupted, "Don't be like that Cleo. My name is Theresa Nott, and Bliss wants your hand, Harry."

There was a bit of hesitation, even as he reached out and met his fellow Slytherin's palm. Without another moment wasted the witch leaned forward, and kissed the top of his hand, "Wonderful to finally meet your acquaintance, Harry."

Theresa snorted and the former Gryffindor found himself blushing and unsure of how to respond to the gesture.

"You're such a kiss arse Bliss," another voice called from a nearby table, one from a student Harry did recognize, Daphne Greengrass. "Wouldn't give him the time of day until Defense class and now you are practically courting him."

Courting

What in the world was happening? One minute Harry is being ignored, borderline insulted, from his classmates and the next they were talking about dating him?

A far older voice interrupted whatever craziness was about to happen next, "I believe, Miss Zabini, that you have held onto your classmate for quite long enough."

The girl quickly pulled back, clearly a bit frightened at the nonexistent threat that their Head of House now posed. Harry's own attention shifted to her, and the way she stared at him and no one else. If he was honest, it was more than a little unsettling.

"I'm certain that you can all find either homework or studying to do." Those who hadn't already been seated quickly scattered, save for Harry who stood frozen in place. "Mr. Potter." She intoned, before turning and walking away, serving to confuse the boy even further.

***HP:O ***

"It's LeviOsa, not LevioSA" Hermione corrected, earning a frown from the redheaded boy as he tried it again and failed.

But even with her instructions, frustration was beginning to build which only served to worsen his attempts.

A moments later and Flitwick was passing by their desk. "Mister Weasley, why don't you take a short break and get some exercise."

Said boy quickly nodded, before standing and walking out without so much as glancing back towards the girl.

She immediately tried to argue, to justify her actions, "Professor I…"

"Some people just can't do Magic the way others can. There is nothing wrong with how Mister Weasley is learning so please allow him to go at his own pace."

Said Gryffindor bowed her head and nodded in defeat.

Nearby, two sisters whispered to each other conspiratorially, "Are you sure Amy?"

"You were the one who pointed out how Harry watched them. He had to have friends before, why not again?"

***HP:O ***

He was suspicious when he saw her look in his direction throughout Potions class, her attention seemingly on him rather than the professor or textbook, a rarity for the bookworm. It only deepened when she looked ready to approach him when they were dismissed, but instead quickly fled the room, bright red in embarrassment.

A day later and he was finally approached, "Uhm, excuse me, Harry Potter?" The boy looked up and tried to fight back any reaction at the curly-haired copy of his best friend. "My name is Hermione… Granger. Uhm Gryffindor in your year."

He nodded, "We have Potions and Defense together."

This time it is her turn to nod, a bit too ecstatically for it to be just introductions. "Yes, I was hoping to talk to you."

"Okay."

She looked around, her voice dropping a bit, "Perhaps, in private? I mean if you feel comfortable, I'm not going to do anything inappropriate I just think that this is something sensitive and…"

He couldn't help the smile or soft laugh that bubbled up from his chest, "Of course Hermione, lead the way."

It was the library, because of course it was, that the bookworm led them to, and after choosing a table away from any other students her voice dropped down to just above a whisper. "Your sisters, they are in Gryffindor with me."

Harry nodded, urging to her continue but secretly guessing what she was about to say and wondering what the consequences would be.

"They uhm… they mentioned that you, well that you might have uh known me, well another me."

And there it was. The boy-who-lived wasn't exactly surprised that Hermione knew, or that his 'sisters' told her, who would expect two eleven-year-olds to keep a secret, but he would still need to talk to them about it.

The last thing he needed was for some stuck-up Pureblood to tell their parents and then for word to leak out.

Still, he needed to address the situation staring him in the face, "Yeah… yeah I do, did, whatever."

"As in a future, alternate version of me?"

He nodded again, wondering if the bushy-haired witch would believe him or not. It wasn't as if he had a whole lot of evidence or anything like that.

She bit her lip, concentration mixing with curiosity in her eyes, "What do my parents do for a living?"

He blinked, before being overcome with gentle laughter. Trust Hermione to come up with a puzzle to prove who someone else said he was. "Dentists." He replied upon regaining his composure, and noticing she too had a smile on her face as she watched him. "Or at least they were in my world. Of course, in mine I also didn't have sisters so everything could be completely different."

The witch quickly shook her head, "You're right, and I haven't told anyone at Hogwarts so you must have known me."

Memories resurfaced, about how his own Hermione needed to lighten up and laugh a bit more when she had first arrived, about how she needed friends. "You never know," he teased lightly, "I could just be completely fascinated by you and dedicated my time to finding out more."

He had meant it as a joke, but instead earned a bright blush on her face.

Huh, a weird reaction. Then again, he hadn't acted this way towards the witch he knew back when they had first met.

"If you don't mind me asking…" she mumbled, "What… were we?"

That brought him up short as memories poured in before he could stop them. Sitting around a table with Ron and Hermione laughing, all their tests and trials, working together on homework, writing each other during the summer and holiday breaks.

Tears stung his eyes as he quickly wiped them away, "You're my best friend Mione."

He hadn't meant to add her nickname on, but it just slipped out. He missed her. Missed all his friends really, but she had always held a special place in his heart. She seemed to understand him more than Ron did, understood how out of place he felt in Magical society at times, and somehow the burden that had been placed on his shoulders.

When he was able to return his focus on her he noticed the tears forming in her own eyes as well, not as intense but still very present. "Is that what you called her?"

Harry nodded, and she looked ready to reach out to comfort him but pulled back at the last moment.

Seconds ticked by, until she spoke once more, "Were we, anything more than friends?"

That was a question that he hadn't expected, and it had him thinking back across his relationship with the other Granger. "Sometimes I thought we might have been, but I think you were more interested in Ron."

This time it was her turn to blink and process the statement before frowning in confusion. "Ron? As in Ronald Weasley?"

He didn't blame her considering what he knew the boy to be like at such a young age.

"He was more studious? He actually read books and took class seriously?"

It was a mixture of disbelief, curiosity, and hopefulness and he hated to ruin the moment. "I mean… kind of? He was brave and loyal, most of the time. Plus, he just had a way of making things fun and I think you admired that."

"Oh…" her response was soft, gentle, and containing a bit of sadness that Harry couldn't quite explain. "Do you think… maybe… we could be friends in this world too?"

"I'd like that."

***HP:O ***

One of the good things about being from the future was his knowledge of the layout of the castle. This simple fact allowed him to be waiting outside of his sisters' History class the following day. Luckily, Hermione always stayed behind to review her notes before moving on.

Seeing him standing in the hallway, an unhappy expression on his face, must have clued the two Gryffindors in, because his 'twin' seemed to shrink in on herself while Amy too diverted her gaze. "We need to talk," he stated, before leading them elsewhere.

Once they reached an empty corridor her turned on the two, glare narrowing further. "You can't tell people about me."

"But we..."

But Harry was quick to interrupt, "It's dangerous Amy, especially if you don't know how they will react or who they will tell. What happens if someone else overhears you and decides to take more interest in me than we want? That's going to lead them to your parents too."

"Told you..." Harriet muttered, earning her a scoff from the redhead.

"And you also agreed that we needed to do this. Harry, we saw how you looked at Hermione, like you wanted to talk to her, and you are always alone. We are worried about you."

A sigh escaped the boy's lips, now he felt guilty about berating someone who just wanted to help. "I get that, really, I do, but you need to talk with me first, okay? You don't know what my relationship was with Hermione, it could have brought back memories I wasn't ready to deal with."

"But... you were friends with her right? She seemed so much happier today."

Harry stared at the dark-haired Potter for a moment, trying to ensure she was telling the truth, before nodding in 'defeat'. "Yeah, we were and I'm glad we are again just... please talk to me next time, okay?" His plead seemed to reach the two sisters, who promptly agreed with his request. "Now, what's this about our 'cousin' Marie Rosier?"

Confusion was evident in their eyes, before Harriet's widened in realization. "Oh shoot we forgot to tell you about her."

"Seems that way."

The guilt was back as she bit her lip, a gesture he always found a bit too endearing. "Marie is our godfather's daughter. Since he was around so much, we just always thought of her as an older cousin, almost a sibling."

"But she's a bit uptight." Amy noted with a bit of disappointment. "Like her mom or aunts. She's nice though."

Harry nodded, it was weird to think of anyone being sorted into Slytherin as 'friends or family' but as long as she wasn't sexist or an arse he didn't have any problem, especially if his sisters vouched for her.

***HP:O ***

Homework felt a lot easier than his first time around, and at first this had been a bit exciting for the boy-who-lived, until he realized that his few friends either had to spend the normal amount of time on it, or he had yet to contact them and make any meaningful connection. It was because of this downtime, when he had finished his own work in less than an hour, that he found himself wandering around Hogwarts.

He was near the stairs between the second and third corridors, and it was here that a stray thought made its way into his mind, one that he hesitated to follow up on for fear of what he might find.

The third-floor corridor, right-hand side.

He remembered all too well Dumbledore's warning from his own world, but there had been none this time around. Did that mean there was no threat? If he journeyed there, would he be looking for evidence of evil, for evidence of Voldemort, when there was none?

Still, it was like a splinter in his mind, something he could not ignore without consequence and thus he began walking.

He would find out one way or another, right after he finished his Charms essay. It was due soon, after all, and if he didn't start working on it right away, he might need to stay up late and…

Harry stopped and frowned. Why was he thinking about something so unimportant? Turning around he realized he was now nearing the fourth-floor corridor, which had not been his initial destination.

It was then that he realized it, someone had set a protective Charm, or Ward, to prevent anyone from stumbling accidentally, or intentionally, onto that area of the castle. If he wasn't sure before, he was positive in his theory now.

The Philosopher Stone was in Hogwarts, why else would there be such protections in place.

***HP:O ***

A/N: I am once again taking Astronomy out of the core classes. Not only does it seem like a useless addition for standard magical learning but with its removal I am left with six classes students must take on a continuous basis: Defense, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and History. This makes it a tad easier for me to pair up the Houses so they equally share classes with another House.

Also, not saying this universe's Dumbledore is smarter than the one Harry knew but would it really have been so difficult to put magical protection on a door or hallway?

Previous Name *************New Name

Tom Riddle*****************Grace Riddle

Albus Dumbledore***********Augustina Dumbledore

Draco Malfoy***************Cleopatra (Cleo) Malfoy

-*************************Harriet Potter

-*************************Amaryllis (Amy) Potter

-*************************Pandora Malfoy

Blaise Zabini****************Bliss Zabini

Theodore Nott**************Theresa Nott

Severus Snape**************Serena Snape

-*************************Marie Rosier