Harry Potter: Otherworld
Holidays
***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 ***
"I thought we had an agreement." Lily stated, eyes so focused that it was as if she were trying to burn a hole into the woman seated across from her. "The agreement was that you would keep a certain professor on a short leash and a I, in turn, would not make said professor's life a living hell with as much fury and wrath as you know that I am capable of."
Said Headmistress sighed, knowing full well what the woman was referring to. She had warned the woman after all, before the school year started and again the evening after the Sorting. "Lily..."
"And yet" the woman interrupted, "I have received letter after letter from my daughters about her actions during class, about how she targets them and now I have been told she has been paying quite a lot of attention to Harry."
"I understand your concerns, Lily."
The younger woman snapped back, "Do you Headmistress? I know what Hogwarts has ignored in the past, what behavior that you and the other staff have ignored in favor of keeping the school board and Wizengamot quiet. It appears you either don't understand what my concerns are, or you just don't care."
"I understand and have spoken to Professor Snape, and I assure you that I will be doing so again."
"We aren't going to push for her dismissal Dumbledore," James finally chimed in, "even if it might be called for, but if this behavior continues, we will be at the very least finding a private tutor for all three and putting it on the record as to why."
Augustina nodded, knowing full well what such a move would do to the potion expert's career. "It goes without saying Headmistress, if she tries anything physically inappropriate with any of them, her career will be the least of her concerns."
Tension still filled the air even as the elderly woman steepled her fingers on the desk, "With that said, I do believe we have another issue to discuss, one concerning Harry and his Head of House."
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter felt completely alone. Standing in the Great Hall, watching as parents happily doted on their children, talking excitedly about their classes, about meeting new people, about favorite professors.
In this sea of bodies and voices he was like an island, isolated from everything and everyone. He had felt this way before, but for some reason this felt worse than he could remember. He longed for his old friends, to see Hermione sitting in a corner curled up with a book, to have Ron happily chattering away about Quidditch or Chess. To just have others who knew him and wanted to be there with him, who understood what he was going through.
Maybe it was just the day, he always hated Halloween, but now there was no memory of what happened. None of the staff would be taking it just a bit easier on him, none of his friends would be asking how he was feeling or anything else.
It was both a relief and painful at the same time.
"Harry?"
Someone had called his voice from nearby, and he turned to see his two 'sisters' standing with Lily and James Potter.
They weren't his family though, hadn't raised him, barely knew him just as he barely knew them. What he knew of his own parents didn't apply here, the photo album Hagrid had gifted him in his own first year would give him no answers in this place.
Did this James play Quidditch? Was he friends with Remus? Was Sirius the same person or completely different?
Someone touched his hand, someone he didn't know, didn't recognize. Memories resurfaced of the Dursley's, of Voldemort's skin causing his scar to burn like fire, of all the unfamiliar, unwelcome, contact and all the lack of anything remotely caring or loving until he was at Hogwarts itself. He reeled back, eyes wide and hand twitching, wanting to go for his Wand just as his feet wanted him to flee.
His action caused a similar reaction from his dark-haired twin, concern so evident in her eyes it was almost painful. He took a breath, what felt like the first one in days. "Sorry, sorry just a bit lost in my own head."
It did nothing to appease his new family, but for the time being they held back pressing any further.
***HP:O ***
"James"
The man turned back towards him and took a few steps away from Lily and their daughters to give the boy some privacy. "Yeah?"
"Could I... ask you about something?"
He nodded, "Sure Harry, of course you can."
"What... what happened between you two and Snape?"
James Potter glanced back towards his wife, ensuring she was thoroughly occupied, before letting out a sigh and gesturing over to a pair of empty spots on a nearby bench. "Snape and your mom... er and Lily, well they have a very complicated relationship."
"I kind of figured that out from my own world, but it's obviously not the same."
"No, no I imagine it isn't. You've seen how men are treated differently right?"
Harry nodded slowly, "Like we aren't good enough."
"Yeah, well there is more to it than that. It isn't just school and the government it's also... well our culture it just sort of, objectifies us."
"Objectifies?"
He sighed, "Yeah, like how Dumbledore talked about how it was almost expected in certain circles that we would have put you up for adoption at birth? Well in certain families, especially the wealthier, older ones, it isn't uncommon to treat men as if they are property that can be handled any way they want. Although Snape isn't exactly from that type of family, as Lily will tell you, she was sorted into Slytherin, and that environment passes on certain ideas that fester in a person's mind."
"So, she said something to you instead of Lily? Something bad?"
The man rubbed wearily at his face, going so far as to take off his glasses before doing so. Suddenly Harry felt like he was intruding, picking at wounds that had never fully healed. How often had others done this to him even after he wished they would just mind their own business. "Sorry, I didn't... I didn't mean to pry. Forget I asked, it isn't any of my business."
"No, no you should know. We can't just keep telling you to be careful around someone and not warn you about what could happen. We should have told you earlier in fact, and I'm sorry we didn't. It was during our seventh year, near the end of it in fact. Everyone was studying for their N.E. . I don't know if you ever saw someone in those weeks, but it isn't pretty. Lots of stress, tempers running high, emotions on the edge of a knife... it isn't a fun time."
Harry smiled slightly at the man's joke, waiting for him to continue the story.
"Like I said, everyone was stressed. Lily and Snape hadn't exactly been close friends for some time, House rivalries and all that, while Lily and I had begun seeing each other. We had even talked about getting an apartment together after graduation. It was in the early afternoon, just after one of their tests when I ran into Snape." He stared into out into the Great Hall, past the other students and adults, past the walls and tables, stared back into the past. "I think she had done poorly on an exam, or maybe just not as well as she had wanted. I could see the anger in her eyes, the built-up stress, the anxiety. At that moment she looked at me like I wasn't a person, but instead just an object, an item for her to use. She drew her Wand on me, and I was disarmed before I could even think. The hallway had been empty, and she pushed me into a nearby room, started pulling my clothes off to..."
James trailed off, and the boy's eyes widened in shock and horror. Snape had...
"I fought back but without my Wand, well it didn't work. I was almost stripped when the door opened, Lily was just, standing there, confused and I was so worried, worried she would think that I had betrayed her." The man shook his head, "Instead she just became so angry, blasting Snape across the room before I had even seen her draw a Wand. I tried to explain but she just threw her cloak around me and helped me to the Hospital Ward. I tried to explain but I think she knew."
"What happened? To Snape I mean? Surely you told Dumbledore, or at least McGonagall."
Sighing, the man shook his head, "I didn't want to, I knew what the result would be, and I was already embarrassed that it didn't make any sense to me to try. Lily though, she told them both and Pomfrey, not that it did any good. Dumbledore assured us that it was likely just a misunderstanding, that everyone was stressed, and we should just stay away from her for the remainder of the year. McGonagall followed along like always. I think that was what shattered Lily's remaining faith in the woman. Far as I know there were never any consequences, well at least officially."
Harry stared wide eyed, trying to figure out just what was wrong with the world that would allow such a thing to happen to anyone.
"I wasn't there when it happened, but I guess Snape did try to apologize to Lily. All I know was that it wasn't accepted and ended with Snape being threatened. Its why we told the girls to always be careful around her, and why we want you to be especially careful."
Thinking back over the past months, the boy tried to find a situation in which the woman had acted in such a way towards him. Sure, there had been a few times where she stood a bit closer than normal, but that was also based on his own memories of Snape treating him like a leper.
"I'll be careful," Harry promised, though he was still more concerned with another individual.
***HP:O ***
"Harry, wanna come meet my family?"
The former boy-who-lived nodded enthusiastically. He certainly wasn't going to miss a chance to meet what had become almost an adopted family when he had first attended Hogwarts. Walking over, followed closely by the other Potters, he ran into a familiar, and yet very different mob of redheads.
Molly and Arthur appeared the same as always, but other than them it was all girls. "This is my oldest sister, Billie, then Charlene. They both graduated already. Then there is Paisley, she's a prefect. These two are the 'twins' Freddie and Georgie, and that's my younger sister, Ginny."
Harry smiled, doing his best to keep the new names tied to the faces. "Hi, my name's Harry Potter, I'm in the same year as Ron."
"Nice to meet you, Harry." the oldest man replied with a smile, "I'm Ron's dad, Arthur and this is his mother, Molly."
Said woman immediately stepped forward and pulled the boy into a very familiar hug, earning an awkward cough from behind him where his own 'parents' stood. "Molly, Arthur." the redheaded woman greeted, earning a lack of response from the two adults. If the, still being hugged, boy wasn't mistaken there was also glares being directed at the two Potters.
He was confused at first, but then realization practically smacked him in the face. The Weasley's had always been a family-oriented group. To abandon one's child would probably be the worst possible action possible in their eyes. Not for the first time did he question Dumbledore's choice in explaining his presence.
"It's nice to meet you all. Ron said he had a really big family." His own comment served to interrupt the tension and redirect the attention onto himself.
"Are you in Gryffindor with Ron?" the matron inquired, earning an awkward shift in posture from the boy that she finally stepped back from.
Before he could answer, however, Paisley did for him. "He's in Slytherin, his sisters are in Gryffindor though."
"Very nice answer Harry." The eldest daughter teased. This was quickly followed by Charlene.
"Glad to see you are taking your position so seriously Paisley. Like a mother guarding her nest."
The comment earned synchronized snorts from the twins, "Trust Charlene"
"To make everything about dragons."
"We still think she might have been adopted."
"Found at a zoo."
"Or a dragon nest more likely."
There was a mischievous gleam in the eyes of the two girls that Harry remembered all too well from his own encounters with them. It was both comforting, and a bit worrisome at the same time. It was then that he realized the very youngest was still hiding behind her father's legs, occasionally peeking out from behind them. Harry gave his warmest smile and waved at her, earning a bit of a startled yelp as she ducked back. The older man chuckled, "It's okay Ginny you can come out if you want." Upon seeing that she did not appear to do so the man shook his head "She's just a bit shy is all."
The raven-haired boy remembered his own Ginny being like that at first and made a silent promise to try and include her as much as possible in the following year.
His own parents stepped forward towards the Weasley's, clearly intent on having some sort of conversation, but Arthur and Molly immediately excused themselves, ignoring the other two adults and moving their children off with them. It caused the boy's stomach to drop a bit, what if his own presence caused a rift to develop between the two families? What if...
"It's not your fault." A man's voice interrupted his thoughts, drawing the boy's attention towards his father standing next to him. "It will work its way out, I promise. The Weasleys have always been very forgiving, and I can't imagine them holding a grudge against us, especially with how close you are to their son."
"If you hadn't... if we had made up something different..."
James shrugged, "I doubt it anything we claimed would have changed the situation. There's only so many excuses we could come up with that people would understand Harry, this was the best option."
***HP:O ***
After the confrontation with the Weasleys, the group had mostly avoided the other families. Harry did notice some of the others, even if they kept their distance.
Malfoy was practically preening at the attention of her 'superior' parents. Nearby her older sister spoke to them cordially, but without much interest.
Hermione's were looking around in amazement.
A few of his other Slytherin classmates' mothers, and occasionally fathers, were stuck between disdain and fond remembrance.
Most importantly he caught a glimpse of Neville with two adults looking close to the age of his own parents. That meant they were still healthy, still sane, and it brought a smile to the raven-haired boy's face.
***HP:O ***
Near the end of the night Harry recalled yet another question he had for the older individuals. "James, did you play Quidditch at Hogwarts?"
The man blinked, before smiling down at the boy-who-lived, "Not as part of a team or anything official, but Sirius and I did go flying around the pitch when we could. I do miss those days."
His slight shift brought the man from his memories and earned a curious look from his wife. "Is something wrong Harry?"
"No, no I just… was curious why boys aren't allowed to play."
James and Lily shared a glance, before the woman gave him a slight nudge to answer, "Well it's… a bit complicated really. Nothing stops us from the sport, at least not anymore."
"Anymore?"
This time the redhead answered, "Wizards used to be banned from participating entirely, but that was before we attended Hogwarts. Things have changed since then but some of the old biases still exist. Many of the older families, and even some of the others, insist upon maintaining that control over their sons, to ensure they aren't hurt or 'exposed to time wasting activities' as I've heard it called in newspaper articles."
Her husband huffed, clearly upset at the 'glorious sport' being referred to in such a negative way. Regardless, the woman continued. "But apart from the permissions slips nothing else really prevents you from joining the team… well except for tryouts."
"And the locker room situation." The man muttered, shifting Harry's attention.
"What situation?"
The man flushed slightly at being overheard but cleared his voice and replied regardless. "Wizards rarely participate, even those that convince their parents and Head of House are usually not selected for one reason or another. Because of this the school never built separate locker rooms for boys and girls, there was never any reason to spend the money or use the space required…"
Harry stared for a moment before he realized exactly what was being said. "O-oh…"
"Yeah… not a very good way of encouraging participation huh? I heard there were a few over the years that still played. They ended up having to change in their dorms instead of with their teams for obvious reasons."
There was no response, and in Harry's mind it merely confirmed his decision to stay away from the activity.
***HP:O ***
November passed much as the previous month had. Classes continued in normal ways and Harry continued building not just his knowledge and skill but also the relationships he had begun to cultivate. Every Quidditch game that Gryffindor was a part of had the boy, Amaryllis, and Ron sitting in the stands cheering or critiquing depending on what was happening.
Other times he would be sitting in the library, most often with Harriet and Hermione, going over notes, books, and texts. For the first time he felt useful in that area, that he could keep up with what would have been two vastly more intelligent individuals. When he would joke about this, they would scold him, telling him that even when they caught up with his year at Hogwarts, he would be welcomed with them, that one didn't need to memorize books and get perfect grades in every class to be valuable.
Even the Slytherins had, for the most part, come to accept his presence and occasionally even ask for bits of advice. The older students, naturally, still ignored him or even whispered behind his back but it was becoming more and more rare as the days turned into weeks.
Despite this he could still feel his movements being watched, even if he often did not see his observer. Was it Riddle or someone else? He knew the woman was guilty of paying him far more attention than necessary, her focus on him during class was an obvious example, but there were also times in which he swore someone else was studying him, examining him at times when no one else would be.
It was disconcerting, especially for a boy who had been through enough in his life that being stalked often led to life-or-death situations.
***HP:O ***
It was an unasked question, one he had never truly thought about, aside from a few secret thoughts and prayers. This wasn't something that mattered to him, wasn't something he could have ever received even if his wishes were granted.
So, it didn't matter. If he was given something, wonderful, if not then it was no different than the decade spent at the Dursleys. Still, it appeared as though an answer was desired, and so he shrugged his shoulders in response.
"I don't know, nothing really."
His two 'sisters' stared back in silence. Apparently, he had given the wrong answer. For some reason anger burned in his veins. What did they want from him? Why couldn't they understand that he wasn't normal that he didn't have a family growing up, didn't have relatives who cared about him? Why couldn't they just take a bloody hint and stop prying when it was obvious that he didn't want them to?
"Have you… ever been given a Christmas gift?"
His eyes narrowed at his 'twin'. "Yes Harriet, I did have friends and a godfather remember?" She flinched back but he wasn't going to apologize this time, not this time.
The redhead shifted a bit, clearly uncomfortable but choosing to respond anyway, "We just, want you to have a good Christmas Harry, that's all. We know you don't like to talk about it but Harriet and me, mom and dad too, we know you aren't really happy in Slytherin."
A sigh escaped his lips as his hand was dragged over his face. Despite his thoughts, he was going to end up feel bad for snapping at them. "I know, I just… never really asked for anything for the holidays. My friends, and later Sirius, would get me things but it wasn't important to me."
Still, he made a promise to think about it in the meantime.
***HP:O ***
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, perhaps a bit too quickly and was quick to explain, "It's not that I don't want to I just… can't yet. I spent every holiday break at Hogwarts, it is… was my home more than the house I grew up in ever was. I just need some time still to get things figured out."
Harriet and Amaryllis both frowned, and he didn't blame them in the least bit. How does one explain the fact that they didn't want to spend a week with who their family should be because they never had one growing up?
"What…" the dark-haired girl hesitated, "do you want us to tell mom and dad?"
That was another issue. How was he supposed to say it in a way that didn't sound like he was angry or avoiding them? Technically, he was avoiding them but not for the reasons they might think. "Just tell them that there are some things I need to make sure about, some problems and issues that I need to see through, or I won't be able to relax anyway. I don't want to ruin anyone's holidays."
The redhead quickly shook her head, "You aren't Harry. I know you think you're intruding but you aren't. We want you there, want you to be part of our family. When we met you it was like…"
She shook her head in frustration and looked to her, more studious, sister for help.
"Like you were always our brother."
It was sweet of them to say, and Harry smiled. He didn't want to say that he knew what she meant, that he had always been aware of it. He had wanted a family more than anything else in the world, the Mirror of Erised proved it, but he still wasn't sure why they wanted him so badly.
The Potters had been happy, why did they even bother with him?
"Guilt" a voice whispered in his mind, one that sounded like a horrible mixture of all those who had ever tormented him in his previous life. "They would feel guilty abandoning you. They don't care about you. They don't love you. Who would ever love a freak like you?"
Harry pushed it back into the depths of his mind, as he always had before, and replied to the comment with a smile. It clearly didn't soothe their worries, but it would have to do for the time being.
***HP:O ***
Some of the staff did leave for the holidays, some stayed to watch over the students that chose to remain behind as well. In Slytherin it was near empty, with only Harry and a few others who remained behind. Those who did were consumed in studies leaving the boy-who-lived to his own devices.
Or he would be if his Head of House had left as well. Instead, Riddle seems to haunt him, and rarely was there a time in which he did not feel a presence watching him, studying him. The one benefit of the situation seemed to be that he knew when she was not there as well, which makes it far easier for him to get tabs on her location.
If someone was going to try and steal the stone, it would make sense for them to do so when the staff was at a minimum.
Christmas passed without incident, and it was much the same as Harry remembered from his own years. A few packages delivered to him with miscellaneous gifts. Candy, new clothes, a book or two.
It hurt more than Harry wanted to admit, that James and Lily Potter knew almost nothing about him, about his interests, about his life. He didn't blame them, of course, how could they after all? The conversations have been brief and few, they didn't know him growing up, couldn't know him growing up.
They were doing the best they could, and he appreciated it.
But it still hurt.
Apart from the gifts labeled from his family there was one that stood apart. A small, wrapped package without a sender's name on it. He was curious, naturally, and slowly unwrapped the box. In his own first year, he had received a gift from Dumbledore, and although he had his doubts it could very well be from the headmistress this time.
Instead, it was a container like what he remembered his aunt occasionally receiving, one that contained something sparkling and valuable. He didn't open it, instead putting it in a drawer and going about his day until he ran into the older woman in question.
When asked, she shook her head, seemingly apologetic that she hadn't bought him something. Harry was quick to dismiss her concern, already knowing who the gift was from.
He didn't so much as look at the box for the rest of the week.
***HP:O ***
One other oddity did occur, but not until Christmas night. Returning to his bedroom, both peacefully and uncomfortably quiet, Harry noticed an envelope resting on his pillow. Glancing about he noticed nothing else seemed disturbed, his school supplies were all untouched along with the handful of gifts. Taking the object from its place he carefully opened it, knowing just how items could be enchanted as either howlers or entirely cursed objects.
Instead, it was just a folded letter, one with pristine handwriting that he failed to recognize.
Harry
Though we have only known each other for a short time I know our souls have become entwined. We are one, in mind and spirit and someday we will be one in body. I can see the real you, the one that all the others are blind to, the one you hide. I alone can see your potential and the beauty deep within.
Each night without you is torture, each day lonelier than the last. I long to speak with you, to hold you, to covet you as mine and mine alone.
We will be together, until then think of me as I think of you.
-Pandora Malfoy
The boy-who-lived stared down at the words, trying to figure out what in the hell was going on, why Cleo's sister was writing him what appeared to be a creepy love note, how she got it into his bedroom, and how many locks to put on his door at night.
***HP:O ***
The rest of his holiday break Harry spent in the library of all places. It was one of the few locations that held no bias against his gender and could provide him some amusement with the rest of his friends absent. Although 'amusement' might have been a bit of a stretch, Harry still found himself passing the hours away with a desk covered in open books, something he imagined Hermione would be rather proud of. He read about Potions, about Charms, about Transfiguration, even about the History of Magic. Most of all, however, he read about those spells that would be used in combat. Defense was supposed to be his best subject after all, and the one taught by his own Head of House. It only made sense to improve his skills in the class.
If this just so happened to better prepare him in case of a confrontation with the woman, well that was just sheer coincidence.
***HP:O ***
"Harry!" The boy turned and smiled as a redhead excitedly ran over to greet him, followed closely by his physical counterpart and a certain bookworm. "How were your holidays?"
"Good, how were yours Amy?"
Her response was a dimmed smile and he forced himself not to take notice and comment. "Good, I guess."
The boy quickly nodded, "That's good, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"
"Everything but one…" Harriet muttered, and once more the male Potter was forced to ignore her tone and the way it twisted in his chest.
Before the conversation could get any more serious a second male voice interrupted as Ron Weasley ran over to them, excitement in his eyes. "Harry, Harry Harry!"
It was a welcomed distraction and said boy quickly turned towards his friend, "Yes Ron? Have a good Christmas?"
The Weasley nodded happily, "Amazing! Mum and dad even said that if I keep my grades up, they will consider getting me a broom next year!"
A snort from nearby was all Harry needed to know exactly what was coming next, and who was about to make said snide comment. "You hear that, Pansy? Weasley thinks he is going to get a broom next year!" The snickering from said girl next to the blonde only seemed to enlarge Malfoy's ego. "Even if your parents could afford it, you'd just fall on your ass the moment you leave the ground. Leave the flying to those who can handle it."
Amaryllis was quick to move towards confrontation, backed up by Harriet and even Hermione. Harry, on the other hand, was able to ignore the taunts and moved towards the other boy. "Hey, don't listen to her. I bet you could fly circles around her any day."
His words had the desired effect, and the other Slytherin was soon forgotten.
***HP:O ***
The school year had been going well, too well, and aside from the occasional snobbish Purebloods or slight mystery, that he had managed to let the adults deal with for once, this new life was wonderful.
It was perfect, too perfect in fact, which could only mean one thing. Something, or someone, had to ruin everything.
Sure enough, it was in the evening, during dinner, that the doors to the Great Hall burst open and an older student ran in, clearly shaken and out of breath.
"T-Troll!" She cried out, "There's a troll in the dungeon!"
***HP:O ***
A/N: Big shift from what happened in canon between Snape and the Potters, I know. The thing is, I can't imagine someone holding a grudge, and warning their children about the person, for that many years over one slip of an insult, especially not Lily.
If the Potters were going to warn their children to be careful of someone, it had to be for a serious issue, not a bad word said to one of them more than a decade prior.
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
Percy Weasley**********Paisley Weasley
Bill Weasley***********Billie Weasley
Charlie Weasley********Charlene Weasley
Fred Weasley**********Frankie Weasley
George Weasley********Georgie Weasley