Harry Potter: Otherworld
Two Types of Parties
***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 ***
Words blurred together into blobs of ink, sentences merely lines on the page. The young witch gave her best attempt to continue with her summer reading, but to no success. Closing the book she stood and made her way out into the hallway, to the room next to her own.
The door wasn't locked, she knew it wouldn't be, and therefore didn't knock.
The figure on the bed didn't move in response to her own entrance, didn't need to ask questions or shift to make space. She settled down onto the furniture without so much as a moment of hesitation, head resting comfortably onto the other's thighs.
Silence surrounded the two sisters, not uncomfortable but rather understanding. The Weasley twins weren't the only siblings who could communicate without speaking so much as a single word, after all.
When enough time had been given to provide a moment of comfort Harriet spoke, "I hate this."
"So do I."
"He shouldn't…"
"No, he should not."
"It isn't fair."
Amy didn't reply to that because there was no reason to. They were of the same mind and despite their differences they often were. "We need to help him."
The raven-haired girl nodded, when they had been told, when Harry had told them it had been akin to a slap to the face. Not from him, because it wasn't his fault, but from their parents.
In their minds the two adults were saying he wasn't good enough for a future, for Hogwarts, for their family. Why did he need such a thing so early on in life when nothing had ever been mentioned for them? Harry was clearly a prodigy, so why wasn't that enough?
He was their brother, no, he was closer than their brother. He was as much a part of them as they were a part of each other. Sure, the 'silent communication' part hadn't quite developed yet but there would be time for such things.
"It's not fair." She reiterated, but this time the meaning was different, and they both knew it. This time it wasn't about the situation. This time it was their lives. It wasn't fair that he was put into Slytherin when they were Gryffindors. It wasn't fair that they hadn't grown up with him. It wasn't fair that they couldn't stay up late talking and sharing secrets, that they didn't know his every feeling and belief, that they hadn't planned out their futures together as the two sisters had so often while growing up.
And now? Now even more of his life was being taken from them, taken from them by Riddle. One thing was certain, they wouldn't let him go without a fight.
***HP:O ***
The sun was high as the trio of students worked to finish their weekly chores. One might have thought that such a thing, yard work, would have brought back horrible memories for a certain boy, one who had been forced to take of such things for an entire home by himself for many years.
Instead, Harry Potter was grinning. It wasn't because of the activities themselves, but rather because of the two girls working nearby. Amy, naturally, was grumbling and complaining under her breath while Harriet was making her opinion known in far more subtle, silent ways.
He understood, having dealt with Ron in a similar mood, but still found the entire thing sort of funny. It was amazing what a small change could do to one's outlook.
"Oh come on" the raven-haired girl finally growled, attempting to pull up a weed and getting nowhere for her efforts. Taking pity on the bookworm Harry made his way over, grabbing a different part and giving her a nod to act in unison.
It worked, just not in the way they intended. The stubborn plant did, in fact, rip out from the ground, but the boy-who-lived ended up falling backwards from the force and ending up in a rather conveniently placed patch of dirt.
Nearby, Amaryllis gasped, Harriet looked on the verge of tears, and Harry? Harry began to giggle, which quickly escalated into full blown laughter.
He couldn't help it. There was no Dark Lord trying to kill him, he had a family who loved him, friends who supported him, and save for the 'Riddle situation' nothing to worry about. He was happy, so very very happy.
Seeing as he wasn't hurt his sisters joined in moments later, clearly unsure as to why but finding his happiness contagious, nonetheless.
Making her way over, Amaryllis reached out to help him up, only for a wicked grin to replace his giggling as he grabbed onto her arm and pulled her forward into the same dirt that he was resting in. The redhead blinked in confusion for a moment, before grabbing a handful of dirt and smearing it onto his face with a laugh.
This was, naturally, met with a retaliatory handful into her hair and before either knew it they were practically covered in filth. Harriet, in the meantime, just sighed, "You know dad is going to have a cow when he sees you two this dirty."
They both stopped before turning to look at the third member of their 'trio'. Devilish grins formed on their faces in unison as they promptly lunged forward and pulled their sister into the dirt with them, earning a yelp of surprise, followed by her own laughter.
It was almost a half-hour later when all three were out of breath, thoroughly saturated in mud and dirt, and breathing heavily that Harry laid back next to them and gazed up at the skies in almost delirious joy.
***HP:O ***
It was during dinner one evening that Harry remembered a question he had long since wondered. "What do you do for a living?"
The two adults turned towards him, blinking in confusion for a moment as he began to blush realizing how weird his question had been. Luckily, their expressions softened moments later. "Well, I work at the ministry doing research on Magical phenomenon. James takes the summers off but does some freelance work during the school year as he mentioned before."
Amy asked a, natural, follow up. "What did they do where you're from?"
It earned her a harsh glare from her mother, who hissed in warning. By then, however, Harry was comfortable enough knowing such things were going to be asked "It's okay, uhm I'm not really sure though. I know they were active in the war so I figure at least one of them might have been an Auror."
The room sank into an awkward silence before the oldest wizard lit up. "I have an idea, why don't you take him to work with you sometime this week Lils? Show him around and such. You took the girls when they were younger after all."
Harry and his mom made eye contact for a moment across the table before she shrugged, "If you would like to, I would be more than happy to get it approved."
He nodded and the plan was set.
***HP:O ***
The ministry seemed different than every other time he had visited. Sure, there were clearly more witches but there was also a feeling of calmness, almost serenity. Maybe it was a spell cast on the building, maybe it was just the lack of conflict and old hatreds threatening to rear their ugly heads. Regardless Harry was enjoying the tour led by his mother.
"And this is where I work." She proclaimed, pride and a hint of worry in her voice, as if he would be disappointed that she had a cubicle and not an office.
Instead, he looked around in interest at the various objects and pictures. "It's really nice." His compliment seemed to alleviate some of her fears and after another few minutes they continued. Ten minutes later and Lily asked him to wait nearby while she had a quick conversation with one of her coworkers.
It was here, in what he understood to be a department dealing with employment, that he overheard a nearby argument.
"That is absolutely unacceptable!"
"Apologies Lady Lockhart but every position you have applied for is currently taken."
Images came to the boy's mind of how ridiculous 'Gilderoy' had been in his own second year and curiosity quickly got the better of him as he peeked around the corner. Sure enough, there was a woman arguing with a nearby employee, a woman dressed in extravagant robes with 'perfect hair'.
With Riddle teaching Defense Harry wondered if that meant he wouldn't have to deal with the fraud at all.
"There are only two positions currently open at Hogwarts. One for Groundskeeper and the other 'Professor of Magical Creatures'."
From his angle Harry could just make out the scowl on the applicant's face. Clearly neither of those were 'prestigious' enough for her. The clearly younger and unemployed of the two women threw her hands up into the air in outrage. "This is ridiculous, I will not waste my time with…"
That was, apparently, when she noticed him eavesdropping. The anger was gone from her features in a moment, replaced with that almost sickeningly fake charm he remembered oh so well.
"Well well it seems we have a guest. And you are?"
But Harry wasn't a child like their first encounter, wasn't surrounded by other people and confused as to what was going on. "On a visit with my mother."
"Is that so? She works at the Ministry then hm? But where are my manners? My name is Gordana Lockhart. Do you by chance go to Hogwarts?"
Oh no, he wasn't falling for that one, and made no move to answer one way or another. Naturally, that was when said redhead chose to finish her business. "Harry? There you are, is everything okay?"
Lockhart's eyes flickered between them for a moment, smile widening if possible. "Harry? You must be the one that all the papers were talking about then. Abandoned at birth, reintroduced to society as a prodigy, even going so far as to aid in the capture of a criminal."
Two hands went to his shoulders, giving him a slight pull back towards his mother, "Come along Harry, we are just about finished then we can leave."
It was a relief to have someone else put themselves in the middle for once, and the boy-who-lived happily obliged. It was only after they neared their destination that he heard the end of the other woman's conversation.
"On second thought, tell me more about that Professor position at Hogwarts."
Shit
***HP:O ***
The floo roared to life and from those green flames stepped a man that Harry knew from his own life.
"Happy birthday my young goddaughters!" Sirius Black excitedly shouted as his arrival was followed moments later by another woman, seemingly a bit older, and Marie that Harry met the previous year.
He had been ready to run forward and hug the man, when his sisters beat him to it, "Uncle Sirius!" Amy exclaimed in joy, followed closely by his 'twin'. The man laughed happily, kneeling to scoop them both up in a hug.
"Merilyn you two have gotten so big! What in the world are you feeding them?"
The two adult Potters merely smiled from nearby, waiting for their children to go through the greetings first before they would step in. Soon enough, the two moved on towards the other two visitors, "Auntie Sylvie!"
That was a name that Harry certainly didn't recognize. The woman was of average height, with a lovely face that while warm had a reserved smile on it. It reminded the boy all too much of a Slytherin expression and considering that Sirius had likely been told to marry her, didn't surprise him. Still, she hugged his sisters back and seemed kind enough.
"And there's my time traveling godson."
Immediately, James Potter's eyes went wide, "SERIOUSLY!?"
The former Black turned with a grin, "Oh come now Prongs, I'm always Sirius."
"I think what my husband is trying to say is that we gave you one rule Sirius..."
Said man blinked, before turning to look at his family nearby before giving a shrug. "They've known for a while now, what's the big deal?"
James' arms went up into the air with a mixture of annoyance and hysteria. "You weren't supposed to tell anyone!"
Again, his reaction was met with dismissal, only further drawing his ire, "Come on Prongs, you know we don't keep secrets between family."
Surprisingly, the answer calmed the man down, perhaps a bit too quickly Harry noted, "You know what Padfoot? You're right, say Sylvia, did your husband ever tell you about that one crazy time at Hogwarts? The one involving a bit of Firewhisky? It sure is a good story."
Betrayal immediately formed on Sirius' face, "W-we swore to never speak of that!"
"Oh really? Because someone told me that 'we don't keep secrets between family'!"
"Th-that's different!"
"Bullshit is it different!"
As the two men began to argue, their wives ignored them and began their own conversation. "I promise you Lily, despite my husband's lack of tact I have not spoken to anyone else about your son's situation and have pressed upon Marie the importance of doing the same."
The redhead nodded in gratitude, "Thank you, it's been a struggle, maintaining stories, dealing with the rumors, and trying to get used to all the changes."
While the adults conversed, some a bit louder than others, Harry noticed the other three girls walking over to him, the oldest in the lead. "Hello again Harry" she greeted, although the boy noticed she was clearly unsure of how to address him, not that he blamed her.
"Hello Marie, how has your summer been?"
"Relaxing yet productive. I have already started on my classwork for the next year and Mother has stated she intends to purchase me additional materials for my Runes class."
He smiled, it was the type of thing he expected to hear from Hermione, although with considerable less excitement in her voice. Still, he could see a bit of sparkle in her eyes and figured it was as close as he would get to such a reaction. "Sounds exciting, what other elective are you taking?"
"Magical theory and application."
It wasn't something he recalled from his own education, but figured that without the wars maybe they had more staff, or perhaps it was just a random change that stemmed from such a different past. Still, it sounded like something his mother would have taken. "I haven't heard of that class, but I'm sure its interesting."
***HP:O ***
Apparently, it had become a tradition to celebrate all of their birthdays on the same day despite Marie being born in October. The reasoning was that with school in session it was difficult to have the type of celebration that they wanted.
This way all three of the girls were able to open gifts at their own pace and in privacy.
As the group relocated into the living space, where gifts were quickly distributed, Sirius looked rather uncomfortable and apologetic when he handed a single wrapped package over to Harry, while the others had received multiple containers. "Er, sorry... we uh didn't really know what to get you..."
Harry looked down at it before looking back and giving the man a warm smile. "I'm just glad you're here, happy, and healthy."
His godfather returned the smile, before it faltered slightly, "Wait... why did you put 'healthy' in there? Was I not where you come from?"
"Oh, no, no you were fine..."
He trailed off, uncertainty in his tone earning another fidget from the man. "Wait what do you mean by fine? Prongs, what happened to other me?"
The man looked over, glancing between the two and wetting his lips, "Nothing... nothing it's fine Padfoot don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about what? Come on Prongs make him tell me!" As he walked off towards the other man his wife looked over at the boy, who merely smiled and winked, earning a slight chuckle from her as well, perhaps that would be a lesson to the man.
***HP:O ***
While cake was being served Harry Potter found himself approached by his 'aunt'. "Hello Harry, how are you doing?"
He smiled back, "Good, I guess, it's a lot to take in a lot of changes between my world and this one."
She nodded in understanding, "I take it you never knew me where you came from?"
"No, sorry. I didn't spend much time with adults other than professors or the Weasleys though."
"Perfectly understandable. Your mother has hinted that you weren't raised adequately where you came from. I'm sorry that... well the me from your universe wasn't there to make a difference. "
It was an apology, in a roundabout Slytherin way and Harry merely shrugged, "I'm just glad that you make Sirius happy, its been great meeting you and your daughter."
***HP:O ***
"Hey Harry, I heard your mom and dad got you into an apprenticeship with Riddle." The boy had been sitting off to the side, far enough that he wasn't included in the adult conversations and wasn't the center of attention for any of the parents. It had been getting a bit overwhelming for the boy-who-lived hence the slight relocation.
It was then that Sirius had found him, "Yeah, they did." He tried to keep the uncertainty from his voice, though whether he was successful or not he wasn't entirely sure, but the man continued on regardless.
"That's good, you know me and Prongs did the same right? Your dad was the Transfiguration expert, of course, and while I was good enough to stand out my tutor was mostly because of the Black fame and fortune."
Harry nodded slightly, more than a little intrigued and not just learning more about the two men but also hearing how close they were to his situation. "So, your parents paid for them?"
He nodded, "Yep, I already had a marriage contract in the works, but they figured this way it would make me 'more valuable,' whatever that nonsense means. At first, I goofed off a lot during it, pissed off a lot of 'professionals' but eventually your dad smacked me upside the head and suggested I at least try and learn something, and he was right. By the time I graduated I was ahead of where I should have been, and it only added to my natural charms, Isn't that right honey?"
The last part was called out to the entire area and earned a slight turn of his wife's head along with an "Of course dear".
Sirius grinned, lifting some of the discomfort that had been filling the boy since being told of these plans. "I know some of this might be a bit upsetting, what with you being pushed into things and all, but that's kinda what parents do. They have more experience in life than you, they understand what will help you even if you don't like it at first. I mean, no one wants to go to school, study, and do homework, right? But looking back I can tell you it is important, even if it doesn't seem so."
He was at least partially right, although the boy was reluctant to admit it. "I'm just not sure about the person. The apprenticeship itself is fine but her..."
A sigh escaped the man's lips as he nodded in agreement, "I guess you had a bad experience with her in your world?"
"You could say that."
Sirius nodded, "But she isn't the same right? I mean you've had an entire year of classes with her not just as a professor but as your Head of House. Does she seem different?"
She did, he just wasn't sure how deep the changes went. There was still anger in her, deep down, but it was the same for others too, wasn't it? Hadn't Dumbledore been angry when shown his bruises? "I guess so, it's just hard to trust someone knowing who they were."
"I can understand that. Well at least my awesome transcends universes. Did we have a lot of talks like this back where you came from?"
The boy's grin dimmed slightly, "You… were different. Azkaban isn't a nice place and I think there was a lot of guilt, even if none of it was your fault. You were on the run a lot, which meant we couldn't spend as much time together as I wish we could have."
"Well… looks like we will have to make up for that."
The smile returned on Harry's face in full force at the man's words.
***HP:O ***
Several owls arrived throughout the evening with various trinkets and gifts. Some were normal, such as some sweets from Hermione which allowed him to make a mental note to send her something for her own birthday, while others were from those he had never met before.
A gift from Tonks, and her mother, had him quirking an eyebrow, leading to an explanation from James that while they didn't get along with all of Sirius' family, there were certainly parts they were rather close to. Andromeda, and her daughter, were one such example.
It was the same with a package marked from the Longbottoms.
None, however, earned as much of his attention as one that was wrapped in green and silver paper, one which finally had a sender listed, Grace Riddle. Inside were silky dress robes, clearly expensive and of high quality. It was a bit concerning, her buying him a full outfit, but far worse was the card that had been contained within.
An invitation to a 'Slytherin gathering'.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter had been through a lot in his lifetime, well both lifetimes, but the newest challenge might have been one that he couldn't overcome.
Grace Riddle was taking him to a party for the evening.
Correction, Grace Riddle was taking him to a 'high class' Slytherin party for the evening. Which meant he would be spending hours biting his tongue, forcing a smile, and trying not to Hex the stuck-up arseholes into next week.
He had tried to get out of it, tried to think of an excuse, but both his parents had agreed it was a good idea. James had claimed it was important to have experience in those types of situations, especially when one had to be civil despite not wanting to.
Lily had been far less thrilled but had still made the argument that it was likely he would see some of his housemates there, and she did want him to try and make some friends in Slytherin, even if they were complete jerks.
Perhaps more humiliating than any of that was the fact he didn't have any dress clothes… except for the ones recently purchased for him by his 'chaperone'.
"Do you have to call her that?" He nearly whined, earning the roll of James Potter's eyes.
"That's what she is Harry. It's just a title though, don't worry so much."
The boy attempted to cross his arms, but they were given a nudge to return to their place while the man continued to style his hair, adjust his outfit, and even put powder and liner on his face. "It makes me feel like a child, one who has to wear makeup for some reason."
"You are a child Harry, regardless of how old you are mentally, physically you are twelve and even if you were thirty your mother and I would be insisting you have someone to accompany you."
Now a full-on scowl emerged on his features, "Because I'm a boy?"
"Yes" the man replied, matter-of-factly. "But not just because you are a boy. You are our son, you are going to be surrounded by adults far older than you, and you don't have much, if any, experience dealing with these types of people."
Harry let out a huff, "Then why can't one of you go with me instead."
"Because we weren't invited, and even if we were it is important for you to show up independent of your parents. It will help your image and not look like a helpless child that needs to have their mother and father around them at all times."
"Instead, I'm just a helpless child that needs to have a chaperone?"
James shook his head, "No, you are a young boy who is going to an adult party that while he doesn't need to have his mother and father hold his hand, he still needs someone to look out for his best interests. That is one of the things Professor Riddle is here for."
"And the makeup?"
Harry swore his father smirked, "Just wanting you to make a good impression, what's wrong with that?"
He didn't pout, because Harry Potter did not pout, but his response did come out a bit grumpier than he intended, "Guys didn't wear it in my world."
"Really? They didn't care about looking their best?"
It was a trick question, one he would've expected from a Hermione type, "They did but it never involved girl stuff."
"Girl stuff…"
The boy managed to gesture at the array of creams, powders, and tiny applicators lining the bathroom counter in front of the mirror. "All of this would be girl stuff."
"Well, I guess that means another point for this world, because it isn't really 'girl stuff' or 'boy stuff'. True, boys tend to wear it more often, but it isn't uncommon to see any woman with lipstick or eyeliner on."
Nearly ten minutes later and they had finished. It wasn't what the boy-who-lived had expected. No lipstick, nothing extreme with his eyes or nails, just a bit of coloring to bring out the green of his irises and cover a few blemishes on his skin. His hair, while still a bit messy, had been tamed and looked presentable.
Looking in the mirror had Harry not wanting to move, with how his outfit seemed to fall perfectly on him. Unfortunately, the decision was taken from him when moments later Lily called from the hallway informing them that Riddle had arrived.
He wasn't sure where the sudden jitters had come from. Why he was suddenly nervous about spending an evening in a stuffy room full of stuck-up pricks with a woman over fifty years older than him? Regardless, he followed his father back into the room where she stood, speaking with his mother in what he would call a 'respectfully distant' manner.
The woman was wearing a black dress, not 'ball room dancing' fancy but still elegant, nonetheless. Her hair wasn't quite up to her usual 'teaching' appearance, though it was still tied up.
"Presenting, Harry Potter for chaperoning to the ball." James Potter joked from his position, shifting the attention in the room and earning him the scowl of the youngest.
Lily immediately gushed at his appearance, moving forward, and examining him for a few moments while making some last-minute adjustments. His 'date' on the other hand merely watched with a small smile.
Seconds later and his two sisters entered the room, clearly drawn by the conversations. "Harry?" Amaryllis inquired, taking a step forward before halting at the warning in her mother's eyes, "You uh, you look good-nice, you look good and nice."
Harriet merely nodded in agreement.
"Unfortunately, we need to be going else we will be more than just a little late." The oldest woman's voice brought them all back to the situation at hand, and with a gentle nudge Harry walked forward to where she stood. They stepped into the floo a moment later.
***HP:O ***
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
Remus Lupin***************Remi Lupin
-************************Sylvie Rosier
Gilderoy Lockhart***********Gordana Lockhart