Harry Potter: Otherworld
Traditional Tolerance
***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 room reminded him of something from an old black-and-white movie he had once caught glimpses of while cleaning up at the Dursleys'. Large portraits hung on the walls displaying images of ancestors long gone. Furniture lay about, positioned in either circles around strategically placed tables, by fireplaces, or across from others to ensure privacy in conversation.
The air had a thin veil of smoke, a byproduct of the occasionally burning candle, a few pipes, and the fireplace itself.
As for the individuals themselves, if Magical society was different than that of Muggles it was no clearer than here. Outfits that looked as though they belonged in medieval times covered the bodies of the rich and powerful. Hushed, though unhurried, conversations about wealth and politics emanated from every direction, and a glance from any single person could mean a hundred different things.
Harry Potter felt incredibly out of place and fought the urge to simply back out of the doorway and find somewhere else to be. Still, Riddle was next to him, and fingertips brushed against his shoulder, urging him forward.
'Making rounds' as he had been told prior to entering. Grace had explained it as an older tradition, especially when being introduced for the first time. Others would want to meet him, speak with him, and in doing so he would make a good impression.
The fact that some of those in the room had a child, or children, at Hogwarts was only further incentive to 'play nice'. Barely had they made it to the first grouping when his hand twitched with the desire to go for his Wand. If the woman at his side noticed, she didn't comment.
Bellatrix Lestrange, or Black as he reminded himself, stood with several others, chatting amicably about something or another. It was fine, until she glanced in their direction spying Riddle first and then lingering on him.
She looked different than when he had seen her last. Calmer, cleaner, perhaps even more sane. "Riddle," she greeted, "Fashionably late I see."
Grace gave a small smile in return, though gave no indication of humor or anger otherwise.
"And she brings a guest I see, the Potter boy if I were to guess." That comment hadn't been from the first woman, instead one standing next to her, one he didn't recognize.
This time his professor did reply, "I have been allowed to escort him, yes."
"I wonder how much they paid for that privilege." Another joked, earning some faint, and ugly, laughter from those nearby. Harry gritted his teeth to keep from saying something he really shouldn't, while Grace merely smiled once more.
"Hardly the case, I always strive to nurture talent as I'm sure you are aware Lestrange."
Harry did recognize that name, and clearly there was something in her comment based upon the scowl that formed on the woman's face in response.
"You were sorted into Slytherin weren't you? I thought I had heard that, but my daughter failed to mention your presence." Bellatrix interrupted, drawing the attention back onto herself in typical Slytherin fashion.
When his 'escort' didn't immediately respond Harry shrugged, uncaring of how Muggle the act might be. "We've spoken a few times, weird that she didn't remember."
"Hopefully her forgetfulness does not extend through the summer and into her studies." Grace casually noted, earning the slight twitch of Bellatrix's eye. "As lovely as this has been though we have others to greet."
As they turned Harry let out a sigh of relief, only to observe at least five other 'groups' that still awaited them.
It was going to be a long night.
***HP:O ***
No
No, nope, nadda, wasn't going to happen, no chance in hell. There was literally zero chance of the boy-who-lived continuing with their 'scheduled socializing' especially since he had spotted a group of familiar blondes in the far corner.
And Riddle couldn't pay him enough to deal with the Malfoy's, their arsehole youngest, and the creepy older daughter. Thus, he snuck out while she was busy with another individual. The hallway was, thankfully, devoid of occupants. Down the first he went, before glancing about and choosing another at random. Each turn had him walking just a bit faster, each connecting passageway in the seemingly endless maze that was the mansion.
It had been degrading, listening to them talk about him as if he weren't there, as if he wasn't good enough to be in the same room as them, as if he were someone's property, and to deal with that family would have been too much.
Oh, how hard he had fought, to not scream in their faces, to not push back, to not start throwing around spells and show them all what he thought about them and their opinions. Because he couldn't, just like how he wasn't able to blast Malfoy into next week every time he heard the blonde prat say something insulting, just as he couldn't take out half the school during his fourth year.
It was even more important now because some of them might be his parents' coworkers or supervisors. If it was just him, he might have told them where to shove their opinions, as far up their stuck-up arseholes as they could manage, but for his parents, for his sisters?
He could swallow his pride for them.
"Mr. Potter"
For a split-second Harry didn't recognize the voice, then he did and wanted nothing more than to keep walking and pretend like he didn't hear the woman. Instead, he turned and forced his best 'politely hating you and everyone at this party' smile. "Professor."
Serena Snape seemed to emerge from the shadows of the nearby doorway, patented disapproving expression ever present on her face. He had been so close too, so close to getting outside and 'being lost' for the remainder of the evening to avoid any further 'social obligations'.
"I was not expecting you here."
"Well, you know me professor, always showing up where I don't belong."
Her lips moved slightly, the only indication of a frown that he was going to receive apparently. "Quite, though I cannot imagine your... parents being present. It does raise the question of how you managed to simply 'show up'."
If it had been his own version of the potion's professor Harry would have been sure the comment concerning his parents was some sort of insult. With this new one he was only half sure. "I am attending with someone else."
Now the frown was obvious, earning one from him as well. What did she care if he was at a party for Slytherins with someone other than his parents?
She looked ready to say something else when another voice interrupted, "Ah Harry, there you are, seems you slipped away from me." Into the hall stepped Grace Riddle, pausing only for a moment to notice the other adult in attendance. "Snape." She greeted, voice losing any hint of fondness.
"Riddle" Snape replied with much the same tone if a bit colder.
"I see you've met my companion for the evening."
Harry was about to interrupt with the fact they were not companions when Snape beat him to it. "How disappointing. I would have thought the Potters to be better judges of character and not allow their son to be in attendance with someone such as yourself."
Grace barely paid the insult any attention, instead taking a moment to examine her fingernails. "Strange, since I was seen as the best option to take on the role of mentor for young Harry here for the foreseeable future."
This comment earned a full-on sneer, accompanied by what Harry almost would have classified as Parseltongue. Harry stepped forward, though to say what he wasn't sure, when a hand fell onto his shoulder from the oldest present.
"Don't mind her Harry, I am sure Snape is just upset that she wasn't even considered for such an honor."
"If his parents are mindless enough to think you are a role model then it only shows how desperate they are for Defense training."
This time Harry's temper gave him the push to speak first. "Even if I had been skilled in Potions, Professor, my parents would not have trusted me with a rapist." His words caused the woman to flinch back for more efficiently than anything Riddle had said. "Yes, they told me all about what happened, about what you did, what you tried to do. Where I come from, I had felt pity towards you. You had been picked on, bullied, and said something awful in the heat of the moment. Here though? Here you're just a villain."
He shook off the hand that had been resting on him and proceeded towards the outdoors, intent on finding somewhere secluded and quiet to spend the rest of his evening.
Serena stared at him as he left, looking as if she were prepared to go after him when Grace cleared her throat. "In case you couldn't tell, he doesn't want to speak with you. I would be remiss if I didn't warn you from seeking him out in private."
Turning, the two professors stared each other down until a small, almost vicious, smile curled up onto the Head of Slytherin's lips. Snape replied with a silent sneer.
***HP:O ***
"What are you doing here?"
Harry wanted to scream in the bitch's face, but just managed not to do so. "Trying to get away from people like you."
Why could he just catch a break? Why couldn't the property have just been empty? Instead, he was stuck looking at the ugly sneer on the face of yet another of his classmates. "You think you're so great, don't you? Walking around like you are just the greatest thing since the creation of Wands. All the professors love you. All the staff loves you, but you know what? We don't. You don't fit in here, not in Slytherin, and not at a place like this. You don't belong with the rich and powerful."
The boy-who-lived stared back at Delphini for a few moments, before snorting, "You know what? You're right, I don't but I'm glad that I don't. I have a family who treats me as more than just an heir to continue a name, I have friends who like me for who I am, not because of my last name or my family's money. As for the professors, well I guess it just proves I'm better than you, doesn't it?"
She went for her Wand, and it would have been impressive, maybe even intimidating, if Harry hadn't dealt with people like her before, if he hadn't stared down a Dark Lord more terrifying then she could ever dream of being.
Delphini Black drew her weapon with the grace of a trained heiress, with one taught formalities and customs.
Harry, on the other hand, drew his with skills he had developed over the course of several years. He drew his with the speed of necessity, of the experience that one developed when facing an enemy intent on murder.
His movement was faster, more practical, and the result was obvious when she took a step back, surprise in her eyes.
"What do we have here?"
The girl turned to face the newcomer, Harry did not. He recognized the voice, and if he hadn't it would result in him shifting around, to put them both on the same side and within sight.
The boy knew better than to take his eyes off a threat.
"Professor! We were just…"
But Riddle didn't seem to have any interest in the other girl's excuses, "Leave, now."
Delphini ran back towards the mansion as if a pair of hounds were hot on her heels.
Meanwhile, Grace crossed her arms and gave him a stare to which Harry returned. "What?"
"Seems I can't have you leaving my side even for a minute without you getting into trouble."
Harry returned his Wand to its resting place, trying his best not to pout, as he muttered a sulky, "She started it…"
A smile curled onto her lips, "I have no doubt, it isn't as though you try and put yourself into hazardous situations after all."
"Maybe if the so-called adults actually did their jobs and didn't just ignore the dangers I wouldn't have to." He snapped back, earning a slight wince from the woman.
"Fair enough. So, how are you enjoying the festivities?"
His jaw practically dropped, "Are you kidding me!? Oh yes, I love hanging out with rich arseholes who spent the better part of the evening demeaning me and treating me as though I were a slab of meat to be weighed and judged for my value in a butcher's shop."
Harry Potter was more than a little surprised when the woman rolled her eyes at his statement, an incredibly Muggle gesture that he was quite sure Voldemort would have gagged at. "Please, it hasn't been that bad."
"Bellatrix literally asked someone what they thought my parents would barter me for!"
The response was a dismissive wave, and although it did anger the boy it also sent a jolt of something else through his body. It was… fun, the banter between the two of them, something he would have never even considered before the evening.
Or maybe it was before the summer? Before Christmas? When had she made that slight incision into the shield he kept up between them?
Despite keeping her at a distance, despite his insistence of her guilt concerning the Philosopher Stone, there was something going on between them. At first, he had brushed it off as enjoying her class, he didn't have great luck with Defense professors after all, but it had evolved into something more.
Was she his favorite teacher? Maybe, but there was clear bias considering she was also his Head of House. Now there was something more, something beyond the professionalism that should have been the end of their connection.
"Why are you doing this?" He had meant it to come out strong and demanding, forceful and powerful. Instead, his words were a whisper in the wind, and there was a vulnerability in his tone that he hated the instant he recognized it.
He didn't want to be weak, especially around her.
For her part, Riddle's eyes immediately went to his own, and as much as he wanted to, he couldn't ignore the softness that appeared within them. Instead, he argued against it. "What are you getting out of this? You must be getting something right? No one ever helps out of the goodness of their heart."
Harry knew it wasn't true, knew he had friends who proved this wrong time and time again, but he had to reject the notion that Grace Riddle would do such a thing.
Because she had to be evil, he needed her to be evil. If she wasn't, if Voldemort didn't exist, if there were no evil plots, no Dark Lords then he wouldn't need to save the day.
Then what would anyone need him for?
Grace took a step towards him, and he took one away from her in response. Another step followed the same pattern, but her legs were longer, and it was awkward for him to retreat while keeping her in sight. The woman had closed the distance between them just as he had backed into one of the gaudy statues that decorated the grounds. She was close, too close, and he swore he could feel her breath ghosting over his skin.
"You fascinate me."
He couldn't help the gasp that escaped his lips. The way she was looking at him, the way she slid even closer to his body, the heat emanating off her own, the emotion in her voice.
No one had ever talked to him like that before, looked at him in such a manner.
"Your strength, your vulnerability, the way you hold yourself back but look as if you are ready to start carving a way through those who taunt you. It's your skill, so incredibly talented but with so much humility." She was nearly pressed up against him and he deep down he was glad it was dark enough other would not see the position they were in. "I want to see how far you will go in this world, to see what you can accomplish with everything stacked against you, to see what you can achieve."
She pulled back, teasing smile that he had never seen on her before covering her face.
"Of course, there is also the game we have going."
"G-game?"
Her smile seemed all-knowing, "Yes, the reason you accepted my offer in the first place. You want to prove I'm guilty, to find some sort of evidence that reveals all my secrets. You think I'm evil and are so frantic to prove it that you will even accept my tutoring just to be closer to me."
Harry stared back, not wanting to confirm anything with either his expressions or his body language. "If you think that's true then why are you doing this?"
"Because it gives me the chance to prove you wrong. It's a game now, you want to convince everyone of your theories, I want to convince you that you're wrong. What is more Slytherin then that?" She turned and began making her way back towards the mansion, "Don't spend the rest of the evening out here though. Who knows what they keep for pets or guards."
***HP:O ***
Harry thought of himself as being very aware of his surroundings, especially in a place where he already felt uncomfortable. At that point in time, he was very uncomfortable to begin with, which was why he nearly jumped when a voice nearly whispered into his ear, "I wasn't expecting to see you here, my darling."
Despite having been in the same room as her a few times the boy-who-lived instantly recognized the owner, and he felt his skin crawl. How had she snuck up behind him? He had been so careful, intent on staying away from her.
So how had she snuck up on him?
Before he could move away her arms wrapped around him from behind, face next to his as she took in a deep breath. Another chill rain down his spine as he realized she was smelling him. "Your aroma is just as I imagined, you must have worn perfume. And this outfit? You wore it just for me, didn't you? You came all this way just to see me, to impress me."
He struggled, but it had no noticeable effect. His Wand wasn't accessible and with three years on him, taking into account his already small stature, she overpowered him physically with ease.
"Hardly," he grunted with disgust, "I was trying to avoid you as much as possible."
"Liar," she nearly sang out voice lacking any spite, before nuzzling into his neck and Harry barely managed to force out a cringe rather than a gag. "Why else would you have accepted an apprenticeship with Professor Riddle if not to impress me?"
His body stilled, eyes widening. "H-how did you…"
"Oh my sweet Harry, you still have so much to learn about the world. Don't worry though, I can teach you everything you'll ever need to know."
She leaned in again, for what reason he wasn't sure, but a voice called out that stopped in just in the nick of time. "Pandora, what are you doing?"
For a moment he wasn't sure if she would let go, but then slowly, almost reluctantly, she did so and he immediately lunged away from her, putting enough distance that he would be out of her reach.
"Just speaking with Harry, mother."
Sure enough, it was Narcissa Malfoy that stood nearby, high and regal as always, glancing between the two of them with no small amount of distaste. Harry promptly glared in return. It wasn't like he wanted her crazy ass daughter that close to him.
"Your presence has been requested by your aunt Bellatrix."
Pandora nodded, "Of course," with that she began to follow her mother, before turning slightly. "I will call on you" the witch whispered in promise, voice having a quality that certainly wasn't one he would ever attribute to a girl, Slytherin, or a Malfoy.
The moment she was gone from sight had Harry looking for a bathroom. It would take him a good five minutes of washing his neck to finally feel clean again.
***HP:O ***
***HP:O ***
Through years of experience avoiding others, along with a healthy amount of luck, Harry managed to avoid any further major conversations or confrontations for the remainder of the evening. The duo departed around the same time as another group, thus avoiding any long goodbyes.
When they stepped through the floo, and into the Potter residence, both of his parents were waiting for them, though clearly trying to be as nonchalant about it as possible.
"Oh, you two are back early…"
James rolled his eyes hard enough for both the newcomers at how obvious the redhead's statement had been. "How was the party?"
The boy shrugged, "Pretty much what I thought it would be like, and several people already knew about the apprenticeship."
"Not surprising, I let the information slip a few times to colleagues and others who might have an impact on your future. Rumors travel fast in our world, and this is what we wanted. Besides, you were already the topic of interest." Grace interjected, smiling at how all the attention switched to her in shock, including from the youngest male.
"I-I was!?"
She nodded, "Very much so, but we expected as much. Rumor has gotten around about your talent in class and with your initial cover story I imagine there was already talks about you even before school started. Men aren't exactly common in the Magical World Harry, especially ones that can make the papers in such a fashion at such a young age."
Lily's eyes narrowed instinctively, "There hasn't been any talk of… proposals I trust."
"Not that I was privy to, but it wouldn't surprise me if such conversations hadn't begun in private."
"Yeah, apparently Sirius' cousin is curious about my 'value'." He thought about mentioning the other 'encounters' during the evening but opted not to, there was already enough tension for one evening.
Harry had meant the statement as a joke, mostly, but the snarl that it earned was a bit of a welcomed surprise considering it originated from his mother. "Well, she can just take her spoiled little brat of a daughter and piss off as far as I'm concerned."
Before the conversation could continue down that path James coughed into his hand, perhaps hiding a laugh, perhaps not. "Not something we need to worry about, at least right now. Thank you again for escorting him Professor."
Grace gave a slight nod of her head, made eye contact with the boy one last time before turning and departing.
***HP:O ***
It was weird the first time she had been in their home. Weird to see her sitting at the kitchen table with his parents having a conversation. It was way worse to answer the door and have her standing outside.
Grace Riddle, his professor, standing at his front doorway looking down at him expectantly. "Have you gone over the books?"
Her question brought his mind back to the present and he nodded slowly. "Uh yeah… a bit."
"Good," the response, and accompanying nod, was short and professional even as she moved past him and into the house. "That will make our task easier. We will start with a quick review of the normal spells then move onto elemental exercises."
From the reading he had already done the boy-who-lived knew what she was referring to. Elemental magic was difficult for several reasons but one of the primary ones was it required a different type of control than normal spellcraft. Exercises had been developed to make this process easier, more natural.
James entered the room, his wife at work, and nodded in greeting. "Professor Riddle, I assume you're here for lessons?"
"I am, I trust the back yard is clear?"
The man didn't have much time to reply as she continued walking through the home and to the back. Instead, he merely gave Harry a slight shrug and an encouraging smile before heading up to ensure his daughters stayed clear of the area for a time.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter felt guilty, he shouldn't, but he did. There was really no reason to, as he kept telling himself, to feel such a thing.
But Harry Potter had a new favorite Defense professor.
Previously said role was filled by Remus and that made it special, a connection to the man he wished he had spent more time with, more time getting to know. Now it was the Female copy of the man who had started a war, butchered countless, and murdered his parents.
So yeah, Harry Potter didn't necessarily have a reason to feel guilty, but he still did.
"Although it typically leans towards the defensive spectrum, not all elemental magic harms or protects. Some of it is falls into utility spells."
The wind picks up around him, and with a deep breath in followed by an exhale he changed the rotation to the opposing direction.
"Each element is different, as different as Charms are from Transfiguration. Each must be respected, failure to do so isn't just foolish, it is dangerous."
He didn't so much as nod, focusing his efforts and attention on what she had instructed. He needed to perform these until the very act of shaping his Magic was as natural as breathing.
"What was their name?"
In an almost trance-like state Harry answered without thought, "Who?"
"The witch from the party, the one who spoke to you."
These words earned a bit of a response, a fluctuation in control, "A lot of them did."
"No," Grace's response was sharp, almost angry. "The one who made you uncomfortable."
His face shifted into a frown despite his eyes remaining closed, unsure as to what the sudden irate tone was for. "Why does it matter?"
Riddle's lip twitched slightly, "It matters because it is my job to look after you. If someone was being inappropriate…"
"They weren't" Okay it was a lie, but it wasn't like Malfoy had kissed him on the mouth without permission or anything. If they were judging others based on 'inappropriate behavior' then the professor was still winning by a landslide.
The defensive way Grace crossed her arms indicated how little she believed his story. "It sure sounds like it was something."
"Well, it wasn't." he finally snapped in response, opening his eyes, and glaring at her.
This act earned the raise of one perfectly manicured eyebrow from the opposing witch. "Next lesson, elemental magic is tied to the wielder's emotional state, maybe even more than other spells are, hence why you just made a hurricane for a few moments."
Looking around the boy blushed at the surroundings. Everything not secured down had been blown haphazardly away. "I…"
"You are upset." She interrupted without pause, "Which only further leans towards my theory. Why won't you talk about it?"
The heat and anger rekindled in an instant, "Why bother? I've seen how wizards are treated here, how little our opinions or comfort is cared about. What does it matter if someone got a bit close or was a creep while talking to me?"
She stepped forward, eyes narrowing, "Have I ever treated you like that?"
"Like I was some stupid kid who didn't need to be respected? Yes."
The witch opened lips to refute him, but a memory clearly appeared before she had time to do so as she swallowed whatever argument had been forming. "A valid point, but not recently. I believe I have done an above adequate job of believing you and showing you respect in that manner."
She had, and they both knew it was true, but it didn't change the situation. "You're still acting like I can't fight my own battles."
"No, I'm acting like you won't fight them, because from what I've seen its true." This time it was Harry who looked ready to protest, only to be interrupted with a gentle raising of her hand. "How long will you ignore Delphini Black's taunts? How long do you plan to let your sisters argue with Cleopatra Malfoy on your behalf?"
Snorting, he shook his head, "That's different. Would you throw a spell back into a first year's face just because they made fun of you?"
"No, but I'm an adult."
"And mentally I am sixteen. I can't retaliate every time an eleven-year-old girl is mean to me."
She huffed in agitation, "And Black? What's your excuse for her?"
"Don't hit girls?" The woman gave him a 'are you serious' look, earning a flush of embarrassment, "What? It's how I was raised."
Letting out a deep sigh Grace rubbed at the bridge of her nose, "We need to get you out of that mindset. You shouldn't have let yourself be picked on in your previous world regardless of gender and you definitely shouldn't tolerate certain things in this one."
"It isn't like I won't fight a girl. I kicked a professor's ass for the Philosopher's Stone if you remember, I just don't like hurting people without a reason."
The response that followed made him feel like he had been setup, "Were you raised that way as well?"
Harry knew he should probably talk about it, should probably allow others to help him get over what had happened in the past, but also knew he wasn't even close to being in the right mood for even his parents or sisters, much less the woman standing before him.
Instead, he merely shrugged it off, earning a frown and continuation of lessons moments later.
***HP:O ***
What little remained of the summer passed in the blink of an eye. Grace had sent two more books for him to look over, and likely continue into the school year, but had otherwise remained out of contact. Not that it bothered him, if anything he needed some time away from her to sort some things out and come to terms with the idea that Grace Riddle might not be the same evil maniacal sociopath he remembered from his own timeline.
School shopping had been done in a rush, as usual, and soon the five-person family was stepping onto the platform.
It had been over a year since riding the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts, and Harry enjoyed the chaos of the platform just as he enjoyed finding a carriage with his sisters and being joined by Hermione moments later. The four settled into easy conversation, retelling stories of their summers. It had just reached the point of Harry's news concerning Riddle when a knock from the doorway responded with a welcome.
There stood a young redhead that Harry knew all too well, along with a blonde girl that he had missed just as dearly.
Luna, smile ever-present on her face, took a small look around before focusing on the boy. Eyes lighting up in excitement her expression became even more joyous.
"Hello Harry"
***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