Harry Potter: Otherworld
Causes for Concern
***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 ***
Grace Riddle looked out over the club that she led. Progress was being made, problems corrected, and bonds developed. Despite what many thought dueling wasn't just about victory and competition, it helped the students interact, allowed them to help each other, and created friendships that could last for years, if not decades, after graduation.
She watched older classmates correct younger, watched laughter and the sharing of both spells and stories. It filled her with pride not just knowing that her's was the most successful of groups at Hogwarts, but potentially the most prestigious. It certainly helped to watch her own pupil's progress as he was quickly becoming the standout, not just because of his age or his gender, but because of his talent.
He had taken to dueling as quickly as she had all those decades ago. Harry had made the corrections she had mentioned in their private sessions and had further increased his repertoire of spells and strategies.
Perhaps even more impressive than that was his leadership skills. She watched him defeat an older classmate in a duel, and then promptly begin helping them, explaining what he had done better, where they could improve, and give helpful suggestions. At first, of course, there was hesitation from those more prideful members, but those who refused the advice at first were also the ones who approached him later after watching him defeat others and help them improve.
Had he done something similar in his past life? It wouldn't have surprised her and yet he didn't seem to have any formal instruction in the art, at least nothing he had mentioned.
As she watched him finish up with another student her smile wavered for a moment as another student approached him, one he hadn't interacted with previously.
"Hi Harry" the girl greeted, stepping up towards him in a way that had the eldest present frowning from nearby. Her posture was nonthreatening, but she was still a bit too close for comfort. "You are amazing at dueling!"
He smiled in return, "Thanks uh..."
"Oh, sorry, my name's Beatrice Haywood, Hufflepuff."
Harry nodded, and their conversation continued not realizing how close their instructor was watching. The girl was a fifth year as her memory served and while she was competent, she certainly didn't stand out.
"So, I was wondering, do you have any plans tomorrow afternoon?"
The boy paused for a moment, clearly considering the idea, when Grace intervened, calling out to the entire class. "We are nearing the end of practice today if everyone would begin changing back into school robes." Turning, she then moved closer to the two whose conversation had been interrupted. "Harry, there are some things we will be going over tomorrow."
"Oh, uh sure."
With a nod Riddle shifted her attention towards the witch who was still standing awkwardly nearby. "I believe you should be changing, miss Haywood."
Realizing what was occurring, the girl blushed, before nodding and scurrying off, all the while her retreat being watched by the professor.
"Is something wrong?" Harry inquired.
Grace merely shook her head, not yet turning back towards him.
Perhaps something needed to be done regarding the 'situation'.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter's world had settled into something of a familiar pattern, which was good. Patterns were comforting, they told him that everything was okay, that everyone was okay. It was also an indication that something might be off when something disturbed these patterns.
Which was why Harry Potter was a bit suspicious when a certain excitable young blonde wasn't at lunch with Ginny despite having always been before.
"Anything wrong with Luna?" The boy almost immediately asked, flinching a bit at his tone, and hoping the redhead wouldn't take any offense by it. It wasn't as if he wasn't happy to spend time with Ginny, he was just on edge a bit.
However, the youngest Weasley only looked a bit concerned as well, "I'm not sure, she wasn't waiting for me in the hall like usual so I thought she might have just come down early."
He shook his head, "I haven't seen her today."
The way Ginny bit her lip was both adorable and a bit worrisome, "Could we… try and find her? I mean it's probably fine I just…"
"Yes" He quickly interrupted, more than eager to locate the blonde because he too had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something was wrong. With that they both took off, not quite running but at a much faster pace than any students around them.
First, they stopped by the class that the redhead knew their friend had prior to meeting up but they found nothing, next a quick pass by the usual meetup of the two witches but uncovered no signs of the blonde. Finally, they glanced back into the Main Hall just to ensure she hadn't passed them somehow and was waiting.
Still nothing,
Even a quick inquiry to a passing Ravenclaw confirmed she hadn't been seen in the common room since the morning. Finally, Harry suggested what he was dreading. "We could check the Hospital Ward?"
The journey up was unbearably slow and quiet, neither knowing what to say to ease any of the apprehension lacing the air around them. At the door Harry reached out but froze, hand halfway turning the knob. He was both hopeful and dreading what lay beyond. If Luna was there, it meant she was being cared for and was safe, but it also meant something had happened to her in the first place.
Steeling himself, he pushed forward, stepping into the room with the Weasley daughter directly behind him. As usual the area was calm and peaceful, gentle white noise to help sleep, warm sunlight pouring through the windows. An atmosphere existed in that place so different than anywhere else in Hogwarts, maybe even than anywhere else Harry had ever been.
Sitting at the far end, however, was the object of their distress.
"Luna!" Ginny cried out, practically running to her friend's side while the blonde merely smiled warmly back at her.
"Hello Ginny, hello Harry. I'm sorry I wasn't at lunch. I hope you two still ate together."
She didn't look to be in pain, but Harry was always weary of anything concerning Luna. His own version had hidden too much from him. "What happened Luna?"
He saw a slight hesitation in her eyes, a pause in her expression that told him it hadn't been good, but she was either embarrassed or didn't want him involved.
"Oh, I had a bit of an accident. It isn't bad though and Madam Pomfrey says I should be walking again tomorrow."
"Again?" He pressed, eyes snapping to where her legs were covered up beneath the blanket. "As in you can't walk now?"
There it was the reluctance that shouldn't be in her posture. "It just hurts a bit that's all. I was walking and fell wrong."
Ginny quickly took over the conversation, promising to help her friend in any way she could. In the meantime, Harry began going over what the blonde had said. There was no way a 'normal fall' could hurt a witch enough to prevent her from walking for such a long time, and despite her oddities he knew Luna wasn't clumsy enough to hurt herself.
First his sister, now Luna.
It felt as though someone was hurting those around him and while he couldn't be completely sure without sounding paranoid the boy-who-lived intended on keeping his eyes open and his friends close.
***HP:O ***
Hermione Granger was very good at collecting, analyzing, and presenting information in a well thought out and logical manner. It was one of the reasons that most of her teachers loved her after all. What Hermione Granger was not good at was empathizing with the topic of that information and giving it in a comforting way.
Hence, she was in a rather difficult situation.
She had agreed, insisted rather, on helping the Potters siblings, or whatever one might call them, with figuring out the situation Harry was in and how to navigate it. Once she had located the resources, and forced down the outrage at the obvious inequalities, she had found the task enjoyable.
It wasn't studying for a test, it was researching for a friend, to help someone. Books upon books were scoured, texts read and reviewed, data compiled. In the end she had a very good idea of what the boy's situation was.
Informing them in a manner that didn't feel like she was giving a report on the history of Transfiguration was another thing entirely.
Her indecision must have been obvious, as the wizard's eyes softened, "Don't stress about this Hermione, we appreciate whatever you found."
With a deep breath, and a nod, she began her summary, "Most of the stuff we knew already. The Magical world is prejudiced against males, even if it has gotten better over time. The mentorship contract is a recent thing, at least in the form it currently uses. It used to be far worse, as in back when Professor Riddle went to school. All those decades ago it was far more 'if a wizard wants to be worth marriage, he has to do this' kind of garbage, but that has, at least, changed." So good so far, the other three were nodding in understanding and there wasn't any disappointment or anger yet.
Those would come later.
"Now it is more along the lines of what your father went through. Those with extraordinary talent, or wealth, are offered or purchase an apprenticeship with an older and talented individual, usually one in their subject of choice. It is a very good idea, if it wasn't based on awful history. To have real life experiences taught at a younger age would probably help a lot of students excel and…"
"Hermione…" Harriet interrupted gently, causing the bushy-haired witch to end her tangent with a blush.
The girl coughed awkwardly, "Sorry, like I was saying, these aren't as uncommon anymore, mostly used as a justification as to why men don't receive as much attention in school, or post-Hogwarts, as a witch in her field might. It's still crude but it used to be much worse."
As she seemed to end her explanation Amaryllis raised her hand, earning a laugh, "What about the older witch? Does he have to spend all his time with her?"
Hermione quickly shook her head, "No, in fact there are specific restrictions built into most contracts about this. Usually, a schedule is agreed upon and written out concerning times which are open for both parties so that it doesn't interfere with school. Even if that isn't done though, there seems to be an understanding that while the mentor does look out for the younger wizard's best interests, they are prohibited from directly hindering their personal life."
Amy stared blankly for a few moments, before asking the obvious question, "Meaning…"
Her sister sighed in a slightly exaggerated way, "It means that if Harry were doing something bad or dangerous Professor Riddle could try and stop him, but she can't tell him he isn't allowed to spend time with friends or date someone she doesn't like."
The other Gryffindor nodded, "Exactly, these are business transactions in a way, the older witch receives payment, and usually some sort of friendship that can continue into later life, while the younger wizard is given tutoring and practical lessons along with an introduction to those they would be dealing with if they continued a path into that career."
Harry frowned, clearly a bit upset at the entire thing being treated in such a way. Neither of his 'sisters' looked terribly happy about it either.
"I mean… it could be worse right? At least you're learning something useful and practical. A few of the really old texts were truly awful. They kept mentioning that only 'useful' skills were to be taught to a man, things like keeping up a home, raising children, and comforting their wife. Back then men weren't even allowed to go to school!"
A grimace formed on the faces of the others, and Hermione quickly realized she had gone a bit too much into what she had found.
"B-but it isn't like that anymore! At least not here…"
"Here?"
She flinched, "Beauxbatons still does not allow any male students. In fact, a few of the other schools don't either or have severe limits on who is allowed in."
Harriet shook her head, "I thought it was just an English thing, why are other places like this too?"
The boy-who-lived didn't answer, but memories of his previous world's history, and treatment towards women, gave him enough of a clue.
***HP:O ***
Amaryllis Potter wasn't sure what to expect on her first trip back to the locker room since her injury, but a massive cheer from her team was not it. Each of the older witches took turns coming up and congratulating her on her first victory, and on her recovery.
What they didn't realize is how she had been holding back tears throughout the 'celebration'. True, she didn't think they would kick her off the team just for being injured, but there had been some fears about being replaced.
The last to congratulate her was Olivia Wood, who put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Glad to have you back Amy, sorry we couldn't do more to keep you from getting hurt."
Amaryllis shrugged gently, but apparently the conversation wouldn't end there. "The boy was your brother, right? Harry?"
It was Katie Bell who asked, and the question earned an almost anxious silence from the others in the room.
"Oh, yeah that was Harry. He's been doing a lot of studying over the summer and Professor Riddle has been mentoring him a bit."
She noticed the excited whispers and her reaction was clear enough that another of her teammates decided to explain. "It isn't like a lot of boys get to do that sort of thing, and I don't think Professor Riddle has ever taken on someone for mentorship."
Amy blinked, before shrugging like it was the most natural thing in the world, and for her maybe it was. Harry was incredibly talented, to the point where she had even overheard her parents mentioning that he would have been recognized as such even if he were his original age and year in school.
Why wouldn't someone recognize that kind of talent?
Still, her reaction did nothing to ease the atmosphere in the room, "I heard he's going to be training with the Aurors soon."
The redhead frowned, that certainly wasn't something she had heard, and considering they were family she would know better than some random classmate.
Before she could correct the assumption, however, another spoke up. "No, he's spending time with the Minister of Magic though. Some super-secret mission."
"Don't be ridiculous, Professor Riddle is training him to be the next dueling champion, they spent the summer travelling around the world."
"Then when did she have time to do lesson plans? My older sister told me he will be going to the other schools sometime this year to train though."
On and on the assumptions, and blatant lies, went. At first, they had been a tad amusing, Harry forming his own legend, but eventually Amy became more annoyed than anything else. They were talking about her brother like he was an open book, like they knew him, even though most, save for the Weasley twins, hadn't even spoken to him before.
It bothered her more than she was willing to admit, because it had taken them so long to crack the shell he kept up. Weeks upon weeks of trying to get to know him, of slowly showing they could be trusted, and yes, they made mistakes, but they were for good reasons.
Now some strangers thought that just because he ended up in the paper and was doing something awesome in school that they somehow knew him.
She didn't like it, not one bit, and was sure that when Harriet found out she would be just as angry.
***HP:O ***
He wasn't sure if it was a good indication or a worrying one that he could tell his tutor was in a bad mood the moment she stepped through the doorway. A slight twitching in her brow, the slight tardiness, a bit more force in each step.
"Something wrong?" Her eyes snapped up towards him, narrowing in obvious irritation at the question, but he held firm and even crossed his arms in defiance of her attitude. "What, you're allowed to pry into my personal life, but I can't ask why you're throwing a tantrum?"
When she refused to answer the boy-who-lived rolled his eyes.
"Fine, whatever, I'll leave you to your brooding."
He had taken all of two steps when she finally spoke, "My mother." Those two words caused him to freeze. He knew that she had been raised by the woman, and apparently it hadn't been the best childhood, but he always assumed having one parent was better than none. "She… wrote to me."
"Okay, and that upset you?"
Grace let out a sigh before running her hand over her face, then proceeded to a nearby stool to sit down on. Cautiously, as he always was around her, Harry followed. "Merope Gaunt is a foul woman and even poorer parent. I haven't been in the same room as her in many years, but she occasionally sends me a letter reminding me of how much of a failure I am."
The boy flinched slightly, knowing how bad it was dealing with the Dursleys. "Sounds like a wonderful person." He quipped, finally earning the slight upturn of the woman's scowl into something closer to a smile.
"She…" Riddle trailed off for a second, staring off at an opposing wall in a manner Harry imagined himself doing whenever he remembered the past. "She was abusive, physically and emotionally. Hit me across the fingers or hand anytime I did anything less than perfect, called me names, told me I would never amount to anything if I didn't succeed at everything…"
Harry Potter merely stared at the woman as she continued remembering and confessing her childhood's darkness.
Then he noticed the slight twitching in her fingers, whether it was for the want of her Wand or just remembering old pains he wasn't quite sure. "The few times she did praise me were rare and half-assed at that. A 'you didn't screw that up as badly as normal' here and a 'keep up and you might actually amount to something' there. I still don't understand why she even bothered allowing me to stay in our house for as long as she did, but the moment I graduated I never looked back."
Grace Riddle fell silent, and Harry felt the most unusual urge to comfort her. She, a grown adult needing comforting from a preteen boy. It sounded both pathetic, and comfortingly human at the same time.
She was opening up to him, telling him about her life, becoming vulnerable in those moments. And who didn't need reminded of their worth every once and a while?
"Seems like you showed her in the end though." He replied, causing her head to snap in his direction as if she had forgotten anyone else was in the room. "Professor at Hogwarts, Head of Slytherin House, leader of the Dueling club, sought after by adults and students for private lessons. It sounds like you amounted to more than she ever did, than she ever helped you be."
A slow, but natural, smile appeared on her lips, "I'd like to think so. Although I am sure she would never have approved of such a 'demeaning career'." Harry snorted and shook his head, clearly disagreeing with the woman he had never spoken with. The entire exchange did, however, lead into something Grace had been hoping to talk about and she was certainly not going to waste the opportunity.
"And your guardians? What would they have said about your current position?"
Any happiness or humor in his eyes or expression evaporated, doing nothing to ease the discomfort in the woman's chest. "Knowing them they probably would have asked if it was anything life threatening, and probably hope for a serious injury."
Her lip twitched with the urge to sneer, "Who were your guardians in your previous life?"
Harry's lips opened, before snapping shut with a shake of his head, "It doesn't matter, they could be completely different here so there's no reason to think about it."
"It does matter since it clearly still bothers you."
Whatever she had said was apparently the wrong thing to say as he turned towards her with a low growl. "Just like you are still bothered by your own childhood. Yeah, I had shitty relatives who were arseholes and treated me like crap every minute they could, but they're gone now so who cares!?"
Tensions were rising but it felt as though she weren't in control of her own body, like someone else was controlling her actions, telling her what to say, "I care, because they should be punished!"
"Yeah? And who is going to do that hm? Are you going to figure out a way to hop back into my universe and hunt them down? Or maybe you'll just go find them in this world? Then what, are you going to torture some muggles because of something they didn't even do?"
"No, but they shouldn't get away with being awful people."
His hands went to his hair, a nervous tick she noticed he would do when under stress or just anger. "There are awful people everywhere, what gives you the right to decide who to punish!?"
"Clearly whatever they did was awful enough to warrant it!"
"THEY TREATED ME AS LESS THAN HUMAN ALRIGHT!?" The shout ended whatever anger had been building up inside the woman and replaced it with a cold emptiness and dread. "Ten years, and they had me up at sunrise to make them breakfast, doing all their chores, working outside no matter what the temperature. I didn't even get my own room, all for perfect little 'dudders'. They didn't want me, no one wanted me until I started doing Magic and a letter came in the mail. That was when I found out my parents weren't drunks who died in a car accident, when I found out that maybe someone loved me."
He stood and walked away, her lips opening to call out to him, to stop him, to try and relieve even an ounce of his pain, but not a single syllable emerged, even as he slammed the door shut behind him.
***HP:O ***
She knows, because of course she knows. The moment Amaryllis walks into the room Harriet knows something is wrong. She doesn't need to see her sister's posture, doesn't need to see her frown or her tightening fists. She can tell by the slight force in her steps, by the small pauses, by just the tension in the air.
This isn't a 'Malfoy is bitch' mood, or a 'Snape is an asshole and should be in jail' mood, or even a 'I'm going to miss a Quidditch game' mood.
No, this is something way worse, and in an instant, she knows the source. "Harry?" The redhead nodded, okay one mystery solved. "Is he okay?" This time the nod was a bit less sure, and her own pulse skyrocketed.
Her stress was obvious, and Amy crossed what little distance remained to put comforting hands on her shoulders, "Harry's fine it's just… some of my teammates were talking."
The raven-haired witch frowned, "Talking about Harry?"
"Apparently there are a lot of rumors about him, everyone just seems to know everything."
A scowl replaced her frown, "But they don't know him."
"Exactly."
Harriet crossed her arms with a huff, "We are still getting to know him, they don't have any right to say they somehow do."
Amy nodded quickly, "Right? If they weren't my teammates…" It was clear she didn't have a follow up, but something would have been done or said if she wasn't required to give some leeway.
The other remained silent, still upset by the new turn of events, about the idea of losing even more time with their brother to someone else. Something needed to be done, she just wasn't sure what.
***HP:O ***
"Hey uhm, Harry, do you have a second to talk?"
The boy-who-lived glanced up at the other male before giving a nod of confirmation and followed him off to a more private spot in the hallway following their class together. "How are you doing Neville?"
Shuffling his feet awkwardly, the shyer boy shrugged, "Okay I guess, I uh… well I heard about what happened during the summer."
"Oh" Harry wasn't quite sure how to reply to that. It wasn't exactly a surprise, he knew just how quickly rumors could spread, especially those concerning him, and there were several individuals involved that could have been the source of the rumors.
His bet, naturally, was on a certain Animagus godfather that couldn't seem to keep his mouth shut.
An uncomfortable silence fell between the two boys, neither knowing what to say. "I'm happy for you."
Harry blinked in confusion earning a bit of a shuffle from the Longbottom.
"I just… it's hard for some wizards to do anything after graduation, even if they are in an apprenticeship. But you have Professor Riddle as yours and she's famous. You'll have all sorts of opportunities."
Harry knew this, he knew this all too well from speaking with his parents, godparents, and his own, limited, research.
Not to mention his sisters and Hermione.
He still wasn't thrilled, but at least he could appreciate the pros and cons, "Thanks… I guess."
Neville quickly nodded, "My mom… she's hoping that I will be eligible for one too, maybe from Professor Sprout."
"That sounds… good." When the other wizard shrugged Harry could easily see the defeat in his posture, "Doesn't it?"
"I guess, I mean my parents are already talking about marriages."
That caused Harry to flinch. It was one thing to be told that you needed extra help and tutoring to be 'good enough' but another entirely to be discussing marriage, especially at such a young age. "Sorry, did they mention to who?"
"There are a few families that have connections to mine," Neville replied morosely. "Guess it doesn't really matter what I want."
The boy-who-lived's gaze focused in on his companion. "What is it that you want Neville?"
A feint blush appeared on his face, "I'm just… not really interested in girls."
Oh
Oh
That was certainly never something that had crossed his mind. Sure, it had sucked having to play the role of 'helpless first year' but to be told you probably couldn't date, definitely not marry, the type of person you were attracted to…
It would be a nightmare.
"I'm sorry, that sounds horrible."
Neville's head snapped up from where he had been staring down at the floor in embarrassment, eyes clear and focused on the boy-who-lived. Seeing the genuine sympathy, the boy managed a small smile of appreciation.
"Thank you."
"If you ever want to talk or anything, I'm a decent listener I hear. I don't know exactly what it's like since I… well like girls but yeah…"
The smile twisted into a laugh and Harry joined his friend moments later.
***HP:O ***
Halloween, despite his previous lifetime's negativity concerning the holiday Harry no longer dreaded it as a harbinger of misfortune and evil.
Instead, it was both wonderful and lonely at the same time. It remained a reminder of what he had left behind, of those long since gone, but at the same time it was a week when he was able to observe happy reunions of parents and their children, along with speak to the James and Lily of this universe.
The two adults in question were speaking to their daughters for the moment, berating Amaryllis on her 'reckless behavior' along with congratulating her on their first victory. Finally, they looked over to where he stood, noticeably separate from their family. "Harry, is everything okay?"
He smiled, "The jury is out for this year, but hopefully." His answer earned tense, forced, smiles from the parents, and notably worried ones from their daughters.
"We were…" James paused, clearly struggling with the correct words for the situation, "hoping you would come home for the winter holidays this year."
The hopeful looks were obvious on all four of their faces, and it made any excuses he could come up with seem even worse in his mind. Sure, he probably should stay and make sure everyone was safe, but with most of the students gone it likely wouldn't matter either way.
Plus, it meant staying as far away from Lockhart as humanly possible.
That, combined with the guilt he remembered from the previous year, caused him to nod without further thought, "Yeah… yeah that sounds nice, if it isn't…"
"Not at all Harry," Lily interrupted, clearly intent on smothering any notion he was intruding. "We want you with us over the break, it wasn't quite the same last year."
***HP:O ***
It was after breakfast, with his next class an hour or so away, that Harry decided to simply take a walk. He had a few destinations in mind, perhaps enjoying the fall weather before it became too cold and loop around the lake, maybe he would see if there was anyone playing Quidditch, or just take some time to wander the halls of Hogwarts to let out some of the stress.
And he was stressed. Sure, classes were still easy, even if the professors had begun slipping him material from fifth- and sixth-year work, and there was no evil lurking around every corner, but he was still anxious.
Not like he didn't have a good reason to be, considering the Philosopher's Stone the previous year he was more than a little on edge, already his sister had been injured at a game in the same method he had been, which did nothing to ease the tension forming in his gut.
But maybe he was wrong, and this thought did help a bit. It didn't sound as if anyone had ever opened the Chamber before, and as far as he knew only the 'Heir of Slytherin' could command the basilisk inside.
Hell, maybe Slytherin hadn't been such a genocidal sociopath in this world, it wasn't as if Muggleborns had been discriminated against and placing a creature specifically to kill off men didn't seem like the brightest idea.
His logic had the desired effect, and he let out a deep breath, some of the anxiety evaporating from his muscles.
That is until he turned the corner and heard the panic in nearby voices, which is until he saw the group of students whispering to themselves in the middle of the hallway, which is until he slipped past them and saw a student, frozen in place on the ground.
***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
Oliver Wood ***************Olivia Wood