Harry Potter: Otherworld
Happy 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 ***
The day had been a long one, despite his enjoyment, with Sirius' usual enthusiasm and all the gift giving and enjoyment. Dinner had been massive, and it was only in the evening that things began to settle down.
Sylvie Rosier had begun hinting that it might be time to begin ending the festivities, but it was only when Sirius had been his usual self and practically blurted out that the Potter parents might want to 'enjoy their gift' that the full story had been revealed. The adults had been gifted a night, and morning, to themselves at a hotel and spa.
His sisters, naturally, blushed and gagged at the thought while Harry merely rolled his eyes. Still, it was humorous for the boy-who-lived to watch the two grownups try and be as nonchalant as possible about heading home to then pack.
Really, they were practically teenagers at that point, everyone knew what they were doing, they certainly didn't need to hide it. Still, he played along and even yawned to sell his own part of wanting to get some rest.
After returning home the two packed in a controlled hurry, triple checked with their kids to make sure they would be okay by themselves, ensured emergency information was written down, then departed, leaving just the three students home alone.
With the day winding down Harry opted to a break from other people and relax in his room, alone.
It was then, with Hedwig out for an evening flight, that another owl flew into his room, circling once or twice overhead before dropping an envelope onto his chest. It promptly exited through the same window without so much as touching down once.
Blinking, Harry glanced down at the object trying to deny what he knew it was and who it was from.
Slowly, carefully, peeling it open he peered in and removed the folded letter. Instantly recognizing the handwriting, despite wishing he didn't, a part of him had the urge to burn the offending object without another glance while another gave him pause.
Despite being overly creepy, and having a poor opinion about personal space, the older Malfoy sister had never done anything wrong to him. He shouldn't be cruel to her without reason. Thus, he took a calming breath and began to read.
My dearest Harry,
Not a single day goes by that I do not think about you, not a single night where I do not dream of you. It has been many moons since we last talked and I long for your voice, for your attention.
Every day I have studied you from afar, observed as you went about your day, spending time with those so unworthy of you. Don't they know we belong together? Don't they know they can never compete, can never understand you the way I do?
You look at them as if they are special, but I know you see the difference, the imperfections in all they do, in all they are. You see the blemishes in their skin, the tangles in their hair, the unsightliness, the ugliness.
Perhaps you are too kind to point it out, to make their flaws so apparent. You are too kind for them Harry, and far too beautiful.
You and I both know that I am free of these imperfections, of the unpleasant shapes and shades that mar all those other girls. I see the way you look at me Harry, curiosity and desire burning in your eyes.
Soon you will have all you need and more.
Soon, when the time is right, we will be together, and you will forget all about those other girls.
-Forever yours,
Pandora Malfoy
Perhaps he had been wrong. He desperately thought back to any time during the year in which he would have given her the idea he was staring at her, but nothing came to mind. Before he could worry any further a knock sounded at his door. His response at that point was almost automatic, hiding the object in a nearby drawer and informing the individual to enter. A moment later he was greeted by the girl who looked the most like him.
"Are you feeling okay?"
He smiled at her concern and nodded. "Yeah, it was just a long day for me. I'm not used to this much holiday stuff."
Concern flooded her eyes as she took a few more hesitant steps into his room. "We… Amy and I, we have been thinking about last summer, thinking about everything that's happened and well… we're worried about you."
They were worried about him? Sure, the situation wasn't perfect, but it didn't warrant concern, at least not in his mind.
"Marie told us about the fight Riddle had with Beatrice Haywood, before she was petrified, I mean."
This brought a frown to his face and a search through his own memories for such a thing. "I wouldn't call it a fight Harriet. They just disagreed a bit that's all."
But there was a look in the raven-haired girl's eyes that told him she wouldn't be dissuaded so easily. "And Amy's own injury? It happened after another 'disagreement' with your Head of House didn't it?"
Again, he thought back to what had occurred. "I guess? It really wasn't that bad though, Grace… Professor Riddle just gets a bit… weird sometimes."
Her stare made him feel as though she was looking into his very soul, and he couldn't help but twitch. "And you will be spending at least a day or two with her."
"Harriet," the boy almost sighed, "I understand your concerns but what happened isn't because of her."
"How can you be sure?"
It was a good question, and frankly Harry didn't have a good answer. "I just… am. She isn't like that, doesn't have it in her to hurt people, to be so carelessly aggressive."
"Again, how can you be sure?"
Harry stared at her for a second, choosing his words before speaking one more time, "Because I've met people who were like that. Trust me when I say she isn't."
***HP:O ***
For the first time in what felt like forever Harry Potter woke before everyone else and cooked breakfast. Lily had insisted that he not do such things during the summer, that he sleep in and just enjoy his time off. During Hogwarts it was, obviously, unnecessary.
Thus, when he chose to on the day after Christmas it was with an odd sense of familiarity, and the same time happiness. He hated doing it for the Dursleys, the awful people that they were, but for his sisters?
He would happily cook breakfast for them. Recalling their meals together, the boy-who-lived began going about preparations. Neither liked coffee, preferring juice in the morning, and both seemed fond of eggs.
Eggs were good, eggs were easy, but eggs were also something they had quite often. Harry wanted this to be different, to be special even. It was because of this that a memory flashed before his eyes of a dish Petunia had forced him to learn.
Easy, cheap, but good, at least he thought it was, he hadn't been given any back then. Soon enough the skillet was hot and the sound, and aroma, of food began flowing through the rooms. Within minutes he heard the telltale stumbling of a body down steps and quickly identified it as Amaryllis. Harriet always seemed to have a bit more grace and shyness in her steps, even when half-asleep.
"Food…" the redhead mumbled before falling into one of the empty chairs.
Harry merely chuckled, "Good morning to you too sunshine."
Even with his back turned he got the odd feeling that she was flipping him the bird. Luckily, her timing was near perfect and within a few moments there were several pieces of 'French Toast' sitting on her plate complete with Syrup drizzled upon them.
The sight immediately woke the witch up, who studied the new food with interest. "What is..."
"Just try it." He encouraged, and maybe challenged a bit. Regardless his words had the correct effect, and she took a bite, chewed it for a moment, before promptly beginning to devour the rest. "Where's Harriet?" he questioned, a bit concerned she would miss the meal.
Amy replied with a mouth full of food, and while he wasn't as skilled as the girl's sister he still managed to understand enough. The bookworm was still sleeping, apparently having stayed up late the previous night reading after their talk.
"Did you two talk about Riddle?" the question took him off guard, not just because of the clarity and lack of food muffling her words but also the seriousness contained in them.
It earned her a nod in return, "We did. I understand you are both concerned, truly I do, but I just have a feeling it isn't her this time."
The redhead's gaze was sharp and piercing, something he would normally not attribute to her, but was followed by a hesitant nod. "Okay, if you say so."
"That's it?"
"That's it. I trust you Harry, we both trust you. If you say she's all right, then I believe you. Still doesn't mean that I like the fact we lose you for a few days over the break."
His smile in return was warm, "We will just have to get the most out of the time we have then."
***HP:O ***
James and Lily Potter were both in high spirits, and noticeably relaxed, upon their return home. It helped that the structure seemed intact, without any signs of partying or other mischief. Upon entering they found all three children in the living room, a warm fire in the hearth, and a feeling of peacefulness.
The schoolchildren had taken up spots on the largest couch, Harry on the side closest to the door, shoulder next to Amaryllis' own with their last daughter on the opposite end, feet hanging off the couch as she used her sister's lap as a pillow.
All three were reading, with the two raven-haired students focusing on schoolwork while the last was enjoying a book on Quidditch.
Both parents stood smiling in the doorway for a few moments until their presence was noticed. "Did you have a good time?" Amy inquired, barely glancing up from her reading.
Lily gave a short laugh but nodded, "We did, it was very relaxing."
"Mhmm," James hummed in agreement, "No stress, no worries, no responsibilities, no children running around or begging for our attention." The comment earned a snort, and a noticeable eyeroll from Harriet. "So, are you three hungry? We can go out for a big lunch if you'd like."
Harry shrugged, not caring one way or another, while the other raven-haired child finally looked up from her book. "We ate a late breakfast, Harry made us French toast."
Lily smiled warmly, "Well just remember we are going to visit the Longbottoms today so you will need to change out of pajamas at some point."
***HP:O ***
Another 'Weasley family' invite had arrived late Saturday, one that his family was happy to accept. Upon their arrival, however, they realized another family had been invited as well. A blonde quickly ran to the boy-who-lived, excitement in her eyes as he greeted her in return.
"Assorted creature chocolates!"
Harry grinned at her happiness. Apparently, she had enjoyed the gift he had picked out for her. Nearby, both of her parents, Harry being pleasantly surprised to see her mother alive and well, gave James a Lily a nod, albeit a frosty one, in greeting.
"Come on, Ginny is out back."
It was missed by no one that she took ahold of Harry, and only Harry, to pull him towards the area in question, his sisters doing their best to keep up.
Sure enough, a group of redheads, minus the two parents who were with the others, filled the area. It was to the youngest that he was brought, Ginny brightening up even more upon seeing the Potters. The ground still had a layer of snow on it, but a fire had been lit that she was sitting by, along with a large assortment of chairs. Food was being roasted nearby, various meats being most noticeable.
"Hello Ginny." He greeted, earning an excited, if still a bit shy, wave in response.
"Thank you for the chocolates, Harry." She managed to get out, earning herself a grin from the boy.
As time went on the other children, along with the adults joined in the circle forming a large gathering of friends and happy conversation lasting into the night.
***HP:O ***
Monday was, apparently, designated as a 'lazy day', not that Harry was complaining. Harriet and Amaryllis opted to stay in pajamas until the midafternoon, spending much of their time going over Christmas gifts. Even their parents opted to indulge in a bit of sloth.
Harry, naturally, joined them and it was in this peaceful relaxation that he, finally, allowed his mind to wander over the past few days. It had been his first true 'family' Christmas, at least the first one he could remember.
And it had been amazing. Seeing his friends had been wonderful, the 'extended family' had been great as always.
There was even more to look forward to as the week went on. They would be seeing Hermione the next day, and then…
The boy-who-lived paused in thought, careful to avoid any obvious expressions that might alert the other occupants to his line of thought. After talking it over, the decision had been for him to spend the later half of the break with Grace, not just because it would be seen as 'normal' and 'appropriate' but also because it was her birthday as well.
He knew how his sisters felt about it, he also knew what was 'expected'. What he still hadn't quite decided was how he felt about the situation. A year prior would have had him looking for any and every reason to avoid being alone with the woman, now though things were different, things had changed.
She wasn't dangerous, at least no more than any other competent adult, and had shown she could be both humble and kind. Even if there had been any doubts about her deep down in his mind the fact remained that such things would likely have been impossible for someone to fake, especially someone as egomaniacal as Tom Riddle.
As time went on his views continued to shift, continued to change concerning the various inhabitants of the world he now lived in. What was so obvious in his past didn't seem to hold true here.
The dread he once was sure would be linked to anything with the last name 'Riddle' had changed into something else. Intrigue perhaps, or maybe just curiosity. Either way the woman was interesting, not just in her connection to a sociopath but also how different she was from her male self, and how similar she was to his own life.
"Everything okay?"
The question ripped him from his ponderings and Harry noticed attention had been directed at him, perhaps for longer than normal. "Er, yeah sorry just a lot on my mind lately." Various expressions answered him, ranging from concern to the desire to ask more and pry into his life.
Instead, he received comfortable silence and warm smiles, something he was more than grateful for.
***HP:O ***
Harry nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. James and his two daughters staring with wide-eyed amazement at the various bits of Muggle technology and culture. Lily seemed a bit more comfortable, but even she was glancing about at various 'improved' items.
The family had been invited over by Hermione's parents for dinner, which meant catching up on the holidays. He had already sent the bookworm his gift, a new set of quills that he recalled her raving about from his own universe. Naturally, when she had seen him there had been an almost bone crushing hug from her, followed by an admonishment from her parents.
While the adults caught up, and prepared the meal, the four snuck off to the eldest's room.
Harry Potter had never been to Hermione's home before and had certainly never been in her bedroom. Technically, the only ones he had been in were those of his 'sisters' and even though it had been a short amount of time he had felt rather awkward. The feeling was twice as strong here, despite the other three acting as if the whole thing were natural.
"So, I've been doing some research on what happened at Hogwarts." The bookworm began, before pulling out a notebook from one of the drawers of a small desk. "Bludgers are specifically Charmed to not target the same student for more than a few passes at most, and even then, there are safety precautions setup so that they do not hit anyone who isn't on a broom."
Harriet nodded in agreement with Amy merely soaking up the information, like she did anything and everything involving the sport.
As for the boy, he just attempted to will away the bad feeling building in his gut.
"That leaves Beatrice Haywood."
With a bite to his lips the boy managed to physically stop himself from swearing. He didn't want any of them near that situation. One lifetime of seeing Hermione petrified was more than enough.
"Petrification is rare, especially the kind that can't be casually reversed." Harriet noted, comparing her mental notes with the physical ones the bushy-haired witch made. "A high level curse?"
It showed how desperate he was to keep them safe when he felt relief at that being their conclusion.
Unfortunately, it was short lived and dissolved with a snort from the redhead, "Don't you think Dumbledore would be able to figure it out if that were true? Or have the Aurors come in and arrest someone?"
Hermione sighed before nodding in agreement, "You're right, it has to be something else. I have another theory, but it seems even more ridiculous. What if it is a Bas…"
"Stop!"
All three heads turn towards Harry. Harry, who was trembling with anxiety. Harry, who couldn't get the image of Hermione lying frozen in a bed out of his mind. Harry, who couldn't shake the feeling of the cold waters of the chamber soaking his pants, or the stillness in Ginny Weasley, or the feeling of burning venom as fangs ripped into his…
"Just… stop, please. Stop investigating this, let the adults handle it for once."
The three witches shared a look, one he didn't like in the least bit, "You… know what caused this, don't you?"
He looked away from his twin, stared at the nearby wall and tried, desperately, to force away all the feelings building inside of his chest and his head. "This isn't a game Harriet…" he finally whispered into the room, his words drawing an even deeper silence than before. "It's dangerous. People have… could die. We were lucky in my world, lucky that petrification was the only outcome but it… it could have been much worse."
"Then we need to…"
"No!" he interrupted with a snap, earning a wide-eyed stare from Hermione. But he couldn't apologize, not yet, not before she understood. "I can't, I won't, watch as you stare up from a hospital bed for weeks on end again. You were lucky the first time Hermione, do you understand that?" Even with his argument there was doubt, maybe even defiance, in their eyes. He had one more card to play, one he didn't want to use but desperate times called for it. "Do you really want your parents to have to bury you?"
She reeled backwards, tears immediately forming in her eyes. His sisters looked ready to protest but he pushed on, needing them to understand.
"You almost died Hermione, you, and others. You were lucky, that's all there was to it. Brilliant yes, but lucky. Others were lucky too. Hell, we were all lucky. Let someone else fix things this time, let someone else risk their lives instead of the twelve-year-old's."
This time there was no arguments or defiance, only downcast eyes, and defeat. After what felt like an eternity Hermione spoke once more, "Was I… at least right?"
He stared back at her, a hint of disbelief in his eyes before he erupted into laughter. It figured that she would care about that despite everything else.
"Yeah Mione, you're right."
His raven-haired sister chimed in a second later, "Do you also know who's behind it? If you knew the first time maybe it is the same person, we can at least tell Dumbledore."
Harry shook his head, "It's not the same. Last time it was a possessed student, but the reason for it is different."
Amy frowned, "Okay, so if we aren't investigating can we at least try to make a list of suspects? I hate sitting around not doing anything."
He smiled at her complaint. That certainly sounded like him. "Well, like I told Harriet, it isn't Riddle." Immediately, he held up his hands to stop the arguments obvious on all three of their faces. "It certainly sounds like it is her, but that's the problem. She's the Head of Slytherin House for goodness' sake, why would she make herself into such an obvious suspect?"
The logic seemed to satisfy the two bookworms, although the redhead grumbled a bit.
"If I had to take a general guess, it would be Pandora Malfoy."
Hermione blinked, then frowned as if she were trying to match a face to a name, which she might very well have been. Harriet, however, didn't seem as convinced as her sister instantly appeared to be. "Why her?"
"Her personality is a closer fit." He reasoned. "I will agree that all the attacks thus far seem to be connected to me, but that only makes her seem more suspicious. She's… weird towards me. She's intelligent enough to frame someone but not a criminal mastermind. Plus, the Parselmouth trait has traces in the Black family, which she is via her mother, even if it's rare."
Harriet sighed, "It isn't exactly concrete evidence."
He smiled in return, "No, it isn't, which is why I haven't brought it up to anyone until now. If I had proof it was her, I would've said something to Dumbledore, trust me."
***HP:O ***
Wednesday marked an odd turning point in the Potter household. Up until that point the week had been joyful and happy, filled with celebrations and laughter, on that day it was quiet, almost solemn. The morning had been as the others and it was only in the afternoon that Harry realized he, and everyone else in the house, were paying more attention to the clock than ever before.
Like a countdown to his execution, each minute ticked by faster than the one before it until a knock sounded on the front door. By then Harry had packed away everything he would need for the remainder of the break, including the school supplies for the remainder of second year.
Harriet and Amaryllis stood stricken nearby, looking as though they wanted to hide him away somewhere or shout at the woman they all knew waited on the other side. His parents were not much better, but with a deep breath James forced a comforting smile. "It's only for a few days Harry then you will be back on the Hogwarts Express…" he trailed off as if realizing for the first time that this meant he wouldn't see him until the next break. "I, we, are so happy you came home for the holidays this year, and hopefully you will for spring as well."
The boy nodded, forcing away any uncertainty building in his stomach and remembering the week he had spent. "That's the plan, I…" this time he paused, searching for the right words. "I just want to thank you for the past week. This has been the best Christmas I ever had."
Both parents took turns pulling him into hugs, followed by his sisters who he reassured he would see them in only a few days on the train.
Another knock, and this time with one last nod Harry turned, opened the door, and left with his Head of House.
***HP:O ***
It wasn't what he had expected.
True, Harry didn't think Grace Riddle lived in a mansion or anything, considering she had no husband or children, but he didn't think it would be an apartment that she apparated them to.
"Make yourself at home, I'll start some tea if you'd like." With that she made her way towards the kitchen, immediately starting the stove with a kettle on top.
Meanwhile Harry did as she suggested and began to examine his surroundings. The walls were lacking any real personal objects, with a few scattered generic paintings being the only decorations. There were a handful of pictures in frames in the living area with the owner in various stages of her life.
One, he imagined, was graduation from Hogwarts, another was her receiving some sort of award at a later age. Nothing during her school years or prior, and nothing which even hinted at any family or close friendships.
"What do you think?" a voice inquired, causing him to jerk towards the woman who was standing nearby offering a cup of steaming liquid which he accepted.
"It's… nice."
A knowing smile twitched on her lips, "Not what you expected I take it?"
He shrugged in response, "Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I never spent any time with a professor outside of Hogwarts."
"And certainly not with the other me." Harry didn't answer, instead taking a sip of the prepared liquid instead. Noticing the desired change in topic the woman moved on. "I'll show you to your room in a second. Mine is across the hall and there is one bathroom between the two of them. Not exactly easy to get lost here."
He snorted a bit at the joke, "It does seem a bit small."
Riddle hummed in agreement, "I suppose you can thank my mother for that." Seeing his confusion, she continued, "The Gaunt ancestral home is sprawling and extravagant. She always put so much emphasis on appearances, especially for one's living space. I like to think this is one of my ways to spite her."
"Is that a common theme, doing the opposite of what she would want?"
This time the smile was noticeable, and a bit sad. "I think everyone makes their choices based upon their parents or upbringing, whether they want to or not. I'm sure you have made your fair share in both worlds."
It brought him to a halt, memories returning faster than he could stop them. It was only when she called out to him moments later that he realized he had been staring off in silence for at least a minute. "More than you would imagine."
Grace looked him in the eye for another few seconds, as if trying to determine if he was truly all right, before giving a small nod, "Most of my personal effects I keep at Hogwarts, I live there most of the year anyway, so it doesn't make sense to bring them home for a few days during the breaks."
"What do you do during this time then?"
"A bit of catching up on recent events. I subscribe to some catalogues on dueling and there isn't much time during the school year for leisurely reading. Mostly this is just time I use for myself to unwind and relax."
He frowned, "And now you have to put up with me."
The response was a shake of her head, "It's not putting up with you Harry, I'm glad you're here, it's nice to have some company for a change."
***HP:O ***
After a simple, but still homemade, dinner the two sat down in the living area for a brief exchange of gifts. Despite her insistence that he shouldn't have bought anything for her, 'it is the adults who buy presents, not children' Grace still took the object while Harry was handed his own.
The woman received a silk scarf, and while it wasn't the highest quality or enchanted it bore their house colors and she smiled warmly at the gesture. "It's perfect, thank you Harry."
She had purchased him another outfit, one that would be worn to 'high society functions'. It was of fine quality, warmed for the winter or cooled for the summer depending upon the wearer, more importantly, at least as the professor claimed, was that it followed the latest fashion trends.
Harry, naturally, hadn't known the 'trends' even when he had been older and more involved in his own wardrobe, much less in his newer life. When Grace began pointing out subtle differences he almost immediately began to zone out, and blinked hard to stay awake earning a snort of amusement from the woman, who patted his arms and told him not to worry and that the clothing would make him look pretty.
The boy-who-lived, naturally, responded by sticking his tongue out at the witch.
***HP:O ***
When he had attended the Yule Ball it had been strange, to see professors and staff members who normally only wore specific uniforms wearing anything else. He knew, naturally, that his host wouldn't be wearing her 'professional attire' during the holiday break but knowing and seeing were two very different things. Thus, when he woke up and walked out of the guest room and into living space, he came face to face with a very casually dressed Grace Riddle.
They weren't exactly Muggle clothes, but it was somewhere in between.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?"
"Uh, good."
She nodded, as if his awkwardness was normal, and maybe it was all considering. "I trust the bed wasn't too firm? I changed it to be as close to one at Hogwarts as possible."
Harry stared for another moment, before realizing she had asked him another question. Coughing he nodded and looked away, "Yeah, yeah it was nice, thanks."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, yeah everything's fine it's just…" he gestured towards her, "Weird, seeing you in normal clothes, you know? Like it must be weird to see a student in normal stuff."
Riddle shook her head, "Not really, I find it refreshingly different from the stuffy dress code that Hogwarts demands. Are you hungry?"
He nodded, "Breakfast sounds good."
After they had cooked and eaten the meal, Riddle leaned cleared her throat, a conversation clearly pressing on her mind. "Harry, I certainly don't want to bring up any bad memories, but I would be almost a crime against my Slytherin nature not to ask, what is it like?"
He blinked, before frowning in confusion, "What is what like?"
"The Chamber."
The boy froze, but at the same time was partially relieved. If there had been any secret doubts about her involvement, they vanished with the almost longing in her voice, something he vaguely recalled in the way Crouch Jr. had questioned in regarding Voldemort's return. He didn't think anyone could fake that much zealous desire about a subject.
"It…" He trailed off, unsure of what exactly to say about it. To him it had been a hellish nightmare, more like a tomb than anything else. But what would she want to hear about? What would a true Slytherin find desirable about such a place they had heard legends about?
Even after going through his memories, he found the truth to be the best option. There wasn't much chance of him faking any excitement or amazement. "It feels like a tomb."
The excitement almost instantly dimmed in her eyes, but he pushed onwards. "It's cold and dark, half-flooded with stagnant water. There are statues of snakes and a giant one of Slytherin where the Basilisk lives. That's it, there wasn't any hidden libraries of knowledge or living quarters full of mementos and portraits, there's no eating area or place to sleep. It's just a dungeon built by someone with too much hatred in their veins."
***HP:O ***
Harry hadn't been thrilled upon hearing that there was a New Year's Eve party they had been invited to, even less so when it was at an "Established Family's" home. It meant dealing with the taunting laughs and whispers for the evening, something he didn't want to do even when he had no other options at school.
But something was different, something was… off about his chaperone. When she had told him there was a lack of something in her eyes.
Almost as if she were sad.
Thus, he went without complaints.
It was like the last 'gathering' they had attended. Rich stuck up snobs gossiping and talking in small groups. This time, however, there was a noticeable increase in the number of alcoholic drinks he could spot.
There was another, far less obvious, change as well, the general attitude towards the two of them was colder. No longer did anyone attempt to make pleasant conversation on their own and anyone who they approached looked distant, smiles were faked or absent altogether.
The only positive note was that this shift allowed them to stay away from any of the more irritating families. And for once Harry was able to avoid the vast amount of attention.
During one of the few periods in which they were apart, Harry having gone to get something to drink, he returned to find a hushed disagreement taking place between his professor and an older student.
"You shouldn't be here."
Riddle waved off the younger girl's anger, "I received an invitation as always miss Flint."
"They were being proper, like you should have been and chosen not to attend. Considering who you brought here and after what you did."
The older witch's gaze snapped towards the woman, the air around them cooling a few degrees, "Allegedly, did miss Flint. Surely you are intelligent enough to think for yourself rather than believing whatever rumors you might hear? As for Harry, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself concerning him."
With a final warning glare, she walked away, allowing Harry to intercept. "What was that about?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, just a minor disagreement." Harry looked ready to argue, but another, more cordial, individual approached them, and the conversation shifted to a more pleasant one.
***HP:O ***
The boy-who-lived slipped from the room moments after he noticed his chaperone doing the same. If she needed a break from the arseholes, then surely he could justify one as well.
"Didn't expect you to be the one sneaking out of the party."
A soft laugh escaped the woman as she halted in her walk away from the mansion. "Just needed some air."
Harry frowned, "Also never expected you to be this bad at lying."
The sad smile was back on her lips, and despite everything, Harry found it unsettling to see the woman in such a state.
"I've never really enjoyed my birthday, it's even worse that it falls on a holiday. It means I've always been forced to attend parties or events, whether as a child or adult." She let out a sigh even as she took a few strides, trailing fingers over the magically reflective water of an ornate fountain. "My mother would always twist the day into something else. It became a yearly reminder that I hadn't succeeded enough, hadn't lived up to her standards or achieved what she thought was sufficient. Strange, how I came to hate a day that everyone else seems to love."
In that moment images seemed to flash before the boy's eyes. Reminders of the day he hated. "My parents were murdered on Halloween." His voice echoed into the night sky, freezing the woman in place before she slowly turned to meet his gaze. "But the war also ended that day. Everyone always celebrated it, but it always felt like a slap to the face."
"I'm sorry, about what happened to them, to you."
Harry shrugged it off like he usually did, "It wasn't your fault, but thanks." Her steps slowed, giving him the silent message that she was waiting for him. A few quick steps later and they were walking side by side through the frigid air, kept warm through their enchanted clothing.
"How was the first part of your holiday break?"
A smile appeared on his face as he thought about the best Christmas in his life. "Fantastic. I loved spending time at home for once."
She quirked her head ever so slightly in curiosity, "You never have before?"
He snorted in response, "Since starting at Hogwarts? No, I spent every break I could there."
"Because of your guardians?"
He looked away, they had been down that path, had gone over his childhood, or at least as much as he was willing to relive for her benefit. She knew enough to make the correct assumptions.
Riddle was silent, though the look in her eyes gave him all the sympathy he needed. They continued walking, the laughter and conversations becoming nothing more than background noise to the peaceful winter night. "We should probably head back in soon. Don't want to miss the festivities."
This time it was Harry who didn't respond at first, "Actually, could we just keep walking for a bit? I like the company out here more than inside."
Her smile was worth every moment, and with a flick of her wrist she set a warming Charm around them as they continued their stroll.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter had very few 'homes' in his former life, places where he could relax and feel as though he belonged. The first true one he could remember had been Hogwarts, and occasionally the Weasley Burrow.
Now though it felt as if he had two entirely different ones. The Potter residence and, oddly enough, Grace Riddle's apartment.
Hogwarts was still Hogwarts, and would forever hold meaning for him, but with the awkwardness of Slytherin, the occasional comments behind his back concerning his gender, and just the lack of friendliness at times, the school had shifted from a place he always longed to live at to a structure that had some of his friends and nothing more.
But those handful of days during the winter break had given him far more certainty towards these new locations. He had never felt more loved than with James, Lily, Harriet, and Amy, and there was something strange about being with just Grace that had an odd electricity lighting up his nerves.
He felt happy, he felt content, he felt safe. All three things he was not entirely used to, especially not at the same time.
***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
Marcus Flint***************Marcia Flint