Harry Potter: Otherworld
Victims
***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 ***
"How much longer?" Snape demanded, almost shaking where she stood. "How many more students are we going to find petrified until you take action?"
Dumbledore sighed as she looked down at the frozen expression of Marcia Flint. It was just as before and just as before the connection to Riddle wasn't hard to find. Hell, there had been a student among those who had found the frozen witch which immediately blamed their Head of House. It appeared they had overheard an argument between the victim and the accused on New Year's Eve.
The Headmistress had no doubt this would be corroborated by several before the end of the day.
Still, the question remained, why.
Why go through all the efforts of framing the professor? It wasn't as though Grace Riddle lacked rivals or those who would speak ill of her, more than a few things in her past would guarantee such relationships, but to go to such an extent.
"Dumbledore"
The insistence in her companion's voice brought her back to the present, and with a gesture the two adults departed for her office to continue their conversation in a more private setting.
"It's her."
"You know," Augustina replied as she eased down into her chair, wondering when she had become so tense and sore. "I recall a remarkably similar argument made by a certain young boy last year regarding the identity of a thief. If I recall correctly, he was wrong back then."
Serena's lip twitched into a scowl, "Was he? If I remember right the imposter never gave up their client. Perhaps Harry was right all along?"
She received an annoyed glance for the comment, followed by a shake of the elder's head.
"Then what are you going to do about this?"
This time it was a sigh, "You know there is not much I can do. With the schoolboard locked in their usual debates a decision will take weeks if not months. The best option we have of protecting the students is to catch the perpetrator in the act."
Snape hissed in anger, "So you expect us to just wait until the attacker conveniently gives us a clue? I didn't realize the Aurors were running the school now."
"And what would you do instead?"
The professor had been counting on such a question, had been ready for it. "Confront her and demand she give us the location of the Chamber and the creature. Then we evacuate the school for the afternoon and kill it once and for all."
Dumbledore, surprisingly, nodded in a very agreeing manner, "And how exactly do you plan on doing such a thing? By her own account Grace Riddle does not know the location of the Chamber of Secrets. In fact, the only one who might know is the one person I want farther away from it than anyone else. Unless of course you want to ignore the look in Harry's eyes when he told us about it."
No, no she could not do such a thing. Despite it being only a few short moments, the horror had been almost palpable in the air when he had spoken of it. Serena Snape did not know what exactly happened in the boy's own world, but it was clear he had been dragged along for the defeat of the creature. It made sense, naturally, if only a Parselmouth could gain access and he was the only known living carrier of the trait.
Still, what their other selves had been thinking was beyond the woman.
"Of course not."
The Headmistress pressed her gaze, "Then we appear to be in the same situation as before. We have no way of stopping the attacks without evacuating the school. Even if we do such a thing what follows? Aurors sweep every hall and room only to find nothing? Pray that the Chamber is in the same location and only requires a word from Harry to gain access and nothing further? Even if that is the case, what if we are wrong? What if we go down into that damnable pit only to find the Basilisk undisturbed until we enter? What if we unleash something worse by making assumptions?"
"It all fits, you know this, I know this, the whole damn school knows this."
"What I know is we have multiple students who have reported injuries and several petrifications, this does not rule out all answers save for 'Basilisk'."
Snape's lips twitched in annoyance, it was similar to the arguments Harry had made, and memories of their recent encounters did nothing to soothe the anxiety in her mind.
***HP:O ***
Harry had already been on edge, the attack had only made it worse, which meant that when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into an unused classroom, he had immediately fought back, attempting to reach his wand and hex the perpetrator so hard their ancestors felt it.
Unfortunately, the way they held him prevented him from doing so and he froze the moment her voice reached his ears. "Shhh it's okay my sweet, it's just me."
Pandora Malfoy, he promptly began struggling just a bit harder, "That's hardly comforting" he gritted out, earning a smooth laugh as she seemed to nuzzle into him giving him disgusted chills.
"So playful, I love that about you. But business before pleasure dear. You need to be careful, with so many students getting hurt, so many that are close to you I want you to be safe, unharmed."
In that moment a thought occurred to the boy and for once he opted to play along with whatever twisted ideas were in her head, "And what do you know about that?"
His response had still been defiant, playful as she called it, but lacking some of the fight from before. "Only what I hear, what I see. I would love to see and hear more of you."
Harry Potter wasn't used to flirting, especially people flirting with him. Add in the way she was approaching it and he was in a very unusual spot that he didn't quite know how to get out of. How does one handle a stalker that might have information?
Continue his usual cold demeanor?
Make demands?
Suggest a compromise or trade?
Flirt back?
Finally, he opted for the direct approach, "Do you know who's responsible for the attacks?"
He could feel, not see, her head shake slightly back and forth, "No, but you need to be careful. I would hate for you to get hurt."
Something old pushed through the cobwebs of his mind. A memory from before he had arrived in the new world, maybe even before he ever knew about Hogwarts. Was it something he had heard in the cupboard? A movie that the Dursleys had been watching perhaps? Or maybe it was a whispered threat from one of the few times he had been let out of the house.
Regardless, it wasn't the way she said it, there had been nothing obvious in her tone, but the words themselves that sent a pulse of Magic through his body, loosening her grip enough that he was five steps away, Wand in hand and turning to face her before she had reacted.
"Are you threatening me?"
For a second an odd look crosses her face, one he doesn't have the words to explain, but it was gone a moment later. "Of course not. I just want you to be careful."
With that she turned and left, no further explanation, no further flirtation or creepiness, no… nothing. Harry wasn't sure if it was relief or something else that filled his chest.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter had a lot to think about, and when Harry Potter needed to get a better perspective on things, he went with the most obvious solution of all.
Flying
Luckily, there were no Quidditch games scheduled, well there had been, but it was Slytherin against Hufflepuff and his House's team had split into two teams, neither of which could agree who would play, thus another forfeit.
He had asked if his friends wanted to join but was turned down by Hermione, not a surprise, and Harriet chose to stay with her and do some studying and research. Amy, however, had been thrilled at the idea and the two of them had gone out together, only to find another redhead currently flying around.
Ron slowed the moment he saw the newcomers, and his smile brightened when he identified them. "Harry, Amy! Are you two thinking about doing some flying?"
The other boy grinned in return. "We were. I'm a bit worried you know? With all the canceled games Amy here is going to lose her edge and probably start falling off her broom before we know it."
Said girl gave him a look of mock outrage, before pouting at his teasing. Ron merely grinned and gave a laugh, "We can't have that can we? Maybe we should do a two on one and keep her up to snuff."
Within minutes the three were airborne, tossing about a Quaffle and having Amy go through various dives and maneuvers that might be needed not just for defense but also to ensure she could manage the higher speeds her broom was capable of.
***HP:O ***
Harry didn't even need to ask when he noticed their newest professor with an obvious sling around her arm. Thus far every major injury was, in some way or another, linked back to one person and considering both his own run-ins with Lockhart and the various other confrontations or potential arguments she could have had with Riddle he didn't doubt for a moment there would be a link between the two.
All the time he had spent on the puzzle, and nothing had thus far come to mind in terms of a legitimate answer.
Did it all seem to point to Riddle? On the surface, yes.
Did the petrifications bear an uncanny resemblance to those in his own timeline? Again, yes.
While neither of these facts proved anything it was providing him difficulty in producing an alternative. Maybe it wasn't a Basilisk, but if that were they case then why the petrifications? If it was Slytherin's pet, then who was controlling it? As far as he could tell no one knew the location of the Chamber and based on arguments from the other professors there weren't any prime Parselmouth suspects besides Riddle.
But it didn't make any sense, why would she bother? Even if the first one was her, he would have outed her as the prime suspect making any further attacks not just ill advised but borderline foolish.
Even stranger was his own connection to the victims. It was vague at times, but he had, in some way or another, interacted with every one of them prior to an attack. The only answer he could produce was the older Malfoy.
She was obsessive, unstable, and would have been aware of the interactions he had with the victims. The problem with this was she didn't seem to be a Parselmouth. His own ignorance of such a magical trait was easily explained by his upbringing, but if the Malfoy's had such a valuable ability in their eldest surely, they would be flaunting it.
Glancing about he tried to spot anyone looking a bit too proud of themselves, smiling a bit too much at Lockhart's injury, but couldn't see any obvious suspects. He did, naturally, notice the glare Snape was giving the Headmistress, whose own eyes darted towards him for a moment before looking away.
***HP:O ***
It was during his first class of the day when a knock interrupted Flitwick's lecture. From the doorway walked Minerva McGonagall, quickly scanning the students present before settling on Harry. "Mister Potter, if you would accompany me to the medical ward, please."
The room fell silent, everyone knowing what it entailed. He rose, shakily, before packing up his supplies and hurrying after her. Seconds after they left the room, he whispered out the question he both needed an answer to and dreaded.
"Who?"
McGonagall looked away, "I'm sorry…"
It did nothing to ease the worry building in his stomach. What if this time they hadn't been so lucky? What if it wasn't a petrification? What if…
The rest of the trip was made in silence and felt as if it took years. Finally, the pair reached their destination with McGonagall pausing at the door for a moment before taking a deep breath and pushing it open.
Empty beds and the other frozen students faded into the background as Harry Potter focused in on the only sound echoing through the air. Sobs, desperate, heartbreaking sobs.
At the far end was Amaryllis, fists clenched into the sheets on a bed, crying into a frozen body, begging her sister to awaken.
But she wouldn't, neither would their friend who laid in a bed next to them. Harriet and Hermione, both staring up at the ceiling, faces as still as ice.
"Miss Potter…" the teacher next to him called, and their presence was finally brought to the girl's attention. How would she react? Would she be angry? Blame him for bringing this onto her sister?
Amy looked up, eyes red from crying before she stood and raced across the room. McGonagall stepped forward as if to offer solace for her student but was almost pushed aside as she wrapped her arms around Harry instead, face burrowing into his chest as she let out another deep sob.
He returned the hug automatically, gaze still on the two figures lying in the beds. The Gryffindor Head of House was saying something, but he wasn't paying attention. His entire world was focused on the crying girl held in his arms and the two petrified nearby.
***HP:O ***
Enough was enough. No matter what she thought of the Potter family, or what anyone thought, no one deserved to be froze in their own body for days, weeks, maybe even months on end.
How much evidence did Dumbledore need before acting? How many victims were required before she would finally see reason and call for an investigation? Would it be another student frozen? Another five injured? Or would it take a corpse to finally spur her to action?
That thought had been the final straw for Serena Snape, because somehow, deep down, she knew whose lifeless body would be laying on a bed while the family mourned. She knew whose green eyes would stare up at the ceiling, not frozen but faded into death.
Harry would take it on himself to investigate, he would act when no one else would. She knew this just as clearly as she could recite off the ingredients for a Wolfsbane potion. Hadn't the previous year been enough of an indication?
When all the others were fretting about pointing fingers and worrying, he had marched down and confronted the perpetrator, regardless of knowing who was responsible, or what they were capable of.
With someone he considered a sister hurt what was stopping him from doing the same now? But now it was different, now the stakes were higher. It wasn't an object to be stolen, it was monster that could kill with a glance, could destroy with a bite.
She wouldn't allow that to happen, wouldn't watch her former friend break while cradling the boy's body in her arms, wouldn't watch as the light left James Potter's eyes, wouldn't stand by while Harriet and Amaryllis became mere shadows of themselves with guilt and grief.
To hell with Dumbledore's plan, if the woman wouldn't do anything about Riddle, then she would.
Even if it took tearing down that wall that kept Hogwarts and the rest of society apart.
***HP:O ***
Harry spent the rest of the evening with his sister, often just sitting next to her in silence as they stared down at the frozen eyes. Eventually it was time for both to head back to their respective and it was then they were halted at the door by a pair of professors.
McGonagall gave a nod before gesturing for the redhead to follow her, while the wizard was escorted back to Slytherin by his own Head of House. Halfway down she gave an explanation that nearly tripped him. "You haven't heard yet, but Hogwarts will be going under curfew. No students permitted outside of assigned groups between classes and meals. No one out after that without direct permission. All clubs and Quidditch have been canceled."
"But…"
"Harry," the woman almost growled, "I don't want you even thinking about doing this by yourself. Stay away from the Chamber."
He promptly snarled in response, "Why, so more students can get hurt? No one is doing anything and look where it got us!"
Riddle let out a sigh, "Dumbledore is working on it."
"Working on it!? What is she 'working on'? We've known what is going on since the first attack and nothing has been done!"
She looked away, "Let us handle this, Harry. The students are unharmed, this isn't worth your life."
Harry stared at her for a moment, before turning and continuing down the hall, followed right behind by the woman. He didn't want to ask how it was being handled, didn't want to point out that no they weren't fine, and certainly didn't want to tell her that deep down, he wasn't sure what his life was worth.
***HP:O ***
She was trying her best, but it wasn't good enough.
Every day there was a bit more fear in the halls, fewer whispers, more panicked glances and sudden jumps. Even in her friends there was a change, apart from the horrific ones.
Harriet petrified, Hermione petrified, Amy blaming herself, Harry…
Ginny Weasley wasn't sure what to think about him. She knew something was different, unusual in even a magical way, but couldn't figure out what it was. At times there was a haunted look in his features, others would be something of determination, other times anger, other times heartbreak.
She wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything would be okay, that they would meet up in the Great Hall for breakfast and all the victims would be awake, the perpetrator caught, the fear dispelled. There were so many things she wanted to talk to him about, to ask him, to tell him.
But these wants were smothered amidst everything else. He needed someone to help him, they all did. Even Luna's smile was notably dimmed, especially when near Harry or his sister. She tried to think of something she could do, a joke she could tell, a story that would cheer him up.
Her ideas all fell flat.
Those around them to be in the same helpless position. Every day Ron looked ready to suggest flying, but the words would never leave his lips. Luna would find pictures of creatures or animals but would hastily stuff them into her pocket at the last minute, finding the timing to be wrong or in poor taste. Even Neville had taken to fidgeting, clearly upset but unable to find a solution.
Every day the two Potters cracked a little more, and none of them were sure what would happen if they finally broke.
***HP:O ***
"Potter" The boy stopped in his tracks, as he walked through the common room, fingers tightening with barely suppressed rage. "I heard about your sister."
He had tolerated a lot, tolerated so much since his arrival. The boy-who-lived had justified his pacifism time and time again, told himself he couldn't strike back against a child, couldn't retaliate against those so young compared to his own, mental, age.
But this was too much, one too many taunts from the young Malfoy.
She reached out for him, and the second he felt her fingers on his shoulder he spun and grabbed her uniform pushing until she hit the opposing wall, snarling mere inches from her face as those nearby fell silent in shock.
"Go ahead, say something about my sister Malfoy. Make a joke, I dare you." Her eyes were wide with barely concealed fear until something happened, something he never thought would happen.
Those same eyes, always filled with superiority or even disgust towards him and his family… softened. "I'm sorry, about what happened to Harriet. If something happened to Pandora, I don't know what I would do."
He stared back as the dam inside him broke, the tension dropping out of his body as he pulled back from the girl and almost ran to his room, needing to be away from everything and everyone.
***HP:O ***
She knew what was coming but knowing and seeing were two very different things. Harry was an emotional boy despite his maturity, Riddle knew this, which meant she knew how he would respond to his own sister being left frozen on a bed.
He would blame himself, and no matter what she or anyone else did this wouldn't change.
Still
Still
Watching him sit in class, staring at his desk as blankly as his redheaded sister caused her to flinch. Whoever was behind this had earned more than her disgust, they had now earned her hate as well.
It wasn't just his expression either, though that was painful enough to observe. Harry was distancing himself from just about everyone. At first, she had thought it was just the inevitable 'maybe everyone else is right and you are responsible' reaction he had taken anytime she hinted at a tutoring session.
But no, it wasn't just her, it was everyone. He avoided Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, made excuses on not spending time with Ronald Weasley, and apart from class the only time she was aware he left the Slytherin dorms was to visit the Hospital Ward.
The one time she had snuck in and observed it had nearly broken her heart. Watching him sit with his sister in silence between the beds of Hermione Granger and Harriet.
Clearly, he blamed himself, but the few attempts made to breach the shield he had built around himself failed utterly.
Something needed to be done, but she feared that the time it would take for her to accomplish such a feat was no longer available.
***HP:O ***
The doorbell rang, earning a call from the man to the other inhabitant of the home that he would answer it. His wife had worked all day and deserved to sit down and rest for a while. Making his way to the front of the structure he pulled the door open with an automated response. "Hello, what can I…"
He froze, eyes widening as memories threatened to push into the forefront of his mind. The woman standing on the other side forced as comforting as a smile as she could master. "Hello James, is your wife home?"
James Potter didn't immediately respond, and it was his wife's voice from behind that finally knocked him back to the present, "Sweetheart, what's wrong who's at the…" She froze as Snape came into view, and a moment passed where all three were silent.
"Lily, I was wondering if…" Serena never finished her statement as a pair of hands were on her uniform, knocking her to the ground with a wand pushed against her throat and a furious redhead staring down at her.
"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here." Lily growled.
Rather than show surprise or even fear the professor merely stared back, "I wanted to see if there was anything I could do."
"Do? DO!? I'll tell you what you can do."
"Lily, wait" James requested as he stepped closer, "Why are you here Snape?"
The woman winced a bit at the object pressed into her neck was pushed just a bit harder in warning, "I simply wanted to see if there was anything I could do for you, considering what occurred."
This earned blank stares and an unease formed in the woman's gut.
It was James who realized what she was trying to say first. "Did something happen at Hogwarts?"
She nodded and for the first time the grip on her loosened, the weight pinning her down easing up, "Was it… the girls?"
Snape looked away.
***HP:O ***
Horror at Hogwarts!
When you think of Hogwarts what first comes to mind? The homework heaped on us during our school years? The friends we made? The professors sharing their wisdom? Or perhaps it was the fear of being attacked or even petrified?
That's right readers, our own Hogwarts is host to a maniac hellbent on attacking and striking fear into the hearts of innocent children. But how has this been allowed? According to an inside source it is due to the parents of the victims not being informed.
Surely though the staff has plans on how to protect them. Once more, according to the witch I spoke to this is false. The Headmistress has gone so far as to ignore all evidence of the attacker's guilt and is simply 'waiting until they strike again'.
Not only is the Headmistress not acting, but she is also denying all evidence pointing towards the guilty party.
But who? Who could be so vile, so sadistic as to attack students when they are trying to learn and grow? Who could be so callous and manipulative as to have the entire staff turning a blind eye?
Grace Riddle
That's right, the defense professor herself, attacking students, unleashing monsters upon unsuspecting children, and no one is doing a thing about it.
Well, that isn't quite true readers, for you see just after giving me this interview my informant promised me that they were going to the Aurors next, to ensure that our children remain safe, to force action to be taken even without permission from the Headmistress.
Fret not, there are still heroes in the world.
-The Daily Prophet
***HP:O ***
Rumors spread quickly in Hogwarts, this applied to outside rumors as well which meant that when the group of Aurors walked up to the front gate Dumbledore was there to greet them, the normal cheer lacking from her eyes or expression.
"You know why we're here." The lead spoke, earning a slow, almost sad, nod from the woman.
"Yes, yes of course. Right this way, we have been expecting you." The answer earned tension in the officers, tension that was blatantly ignored by the Headmistress as she escorted them in and to the Slytherin common room. The moment she stepped in she gave a nod to the Head of House who was finishing up preparations for her departure. "Grace, it's time."
Riddle smiled but it lacked any emotion and with one final glance over her last-minute instructions presented her upturned palms and was promptly handcuffed and led out.
The students who had been observing were deathly quiet, regardless of which side they supported.
Harry Potter was on his way towards his next class when he passed the group, earning a real smile from the woman as she locked eyes with him for a moment before being walked out. He stood for a few moments, watching as they disappeared out the massive doorway before giving one last glance towards Dumbledore and continuing his journey.
***HP:O ***
Harry Potter was a coward.
Once upon a time he would have denied this, sought to prove his own bravery, like any 'good Gryffindor', fought the good fight as it were. But not now, not after what had happened.
Word had gotten around that the parents of the victims were allowed to visit their children. It was also through this announcement that he began to understand how screwed up the running of Hogwarts truly was.
Day to day business was for the Headmistress and staff, this was true, but big actions and decisions had to be voted on by the school board. Said group was larger than he would have imagined, being nearly thirty members in total. This meant a variety of opinions, and with most of their decisions requiring a clear majority, action was rarely taken.
Apparently, it was a surprise they managed to agree that 'letting parents see their injured kids' was important enough of a resolution to pass. The adults weren't allowed to stay, of course, but visitation rights were allowed outside of normal approved days.
He had been informed, naturally, that his own parents would be arriving to check on Harriet, and that was when his cowardice emerged. Instead of meeting them, along with Hermione's, he hid. He could have faced the consequences, suffered through the berating of how he had failed to protect them, how he had brought one catastrophe after another, but he didn't.
Harry didn't want to see their anger, their disdain, their hate.
After everything that had happened recently, he was sure that would be the final breaking point.
***HP:O ***
"This was not my intention."
The elderly woman didn't answer, merely continued packing up a few of the personal trinkets that were lying about her office. She knew it was going to happen, knew this result would be inevitable, but it still filled her with so many emotions it was hard to discern each one.
A letter had arrived from the Board, a decision made to appease both sides, along with the press.
Sadness, most certainly. Hogwarts had been not just a place of employment but a source of friendship and life fulfillment she had desperately needed.
Fear, of course. With both her and Riddle removed, the students would be far more vulnerable. She could only pray that Harry would leave the situation to the adults as she had begged him to do so. If it was concerning having a group of professors attempt to infiltrate the Chamber, then a schoolboy doing so would likely be damn near suicidal.
He had suffered enough; his family had suffered enough.
There was only a small twinge of hope that this would stop the attacks. But she had hoped before and had ended up disappointed.
A bit of anger as well. Yes, Serena was doing what she felt was best but deep down it still felt like a betrayal. In the end the professor had gone with her own mistrust rather than any sort of confidence in her colleagues.
"Augustina, I hope you understand."
This caused the Headmistress to pause and look over at the woman, remorse evident in the professor's eyes but not enough in her opinion. "I do understand."
"I had no choice in the matter. Students are being put in danger and nothing is being done."
Dumbledore nodded. It was true what she said. Far too many children had been harmed, far too many petrified to ignore. Had Albus Dumbledore fail in the same way she did?
Snape shifted a tad in discomfort, "I did not intend for you to be dismissed from the school."
"No, no of course not, but it certainly helped you achieve your goals did it not?" The woman's gaze snapped to her senior, eyes widening ever so slightly. Augustina didn't think she needed to explain the obvious, but she was wrong once again. "Your appointment as Head of Slytherin House. I'm sure that once a new Headmistress is brought in you will be able to make your case for Defense professor as well."
Serena quickly shook her head, "No, no that isn't what this is about."
The older witch tilted her head to the side, "Yet it was the result was it not? You must have let slip your own ambition, as part of your testimony."
Now there was shame in the other's eyes, and Dumbledore felt just a hint of satisfaction.
"This will all be over quickly Augustina, I promise. The attacks will stop, you will be able to return to your position. Everything will be fine, I promise."
Dumbledore picked up the trunk containing her personal effects and with a muttered, "I hope you're right" walked out the door.
***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