Being stuck in a different reality wasn't much fun. But at least Hogwarts kitchens were still producing good food.

Ron sat down on the bed of his counterpart. He didn't feel comfortable calling it "his" bed, because it wasn't. The person whose normally occupied this bed was… somewhere. Either in Ron's reality, or… somewhere in this reality, but hidden away. Ron had a bad feeling that what he had initially assumed to be a simple switching of people was not quite as straightforward as it appeared.

There was a knock at the door.

'Hey, Ron, are you-'

This world's version of Ginny had entered the room. She was a bit taller than the Ginny Ron knew, and didn't have the freckles. But, aside from that, she was almost identical to the sister Ron had.

'I heard about this prank of the twins,' she said, sitting down next to him. 'I didn't realise how much it had changed.'

'Er… thanks,' Ron said. 'The height is a nice bonus.'

Not-Ginny stared at him.

'You're not my brother, are you?'

Ron's eyes widened as he stared at her. His eyes flicked around them, but there was no-one else around. The dormitory was deserted; everyone else was still at lunch.

'I… I can't…'

'Classified, I take it?' Ginny asked, turning her head to one side. 'Nevermind. But I can tell. You're a different person entirely.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Can you find out what happened to Ron?'

Ron stared at Ginny. Even though she wasn't his sister, he still felt that familiar sibling protectiveness, and he knew just how much she was worried about the Ron that he had been switched with.

'I'll try,' he said, quietly. 'We'll find him.'

'Thank you,' Ginny said, smiling.

'Don't tell this world's Hermione about this,' he said. 'I… I can't shake the feeling that something isn't right.'

Ginny nodded.

'Okay. Now that you mention it, something's been different about her for a while. Certainly this year, she's been… strange.'

'Strange?' Ron asked. 'How strange?'

'I dunno,' Ginny said. 'Well, she's been a lot harsher to Ron. And you saw how she treats both you and Harry. Like she doesn't think either of you are smart.'

Ron nodded.

'I see what you mean. Yeah, I've noticed that too.'

'Do… do you think she was switched with someone else?'

'It's definitely possible,' Ron said, frowning. 'But that wouldn't explain why she was apparently like this two years ago, but then changed back to being more herself in fifth year. Like… did the original come back or something? Why didn't she say anything to any of you?'

Ginny leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes in thought.

'Something or someone is definitely causing all this,' she said. 'I just hope we can stop it before things get worse.'

Ron smiled.

'Me too, Ginny. Me too.'


'Mr Weasley, am I boring you?'

Ron shook himself back to reality. He had drifted off during the afternoons first lesson of Defence Against The Dark Arts. It turns out Snape had gotten the job that year in this universe, too. Shame, really.

'You're the teacher,' he said, frowning as Snape strode over to stand in front of his desk. 'You tell me.'

'Mr Weasley, given your own ineptitude in every subject you take, I would encourage you not to-'

'Oh, sod off, you greasy-haired git!' Ron snapped. He had stood up from his chair, and slammed his hands onto the desk before him. He was at least the same height as the Defence master. 'Maybe I'd be a better student if you actually taught your subject properly! So how about you rethink your life choices, get some decent shampoo, and stop blaming others for your own failures!'

Not-Snape's eyes seemed to bulge with shock. The class around them fell into a hushed silence, as if they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

'Weasley…' Not-Snape growled.

'Detention, perhaps?' Ron said, not backing down. 'Or maybe writing lines? How about "I must tell lies to appease the ego of my stupid prat of a teacher"? Or "a sad little man made me write this because he likes bullying the children in his care", maybe?'

At that moment, the bell rang. Not-Snape seemed so shocked, that he didn't even bother to stop Ron as he grabbed his bag and stormed out of the class. He didn't stop walking until he was several corridors away.

'Ron…' Harry gasped, as he caught up with him.

'He deserved it,' Ron said. 'I've been waiting to tell him that for years. In my reality, he was horrible to Neville, Harry and Hermione in every lesson we had with him. It's a miracle he was never sacked.'

'Ron, you can't just talk back to Snape like that; what about your cover?'

'Your Ron likely thought the exact same about Snape; it's not that much of a stretch to assume he would reach the end of his tether either.'

'I guess,' Harry said. 'Listen, I gotta get to a meeting with Dumbledore; can you find your way back to Gryffindor Tower okay?'

'Already memorised it,' Ron replied, shrugging. 'Compared to where I'm from, this castle is a doddle to navigate.'

Harry chuckled, clapping Ron friendly on the arm before heading off down the corridor.

Ron smiled. This Harry was a good bloke.

'Hello, Ronald.'

Ron whirled round.

There was no mistaking her; she was the Luna Lovegood of this reality. Her eyes were smaller and were blue, while her hair was more a light blonde compared to the dirty-blonde that Ron was used to. Her accent was Irish.

'Er… hi.'

Luna stared at him for a second.

'How are you settling into this reality?'

Ron goggled at her.

'W-what are you-' he stammered, quickly looking around to make sure no-one else was around. Ron then grabbed Luna by the arm and hurriedly pulled her into a nearby alcove. 'Don't just blurt that out in public! What if someone overheard?'

'Oh, are you keeping it a secret?' Luna replied, staring up at him. 'That sounds interesting.'

'How did you even know?'

'Oh, just your expression. I can tell you were trying to guess who I am. Is the Luna from your reality similar?'

Ron ran his hand through his hair. Of bloody course Luna would be able to tell that just from a glance.

'Please don't tell anyone,' he said, quietly. 'This is serious stuff, Luna. Something's seriously wrong with this reality and I need people to think I'm their Ron for the time being.'

'I won't tell,' Luna said. 'I promise you.'

Ron smiled.

'Thanks, Luna-'

'What are you two doing?'

Ron whipped round. Ginny was stood nearby, a slightly suspicious look on her face.

'Ronald was asking me about Wrackspurts.' Luna said, without any hesitation. 'They go inside your head and make your brain all fluffy-'

'It's okay, Luna,' Ron said. 'Ginny knows.'

'I see,' Luna replied. 'Well, it is most interesting. I'm going to go down to the kitchens and see if they have any pudding. Goodbye.'

And, with that, she slipped out of the alcove and skipped away down the corridor, her long blonde hair dancing on the back of her robes.

Ginny turned to Ron, a knowing look on her face.

'So… you're dating the Luna from your reality, then?'

Ron's ears burned.

'Was it that obvious?'

'Not really,' Ginny replied, smiling. 'But I got the sense that you were very used to being around her; our Ron isn't that close with Luna.'

Ron sighed.

'Yeah… I miss her. I miss them all.'

'We're gonna get your home, Ron,' Ginny said. 'Don't you worry.'

Ron smiled.

'Thanks, Ginny. You're a good sister.'

'I try,' Ginny said, giving him a friendly pat on the arm.


Ron needed to tell Harry.

They were sat in the Gryffindor common room. It was evening. Not-Hermione had finally gone up to the girls dormitory. The common room was empty around them.

'Harry,' Ron said, leaning forward. 'I… I think that something is up with this reality's version of-'

Tap, tap.

They turned. An owl was stood on the windowsill, tapping at the glass with its claw. A letter was in the other claw.

Harry strode over to the window, and let the owl in. It offered the letter to him.

'It's from Dumbledore!' Harry said, after he had pulled the letter out of its envelope. 'He needs us to go to his office immediately!'

'Right, we need to hurry.'

'Hurry?'

Not-Hermione had appeared. Her eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

'Harry, what's going on?'

Ron shared a look with Harry.

'Er… can you hang on a sec?' Ron said, before grabbing Harry by the arm and pulling him over to the boys dormitory steps. After reaching the top of the staircase, Ron turned to a confused Harry.

'What was that about?'

Ron sighed. How the hell was he supposed to explain this? To Harry, Not-Hermione was still his other best friend.

'Harry… I really don't think we can trust her with this.'

Harry looked at him in bafflement.

'What? She's Hermione, of course we can trust her.'

Ron took a breath. He had been afraid of this. Well, there really wasn't any other way of making things clear. Ron had never been great when it came to this sort of this, but there really wasn't any other option. He had to tell Harry.

'That's what I wanted to talk to you about before. I don't think she is Hermione.'

Harry's brow furrowed.

'How do you mean?'

'I don't think I was the only one who got replaced.'

Harry goggled at him, his blue eyes widening in shock.

'You… you think Hermione was switched too?'

'Yeah, but…' Ron said, hesitantly. 'I think Hermione was switched at the start of this year. Ginny mentioned that things have been different this year. And… well, I don't think this Hermione has good intentions. I think I was sent here to throw people off the trail.'

Harry's face paled.

'What… what should we do?'

'We best keep her when we can keep an eye on her. Otherwise she'll get more suspicious than she already is.'

Harry nodded, his face lined with worry.

'Okay.'

Ron sighed. The two of them turned and headed downstairs.

About fifteen minutes, the two boys and not-Hermione had arrived at the griffin statue in front of Dumbledore's office, which had swung open with any password being given. The three of them ascended the staircase, and pushed open the office door.

Dumbledore looked grave, looking far older than the headmaster Ron knew.

'There is an urgent incident at the ministry,' the venerable wizard said, his tone serious. 'In the department of mysteries. I cannot go with you just yet, but you can travel there using the fireplace. Remus and a few others are there already. I will follow shortly.'

The fireplace erupted in green flames.

Harry and Ron exchanged a nod. The bespectacled boy stepped into the flames. With a whoosh, he disappeared.

Without hesitation, Not-Hermione stepped into the fire, and was gone too.

'Ron?'

Ron turned. Dumbledore was stood nearby.

'I think this is why you were sent here.'

Ron nodded.

'I've been wondering about that, myself,' he replied. 'Something very wrong is happening at the ministry.'

Dumbledore nodded.

'Not just at the ministry, either,' the headmaster said. 'Someone's been tampering with reality, Ron.'

Ron swallowed nervously, but nodded slightly in agreement.

'Don't worry; I'll stop it. I promise you.'

And, with that, he stepped into the fire. The green flames surrounded him, and Ron was sent flying into the floo network.


Thanks for reading, everyone; hope you enjoyed the second chapter! As always, please leave a review if you enjoyed it (if you leave a guest review, I won't be able to respond, though) and favourite the fic so you can be notified when new chapters are published.