A/N No you are not missing anything. This begins in media res. Its sort of based on a through the mirror darkly idea where the children of a victorious Harry Potter accidentally wind up in the universe of a first year Harry Potter. A Universe where Dumbledore has not given up on his ideas of controlling muggles and ruling the world, all for the greater good of course.
DUmbledore is EVIL. He still wants to rule the world.
Ron and Ginny are not evil per se just raised badly by a woman who is domineering and evil.
Lily Potter Harry's mother convinced death to bring the children over to set events in motion to get Harry out of that universe.
They are first years but still have to grow up quick.
The magic portal had closed behind their four friends. A long last look given by Harry to the girl who had carried the spirit of his mother. She had even been named Lily like her by her father, an alternate reality version of himself. Her last words to him had been whispered in his ears. "Remember Harry a mother's love is forever. Stick close to Hermione you'll need her. Now good bye my sweet boy."
The hall had fallen silent as the four students gathered their things and said goodbye. The older versions of Harry, Hermione and three other blonde women and some tall muscular blonde man stood on the other side of the portal. Harry waved to the older version of himself. A tall well dressed healthy looking man without glasses who smiled at him. That his friends Celeste and Lisa had run to calling daddy. How he smiled and grabbed them like he had never expected to see them again. How the blonde version of Hermione had smiled and waved at herself. Hermione smiling back in a bemused way, gently stroking her own brown tresses.
When the four had gone through Harry almost wanted to run and jump through himself. He felt a restraining hand on his arm though as Dumbledore had walked up beside him. He looked down at Harry with sad blue eyes and shook his head. By the time Harry had turned back to the portal it was contracting and closing. He waved goodbye and saw his friends where already talking a thousand words a second to their parents. A last sudden wave by Celeste all that there was.
The sudden silence of the hall was broken by Ron snorting, "Geez Hermione you actually look hot as a blonde."
Hermione shot him a look of pure anger, "As if it matters to you. I didn't notice you in that group on the other side."
"Yeah well apparently because I'm some big shot magic cop in France." He retorted, "Married to a hot chick."
"Yes yes. Well that world has returned to their natural path as has ours. Lets work to move on and live our lives." Dumbledore said releasing Harry's arm and patting it.
Harry somehow felt he had been cheated out of something special.
Hermione leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek. He put his hand up and turned to her.
"I thought I'd practice to see how it felt. Besides you looked like you needed a kiss."
Ron just glared at them for some reason. "Oi hey don't need to get all mushy cause some other dimensional version of you two got together. And if you'll recall you where just part of Harry's Harem."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "And? Harry loved each of his wives just fine it seemed like."
"Yeah of course that's what their kids are going to think. Who knows what that Harry was really like. And that bloke that married my kid sister? I didn't like the way he looked." Ron grumped. Everyone else around them ignored him except Neville.
"Hey I turned out pretty good. With two pretty blondes. And the pictures she showed us of her aunt, your sister, she didn't look like a little kid needing help."
"Just stuff it Neville." Ron said glaring at the boy who glared back.
Draco across the hall shouted out, "Aw trouble in Potterville there scarhead."
Ron shouted back, "Oi stuff it Malfoy."
McGonnegal stood up. "Both of you will be in detention after dinner and every night the rest of this week. Now both of you stuff it." And she sat back down. With a small smattering of applause.
Dumbledore sat there frowning. Snape was looking very thoughtful about something and the other teachers and students all seemed to be moving back to their normal lives. The excitement of their friendship with the dimensional travelers already being forgotten.
The rest of the dinner was spent quietly thinking for Harry, Hermione and Neville. Ron was quiet because he was sulking at spending the evening in detention with Draco for McGonnegal.
When they got to the common room Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him to a corner sofa. She sat down beside him.
"Harry now that they are gone maybe we should talk about what they said about us."
"what do you mean? Like us, us."
Hermione smiled. "Well I'm a bit young to be considering children but being your friend with the potential to be more later as we grow would be good." She paused and bit her lower lip again. "That is if you want to Harry."
Harry smiled, "Yeah I'd like to be friends and , maybe more someday."
Hermione hugged him and he hugged her back until they had a voice break into their private world.
"Well look here dear brother,
"It would seem that the Potters
"Are practicing for getting
"Their kids back." The twins said sitting down by them.
Blushing Harry and Hermione broke apart so fast they flew to the other ends of the sofa.
"Hey no fear my young
"couple of lovers
"we're on your side."
"What do you mean?" Hermione said blinking.
"What do we mean?"
"We mean that we fully support the two of you
"From everything the little chatterbox said
"You need each other."
"Especially if Dumbledore here
"is as bad as he was there."
"Professor Dumbledore is a good man." Hermione said sticking up for him.
"Maybe he is
"maybe he isn't
"but still there is our dear Ronnikins
"to consider."
"What about Ron?" Harry was confused. Ron was his friend.
"Dear Ronnikins has a serious case
"of the green eyed monster
"Dear Harry."
"Of me or the other me?" Harry squeaked.
"I'm not entirely
"Sure he knows
"or cares."
"as far as he's concerned
"you and the other you
"are the same person."
"that's crazy." He grumped.
"Is it really?" Hermione said.
"hunh?" Harry was not following. As far as he was concerned he was himself and the other Harry was just some guy.
"Well I was thinking and reading some things. He is a version of you that had a different life because things went differently. Apparently they shared the same history we would have until their third year when his wife Megan rescued you from the Dursleys. So While he is not you, he is A you that went down a different path. " Hermione explained like it was obvious.
"And Ron is jealous of that me so he's blaming me?" Harry tried to figure that out. "That's still crazy."
"And that my dear
Harry is our
brother Ron."
"Neville do you understand any of this?" Harry called out to his friend.
"No. Nor do I really care. I'm going to bed as tomorrow is stair day."
"You're going to keep doing that stuff?" Lavender said.
"Yeah why not. Right Harry, Hermione?" He almost sounded like he was pleading a bit.
Harry looked at Hermione who nodded. "Yeah we still have the schedule she wrote down and all for us. So we'll keep doing it. If anyone else wants to as well?"
Several other students agreed, especially the Quidditch team. Oliver said that stronger legs had helped with the control of the brooms so he was all for it.
Harry gave Hermione another hug good night and a kiss on the cheek which caused her to blush.
The next few days where pretty normal. Ron had given a halfway decent attempt at sticking with the physical routine but enjoyed sleeping up until it was time for breakfast so stopped. Hermione and Harry spent a lot of time talking and learning about each other. He talked to her about the way she came off as a know it all and bossy. Which she hadn't realized. She also talked to him about his family and home life as well as his studies. He agreed that Ron was dragging him down a bit so he started studying more. Which made Ron even more mad as they did not spend as much time playing wizard chess, or exploding snap and such. Neville was talking to Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot a lot more. Getting to know them as friends. Given that the entire school had heard all of the stories the chatterbox Celeste and Lisa had told there was little surprise when these things happened.
Draco and his goons found it quite fun to start calling Hermione Mrs Potter and ask how the kids where doing until she grabbed Harry's arm one day and said things where just fine and for Harry to come along dear. Harry playing along by replying yes dear as well. Draco fell over laughing after he made whip cracking noises. Harry and Hermione just ignored him.
The next day in potions class Snape before the bell rang called out, "IF MR and Mrs Potter would please remain after I would like to speak with them."
Draco and several other Slytherins found that funny. Ron grumbled something under his breath and just slammed his books into his bag.
Harry kinda liked the way that sounded but was still curious why Snape was joining in the joke. He looked at Hermione who just shrugged. But she had a funny little smile on her face too at hearing the Mr and Mrs Potter.
After the last student left Snape closed the door and locked it. He cast a couple other spells and then turned to them. Sighing he sat on a stool in front of them. "Harry, Hermione. I do not have a lot of time right at the moment but I would like to let you both know that I am willing to be on your side in this."
They looked at each other in confusion then looked back at the professor. "We don't understand. Hermione explained,
"I am certain you do not. There is far too much to explain in one moment between classes. Come to my office one half hour after dinner and we can speak more privately tell your fellow Gryffindors you have detention or whatever you feel like. If anyone asks me I will say you are being given detention for insufferable intransigence. I am also not going to be polite to you in public as we must keep appearances up. But I want you to know. I am sorry for being so mean and rude to you. I should not have." He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and gave it a brief squeeze.
Harry was blinking rapidly in confusion again, "Yes sir. Apology accepted."
"Good now you need to get to your next class. Remember a half hour after dinner has ended." He then gave them notes and opened the door. "Now remember what I told you and get to your next class. That will be all." As they rushed out in front of the other students trying to get into the classroom.
"What was that all about?" Harry looked to Hermione for an explanation.
"I have no idea at all." Hermione said in wonder.
Their day went well. Draco laughing about how even Snape was getting into the joke. And how maybe for their detention he was going to make them get married in front of him. Hermione tried to explain how lame that insult really was but it went right over his head. Only this time Ron seemed to side with Draco, or at least didn't stick up for Hermione and Harry like he used to.
After dinner they went to Snape's office at the appropriate time. They where both nervous and begun to hold hands without noticing it. Knocking on his office door Snape opened it then looked at their linked hands. To their surprise he smiled and beckoned them in.
Closing the door he locked it and cast several charms. "Please sit down. I am not going to harm either of you. If anything I have done you a great disservice Harry and need to atone for it. At least we can speak without being observed now."
"Sir? Who would observe us?"
"Our esteemed headmaster. He has taken a great interest in your love life. He is not pleased to think that you might be growing closer I must warn you."
"But that's silly sir. Why would the headmaster not like Harry and I to grow closer."
"I do not know. He has asked me to observe the two of you and attempt to discourage any as he put it patty fingers or starry moon eyes towards each other."
Hermione was frowning, "But Harry and I are not to that point in our friendship. We're not even sure that we ever will be."
Snape chuckled sadly at that. "I can tell you that when a brilliant witch falls in love with a Potter the universe itself will not stand in the way of her desires. "
"How would you know something about that?" Harry said in a hostile tone of voice.
Snape sat down and smiled sadly. He had been standing in the corner away from the two of them as if they where dangerous animals. He was gong to commit himself to their cause.
"Because I loved your mother Harry until I made a grievous mistake and drove her away. Drove her into the arms of your father who had been pursuing her for six years. I was an angry young man who said and did some things in response to things your father said and did. Things that your mother could not forgive and it ended any hope I had for an us. However your father recognized an opportunity and pulled himself together. He matured and made himself worthy of her. They fell in love and the rest is history as they say." He said in a long soliloquy as if the memories behind the words where painful and he wanted to only say them once.
Harry felt all of the anger and hate drain out of him. "Oh I'm not sure what to say."
"No I am sure you are not. If I had not made that mistake then your mother and I might have remained friends and possible more. It is one of those paths not taken. And after meeting your four friends it makes me wonder if somewhere out there is a world where I was not so stupid." he said sadly.
Hermione puzzled it out and said, "And you see Harry and I like that?"
"The potential was there. In many ways you have his mother's personality. She could be a strong willed woman even as a young girl. But then dealing with such an unpleasant person as her older sister Petunia could do that. You are certainly as talented and skilled as her."
Hermione smiled at the compliment.
"You look nothing like her though. She had such beautiful green eyes. The young lady that just left here was the absolute spitting image of her. So much so I was shocked when I first saw her. I thought she was the Lily I knew come back to life somehow."
"How long did you know my mother?"
"We grew up in the same village. Her father was a manager at the mill where my father worked. So we moved in slightly different social circles until she had a fight with her sister as a result of some bit of accidental magic or something. She was sitting along the creek bank crying when I heard her and showed her a magic trick. I showed her that magic was not something freakish and told her about it. My mother was a good witch who married badly. We became friends that summer. The next year we got our school letters. "
Harry nodded at Snape. Who got up and walked to a cabinet. He opened the door and pulled out a bottle and a glass. Turning he pulled out two more glasses and placed them in front of Harry and Hermione.
"This is merely a fruited seltzer. I do not find the loss of mental acuity from alcohol to be an enjoyable sensation."
"Thank you sir. " They said as he poured them each a glass of the bubbly clear liquid.
"This still doesn't explain why the headmaster would not be happy about Harry and I starting a relationship of more than friends."
"It is not just your relationship that is bothering him, it is your lack of relationship with Mr Weasley."
"Hes upset I stopped being Ron's friend because Ron is a jealous prat?"
"It would seem so for his own reasons. He does not share his secrets very well. "
Hermione was still confused. "Well I still don't see why it would matter to the Headmaster who Harry is friends with."
"Really? Since he has stopped being friends with young Mr Weasley what has he been filling his time with?"
"Studying with me or exercising with our athletics club. Or doing his homework or we sit and talk." Hermione explained.
"yes and the end result of those things are?"
"That Harry has been getting better grades and is better able to understand the work. As well as being more healthy."
"He has also been expanding his circle of friends as well as showing leadership skills."
"No way. I haven't been leading anyone."
"Oh really. Who is the first person to do the running, who is the first person to perform the aerobic exercises. Who does everyone listen to when they are feeling like giving up. You motivate all of the people in your group to do their best. And aside from Mr Weasley how many have stopped participating now that Lisa and the others have left."
Harry blinked and considered. "No one has quit other than Ron."
Hermione nodded, "True as a matter of fact we have had several more join us. Including a couple from Slytherin. Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis."
"Exactly. "
"That still doesn't explain how Harry getting better grades or spending time with me would make the headmaster upset."
"I visited Petunia last weekend." Snape said looking into his glass.
Hermione frowned and started to say something but Harry put his hand on her arm and shook his head.
Sighing Snape continued, "She turned out exactly the way I imagined she would. A vile, snappish, arrogant, horse faced harridan. Her husband is a disgusting blemish on the face of humanity. And your cousin has to be the only person that is capable of making Crabbe and Goyle seem downright intelligent. And the only reason those two are even getting acceptable is that their fathers have donated large amounts to the school funds."
"Do you know what the esteemed headmaster tells anyone who asks about your home life Harry? He tells them that you are treated like royalty with a kind and caring family who love and appreciate you. That your ill fitting clothes and flinching are the result of a muggle affectation. A choice on your part to engender pity and sorrow. That you are not starved and want for nothing. That you are playing ignorant. Having Mr Weasley drag you down to his level, which is little better than Goyle's is not helping that appearance."
Hermione's mouth had dropped open and her face showed how angry she was becoming. "No way sir. Why would he say those things"
"because he has a plan of some kind. I do not know the details of this plan. I know that he has developed a reason for that plan but cannot tell you right now."
"Why not?" Hermione and Harry both asked at the same time.
"because the headmaster uses legilemens to read your minds. Also the lemon drops he offers you are laced with a mild relaxation potion that helps lower your defenses. If you'll notice the bag he offers you is from his left pocket. The bag he eats from comes from his right pocket."
Hermione looked like she was staring off into space but really was examining her memories. Her frown indicated that she saw what Snape was talking about
"So how do we defend ourselves?" She asked eagerly.
"You do not make eye contact with him. That is like opening the door to your mind, You also try to push empty thoughts at him. Do not try to block his thoughts as that will just alert him. Try to fill your head with stupid nonsense like that of your associate Mr Weasley might have. You will also begin to study Occlumancy which is the defense of your mind."
"So who is going to teach us that?" Hermione sounded concerned but excited to learn something new.
"I will so expect to have a great deal many more detentions. We shall have to keep up appearances to make the headmaster happy. To keep him from suspecting that we are working together."
"yes sir."
"And while it may be too late at least try not to kiss or otherwise do too many boyfriend girlfriend things in front of others. He seems to want Harry to be beat down and friendless as much as possible. I do not like that plan."
"I don't either." Hermione said in a voice that brooked no disagreement.
"then lets begin with the first element of Occlumancy. Clearing your mind in meditation.
An hour went by with Harry having the most trouble emptying his mind as he had ever thought possible. Hermione was somewhat better but she still had issues.
Snape shook his head, "Well it was more hope than anything that you might grasp it on the first try. I suppose even you have limits. Well hold out your hands."
When they did so he sprayed a light mist on the front and backs of their hands which started to get a mild red rash.
"Whats this?" Harry said rubbing his hands together?
"A mild irritant that way people will believe that you have been scrubbing cauldrons instead of learning to defend yourself. It will lend credence to your story and make people less willing to question it. Also when you return to the common room be your usual grumpy selves that way people will avoid you."
Hermione smiled. Harry grimly nodded. "I feel weird that we're being friendly sir."
Snape sighed. "Yes I am not entirely certain about this either but the last few weeks have been spent doing some serious soul searching. I hope the headmaster has done the same, but I doubt it."
They returned to the common room upset and angry. Not at Snape but at the headmaster for lying about Harry's life. At Ron for trying to drag Harry down. At a lot of things but fortunately people took a look at their red hands and the smell of cleaning fluid and just shook their head in sympathy.
Going to their separate dorms they did not say goodnight to each other and felt sad. The next day they where off and tried to keep their minds clouded around the headmaster. They talked and studied but did not hold hands or sit too close. Ron thought maybe they where coming to their senses about the relationship stupidity as they where totally not compatible. Ron called her the bossy know it all and wondered how it was she got to be part of his harem. Maybe he needed the other women to help deal with her. This happened before breakfast so by the time they got to the great hall Harry and Hermione had been shouting at Ron about how Harry and Hermione where not incompatible and he was just a jealous git.
"Relationship troubles Mr and Mrs Potter?" Snape interrupted on the way to the teacher's table.
They both turned and glared at him. "No sir. Former friend troubles."
"Well regardless you are causing a disruption to the peaceful breakfast. That will be another detention. Perhaps if you do the dishes together again you'll develop some marital harmony."
"Another detention sir? For arguing with a dunderhead like Ron?"
"And another for arguing with me Mr Potter."
"That's not fair to Harry."
"Then you may join him Mrs Potter." Snape sneered.
Harry looked like he was getting ready to start shouting when Hermione grabbed his arm and dragged him off. "Its not worth it."
Draco was making whip cracking noises and hand gestures while his cadre of fools where laughing. Even a few Hufflepuffs where chuckling at the way Hermione had Harry under control. When she started making a plate for him he turned on her and said loudly. "OK that's enough from you. Don't tell me you're getting into this Mrs Potter thing too."
"I'm just trying to get you to eat your breakfast and stop glaring at everyone."
Harry huffed and took the plate from Hermione and got his own food. She huffed back at him and fixed her own plate. Ron was grinning so much he forgot to grab an extra helping of pancakes.
Their day was tense until lunch when they had a few minutes alone in the history classroom. Binns had vanished so they felt safe giving each other a hug. "I'm sorry Hermione for yelling at you it seemed like a good idea at the time." Harry apologized into her hair.
"I understand. I looked at Dumbledore and he was amused by the whole thing."
"Ron looked like the Chudley Cannons had finally won the world tourney." Harry chuckled.
"Malfoy certainly wasn't much better." Hermione frowned.
"Ok. I'll go in first to lunch. You can follow." Harry told her.
"Why do you get to go first?" Hermione asked as she pulled back from the hug finally.
"Because you're the girl and need to apologize first." Harry said with a smirk.
"Oh you." She said and slapped him on the chest, "Keep that up and I might get really mad at you."
"Ok tomorrow you get to go in first. We'll take turns."
Sighing she sat on a desk. "I can't believe that the headmaster would be planning something bad for you Harry."
"I know."
"Hello whats going on here?" Professor McGonnegal said coming into the room.
"I was trying to talk some sense into Harry that I was just trying to be his friend and not that Mrs Potter stuff that everyone is saying Professor."
"Yes well this is not the Gryffindor common room. So you need to move along. Otherwise some might think you where playing at being Mr and Mrs Potter."
Hermione blushed to hear her favorite teacher imply they where getting up to anything naughty. "Oh no ma'am we are not that kind of friends."
McGonnegal gave a small smile. "Well there is plenty of time for such things, much later. Now it is time for lunch so move along you two."
Harry and Hermione forgot to be mad at each other until after they where already in the great hall. Ron saw the two of them walking close beside each other and grumped, "Oi so the two of you made up did you? That's what took so long to get here from Binns class."
"Yes Ron we stopped and made made passionate love in every broom closet between here and there." Hermione rolled her eyes and held Harry's hand.
Neville just laughed at Ron's confused and then angry face. "Really? Should have gone back up to the dorms. Then you'd at least have had a bed."
Ron whirled on Neville so fast he knocked his goblet over and everyone got a good laugh at the young Weasley leaping up with a lap of pumpkin juice. He didn't find it as funny He got angrier and he saw Neville laughing and close to him so he swung his fist and punched Neville in the face. Who fell backwards holding his bleeding nose. Hermione pulled her wand and cast a quick Stupefy on Ron which dropped him like a sack of potatoes.
McGonnegal was there in an instant checking on him and Neville. "Very well good job Miss Granger. 10 points to you for ending the fight quickly. You two get your brother up to hospital. Mr Longbottom can you walk with me?"
"Yeb ma'ab. I tink my dose is boken." Neville murmured.
"Yes no doubt. Fortunately Madam Pomfrey will have it back to your usual self in no time."
As they left Harry felt the presence of Dumbledore. "Ah good job indeed Miss Granger. Knowing when to end a fight is a very important skill. One far too many do not have."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir."
"Harry I wonder if I might speak with you a few moments."
Harry nodded and followed the Headmaster into the teacher's lounge behind the great hall. "I have very unfortunate news Harry. Your godfather was brought to the mainland from Azkaban in accordance with the new information from Peter Pettigrew. Unfortunately he suffered some sort of seizure. The result of his mind not being able to contemplate the freedom he was being restored to it is believed. He is in Saint Mungo's now being examined and taken care of."
"Can I go see him?"
"Alas I'm afraid the healers all agree that visitors would not be beneficial right now. His mental state is very weak as is his physical. "
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. You'll let me know when we can go see him? Or if anything changes."
"Yes indeed Harry. I have nothing but your utmost care in mind."
Harry went back out to lunch and explained what the Headmaster had told him.
"Do you believe him?"
"I don't know. If he was in prison for the last decade then it could be he isn't very healthy."
"It is rather convenient though. That your godfather gets pulled out of prison but goes into a coma or something and can't have visitors."
Harry just considered things for a bit.
The rest of the day until detention went badly. Ron was beyond angry as he got a series of detentions with McGonnegal for fighting. Even though he was a Lion he was an undisciplined one and would learn it one way or another. He took that anger out by nitpicking Hermione and Harry for all they did. A few times he was laughing with Draco about something then realized it and got angry at him.
When they got to Snape's office they where glad to get out of sight. They didn't care if they where in front of Snape and they fell into a hug of mutual support. After a couple of moments Snape cleared his throat and said, "Yes well it has been a rather trying day. I did not think Mr Weasley that incompetent. Even Misters Crabbe and Goyle are able to control their temper sufficiently to not fight in public."
"So now what?"
"So now we continue your lessons." He said handing them a glass of seltzer.
"Sir you said your mother married badly and you do not like alcohol. You also seemed rather upset by the way the Dursley's treated Harry. Where you abused?" Hermione rushed out before her courage failed her on that question.
Taking a deep drink and looking at her. He slowly nodded, "Yes I was. That's why I was asking so many questions of the headmaster ever since Harry arrived here. He showed all the signs. The ill fighting clothes, the hollow eyed look. The lack of physical contact and flinching when it was initiated. When the headmaster convinced me it was all an act that made me very angry. To pretend to be abused for pity is a disgusting fraud. My father was not a nice man and used his fists quite frequently. Until I developed my powers then he stopped. Permanently eventually."
That caused the room to go silent for a few moments before Hermione asked, "I'm surprised Madam Pomfrey didn't notice it during her exam at the beginning of school."
"That's because she never completed one of Harry. She was obliviated into thinking that she had done so. There is a piece of paper in Harry's file that says she did. But she did not. I can state that unequivocally."
"She was what?"
"Obliviated. A magical spell that alters or erases the memories of the person hit by it. The stronger the mind the less likely they are to be erased but merely removed from accessibility. An artificial memory may be implanted during this process but that increases the difficulty. Any moderately powerful spell-caster could do so to a muggle mind, for a witch of madam Pomfrey's ability level the caster would have to be rather powerful themselves."
"And Occlumancy will help protect against that?"
"yes. More or less."
"Then lets get busy."
The detention went well. With them meditating and getting better at clearing their minds. Then visualizing a wall of stone to keep an invading mind out. It wasn't subtle but it was not meant to be. It was meant to resist a brute force assault on their mind.
As the evening ended Harry hugged her before they left. "Since I wont get to in front of everyone." She smiled and Snape said good night after giving them their moment.