Double
Thank you to my beta, Darth Marrs, for his help on this chapter.
-appletart55
Chapter Six
"So, let me get this straight…" said Sirius. He sat on a chair in the room Harry, Ron and Hermione shared. "You three started up your own company—"
"Well, a training group named Dumbledore's Army," said Hermione.
"—You started Dumbledore's Army and trained students in defense magic?"
"Yes," said Harry. "We did."
"And you want to start up this group again for the students at Hogwarts?"
"Yes," said Ron. "We want to teach anyone who is willing."
"What's in it for you?" asked Sirius. He was smoking. He blew out a smoke ring that got bigger and bigger as it floated to the ceiling.
"Well, we want you to teach us more advanced spells," said Ron.
"We want you and the other Order members to teach us more advanced spells," corrected Harry.
"We could use any knowledge that you can give us," finished Hermione.
"I see," said Sirius. He looked thoughtful. "All right. I'll make you a deal. If your company of Hogwarts students is capable enough… if they grow to be as advanced at defense as you suggest that they will be… Well, then I'll teach you."
"Oh, don't worry… they'll be capable," said Ron with a smirk.
"We know a lot about fighting dark wizards," said Hermione casually.
"You could even say we're experts," said Harry with a laugh.
Sirius raised his eyebrow. "Right," he said.
Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a big room in Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. It was fairly clean. The sheets were washed and the curtains were pulled back so that the bright light from the outside filtered into the bedroom.
Hermione was reading a book on her bed.
Harry and Ron were playing chess on the bed that the two shared.
"Hermione, why are you reading that?" asked Ron.
"Well, you heard Sirius. We have to enroll at Hogwarts so that we can start up Dumbledore's Army again. I want to read up on more defensive spells before then."
"Why?" asked Ron. "We know a lot already."
"Yes, but we really need to impress Sirius when we teach the other students. If we impress him who knows what type of magic he can teach us. It's best to be prepared."
Harry sighed. He sat up. "Fine, fine. We'll help you as soon as we're done this chess game," said Harry.
Hermione perked up and smiled. "Great," said Hermione. "Three heads are better than one."
"Yeah," said Ron. "That's true for everything except three-headed guard dogs."
"That goes without saying," said Harry.
Harry, Ron and Hermione whispered to each other in their seats at the kitchen table.
Mrs. Weasley—the other Mrs. Weasley—was staying with Harry, Ron and Hermione at the Order Headquarters to watch over the trio. Many different people entered the Order Headquarters throughout the day. They came in for meetings, for conversation and to take a look at the three dimension-travelers.
They also came in for a bite of Mrs. Weasley's delicious home-cooked meals.
"You ask her," said Harry to Ron.
Hermione nodded.
"Oh, all right," said Ron with a sigh. "Mu—I mean, Mrs. Weasley? Can I ask you something?"
Mrs. Weasley was taking something out of the oven. It was three Shepard's pies. The scent made Harry, Ron and Hermione's mouth water.
"Yes, sure, dear," said Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley seemed nervous around the three of them. She was especially nervous around Ron.
Harry thought that it was because Ron looked like Mrs. Weasley's dead son.
"We wondered if you could tell us about the Potter family."
Mrs. Weasley glanced at Harry. "If you have questions about the Potters maybe you should ask Lily and James."
"We had a few simple questions," said Ron. "It's really nothing."
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "All right. I'll see if I can answer your questions," she said.
"Well, we heard that the second oldest Potter—the other Harrry—is a Quidditch player," said Ron.
Mrs. Weasley looked relieved at his line of questioning. "Yes, I believe he is. He is a Chaser for the Gryffindor team. He is a Chaser like my son, Fred. Fred's twin brother, George, is he Gryffindor team's Keeper."
"I see," said Ron. Ron smiled. He seemed as interested in this world's Weasley family as Harry and Hermione were to their own counterparts. "That's great. Did he become a Chaser when he was young? Our Harry became a Seeker when he was a first-year. Did something like that happen to the Harry here?"
"No, I believe he became a Chaser in his third-year," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Well, is there anything else that makes Harry special?"
Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Well, there was an incident with a snake some time ago. It began when Harry was a first-year at Hogwarts. He was in Professor Sprout's Herbology class. There was a field class that day. The Herbology class was out by a meadow gathering some sort of berry or another that the students planned to use in their potions class later in the week. Harry was a little-ways adrift from the rest of the class. He found a small garden snake curled up in the sun. Harry almost stepped on the snake. As a result, the snake bit Harry. And it began to talk. In fact, I believe the snake called Harry a 'left-footed-flummoxed-fool.'"
Harry stood up straighter. "This world's Harry Potter is a Parselmouth?" asked Harry.
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Yes," she said simply. "He even has a snake-familiar. The snake-familiar is a horned-serpent named Al."
"That's interesting," said Ron.
"Yes, it is very," said Mrs. Weasley. "Is that all you wanted to know?"
Ron nodded.
Hermione smiled.
Harry raised his eyebrow. "Yes, that's all," he said out-loud.
For now, finished Harry in his mind.
The next few days flew by in a blur. Harry, Ron and Hermione went shopping to prepare themselves for Hogwarts. The three did not confide to the Order members about how the three of them managed to acquire money for the shopping expedition. They lied and said that they brought money with them from their world.
Instead, the Trio stole money from various muggles dressed as businessmen like they did the last time they were in London.
Soon enough it was the Trio's last day at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Harry, Ron and Hermione's bags were packed. They prepared to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley.
Ron approached Mrs. Weasley with a kind smile. "Thank you for everything," he said in a polite way.
"Yes, thank you," said Hermione.
"Your cooking was delicious," added Harry.
Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Thank you, my dears," she said. "Now, off with you. You need just a handful of Floo powder to make it to Hogwarts."
"We'll see you later," said Harry casually.
Then, the three were gone.
Harry wore a magical brown wig over his head. The wig was kept on by magic so he didn't have to fear anything when he did things like swim, duel or teach defense classes for the new Dumbledore's Army.
"I just had a thought," said Harry to Ron and Hermione.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"What should we call Dumbledore's Army?" asked Harry. "The students here don't know Dumbledore."
"Let's call it what it is," said Ron. "Let's call it The War Trials."
Harry nodded. "Nice one," he said.
Ron looked pleased.
Headmaster Black stood at the front of the Great Hall. Harry, Ron and Hermione were there, too.
Harry was the only one wearing a wig, blue contacts and other magical enhancements to hide who he was. Ron didn't need a disguise because his other-self died years ago when he was eight-years-old. Hermione didn't need a disguise because the other-her was a muggle. This world didn't allow muggles to study at Hogwarts regardless of the student's natural acumen.
"Hello, everyone," said Sirius. "Before we start dinner I'd like to make an announcement. We have three special exchange students here that have come in from America. Their names are Max Kensington, Johnathan Wilson and Helena Harper."
Harry, Ron and Hermione smiled at the students who sat at their respective Hogwarts House tables. The Hogwarts students whispered among themselves.
"These three students will now try on the Sorting Hat to be Sorted into their Houses," said Sirius. "Now, let's begin. Ladies first, Ms. Harper. Please step forward and take a seat on the stool. Place the Sorting Hat on your head. The Sorting Hat will tell you what House you should be placed in."
Hermione did as she was instructed. She walked to the stool, sat down and calmly placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
The entire Great Hall waited impatiently for the Sorting Hat to make its decision. After fifteen minutes the students began to talk to one another.
"What's taking so long?" said someone.
"She's a Hat-Stall," said another nameless face.
"She looks live a Ravenclaw to me," said another stranger.
The minutes ticked on. Finally, the Sorting Hat made its decision.
"Ms. Helena Harper will be placed in…. Gryffindor!" said the Sorting Hat.
The Gryffindor table cheered enthusiastically. Harry and Ron glanced at each other with twin smiles on their faces.
"That's fine," said Sirius. "Mr. Johnathan Wilson…. You are next."
Ron started. It seemed like he almost forgot his new name.
Harry shoved him into moving. Ron tried his best to act casual as he walked to the stool that the Sorting Hat was sitting on.
Ron placed the Sorting Hat on his head. It only took a few seconds for the Sorting Hat to make his announcement.
"All right," said the Sorting Hat. "This is an easy one. This boy, Johnathan Wilson, belongs in… Gryffindor!"
Ron sighed in relief. Harry laughed.
Like there was every any real doubt, thought Harry to himself.
"Finally, will Mr. Max Kensington please step forward and place the Sorting Hat on his head," said Sirius.
Harry did as he was instructed to do. He walked over to the stool where the Sorting Hat sat and placed the old, dirty Sorting Hat on his head.
"Well, well, well…" said the Sorting Hat. "You're another special case. Max Kensington… That's a fine alias. But, you are a traveler from another world, aren't you?"
"Yes," thought Harry to the Sorting Hat. "I am."
"Your true name is… Ah, it is Harry Potter. My, my… we have another one of him here as well."
Harry chuckled. "Yes. I've heard that."
"Well, this should prove to be an interesting year with you three here," said the Sorting Hat.
Harry shrugged. "Well, I aim to please," he said to the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Fine, fine," replied the Sorting Hat. "Well, we should get down to business as it were. Let me see… let me see…"
"Am I a difficult case?" asked Harry.
"Yes, you are…" said the Sorting Hat. "There's a lot of things in this head of yours. You have been through many trials... many troubles… many dangerous situations… Yet, you have succeeded in all the endeavors placed before you."
"The dragon was a bit annoying," said Harry casually. "And I thought that the mermaids would be prettier than they actually were. That was a bit of a let-down."
"Well, adventures aren't always what people expect them to be," said the Sorting Hat wisely.
"That's true," said Harry. "I should know. I've been in my fair share of them."
Harry could feel the Sorting Hat as he shifted through his thoughts. ""All right," said the Sorting Hat after a moment of silence. "I have come to my decision."
"Attention: Hogwarts students," proclaimed the Sorting Hat in a loud voice. "I have decided on where to place Mr. Kensington."
The students in the Great Hall sat up straighter at the Sorting Hat's announcement.
"Mr. Max Kensington would do well in Hufflepuff… he is loyal, smart and strong. He is a team-player through-and-through."
The Hufflepuff students who wore yellow and brown ties began to clap.
"However, he does not belong in Hufflepuff," said the Sorting Hat.
The Hufflepuff students began to mutter to each other.
"Mr. Max Kensington would do well in Ravenclaw… he is intelligent, curious and unorthodox. He sees the world in a different way than most people do... However, he does not belong in Ravenclaw."
"Damn it, we're hungry," said a familiar red-headed boy who sat at the Gryffindor House table. It looked like either Fred or George.
"All right, keep your shirt on," grumped the Sorting Hat. "Because it must be said that Mr. Max Kensington would do well in Slytherin. He is sly, clever and cunning. He owns all the traits of that House that would please even Salazar Slytherin himself."
"But does he belong in that House?" asked the other Weasley twin that looked to be either Fred or George.
"No, he does not belong in that House, Spawn-of-Weasley," said the Sorting Hat. "He belongs in…"
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Weasley twins together.
"That's the only House left," said one-to-the-other.
"I hope he looks good in maroon and red," said the other-to-the-one.
"Huh, Gryffindor," said Harry casually. He sat up, took the Sorting Hat off of his head and placed it back on the stool. "Who'd have figured?"