Double
Thanks to my beta, Darth Marrs, for his help on this chapter.
Chapter Seven
"Which bed do you want?" asked Ron.
"I'll get this one," said Harry.
Harry chose the bed closest to the window. Harry and Ron began to unpack both of their new clothes. The other Gryffindor boys were in the dormitory, too. They prepared for bed.
Harry decided to be the first one to approach them for introductions.
"Hi, I'm Max," said Harry. "This is my friend, Johnathan. But I guess you guys already know that."
"Yes, we heard Headmaster Black," said a plain-faced boy. He looked like this-world's Neville Longbottom. He was stockier and taller in this world though.
"What's your name?" asked Harry.
"My name's Neville Longbottom," said this world's Neville. "And these are my friends: Harry Potter, Seamus Finnigan, Terry Boot and Jake Wetherton."
Neville pointed to the other boys in the dormitory.
Harry smiled and nodded at the four boys. However, Harry took a special interest at his other self.
This-world's-Harry was taller and broader. He had short cropped hair. He still had the same green eyes as Lily Potter though.
"So, Harry," said Harry-as-Max. Harry tried his best not to crack-up at the fact that he was talking to his other-self from another universe. "I hear your father's an Auror."
This-world's-Harry looked surprised. "Yes, he is. Where did you hear that? Most people don't know about that. In fact, it's a secret."
Harry-as-Max frowned. Lily didn't mention that, thought Harry.
"We know your family," provided Ron. "We know James and Lily."
"Oh," said this-world's-Harry. "Have you attended one of our huge Christmas parties during the hols or something?"
Harry-as-Max shrugged. Yes! That's it! "It's something like that," he said instead.
Harry yawned. He could hear his new classmates stirring.
"Are you awake, Max?" asked Ron-who-was-Johnathan.
"Yes, Johnathan, I'm up," said Harry.
The two dressed and went downstairs to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione-as-Helena was there.
"Ready for breakfast?" asked Hermione.
"Yes. Let's go," said Harry.
The Trio walked down to the Great Hall from the Gryffindor common room.
The three ate their breakfast at a leisurely pace. They ignored the whispers of their new classmates.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Hermione at breakfast.
"Yes, I slept like the dead," said Ron. He ate with his usual gusto.
"I slept like the dead," said Harry. "But the Gryffindor dormitories are my home—always were and always will be."
Hermione smiled. "I know what you mean," she said.
The rest of the day flew by quickly. The Trio had Defense, Transfiguration and Herbology. The classes were easy. The curriculum at this world's Hogwarts didn't seem as advanced at the curriculum in their world.
Harry asked Hermione why that might be the case at dinner.
"Well, it's fairly simple," said Hermione. "This world's education system might be at a standstill because everyone is focused on the War. People don't have time to update the curriculum to the newest educational discoveries. They don't have time to update the curriculum to the more advanced teaching methods either. This world is just different from ours."
"I see," said Harry thoughtfully.
Ron grinned between bites of his kidney-pie. "Well, Hermione sees anyway," said Ron conversationally.
Harry laughed.
Hermione hit Ron on the arm.
The three ate their dinner and headed to bed.
"Psst… Hermione, Ron," said Harry the next day. Harry was sitting at his usual seat on the pink couch that was in front of the fireplace. Ron sat next to him. Hermione was also on the couch. She was looking at some of her notes for class. "Let's try to go to the Room of Requirement again. We need to see if we can use the room like we did before for Dumbledore's Army... and we need to double-check to see whether or not we can return to our old world using it."
"All right," said Hermione.
"I'm game," said Ron.
Fifteen-minutes later the Trio stood in front of the blank stretch of wall that led to the Room of Requirement. Harry, Ron and Hermione took turns walking back-and-forth in front of the stone wall to try and open the door to their world.
Nothing happened.
"Great," said Ron. "We're stuck here. We can't use the Room of Requirement for The War Trials either."
"We'll have to ask someone if we can have a spare room somewhere in the castle," said Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Luckily, we have an 'in' with the headmaster," he said.
Sirius agreed to let Harry, Ron and Hermione use a practice room within the depths of Hogwarts. Sirius even conjured matts and training dummies for them. Next, it was time for the Trio to gather members for The War Trials.
"How will we convince them to be a part of this?" asked Hermione. "We can't let them know about all the dangerous things you've done. We can't tell them about serpent in the Chamber of Secrets, the werewolf we outran in our third-yeaer or the dragon you bested during the Triwizard Tournament."
"Those were all good endorsements," said Ron.
"I have an idea," said Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "That doesn't sound good," she said.
"Oh, ye of little faith," said Harry with a laugh.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were in Greenhouse D for their Herbology class. The greenhouse was filled with plants like asphodel, nightshade and shrivelfig. It smelled earthy and fresh to the three Gryffindors.
When class began the Trio began their plan.
"What did you do to my Nimbus 2001?" yelled Harry out of no-where.
Everyone in Greenhouse D turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Professor Sprout looked shocked at the yelling.
"I didn't do anything to it, you tosser!" said Ron. "And I know how you handle your things, Kensington. You probably did something to it… and now you've put the blame on me!"
"You two need to calm down," said Hermione with a small smile on her face. "The whole class is watching."
"Who cares?" said Harry. "You destroyed my Nimbus 2001! You destroyed it!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did! You'll pay, Johnathan," said Harry. Harry reached into his wand-holster stealthily.
At Harry's sign, Ron did the same.
"Put your wands away this instant!" shouted Professor Sprout.
Harry and Ron ignored her.
"Bombarda!" shouted Harry out of no-where. The spell sped from Harry's wand toward Ron.
Ron ducked and rolled away. "You're not pulling any punches," said Ron. He stood up from where he was on the ground.
"That's how I like to fight—fast and dirty," said Harry with a smirk.
"Good. That's how I like to fight, too," said Ron. "Nebulus!"
The spell was a new spell that Hermione found in one of the defense books in the library. It created a fog that filled up the Greenhouse D.
Hermione coughed. "Oh, no!" she said. "Now what will happen?"
"This!" said Ron. Ron did a quick wand maneuver. "Bombarda-maxima!"
Harry knew the spell was coming before Ron did it. Harry leapt out of the way. The spell ricocheted into a nearby plant that was in a glass bottle.
The glass shattered. The glass flew everywhere in tiny little pieces.
"Let's end this," said Harry.
Harry took a deep breath. He prepared for one last spell.
"What are you going to do?" asked Hermione. She was still smirking.
"I'm going to do something I should have done from the beginning—I'm going to use an Unforgiveable curse," said Harry.
"What?" shouted Hermione with false-dismay. "You can't do that! They're unforgiveable!"
"You do what you have to do," said Harry with false-seriousness. Harry lifted his wand.
Ron stood there with his teeth barred.
"And… CUT!" yelled Hermione.
Harry put down his wand arm. He placed his wand back into his wand-holster calmly.
Ron did the same.
Ron spoke the counter-charm to his Nebulus spell. The fog began to disappear from the greenhouse.
"What in the world is going on?" said Professor Sprout.
"You Americans are crazy!" said a girl who may-or-may-not-have-been Hannah Abbot's clone.
"We wanted to show everyone what they will have the pleasure of learning at our new club," said Harry. "The club is called The War Trials. We will be learning defensive and offensive magical spells that will better serve to help students to defend his or herself."
"Yeah, and we'll have fun, too," said Ron. He grinned.
"You weren't going to use an actual unforgiveable?" asked Hermine with false-surprise.
"Nah," said Harry. "Not this time."