The nine guests, with the tenth guest being still in the hospital wing, settled in. Thirty-One people in all, thirty-two when James was able to join them. It was a crowded house.

Harry thought this was the best way to keep an eye on the people targeted by the time traveling assassin. Sara and Ava both had to agree, despite others having some misgivings.

The entire group had been briefed about the events of the first book. Needless to say, some of them had been skeptical.

"So, the Dark Lord is defeated?" Regulus asked. "By this half-blood?"

"I don't believe it," Bellatrix said.

"Seeing is believing," Kara told them.

"And Harry's done more wonderful things than we can potentially name here," Lena said.

"You're biased in his favor, aren't you?" Severus asked.

"Of course, he's done great things," Lily said.

"Snape said it seems like you know him," Sirius said.

"I do," Lily said.

"How?" Sirius asked. "If he's your son from the future, wouldn't meeting him…"

"He knows what he's doing," Lily interrupted. "You're still skeptical about all of this, aren't you?"

"A little," Sirius admitted.

"I'm just not sure it's a good idea we're here," Remus said. "Bad things happen to those who know the future."

"Of course, be a spoilsport," Peter said.

"He's got a point," Severus said. "Providing this isn't some elaborate prank on behalf of Potter and the other idiots to really mess with us all."

"Oh, come on, James wouldn't almost kill himself to pull a prank," Sirius said while rolling his eyes. "Although, Remus does have a point ,providing it's true."

"Well, they're the time-travelers," Junior piped up. "Therefore, they know best. Besides, with the Alternate Timeline theory, you can't technically change the past. You can just create a new timeline. The old one still exists."

"There could be an infinite number of universes out there," Remus agreed thoughtfully.

Those who remembered Crisis barely could keep their faces straight.

"I want to know about what happened," Natalie said.

Astra eyed her mother. Young and not troubled. Oh, this was going to hurt even more when they had to be sent back. Astra had kept her mouth shut about the entire getting sent to Hell aspect of her life. Because, that was the last thing she needed her mother and the others to know.

It would come out, eventually. But Astra did not want to deal with it any sooner than she had to do.

Besides it's not like they could change the past?

Could they?

"I do too," Lily said. "We just might be here for this year. Hopefully we can find that person who attacked James and bring them down."

"Here's hoping, "Sara said.

"So, are any of us in these books?" Peter asked.

"You're just going to have to wait and see," Sara said.

"Oh, wonderful, they're not going to tell us anything," Bellatrix said. "Still think this is a bunch of bollocks. A one year old beating the Dark Lord."

"Well, I personally can't believe that out of all of us, John Bloody Constantine somehow has survived into the year 2020," Sirius said dryly. "That makes me think this is a bunch of bunk."

"That is the most unbelievable part of this all," Natalie agreed.

"I don't believe it either," John said. "But, here we are."

"Can we get on with the story?" Ruby asked.

She really was excited to read more about her father and thus was impatient about the hold up.

"Right, you can believe this, or you don't," Harry said. "We're going to send you home as soon as we can."

"Trying to get rid of us already?" Regulus asked.

"Maybe he's trying to mitigate potential damage to the timeline?" Severus suggested.

"Was I talking to you, Snivellus?" Regulus sniped back.

Snape just glowered at the three Marauders, who coined that name. Ava cleared her throat.

"Let's do this," Ava said.

"Yes," Ginny said. "I'm ready."

Ginny sat close to her brothers. Steadfast and determined. Not going to be fun relieving this. But, Ginny wanted to bury these old demons once and for all.

"Gideon, if you will," Sara said.

After much delay, and many people in the room, they were going to finally begin Harry's second year adventures.

"Chapter One," Gideon narrated. "The Worst Birthday."

Astra, who sat on Harry's left, just gritted her teeth already. Kara, who sat on Harry's right, narrowed her eyes.

"Well, this is already starting off with a bang, "Zari deadpanned.

Argument breaks out over Privet Drive about Hedwig, who Vernon keeps locked up. Harry's logic about Hedwig being bored does not go over too well.

"Excuse me!" Natalie snapped. "They keep an owl locked up and complained about the noise when she was frustrated?"

"Why were you with these people?" Sirius asked Harry "What happened to all of us?"

"I thought you didn't believe any of this,Padfoot?" Peter asked.

"Well, I'm trying to keep an open mind," Sirius said. "So are we dead?"

"Or in prison?" Natalie suggested.

"If I was in prison, I would break out," Sirius said.

"None of us really have any excuses not to be there," Remus said. "So we must be dead or in prison."

"Vernon Dursley?" Lily asked coldly. "Whose bright idea would be to send you to live there?"

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Harry told her dryly.

Needless to say, this did not improve Lily's mood at all.

"Well, he must have had his reasons," Remus said.

"Name a good one," Natalie said.

"Oh, I forgot about the cult of Dumbledore and their ability to bend over backwards to justify the shady actions of their dear leader," Bellatrix said.

"He did what he could to protect Harry," Hermione said. "From Voldemort's followers."

"Oh, really?" Natalie asked her.

"I'm going to say not many of you are big fans of Dumbledore," Junior said.

"Not after Harry's first year," Sara said. "I've dealt with him in the wild and I think I took a few years off my liver after doing so."

"More than a few," Mick growled.

"This is where Dumbledore sent history's greatest warrior and hero?" Mia asked. "To live with them?"

"I'm afraid so," Harry said.

"They made you lock up an owl," Ruby breathed in a hushed voice. "Your pet?"

"Yes," Harry said.

"That's wrong," Ruby said. "Are you sure these people are related to you?"

"Petunia's the only one by blood," Harry said. "Unfortunately."

Lily nodded and Ruby looked horrified about the fact that technically she was related by blood to someone who married someone like Vernon Dursley.

"Owls need wide open spaces," Ruby protested.

"We know, honey," Sam said. "I…I can't believe these people are this bad."

"Believe it," Kara said.

Vernon asks if he look stupid, with egg hanging from his mustache in the process.

The group snickers in spite of themselves.

"Now that you mentioned it," Lita said.

"Just a little bit, yeah," Ginny said.

"Guy, really just sets you up for it, doesn't he?" George asked.

"No fun at all," Fred said.

"This absolute dumbass really doesn't see it?" Bellatrix asked. "How stupid he looks?"

"Then, now, forever," Lily murmured darkly.

Love could be a strange and mysterious thing. However, Lily found herself straining to figure out what her sister could ever seen in Vernon Dursley. Lily had a theory that Petunia wanted to seek out the man who was the furthest thing from magic possible out of spite.

"Harry can't go here," Natalie murmured.

"I know," Lily said.

"But, I'm dead too, apparently," Natalie said.

"I know," Lily said.

Lily should have known she would be facing some rather grim realities reading this book.

Dudley interrupts, wants more bacon. Petunia frets about the school food, and Vernon claims he never went hungry at school.

"Oh, being that indulgent is never going to do your son any good," Narcissa said.

"You mean, you weren't?" John asked her.

"I protected my son, but I did not pamper him," Narcissa said. "And if I did, not to this level."

"I would not have been allowed to ride a broomstick for a year if I threw a fit about not having thirty-eight birthday presents," Malfoy said.

"Oddly specific example," Regulus said.

"This fat lump did it," Lita said.

"I just can't believe Vernon's almost the voice of reason," Zari said.

"I know, I was shocked as well," Harry said. "But, most of the time, Vernon's just along for the ride. Petunia's the one that overindulged Dudley."

"She treats him like she believes our parents treated me," Lily said darkly. "I was never spoiled like this. Never!"

"Oh, you're the least spoiled person I ever met," Natalie said. "We know that."

Dudley asks for bacon. Harry asks for the magic word.

"Oooh, Harry," Nora groaned.

"That was a mistake," Harry said.

"Asking to show some politeness is a mistake?" Mia asked.

"It's more of how I asked him to say it," Harry said.

"Oh, yeah, I know what you're talking about," Astra said.

An overreaction about Harry saying the word magic follows.

"Wow," Sirius said. "They sound like my dear mother every time you mention anything Muggle around them."

"Auntie would be furious if you compared her to a Muggle," Bellatrix said. "Especially those Muggles."

"And Petunia wouldn't be too thrilled you compared her to a witch like Walburga either," Harry said.

"We should tell both of them how much they have in common," Lita said.

"Let's ship that old painting to wherever your aunt and uncle are living now," Ron murmured. "And let the magic happen."

"Tempting," Harry said with a small smile.

"Oh, we want some of that action," Fred said and George nodded.

"I wouldn't know who I would feel more sorry for," Narcissa added.

The aftermath, with Harry comparing Vernon to a winded rhinocerus.

"Well you've got the best comparisons ever," Sara said.

"So, what animal am I?" Astra asked Harry with a teasing smile.

"A honey badger?" Harry suggested.

"Good choice," Astra said.

Natalie and Lily exchanged a small smile. At least their children were close enough. Although, they both had a feeling there was something that Astra and Harry were not telling them.

The events of Harry's first year is recapped, along with Harry missing Hogwarts.

"Oh, exposition dump," Mick groaned.

"Necessary evil," Hermione said.

"Still hurts my author soul," Mick said.

"Wait,Snape, the Potion Master?" Peter asked.

"Any relation?" Remus asked.

"I sure hope not," Severus said, filching at the very thought of teaching.

"Maybe it's you?" Regulus asked.

"I sure hope not," Severus said. "I can't imagine myself as a teacher."

Potions would be the worst possible subject he could teach. It would be a nightmare scenario for Severus Snape.

"To be fair, we can't either," Bellatrix said.

"Oh, I'm sure Dumbledore hasn't lost his marbles that much," Sirius said.

"Then again, he did send their hero to Captain Rhinoceros and his pet horse," Bellatrix told her cousin.

Harry believes the Dursleys forgot his birthday when he turned twelve.

"You expected them to remember?" Lena asked.

"I was being optimistic," Harry said.

"Always famous last words," Sara said.

"Given their last quality of birthday present," Lena said.

Vernon gives false hope when he mentions what today is.

Everyone turned to Harry with an "O really" look.

"I was being optimistic," Harry repeated.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you could be," Lita said. "All things considered."

"The fact you even thought there would be the slightest bit of decency in those people is remarkable," Sara agreed.

"Just waiting for the other shoe to drop," Astra said.

Naturally, Vernon is talking about a big deal and the fact he's having a dinner party.

"That's unsurprising," Kara grumbled.

"I'm guessing you're not invited," Lena said.

"What makes you think such a thing?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, just call it a hunch," Lena said.

"More like she was here during the first year," Sara said.

The Dursleys go through the schedule of their dinner party, because of course there is a schedule.

"They literally need to practice to be human," Frost said with a sigh. "These people."

"You had to grow up with them," Sirius murmured.

"The normal people need to practice," Nora said. "This is fine and normal, having to rehearse everything you say and do."

"For Mother it is," Regulus said.

"And my father," Junior said dryly.

"And Lucius, he was always one for making sure everything was in order," Narcissa said.

"So, magical people do it," Lena said.

"We should run that one by Petunia," Sara said. "And see what she thinks about it."

"I want to see her reaction if you do," Lily said.

"Noted," Sara said.

Harry of course will be pretending he doesn't exist.

The entire room looked scandalized by that news, even those who knew the book.

"On your birthday?" Ruby asked. "Are you serious?"

"Actually, I'm…"

"NO!" Peter and Remus yelled in unison.

"Spoilsports," Sirius murmured.

"Yes, they make me act invisible on my birthday," Harry said.

"I can see why you never bring up these people," Ruby said. "Because, after all that, I would pretend they didn't exist."

Sam put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"They have to put in extra effort to be this rotten, though," Mia said.

"Comes to some people naturally," Malfoy said.

"Speaking from experience, are we?" Ginny asked.

Malfoy rolled his eyes at the youngest Weasley.

More of the Dursleys rehearsed routine.

"This is the absolute fakest thing I've ever seen," Zari said. "And I was in a reality show."

"But, Zari, they're normal!" Nora cried. "Normal!"

"Very, normal," Lita agreed.

"All the Dark Lord needs to do is show off these Muggles, and everyone will fall into line," Bellatrix said. "They will agree he has the right idea. These people are beyond awful. The type that would start witch burnings all over again."

Everyone hated to say it, but Bellatrix had a point.

"Never mind no actual witches were harmed in those burnings," Junior remarked. "If you remember History of Magic…"

"That doesn't change the fact they would start them," Bellatrix said.

Petunia comments about how Dudley is her perfect little gentleman.

"Oh, I need Pepto," Sara groaned.

"We all do," Zari said.

"She's really messing him up," Natalie said.

"Petunia is overcompensating," Lily said.

"How could you stand any of this without throwing up?" Ginny asked.

Personally, Ginny would rather spent a year with Great Auntie Muriel then spend a day with Harry's relatives. And she never thought she would think such a thing.

"You grow a callous after a while," Harry dryly responded.

Harry's utterly depressing comment about how he'll be pretending he does not exist.

"They really know how to rub it in," Astra said.

"They must be afraid the Masons would meet a decent person, and realize just how phony their act is," Kara said.

"Makes about as much sense as anything," Sara agreed.

Dudley makes a comment about how he wrote a school paper about their dinner guest. Which Petunia and Harry lose it at, albeit for different reasons.

Most of the room broke out into a fit of laughter.

"Oh, this is just too much," Sara said.

"They really expect their guests to swallow this garbage," Frost said.

"If they do, they're really vain or really stupid," Regulus said.

"Typical pureblood then?" Sirius asked. "Because, let's face it, a lot of them would swallow this garbage if they were being flattered."

"He has a point," Narcissa said.

"Unfortunately," Bellatrix agreed.

"The Masons deserve to be conned out of every cent they have, if they buy this crap," Lita said.

"But Seriously, you must be really vain or stupid to buy into something like that," Sirius said. "Oh, my ribs, I think they're broken."

Everyone took a second to calm down.

Harry reemerges to say what he plans to do tonight.

"Repetition," Nora said. "The sign of brain washing."

"Or gas lighting," Sara said.

"Normal people!" Zari cried out. "They're normal people!"

"Petunia and Vernon keep telling themselves that," Harry said.

"Oh, I can't believe you had to grow up with that," Peter said.

Peter Pettigrew had been reminded of his dear mother when looking at Petunia and her utterly fake attitude. And did not like it. At all.

"Well, Harry had to deal with all of that, thanks to his parents getting killed," Ron said.

"No one deserves to though," Sirius said. "Not even Snape."

"I would drink poison before spending another moment with Petunia," Severus said.

Vernon makes a big speech and plans to get a vacation home in Majorca. Harry doubts his situation would change there.

"Would leave you with the crazy cat lady, likely," Lena said.

"Crazy cat lady?" Ruby asked.

"My neighbor, Mrs. Figg," Harry said. "She has a lot of cats."

"There was a wizard named Figg who had a Kneazle breeding farm," Natalie said.

"Passed on a couple of years ago," Lily said.

Harry sings a little depressing birthday song.

Everyone looked sad.

"All the proper birthday parties you got robbed out of," Astra murmured.

"I had many more in the future," Harry said.

"Still doesn't make any of this right," Sara said.

"The fact you came out after all of this is amazing," Mia said.

"Well, Harry does have the most justification to be a super villain," Frost said.

"And these people would have it coming," Ava said.

"Harry's a better person than he should be sometimes," Sara said. "Thankfully."

"Better than I would be," Sirius said. "Guess he is the best parts of James and Lily."

"More Lily than James by the looks of things," Remus said.

"Lucky that came out right, then," Sirius said.

"Shouldn't really dish on Prongs if he isn't here to defend himself," Peter said. "Speaking of which…"

"He's in good hands with Caity," Frost said.

"So, are you two sisters or something?" Lita asked. "I mean, you and Doctor Snow."

"Oh boy, I feel a headache," Malfoy groaned.

"Hey, Julian, nice to see you too again," Frost said and Malfoy pulled a face at his old cover story identity when he infiltrated the Central City Police Department. "But, we really need a seven book series to untangle that mess."

"That's for sure," Kara agreed with a fond smile.

It's here that Harry reveals that Ron and Hermione were not writing to him. And he could not magic Hedwig out of her cage.

Astra's eyes narrowed and slowly she turned her attention towards Ron and Hermione. Harry grabbed her and pulled her over.

"There's a reason why they didn't," Harry said. "Because, they weren't able to."

"Did Dumbledore pull something?" Astra asked.

"Not this time," Harry said. "There's another reason."

"If I knew, I would have given you my phone number," Hermione said. "Or my address where you could write though me through the Muggle post."

"Oh, the days before E-mail," Zari said wistfully. "That would have made things a bit more simple."

"It would have," Hermione agreed.

"Dursleys wouldn't have let me on the phone," Harry said. "Or use the post. Not sure if my…um circumstances was watching the traditional post or not anyway"

"Given how sneaky your circumstances were, I wouldn't be surprised if he did," Sara said.

"Are we going to find out soon?" Lily asked.

"Messing with someone's mail, it's not a felony over there, is it?" Mick asked.

"Not in the Wizarding World at least," Ron confirmed. "It's not the worth the hassle to fuck with owls most of the time anyway as they can be pretty territorial and vicious about their deliveries."

Things are so bad that Harry wished to see Draco Malfoy, his arch-nemesis.

"You considered me your arch-nemesis?" Malfoy asked. "Over, He-Who-Must-Not-Have-A-Nose?"

"I must have really been thirsty for contact," Harry said.

"I'm touched, Potter, really I am," Malfoy said.

"Ah, his swollen head won't get though the door," Frost said.

"Surprised it can right now," Ron said.

"And there were other people who quickly passed you that year," Harry said. "You became a recurring nuisance more than anything."

Harry recaps his past encounter with Voldemort, narrowly escaping

Regulus and Bellatrix listen to that recap, very skeptical.

"You've understated just how narrowly you escaped," Astra said.

"I came close to dying," Harry told the group. "And I met Death."

"Seriously?" Sirius asked.

"Yes Sirius, I'm serious," Harry said.

"Well, it's good that you're serious, because I'm…"

Peter stuffed a donut into Sirius's mouth to stop his well played out joke.

"Ah, I wanted to see how far this one would go," George said.

"Spoilers, too far," Peter said. "And you escaped V-V-voldemort?"

"Good job, Peter, I knew you had it in you," Remus said approvingly.

"Barely," Harry said.

Harry spies with his little eye, a pair of eyes spying on him through the bush.

"STALKER!" Ruby yelled.

"Not far from it," Harry said.

"Your circumstances?" Mia asked.

"Mmm, stay tuned," Harry said.

"I'm not sure how this can get any worse," Lily said. "My son having to be invisible on his birthday and now some creepy thing is watching him."

"Lily, you're tempting Murphy!" Kara groaned.

"That's a superstition though," Sirius said. "Murphy's law?"

"No, Murphy is a fifth dimensional imp, who causes karmatic punishments on people who dare wonder how lot how things could get worse or what could possibly go wrong, or how everything is going well," Kara said.

"You're kidding me?" Bellatrix asked.

"I'm really not," Kara said.

"We've dealt with him," Zari said.

"Utter wanker," John said.

Those who dealt with how had similar sentiments.

"Well, this technically already happened, didn't it?" Junior asked. "So, Murphy's law wouldn't be enacted because of what Evans said."

"Ravenclaws," Regulus said with a fond smile.

"We do have a mixed group of the three Hogwarts houses," Bellatrix said.

"What about Hufflepuff?" Peter asked.

Sirius face-palmed at Peter daring to get Bellatrix started on that.

"Pettigrew, Hufflepuff is just a false-flag operation to make Gryffindors look smarter," Bellatrix said. "It isn't a real house."

Everyone blinked in surprise.

"So, you weren't kidding?" Ron asked.

"I told you, Weasley," Malfoy said.

Dudley knows what day today is. Harry responds with snark.

"This is a proud moment," Zari said while wiping her cheek. "Dinky Duddydums remembered the days of the week."

"At the tender age of twelve," Sara said. "So proud."

"Surely, all Muggles aren't this dense?" Regulus asked.

"This one is," Lily said.

"That's your nephew," Bellatrix reminded her.

"Any Evans intelligence was ruined when it came in contact with Vernon Dursley," Natalie said.

"Yeah, given she hooked up with Vernon in the first place, I daresay Lily got all of the intelligence," John said.

"Won't argue with you on that one, Johnny," Natalie said.

Dudley taunts Harry about his birthday.

"That fat prick!" Ruby swore.

"Ruby!" Sam yelled. "You shouldn't really…"

"He's not a prick because he's fat," Lena said.

"Yeah, I'd hate him as much no matter how much he weighs, because of how he's treating my dad," Ruby said.

Ruby's eyes started to glow for a second. Harry quickly grabbed her over.

"Breath," Harry said. "Breath."

"He's taunting you about not having any friends on your birthday," Ruby grumbled.

"I agree with the kid," Mia said. "That's fucked up."

"I agree with her too," Astra said. "He still hasn't changed."

"Are you Kryptonian too?" Ginny asked Sam.

"Sort of," Sam said. "It's a bit complicated."

"Can't be any more complicated than my backstory," Frost said.

"Ruby's part witch, part Kryptonian, all trouble," Kara said.

"Hey!" Ruby yelled.

"You know it's true, sweetie," Kara said.

"Yes, I guess, Aunt Kara," Ruby said. "Can you believe that though?"

"Dinky Duddydums acting like a twat?" Lena asked.

"I believe it," Kara said.

"Dinky Duddydums?" Bellatrix asked.

"Petunia's pet name for Dudley," Harry explained. "My friends refuse to call anything but Dudley that."

"Sounds like fun," Bellatrix said. "I might join. This woman is more revolting than my aunt."

"I thought you liked Mother?" Regulus asked.

"I have to play nice with auntie," Bellatrix said. "No one really likes her. We just don't want to go the way of dear Sirius and get blasted off the family tree when she's been hitting the wine a bit too much."

Harry speaks magical nonsense, causing Dinky Duddydums to whine to Mummy.

"Can't have any fun, ever," Lita said while shaking his head.

"Not even Percy whined to Mum like this," George said.

"He bought those words as real," Mia said.

"We've established Dinky Duddydums wasn't that bright," Zari said.

"This just reinforces that," Lena said.

"Wish he hadn't howled at Petunia," Lily said.

Petunia nearly hits Harry with a frying pan. Because, children's book!

The reaction to Petunia almost caving in Harry's skull with a frying pan was about what Harry expected. Most of the room was furious.

"That bitch!" Sam and Ruby both yelled in unison.

"She's taken her sociopathy to an entirely unhealthy level," Severus said quietly.

"SHE IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST!" Lily screamed. "REALLY TUNEY! BECAUSE YOUR SON CRIES TO YOU, YOU TRY AND KILL MY SON WITH A FRYING PAN!"

Astra had been snarling and shaking. Harry wrapped his arm around her.

"She could have hurt you," Sara said.

"She didn't," Harry said.

"She could have severely injured you!" Natalie yelled. "How does anyone think they can get away with that against a child?"

"Vernon's all bluster," Zari said. "Petunia's the real menace. She physically assaulted you."

"Evans, your sister is insane," Bellatrix said.

Lily closed her eyes for a second.

"She knew those words weren't magic," Natalie said.

"Petunia doesn't need an excuse to be petty," Severus said.

"My sister…I think I hate her," Lily said.

"You don't really, do you?" Remus asked.

"I'm not too happy with her," Lily said.

"That bitch," Ruby grumbled. "She could have killed you."

"How is this okay?" Zari asked.

"I…I don't know what to make of this," Hermione said.

"Are you going to say that Harry shouldn't have baited, Dudley?" Ginny demanded to Hermione. "Because, that's going up to a woman and saying she was asking for it by wearing a short skirt."

"I wasn't going to say that," Hermione said.

"Well, remember, Dumbledore put Harry here," Ginny said.

"To get hit by a frying pan," Astra said.

"Honey, Harry's fine," Natalie said."Luckily. That bitch."

Natalie and Lily promised to look after each other's children if they something happened to either of them. But, something happened to both of them.

"Let's all take a deep breath," Zari said. "I know this is shocking."

"The things you overlook before you know the person the story is about though," Sara said.

"I know, right,' Lita grumbled. "How close?"

"I'm good at ducking," Harry said. "I saw it coming."

Funnily enough that did little to appease it.

"Maybe we should read on," Ava said.

"Not sure how you move on from that," Mia said. "But, let's see."

Harry is forced to do all of the house chores. Out in the burning sun. All while bitterly thinking he had no friends.

"Please tell me you at least got to drink water?" Sara asked.

"No," Harry said. "I was locked out until I finished."

"Heat stroke," Lena said. "They put you at risk for heat stroke."

"These people have gotten worse," Astra said.

"The worst kind of Muggles," Bellatrix said. "Exhibit A why this world is so messed up and the Dark Lord is necessary."

"I can't argue with her," Lily said. "Even though I should."

"Not all Muggles are like that," Hermione said.

"They treated your friend like trash because he was gifted," Regulus said.

"No, they're not like Petunia and Vernon," Lily said.

"Too many are," Natalie said.

"Rotten bastards, on both sides of the conflict where I'm standing," John said. "I was lucky to get away from it for years. Limbo was a welcomed surprise."

"Why were you in Limbo?" Natalie asked.

"Can't tell you that," John said.

Natalie eyed John for a long minute, but let it go, for now. Mostly because she was worried about her future godson. She must have been so careless getting herself killed so she could not protect him.

Petunia ushers Harry in. Demands he eats quickly, with a paltry meal.

"That's not a meal," Sirius said. "That's barely a light snack."

"How could they get worse?" Kara asked.

"Practice," Harry said. "Loads of practice."

Petunia sends up the steps. Vernon threatens him about making noise.

"Oh, go shove your business deal up your arse, you piece of shit!" Lily snapped.

No one dared say anything. Astra just smiled.

But there is someone sitting on Harry's bed.

"Your circumstances?" Astra asked.

"Yes," Harry said.

"Well, this was fun," Ginny said. "And I can't believe I ever thought that it was a joy to be Harry Potter. Or thought his life was glamorous and perfect."

"Ginny, you've grown beyond that," Harry said.

"Yeah, but still, that's a far cry from the storybook hero we all imagined," Ginny said.

"Dumbledore really did quite the job of keeping your living circumstances quiet," Narcissa said. "No one knew there was anything wrong."

"Lucius would have been on it like a dog with a bone if he knew, right?" Harry asked.

"Certainly," Narcissa said. "We all thought you lived in luxury."

"Everyone wanted to assume the best," Harry said. "No one wanted to say the worst."

"Really sucks what you have to deal with," Peter said.

"It's not ideal," Remus said. "All of us have to be dead."

"Or in prison," Peter said.

"I'd find a way to break out," Sirius said.

"Right, out of Azkaban, that I'd like to see," Bellatrix said.

"You don't think I could break out of Azkaban?" Sirius asked.

"I bet you ten galleons you couldn't," Bellatrix said. "You'd be whimpering like a puppy night one."

"Oh, I don't know, Sirius could surprise you," Regulus said.

"So, first chapter," Lita said.

"I hate the Dursleys," Astra said.

Ruby nodded fiercely. No one hurt her father, younger self or not, and got away with it.

"That's as natural as breathing at this point," Sara said.

"Ruby, how are you holding up?" Harry asked.

"I watched my father almost get hit with a frying pan," Ruby said.

"Not well, then," Kara said. "I'll scoot over, so you can sit up here. And Sam can sit in the chair next to you."

"I'm good right here," Ruby said. "Thanks, Aunt Kara."

"Harry, I don't know what to say," Lily said. "I can't believe Petunia."

"Believe it," Harry said darkly.

"This won't happen," Lily murmured.

The Legends all looked nervous at the determined look in Lily's eyes. Like she was going to do something reckless and pigheaded.

"Oh, let's not think about messing with the time stream right now," Ava groaned.

"I'm just going to murder my sister and her husband to be," Lily said.

Natalie gripped her friend by the shoulder.

"Better put a pin on that, Lils," Natalie said. "Until cooler heads prevail."

"Thanks," Harry murmured to Natalie who nodded in response.

The tension, especially after the frying pan near miss, could be cut with a knife. Mia, Astra, and Ruby looked like they wanted to join Lily on her crusade to murder the Dursleys. And a lot of others looked like they were not going to put up more than a token argument against it.

"Suppose we should get to the next chapter," Zari said.

"Looking forward to seeing what these circumstances are," Sirius said.

"And here I thought you thought this was fiction?" Remus asked.

"Well, maybe I'm open to change my mind?" Sirius asked with a shrug.

"Let's go for it," Sara said. "Gideon, read when you are ready.

To Be Continued.