A/N: Hello everyone, hope your doing alright. Thank you for the support. Very important! There is a poll up on my profile, if you want to say in on what I write next, vote! It will be up for a couple days. Hope to see your votes. I don't have much else to say so I'll jump into the story. Now without further ado, on with the story!
Day After
"I blamed you, didn't I?" Hermione said out of the blue while they were sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.
"Excuse me?" Harry was momentarily shocked. Sitting down his fork, he looked up at Hermione.
"I was in your office, going through your files and pictures. You were investigating Ron, for cheating. You had proof, evidence. You just wanted to help, to not see me get hurt. And I blamed you… for my failed relationship." Hermione set down her fork as well and just looked down at her plate, staring at it.
"Do you remember all of that conversation?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Harry asked confused, she looked up at him.
"Because I know the things I said. It wasn't your fault, you just didn't want me to get burned. Maybe if I hadn't stormed out that day, none of this would be happening."
Glancing down at his plate, Harry started, "We've been skating around this. Acting like we don't care about the other one minute and then we do." He ended looking back up at her even though she wasn't looking at him.
"How are we supposed to act? How do one act in a situation like this? What do you do when all of this happens? When everything you know isn't true? Look I know you're important to me. I just don't know how." She admitted.
"What do you mean how? I was your best friend… unless you thought of me as more than a friend at one point. And you don't know what you think now." He realized, causing her to advert her eyes down.
"Ergo the I'm sorry. It's my fault we're in this mess."
Sighing, Harry shook his head before replying, "No it's not. The person who did it, that's who's fault it is and they'll pay for that. Seems like, we're all pawns in our lives. It's either the press, or mass manipulators, or dark lords, what now?" He shrugged.
"To be honest, I don't know. Who do we know with a motive that would even be able to do this?" She questioned looking up at him shaking her head is disbelief.
"Well I know who has motive but as for being able to do it, doubtful. Actually more like impossible. They are powerful enough enough to cast overlaying spells like that."
"What if it doesn't have to be just spellwork?" Hermione suggested.
"Well what else would it be?"
"Some spells or complex magic have a potion foundation. So they'll take spells that would normally be used and trigger there effects through a potion. That way if someone was rubbish at spells, they would just need some knowledge of arithmancy and potion making." She explained.
"Yeah the person I have in mind is rubbish at all of it." Harry scoffed.
"Who do you have in mind?" She asked.
"Ron." He admitted.
"You think Ron did it."
"Yeah look I know he's your boyfriend bu-." He started to explain.
"No I get it, you're right. He has motive but lacks the abilities and knowledge. But Molly doesn't." She cut in and at his confused look continued, "Molly's a decent maybe even good potion maker. And the level of needed calculations probably wouldn't be super difficult." She explained.
"Let's say, you're right. How do we catch him?"
"Well we might not be able to catch them on this but we can catch them on stealing from a lord." She suggested.
"You remember that?"
"You didn't charge them because of me. Well as long as you still have the evidence that they did it, then they can be charged on it."
"I do."
Two Days Later
"I call this session of elite court to order. Bring the defense to stand." The judge called as several people were brought in.
One Hour Later
"I declare Ron Weasley, Molly Weasley, and Ginerva Weasley, guilty of assault, mind damage, fraud and stolen funds against Hermione Granger and the head of two of the most ancient and noble families. They are sentenced to goblin custody where the goblins will punish them accordingly. Case closed!" He called.
"I can't believe they admitted to that in court." Hermione said to the person on her left.
"I can, they were meant to." Harry smirked.
"Wait, you set them up. You made sure the prosecution asked that question while they were under the serum." She realized putting the pieces together.
"I told you, they'd pay for it." He replied grinning. She turned and wrapped him in a hug.
"I may not remember everything yet, but I know you're important to me." She whispered before Harry's world went black.
A/N: This was originally two different chapters but I decided to combine them so, here's the final twist. I appreciate the support. Now without further ado, on with the final chapter!
Italics – In Harry's Head
"Ah Harry, it's seems you learned the lesson you were meant to learn. Now normally I don't do this but if you have questions, I'll answer them." The man said.
"Well for one, what the hell? And two, who the hell are you?" Harry replied after looking around. That was enough for the man to answered the unasked question.
"We are out of your time right now. So we can talk in peace." The man explained.
"I'm sorry? Out of time? What about Hermione and the case?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, out of time. It doesn't flow here. As for that, well it wasn't real." He answered nonchalantly.
"Wasn't real? Are you kidding me? Who are you?" Harry shouted unhappy while pacing.
"Names Helix, I know weird name. And no I'm not kidding. Everything that just happened, everything from the point back when Miss Granger announced she was dating Mister Weasley after the final battle isn't real."
"Alright Helix and how the hell is that possible. I know it's real, I lived it." Harry retorted.
"Right now, you're really in a coma. You have been for the past two weeks. That world that you were just in isn't real mate."
"And you expect me to take your word for I-." He began.
"No I don't. Right after the battle of Hogwarts, you had a decision to make. Whether you would tell Miss Granger the truth or not." Helix cut him off.
"How did you-?" Harry was cut off again.
"Know that? Because in that moment, before you made the choice, two possible realities existed. Have you ever heard of Schrödinger's cat theory?" Helix asked cocking his head.
"Yeah, what does that have to do with this?" Harry questioned not understanding.
"Before you open the box, both realities exist. One where the cat dies and one where the cat lives. So that decision, there was a reality where you told her an-." This time it was Harry cutting in.
"And one where I didn't. You're telling me, that's what that all was? Just another reality?"
"Not exactly. That day, you did make a choice. That wasn't a reality it was a possible one. There are possible realities for life changing decisions. And they are both possible until you make a decision, then one becomes reality and the other becomes what could've been." Helix explained.
"So why show me that? What was the point?"
"To teach you a lesson." He stated simply.
"Which was?" Harry beckoned for him to continue.
"You already know."
"If that was only what could've been, why didn't I realize it wasn't reality. That it wasn't real?"
"Things seemed different, or off. Like peoples attitudes or things just didn't add up? Missing explanations? It's what could've been, but the future is never concrete until it's history. You thought it was real. You may have questioned things that didn't add up or the way people were acting but you had no reason to believe something was going on. Your memories of reality will return when you wake up. You'll also still have the memories from what could've been." He explained.
"Can you do me a favor and answer a question?"
"Depends."
"I know I'll remember soon, but till me what happened to Ron in my reality."
"Goblins punishment. He's spending a life-sentence in goblin custody, for attempted line theft and attempting to screw over the goblins." Helix chuckled.
"Good to know." Harry grinned.
"Now the question?" Helix prompted.
"Why did I end up at the point I did? Why not right when the realities split?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because you needed to see the point in your life that's recent, the point you've been questioning." He explained.
"So you just go about teaching people lessons?"
"Pretty much. Trust me, it's better than it sounds. Good luck kid." He said before he and the room started fading.
"Wait! What was the lesson?!" Harry exclaimed while it was all fading.
"You already know." Helix's voice faded.
He shot up from the bed. Looking back and forth, he saw he was in a hospital room. What the hell? Harry thought. Before he could question anything else the door opened. Hermione walked in while looking down at a paper in her hand. After shutting the door, she looked up and over to him fully expecting him to still be in a coma.
Once she saw him, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped along with the paper. Not even paying attention to it, she hurried over to him and hugged him tight before pulling back and giving him a light kiss on the lips. He was still trying to comprehend everything that had come rushing back to him. Helix was right, both realities would stay with him.
"Oh love I'm so happy you're awake. These past two weeks have been horrible without you. Are you okay?" She asked once she pulled back and really looked at him.
"What happened to me?" He questioned reacting how he knew she would expect.
"Let me get the healer really quick, she can explain better." After receiving a nod in response, she left room only to return five minutes later with a Healer in tow. Looking at the healer, Harry's eyes widened.
"Hi Lord Potter, I'm Healer C-." She began but Harry cut her off.
"Healer Carter." Looking surprised Hermione and the healer shared a shocked look.
"How did you know that? She's not even wearing a name tag." Hermione asked amazed. Looking between the two of them, Harry couldn't even began to explain what was going on.
"I've met her before." Harry answered after a moment of contemplation.
"I have a feeling it wasn't me that you met, well it was but not at the same time." The healer tried to explain.
"I'm sorry?" Harry asked.
"It's hard to explain. Yo-." She started only to be cut off by Harry movement. He pushed the covers off and turned to sit with his legs off the side. Just as he was about to push off the bed, Hermione grabbed his arm and held him back. "What the hell do you think your doing?" She hissed.
"Have you never seen somebody stand before?" He retorted before pulling his arm free, ignoring the look on her face and standing up.
"You were admitted two weeks ago. You were hit with a spell by someone who popped up out of no where. Said he was going to teach you a lesson. Then you passed out. You haven't woken since well until now." The healer continued once she got over her shock.
"We haven't found the gu-." Hermione started.
"What was I hit with?" Harry interrupted her looking at the healer.
"It's rare. Only seen a few times before but nobody can perform it. Nobody even knows what it really is. Any time it has happened, the stories been the same, a man shows up says the same thing then the person passes out but he vanishes and they go into a coma for however long. Nobody sees him twice." Healer Carter told him.
"I wouldn't say nobody." Harry chuckled.
The healers and Hermione eyes widened. "Wait you saw him again? But but-."
"I spoke with him. To be honest I wish I said thank you. I fully understand what happened and I'm happy it did. Now when can I be discharged?" Harry questioned.
"Harry, you can't leave. They have to run tests. Make sure your actually okay." Hermione explained.
"She right. I definitely advise against leaving. Tests need to be run." The healer agreed.
"That's why it's called signing out AMA, against medical advice. So if I could have the paperwork for that to sign, I would be very grateful."
Blinking quickly the healer looked like she wanted to object but seeing the look on Harry's face, she nodded and left the room.
"Are you out of your mind? What do you think you're doing?" Hermione exclaimed.
"What I'm doing is going home. I'm fine, okay. Perfectly fine." He answered while picking up his wallet that was left on the bed side table and putting it in his pocket.
"You don't know that! Nobody knows what happened to you!" Hermione continued.
"I do know. I know exactly what happened!" He snapped.
"Really than why don't you share it with me?!" She retorted dryly.
"Because you wouldn't believe it! Let's just drop it!" He exclaimed. The healer walked back in with the paperwork effectively stopping Hermione from arguing back. Taking the papers, Harry flipped through them quickly and signing them before handing the back to the healer. Once she took them, he walked around bed and out the door with Hermione straight on his heels.
"This discussion isn't over." She hissed. Jaw clenching, he continued straight to the floo, walking right through it he disappeared to the fireplace in his living room. Knowing she would be right on his heels following, he spun around and as soon as she exited the flames, he pinned her against the wall next to the fireplace with his body and his lips met hers. She got over her shock quickly and she kissed back, her arms snaking around his neck pulling him tighter to her.
That was the best part of fighting, making up.
What do you do when you're sent to a reality that could've been? All it took was one different decision. One decision can change your life.
A/N: Were you expecting an ending like that? Some of the things that didn't add up over the course of the story were more than likely meant to be like that. It was those things that showed the true differences in the realities. This ending seemed like a really different and unexpected one. I know the first part of this chapter was really short and not detailed but to be honest, I didn't want to detail it to much when the world wasn't real. I knew how I wanted to end it, I just had to get there. Thank you for all the support. I hope you enjoyed this rollercoaster of a story, I know I enjoyed writing it. Until next time! –DS