Right from the start, I want to stress that there is nothing incestuous between Harry and Leila. They are very close, yes, they keep holding each other, yes, but it's all in a non sexual affectionate way. A longer discussion on various ships is at the bottom of the chapter, didn't want to take too much space over here.

Chapter 2

The next day, Harry woke up to a strange sight. He was lying sprawled between two incredibly beautiful females - his mother and his twin sister. Kyle was huddled at one end of the bed and James was sleeping on the floor, due to lack of space on the bed. Harry used his father's wand to levitate him to the bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

"I'll be making breakfast today," he informed their house elf, Dolly, who instantly cringed in shame.

"Master Harry is not liking Dolly's cooking," she wailed miserably.

"Oh stop it, Dolly," Harry said irritably. "As if anyone can cook better than you!" he said with a smile, making the house elf look at him in surprise. "I wanted to apologize to you too. I have been very horrible to you in the past."

The house elf looked at Harry strangely and then said, "You are not Dolly's Master Harry that left the house yesterday… but you are a Master Harry. How is this possible?"

"True, my old friend," he said kindly to the house elf. "I was born Harry Potter and have lived many lives as Harry Potter. Mostly in places worlds where the Harry Potter of that world died."

"Then Dolly's Master Harry is dead," the house elf wailed in despair.

"No, Dolly," Harry said gently. "I am Harry Potter. The elders of your kind knew the secret - life is composed of the triple layer of material, essence and consciousness. Material composes the being, essence creates identity and consciousness forges a purpose. Right now, I stand in the same material as your Master Harry, the consciousness is a blend of us both, though the essence is purely mine. We are one and yet both."

"Dolly is not understanding, but Dolly feels the same bond to you as she did to Master Harry. Dolly is confused."

"Then go speak to your elders. Tell them, the Guardian has entered your world and has taken the mantle of Lord Arkenstone. Tell them, the time for deliverance is at hand. Tell them, the Guardian is here," Harry said mystically. "And he is cooking breakfast for his family."

An hour later, a groggy Lily Potter descended to the kitchen saying, "That smells more delicious than usual, Dol… Harry?" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here? You… you've been cooking!"

"Right in one, mum, and for your prize, you get the first pancake, fresh and hot, with maple syrup, poached egg and crispy bacon!" he said happily, wiping his hands with his apron, and putting some food on a plate. When he turned to hand the plate to his mother, he sniggered at her expression - she hadn't moved an inch all along.

"All right, mister! Who are you and where is my lovely but immature and spoilt son!" she said sharply, but couldn't resist the wafting aroma from the plate that Harry mercilessly dangled in front of her. "Okay okay, I give up! Have mercy, Harry. It's only seven in the morning."

Laughing, he put the plate on the table and poured a glass of orange juice for his mother and himself. "I told Dolly to take some time off. Hope you don't mind?"

"You mean you actually got her away from chores?" Lily asked in disbelief. Then she shook her head. "Harry, what happened yesterday? I can tell something big happened to you, and it wasn't just seeing a snake. A mother can tell."

Harry smiled lightly and said, "Then a mother can also tell that her son is annoyed at not receiving a good morning kiss." He swooped to his mother and kissed her forehead. "All right, mum. Take a seat."

Sighing at the complexity of the explanation to make it truthful without revealing too much, Harry said, "When I saw the snake pounce at me, it was as if time had stopped and my whole life flickered through my mind. I saw how horrid I had been, how I had hurt all of you, how much more I could have been, how much more I could have done. I also realized how much I actually cared for you guys. My last thought was regret… in not telling you all how much I loved you. I thought I had died." He stopped when Lily pulled him to her lap with her arms around him protectively.

"But I hadn't. I opened my eyes and Hedwig had taken care of the snake. Hedwig sung to me and I knew I had a second chance. Not only could I become everything I wasn't, to you guys, but I was also given my magic back. I'm not messing it up this time. That's why you'll see a new and improved Harry Potter from now on."

Patting her son's head, Lily said with a troubled smile, "There was nothing wrong with the old Harry Potter."

Harry chuckled and said, "You're my mother. You're biased. But even you can't deny that I was horrible to a lot of people. But I promised both dad and Leila I wouldn't talk about it anymore, so there it is."

"Oh Harry," Lily said again, kissing his son's head. That's how James Potter saw his wife and son, still wrapped in each other's arms, laughing and making jokes, as a lovely aroma entered his nostrils.

"Oh god," he groaned, jumping on his wife. "Feed me," he croaked in a mock zombie act. "Feed me."

"James Potter!" Lily shrieked. "You will act your age and sit down like the respectable wizard that you are. Or else I will forbid Harry from letting you eat his fabulous cooking."

"H-Harry's cooking?" he asked in disbelief. Then seeing the evidence in front of his eyes - the apron around his son, his messy hands, the food on the table, he grinned. "Oh, this is rich! Wait till the girls in Hogwarts find out! You, my son, are going to be even more in demand then your old man was, and that's saying something. Girls literally ate off my fingers, especially your mum."

"Really?" Lily Potter asked with a raised eyebrow and a dangerous edge to her voice. "Is that so?"

"Uh oh," Harry said, echoing his father's sentiments, and turned to his father somberly. "I'll be at your funeral, dad."

"Um.. Lils, honey," James began fidgetting uneasily. "You see, here, that was a joke, dear… you know… seven stupid things to say before breakfast… Breakfast! At least let me have one final breakfast…. You know… my son's cooking… have mercy, sweetheart," he whimpered pitifully as his wife regarded him silently. "No… not the couch again."

Then they both laughed heartily and Harry shook his head. Parents.

Soon, Leila and Kyle were at breakfast too and heartily enjoyed it. Harry smiled at his siblings and fried an extra round of bacon for everyone.

"Oh will you look at the time," James said sharply, jumping up. "I must get to work. Today will be a busy day at the joke shop. Many kids will be coming round before Hogwarts." Running to his kids, he kissed everybody on the head, gave a quick kiss to his wife and said, "I'll see you guys in a couple of hours outside Gringotts."

As his father departed for work, Harry turned to his mother and asked curiously, "Mum, why did dad stop working as an Auror?"

Lily looked at her son in a troubled way, and then at Leila, who seemed equally interested. Hesitating, she said, "I suppose I should tell you. It might become an issue in Hogwarts." Turning to Harry, she added, "I'm glad you were accepted, Harry. I'll feel much better knowing you two will be looking out for each other."

Harry frowned but waited for his mother to continue.

"It started many years ago, when you two were still babies," she began. "You know the story about the Boy Who Lived." When her kids nodded, she continued, "After the whole fiasco with Peter Pettigrew revealing the location of Godric's Hollow to You Know Who, many people became suspicious of us. The Boy Who Lived's father, now Minister Weasley, demanded that your daddy swear, by his magic, that he had nothing to do with the betrayal. James did it, but since then, our relationship with the Weasleys and Longbottoms has become quite bad. They still feel we are to blame for the deaths of Alice Longbottom and Molly Weasley."

"That is rubbish," Harry declared angrily and Leila nodded emphatically.

"It is," Lily agreed heartily. "But you can imagine how the others might have seen it to be. It was our house where their wives were murdered, our choice of Secret Keeper who turned out to be the traitor. The Potters no longer commanded the same respect from the people, but we maintained our dignity. Seeing the discomfit Minister Weasley Auror Chief Longbottom had towards him, your father resigned as an Auror, despite loving his job. With Remus, he started a joke shop - Marauders' Magical Macabres."

Harry nodded. "So Hogwarts won't be as welcoming as we'd like it to be?"

"Oh Harry," Lily said sadly. "I sincerely hope it will, but there is a good possibility it might not. I'm sorry, sweetheart," she glanced from Harry to Leila, "princess, I'm sorry, that you two have to suffer for our mistakes."

"Not your mistake, mum," Leila said quietly. "Minister Weasley doesn't sound very nice to me."

Frowning, Lily shook her head. "He is a good man. He has done much good for this country, but he is a bit shortsighted towards us because of his wife's death."

"That makes it all the more worse," Harry observed. "For an ignorant man to do something wrong, is pardonable. But for a good man who knows better, it isn't."

Lily turned from Leila to Harry and back. "When did my babies become all grown up?" Then turning to Leah, who had just been brought down by Trilly the house elf, Lily took the toddler in her arms and said, "You remain like this, okay Li? We'll have loads of fun, baby." The baby giggled.

Harry turned to his siblings and said, "Hey Lei, care to show me how to use a broomstick? Kyle, you can watch us." Leila's face instantly grew to a wide grin and Kyle jumped up happily, being allowed to do things with his older brother and sister.

Grinning at his exuberant brother, Harry patted his head and led them out despite his mother's misgivings and warnings.

Within minutes, Leila was the one taking pointers from her twin. She grinned when they finally landed and said, "You, bro, are the best natural flyer in the history of wizardkind! Dad said I was impressive. Compared to you, I'm not even in the air."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous! Of course you're in the air," Harry said consolingly. "Just a few miles away." He took a couple of steps towards the house when a great force collided against him, and he went straight to the ground, mud splashing all over his face and hands. Turning his head, he saw Leila sitting on his back, grinning at him wickedly.

Shrugging as best as he could, Harry rolled over and pinned her to the ground.

"All right! All right!" she conceded, laughing gaily. She continued laughing as Harry got up and helped her up. Finally, she leaned against her twin and said, "Does it still hurt?"

"Huh?" Harry asked in confusion.

Lowering her eyes, Leila said, "I slapped you yesterday, twice. It's still a bit red. Does it still hurt?"

"Oh," Harry said. "Don't be ridiculous, Lei." He grabbed her in a hug again, regardless of all the mud, and whispered quietly, "I have my twin back. Only you know how I feel." He waited for her to nod and smile, and then he patted her hair. "A slap is nothing to me, especially when I just smeared mud all over your hair!" Turning instantly, he ran indoors and locked the door of his room before his twin sister could barge in.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" two voices yelled, not simultaneously, but with equal venom.

Lily continued, "Come down this instant, young man! You will be sorry for making such a mess! And just minutes before Diagon Alley! And how could you do this to your sister?"

"Yes, Harry!" Leila screamed, hiding a smirk. "How could you! I was just saying how much I enjoyed playing with you, and you made me all muddy!"

Opening his door, Harry came out, clean but confused. "Mud? What mud? Hi, mum, can I do something for you? Lei, you need to clean up before we go to Diagon Alley."

The two females blinked in surprise and Lily turned to her daughter. "Leila," she said icily.

"I didn't lie, mum! Honest! Harry," she turned to see her brother smirking back at her. "Oh all right! Harry didn't begin it, but he was as involved as me! Weren't you, Harry?" She pleaded to her twin with puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, now that you mention it," Harry said contemplatively, "I do remember something to do with being attacked savagely and pushed to the ground and," turning to his mother seriously, he continued, "It's all right, mother. I'm not injured. Lets forgive her this time. Next time, we punish her severely."

Lily shook her head and flung her hands in despair at her kids' antics. But seeing the fun that was returning to their lives after years of misery through their childhood, she couldn't stay angry any longer.

"Clean up in time," she said. "And I'll overlook your punishment."

Smiling, Harry followed his sister to the washroom.

"Thanks, Harry," she muttered sarcastically, washing her face at the sink. "You nearly got me in trouble."

"Your fault, Lei," he responded, cleaning his hands. "You tried to get me in trouble. I was merely a step ahead."

Leila opened her mouth to argue but instead smiled. "That was the most fun I've ever had!" she said happily, leaning backwards to rest her head against her twin's front.

In response, Harry merely moved his hands around her waist and kissed the side of her head. They remained like that for nearly five minutes, and Harry muttered a cleaning charm.

"Harry," Leila asked in shock, "Did you just do wandless magic?"

Nodding, Harry replied, "Yes. But don't tell mum and dad yet. I want to surprise them."

"Harry," Leila asked in shock, "Did you just do worldless magic?"

Smiling, Harry shook his hand in front of her. "Leila, earth to Leila. Are you there?"

"Harry," she said again. "N-Never mind. Will you teach me?"

Smiling even wider, Harry said, "Thought you'd never ask. Tonight."

Squealing happily, she hugged her brother, who held for a few moments before saying, "But we need to hurry now. Diagon Alley."

Harry, Leila and Hermione entered Gringotts with James and Lily Potter and Jane Black. Sirius was busy with his Auror duties and Remus was managing the shop.

To Harry's surprise, he saw quite a few familiar faces in Gringotts. Malfoy was there, scowling as usual, at what he perceived as idiotic Gryffindors. The object of his ire were Ron Weasley, the Boy Who Lived, and his brothers. The Minister of Magic was in Gringotts himself.

Harry glanced at his parents and saw them stiffen at the icy glares sent towards them by the Weasleys. Shrugging, he stifled a grin when the Ragnok of Gringotts came rushing towards them, much to the amazement of everyone present. Few amongst wizards had ever seen the Goblin Chief in person, and for him to come rushing out to greet customers, and insignificant ones such as the Potters, was insulting to most other purebloods, such as the Malfoys and the Weasleys.

But the Potters and their companions followed Ragnok to his office.

"Pardon me for interrupting you in such a discourteous manner," the old goblin croaked as he settled down. "Do take a seat, please." He waited for a few seconds, and turned to Harry. He peered at the boy for a few seconds and his eyes widened in recognition. Leaping from his seat, he bowed and said, "Pardon me, My Lord. I didn't recognize you."

Stifling a groan, Harry feigned confusion and said, "Excuse me? Do I know you?"

The goblin gaped and then stammered his reply, "O-Of course… w-we haven't met yet. Pardon me, Mr. Potter, for my exuberance." Turning to the bemused spectators, he said, "Pardon me, my good wizards and witches. I was a bit too excited to recognize the one chosen by magic."

"What do you mean?" Lily asked sharply, not taking well to random goblins treating her son like royalty.

Returning to his seat, the goblin eyed Harry Potter kindly and said, "You, dear child, have been chosen by magic to be the next Lord Arkenstone."

If the goblin was expecting some sort of response from his audience, he was sorely mistaken. All he received was blank stares, except for Harry, who he knew was smirking in his head. Sighing, he tried again, "Arkenstone is an ancient title, passed hereditarily unless magic deems someone else worthy. In which case, the heir is revealed. Harry Potter has been revealed."

"This is impossible," James said hoarsely. "We have nothing to do with this Arkenstone fellow. Why would Harry be chosen?"

The goblin gazed from James to Lily to Harry and when the boy nodded, he said, "Am I right in assuming young Mr. Potter was believed to be a squib most his life?"

"Y-Yes," James nodded.

"It is as I feared," the goblin sighed and Harry almost smiled at his acting skills. "This boy has been wronged. I do not know exactly what happened, but it is my belief that either You Know Who or the Headmaster of Hogwarts bound his magic. They are the only wizards capable of such powerful spells, save Nicholas Flamel and Ollivander, who rarely venture beyond their own domains."

At the goblin's words, the Potters gasped loudly and James turned to Lily. "Dumbledore spent a few minutes alone with each child… that night… he claimed he wanted to discover the truth… I don't believe this," he shook his head.

"Believe what you may," the goblin continued. "Magic itself raged against the injustice against this boy. I bid you welcome, Lord Arkenstone." The goblin bowed again. Then he summoned a parchment out and passed it to the boy. "There is no need to show you the amount of wealth you possess, My Lord, no other mortal can come close to even a tenth of that amount. Even governments would fail to come close to that amount, but it is not all for your personal use. There are strict guidelines that direct how much you can spend for your own self, and even that, if I may add, is rather significant."

"Dad," Harry quipped after reading the document. "If this is true, then you can open up new branches of MMM in some of these properties."

James smiled and shook his head. "That is very generous of you, son. But first of all, we need to clear this misunderstanding. And even if all these belonged to you, I would rather you keep it for your own… Good Heavens!" he exclaimed, seeing the extensive list of real estate under Arkenstone. "Merlin's Staff! This bloke owns Azkaban!" He turned to the goblin in disbelief. "This is all a big joke, isn't it? Lets prank the Marauders day, is it?"

"I assure you, Mr. Potter," the goblin said kindly but seriously. "This is no joke. Not only is your son entitled to all these land, he is also the Lord of Azkaban, formerly known as Arkenstone."

"Unbelievable!"

There was silence for several minutes after which the goblin said, "May I stress the importance of secrecy. The Ministry, the Wizengamot and several individual purebloods have been trying to seize all this for centuries now, and I cannot stress how difficult a position Mr. Harry Potter will face, if this knowledge becomes widespread."

"What about Legilimency?" Hermione asked from her seat and Harry nearly grinned.

Lily turned to her, impressed, and said, "I'm good at Occlumency, most Charms Masters are. James has had to learn basic Occlumency for his Auror training, but that still leaves quite a few of us."

"Allow me," the goblin interrupted. He clapped his hands and a tray appeared with several rings. "As a show of goodwill between Gringotts and Arkenstone, I present this token gift to you, My Lord," he said to Harry. "These are ten goblin rings. They are magical rings that strengthen the mental defenses of the bearer. Once worn, the ring will meld into the fingers of the bearer and can only be removed by the bearers themselves. You may present these to those you deem necessary."

Harry smiled at the goblin and passed a ring each to everyone present, giving an extra one to Jane for Sirius. After nearly another hour, the Potters and their companions left Gringotts, still in a daze over the revelations of earlier. Harry had promptly offered to fund the entire expenses, and after much cajoling his parents and Jane Black consented. It wasn't as if he would even feel the cost.

Stopping at Ollivanders, Harry was startled to see the Weasleys waiting outside, or at least Arthur, Ron, Ginny and Percy. Harry had no doubt that they wished to quiz the Potters on what Ragnok wanted with them, and shrugging he went straight to the wand maker.

Ollivander frowned on seeing Harry but didn't say a thing, not wanting to sound rude. He had already had one tough customer with Ron Weasley, having expected to sell him the phoenix wand that was brother to Voldemort's but it didn't work out as he expected. Now was the mystery of the Potter boy, long believed to be a squib. Without his usual exuberance, Ollivander started measuring Harry Potter.

Harry had to repress a grin at the old man's fretfulness. The phoenix wand was lying on his counter, still un-bought, and Harry decided to have a little fun with the old man.

"That's a real neat wand, Mr. Ollivander," he said cheerfully. "Can I have a go?"

Frowning, Ollivander was about to start his monologue on wands choosing wizards, when Harry seized the wand. To his great surprise, bright sparks shot out of the wand. He ogled the boy in disbelief, a feature mirrored by everyone in the shop - the Weasleys, because of the obvious disappointment form the wand maker when Ron was unable to claim that very wand, and the Potters, because of the rudenessdisplayed bytheir son.

"Harry!" scolded Lily. "Put that back and let Ollivander do his job!"

"Now, Mrs. Potter," the wand maker said calmly. "No harm done… no harm done… This is a very special wand, young Mr. Potter, I'm not sure if I should be parting with it."

"Right," said Ronald Weasley from a corner. "Ollivander said he's going to customize it for me. It's much too grand for squibs like you."

"Ron!" his father reprimanded lightly. Then turned to Harry. "I apologize for my son's rudeness, but I'm afraid he's right. That wand has been purchased already."

"Oh," Harry said in mock disappointment. "Sorry," he pushed it back at the counter but not before shooting some more sparks. Smirking at the distressed wand maker, he said, "I hope you manage to make it work." Looking around, he saw an unmade wand, an ordinary piece of wood, and picked it up.

Pointing it towards an empty box, he said, "Upsy Daisy!" and the box shot up, much to the delight of his family, befuddlement of Hermione, and chagrin of the wand maker.

Ollivander gaped at Harry Potter in silence and tried to penetrate his mind. To his shock, he discovered, he was not only unable to penetrate Harry Potter's but any of the occupants of his shop, except the Weasleys. Shaking his head, he sat down on his stool. The wand shouldn't have worked at all. There was something really strange about Harry Potter. Dumbledore was right. He had done the correct thing in binding the boy's magic. The question was, how it opened up.

Taking charge of the situation, he said, "Holly, Ten Inches and Fairy Tears." He had seen the tension between the Minister and the Potters, and tried to play it to his advantage by naming a obviously weak core. "Ten Galleons."

"Fairy tears?" Ron chuckled, looking at Harry mockingly. "How much more pathetic can you get?"

"Ron!" snapped Ginny Weasley from behind him, but promptly shut up when her brother glared at her.

James Potter took a deep breath and turned to Arthur, who showed little inclination to rebuke his son. Shaking his head, he asked, "Is there anything I can do for you, Minister Weasley?"

Nodding his head, the Minister asked directly, "What did Ragnok want from you, Potter?"

"You're not serious, are you?" James asked incredulously. "What I discuss with my banker is my private business. I fail to see how it might involve you, Minister."

"Don't act dumb, Potter," the Minister said, wiping sweat from his bow. "We all know Ragnok rarely sees anyone unless the matter is of grave importance. What did he want from you?"

"I'm afraid the matter we discussed with the Ragnok of Gringotts was of a personal nature and I would appreciate you not trying to interfere." He turned to Ollivander and pointedly gestured towards Leila and Hermione.

As the wand maker busied himself with the two girls, Harry admired his business acumen. Fairy tears, he smiled to himself. It was a thing of myths, fairies didn't cry and had no tears. So technically, Ollivander hadn't lied, just overcharged them for a useless piece of wood. But Harry knew how to exact justice.

When the girls had acquired their wands, he walked closer to the wand maker and fingered the phoenix wand. Touching the tip, he said, "A fair exchange, isn't it?" and the wand maker looked horrified for an instant. The core of the wand had disappeared, burnt to cinders. He turned to Harry in rage but the boy walked away. Then the wand maker froze. How could he not have seen the ring earlier! He turned to Harry in dismay, and started to beg forgiveness, but Harry had left.

That night, Harry waited for his parents to sleep, and knocked on his twin's door. With a giggle, she joined him, and the two walked out to the summer house with cookies and pumpkin juice.

"You know," she said. "It's been so long since we've snuck out like this together."

Smiling sadly, Harry said, "It's been so long since we've done many things together, sis. I can never make up…"

"Stop it!" she said forcefully, jumping over him. Laughing, the two started wrestling on the soft rug for a while, before Harry gave up, and held his twin at bay. "But dad's right," she said. "We need to do more of our cute twin-things."

"Leila!" he protested. "We're here to teach you magic, not fool around." He sat up straight and beckoned Leila to come closer. He sighed when she looked put off at his rebuke. "Right, sis. Come here. We can do both together." He beckoned her to sit with her back to him, and he draped his arm around her, raising her wand hand with his.

She sighed. "I feel so safe when you do that, bro. It's like something great and powerful is looking after me."

"Lei," Harry started in disbelief. "Did you just call me great and powerful?"

"Not you, silly," she whacked his leg. "And yet," she said in confusion, and rested her head back on his chest, "It is you. Maybe it's a twin thing."

Chuckling, Harry said, "You do realize twins don't have super powers that come out when they are together."

"Stop making fun of me, Harry," Leila said in a suddenly frantic way. She turned to him and said, "Why do I suddenly feel so… so safe and secure with you, Harry? Why do I want to be held by my twin all day? Why do I feel so uncomfortable when you're not with me? It's not a spell, is it?"

"It is," Harry said calmly, and held her down when she started to get up. "Remember my oath to devote my life to you? That's what it is. You will always be able to trust me absolutely because if I ever attempted to hurt you in any way, I'd lose my magic, and if I did something, I'd probably lose my life."

"Oh, Harry," she said after a few seconds. Resting her head backwards beneath his head, she sobbed. "How awful!"

"No, it isn't, Lei," he said reassuringly, kissing the top of her head. "It really isn't. I do love you."

Sobbing but also smiling, Leila turned around and kissed Harry's cheek. "You're the best brother in the whole world! I'm glad you're mine!"

Harry sighed. Magic was forgotten. They remained like that all night, chitchatting about meaningless things. Harry had wanted to prepare her somewhat before Hogwarts, but that had to wait. After she had fallen asleep, Harry transformed into the appearance of the Guardian and picked her up. He carried her back home. Placing her gently on her bed, he kissed her on the forehead and whispered to non listening ears, "In each dimension, Harry has had a strong woman behind him - Lily Potter, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Nymphadora Tonks, Alice Longbottom, Gabrielle Delacour Petunia Dursley, Minerva McGonagall. In this world, you are the one, Leila Potter. It is his love for you and his guilt at hurting you which will make him succeed at his tasks." Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead again, "Sleep well, Lei."

The next instant, he disappeared and reappeared in the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. The form of the silver phoenix sailed down from a tree and the Phoenix Lady appeared.

Smiling, she said in a sing song voice, "Your affection for the girl grows."

"As does yours for the Unicorn Lord," the Guardian responded.

"It's a pity he must die soon," the Phoenix noted with a sigh. Then seeing the expression of the Guardian's face, she shook her head firmly. "No! Don't even think about it! The Fates will be annoyed!

The Guardian laughed ironically. "Don't be daft, my dear girl. While in this reality, my sole purpose is to annoy the Fates as often as I can." Beckoning the Phoenix to come his arms, he whispered in her ear, "Promise me you will save the unicorn. Otherwise I will do so myself."

Shuddering at the closeness of the Guardian's breath, the Phoenix trembled and said, "I promise, My Lord."

"Oh stop it," the Guardian said, annoyed. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that, my oldest and dearest friend."

"Always once more," the Phoenix said melodiously. Then she stopped the Guardian with a quick kiss on the lips and said, "Don't say it! I know! I have accepted it! But just don't say it!"

Sighing, the Guardian nodded, gently squeezing his companion's shoulder. Then he took her arm and both vanished in a puff.

The next instant, they reappeared in a Castle and bells started ringing. Immediately, several curses came flying towards them. The Phoenix draped her arms around the Guardian and uttered a note of pure raging melody. The two were surrounded in a glow of silver flames and all the spells fizzled away harmlessly.

"One of these days," she said, when the spells ceased coming at them, "You are going to get us killed!"

With gleaming eyes, the Guardian said, "That would be a first! Getting a phoenix killed! Think of the reaction of the Fates!" Then shuddering at the woman's expression, he said, "What! You'll only return to the Halls and wait for me to get there!"

"Who'll keep an eye on you, dear," the Phoenix scolded lightly, "as you muddle through that sorry excuse of a life."

"Snape!" he accused.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Children!" a voice bellowed and the Guardian and the Phoenix cringed in mortification. A regal looking middle aged lady appeared with a balding man beside her. The man held a cane and a top hat, and looked somewhat ridiculous, but the Guardian knew better than to underestimate him, or her.

Turning to the lady, the Guardian bowed with a smile and said, "Aunt Perenelle!" Tilting his head at the man, he said, "Master Nicholas!"

"Back again, Harry dear?" the woman said, conjuring chairs and goblets of wine for all four of them. "You're looking marvelous, dear Hedwig. Which world is it this time?"

Smiling, the Guardian said, "the one with a twin called Leila."

Shaking her head, the woman took a long sip of her wine. Taking a deep breath, she said, "That narrows it down to a few hundreds, child. Quite a few of which, in my opinion, are absolutely horrible. Care to elaborate further?"

Grinning, the Guardian looked apologizing at the ancient woman and said, "Leila, Kyle, Leah, Ron is mistaken as Child of Prophecy, Lord Arkenstone."

The woman nodded. "One of the better worlds, but I must warn you, there are a few surprises waiting for you. You would do well to be on your guard, always. Hedwig dear, do save the poor unicorn, will you?"

"But, Madam Perenelle," the Phoenix protested. "The Fates?"

"The Fates have decided that unicorns are too pure to live in this corrupt world, true," she nodded. "But Arkenstone will be in a layer separated from the corruptness. Do look after him, will you. Swifty's a dear fellow." Then she got up. "Do look after yourselves, and each other. Harry dear, you are being a fool. Hedwig, little one, do not be disheartened. But both of you, do not look for us again, we will not be here." So saying, she turned into a green phoenix and flying around Nicholas, the two disappeared.

Then Harry turned to Hedwig and sighed. He opened his mouth, but the Phoenix shook her head with a smile.

"I really do understand, My Lord." Then the two of them also vanished.

Author's Notes:

Beware, a really long note following.

Ship Buoyancy

I want to make it clear here that there is nothing incestuous between Harry and Leila. They will be extremely close, kissing chastely quite often, holding each other, maybe even sleeping in each other's arms etc… closer than many of you might feel comfortable with for twins, but it is purely based on non sexual affection.

Harry and Hedwig

is more complex. I didn't intend to make that happen and I don't think I will, at least perhaps not for this story. Who knows what happens when Harry is outside of reality in the timeless Halls of Magic. As the Guardian, he is not purely human, and Hedwig is Phoenix (like Jean Grey from X Men). They will have a close relationship but I'm not sure where that's headed.

Harry and Hermione

hmm… I don't think I'm very keen on that. Will see how it develops with the plot.

Harry and Ginny

is definitely an option. At least, there will definitely be some HarryGinny, but not sure if it will last too long.

Harry and older Gabrielle

could come up later and become a strong ship.

I'm not too keen of building a character for random characters like Daphne, Hannah, Susan, as we know so little about them. Similar problems with Gabrielle.

Harry and Cho

definitely doesn't work for me.

Harry and Tonks

could happen but I somehow perceive Tonks and Hedwig fighting for Harry. Not sure if that's a good idea.

Leila and Ron

only if Ron grows up. I don't see that happening.

Leila and Draco

will not happen.

Leila and Neville

is a strong possibility.

Leila and some female

is also a possibility but not likely.