Previously:
"Gray, Reynard."The boy leaned back on the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
xXxXxXxXx
Hmm…yes. Interesting, very interesting.
Reynard knew enough not to jump at the little voice in his ear.
I've sorted you before. Twice before…and in two different places! How interesting…
Yes, I believe we established this is interesting.
If hats could look offended, Reynard had the distinct impression the Sorting Hat would have done it.
Well, pardon me for breathing. The Hat harrumphed.
Ray was tempted to point out the that Hat didn't breath but restrained himself.
And I saw that.
However that didn't seem to have helped much.
I refuse to sit here and listen to you make fun of me.
A rush of panic filled him. Did Hats hold grudges? Would it put him in the one place he didn't want to be? I'm not-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
He could swear he heard the hat chuckling as the red and gold table exploded in cheers. He jogged over to the table and slid in (much to Harry's displeasure) in the empty seat next to Neville, all the time muttering about stupid hats that led people to believe they were about to meet imminent death and other horrible things.
"Black, Meghan." The Hat took less time with Meghan than it had with Ray, and she bounced into the waiting arms of her cousin when it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!".
"Gray, Jane." Jane barely had the hat on her head for more than a few seconds before it placed her in "GRYFFINDOR!".
"Black, James." The hat touched his head "GRYFFINDOR!" and came off his head. The dark boy intercepted the hugs of his sister and cousin with good grace.
Dumbledore got up to say a few words - inane words, but words nonetheless - and the food appeared. Ray leaned around Jane.
"The hat didn't take long to sort you in Gryffindor." He said casually under the clatter of forks.
James gave him a half-glare. "You know why."
Ray nodded sagely and turned back to his food.
xXxXxXxXx
Harry was glaring daggers at them from three seats down as Ray leaned over and said something to Neville that made him laugh. Hermione was trading book titles with Jane, which seemed to fit somehow.
"I'm sorry," he said irritably with a hint of ice, "Did we do or say something over the last few weeks to make you think this was okay?" His glare intensified as he looked straight at Reynard. Harry had an unexplainable and unreasonable dislike of the Gray boy.
"Eating? Well you certainly haven't stopped us…" Gray said.
Gray winced slightly and turned to glare at Meghan, who gave him a cheeky little waggle of her fingers. It seemed like she had kicked him under the table.
Harry felt the heat of another glare boring into his skull and half-turned. Ginny's eyes were practically on fire.
"What?" he asked cautiously.
"What is your problem?" Ginny hissed, nodding towards Gray to show who she meant.
"I don't like him." Harry answered and turned back to his food.
"You barely even know him!"
"I just don't like him, okay?" Harry hissed back. He looked up as a flash of fire - almost too fast to see - erupted in front of James. A note fluttered down.
Harry felt a flicker of jealously. Why would Dumbledore want to talk to him? Why not him - Harry, who had battle Voldemort again only three months ago?
xXxXxXxXx
James caught the piece of parchment before it hit the table. It was written in familiar spindly writing. He beckoned Meghan to come over. She ducked under the table and came out there side, pushing against Ray to make room.
James,
Your parents and I have planned a meeting for tonight, directly after the feast, in order to discuss possible solutions to your problem. It would be acceptable to all if you would like to come. The password is "Mars Bars".
Sincerely,
Headmaster Dumbledore
James looked up to the podium and caught one twinkling blue eye. He nodded, indicating the other three as well.
They'd be there. They wanted to find a solution as bad as Harry seemed to want them out of his life.
He chuckled as he slid the piece of paper into his pocket.
"Problem". He thought. Tactful as always.
xXxXxXxXx
Albus Dumbledore eyed the eight people sitting in front of his desk over his half-moon spectacles. To the untrained eye they looked tired but healthy. To Dumbledore they looked ragged and exhausted, having obviously just barely recovered from a very traumatic experience.
He began talking before any of them could.
"Imagine my surprise when I felt the very fabric of magic waver." He said, slightly amused, "I believe there is a Muggle movie reference to that. I felt…'a disturbance in the Force'."
James snorted and quickly covered it by coughing. Jane and Ray clasped hands. Meghan wasn't laughing as long as you didn't look too closely at her mouth.
"You're positive we affected the fabric of magic?" John asked, his blue eyes very swirled with brown. James had recovered from his coughing fit by then.
"Never doubt the Force," he told his Uncle, completely deadpan. Aletha reached over and flicked her son's ear.
"So," Dumbledore continued, leaning back in his chair, "Did you travel through time, space, or both?"
John took a deep breath. "Space…we believe."
"You believe?"
"We think we're in a parallel universe."
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose. "And, if I may inquire, how did you come to this conclusion?"
Patrick gave a roguish smirk. "Seeing copies of our children tipped us off, you see." He winced as his wife kicked him in the shin, unknowingly copying what Meghan did to James earlier.
"Yes, I do believe that would clue in the best of us." Dumbledore acknowledged. "May I assume that the faces you wear are disguises?"
The woman called Danger met him eye for eye, which not many people could. "You may so assume."
"But you cannot tell me."
"Got it in one." She smiled at him.
Dumbledore indicated the adults with his hand. "You told me in our earlier conversation, before the children arrived, that you were beginning to leave when you were attacked. Why was that?"
Every eye turned to James. He sighed and told Dumbledore how he knew, what he knew, and what the significance of that was. When he finished Dumbledore looked thoughtful.
"That is very interesting." Dumbledore said finally. "What kind of offensive spell would cause such a rift between the worlds? Do you think it had an influx of power?"
John perked up. "I think -" He was cut off by several groans.
"And some things never change." Patrick muttered.
"If you're going to talk magical theory, do you think we may be excused?" Jane asked politely.
"Certainly," Dumbledore said, "The password to Gryffindor Tower is 'Pride'." He winked one twinkling blue eye at the four children, who all jumped. The adults looked amused.
"Thank you, sir," James said tightly. They all stood up to leave before Dumbledore stopped them. He handed the four of them four small boxes.
"You may have noticed that Fawkes has just recently been reborn. When I went to brush away the ashes, these came with him. Fawkes created these." He said softly. "I'm not sure of the significance but I showed them to your parents. They have told me which should be given to whom. Guard them well."
They nodded gravely, bowed and curtsied as necessary, and left. As the last of the children walked out to the door the young Fawkes trilled. The four packages glowed a soft blue for half a second, unnoticed by all except Dumbledore who nodded to his long-time companion and settled in to talk magical theory.
"Now if you want to talk magical theory, my good friend Remus Lupin, who I believe you've met a few times here before, is wonderfully knowledgeable. He'll be sick for the next few days…"
xXxXxXxXx
James and the others had barely made it out of Dumbledore's office when a tall, red-haired presence made itself known, followed shortly by Hermione.
"We're here to take you to Gryffindor Tower," Hermione explained. They thanked her and the rest of the walk was silent. Rather uncharacteristically, Hermione broke it.
"I may not know you personally, but I have a rather good grasp of your personalities by now. Shouldn't one or more of you have said some witty comment by now?"
James shrugged. "Tired." And continued to stare down at his hand. It was only then that they noticed the four square packages.
Ron was about to ask what they were, but never got around to it. They had reached the Fat Lady. James tugged one of Meghan's braids with tired playfulness and wished her good night before trudging upstairs after Ron and Ray.
He and his cousin took the only two beds with no trunks and both of them pulled the scarlet curtains shut immediately after changing into thoughtfully provided pajamas. In the semi-darkness of his closed off four-poster, James stared at the package in his hand. Carefully he slid open the top of the box and his heart clenched painfully.
I will not cry. I am a wolf, I am strong, I am Alpha of the Pride. I. Will. Not. Cry.
Eventually the burning sensation behind his eyes went away. His mantra had made it go, but it didn't stop him from wanting to anyway. Inside the box, gleaming as if newly polished, was a silver chain on which hung the proud silver pendant of a cat-like creature with pointed ears and a stubby tail. A lynx.
He put it on and wrapped his hand around the figure so tightly he was sure the outline was scarred into his hand. He felt that burning sensation coming back. Instead he brought his alarm clock into his enclosure and set it for earlier than anyone had a right to wake up.
He grabbed his wand and placed the strongest silencing charm he knew. He stuck the curtains together. When he was sure he was alone he took a deep, shuddering breath and shifted.
This form was simpler and knew exactly what to do with his tumbling emotions. Wolf tipped back his head and let loose a howl. It was long and sorrowful and plaintive. And it was fueled by the knowledge that no matter how long he howled, the answering yowl of a wild cat would never come.
xXxXxXxXx
The sound of the alarm woke him up just when it was supposed to, especially piercing in this form. He shifted back and grabbed his wand, carefully flicking each and every spell he had been taught before school had begun. When he was absolutely positive he was James again, he took off the silencer and the sticking charm.
To come face to face with Ray.
The deep shadows under his eyes and the graceful owl pendant hanging around Ray's neck told James everything he needed to know.
They changed into the clothes and robes that the house-elves had brought up for them and went down the stairs. The girls were already dressed and curled up in front of the fire. They barely even lifted their heads when the boys sat next to them.
Jane had a soaring hawk around her neck. Meghan had a gleaming monkey. Both girls had red-rimmed eyes. Ginny and the gang noticed at breakfast and (wisely) didn't say anything. Malfoy noticed in the entrance hall, before Potions, the first class of the day, and (unwisely) did.
"What's the matter, new kids? Homesick? Spent your nights like Potter, crying for your parents?" Malfoy snarled, his lip curling into a sneer.
Harry's face blazed red with anger and he was about to shout when -
"I think that he thinks if he sneers enough no one will notice that pimple on his forehead."
Everyone turned to see the casually leaning form of Reynard, his arms crossed over his chest. He was smirking amusedly.
His twin shook her head in obviously feigned seriousness. "No. I think that he thinks if he sneers enough that no one will notice he tried to use Muggle make-up to hide aforementioned pimple."
"Did he really?" James leaned forward to stare straight at Malfoy's forehead. The pale-blonde boy was so dumbstruck that he didn't even respond. "Will you look at that! He did! I thought Purebloods were supposed to be above all that."
"You - you - you -" Malfoy stuttered.
"Think he's overcome with relief that we've finally ousted his secret?" Jane asked her twin.
"I think he's overcome with something. I don't think it's relief."
"You - you -" Malfoy could just not seem to form a sentence of retort.
"So what do you think, Janie?"
"Well, if you take away the sneer, he'd probably verge on good-looking." For some reason Ray shot her a mildly offended glare. "Other than that he's an arrogant bully-"
"You - you -"
"- who can say the word 'you'."
Malfoy finally settled for just glaring at them.
"Now, now." James chided, "No need to be afraid of us…Malfoy, isn't it?"
"This isn't fear," Malfoy said icily, "This is anger."
"Oh…well. Hard to tell one from the other with a face like yours."
"If it was fear I'd imagine my eyes would be wider."
"Yes," James said solemnly, "I'll look out for that next time."
It took Malfoy about ten seconds to realize he was being mocked. He exploded with a volley of curse words and obscenities that some people hadn't even thought were invented. He went on for so long that the combined classes didn't even hear the clang of the bell. When he finally wound down the three visitors were quietly chuckling.
"Creative," James remarked when Malfoy had gone silent, "But I don't think it's anatomically possible. We would be more than willing to assist you if you wanted to prove it, however."
This provoked chuckles from the Hufflepuffs, sniggers from the Ravenclaws, and outright guffaws from the Gryffindors.
Harry stared at the three incredulously. "You're just going to stand there and take it?"
"No, of course not." Ray started.
"You're not?" Ron asked.
Jane picked up her cue beautifully. "No. We're going to sit in there and take it. The bell just rang."
"Why didn't you get mad at him?" Harry hissed to James before they all sat down: James, Ray, and Jane at the table in front of the one Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at.
"Well, think of it this way. If I get mad at him, it's exactly the reaction he's looking for. He'll have won. But if I stay calm and just throw subtle little insults back, he looks more the fool than I do."
James abruptly turned around as Snape came swooping in the door and the light glittered against the lynx pendant, leaving Harry with more to mull over in his thoughts than the visitor's new necklaces.
xXxXxXxXx
"Can anyone tell me the origin of the Glamour Charm?" Professor Flitwick's shrill voice carried all the way around the room.
Hermione's hand shot up into the air at precisely the same moment as Jane's. They turned to glance at each other in surprise.
"Miss Gray?"
"The Glamour Charm was invented in 1932 by a wizard named M. J. Putney. At that time it combined an Illusion Charm with a Distraction Charm, it was a little less refined than the standard one used today." She started to say something else and winced, shutting up.
"Wonderful. 5 points to Gryffindor. Anyone have anything else to add?"
Not surprisingly Hermione's hand hit the air. "He created it after meeting his future wife of an arranged marriage."
"Good. 2 points to Gryffindor."
Flitwick turned around to answer the question of a Ravenclaw and Jane spun on her twin. "What was that? You don't have to kick so hard!" She hissed.
"You don't have to be such a super-brain all the time!" He hissed back.
"I am not a super-brain all the time!"
"But you're not denying you're a super-brain."
"Both of you, shut it!" James hissed. They did, carefully looking away from each other as their hands brushed.
Harry immediately focused on their eyes. Ray was looking at the desk but Harry was looking straight at his grey eyes…his grey eyes with a hint of blue…his blue/grey eyes…his blue eyes with a hint of grey…
Finally the twins turned to look at each other. Harry jerked back in surprise: Ray's eyes were grey.
"Sorry," the whispered at exactly the same time. They both looked startled for a minute before giving quiet, self-deprecating chuckles. Everyone turned back to pay attention as Flitwick hopped back up onto the desk.
"Now, there are two ways to see around Glamour Charms. There is a spell to remove a Glamour, but it is difficult and we won't be performing it today. The other is a mildly simple Identification Charm. It's incantation is "Identifus Glamorous"." He gave a little chuckle. "Not exactly the most original of incantations."
The class laughed along with him.
"Now, if your subject is under a Glamour they will glow a light yellow. If they aren't, they shall glow a light purple. I'll set up your partners."
Harry did a double-take on the visitors. Their faces were white, even James' under his dark skin. Hermione noticed too.
"Are you guys alright?" She asked worriedly.
Slow but steady nods. "Fine." Jane answered. "Just a little tired."
"Jane Gray and Reynard Gray." Flitwick announced, pointing out the partners. The twins grinned with a tinge of…relief?
"Harry Potter and James Black."
Harry turned to James and shrugged. The boy shrugged back but he was still pale.
James lifted his arm and made the swift flick that accompanied the spell "Identifus Glamorous!" A bolt of blue light shot out.
Harry felt the spell impact him but did nothing to stop it. He looked down as he glowed a soft purple.
He lifted his wand. "Identifus Glamorous!" Just as the blue light was about to hit, James stumbled and it shot past.
"Sorry," James muttered, bending down to tie his shoe. "Try that again?"
James managed to effortlessly dodge the spell three more times, all of them looking like accidents. The fourth time he did it, Harry took a glance at the twins. Professor Flitwick was talking to them like they were slow or something. Seemingly neither of them could get the spell right or they would miss when they did.
Harry was not an idiot. A lurking suspicion grew inside him, fueled by several weeks of doubts.
He pointed his wand at James. "Petrificus Totalus." James immediately froze in place, looking horrified. He blinked one eye hard, three times. He blinked the other eyes hard, three times.
Harry made the swift flick as James took in his third deep breath. "Identifus Glamorous!"
James breathed deep again. Then a fifth time…too late. The spell hit him with a soft thump and he glowed a soft but distinctive yellow. Then he did the impossible and broke through a Full-Body Bind.
His blue eyes were wide and fearful. His…blue/green eyes? No matter, in the time it took Harry to blink he was gone. James took off and slammed the door with a bang. The twins were quick to follow but stopped as Harry leveled his wand at them and roared.
"Don't take another step!"
xXxXxXxXx
James was running. He didn't care where, he was just running. He let his wolf speed trickle into his human body, his legs pumping faster than ever. They carried him up to and through the Fat Lady with a single shout of the password.
It carried him past a bewildered Meghan as he shot through the common room and up the stairs to his dorm.
He leaned against the door when he got there, taking in deep and shuddering breaths. His hand gripped the lynx figure tightly and he didn't notice when it's sharp silver ears dug a ragged cut in his flesh. The cut spilled red blood all over the pristine silver.
I screwed up this time. I really screwed up this time. Oh god, we're never going to survive this now.
He had to calm down. He had to. He knew he had to but he couldn't so he brought forth the most calming thought he could.
A wolf and a lynx pretending to hunt a doe with a silver monkey flashing in and out of sight trying to grab their tails and tug their ears; nearby a cat and a fox tried to outrun each other as an owl and a hawk wheeled about overhead…
An image of a lynx sprang forth so vividly in his mind that he gripped the pendant tighter and more blood spilled. He threw away awareness and followed the lynx into his mind. It darted past a barrier where it stood, hazy and unfocused, almost like it was taunting him.
He threw his energy at the barrier.
The hand holding his pendant started to glow a bright red.
He imagined himself a wolf, ravaging the barrier with his teeth.
More of his blood spilled onto the lynx. It glowed a brighter red.
In a last ditch attempt his imagined a huge fireball slamming into the barrier. It cracked.
His inner mind howled in triumph. He conjured another ball and slammed it with all his power into the barrier.
It shattered into a million pieces.
The red light erupted like a shining nova.
He yelled out in pain and collapsed to the floor as the door swung in, his head connecting loudly with the stone.
xXxXxXxXx
A literal world away Ginny Weasley screamed and dropped to the floor of her room in the Burrow, to impact the ground with a dull thud and a flash of red light.
XXxXxXxXx
A/n: Yes I know. I'm a horrible, evil person. Tell me so in the reviews! Tell me your favorite part, too. And story ideas are welcomed with open arms. :grins evilly: Don't you just love cliffhangers?