A Second Chance

By S.L

Chapter Two: What You Can Learn With Some Veritaserum

The trunks were stacked neatly at the door, the rooms were dark and a fire was dying out in the grate in the den. It was one thirty in the morning and James had been in bed from an early hour so that he could be well rested enough to enjoy the relaxation of the holiday. Lily had also retired early, but now she was awake, reading by the light the fire still provided. She had never been a deep sleeper, and something about having kids had turned her into an even bigger insomniac. So she had given up trying to count sheep and opted to get some reading done instead.

The Hogwarts staff quarters were not overly large. Lily and James shared a bedroom, bathroom, den and even a kitchen; all of them small, but it suited them fine. Like the rest of the Hogwarts staff they rarely found themselves in their room anyways. Most free moments they were able to scrap together they found themselves in their offices or in the staff room relaxing rather than their quarters. Any time actually spent in their rooms was usually used for sleeping.

And so it was that Lily was awake and in the den, curled up around a copy of The Dark Arts Outsmarted when the fire suddenly flared up.

"Oh good, Lily, you're awake," Dumbledore said as soon as his head popped into the flames. He had his long, grey beard tied to the top of his head so that it wouldn't catch fire. The sight would have been comical if it hadn't been for the grave look on his face.

"What's wrong, Albus?" Lily asked, folding over the corner of the page she was on and setting aside the book and leaning forward in her chair. "What's happened?"

He exhaled loudly, causing a few sparks to hiss and fly out of the grate before dying on the cold stone floor. "I need your assistance immediately. There's been a break in. I'd like you to meet me in the Hospital Wing immediately." Then he promptly popped out of the fire and the flames dyed back down to burning embers.

As quickly as she could manage, without waking James, Lily threw on a dressing down over her pajamas and shuffled into a pair of slippers. She paused only to pen a quick note for her husband in case he woke up while she was gone, then she grabbed her satchel of supplies and left.

The Potter's quarters were down the hall from James' classroom on the second floor so it was only a matter of minutes before Lily was climbing the stairs and entering the Hospital Wing.

Dumbledore and Poppy were already there waiting for her when she arrived. Both were crowded around a man lying immobile in a bed near the end of the hall. The wing was otherwise empty, no students would dare to risk their holiday by admitting to being sick, or by playing sick, so near the holiday.

"Good, Lily, you brought your things," Dumbledore said when he noticed Lily her padding up to them in her slippers. "I'm going to need for you to take notes." He turned to Poppy. "Thank you for your assistance Poppy, but would you please excuse us? I'm afraid this is Order business now."

Poppy seemed about to argue with the Headmaster, but after a quick glance at Lily she appeared to decide against it. Instead she turned around and retreated to her own living quarters.

"What's the story Albus?" Lily asked as she unpacked her things.

Dumbledore hesitated a minute and then pointed to the bed. "I found this young man lying face down on my office floor when I returned this evening," he turned and gave Lily a grave look. No one had ever managed to break into his office before, there were certain things hidden in there that were meant to be confidential; the secrets of Hogwarts, the Order were all kept in that office. Dumbledore, and even Lily herself, stood to lose a good deal if some of those documents and objects were found.

Lily nodded her understanding of the severity of the situation and urged Dumbledore to continue.

"I do not recognize him, but he wears a Hogwarts crest." He used his wand to pluck at the front of the stranger's robe where a large crest of Hogwarts was delicately sewn. The robes were old and dusty, but were once of good quality. It was obvious that some care had gone into them.

"Do you suspect that he's a spy? Trying to disguise himself as a pupil?" Lily asked, as she too examined the crest. It was very fine indeed, but not at all the type the standard type the students wore. "Do you suspect You-Know-Who?" She added in more of a hush.

Albus didn't answer her, so Lily went back to examining the man on the bed. He appeared to be very young, no older than his early twenties at least. As she had noticed his robes were of good workmanship, however old, and not of student stock. He also had shaggy black hair that was haphazardly falling across his face. There were no distinguishing features about him that Lily could notice, other than a jagged looking scar on his forehead. Lily was sure she didn't know him either, but for some reason she couldn't shake the feeling that he was oddly familiar.

"Is he safe to be around Albus?" Lily finally asked after her preliminary inspection of the stranger was through. She had already checked to see if he was bound to the bed and found that he was not.

Dumbledore nodded as he dug a vial of clear liquid out of his robes and handed it to Lily. "He was unconscious when I came across him, but I stunned him in any case, before bringing him here. I checked his pockets as well; they are sealed and can only be opened by him I am assuming." He nodded at the stranger, almost approvingly. It was, unfortunately for them, a very smart move on the intruder's behalf. Now they wouldn't be able to properly search him and take away anything that might be in his possession. "He also has a wand strapped to his right forearm, again safeguarded against strangers trying to take it from him."

"Interesting," Lily said, eyeing the potion in her hands. It was veritaserum, and not entirely unfamiliar to her.

"Poppy checked him out, she says his magical core is severely low, depleted by a strong spell more than likely. What ever he used to get into my office probably cleaned him out. Otherwise he's perfectly healthy," he said, sighing tiredly. He rubbed his eyes beneath his glasses and settled them back into place before looking back at Lily. "Poppy doesn't expect him to wake up on his own for a day at least. It will take him that long to regenerate enough levels of magic to remain consciousness," he dropped his hand from his face and smiled at Lily. "However, we can still question him regardless of that fact." He pointed at the vial Lily now held and smiled. "Administer the veritaserum please Lily."

"Gladly," Lily told him as she uncorked the vial. Then, none too gently, Lily forced open the stranger's lips jaw and poured the entire contents of the vial down his throat.

"Let's begin shall we?" Dumbledore said as he magically pulled up two chairs from across the room with a sharp flick of his wand. "If you would start taking notes now please Lily."

Lily nodded and pulled out her quick quotes quill, set it to parchment and placed it on the bedside table. It would provide an exact account of what would transpire. Then she pulled out a plain quill so she could take her own notes. "I'm ready, Albus."

He nodded at her and then began.

"Are you a Death Eater?"

The stranger did not stir, did not even open his eyes, but his lips moved just enough to emit his raspy voice. "No."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at Lily.

"Are you from the media then?"

"No."

Dumbledore shrugged, "it was worth a shot," he told Lily. It was true, they had caught many reporters on the grounds on several occasions trying to discover odds and ends, but no one had ever managed to sneak into the Headmaster's office. "Are you working under Lord Voldemort's orders?"

"No."

Dumbledore frowned then. "Are you in any way associated with Lord Voldemort?"

There was no response.

Lily set gently grabbed Dumbledore's arm to catch his attention. "The question was too general Albus, his answer would be too conflicting."

"Did Voldemort send you here."

"No."

"Does Voldemort know you are here?"

"No."

"Alright," Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and thought. "Not one of Voldemort's then, so we can erase all danger from that quarter at least. Though that does narrow our questioning, doesn't it?" With a frustrated sigh, he asked, more to himself than to Lily, "who else would have reason to sneak into my office?"

"What about the Ministry Albus?" Lily suggested.

He nodded, accepting that as a reasonable question. "Does the Ministry of Magic know you are here?"

"No."

"Did anyone from the Ministry of Magic send you?"

"No."

Dumbeldore shook his head and looked at Lily for any other suggestions.

"Did anyone send you to the Headmaster's office this evening?" Lily asked.

"No."

"Well that's it then," Dumbledore said, standing. "He's working on his own then." He turned back to the stranger, leaning over the bed. "How did you get into my office?" He asked, now curious rather than confrontational.

"A spell."

Lily laughed a little. "Too general I guess."

"What spell?" Dumbledore pressed, ignoring Lily.

"Damnari Voti."

Lily did not immediately recognize the spell, but Dumbledore obviously did. In an instant Dumbledore's mood and stance completely shifted. Suddenly the mild disinterest of a routine interrogation was gone. He was leaning forward intently, one hand resting on the edge of the strangers bed.

"What did you say?" He asked, his voice a harsh whisper.

"Damnari Voti," was the calm response.

"What is it Albus?" Lily asked Dumbledore. "What's damnari voti Albus? I don't think I've ever heard of it."

"No, you wouldn't have," Dumbledore replied. "Not very many people do know of its existence." He turned back towards the stranger. "Where did you learn of that spell?"

"Hogwarts."

Dumbledore and Lily exchanged another look before he pressed on. "Who taught you that spell?"

"Albus Dumbledore."

This time Lily put aside her notes and gave Dumbledore a sharp look. "Albus?"

"In a moment, Lily," Dumbledore mumbled, waving her question aside. His hands gripped the frame of the bed and he licked his lips, getting ready for one more question. "What is your name?" He asked finally. Lily and Dumbledore's glances immediately rested on the stranger as they waited for a response.

"Harry James Potter."

For a moment there was absolute dead silence. Then there was a soft tap as Lily's quill hit the floor. "The veritaserum didn't work," she said simply, her voice sounding strangely calm, even to herself.

"Yes, Lily, it did."

Lily cast an annoying glance at Dumbledore before bending down to pick up her quill off the floor. "Well it wasn't potent enough then," she added casually. "We need to get a stronger dosage."

"That was our strongest dosage," Dumbledore replied, giving her a strange look.

His response froze Lily and slowly she stood up, and didn't seem to notice as her notes flittered to the floor. Then slowly she shook her head. "No." She cast a glance down at the man on the bed and her breath caught in her throat. Then she closed her eyes and tried not to think. Her first son had been named Harry. He had died when he was barely on a year old, killed by You-Know-Who. Not very many people even remembered that James and Lily had even had any other children before Bran and Mare. "That would be impossible."

"Lily," Dumbeldore began, stepping forward.

"No!" Lily snapped back at him, throwing her quill to the floor. "Don't you even dare suggest it Albus! Not to me!"

Dumbledore continued on, despite the threatening tone in Lily's voice. He had experienced her temper as much as the next person, and she had a good reason for lashing out. "Lily, I think that this man might be your son."

There was silence again, and Lily sunk back into her chair. Her face had paled visibly and she licked her lips nervously. Then her gaze moved from the hospital bed back to Dumbledore's unfairly calm face. "No," she whispered to him, this time fighting back tears. "What is going on, Albus? I don't, I don't understand this. This cannot be my son. It can't be." She dropped her head into her hands, and tried to gain control over herself again. A moment later she felt Dumbledore's heavy hand fall gently onto one of her shoulders.

A strangled sort of sob escaped Lily's lips, and she shrugged his hand off. She didn't much feel like being comforted right now. "I watched him die Albus. I saw it with my own eyes. What you are suggesting isn't even possible." Lily turned quickly in her seat to face Dumbledore and sighed. He was the smartest wizard she had ever meant, and she had never had reason to doubt him before, but what he was suggesting was ludicrous, wasn't it?

She reached up and felt her cheek, it was wet from the tears that had been streaming down her face, though she didn't remember crying. A dull sort of feeling was spreading through her chest now as the shock was beginning to disappear. Feeling desperate now Lily choked back another sob shook her head at Dumbledore. "I don't understand this Albus. Please," she begged. "Please tell me what is going on here."

She was vaguely aware of the sound of the quick quotes quill as it continued to scratch furiously across the parchment to keep up with her, but she couldn't summon up enough energy to care about that. Instead, she watched as Dumbledore settled in the chair next to her so that he was facing her. He replaced the hand on her shoulder and looked at her very seriously. "That spell he mentioned Lily," he began slowly, making sure she caught every word. "The damnari voti spell is a dimension altering incantation. If he used it, and if he was successful, as I believe he was," he glanced quickly at the man on the bed. "If he was successful, then we are looking at Harry Potter, your son, from another world."

Lily blinked back another round of tears and tried to clear her thoughts. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she decided not to say anything at all, instead slumping back in her chair.

Dumbledore took advantage of her confusion to eagerly begin his questioning again, giving her the opportunity to collect her thoughts.

"Are you from another world?" Dumbledore door asked excitedly.

"Yes."

"Was the damnari voti spell successful?"

"Yes."

"Why did you come here?" Lily asked, her voice sounding distant even to herself. She had stood up again, though she didn't remember doing so, and was now standing rigidly straight, barely even daring to breathe. Tears were still falling slowly from her eyes, and her hands were curled into two fists at her sides.

It had been such a long time she had been faced with the memory of her son's death. She still dreamt about it sometimes, and when she looked at Bran she often wondered if Harry would have been anything like him. The ache of his death had never left her, but she had at least never been asked to face the memory of it in years.

Unfortunately, her question was met with silence.

"It's too complicated to answer Lily," Dumbeldore said gently. Then he took back control of the questioning as Lily fell back into her seat. "Are you the son of Lily and James Potter?"

"Yes."

"When were you born?"

"The 31st of July in 1980."

"Where were you born?"

"Godric's Hollow."

Lily gave a little whine. That was where her Harry had been killed, it was why they had moved to Hogsmeade and James had accepted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.

"Were you attacked on the 31st of October in 1981?" Dumbledore asked, though he looked at Lily as he did, rather than the man on the bed.

"Yes."

"And you survived?" Lily cried out, hardly believing this was really what was going. She almost didn't dare to let herself trust that this was really happening. She didn't know how to respond to what was going on around her.

"Yes."

Lily and Dumbledore exchanged a long look. Lily broke first, struggling between laughing and crying in the end all she managed was a smiling in the form of a gasping sort of grin, as if she had been holding it in. Then she threw her arms around the old man's neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh Albus," she cried, letting her tears run into his long beard. "Its my son! Its my Harry!"

Slowly Dumbledore's arms reached around and patted Lily comfortingly on the back. "I must admit Lily, I never believed something like this to be possible. I'm not quite sure I know how to react."

Lily pulled away and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. Then she crossed hesitantly over to her son's bed. Her heart leaped at the very thought of calling him her son. Carefully, she sat on the edge of his bed and brought her hand to hover over his face. After a moments pause she gently caressed the hair out of his eyes and pushed it back behind his ears.

Not wanting to miss a single detail she examined his face. This time, not with a quick businesslike glance, but with the slow loving care of a mother. She didn't know how she could have missed it, but he looked so much like James. Maybe not in the identical twin way Bran did, who if anyone was an exact replica of James at that age, it would have been Bran. No, Harry's features were not identical, but definitely Potter-like, there was no mistaking it now.

Dumbledore coughed delicately behind her. "Well Lily, considering the circumstances, I'll leave this decision to you. How would you like to handle this?"

Lily continued to look at the man on the bed while she thought. "No more questioning him," she began, her back still to Dumbledore. "It isn't right, we both know this has nothing to do with You-Know-Who. I'm not sure why he's here, but he is now, and he's my son, so I won't have him treated like a criminal." She smiled down at her son and stroked his cheek with a delicate finger.

"I leave him in your very capable hands then Lily," Dumbledore said, and this time there was a hint of pleasure in his voice. "I truly hope that this is the miracle you deserve Lily," he paused for a moment in hesitation. "But when he does wake up Lily, I would like to speak with him. That spell-" she heard him inhale deeply. "I need to understand how he did it.

"Of course, Albus," Lily said, barely listening, so many things were gong through her head right then to concentrate on what he was saying.

"Goodnight, Lily."

"Goodnight, Albus," Lily said, then before he could turn away she whispered; "thank you."

He never asked whom she was thanking, and Lily wasn't sure she knew herself, but she saw him smile as he walked away. Then she turned back to Harry Potter, her son.