ALIUS EGO ALIUS RUDIMENTUM

CHAPTER VIII

I don't own it, I never will, and I'm okay with that.

/S/

"You mean differences beyond the whole boy/girl thing? 'Cause that ones kinda obvious. Of course, there is the whole the whole issue where DUMBLEDOR is DEAD!" Bri stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just, it seems unreal. I'm all for this share-and-compare session, but could we take a break first? I still need to get used to this whole alternate universe dealy." She paused as her stomach growled loud enough to be heard down in Hogsmead. "I guess I'm kinda hungry too."

"Of course child! We should have seen to your needs before asking all those questions. I'm a terrible nurse! I got caught up in all the mystery surrounding you. This has never happened before. I'll contact the house elves and have them send up a hot plate right away." Madame Pomfrey began to send a message to the kitchens when Briara interrupted her.

"Actually, could Ron, Hermione and Harry just take me to the kitchens? I need to get out of the hospital wing for a bit; clear my head."

"As I'm sure you know, I don't make a habit of allowing my patients out before I deem them completely healthy. However, considering who you are and who your friends are back at home, you would most likely leave the instant I turned my back and go who-knows-where. So, I will permit you, the other Potter, and Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger to take an excursion to the kitchens. You have half an hour, after that, I will hunt you down myself and drag you back here by your ears." Pomfrey gave the quartet the 'I-Mean-Business' glare.

"Aye aye, Captain!" Bri saluted and hopped off the bed.

"Just a moment, please." McGonagall cut in. She turned to address Harry, Hermione and Ron. "The Hogwarts Express departs in forty-five minutes for King's Cross." The three looked crestfallen, with the train leaving that soon they would not be able to hear Briara's story. "However, allowing for present circumstances which, as usual, directly involve you three, I will contact your parents and guardians and arrange for alternate transportation later this evening after supper."

"Thank you professor." Ron said "Uh, Madame Pomfrey, are we on the clock yet?"

"As soon as you set foot outside these doors I will begin the countdown, Mr. Weasley."

"Alright, great, are you guys ready to go? If we leave now we shouldn't run into any other students, they'll be in their rooms grabbing the last of their things."

"Good point Ron," Said Hermione "Lead the way! With all the extra people that have been here recently it's likely no one would comment on your being here, Briara, but it's better if you don't have to answer questions from the other students who don't recognize you."

"True. Thanks for looking out for me."

"Well, I suppose you're one of us, you know?" Harry said, as they headed out from the hospital moving towards the painting of the fruit bowl.

It's weird, Briara thought, as the moved down the halls, amicably chatting about anything and everything and yet nothing important all at the same time. Hermione and Ron are so similar to Hooters and Bushytail, except for the occasional weird comment that makes absolutely no sense to me. All their facial expressions and hand gestures are identical. At least I got stuck somewhere where my friends still exist. Well, at least two of my friends in any case. They have been really nice to me even though they don't know me. I wonder where Malformed is anyway. It stands to reason that if Hooters and Bushytail have counterparts, Malformed would as well . . .

"Malformed!"

"And this weather we've been . . . what the?" Ron was forced to stop mid-sentence when the strangest scene began to unfold before his eyes. What in the blazes did that girl think she was doing? She had suddenly shouted and run ahead of the others to grab the person coming around the corner in a bear hug. That wasn't what was so strange. What was bothering him was A) what was that person doing here and B) who in their right mind would hug . . .

"Malfoy!" Harry had his wand drawn and pointed at the white-blond figure engulfed in Briara's hug. "How dare you come back here?"

"Really, Potter? Sending little girls to hold me still so you can land a hex on me? Despicable. No wonder the Dark Lord is taking his time getting rid of you. How could you pose a threat to Him if you can't even get me without help?"

Briara suddenly let go of Malfoy and took a step back away from him. "I'm sorry; I confused you with someone else." Then she slapped him and walked back over to stand next to Harry.

"Well, that was certainly entertaining." Malfoy said, rubbing his cheek. "I only came back today for one reason, Potter; to make sure you come back next school year. I mean, after all, I'll be here. A Malfoy like myself can't go out into the world without a complete education. In fact, all the Slytherins will be back."

"Why?" Hermione asked "Haven't you lot done enough already?"

"Oh, we're just getting started. With Dumbledore out of the way and most of the students from other houses too scared to come back, the Slytherins will be in control."

"You can't win, Malfoy, evil turns in on itself and destroys itself from the inside." Ron's face was turning red with anger.

"Leave Malfoy, before we make you." Harry said, motioning with his wand in the direction Malfoy had come.

"Believe it or not, Potter, I didn't come to fight, just remember what I told you. And keep your groupies off of me. Malformed? Is that what you call me behind my back? Childish, Potter, very childish. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better places to be." With a mocking bow, Malfoy turned on his heel and went back down the hall.

Ron looked disgustedly at Briara. "You're friends with Malfoy?"

"Yeah, Malformed, that is, Draco and I are friends. All of us are back in my world. Hooters, Bushytail, Malformed and me, Funstripes."

"Is Malfoy your boyfriend? 'Cause from the way you greeted him . . ." Hermione seemed genuinely curious, not condemning her at all for her choice of friends at home.

"What? Oh, God no! He's like my brother! We grew up together. Mr. Malfoy thought it would look good for his son to be friends with me after Voldemort disappeared when we were one year olds. He seemed to think it would clear up any suspicions that he had been a Death Eater if Draco was friends with The-Girl-Who-Lived. After all, what Death Eater in his right mind would purposely seek out such a playmate for his child? Of course, he was a Death Eater and ended up fighting against his own son during the second war. Draco has always been there for me, even when forced to choose between aiding me and siding with his own family. My parents pretty much adopted him after fourth year. Sirius always said that Draco reminded him of himself when he was little."

"So your Malfoy is not an evil, psychotic bastard?" Everyone shot Ron weird looks. "Just checking, I guess it's okay if you were friends with him then."

"Well, thanks ever so much for your permission Ron." Briara said sarcastically. They had just reached the painting leading into the kitchen and Harry reached up to tickle the pear. "You tickle the pear here? Another small difference I guess. Back home we point at the banana and laugh. It gets offended and leaves the painting, (how I'll never know, bananas don't have legs,) the gap where it was reveals a handle to open the door."

The house elves swarmed around the four teenagers, placing heaping plates of food in front of them and then scurrying back to their other work when Harry assured them they didn't need anything else. Ron, Harry and Hermione just picked at the sausage and waffles and other foods being as they had just eaten breakfast recently. Briara dug in with a relish.

"So what do the nicknames mean anyway?" Harry asked, examining a piece of toast.

"Well, you know about my, well, I guess, our, father and the Mauraders, right?" At Harry's she continued. "Well, my friends and I carried on the tradition. We achieved animagus status summer after third year. Hermione changes into a great horned owl; Hooters. Ron, a squirrel; Bushytail. Draco is a coyote, his nickname, Malformed, has nothing to do with that but rather his inability to make a complete transformation until well after the rest of us. I'm a zebra, Funstripes, after a muggle brand of chewing gum. Of course, my stripes are just black and white, not multicolored like the gum's mascot. During the war we added titles to them as well, sergeant, lieutenant, etcetera. They didn't mean anything but they were kinda fun."

"Animagus? Just after third year?" Hermione didn't seem to believe what she had heard. "That's not possible, the level of magic control required to do that is beyond any third year."

"Well, we had a lot of unofficial help in the form of Uncle Sirius."

"Still, that's amazing."

"I'm sure you guys have done plenty of amazing things over the past few years. We should wait until we're back with McGonagall to compare, however. This strawberry syrup is superb!" Briara missed her friends and didn't feel like talking about them anymore just then. The upcoming conversation with McGonagall was going to be traumatic enough without going into already emotionally stressed.

When she had finished eating the group had ten minutes to return to the hospital before Pomfrey went on a warpath. They thanked the house elves, who bobbed their heads and blushed at the extreme kindness the teens shown them, and went back out into the hall. Even moving slowly, they made it back with five minutes to spare.

/E/

Okay, I lied; we didn't delve into the differences. We merely brushed the surface. At least they got out of the hospital wing, eh? Classes start tomorrow. Yay School! (Insert sarcasm here.)