Fragmented fate

Chapter 5

It was very early in morning. Everyone was still deep asleep. He could hear soft snoring from Ron's side. Today was the first day of their school year and Harry just didn't want to leave his bed... ever! Here, Within these bed curtains where he was isolated from the outside world, he felt brief flitting sense of security. Although he knew very well that it was false.

Harry laid there... thinking again. It seemed like he was thinking and rethinking since eternity. He had forgotten how it felt to have calm, relaxed mind. The worst part of this whole process was that it was all futile... It didn't change anything or give him immediate solutions. But he could not stop it despite knowing that.

He sighed again. There were many unanswered questions. These were such questions that he couldn't ask them outright to anybody, let alone get straight answers to them.

'Is there a prophecy? Is it different or same? How Voldemort retained his human form? Did Neville's mother also sacrifice her life for her child? Who betrayed them? What made Voldemort choose Neville?...and the most important question is how Dumbledore trusted Tom Riddle? What did he do to earn that trust?... Ah, questions... more questions! '

Really, they were endless and causing him serious headache.

Harry would admit now that his research was flawed. He was no Hermione but even he should know how unreliable history books were. There was no chance that anybody would get proper answer from them. He still remembered plethora of such so called history books written on final battle claiming to be authentic.

When he had discovered missing scar, he single mindedly pursued that angle... trying to find more about new boy who lived and new dark lord. There were many important things that he neglected... like recent developments in the wizarding world.

'No wonder 'Professor Riddle' came as bloody shock. He is so stupid.'

Harry decided that he would at least find answers to questions which he could safely ask.

'Hmm.. Visit to Professor McGonagall is in order.' With another dejected sigh, he prepared himself to face long day ahead.

They were in the Great hall for lunch and Harry was trying to stifle another yawn. Dear Merlin, he had forgotten how boring and mind numbing the school was! Lecture after lecture... rambling theories..and assignments. He struggled to keep his eyes open in classes. It was all so easy. He could do all these first year spells in his sleep. If this was how genius people felt all the time, no wonder they became eccentric or murdering psychopaths.

Harry deliberately kept up his mediocre performance in every class. Sometimes he was itching to give answers so that professors could move on to next topic and stop seeking for students capable of answering their questions apart from Hermione.

At the end of the day he actually started to look forward History class where he could stop pretending and sleep off his utter boredom.

Harry had formed tentative friendship with Hermione so Ron had reluctantly accepted her. Although he had very much problem with her bossy know-it-all nature. He liked to watch them bicker... It reminded him of his own friends in the world which he had left behind. She had started to drop hints about making study schedule and group study sessions... which he would like to avoid. This was just their first day and they had given homework! No, he refuses to study anything voluntarily and in advance.

They had their first potion class next day... with the Slytherins. All the Gryffindors were excited to share class with their beloved hero...rival house was irrelevant to most fans. Still even BWL could not abate anxiety in students... Snape's class was infamous. Harry was secretly hoping that this time he would be spared from Snape's hatred. He was sorely disappointed. During roll call, Snape paused briefly at his name and sent him particularly vicious glare... full of unspoken hatred.

'Ah, that was wishful thinking. I guess as long as I am born as Potter, our relationship would never change. It is constant fixture... no matter what universe he was born into.' Harry thought wryly. He had immense respect for the man, for his sacrifices and his contribution in the war. Harry had thought that he could handle his immature, petty behaviour this time like mature adult... but when Snape deliberately asked him those three questions just to prove him foolish and ridicule him in front of entire class, Harry lost precarious grip on his temper.

Please Not Again! He did not answer them. Man would be insufferable either way so he refused to waste his breath. Harry glared at his cauldron, wishing it would explode and end this irritating class.

Just as this thought occurred to him, Harry looked at Neville's direction. Oh! Their disastrous first potion class... he remembered it clearly. Poor dear Neville!

But this time it was different... Neville was working with Malfoy. Harry astonished to find him working methodically and confidently. There was no quivering, nervous boy.

Ron nudged him warningly and he returned to his own work. Snape kept looming everywhere... Criticising and making sarcastic comments. In the end there was no explosion.

Harry wondered if a little encouragement in Neville's childhood made this much impact. It's really amazing to see him working confidently in Snape's class.

'Hmm.. maybe this time Neville's Boggart will take different shape.' Harry mused. Neville was the first one to successfully complete his potion and Snape actually awarded him five points...totally surreal experience.

"No thanks, Professor", he politely declined offered biscuits.

He was in professor McGonagall's office, sitting in front of stern woman. After Dumbledore she had efficiently handled duty of headmistress. Especially when there was discrimination against the Slytherin students after the war and people were becoming very biased. Harry had visited her numerous times after war. He had shared cordial relationship with his former head of the house. Minerva was very fair and Harry was hoping that she would be able to provide him correct answers.

"Professor, I live in muggle world with my relatives. My relatives.. er they never told me anything about my parents or our world. Only information I able to found is that my parents also attended Hogwarts and they were in Gryffindor.I am hoping you will be able to tell me about them."

Minerva smiled kindly. "Of course Mr. Potter. I knew your parents very well. James and Lily were good and brave people. They were murdered by the dark lord. They had sacrificed their lives in the war against that evil wizard. They were order members. It was secret organisation fighting the war. You must have heard about it. " She didn't elaborate.

" Oh Yes. The order of phoenix."

She nodded. "You look just like your father, Mr. Potter... with your mother's eyes." There was faraway look in her eyes.

"So there was no one here who would have became my guardian... relatives or friends of my parents?" he asked in sceptical tone. why they left him in muggle world was implied question.

'What happened to Sirius and Remus?' He wanted to ask directly.

There was sadness in her voice when she answered his question. Harry suddenly had foreboding feeling.

"Your godfather Sirius Black was also died in that war, Harry. After him there was no one left to care for you. That was very difficult and dangerous time. It was nearly impossible to trust anyone. There was no way to distinguish between friend and foe. It was thought to be best decision to keep you away from our world. It was necessary and your mother's family was only safe option. "

But Harry did not hear anything. His mind kept repeating only one sentence... Sirius is dead.

'WHY... Why this was happened? He seemed unable to do anything right. This supposed to be second chance to save his godfather. I failed, ' Harry thought with anguish. He had long ago accepted his parent's death... but Sirius's death was still raw in his mind. He had never truly forgiven himself for that one fatal mistake.

"I am very sorry, Harry," Minerva softly said. He did not want pity. He stood abruptly... all other questions forgotten.

"Thank you, Professor," he said tightly and left hurriedly without hearing her response.

'Why did he feel this much devastation. Did he really cling to the hope that this time it will be different?' His thoughts burned.

'Why him... Didn't he deserve happiness? He just wanted his family... Maybe there is some other universe where they are all alive and happy... Where they should live long fulfilled life without war and destruction.'

Harry fervently hoped.

Lost in his thoughts, he bumped into somebody in the corridor.

"Oh! Sorry! I'm... Neville!" He halted in his absent apology... seeing his friend. Just as he offered him smile filled with long familiarity and comradeship, he suddenly remembered where he was. This was not his Neville... Oh no! There was uncertain expression on Neville's face as stared at Harry bemusedly.

He tried to cover his mistake by giving him another bright smile... looking like BWL fans.

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter. We shared Potion class today ! It is really great to finally meet you." Harry said with false enthusiasm.

'Let him think I am just another fan.' He wished he hadn't called out Neville's name like that. He was very stupid to mix up these worlds. What if there was Tom Riddle here instead of Neville. Harry could not afford mistakes.

'Hmm," Neville paused, staring intently at him. "Potter... yes, I remembered." He gave Harry absent smile, his gaze lingering on Harry's Gryffindor robes.

"Well, I have to leave now. See you in class. Bye! " Harry left with cheerful wave. He hoped he had adequately covered his slip.

His visit to professor McGonagall was futile . He didn't miss the way Minerva gave vague answers. Important crucial information kept in inner circle... just like he only trusted his friends with Horcrux information.

This thought gave him a pause... friends of BWL... Yes! He got the answer to his problem. He needed to befriend Neville. Why didn't he think this before? He almost regretted his decision to go in the Gryffindor. It was going to be difficult to befriend Slytherin... but he must try.

During this planning and thinking, he never thought about what Neville was doing near Gryffindor tower.

A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed and read this story. Two people guessed correctly about the identity of that person... there will be more hints.