A/N: Sorry for the delay, this chapter almost killed me. Now I introduce how our pack of four, dimension traveled. I know its cliche and probably has a few holes in the explanation, and has been done before, but it suited where this story will head and hopefully I made it as interesting as possible.
Ghosts of Tomorrow
Three cloaked and hooded figures exited the Leaky Cauldron to begin carefully making their way through the desolate, debris-covered streets of Diagon Alley. Having seen numerous battles and its own fair share of slaughter, the ruined, stained and somewhat ghostly state of this once bright and busy passage, was more than understandable.
From behind the safety of boarded windows and barely visible wards, wary eyes tracked their every movement.
"We have an audience again." The tallest figure murmured softly as blue eyes trailed over the many ramshackle buildings, a vast difference from their formerly wonderful and well cared for condition. A sudden breeze passed by, ruffling his hood and revealing messy ginger hair that glinted gold in the late afternoon sunlight.
"What did you expect?" The second figure asked quietly, glancing at his companion in the process to expose silver eyes. "Barely anyone travels through here these days and only those daring, or desperate enough, even think of retrieving gold from the bank."
"I truly didn't think there were still people willing to live here, especially after what happened last year." The third whispered softly, green eyes dark.
"It's their home." The blue-eyed figure answered. "It's only natural for them to remain somewhere they consider safe, even when bad things have marred that security. Even I spend most of time here...Got to keep the shop going."
The blond used the moment of silence that followed, to whistle sharply, a sound that resonated around them. Seconds later, a shrill cry responded as a falcon swooped from the sky to land on the figures right shoulder.
"I don't like that bird." The redhead muttered.
"Sphinx spotted someone up ahead." The blond informed his friends smoothly ignoring the redhead. "I'm going to presume a goblin is already waiting for us…Speedy little bunch, aren't they?"
"There won't be any trouble if they value their existence." The raven hissed in a tone that held a dangerous edge. "Nothing else has worked and I'm out of options unless you know something I don't. We need that sword."
An archaic building loomed before them, every inch of it scarred in some way yet still somehow maintaining its ominous, noble presence. The two figures ascended the marble staircase and approached a small, unremarkable-looking creature, standing near their entrance. His cold, black eyes glittered with undisguised loathing and assessed them warily.
"We were expecting your arrival." He then announced in harsh, gravely tones.
"Oh, your species has suddenly become clairvoyant, has it?" The blond bit out before going silent when his partner glanced at him sharply.
"We have added to our security since the battle that almost tore down these walls." The goblin stated coldly. "Detection charms told us someone was coming, though we were unsure of whom it was."
"Well, now you know."
"Indeed." Black eyes regarded them in distaste. "My name is Krugbit and I have been tasked with questioning your intentions within our domain."
"We wish an audience with the goblin named Thornclaw, cousin to Griphook and our intention is none of your concern."
"Our time is also rather limited." The blond then added smoothly.
"Given past events, you understand if I don't welcome you with open arms." Krugbit said with a sneer, not once having lost his impassive mask. "Or allow you access to the area beyond. As it is, your reasoning is not clear enough."
The tension that rose was highly palpable and the blond figure held his breath, waiting for the snap that had been long overdue. He rather pitied anyone that dared to stand in his friend's way once the false calm had blown away.
The green-eyed figure threw back his hood to reveal disheveled raven hair and barely visible beneath it, a lightning-shaped scar. The blond copied the action with an inaudible sigh, while running a hand through his locks while the redhead shrugged and mimicked the action.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy…" Krugbit stated, almost looking as if he wanted to roll his eyes.
"Actually, it's Black now and has been for quite a while, since I was disowned by my lunatic of a father." Draco interjected casually. "Nicest thing the bastard ever did for me."
"We wish to pass." Harry added calmly.
"Without any drama." George teased, though the humor was brief in his eyes.
"No." Krugbit said with a tone of finality and Harry took a step forward, Draco and George flanking him.
"Mr. Potter, if you think threatening me is going to help then you are sadly-"
"Shut it because I truly do not have the time to listen to you prattle on." Harry interrupted coldly, his green eyes glinting fiercely. "At this very second, a five year old boy is most likely being tortured by all manners of evil, after watching his grandmother lose her entire being to the monster Voldemort has become. Compared to that, I couldn't give a shit about what you or your brethren feel, in regards to my friends and me or what we have done. There are more important things then what's yours or mine."
"Let's not forget how we sacrificed just as much to protect this bank not too long ago." Draco muttered.
The raven took another step forward and the goblin could not help his cringe at the powerful emotion radiating from the young wizard.
"So let us pass or I will be inclined to make you."
Chapter Four: Rituals and Reasoning
Black velvet swept across the lush carpets of Riddle Manor's study, the owner of said coat, treading a steady path through the room while his partner watched on with an air of irritation.
"Are you sure your mind isn't exaggerating what you saw, Lucius? Stress has been known to cause mild hallucinations." Josiah Nott asked, swishing about the last dregs of his whiskey as he surveyed his long-time friend and business partner over the brim of the glass. "I mean, we have been busy as of late and it was a bit of a surprise to have intruders so close to the perimeter…and with that ridiculous memorial the other day, I can understand a bit of…confusion."
The events that had caused much excitement within the domain of their brotherhood these last few days, were certainly mysterious and quite strange. No one, not even their illustrious Lord, could determine how the strangers had got so close to the Manor without a hint of anyone knowing until they were within metres of the final border. Such a feat was worrying and even though the Lord hid his discomfort well, even he was not without apprehension.
And then there was the death of Teleia.
"Tell me Nott, how does one imagine the face of their seed, visibly alive even though you know them to have died by your very hand?" Lucius Malfoy inquired coldly, his lips curled into a dreadful sneer and barely a pause in strides up and down the room. "How can you know what I talk about when your spawn still draws breath within the grace of the almighty Dumbledore's presence at this very moment?"
Josiah Nott's dark eyes narrowed at the reminder of his own son's dishonorable preference in this war and he set his glass down abruptly.
"Tread carefully Malfoy." He uttered softly. "It is not my fault that you got the opportunity to end your bastard's shameful existence while I still suffer mine, and certainly not my fault that you supposedly believe you saw the boy alive and well…Have you grown weak? I thought your disposition much stronger than to feel guilt over one abominations appropriate end?"
Lucius cursed and ceased his movements.
"Never. But that does not explain these intruders nor the ones uncanny likeness to Draco's visage!" He exclaimed angrily before taking a seat. "You viewed my memory, surely you can see the resemblance despite that clever glamor? Do I not have cause to be wary?"
Josiah Nott sat back quietly and thought over the question.
It was true that the young man he saw in Lucius's memory of the fight, held some resemblance to the former Malfoy heir, but with that blatant misdirection the group's glamor gave off, it was hard to tell exactly.
Of course, using a glamor itself was suspicious so one would naturally assume the strangers wished their identities unknown and with an illusion of such high caliber utilized, the secret was most likely so great that they felt the extreme security necessary.
What would be worth hiding so securely?
Nott sighed and rubbed his forehead wearily.
It had been considered that the strangers were a smaller group aligned to the rebellion and maybe their mission had gone astray (whatever they had hoped to achieve with so few anyhow), but the Lord had quickly dismissed such a notion given the small child briefly noticed in their company when memories were submitted to be reviewed.
"Perhaps the Lord is right in assuming we have some neutral party to consider?" He finally answered, glancing up at Lucius briefly. "An unknown variable…after all, from what we saw, they held no fear in seeing us yet were confused as though they had not ended up where they were supposed to be, and yet despite that, had defended themselves to a conceivable threat and even killed Morton however accidentally that may have been."
Lucius nodded absently.
"Maybe…"
Josiah Nott rolled his eyes and stood to leave, tired of his friend's constant worrying which was making no headway.
"If you need me, I'll be in the yard helping Macnair and Goyle finish the preparations for tonight's raid." He announced and left the blond man to his thoughts.
Lucius barely acknowledged Nott's exit and instead resumed the track his thoughts had continued upon all morning.
…thoughts of eyes that had shown a brief hint of horror and denial before disappearing.
Lucius shook his head.
"Nott may have a point…"
The blond ceased his pacing and breathed in deeply as though to refresh his mind, then poured his own whiskey. Lifting the glass to his lips, he paused briefly, taking in the liquors unique scent.
Such familiar eyes and that wand…Hadn't Draco also owned such a wand?
"I'm going senile in my old age…" Lucius muttered sourly and downed the contents of his glass in one go, depositing the glass and leaving the room hurriedly.
Draco was dead…he'd made sure of that.
"So you really think we've all been brought to an alternate dimension?" George Weasley repeated for what felt like the hundredth time since they had returned to Greystone Village (which looked completely different from the one he knew) and even when his mind had already added up the facts and came to the resulting conclusion.
Draco ran a hand through his already overly disheveled blond hair and threw the redhead a mildly exasperated glare.
"Yes George that is the assumption of our discoveries and no matter how many times you ask, I don't think our answer is going to change even though we may want it to."
George frowned, looking mildly affronted.
"I was only asking." He huffed and turned to where Harry sat with toddler Teddy (which was going to take some time getting used to), busy applying clean bandages to the boys wounds. George stared at the marks on the small child before forcing his concentration back on Draco, who had pulled out a roll of parchment and what seemed to be a stack of newspapers.
"This is a list of all the differences we have noticed since waking up in Little Hangleton, along with the additions of your arrival and incidents." Draco said, handing the redhead the parchment while placing the newspapers on the table between them. "The newspapers contain certain events among other things that show a skewed time line to what we know of our lives."
George skimmed through the list in his hands, eyes widening as he progressed down the list from facts that seemed innocent enough to more severe information that couldn't be possible despite having had all this explained to him already in detail without the sources to prove it.
Little Hangleton intact despite battle and previous destruction from fiendfyre
Wands and other personal items missing, such as Hallows, but they still had generic items like potions and their Notebooks.
De-aged appearances.
Lucius Malfoy potentially alive. Along with possibly several other Death Eaters.
George's ear mysteriously regrown.
Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes gone.
Remus and Nymphadora alive. Believe George to be Fred.
There were further additions to the list such as the newspaper references both Draco and Harry had made listing other facts about their situation such as Dumbledore and numerous other faces being alive, battles they had never heard of before, political movements and great tragedies, Voldemort alive and potentially a bigger problem than the one they had known…and finally, their deaths.
Their deaths…
Draco pulled certain newspapers from the stack as though he knew what George was thinking.
"When we realized this may be an alternate world, we started trying to find out how it happened or why. Harry and I researched the Halloween when he died and when we discovered the difference between facts, decided to research all our lives as much as we could through our limited resources." Draco said quietly, his eyes darkening. "It wasn't too hard considering we're all in the news."
George put down the list and picked up one of the papers.
"That's mine. Apparently my father killed my mother when I was two for trying to divorce him, luckily he was apprehended before he could cover it up. I was adopted by Sirius Black and his wife Cynthia who is unable to have children." Draco said in a detached manner, still not quite sure how to think of that. In their world, he had never known Sirius and unfortunately never got the chance to know him considering his sudden death at the hands of his aunt Bellatrix but the brief memories he had received from Harry's own recollections, helped to understand that the man would have been worth knowing. "This world's Draco died last year June in a death eater raid at Hogsmeade along with your counterpart and a few other students."
Draco shifted uncomfortably knowing Harry was listening and making sure Teddy didn't catch any of the conversation. He added softly.
"Lucius supposedly decapitated me…slowly." Which in a sense was ironic considering the send-off he had given the man years ago.
George blinked, unsure of how to respond and then read through the obituary dedicated to the event that apparently took his life and the blonde's, reading the follow up articles on how students fought the death eaters despite the odds, just to stand up to such tyranny that was plaguing the world and threatening their freedom.
He had died defending two younger students. All things considered, he didn't know a better way to go…and at least it had been quick.
"What about Harry and Ted?"
Draco pulled out three specific papers and spread them across the table, before pointing to each in turn.
"This one details an attempt on the Potters house when Harry was first born but the Order responded quickly and there were no severe consequences thus no betrayal from Pettigrew and no apparent Boy-Who-Lived. Then, the Potters went into hiding for a while but in a raid at Diagon Alley just two years later, toddler Harry was killed in stray fire." Draco said softly. "And Teddy…"
Draco glanced at the little boy who was giggling at whatever Harry had just told him while they read through a book.
"He never survived the birth."
George sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes.
Teddy hadn't survived…No wonder Tonks looked so sad when she mentioned losing loved ones.
George glanced through the newspapers, strangely awed by how two similar worlds could be so different. An almost mirror world yet with slight variations in certain events. Just the fact that Teddy had died in this world while surviving the blood poisoning in theirs, was sign enough of the differences.
"What else?"
Draco sighed and rubbed his shoulder which was still sore from their initial introduction to the world.
"I only have theories and observations to go on, but if you think about it, we're all the same age as what our counterparts would be now if they were still alive."
George frowned.
"So what, we replaced them in this universe?"
"It seems that way." Draco answered with a nonchalant look that usually meant he was disturbed by something or trying to hide his real emotions.
"This is so messed up…" George whispered and leaned back in his chair, meeting Draco's blank silver eyes with his own face etched in disbelief. "It could still be a dream right?"
"It's one messed up dream then." Draco muttered.
They fell silent as Harry joined them at the table while Teddy was apparently taking a nap.
"He's sleeping a lot." Draco said and Harry sighed.
"Reverting back to two might do that to you." The raven replied with a wry smile. "His body is adjusting to drastic change and let's face it, when he was that age before, it was all he ever did."
"So we're really going with this theory?" George asked, almost needing it to be confirmed aloud. "That we've replaced this world's versions of us and living among ghosts of people we used to know?"
Harry and Draco exchanged glances before shrugging.
"What else can we do?" Draco asked. "Drive ourselves crazy with all the inconsistencies that don't match up to our world or our memories? No, that will get us nowhere and in the end, it's the simplest solution."
"Alright." George conceded, tapping his fingers upon the table while staring at an article of Hogsmeade in ruins. "So next question; if this is an alternate world, how the hell did we get here?"
Harry laughed, the sound sharp.
"Well, it wasn't accidental, that's for sure seeing as how you and Sphinx showed up a day or so after us." He said. "Our first thought was that the magical build up during our skirmish into Little Hangleton, reacted badly to the apparition but then how would that explain your appearance?"
"It doesn't." Draco concluded. "Which means someone or something brought us here and that means they want something."
The trio mulled over that thought and though they each had their own opinions, the general consensus was not good if they had been summoned to fulfil someone's own agenda.
"So what next?" George asked, putting away the papers.
Harry and Draco exchanged glances and smirked slightly.
"We need our wands back obviously." Harry answered. "So I guess we're all going to Diagon Alley tomorrow."
It took under two hours to gather together all the main representatives from the surrounding bases and some key Order members that could be spared from current assignments. Grimmauld Place became a hive of activity as space was made and chairs conjured to seat the people attending the hastily set up meeting.
Remus stood aside in silence while all this went on around him, silently mulling over the information he would soon have to reveal and the theories he had come up with in the meantime.
"You're frowning too much again." A soft voice said and Remus chuckled as he looked up to meet the brilliant green eyes of Lily Potter.
"Sorry, can't seem to help it these last few days."
The redhead shook her head exasperatedly and patted his shoulder.
"And here I thought I had broken you of such a tiresome habit." She said.
"What habit may that be?" A new voice asked and soon they were joined by James, Lily's husband and Remus's long-time friend. "Has Moony finally realized that more than four hours in the library is unhealthy?"
Lily rolled her eyes and Remus laughed.
"Only you would think that's a bad habit." He teased. "You're both here for the meeting?"
"Dumbledore thought it best." James answered as he linked arms with his wife who was watching more people arrive and enter the kitchen. "And with the children all at Hogwarts with Tonks, we didn't think it would cause too much trouble if we both came. Besides, we've been hoping to see Neville and check up on him."
"Is Sirius coming too?" Lily asked with a sudden worried frown. "Cynthia says he didn't look good when she left him yesterday and we haven't heard from Regulas."
Remus shrugged.
"I did send him a patronus so hopefully he'll show."
James sighed.
"Yeah, it isn't good that he's shutting himself away so much."
"Hey, everyone's almost here." A man with red hair called out as he passed. "Best get in so we're ready."
"We'll be there now Arthur, thanks." Lily replied and turned to the two men beside her. "Well, let's get this over with so we can get going."
Remus took a calming breath and followed his friends into the kitchen which functioned as the Order's smaller place of meeting and took a seat amongst the gathering.
Apart from Lily, James and Arthur Weasley, a few others had been summoned to attend along with those who had already been present when Remus made his discovery.
Marlene McKinnon was sitting with Augusta Longbottom and Patrick Greengrass while Dahlia was seated with Rosmerta from the Three Broomsticks and Gideon Prewett. Across from them was Molly Weasley who was perched next to her husband Arthur along with their two eldest sons, Bill and Charlie.
Sirius and Regulas had arrived at the last minute along with Peter (who was looking more pale than usual) and Kingsley Shacklebolt while next to them sat Dorcas Meadowes and Elisabet Fennow.
Finishing off their group, was Alastor Moody, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Devashnee Patil, Ted Tonks and Albus Dumbledore.
Remus knew more would have attended if possible, but lately, meeting were held with sparse attendance so that they were never taken by surprise and still ensured that the information spread to the appropriate people.
"Well, now that everyone accounted for is here." Dumbledore began softly and the room quickly quieted down. "Let's get this meeting underway. Remus, if you please could share your discovery with us?"
Remus stood and cleared his throat, shifting slightly when all eyes focused on him. He had never liked talking to a group and vaguely wished that Nym was here instead of at Hogwarts. He could have used her calming presence.
"Well, Nym and I were in Diagon Alley today and during our visit we encountered who we thought was Fred Weasley at the time."
There was a small murmur of noise and Remus wondered if they were already forming their own ideas of where this was going. He continued.
"When we got back to Grimmauld Place, it was discovered that Fred had not left the house all day and…" Here Remus hesitated slightly, for he had never and till this day still was not very comfortable talking about the extra sense he had as a werewolf.
"Go on Remus." Dumbledore encouraged softly and the other man smiled before resuming his explanation.
"As you know, each person possesses their own unique sent, which I as a werewolf can pick up on, and while the Fred I met in Diagon Alley smelt like Fred at the time despite my thinking his scent a bit different, upon seeing the Fred here in Grimmauld Place, I realized that the person we had spoken to had not been Fred at all."
"Then who was it?" Augusta Longbottom demanded. She was tired and so far, this meeting seemed as pointless as the last few they had been called to attend. All she wanted was to check on Neville and then get back to her manor, where the list of duties to attend, never seemed to end.
"I have a theory, mind you it's only that, a theory." Remus said. "That the person in Diagon Alley was using polyjuice potion with either Fred…or possibly George's hair. That's the only reason why I can think of the scent being off and having an identical copy of Fred somewhere, where he actually wasn't."
Molly buried her face in her hands and Arthur patted her shoulder sadly while they garnered a few sympathetic looks.
"Are you trying to imply that those Death Eaters are disguising themselves as deceased loved one?" Elisabet shouted, eyes wide. A few seated at the table cried in dismay at the idea while Molly's sniffles turned into soft sobs.
"And are we sure that Fred Weasley was home the entire day?" Patrick Greengrass asked curiously in an attempt install some calm to the quickly escalating tension. "Could he not have been in Diagon Alley and your nose not mistaken?"
"Remus isn't ever wrong about these things." Sirius snapped out shortly, the dark marks under his eyes a clear sign of his sleeping problems and the weary hoarseness in his voice only making his rough tone more so than usual.
Remus sent his friend a gratified smile but wasn't offended. Patrick was usually forward and candid, though Sirius had never really taken well to anyone ever implying anything at fault with his friends.
"Yes." Bill Weasley answered. "Fred was here the entire time and I'll submit memories for an alibi if needed."
"We've been keeping hour to hour checks on him for the last few months." Charlie added, his burly arms crossed.
It went unsaid that the reason that kept those checks, was because Fred had been suffering severe depression since his twin had died and people were afraid he might harm himself if they weren't careful.
"It's not possible to use hair taken from a deceased donor in polyjuice." Severus said, taking the lull in talk to voice his opinion even if he'd rather not be here. As usual though, Albus could be quite irritating in his attempts to make sure he attended meetings and 'contribute' to the effort.
"Severus is right." Lily said, forehead creased in thought. "If the person you met in Diagon Alley wasn't Fred, then whoever it was couldn't have been using polyjuice unless the hair was either from Fred himself or if said hair came from George, had been used prior to his death. If that theory is the case, then we might have a serious problem."
The occupants of the kitchen shifted uneasily and a few exchanged whispered comments.
"Could it have been a glamor instead or a shape changing rune?" James asked and glanced around.
"Maybe." Dorcas murmured, rubbing her slender fingers together before glancing at Devashnee Patil. "What do you think Deva?"
The Indian woman shrugged. With a mastery in Ancient Runes, she was the most likely person to ask.
"It's possible but for someone to have pulled off that kind of effect and even copy a scent, the glamor or runes used would have to be some serious magic." She said quietly, dark eyes reflective as she considered the idea. "Even then, glamor's are not full proof and I don't think Remus's nose would have been fooled by something like that. Then there's the fact that for a rune to be used to accomplish the effects described, fresh blood would probably be needed similar to a polyjuice potion."
"Each option has its pros and cons." Kingsly said, his voice a low rumble.
"I have heard of no such implementations." Regulas suddenly said. As the only known spy (or at least, to the Order) within Voldemort's ranks, he had more knowledge than most of the snakes inner thoughts. "Of course, I may be wrong given the Dark Lord does not share all his plans with every individual, but to date, I don't think there has been any members of his army masquerading as any of the dead. I do not see how such a feat would benefit him."
"It's a terrifying thought." Dumbledore spoke up, half-moon glasses slipping slightly down his nose as he stared at the kitchen table. "There have been other strange occurrences that I have noted along with young Mr. Black here and that is partly why Remus's discovery has me so worried. If it's not Riddle and not Death Eaters walking around in disguises, then that means we have some unknown variables…an unknown group that recently made an appearance in Little Hangleton and could now possibly be who Remus encountered in Diagon Alley."
"A group Professor?" Marlene asked after a moment's silence. "I thought Remus only encountered one potentially unknown person?"
Albus glanced at Regulas, who sighed before speaking. He had hoped to share this information with Sirius before everyone found out, but he supposed now would have to do, especially given the mysteries surrounding these continuous strange happenings.
"Yesterday, one of Little Hangleton's inner wards were breached and upon inspection a group of three were discovered. During their escape, Teleia Morton was slain. In a briefing after the skirmish, we were told to submit memories to see if anything could be discovered about them."
Regulas closed his eyes before continuing, acutely aware of all the eyes focused on him and his every word, and knowing what he implied next would hurt Sirius greatly.
"The individuals were found to be two young adults, possibly late teens and a small child no more than three or four. All of them were very heavily hidden beneath a glamor that none of us could recognize…while their appearances and the glamor hid any notable features, Lucius Malfoy seemed adamant that one of them looked l-like Draco…"
"What!" Sirius hissed, standing up so quickly that his chair upended. Startled gasps and anguished cries traveled through the room and Lily rose to put a hand on the older Black's shoulder, hurriedly whispering soft comforting words to him.
"Settle down." Dumbledore said and slowly, the room quieted to a murmur. "We will achieve nothing by letting out hurt and anger cloud our judgement, no matter how entitled to those emotions we may be."
Sirius sat down again along with Lily, who still had her hand on his shoulder as though he may flee the room any second.
"Albus, what can this all possibly mean?" Minerva asked and the old wizard sighed heavily.
A knock on the kitchen door had them pausing and glancing up to see Fred Weasley enter with a vial in his hand and looking rather stricken.
Molly Weasley stood and rushed over to her child.
"Freddie, sweetheart, you don't have to be here." She said while fussing over him while he looked around the room and eventually met Remus's gaze, ignoring everyone else.
"I viewed your memory." He murmured and raised the vial as if to prove it.
"I gave my memory for Fred to view, to see if he might notice anything about the scene that others might not." Remus said when he saw the curious looks the boy was getting.
"It's George but he's different." The young adult suddenly blurted out and his body began trembling. "It's George but how…I don't know…"
Arthur joined his wife.
"It's alright Fred, let's get you back to bed." He said softly.
"No." Fred backed away from his parents much to their surprise and turned to Remus.
"It's George, you have to believe me." He insisted. "I mean, he's got scars I've never seen before and holds himself different but it's definitely my twin."
"Poor dear…" Someone whispered and Fred stiffened.
"I'm not crazy or naïve." He whispered harshly and turning to face the Order. "I know my brother died, but I'm telling you, that person Remus met was also George Weasley…just different."
Fred seemed to deflate and his eyes closed as he then turned and all but fled from the room.
"Well that was altogether confusing and unhelpful." Severus sneered.
"No one asked you." Sirius muttered.
"I must agree with Snape." Moody said, magical eye gleaming as it moved. "Weasley is still understandably muddled over his brother's death, so any information he gives us can be seen as biased and inconclusive."
Molly excused herself to go after her son while Arthur closed the door and returned to his place at the table.
"Where does this leave us?" Gideon Prewett asked after an uncomfortable silence. "Has the meeting done anything but create confusion?"
"Indeed, a good question Mr. Prewett." Dumbledore answered and the kitchens occupants focused their attention on their wise Leader.
"It is safe to say that the person Remus and Nymphadora encountered in Diagon Alley, was not the George Weasley we all knew and worked with. However, whether this person is in disguise through some means or is something else entirely, we cannot seem to agree and have no further evidence to pursue such a theory."
"So what do we do?" Dahlia Allen asked.
"We will have to be patient for now, as hard as that may be considering how grave this could be if they are in fact Death Eaters in disguise." Dumbledore said, raising his hands when murmurs of outrage started and quieting them instantly. "I do ask you all spread the word to be cautious and hope you will all be wary of strange happenings until we know more about this matter and the matter concerning Little Hangleton."
Sparing the kitchen a concerned glance as she entered Grimmauld Place and watched Fred go inside, Hermione Granger was for once relieved that Order was having a meeting for certain individuals only. Usually she, along with the rest of her generation, were quite vocal in the adult's attempts to censure certain information (no matter how much they felt it was necessary) but given the events this last week, she had other things to worry about other than a lack of knowledge.
Ascending the stairs two at a time, she was soon on the first landing where the room she usually shared with Ginny Weasley was located and quickly entered, closing the door behind her and renewing the privacy charms.
"We didn't think you'd be able to come." Ginny called in greeting from the foot of her bed, while Luna Lovegood sat perched near the top and both Neville and Ronald occupied the bed opposite them.
"It wasn't easy, but I think your mother took pity on me when I told her how I slept better when you all were near."
Hermione then took a seat in between her boyfriend of now just over a year and her very first friend Neville before breathing in deeply and deciding the sooner they confronted their issue, the sooner they could decide how to proceed.
Luna, in the time it took Hermione to get settled, had already propped a shabby-looking mirror against a stack of books on Ginny's bedside table while Neville pulled out a roll of parchment and spread it out on the floor so they could all see.
"Let's call the others, shall we?" Hermione asked once they were ready.
"Evangeline Prewett." Luna called into the glass and soon a face replaced Luna's solemn reflection.
"Hi." The redhead more commonly known as Eva, greeted with a brief smile that barely touched her blue eyes while she glanced briefly to the side. "Bryony and I tried to get the others to join, but security is stricter than normal if you can believe that and they have duties to attend to tonight with the lack of available hands."
In the mirrors reflection, the eldest Potter took a seat next to Eva and snorted softly, her hazel eyes flashing angrily.
"Just another pointless meeting if you ask my opinion."
"I heard it was serious." Neville muttered quietly and avoided meeting anyone's eyes, especially one girl in particular. "Something has the Order in a tizzy even though they're trying to downplay how agitated they really are."
"Don't stress mate." Ron reassured his friend while patting Hermione's tense shoulders. "We would get told if it was truly important."
"Yeah." Bryony snorted, a dark edge to her mocking tone though a deep sadness reflected the fact that she knew Neville was ignoring her but couldn't find a way to get him to stop. It didn't help that he barely came to Hogwarts these days. "The same way they told us about the missing Ministry workers last month or the way they kept us in the loop about some Muggle Hunters that caught those innocent families in Kent."
"They're trying Bree." Ron countered softly, wondering not for the first time how he had changed so vastly to be the one who had to reassure everyone, instead of them having to reassure him. "Things are getting worse and I think they're starting to lose hope, but isn't that why we decided to attempt this in the first place?"
"Ronald's right." Luna stated quietly, gently touching the black feather earing she wore in one ear, which contrasted so greatly with the delicate silver teardrop she wore in the other. She appeared more distracted than usual, but no one had the heart to force her concentration and were happy with whatever she was able to provide.
"Let's proceed shall we?" Ginny then asked briskly. "I'd rather have answers ready if things have really gone as bad as we feared they would with our little endeavor."
Neville sighed and sat forward, pulling out his wand as he did so and pointing at the parchment on the floor. A muttered password and soon the parchment was no longer blank and covered in strange designs and images.
Hermione then used her wand to tap the designs so that they glowed and formed a 3D hologram of their project, a unique and nifty technique she had designed in school some years back in order to view work or ideas from multiple angles similar to a model scale used when designing stage props or structures, only with magic.
"The ritual was simple yet in no way to be take too lightly…Give unto the Heavens thee blood and sacrifice and the Heavens shall answer your truest wish. Do not let your thoughts or heart stray and what you seek shall appear if your sacrifice be deemed worthy." Hermione recited glancing at each of the group as she did so.
It seemed as though a lifetime had passed since they had first come across the ritual as young teens. Back then, it had been a fanciful idea to wish for your heart's greatest desire and they had only kept the ritual as a memento of fonder memories and daydreams of possibilities that would never be reached through such uncertain means.
For the ritual was specific in its requirements to succeed and failure would mean a loss of whatever you offered as a sacrifice but with no gain of your wish. If they had succeeded, then no sacrifice would be needed and their wish would have come true.
As it was, they were unsure of the outcome.
"Yes Hermione, we know that and we followed every order to the letter." Bryony sighed, the mirror giving her sombre words a slight echo.
"The potion took months and some of those ingredients were rare and hard to get." Neville asked. "Are we sure it wasn't the potion that went wrong?"
Hermione and Ginny's eyes narrowed, as they had been assigned that particular side of the project and neither liked to hear their potion abilities critiqued, though each girl had understandably evaluated the possibility of it being the cause, both were that sure of their prowess that the idea was insulting.
Neville lifted his hands in surrender and shrugged. This was their first meeting in person and anything could be presumed during their letter correspondence.
"Just making sure." He had to avoid meeting Bryony's eyes when he heard her chuckle quietly.
"What about the runes?" Ron asked, tilting the hologram with a brief wand wave and eying the symbols critically. "Did we smudge any of them? Can any of you remember?"
Hermione bit her lip and Ginny looked uncertain, while Luna stared at some point on the ceiling. The rest seemed to think it over.
"The sword is apparently missing and no one's been able to enter Dumbledore's office to confirm if that rumor is true." Eva answered, for the first time looking worried. "So we can't verify the state of the runes even though I'm sure there was nothing wrong with them."
Ron smiled at his cousin's reprimanding tone and he could almost hear her thoughts comforting his own self-doubts on his work.
"Why didn't you mention it before?" Neville frowned. "The sword of Gryffindor isn't some cheap trinket that people will easily overlook if it's gone and that would have been nice to know sooner."
"We couldn't exactly write it in a letter without someone reading it. Security is too strict even for code and with Luna here at Hogwarts the last week, we had no other way to communicate safely until we found a way to meet without interruptions."
"Sorry Eva, I didn't mean it the way it sounded." Neville grimaced. He needed to stop letting his temper rule his mouth.
The girls eyes softened and she nodded in understanding.
"It's alright."
"It's not like you answer your letters anyway." Bryony suddenly muttered sourly. "How would we know if you even read anything we sent?"
"What about our wish? Did anyone phrase it wrong?" Ginny interjected before Neville could retort, pulling her legs up to meet her chin and closing her eyes. They didn't have time for petty squabbles.
A round of denial followed this statement.
"We all stated it correctly." Hermione murmured, eyes glazed in concentration. "We practiced for weeks and said it together clearly that night, there's no way it's the problem either…Damn, if only we could get a hold of a pensieve and view the memories again."
Luna suddenly shifted on the bed and sat forward, her blue eyes reflecting some emotion no one knew how to label.
"It was our…no, my feelings." She said softly before closing her eyes in a guilty manner. "I think-I lost track briefly of my feelings."
The room was silent for a long moment before Hermione returned the diagram to the parchment and stood to take a seat beside the more petite girl.
"Luna, what do you mean?"
"The ritual told us to only feel and think of what we were all wishing for." She sniffed, blue eyes opening to reveal tears. "I'm sure I stumbled for a moment, just a second I swear…"
"What did you think of Luna?" Ginny asked though in her heart she could tell everyone already knew the answer.
"The memorial was only a few days away and I-I couldn't seem to help myself." She sobbed quietly. "It just seemed so unfair that we were asking for help to rid the world of evil when so many we love are already gone and won't be able to celebrate with us if this went right."
The small blond began to cry in earnest and her friends all gathered around to comfort her while Eva and Bryony watched on helplessly.
Hermione didn't let go of Luna's arm despite the new information that had been brought to light. Though frustrated, she couldn't be upset with the younger girl for she couldn't even begin to comprehend the loss she had suffered. She still had Ron after all and Luna would never see Draco again.
At least their question had been answered partly. Luna's thoughts had strayed for however brief a moment it was, possibly allowing the ritual to not go the way it had been planned and whether the ceremony had succeeded or not, was something they could not confirm given neither of them has lost their sacrifice as far as they could tell, nor gained anything to help combat Voldemort's attempts to destroy their world.
Hermione sighed and hugged her friend closer.
Maybe it was better this way.
Across the room, Neville bit his lip guiltily as he watched the girls comfort each other and for the first time that evening, he met Bryony Potter's sad eyes.
…would it matter if they knew that my thoughts had strayed too?
Harry blinked at the scene before him, noting that the room seemed familiar and so did some of the people seated before a strange rune painted on the floor.
He remained at a distance, unsure if he should sate his curiosity over what was going on or just wait until this strange dream had run its course and ended. The latter was tempting but curiosity was something he had never seemed to curb even after all these years.
"Is it all done?" A girl asked, her voice so unmistakable that Harry's heart ached painfully.
"Yes Hermione…" Another familiar voice teased. "And if you ask us to check for the fiftieth time, we will never get this done."
The girl swatted the redhead and Harry finally gave into his interest and moved closer. When he was barely a few steps away, an audible gasp left his lips and for a moment all he could do was just stare in wonder at such a strange yet haunting scene.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat on one point of the diamond-shaped rune while Neville, Luna and an unknown girl that bore a vague resemblance to the Weasley family sat across from them. Standing on the other corners of the diamond were Blaise Zabini and another redheaded girl who also seemed familiar, while opposite them was Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass.
"Alright, all together then. Cut across your wand hand and allow only three drops of blood to touch the rune yet not come into contact with any other blood."
Harry watched with a growing sense of dread at what was most likely a summoning ritual, but one unlike any he had ever seen before. The runes were complex and inter-linked and the smell of the potion used to draw them, contained ingredients that Harry had never even attempted to try given their unlikely compatibility and volatile natures.
He circled the group slowly as they continued to add their own blood one by one, careful not to let it merge with anyone else's. Finally he paused when he caught sight of the object in the middle, also coated in the strange potion and a different set of runes.
Gryffindor's sword gleamed and a pang reminded the raven of the charred remains he knew the blade to now resemble.
Harry's thoughts and musings were interrupted when Hermione began talking again.
"Give unto the Heavens thee blood and sacrifice and the Heavens shall answer your truest wish."
Each figure gently placed a bit of parchment in the diamond and Harry's insides grew cold at the ominous wording.
"Do not let your thoughts or heart stray and what you seek shall appear if your sacrifice is deemed worthy."
"What the hell is this?" Harry questioned to himself and backing off a bit as the diamond glowed. What he could feel was old magic…very old, very dangerous magic.
The air crackled with energy and the diamond sparked with sickly green and orange sparks similar to the magical turbulence they had seen before they ended up in this world so different from their own.
"State it clearly now." Hermione ordered and together they all linked hands and recited carefully. "…Our wish is for a way to free our world from its dark path that the man Tom Riddle has spurred…We give up our chosen sacrifices gladly for aid to rid our world of this man, this monster…We gladly sacrifice for peace and comfort for all…"
Gryffindor's sword glowed and Harry flinched.
Whatever this dream was and whatever the ritual was meant to do, Harry didn't think it boded well. The scene distorted and the raven barely had time to wish for the dream's end before he found himself somewhere else.
"This isn't real." Harry murmured to himself, glancing warily around at the chamber of white shadows, which quickly dispersed to reveal a dimly lit hallway filled with people but also semi distorted as if he was viewing it through a sheet of thick glass.
People whose faces made Harry's stomach churn and his heart freeze. A hallway that he had only viewed briefly before it was damaged by spell fire.
"My loyal followerss…" A steady voice announced with a slight hiss and Harry's eyes immediately snapped towards the source. "Tomorrow is bound to be a gloriouss day for uss..."
Oh Merlin's balls…
The room broke out in a low rumbling cheer and Voldemort, hidden beneath a thick cloak and hood, seemed almost pleased by the raucous nature of his group.
"And who will we be targeting this time around my Lord?" Bellatrix Lestrange practically purred and Harry hissed a curse.
"Diagon Alley has grown forgetful of our power." He murmured. "We have been a bit too quiet lately and I feel that needs to change."
"Remind them who's really in charge." A thickly muscled Vincent Crabbe laughed from his place beside his father and a couple standing around them soon joined in. "Maybe have some fun if there's decent girls around."
"Yeah, not like those muggle whores we usually have."
Voldemort chuckled.
"Very well, carnage for me and the spoilss for all of you…"
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Harry muttered darkly, his sense of justice rising quickly to the surface despite any confusion he might feel.
He wondered what this foul scene was and why he wasn't waking up. Was his mind having a laugh by conjuring up these dreams of his past nemesis and the pawns that had done all his dirty work?
"My thoughts exactly though I'm curious to know who you are?"
Harry turned quickly from the dissipating scene and came face to face with Neville Longbottom…or at least a Neville Longbottom that he was quite sure he had never met before.
This Neville looked about seventeen but lacking the scars that Harry had associated with the boy at that age. His dark brown hair was much longer than Harry had ever seen it, curling past his ears and around the collar of his shirt and peeking from beneath of his fringe, appeared to be a thin scar. His eyes though were familiar and yet not.
Still grim and haunted, but not as jaded as they once had been…innocent still despite having known horrors.
Harry briefly thought over these facts, glancing once behind him at the merry death eaters before looking back at the teen before him and altogether feeling himself pale at the sudden clarity of his mind.
"Fuck."
…
Harry woke with a start and a mumbled curse, his hands jumping to ease a vaguely familiar pain in his forehead while something heavy slid across his chest before slipping onto the floor and making a dull thump as it hit the carpet.
Thoughts in a whirl over his dreams and their strange occurrences, the jumbled insights, he stumbled for the stolen wand they still had and lit it quickly to see what had fallen.
Gold and silver gleamed up at him and his green eyes widened fractionally at Godric Gryffindor's heirloom, still decorated in blood and runes like the one he had seen in his first dream.
"This shit just gets more complicated by the hour." He muttered and doused the light before collapsing back onto the bed with another curse.
Was it such a crime to want a bit or normality for once in their very eventful lives?
Harry snorted.
Who was he kidding?
What was normal when it came to them?
While Harry was busy frantically trying to organize his thoughts, Neville Longbottom had also awoken quite suddenly from a dream. However, he had no time to ponder the strange person he had seen, or calm his rapid breathing.
In moments he had pulled on a jumper and had descended the stairs to reach the kitchen where he knew at least one or two Order members would still be even at this late hour, so he wasn't too surprised when he found Gideon Prewett and Bill Weasley seated at the table with coffee and a large pile of parchment.
They both looked up when he entered.
"Hello Neville, what's got you up so late?" Bill asked kindly, though the teen saw they were quick to vanish their paperwork.
"There's going to be another raid tomorrow." He answered quickly, ignoring the increasing bitterness at their secrecy.
Gideon stood quickly while Bill sent off a patronus, no doubt to call someone else from the Order.
"Are you sure?" Gideon Prewett asked softly and Neville nodded.
"Diagon Alley." He said. "And he plans for it to be a massacre."
The familiar caterwaul of the front door opening and the wards being passed, reached the trio's ears and Neville sighed as James Potter and Arthur Weasley entered with Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody.
"Neville, are you sure about this?" James asked, walking over quickly and putting a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Neville vaguely wondered why the boy from his dream had looked like his Godfather before answering.
"Yeah."
"Won't hurt to be prepared anyway." Mad-Eye grumbled.
Neville watched the other adults rush off to no doubt plan for the attack and stiffened when James squeezed his shoulder and pushed him towards the kitchen door.
"Go get some more rest. We'll take care of everything."
Neville considered protesting but no words came to mind. Instead he shrugged and headed back to his room, equally displeased and dejected.
"I wish they would make up their minds on where I stand…" He muttered darkly.
Half the world saw him as some warrior Chosen One, the key to Voldemort's end…yet the rest just wished to hide him from the truth (or at least most of it) and treated him like some fragile china.
The worst part of it all, was that Neville couldn't decide which he preferred more. Accepting the fact that fate if the world rested in his hands as Dumbledore claimed it did…or letting others take all the responsibility for him.
The teen sighed as he reached his room and collapsed in his bed.
Why did there even have to be a choice?
A/N: So there you have the next chapter. I have noticed an inconsistency with some scenes, and I am trying to correct it. Despite the fact that I have mapped out the entirety of this stories plot, there are some things that change at last minute due to my inability to decide on what information will best portray this stories ideas.
For example, the reason of how our dimension travelers arrived. On a side note, I do not take credit for that reason as others have used it previously. However, it is a nice plot device no matter the slight cliche, and does work nicely for the circumstances of this story.
I am sorry for those who do not like it but as I always feel; Writer's should write stories they want to see written and if we collect fans of our ideas along the way, well that's just a bonus