Harry Potter: Otherworld
Close Calls
***No own no sue. ***
*Twitter for updates, Angelslayer135
I will keep a running list of male to female names as characters are introduced at the end of each chapter.
***HP:O ***
There were no plans for a 'night away' like the previous year, and if there had been they were canceled. Instead, Lily and James double check all the doors and windows after the trio arrives home.
"No impromptu trips out of the house." Lily began as the group sat down for dinner, "This includes flying, going to a friend's house, or even a breath of fresh air."
Amaryllis in particular appeared distressed by the rules, but a glare from her father stopped any verbal arguments. "We're serious. No more joking around or taking this lightly. No more foolhardy running into danger or risking your safety. Period. Do you three understand?"
The two girls nod in silence at James' declaration while Harry stared back before answering. "I understand."
Lily breathed a sigh of relief, the tension noticeably lessening, "Good, because we would like a nice quiet dinner and then a peaceful evening with our children."
"What about the rest of the week? Are we still going to see Aunt Silvie, Uncle Sirius, and Marie?"
The two adults exchanged looks, James with a little more pleading in his while Lily's was far more hesitant. "Personally," she began, "Sirius brings his own sort of danger into the world… but we will not be avoiding family. Precautions will be taken but we know how much you love seeing them."
And like that any remaining floating anxieties disperse for the remainder of the evening.
***HP:O ***
Despite everything, Christmas morning still held a feeling of joy and relaxation. Lily and James exchanged packages to each other, matching heated bathrobes, while Harriet received several boxes of books and clothing. Harry received much the same, along with a book on the Potter family history, and was expecting something similar for Amaryllis when James retrieved a very broom-shaped object from a nearby closet.
The younger wizard could already see the outrage in his mother's eyes, along with the excitement in his sister's when she tore into the brightly wrapped paper to reveal... a very impressively sorted and shaped assortment of books concerning classes at Hogwarts and the careers they would lead to later in life.
Their father merely grinned, "What, were you expecting something else?"
"That isn't funny!" The young redhead sputtered, earning a giggle from her own sister and a snort of laughter from her mother.
Harry himself merely grinned, "I think some things will never change no matter what universe."
***HP:O ***
It wasn't exactly a surprise, by that point he was almost expecting a 'mysterious package' to arrive Christmas night from the crazed Malfoy.
What he hadn't expected to find was three owls waiting in his room, each with a single envelope clutched tightly while eyeing the others up as if they were going to get into a fight.
Weird
Were they from Luna or Ginny? Usually, they waited until there was an opportunity to meet up so they could give something in person but with everything that had happened this was a compromise.
Worriedly enough he could recognize the bird belonging to his stalker and set that one's object aside before watching it depart, not without giving a glare to the other two.
Another quickly dropped an envelope before taking off as well, the remaining left its cargo and swooped out to follow.
Idly, he considered getting the creepiest over with first, but at that point he wasn't sure if he had somehow acquired two new stalkers as well.
Each envelope was addressed to him and thus, with a deep inhale and exhale to calm his nerves, opened the first unknown.
Dear Harry,
I hope you had as good of a time as I did on our outing. Although it was short it remains one of my more pleasant memories thus far in the year.
I have taken your suggestions to heart and have been branching out my reading into subjects that may interest me, including Quidditch. My mother does not know yet, but I have yet to find the words to tell her and possibly earn myself a summer of reading books on business and politics.
As memory serves, you often attend a holiday gathering under escort. Perhaps we could meet and continue our conversations there?
If you find yourself with free time before such time, I would enjoy continuing writing back and forth, if you are agreeable to this.
-Sincerely,
Cleopatra Malfoy
He stared at the signature on the bottom before rereading the rest again then a third time.
What!?
It was weird enough having one Malfoy write to him, now the other was? Maybe it was just some 'old family' thing where a girl was supposed to write to a boy after a date. Maybe it wasn't weird, maybe he was reading too much into it, maybe all Malfoy's were obsessive creeps who decided to write him weirdly romantic borderline obsessive letters.
Hesitantly, he glanced at the other letter he hadn't identified. If it was from Narcissa or Lucius, confessing their undying love for him, he was going to move to a different continent.
"Okay, okay Harry this is fine, she's just a bit over the top. It'll be fine, just take it slow and move on." He whispered softly to himself before placing the first of the letters down and moving onto the next. "This one won't be creepy. This one will be full of coupons and a gift certificate everything will be normal again, yeah that's it."
The young wizard didn't believe himself for a moment, before swallowing down any remaining uncertainty before opening the next.
Harry,
We may have had a rough start to our relationship, but I believe recent events have cleared up much of the confusion on both sides. Even as I write to you, I have begun planning my case to my mother regarding a future together.
The Black family has never allowed its heiress to marry before, but a hundred years ago wizards were not allowed to attend Hogwarts for a formal education.
Times and traditions change, and we must change with them or be swept away in the tide.
I hope you will begin considering your own future as well and take my intentions seriously. I will prove that any other course of action will pale in comparison to what I can offer you.
-Delphini Black
Fuck
Fucking fuckity fuck fuckery fucking fuck fuck
What the hell was with these people!? Delphini barely tolerated him a month ago and now she is writing him shite like that!?
Maybe it was a Black family thing. That must be it. Narcissa and Bellatrix were sisters after all.
He frowned and thought back on his interactions with Tonks. No, that didn't make much sense. The Auror had never been weirdly obsessed with him or anything of that nature even from their few interactions.
So just the stuck-up crazy assholes then, perfect.
He already knew who wrote the last one and for a moment pondered if he even needed to bother. Would this one have creepy pictures of him too? Maybe it would be a recording of him talking or something equally weird.
Shaking his head, Harry opened the remaining item before pulling out two objects within. One was a package undoubtedly containing clothing, the other a typical envelope with a letter inside. Knowing it would be better to get the explanation out of the way first, he steadied himself before glancing over it.
Beloved,
Not a day goes by I do not worry for your safety, not a moment in which I want nothing more than those who would threaten you to be brought to a horrific and painful end. I would plead with you, beg you not to endanger yourself for the lives of those so far beneath you but knowing you the way I do it would be a fool's errand.
It is simply who you are not to allow harm to come to others, even if it means risking yourself.
I dream of the days when we can be together and prepare for them dutifully as your future wife should. Once this is over you will be cared for, I promise, until then I can only pray to see you again soon, and perhaps have more of your precious time to myself.
-Yours always,
Pandora Malfoy
It was… strangely comforting that she both understood and seemed to accept his actions. Still, despite being far more 'toned down' compared to other letters there was still an unhealthy obsession and certainty in her writing, enough to make him on edge regardless of anything else she wrote.
Setting the parchment aside he opened the final object to find a warm cloak inside, one clearly sized for him. "At least it isn't an engagement ring…" he muttered, flinching at his own joke and what he might have just jinxed.
***HP:O ***
"This isn't what we agreed upon. Hell, this wasn't even discussed." Lily hissed in annoyance as the four adults trailed behind their children at a distance which made them all just slightly uncomfortable. "We were going to have a nice dinner at home, open gifts, share some laughs, then stay where it was safe for the rest of the week."
"Oh, come on Lily have a heart, the kids have been stuck at Hogwarts all year without so much as a hint of the outside world. Let them have a little bit of fun." Sirius whined, earning a slight roll of the eyes from his wife. "Besides, it's not like there is any danger. Diagon Alley has dozens of Aurors plus we are right behind them. If something were to happen, we grab them and run, simple as that."
Lily shook her head while James fought the urge to smack his best friend in the head, "You aren't taking this seriously."
He knew the moment he'd said it what was coming next, and stifled the groan that nearly came after, "Oh come on Prongs, I'm always Sirius."
"I think what my husband means is we all need a bit of normalcy in our lives and while we may have little to no control when the children are at school, here we do. I don't think any of us want a repeat of last year, of them surrounded by all that fear and uncertainty for months at a time. They need a break, to know it's still safe."
Secretly, Lily was both envious of and hated the way Sylvie Rosier could convince anyone of anything. "Fine, let them do some shopping we will get something to eat, then head back. I don't want to push our luck any further than that."
The other three nodded even as they followed the four students towards a bookstore.
***HP:O ***
Even with everything thus far in the year Harry Potter would admit he was almost surprised when the first scream sounded from nearby.
Almost
But the simple lesson his previous life had taught him this new one reinforced. Always expect things to get worse, which was why his wand was already in his hand and his eyes scanned their surroundings as confusion quickly became panic.
Before, when he was with Delphini and Remi, the area was far more controlled. Most of civilians were out of the area and they were in a small group which was able to be quickly evacuated. At that moment, however, there were two groups separated by a crowd of frightened individuals. The adults were far behind, but reachable and with no other threats obvious, along with his previous promise to avoid danger, the group could just as easily…
Then he saw the tension in his cousin's posture, the resolution set onto her face and he knew any plan of just letting someone else handle the problem was about to vanish.
Sure enough Marie pushed forward, ignoring the surrounding bodies which moved in every direction, and went in the direction of the sounds of conflict.
For his part Harry allowed himself a moment to turn towards his two sisters and gave a no nonsense, "Go back and tell the others." Before rushing forward to try and drag the other girl back if he could.
***HP:O ***
It was her fault. She knew it was her fault. Someone was being attacked because of her, because of her family, well not this time. Marie decided the moment she heard that scream she wouldn't stand by and let someone else be hurt again, wouldn't let someone else take on the responsibility for her family.
Despite the general confusion there was still one thing the young witch could trust to point her in the opposite direction, normal people running away from danger. Fine, they ran away, she ran towards, and in her mind, it didn't matter what the threat was, so long as no one else was hurt in the process.
Rounding a corner, Marie Rosier paused at the entrance to an alleyway. Halfway through was a single body on the ground, a cloaked individual unmoving on the cold stones beneath her feet.
Marie moved without thought, rushing forward to see if she could help. She had studied up on some simple medical techniques and spells and just maybe…
The moment she reached the downed figure and whispered out that it was going to be okay the truth became obvious.
From beneath the cloak, she could see the glimmer of fangs, the taunting smile of a hunter whose trap had yielded results.
Another figure leapt from a nearby corner, obstructed from view until that very moment. Two Lycans, an ambush perfectly concealed, and her own fate had been decided.
Or at least that was how her few thoughts went until the attacker froze in midair before being violently slammed against an opposing wall. The prone attacker pushed her out of the way a second later, obviously preparing to retaliate against the one who had struck their packmate when a flash of light sent them sprawling as well.
Harry Potter stood at the entrance, chest rising and falling as he drew in deep breaths, eyes glancing about with cautious uncertainty and Wand raised, still glowing with Magic.
"We're leaving" he commanded, voice so full of resolution the witch wasn't even aware she had moved until she found herself next to him. One of the Werewolves pushed itself up, looking ready for another attack but with shouts of Aurors close by it had no choice but to grab its companion and depart. Moments later the authorities found the two teens, along with four very concerned and irate parents.
***HP:O ***
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in!?" The young girl flinched and opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by an enraged glare. "Not only did you put your own life in danger to run off and pull some outrageously stupid stunt, but you could have gotten your cousin hurt as well!"
"I didn't ask him to…"
Marie found her lips magically sealed shut, her mother in no mood to hear her arguments. "And if he hadn't been there?" Sirius questioned, voice lacking any of the usual playfulness or warmth normally attributed to him. "Or if he had arrived late? Or if he had gotten there and been so worried about you, he didn't think about himself? Merilyn, Marie this is…" he shook his head before standing and pacing back and forth, unable to contain the anxiety which was still burning through his veins.
"This is unacceptable in every way." Sylvie continued, "This is not some stupid prank one of your cousins talked you into or a foolish Slytherin act backfiring. One or both of you could have been killed." The older witch was nearly trembling with anxiety and was forced to take a few calming breaths before continuing. "You are grounded. No friends over, no owls, no leaving the house until your father and I agree you can be trusted. You will stay in your room and study until it is time to go back to Hogwarts and then I will be contacting your teachers to ensure this is understood there as well."
With that she pointed to the girl's room, the young witch nodding in defeat before slowly turning and accepting her punishment.
***HP:O ***
The silence between the two parents stretched on, both trying to figure out what to say, both struggling with the situation.
"I… think I understand now." Lily didn't reply, didn't even move, but her husband could sense the slight change in her posture. "Last year it wasn't necessary, and on the train, it felt like he was just fighting to fight you know? Trying to protect some nameless idea."
"Delphini?"
James snorted, "Nah fuck that spoiled brat. But Marie? If something had happened to her, if we were at St. Mungos waiting to hear whether she would make it or not, if we had to watch Sylvie and Sirius pacing without knowing if their child would make it…"
Lily finally nodded, "I'm still angry at them, mostly at her, but I understand."
"If it was reverse, if she had saved him what would we be saying?" the man continued, forcing himself not to get choked up. "How dare your child put herself in harm's way to save ours? She should have just stood by and let him go because her parents thought she was more important?"
The redhead walked over before taking his hand and guiding them both to the couch to sit, cuddling up on instinct. "This year has been a mess."
"They all have," he easily corrected, before a sobering. "Not that I blame Harry in anyway. If it wasn't for him…" he trailed off willing away all the horrible ideas of both not having the boy in their lives and what it might have meant without someone there to do what the adults should have. It was followed by a spike of horrified disappointment that he would even consider Harry protecting their daughters with his own life as acceptable.
All three should be wrapped up in blankets and kept safe and sound without so much as a scratch on them. But such a dream couldn't happen, at least for an extended period. Sure, all three of their children were currently safe at home with enough wards to make Gringotts mutter 'overkill' but it was only temporary.
They would be meeting up with Riddle in a few days to spend time with her, and while both parents trusted the woman to keep him safe there was still an unease of letting their son walk away and not seeing him for a few days.
Then the holidays would be ending, and the trio would be going back to Hogwarts. Hogwarts, where they were supposed to be safe but where was often quite the opposite. Hogwarts, where neither Lily nor himself could check on him and make sure they were sleeping right, eating healthily, and staying in locked dorms far, far away from the dangerous outside world.
Someday, but for now it is a few days of peace and then worry and stress until summer.
***HP:O ***
"Prongs… James, I can't… there is nothing… I'm so sorry."
But the Potter merely huffed and shook his head before pouring two glasses of wine and handing one to his best friend, who he watched down it back in one gulp. "It wasn't your fault."
"Harry could have been hurt."
James let out a slow breath, doing his best to ease away the painful memories of previous years, of the start of the current one. "Yes, he could have but he wasn't. Lily and I are both relieved that he's okay, but also that Marie is unharmed as well."
"I'm surprised she remained that way." Sirius grumbled, earning a wide-eyed stare from the other man. "Not that I want her hurt but a spanking from her mother would have done her some good. Instead, she's just grounded until she has as many grey hairs as we do."
James made an obvious attempt at counting said hairs, reaching out to pick at the man's head and earning a swat for his efforts and a slowly returning smile.
"Why aren't you mad at me though, or at her?"
The answer was an eloquent shrug, "Because it isn't your fault, and she's a stupid kid who wanted to help someone. Yes, it was stupid and dangerous, but have you met my son?"
It was, obviously, the wrong thing to say but before he could take it back a strangled sob escaped from his friend, "He could have… he could have been hurt, killed, all because of what she did, because he wanted to help her." Sirius looked up, eyes pale and haunted, "How do you do it?"
A complicated question which meant the answer would be even more so. Still, James had an idea of what his best friend was asking and let out a deep sigh, "If you're asking how Lily and I got used to this? We didn't, we never will. Their first year was a bit rough and we didn't know about everything until after. Second year was worse, especially after Harriet was petrified and then seeing Harry on the bed, almost lifeless…" He trailed off, willing away the memories moments later. "This year has been bad, really bad, but we are starting to understand. If he hadn't been there for Marie, if something had happened…" He shook his head, "I hate that he puts himself into danger, but I would have been devastated if something happened to my niece. There is no 'better option' this time, usually there isn't, so we just worry and stress and give ourselves grey hairs trying to think of how to help him and keep them all safe."
"Let me know when you find the secret to doing that." Sirius prompted, and his friend would have laughed had he not heard the underlying urgency and desperation he had begun identifying in both himself and his wife.
"I will, promise."
A peaceful silence descended between them. Sirius repoured a glass of wine, and this time took his time with it, while the other continued on his first. Finally, the darker haired man spoke, eyes staring off into space and voice distant, "You know, they do seem to get along pretty well."
James was halfway through nodding before the words settled into his brain and his eyes snapped onto his friend, a glare already forming.
"No"
"I'm just saying."
"No, you aren't just saying."
"We always talked about it."
"We didn't talk about shit Padfoot."
With the mood sufficiently lightened the guest grinned, "Oh come on Prongs just think about it. Our families are already close, Marie usually has a good head on her shoulders and is doing well in school."
"Padfoot, I want you to think long and hard about the next words that come out of your mouth and whether you want to have a conversation with my wife about letting your daughter date her precious son."
Sirius flinched slightly, "You know she wouldn't hurt him, right?"
James sighed, running a hand over his face, "Of course I know that, but we aren't even considering doing the whole 'marriage contract' thing, and for your sake that better be the only conversation you were thinking about having with me." Seeing the man raise his hands in submissive surrender the father continued, "They barely even know each other Sirius. If this is something they are both considering, we can talk about it then."
"Fine fine… hopefully the kids will at least have my looks…"
"PADFOOT!"
***HP:O ***
It surprised no one when the Floo roared to life with a notably irritated professor's face wreathed in flames. Lily, naturally, allowed her through and promptly ushered her daughters and husband into another part of the house, glaring as Amy whined about wanting to be part of the excitement.
Riddle glared, Harry stared back.
She crossed her arms, he shrugged.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
The young Potter was briefly worried he could cause the woman to have a stroke based on the anger evident in her eyes.
So, he took pity on her, "Look, it wasn't as if I said to myself 'gee, I wonder if I can wander around and find any werewolf looking folks to have a fun conversation with.' My parents, and the Rosiers, took us out to Hogsmeade, we overheard shouting, Marie took off, I chased after her to make sure she didn't get hurt, I stopped her from getting hurt, and then we left. That's it, I know it seems like I am looking for trouble but I'm not. I just know what will happen if I sit on my hands and let others throw themselves into danger."
"I will assume you have both been properly disciplined for your reckless actions."
Again, he shrugged, "No idea on Marie, but I imagine she's grounded for life or whatever. As for me, not really, I'm already in trouble and I think…" he trailed off, frowning a bit as he searched for the right words or feelings, "my parents are starting to understand. It's easy to say 'don't put yourself in harm's way, let someone else deal with it, it isn't your fight' if it is a nameless person who is involved. This time though know what could have happened, who could have been hurt."
It didn't seem to appease the woman, but deep-down Harry knew there would never be anything of the sorts. He didn't know what it would be like to have a child risk their life on a continual basis but knew what it felt like when he had seen Hermione petrified, when he saw Ginny lying on the floor of the Chamber. It wasn't something he would wish on anyone, and it was the same reason he kept fighting.
Because no one should have to suffer through such a thing.
His determination radiated into the room and had the desired effect of calming the woman, at least to a small extent. "We are going to do some drills, no you don't have a say in the matter, yes we are going to go through them until I am damn well sure you can fight off assailants from multiple angles without almost killing yourself."
Harry grinned in response.
***HP:O ***
"Where were you?" There was no hint of subtlety in the woman's voice, instead it was blunt and accusatory.
Lupin, for her part, had the decency to look down at her own feet rather than the witch before her. "Dumbledore asked me to make a few adjustments of security around Hogwarts while a good portion of the students were gone. We thought that…"
"I don't care." Rosier interrupted, "I asked you to protect my daughter not Hogwarts. The school is a fortress full of competent adults and is protected by wards. My daughter was nearly assaulted while you were 'busy'." A shameful flush formed on the Lycan's face along with a muttered apology. "What else have you been doing besides playing the role as Dumbledore's pet."
The words were harsh and scathing and although Remi flinched, she did not argue the point. "Research, the attacks have been too well planned out to not have help from the inside. Someone gave Greyback access to the Express and lowered the wards, someone leaked information about your niece's scheduled outing, and it sounds as if someone was aware of your planned venture to Diagon."
Some of the anger abated from Sylvie's face before she moved to take a seat, gesturing to an empty one for the other woman. "The corruption case has been… complex. More than a few could face indictments and there could be even more hoping to hide their own involvement. It is difficult to determine how deep the rot has seeped."
"All the more reason for an offensive approach instead. What happens if this case runs the rest of the year? Goes into next and the next? What happens when our luck runs out? We cannot hope to protect them every minute of every hour and still allow them to be children."
***HP:O ***
The 'drop off', as Harry jokingly called it even though none of the rest found it amusing in the slightest, was planned at a political 'party' they had been invited to. Undoubtedly it was due to Harry's own rising stardom, and for Fudge to score some political points, but Grace had insisted they at least make an appearance.
"Fudge is already one foot in the proverbial grave." She easily noted when the protest from his parents, and his own whining, had begun. "This is an opportunity to meet some of those who work for the ministry, to make yourself seen and heard. It isn't fun but it can be invaluable for your future."
Reluctantly everyone agreed, with even Harriet and Amaryllis dressing up to attend. Harry hadn't wanted to go, hadn't wanted to be paraded about like an object but also knew there was a chance it would help his sisters' futures as well.
If a connection to him allowed them to prosper, then he could put up with the misandry for an evening. Even so he had been told to keep his comments to a minimum, especially concerning anything political or regarding recent events. There was no reason to give anyone a reason to look more into his life than they already were.
The five Potters met up with Riddle at the entrance before strolling inside and almost immediately being borderline bombarded by questions and requests for information. Luckily, his parents were adept at dealing with such things, to say nothing of the professor, and they pushed through until it was obvious that the behavior was unacceptable.
With an atmosphere just slightly above the 'high class' parties he had attended previously, Harry remained on guard until Riddle took him away from the rest of his family to get some punch for his nerves.
"Non-alcoholic" she noted with a hint of humor before another woman walked up and began chatting away, drawing her attention, and giving him a moment of solitude to breathe.
Or so he thought.
"Quite the impressive number of feats… for a boy." The voice was oddly familiar and upon turning he made the connection, it was the woman he had overheard arguing with Dumbledore all those months ago, the one who had made threats, the one who had insisted upon putting students in danger.
His gut told him everything he needed to. She was responsible for the attacks.
***HP:O ***
Previous Name**************New Name
Tom Riddle*****************Grace Riddle
Albus Dumbledore***********Augustina Dumbledore
Draco Malfoy***************Cleopatra (Cleo) Malfoy
-*************************Harriet Potter
-*************************Amaryllis (Amy) Potter
-*************************Pandora Malfoy
Blaise Zabini****************Bliss Zabini
Theodore Nott**************Theresa Nott
Severus Snape**************Serena Snape
-*************************Marie Rosier
Percy Weasley**************Paisley Weasley
Bill Weasley****************Billie Weasley
Charlie Weasley*************Charlene Weasley
Fred Weasley***************Frankie Weasley
George Weasley*************Georgie Weasley
Remus Lupin***************Remi Lupin
-************************Sylvie Rosier
Gilderoy Lockhart***********Gordana Lockhart
Oliver Wood ***************Olivia Wood