A/N: I apologize for the wait, first of all. Second, I know I said the Diagon Alley visit would be this chapter, but I came up with something far more interesting. You'll likely see that scene in another chapter. Third, I was asked about "Cliffside", the town Lily and James now live in. It's not a real place, so looking for it on a map is useless. I didn't bother looking up a real place because it's easier for me to not be concerned about those kinds of details (just getting everything in the HP-verse right is a lot of concern). If you want to know, it's a medium-sized place about a half hour's drive from where they catch the Hogwarts Express.

It was nearly one in the afternoon, and Harry sat in the Quidditch Patch outside of Potter Pound, enjoying the sun and trying not to stare openly at his watch. A good twenty feet above him, Jon and Anna tossed a Quaffle back and forth, each aiming to score on the other. For a couple of eight year olds, both of them were already remarkably skilled, and he could easily envision a future for them on the Quidditch teams of Hogwarts. Anna would be a fabulous chaser with a bit of training, and Jon had the skills to become an excellent keeper. Clearly, Quidditch ran in the Potter blood. He almost felt sorry for Lia, who had inherited a deep hatred of flying from her mother.

Ginny had owled the night before to tell him that she would arrive by half past one at the latest. Their plans to go to Diagon Alley with Malfoy and Hermione had been derailed by Lily's announcement that they would be hosting a "small party" that day so that some people could meet Harry. He had invited Hermione and Malfoy along instead, but he wasn't at all sure they would show. Hell, if the party wasn't being thrown by his own parents, he probably wouldn't have shown. Harry hated parties with a passion.

The back door swung open and he glanced up, straightening when he saw Ginny coming out. It was difficult to ignore the way his heart did a flip when she looked in his direction, but he sternly told himself it was just relief over the fact that she had arrived before the party began. He lifted his hand and waved her over. She walked over him to him and smiled in greeting, plucking at the edge of her yellow tank top.

"Hi Harry."

"Hey Gin," he said, patting the spot beside him. She sat, folding her legs beneath her gracefully. "How are you?"

"I've been bloody well better," Ginny said wryly. "I suspect the same goes for you."

Formalities over with, Harry turned towards her, eager for answers. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked quietly, trying not to show the hurt that he was feeling. "When you came in..."

Ginny sighed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I didn't want to tell you at all. Harry, I have no idea what's going on. How was I supposed to know that your parents weren't Death Eaters in disguise? If you weren't a Death Eater? The only thing I was told was that you'd woken from this curse and now you were asking for Ron and Hermione. For all I knew, they had imperio'd you and anything I told you would be reported back to... whoever has done this. Besides that, I've got nothing to tell you. I'm at as much of a loss as you are, except that I'm not allowed to admit it."

"Then what changed your mind? Did you just slip up?"

Her left shoulder rose and fell in a shrug. "Seeing you," she said finally. "I couldn't... I knew it was you as soon as we spoke. It seemed cruel to keep up the charade after that. I would've told you if you hadn't figured it out."

"So you were the letter writer, then?"

Shyly, she offered him a tiny smile. "It seems rather silly now. But it was the easiest way to get into contact with you. When you first woke up, no one was allowed to see you except for Hogwarts staff and your parents. I have no history with you here, so I didn't even bother to ask, and Evangeline knows her way around Hogwarts."

Harry looked at her speculatively. "Why didn't you explain in the letters? Why the cryptic warnings?"

"Please!" Ginny mocked, grinning. Her golden eyes sparkled mischievously. "What incites the Golden Trio more than a puzzle? I knew that my letters would be on your mind if I kept myself secret and just expressed what little I knew. If I had identified myself, it would've been much easier for you to dismiss me outright."

"You're evil," he grumbled.

She punched him in the arm and snickered. "I'd never have taken you for a sulker, Potter."

He caught her hand and held it, enjoying the feel of her smaller, more delicate fingers. "I'm glad you're here, Ginny," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "I was very lonely without someone who understands."

A faint blush appeared on Ginny's cheeks. "I'm glad I'm here, too, Harry," she responded, "I just wish – "

"What? What's wrong?" Harry said when she stopped talking abruptly. She didn't continue, just kept staring over his shoulder. He twisted to look in the same direction and saw that Lily, James, Remus, Orion, Arabella, and Sirius had just stepped out of the house. Remus took out his wand and waved it in the direction of the nearby trees. Several of them changed into a dining table and chairs. Arabella, Lily, and Orion began floating dishes of food onto the table, clearly preparing for the party that was about to begin, while James and Sirius started to create a few decorations. Nothing overly interesting, but Harry could tell that Ginny was fixated on just one thing. Or rather, just one person.

"It's him, Gin." He squeezed her hand gently, aware of the stricken look on her face. Her free hand had flown over her mouth, and tears shone in her eyes. "Really."

"Merlin..." she whispered, the color draining from her cheeks. Harry made his decision and got up, pulling her up as well. Ginny leaned on him heavily as they walked towards the group, never moving her eyes from Sirius.

"He's a professor at Hogwarts, too, can you believe it?" he said into her ear. Apparently, she could, or else she wasn't listening, because she didn't answer. Instead, she broke away from him and approached the adults. Harry stopped and watched curiously as she went straight over to Sirius and stood in front of him, giving him a full examination. Sirius noticed her and raised an eyebrow, giving her an odd look. Ginny smiled wanly.

"Professor Black, forgive me," she said, and threw her arms around Sirius. Sirius looked completely shocked by the unexpected embrace, but recovered enough to pat her awkwardly on the back. Harry hid his smile and moved around to stand next to Remus, who was gazing on with an inquisitive expression. He couldn't really blame Ginny for what she had done; after all, hadn't he done exactly the same when he had come out of his so-called coma? In fact, he mentally applauded her for letting go as soon as she did, which was just minutes after she latched on.

"It's alright," said Sirius, an odd look on his face. "Are you... uh, okay, Miss Weasley?"

Ginny laughed. Her eyes, Harry saw, had once again filled with tears. "Okay," she choked out. "Okay! By Merlin, Sirius, whatever happened is worth it to have you here. Thank Godric that he did what he did."

Harry reached her then, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and hustling her off before she could say another word to further flummox the adults. Behind a nearby grove of trees, Ginny burst into tears, covering her face with her hands and sobbing into his shirt. He hugged her gently, laying his head on soft her hair. The amount of stress she must have under was undoubtedly phenomenal, Harry realized, lightly stroking her back in a comforting fashion. His own introduction to the new world had been immensely difficult, and no one was even expecting him to know anything.

In time, Ginny's tears slowed, although she didn't pull away. Harry was just as glad; he was perfectly content to stand there and hold her in his arms. He closed his eyes and remembered the old world, in which he never would have considered hugging Ginny Weasley the way he was now. It was a little unsettling to discover how well they fit together. But this was the new world, and she was all he had.

"I'm sorry," Ginny muttered at last. "I shouldn't have..."

"Relax, Gin. I'm amazed you managed to let go as quickly as you did. I clung to him for a good fifteen minutes and hovered even once I let go. I was terrified that he would disappear."

"I made myself," she admitted. "It was strange enough that I hugged him in the first place. He's supposed to be my professor that I don't know very well, remember? I'm sure he thinks I'm daft. But I couldn't help myself. I never even thought about... I mean, the very idea seemed too good to be true."

He sighed and glanced around, making sure that no one was spying. "Yes, well, that rather describes everything in this world, doesn't it?"

"We have to figure out what's going on, Harry."

"I know. I just don't know how." His frustration was evident. "We can't even ask for help because to everyone else, this is the way it's supposed to be and always has been."

"I don't even know why it's different for me."

"I know why it's different for me," Harry said with accustomed bitterness. Once more, someone had chosen to meddle in the fate of the Boy-Who-Lived. Would he ever have a chance to be free of what other people wanted? Ginny's head rose from where it had been cushioned against his chest. A sympathetic look was written on her face. "But you're right. Somehow, the fact that you remember too... that does seem like the key..."

"The key to what?" James asked, poking his head around a tree. Harry practically leapt backwards. He hadn't even realized that he was still holding onto Ginny until his father made an appearance. A wicked grin spread across James' face as he said, "I had wondered if you two would like to join us, unless you're busy, Harry."

"I'll never heard the end of this," he mumbled to Ginny, sorry that their talk had been interrupted. She giggled and performed a quick charm to remove the last trace of tears from her face as they followed James out into the backyard. Harry's eyes widened when he saw it. Every inch of the Quidditch Patch was now filled with people. He caught sight of Orion speaking to Professor McGonagall, Sirius and Remus involved with what looked to be a heated debate, and his mother ordering Jon and Anna down off of their brooms. "Bloody hell. I absolutely hate parties."

"No one knows you're the Golden Boy," Ginny said quietly.

"That's true," Harry said slowly, glancing nervously in the direction of the guests. None of them appeared to have seen him. Yet. "But I've just awoken from that damned coma, right? I still stand out way too much."

"Can't have everything."

Harry directed a glare in her direction, only to realize that she likely hadn't even seen it. He had been spotted, and a wave of eager witches and wizards were bearing down on him to offer greetings and congratulations. Nervously and wishing that he were better at small talk, Harry spoke hesitantly to each for a moment. It did prove to be different from his old world in that, once he had talked with most of them, they lost interest and wandered away. The only ones who lingered for a few minutes were those close to his parents, like the Longbottoms – Harry nearly fainted upon coming face to face with Frank, Alice, and a beaming Neville – and a cousin of James' that he had never known existed.

It was a relief to spot Hermione and Malfoy, which almost brought him up short – since when was he ever glad to see Malfoy? – but he made his way to them and stood next to Malfoy, trying to catch his breath. It was hard to believe that even a Quidditch patch could accommodate quite so many people. Hermione smiled shyly at him, looking pleased that he had made the effort to come see them. Once again, her hair was styled to perfection, and this time her pale green dress complimented the gray shirt and darker green slacks Malfoy was wearing.

"Hello, Harry," she said.

"Hermione, Malfoy," he answered, trying very hard to look like he was not using Malfoy as a shield between he and the other guests. "Bloody hell, Malfoy, stay still."

Malfoy laughed. "You can't hide forever. Don't you want to meet them? It's been the talk of Diagon Alley for days," he said, sounding rather amused. There was no trace of spite in his voice as he went on. "My parents couldn't attend, but they send their regrets."

"Duly noted," Harry murmured, relieved that he would not have to play nice with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. "I'll have to meet them some other time, I suppose."

"Are you coming to Hogwarts in September, Harry?" Hermione questioned eagerly, changing the subject without warning. Her brown eyes were glowing and she suddenly looked very young and pretty. "I'd love to hear more about the coma curse you were put under. Magic is so fascinating."

A wave of warmth went through Harry. Here was his wise, curious friend at last. He had so hoped that Hermione was still there underneath the beauty, and it seemed that she was. "I will be," he told her. "I suspect I'll be going into my sixth year. I got a full education in my coma world, you know."

"Really?" As Hermione began to pepper him with questions, Harry took a quick look around. Most of the guests were now gathered in small groups chatting. He caught sight of Lily talking to the Longbottoms and James with Sirius fighting over something at the dessert table while an exasperated Remus tried to mediate. But he didn't see Orion or Arabella, nor Ginny, and he made it a point to scan the crowds for her. Where had she gone? Had she left? Merlin, he hoped not. They had a lot more to talk about.

"No, I don't know all of the professors," he said. "My parents weren't alive in my world, so the subjects they teach were taught by other people."

Hermione stopped and her expression softened. "You must have been happy to wake up."

"I was, for the most part," Harry said, his gaze flicking between her and Malfoy. The longer he stood there with them, the more normal it seemed for Malfoy to have his arm around Hermione's shoulders. It was a positively eerie sensation. "There are a couple of things that are different that I wish weren't. Ron, for example."

"You were friends with Weasley?" Malfoy asked.

"He was different in my world." Harry knew he sounded defensive. How was he to explain Ron to someone who had never liked him, no matter which world they were in? Even if it was the truth. Ron had always been quick to temper, but never to the point that he had been in this world. And he couldn't help recalling Ginny's comments towards her brother. "He was one of my best friends."

"You must have had an enormous effect on him, Harry," Hermione said, smiling.

The words "and on you, too" threatened to pop out of his mouth. With effort, he swallowed them, instead settling for returning her smile. Explaining how Hermione had been in his world didn't sound like a good idea, particularly when he studied her and realized how very happy she looked in this world. Harry dropped his gaze and turned again to look out at the Quidditch Patch. Had the Hermione in his world been lacking for something? Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his hair. Stupid question. Voldemort's presence had caused them all to lack something.

"Speaking of Hogwarts professors, was Professor Riddle in your world?" asked Malfoy.

Harry froze. "What?"

"Professor Riddle," Malfoy repeated. "Tom Riddle? He's a wonderful teacher. Really makes Arithmancy seem like a worthwhile subject."

"He doesn't teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Harry asked dazedly, trying to sort out his thoughts. Had he just heard Malfoy say that Tom Riddle was teaching at Hogwarts? Surely, the blonde must have been referring to another Tom Riddle. By Godric, he hoped so.

"No," said Hermione, shaking her head. "Professor Black teaches Defence."

"He has an expressed an interest in it, though," Malfoy observed. "But Dumbledore is happy with the job is Black doing. Plus I think half the female population at Hogwarts would cry if Black ever left."

Hermione giggled. "He is very popular," she said fondly.

"Not popular with you, I hope."

Her smile was sly, and she traced the contours of his face with a slender finger. "No one could ever be more popular with me than you."

"That's him, there," Malfoy said suddenly, grabbing Hermione's finger and pressing a kiss against it. Harry followed his gaze and felt the ground beneath him move. Tom Riddle, looking exactly as he had during the experience in the Chamber of Secrets save for a few years, had just appeared and was striding onto the grounds. But no one was screaming or running – indeed, it appeared as though Riddle was being welcomed, judging by the smiles he was receiving.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione said, alarmed. Malfoy quickly gripped Harry's arm to keep him on his feet. Harry was grateful for the blond's firm hold. "You looked like you were going to collapse."

"I'm okay. I just... knew him..."

"Oh," Hermione murmured, exchanging a glance with Malfoy. It was obvious that they thought he'd been close with Riddle and that the man had died. Harry was willing to let them think this. There was no opportunity to go into the real situation. "Maybe you should go say hello."

"I'll do that," Harry said weakly, his heart hammering in his chest. For he had finally spotted Ginny, and she was staring at Riddle with an expression of pure terror. Riddle was bearing down on her, heading straight in the direction of the redhead. "Excuse me."

Without further word to either of them, Harry threw himself into the crowd he had been trying so hard to escape only a half hour before. Several people tried to speak to him as he went by, but Harry ignored them completely. His entire focus was Riddle, who had the audacity to look as though he belonged here. He was now completely certain that Riddle – Voldemort? – had something to do with the coma curse, but he wasn't sure what. The only thing he was sure of was that he didn't want Riddle anywhere around Ginny or his parents and he hurried, struggling to push through without being extremely rude but aware that Riddle had reached Ginny and was now standing in front of her.

"Hello again, Miss Weasley," Riddle said, sounding surprisingly pleasant. "Are you alright? You look ill."

"She's fine." Harry burst out of the crowd and wrapped a protective arm around Ginny. Now that he was next to her, he could feel how hard her body was trembling. "It's just very warm out here today. Ginny, I think we should go inside for a bit, okay?"

Ginny didn't answer. Her face was ashen and she was looking at Riddle, but he could tell that she wasn't really seeing him. Her gaze was distant. Harry held her close and glanced up at Riddle, furious and seething at the fact that he dared to show up. What kind of game did the man think he was playing? As though sensing his thoughts, Riddle gave him a slow smile. There was nothing about him that gave any warning as to how dangerous he had the potential to be – if he wasn't already. Black hair, extremely pricey robes, calm composure... and sky blue eyes that just, for one moment, flashed crimson.

Harry flinched, breaking the eye contact, and wondered if that had really happened or if his imagination had gone into overdrive. He stiffened and turned towards the house, keeping his body between Riddle and Ginny. As much as he hated the thought of Riddle being anywhere near innocent people, he had to get away from the man before he snapped and said something he would later regret, or before his magic got out of control. Without a wand, he hadn't cast a spell in several days, and he could feel his magic cackling dangerously, just waiting to be released.

"It was nice to meet you, Mr Potter," Riddle said to his back.

"And you," Harry forced out, not bothering to glance at the man. He steered Ginny towards the house and inside, where the air was blessedly cooler. There were a few people in the kitchen, so Harry continued on, heading up the stairs into his bedroom and closing the door behind them. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the door, belatedly realizing that his own hands were shaking slightly. "Ginny, are you okay?"

Still looking rather shell-shocked, Ginny sat down slowly on the bed. "That was... it was him, wasn't it."

It wasn't a question, but he felt compelled to answer anyway. "Yes. It was."

"You shouldn't have left him down there with your parents, Harry," Ginny said, beginning to sound more like herself. Harry sagged in relief.

"I didn't want to, but I had to get you away from him. Besides..." He walked across the room and looked out the window at the party below. Would his parents be angry at him for ducking out so soon? "I don't think he could do anything even if he was still evil. I mean, look at all of the people. And apparently he's a professor at Hogwarts, so he's had plenty of opportunity in the past."

"As though Voldemort would give any thought towards innocent people," she said bitterly. Harry glanced at her. In spite of the anger in her voice, tears had begun to roll down her cheeks.

"Gin, are you sure you're alright?"

"I just... when I saw him, I couldn't help remembering the way he was at the Chamber." Ginny shut her eyes tightly and pressed her hands to her ears, as though trying to block out an unpleasant sound. "My wand in his hands... His plans to destroy you and everyone... The way he laughed when he stood over me..."

Harry approached the bed and sat down beside her, once again wrapping an arm around her shoulders. It was all the comfort he knew how to give. She leaned against him and shuddered, clutching at his shirt. "I hate him even more than Voldemort," she whispered, shaking all over. "I don't even know if that's possible since they're the same person, but knowing that such a source of evil originated in someone who could look so... so..."

"Innocent? Normal?" Harry said. He had been thinking the same thing. "I just don't understand. Riddle was born... Merlin, it must have been a good fifty years ago or more. By this point in our world, he'd already been Voldemort for years. How is it that he's here and that he looks so young? He looks the same age as my parents."

"Do you think he's still evil?"

His thoughts went immediately to the brief crimson glare. Harry knew for a fact, even though he had no proof, that Tom Riddle was still a dangerous and psychotic man. "Yes, I do. And he's no friend to either of us, no matter how kindly he might try to act."

"But no one knows who Voldemort is, here, and I haven't heard anything about attacks."

"That doesn't mean anything. I'm sure it took a while for the first Voldemort to work himself up to the terror he was." Harry shivered at the thought of it happening all over again. "He knows something. He made a beeline for you as soon as he came in. It's like he knew that you would be frightened."

"Or that you would try to come over," Ginny said, her voice small.

Both equally possible, and most likely true, he felt. "I hate the thought that he teaches at Hogwarts. It was the one place that Voldemort could never get to."

"Dumbledore is still there."

"Except now he knows nothing of the danger." Harry sighed. "Ginny, how did you know that Voldemort was still around?"

Her body stiffened slightly. "What?"

"In the letters that you wrote, you said that Voldemort was still here and that I shouldn't trust anyone who had been a Death Eater. How did you know?"

Ginny tried to pull away, but Harry held on, refusing to let go. She was blushing. "I didn't know," she admitted. "Not for sure. I was worried you would let your guard down in a world that seemed to be so innocent and be vulnerable if someone decided to attack. After all, who else could it be? Who else would cause such a dramatic change to the world? Because make no mistake, this would have taken a lot of power to do, to affect everyone. It's not just a dream. It's real. Tom Riddle is alive and no one knows of the dangers he could inflict. What more could he ask for?"

Harry tried not to show the affect her words had. Chills ran up and down his spine as he imagined the destruction and chaos that might be coming. "We have to stop it before he does anything. He won't do to this world what he did to the last one. I won't let him."

"Even in the new world, you still have a hero complex."

"Funny." Harry released her in order to stretch out on his bed. After a moment's hesitation, Ginny joined him and picked up his little stuffed animal. "Seriously. I think we have to watch him closely. I don't know what's going on, but... I want to know when he plans to do something."

"I wish we could ask Hermione," Ginny said, setting the lion on her stomach. "I bet she would know, or at least have some idea of where we should start looking for an explanation."

"She probably still would," Harry agreed. "But I don't know if I want to. That would mean explaining everything about Voldemort."

"I really hope you're not expecting a witch and a wizard to stand up against one of the worst Dark Lords in the history of world, Harry. That's a tall order even for the Boy-Who-Lived."

"No, but... They're so happy here, Ginny. I feel bad for destroying any part of that."

"You're not destroying that, Harry, he is," Ginny said softly, sitting up and look down at him. Her hair fell around them like a curtain. "I just don't see how we can do this alone."

Neither did Harry, but he didn't want to admit it. He just reached out an arm and pulled her down so that her head was on his shoulder. She protested the movement at first, but soon fell silent as he absently began stroking her hair again. It felt good to lay there with Ginny and not think about the menace that was wandering through his backyard with his family and friends. Harry knew that he would have to come up with a plan to figure out what Riddle was up to and soon, but just then his mind had gone completely blank. Perhaps Ginny was right; maybe it was time to let a few people – like Hermione and even Malfoy – in on what was going on.

Coming up: Ginny and Harry have a talk with Hermione and Draco, plus, Harry meets the rest of the Weasley's.