Summary: Betrayed and killed by the one they considered their best friend, Harry and Hermione made a different decision when they found themselves at King's Cross station. They chose to travel in a alternate universe and create a normal life for themselves. But of course as Harry Potter doesn't do normal he finds himself in 1962 in a world in which Grindelwald escapes from Nurmerngard and continues his war against muggles and Tom Riddle is the DADA professor. Not to mention that Voldemort is not happy being left behind and follows them in this dimension with an unknown plan in mind...What kind of destiny will they carve for themselves as they prepare to start Hogwarts as first year students? Also, a new prophecy is made...

Warnings: Slash, violence, humor, some Dumbledore bashing, swearing, Grey! Harry and Hermione etc.

Pairings: LV/HP, HG/SS

"talking"

'thinking'

/mental speach/

$parseltongue$

AN/ I'll respond to some of the question asked in the reviews at the end of the chapter and clear some things out ^-^ Also a big THANK YOU to Allanah-x for being such a wonderful and prompt beta reader. Enjoy the chapter folks ^_^

Hadrian scowled as a much younger Madam Malkin than the one he remembered, fitted his clothes. He cringed as yet another needle pricked his skin causing him to shift and be reprimanded by Miss Malkin for not "standing still for a change". Inwardly, he cursed the cause of his misfortune, aka Tom Riddle, that, after ordering Miss Malkin to make him three robes that should be, "black, with clean, crisp lines and no stripes or patterns, fitting, but not clingy, seeing that he's small and skinny as it is and it wouldn't do to make him look anorexic," abandoned him to the mercy of the seamstress and left to buy the other school related items that Hadrian would need, in the meantime.

He scowled some more, feeling his legs going numb for standing so long on the footstool, while his mind was going overdrive from all the information he received. He had to admit that the day with Riddle wasn't as dreadful as he imagined it to be, though it was a close call.

After Riddle apparated them to the courtyard behind the Leaky Cauldron, which was just as grubby-looking as the one from his memory, they entered Diagon Alley and Hadrian couldn't help but gasp, the alley not looking any less impressive despite the fact that he had already seen it many times before.

The narrow streets were crowded, as they always were at the beginning of a new term at Hogwarts, full of parents and children that were walking up and down the sidewalks in a hurry. The wizards and witches were all draped in different colored robes, some even having moving patterns on them, such as stars and moons. Seeing them Hadrian couldn't help but think of Dumbledore. Who would have thought that those awful robes that he wore were actually fashionable at some point in time?

He closely studied the stores, trying to pinpoint the differences between what he saw and what he remembered. Hadrian recognized some of the stores, such as Eeylops Owl Emporium or Cauldrons — All Sizes, but others, such as A Master's Apothecary, one of the biggest stores he had seen so far, that displayed bottles of various sizes and colors at the window labeled as bat spleen, eel's eyes, and other equally strange concoctions, were lost on him, not having existed in his time, although there were stores that sold similar products.

Hadrian followed Riddle towards Gringotts Bank, playing the role of a muggle-raised child and firing question after question about the wizarding world to which, surprisingly, Riddle gave patient and ample answers, even though he used a slightly patronizing tone. Hadrian was ashamed to admit it but he learned more about the wizarding world culture in five minutes listening to Riddle than in the whole seven years he had lived in it. Grudgingly, he was obligated to say that, though there was a big chance that Riddle wasn't all what he tried to appear, he was a good teacher that deserved his respect.

They finally reached a large, white, marble building that stood proud in the center of the alley, which Hadrian recognized as Gringotts. They climbed the few steps to the burnished bronze doors that were flanked, on each side, by creatures in matching scarlet and gold uniforms with swarthy, clever faces and long fingers and feet . 'Goblins!' Hadrian thought in glee, as the guards gave a small bow towards him and Riddle as they walked inside and, to their surprise, Hadrian returned the gesture with a nod. They entered a small entrance and continued to the next set of doors, that were silver and engraved with the now familiar warning:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Hadrian could only agree with the warning as he reminisced about the dangers he faced while stealing the Hufflepuff's Cup. One REALLY didn't want to get on the bad side of the goblins, Hadrian thought, suppressing a shiver as he politely nodded to the bowing goblins that were guarding the door, before following Riddle into a vast marble hall that was crowded with counters.

Behind each counter sat more goblins that wore nasty expressions, but Hadrian figured that he'd be just as moody as them if he had to spend all day around people that usually didn't have the tiniest bit of common sense, wore robes that could cause irreversible damage more sensible eyes and also had an ego so big that, were it solid, would block out the sun and start a new ice age. Making their way into the building, Riddle approached a counter with an available goblin.

"Yes?" The goblin asked rudely.

Riddle gave the goblin a contemptuous look before answering in a formal tone "I am here to extract 100 galleons from the Hogwarts scholarship vault in the name of Hadrian Fowl, by the authority given to me as a deputy headmaster."

The goblin peered down at Hadrian and, with a slight widening of his eyes (that Hadrian was sure only he saw), nodded stiffly calling for a goblin called Gornuk.

Gornuk led them into a small office where they were told to take a seat and wait till he brought them the money. Hadrian was surprised until Riddle explained that, with the exception of a goblin, nobody could enter the Hogwarts scholarship vault. The law was given several centuries ago when one of the former headmasters entered the vault with the excuse of taking out money for a muggleborn student, only to disappear afterwards with the stolen gold and never be seen again. Hadrian was pretty suspicious about the circumstances of the disappearance. Nobody crossed a goblin and got away with it. Well, except for him, but he didn't count.

Gornuk returned soon enough and gave Riddle a pouch of gold. As they prepared to leave Hadrian turned towards the goblin and, in an instinctual manner that was integrated in his system by the time spent with Griphook, he bowed and said "May prosperity shroud you like a cloak."

If the goblin was surprised by the proper custom he didn't show it as he also bowed, a little lower than before, and replied, "And may your cloak pockets always be full of gold," as he regained his upright position.

Hadrian turned around and was faced with the raised eyebrow of one Tom Riddle.

"Er...I...saw someone doing this when we come in and I...uh...thought it was the right thing to do", Hadrian said lamely. How could he forget himself at a time like this, he all but shrieked in the confinement of his mind.

"My, aren't you the observant one," Riddle drawled silkily, eyes glistening ominously. Hadrian only shrugged nervously. "Well then," Riddle continued, with a glint of dark amusement in his voice, "if you are finished shall we go to our next stop?"

"Yes, sir!" Hadrian responded a little too cheerfully. "Um, so, where are we going next?"

"Why, Mr. Fowl, that should be obvious. We are going to buy something that will make a complete wizard out of you."

"Sir?"

"A wand, Mr. Fowl, a wand. Only the most important possession for a wizard to have, second only to your life and magic."

"Wand, yes, how could I forget" was the muttered answer Hadrian gave, a feeling of dread overwhelming him. What if he received the twin wand of Riddle? What would happen then? But maybe he wouldn't get that wand. Maybe another wand would choose him now, seeing that he was, after all, a new person. It was a possibility. Oh, for God's sake, who did he think he was kidding? He was doomed already!

So caught up in his thoughts Hadrian was, he didn't even notice when he followed Riddle inside a rusty shop, through a shabby door that had written over it, in golden letters, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

He was startled from his reverie by the sound of a tinkling bell that rang somewhere in the depths of the shop, announcing their arrival.

"Ah, Mr. Riddle, good afternoon", greeted the eerie voice of Ollivander, a man that seemed to be in his late fifties with liquid-looking, silver eyes. "Yew, thirteen-and-a-half inches and a phoenix feather core, wasn't it?"

"Indeed, it was," replied Riddle politely, his voice containing a hint of respect for the man in front of him.

" A powerful wand indeed, one of my masterpieces actually. I hope it serves you well" continued Ollivander with a faraway look in his eyes.

"It does. It's nice seeing again, Mr. Ollivander," said Riddle with a small smile, bowing his head a little.

"Yes, it's been a while since we last saw each other, hasn't it", the man replied, shaking his head a little, as if trying to get rid of some unseen visions, before turning towards Hadrian.

"Well, hello there young man. Hmm, you seem familiar but I can't seem to remember your parents," Ollivander said after staring intently at Hadrian as if he tried to see his very soul.

"You wouldn't know them, sir. I'm muggleborn. My name is Hadrian Fowl, a pleasure meeting you," Hadrian replied softly, as if he was afraid of ruining the somewhat solemn atmosphere of the shop by speaking too loudly.

"Muggleborn? You seem so familiar though," the man murmured, taking in once again the appearance of the boy standing in front of him. He was a stunning child, no doubt about that, considering the stirring, natural beauty he possessed. A lithe body and ivory skin that was complimented by pure black hair that always seemed to drift down across his emerald eyes. Not to mention the graceful way he carried himself subconsciously, to which he seemed to be oblivious. All added to the feeling of familiarity he felt emanating from the boy that he couldn't put his finger on. How curious!

"Well, now, Mr. Fowl, I believe you came here looking for a wand. Which is your wand arm?" Ollivander asked, deciding to drop the matter for now.

"My right one, sir", Hadrian responded and so began the epic search for a wand. It WAS an epic feat as two hours and three minute later, after hundreds of wands waving on Hadrian's part, they were still at a loss about finding his match.

"How strange," said Ollivander snatching yet another wand from Hadrian's hands. "You are the trickiest customer I have ever met," he commented, although it was clear that he became more cheerful as the pile of 'rejected' wands grew bigger. Hadrian was, on one hand happy that his match wasn't Riddle's brother wand, which he already tried, and on the other he wondered if it was worth all the trouble. He never understood the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' better than he did while flexing his numb fingers.

"I wonder," Ollivander suddenly murmured, pausing on his way to the shelves that contained the wands. He fixed Hadrian with a piercing stare as if he tried to grasp his worth. After a few seconds in which he intently studied the young boy, Ollivander seemed to find what he was looking for because he nodded to himself and, with a determined face, marched towards the window that contained, laid on a purple cushion, a single old-looking wand. With trembling fingers he gently lifted the dusty wand and, with a wave of his hand, polished it.

The wand was simple looking, still, seeing it up close, Hadrian couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He knew even before Ollivander put it in his hand and before he brought it swishing down through the air: that wand was his match. He could feel it calling to him.

A surge of swirling magic erupted from the wand as he finished the swish, enveloping him in a rush of circling colors that combined above his head, forming the silhouette of an unknown mythical bird that gave a long trill before it erupted in silvery particles that slowly vanished.

Completely awed by what he just experienced, Hadrian lifted his eyes from the wand in his hands and, accidentally, locked gazes with Riddle. He almost staggered back at the intensity burning in those crimson eyes. Hadrian couldn't recognize the emotions swimming in the depths of the ruby eyes but the jolt it sent through his entire being was making him confused and, dare he say, excited at the prospect of the unknown promises hidden within.

Hadrian interrupted the visual contact with Riddle, though he could feel the man's eyes burning holes in his back, deciding to give his attention to Ollivander, who muttered "Unbelievable" and "I can't believe it," over and over under his breath.

Knowing that he would definitely regret asking and cursing his curious nature, Hadrian couldn't help but voice the question.

"Excuse me, sir, but what exactly it's so unbelievable?"

Ollivander fixed Hadrian with his piercing stare.

"You must understand, Mr .Fowl, that the wand who has chosen you isn't one of my making. It is one of the most ancient wands known to the humankind. Even I do not know its origins or the materials from which it was created, and it has been in my family for generation, since the first Ollivander wandlore that existed, actually. What do I know though, is that we must expect great things from you, Mr. Fowl. Great things indeed, though of the good or the bad kind, will be left for you to decide."

Hadrian couldn't suppress a shiver as he listened to Ollivander's speech, remembering receiving a similar one and how true it had turned out to be.

After they paid the necessary galleons, Hadrian almost bolted out the shop. He ignored the calculating stares that Riddle was leveling him at him as they headed towards Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

The shop looked like it had just opened, and didn't seemed to be even half as popular as he remembered. Miss Malkin, a young girl that appeared to be just out of the school-benches, was overjoyed at the prospect of a client and immediately started to present them various creations of her making.

After Riddle left, Hadrian become a child-sized doll for the overly excited seamstress and forced to try different clothes that Miss Malkin thought would look good on him. He tried to protest, saying that he didn't have the money to buy them, but he'd have been just as successful talking to a wall, as Miss Malkin waved his protest aside, saying that they'd figure something out when it was time.

Resigned to his fate, Hadrian decided to comply with Miss Malkin's request until the return of Riddle, seeing that he didn't really have a choice anyway.

That was more than a hour ago. Now, a beyond irritated Hadrian was feeling as though he could scream, to vent his frustration, when a different kind of scream was heard outside of the shop. One that sent jolts of terror down his spine.

Jumping down from the stool, Hadrian cautiously approached the window, trying to better see what was happening outside. Miss Malkin, who followed him as her curiosity got the better of her, let out a fearful gasp at the sight that greeted their eyes.

More than twenty man with masks were firing curse after curse at the passersby, the more frequent used being an AK*. It was obvious that they didn't have other purpose in mind beyond killing and that they didn't differentiate between man, woman or child. Hadrian felt sick.

"Grindelwald's men," was the broken whisper from Miss Malkin, as her face drained of all color.

Hadrian, on the other hand, didn't have a clue about what was going on. Sure, he recognized the name Grindelwald, who wouldn't, but wasn't he defeated by Dumbledore in 1945? But it was 1962 now, 'but in another universe, brainiac,' his mind sarcastically supplied.

As he was torn with indecision about what he should do, Hadrian watched as Riddle joined the battle, starting to fire spells at the attackers and he wasn't to above using their own weapons against them as AK after AK was fired from his wand.

His dueling skills were painfully obvious, for the ones found at the other end of his wand at least, and more than a class above his opponents', as he gracefully dodged and attacked, seeming to perform a deadly dance of sorts.

Using the fact that the attackers' attention was diverted from them, the parents tried to get their children to shelter, ignoring the painful throb their hearts gave at seeing the soulless bodies of their dear ones. They'll have time to mourn later. Now, though, they had to assure that no more would join them in death.

Watching the ongoing fight, Hadrian saw something that made his heart stop. A girl, no older than four -five years old, with white-blond curls, was right in the middle of the battle, crying her eyes out in front of a fallen body and nobody was doing anything to get her out of there.

Hadrian didn't have to think twice before he ran out the door. He ignored the desperate shouts of Miss Malkin, that demanded his return and continued going towards the girl. He knew that, considering her position, it was just a matter of time before she was hit by a curse.

He ducked and dodged through the curse exchange with an agility obtained in the fights against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He was almost there, when one of the masked man dodged a curse that was fired at him and the spell was now headed straight at the girl.

Tear filled blue eyes stared at Hadrian and he didn't hesitate.

With a speed that he didn't know he possessed, Hadrian dived and pushed the girl from in front of the curse. As green filled his vision the last thing he knew was the unmistakable crack of apparition...

...TBC...

AN/ Hi there ^-^ Firstly, I wanted to thank to all my readers for the wonderful comments and suggestions they left in their reviews. You have no idea how happy I am when I open my computer and I'm alerted that another review was posted. I become downright giddy ^-6!

Secondly, I want to answer to some of the wonderful reviews I received but to whom I was unable to respond:

To Natasha: Your reviews were a great source of inspiration! I don't know how to thank you for the time you took in writing them but I must say that they were a great help. I figured out how to make the past of Tom Riddle of this universe (which will be revealed in the future chapters, hehe) based solely on your reviews. Also you pointed a few things to me which I could have overlook if it wasn't for you so thanks a bunch ^-^ You encouraged me from the start and I hope my story will continue to entertain you and that you'll continue to help me with your suggestion *pleading eyes*

To Zana: Your suggestions for Hermione's counterpart were awesome and gave me so many possibilities! The next chapter she will return and her counterpart will shock everyone (or so I hope, lol) Also the things that you pointed out about Voldemort helped me enormously in designing what role he'll have in the future though there will be a long time till he'll make an apparition in Hadrian's world. Also your guesses from were the title came from- the second one in this case- and the name of Harry- both guesses- are very good! Thank you and I sincerely hope my fic won't become too cliche and that you'll continue to offer your advice and help me avoid such a cruel fate (lol ^-6)

To Rimma: I must say Rimma that the end of this chapter was inspired by your review ^-^. As you and Zana pointed out Harry's Parseltongue wasn't an hereditary ability but one that was acquired magically due to the scar he received from Voldemort, but as he didn't had said scar in this universe what was I to do but give him a new one? Can you guess who fired the AK that hit him...Oh, and please don't think that his connection with Voldemort of the old universe will be in any way affected. It is still active(or will be when Voldemort will come ) but everything will be explained later on. I have a little trick that will take care of all that but I can't reveal all my secrets now, could I? *grin*

Also, for those of you that wonder about the wand I'm afraid that most of its history won't be revealed for a long time. What I can tell you is that it plays an important part and that its, of course, related to the prophecy.

That is all I have to say for now. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and if you have anymore questions let me know in your reviews and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Next Time: Hermione and the sirious matters

Ja ne ^-^