Chapter - 20 - Arrival
Hermione was in shock. She couldn't what had just happened. She just stared at the spot Mary and Potter had disappeared and she knew it was all her fault. She was sure that somehow Mary and Potter had traveled back in time and they were stuck there forever.
"What is going on here!" came the sharp voice of Dumbledore.
Hermione looked at the headmaster and tears began to pool in her eyes, "It's all my fault professor."
"What happened Ms. Granger?" asked Dumbledore.
"I... I tripped and it broke… … I… I don't know how it happened."
Dumbledore realized she was in shock. "All of you please return to your classes immediately," he said to all the students crowding around, trying to get a glimpse of what happened. "You too Mr. Malfoy," he said to Draco who hadn't moved an inch.
"Ms. Granger, follow me," he said and took her to his office.
Once they had reached his office he made her sit and conjured some hot chocolate and biscuits.
He threw some floo into the fire place and called for professor McGonagall.
"Yes headmaster?" said McGonagall coming out of the fire place.
"There seems to have been an accident professor."
"What kind of accident?" she asked sharply.
"One involving Ms Granger, Ms Austin and Mr. Potter … About fifteen minutes back Mr. Longbottom came rushing to my office and went on and on about Mr. Potter and Ms. Austin vanishing after something slipped from Ms Granger's hand," he said.
McGonagall turned to Hermione and placed her hand on her shoulder. "What happened Ms. Granger?" she asked kindly.
"It was the time turner professor. I slipped and it broke near Mary. And then… and then they were gone and it's all my fault," she said and broke down sobbing.
Dumbledore stood up sharply and McGonagall looked shocked.
"Albus!"
"How did they disappear Ms Granger?" asked Dumbledore "Did any one cast a spell on them when the time turner dust fell on them!"
"Potter… he cast a cleaning spell and then there was a bang and they were gone," she said sniffing.
"Minerva, please take Ms. Granger to the hospital wing and ask Poppy to give her a sleeping draught. I will go to the corridor where it happened and see if there is anything I can do."
"Albus, where are they?"
"If the time turner worked like a normal time turner does, they are stuck in the past and we don't know how long back in the past."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Harry and Lillian walked down the corridor they went through almost everyday and yet they felt so out place.
"Where is everybody?" asked Lillian for the hundredth time.
"I told you god damn it! I don't know!"
"Let's go find the headmaster, maybe he'd know what happened," said Lillian.
"Maybe," said Harry, "Unless he too disappeared mysteriously."
They met no one on their way to the headmaster's office and before they knew it they were standing in front of the gargoyles guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Err… could you please let us in," said Lillian, "We'd like to see the headmaster."
"Students!" croaked the gargoyle in surprise. "Hardly ever seen one during the summer break"
"Summer!" cried out Lillian in shock.
"Have you lost your stone brain gargoyle!" snapped Harry. "Summer got over almost a month ago. Now let us through."
"Maybe you have lost your marbles boy. I am a magical creature and I'm never wrong. Now go back from where you came from, the headmaster is not here."
"Why you little…" muttered Harry furiously and drew out his wand. Immediately Harry collapsed and clutched his head moaning.
"Potter!" cried Lillian, "What happened!"
"Argh... can't you hear it!" gasped Harry, "Ahhh…!" A loud ringing noise was blasting through Harry's head.
"It won't stop!" groaned Harry collapsing on the ground.
"What did you do to him!" Lillian screamed at the gargoyle.
"I did nothing."
"Make it stop," gasped could hear his wand screaming along with the ringing noise. He could not make out what it was saying but he somehow felt he should conceal his wand immediately else something bad would happen.
There was a flash of light and the noise stopped. Panting Harry looked at the back of his right hand and saw the wand was once more just a symbol on the back of his hand.
"What happened!" asked Lillian again, looking concerned.
"Nothing," said Harry not knowing himself what had just happened.
"Nothing!" said Lillian incredulously. "You just felt like holding your head and kept saying 'make it stop' just because for the fun of it or was it to freak me out even more than I already am!"
"Maybe both," said Harry indifferently and turned back to the gargoyle.
"You son of a …!" Lillian began but never got to finish as the gargoyle suddenly jumped aside and revealed Professor Dumbledore standing behind.
"Professor!" cried Lillian in relief.
Dumbledore's eyes widened it surprise at the two students in front of him.
"Harry!"
"Yeah it's me professor," said Harry.
Dumbledore still looked like he was in shock and Harry began to feel a little uneasy. Suddenly he felt something was terribly wrong.
"What happened to you!" asked Dumbledore, "And what in Merlin's name are you doing here!"
"What do you mean what happened to me? I'm perfectly fine. And am I supposed to be somewhere else?"
"I… …" Dumbledore didn't know what to say. "Never a good thing," thought Harry.
"Harry," began Dumbledore slowly, "Why do you look like you're thirteen again?"
"I'm sorry, what!" asked Harry. He glanced at Lillian and she looked as confused as ever.
"Professor, are you alright?"
"Harry, which year is it?" asked Dumbledore, looking extremely serious.
"1993… … Why?"
Dumbledore took a sharp intake of breath.
"Professor, what's wrong?" asked Lillian.
Dumbledore looked at Lillian. "I'm sorry, but who are you?" he asked politely.
"I'm Lillian Mary Austin sir. From Gryffindor house?" she said nervously.
Even Harry looked extremely unsettled. He knew for a fact that Dumbledore knew everyone in the castle and there wasn't a single student whose name he didn't know.
"Ah yes, of course," he muttered. "Please follow me back to my office would you," he said and turned back and headed up the stairs leading to his office.
"What the hell is going on?" whispered Lillian. "How on earth did he forget who I am?"
"I have no clue," muttered Harry. They entered Dumbledore's office and took a seat at the headmaster's gesture. Harry took a look around the office and realized nothing had changed since his last visit and somehow he felt relief at that thought.
"Find anything different Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"No sir," replied Harry. "Everything's the same I guess."
"I see…" said Dumbledore. "Anyway Harry, Ms. Austin, do you remember the last thing that happened to you, before you met me?"
"Well, Potter and I were talking when we saw Hermione running," began Lillian before Harry could even open his mouth. "Then that Malfoy tripped her and something slipped out of hands and broke near my feet. Then Potter here did some spell and everything went black and when color returned to the world everybody was gone!"
Lillian said all this in one breath.
Dumbledore looked amused and Harry looked irritated.
"And this is your third year… correct?"
"What do you think?" snapped Harry.
Dumbledore was taken aback.
"Watch it Potter, you're talking to the headmaster!" hissed Lillian. "Yes, headmaster, this is our third year," she said hastily.
Harry was about to snap back at Lillian when Dumbledore cut through.
"Thank you Ms. Austin."
"Why are you acting like you don't know us professor?" asked Harry.
"Because I don't," said Dumbledore.
"What?"
"I don't know you Ms. Austin and as far as I know you are not in Hogwarts and I don't know you Harry, but I do know another Harry who is entering his fifth year and is now spending his summer break at number four Privet Drive, Surrey."
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"Harry, Lillian, it is my belief that you have by accident traveled into an alternate dimension."
There was utter silence in the room. The wind stopped blowing, the Earth had stopped revolving and time came to a standstill.
Harry and Lillian stared at the headmaster, their mouths open.
"In other words, you are in a different universe but the same world, with the same people in it… with minor differences," he said with a glance at Lillian.
"That's impossible," whispered Harry.
"Magic itself is said to be impossible by muggles. Yet here we are doing things they can only dream of! Magic is so mysterious that one cannot even imagine what is possible or not!"
"Or this is just a game you're playing or you're just testing me or trying to brainwash me!" said Harry, raising his voice.
"Harry!" cried Lillian.
"I am telling you the truth Harry, you can trust me," said Dumbledore looking concerned and alarmed at Harry's anger and mistrust.
"How do I know you're telling the truth!" said Harry, backing away to the door.
"Harry! Please stop. I can give you proof!"
"Stay away from me!" yelled Harry and summoned his wand.
That was a mistake.
The ringing sound came back with a vengeance. This time it was so loud that Harry immediately collapsed clutching his head and rolling on the ground groaning in pain.
"Harry!" cried Dumbledore. "What's wrong with him Ms. Austin!"
"I don't know!" said Lillian fearfully.
There was a flash of white light and Harry's wand vanished but Harry did not get up.
"Harry… Harry!"
"Is he alright professor?" asked Lillian.
"He's lost consciousness," said Dumbledore looking grave.
"Professor?"
"Yes"
"Are we really in an alternate universe or is this just a dream?" she asked hoping against hope that it was just a silly dream.
"I'm afraid not Ms. Austin," he said seriously. "I wouldn't joke when it comes to such serious matters. Though I am concerned as to what happened to Mr. Potter."
"It happened to him before you met us near the gargoyle. But he didn't lose consciousness then."
"Do you know why?"
"No professor," she replied while Dumbledore conjured a stretcher and placed Harry on it.
"He doesn't trust anyone does he?"
"Not at all," said Lillian with a laugh. "But that's how all Slytherins are. They don't trust anyone."
"Slytherin!" said Dumbledore in surprise.
"Yeah, Potter's in Slytherin. Why does that surprise you?"
Dumbledore was stunned. "In this world Harry is a Gryffindor."
This time Lillian was stunned, "Not possible," she said, "This guy is total Slytherin from top to bottom, inside out! There's no way he could be a Gryffindor!"
"Looks like our worlds are quite different after all Ms. Austin," said Dumbledore taking notice of the Slytherin crest on Harry's shirt for the first time with a troubled look in his eyes.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
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"So in your world Ginny managed to fight the diary and the professor's came and managed to finish of the basilisk and destroy the diary?"
"And Ginny is also a Slytherin in our world," added Lillian.
"Ginny Weasley is a Slytherin! Now how in Merlin's name did that happen?"
"What happened in this world?" asked Lillian.
"Well the first year was similar to yours except you probably don't exist in this world or you're not a witch."
"Oh," muttered Lillian in a small voice. That was certainly unsettling to hear.
"Anyhow, Harry, Ronald and Hermione become best friends."
"What!"
"Yes," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, "Harry was sorted to Gryffindor not Slytherin. And those three together have an uncanny knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Like me," said Lillian, with a smile.
"Like you," agreed Dumbledore. "They saved the philosophers stone in their first year much like what you and this Harry did in your world," he said glancing at Harry, who was lying in the hospital wing still unconscious.
"But in their second year Harry found out he was a Parselmouth and Ginny was possessed by the diary same as your world. But here Harry and Ronald found the entrance to the Slytherin's chamber and went down to save Ginny dragging Gilderoy Lockhart with them."
"They went alone? Without calling for help!"
"Yes, but sadly Lockhart tried memory charming them both but failed. His curse backfired and he lost all his memories. Harry then went on alone to the chamber and fought the spirit of the diary and the basilisk alone."
Lillian's mouth dropped open. "He tried to take on a basilisk alone!"
Dumbledore chuckled, "He had some help though, in the form of the sorting hat and my phoenix Fawkes helped him. Fawkes punctured the basilisk's eyes and Harry was able to summon Gryffindor's sword from the depths of the sorting hat and with it he managed to slay the basilisk, then destroy the diary and save Ginny."
"Your Harry… is he crazy or does he have an insatiable lust for danger?"
"I prefer to call it a saving people thing."
"Wow, I know what this Harry would have done," she said.
"What?"
"Use some weird spell to chop the basilisk into a gazillion pieces and then mutilate the diary so that it can never be used again or he would destroy the diary and somehow make the basilisk obey his command."
"You talk like it would be a piece of cake for him to actually do that."
"I don't know about your Harry headmaster, but this Harry is unusually powerful for his age. Nobody would dare cross him, that's the kind of reputation he's created for himself in the Gryffindor house and probably every other house."
"What about his personality?" asked Dumbledore quietly.
"Cold and indifferent to everything going on around him, doesn't like to show off, prefers to be alone. Does what he believes is right and no one else's views would matter to him. But if a person desperately needs help, he would help them even if it were a Gryffindor. Spends most of his time in the library researching god knows what and has an way of knowing spells no one has ever heard of."
Dumbledore was silent. He didn't like what he was hearing. It was like Harry was a cross between the Harry of his world and Tom Riddle too. It was like this Harry was standing in the centre of two paths. One leading down the path of Tom Marvolo Riddle and one leading down a path of greatness if what Lillian said about him was true.
"Looks like he's coming around professor," said Lillian suddenly. She was right. Harry eyes fluttered open and squinted through the dim light.
"What happened?" asked Harry groggily.
"We were hoping you could tell us Harry," said Dumbledore.
Harry looked up and took a look around him. He realized he was in the hospital wing.
"Donno," replied Harry. "One moment I am in your office and next I wake up here."
"Harry, you collapsed in my office and by the looks of it, it seemed like you were in great pain."
"I was!" said Harry in mock surprise, "Well, I don't seem to remember any of it. Last thing I remember was you spinning some tales about alternate dimensions."
"I wasn't spinning any tales Harry- you can ask Ms. Austin if you like."
Harry looked at her.
"It's true," she said solemnly. "I saw the date on today's daily prophet and its July 1995. Professor Dumbledore also showed me the trophy room too and your name is there in the fifth year boy's dorm in Gryffindor and… and I don't seem to exist."
Harry rubbed his forehead, "When if it were true, how did we end up here!"
"I believe I can answer that," said Dumbledore.
"Please do."
"This is your third year, correct?"
"Yes."
"In this world, in your third year Ms. Hermione Granger was given a time turner to attend more classes than possible by normal standards.
You said that something slipped from Ms. Granger's hands when she was running and it broke near you correct?"
Harry and Lillian merely nodded.
"And after that happened, Harry you did a spell to get yourself clean."
Harry nodded again.
"Considering how unstable the sand inside the time turner is and combined with the cleaning spell you used, instead of traveling back or forth in time, you were transported to a parallel universe two years ahead of your own."
"You're saying that Granger was given a time turner to attend all her classes, which, by the way is supposed to be an extremely dangerous device in the untrained hand and because of her stupidity we pay the price and end up in a different universe!" said Harry.
"So you believe me now when I say you are in a different universe?"
"Of course not, I'm just trying to understand what all you just babbled."
Dumbledore frowned at Harry's rudeness but Harry took no notice of it.
"What proof do you have?" demanded Harry.
Dumbledore sighed, "Do you want me to show you your counter part living in Privet Drive right now? Or do you want to meet your other friends whom to your surprise would look much older and probably thing you are crazy to believe they are your friends."
"Why would they think I am crazy?"
"Because you are in Gryffindor in this world and I am sure you know that Gryffindor's and Slytherin's hate each other by principle. Judging by the crest on your shirt, you are a Slytherin and in this world your friends are probably your enemies."
Harry was silent.
"You seriously believe I am in a different universe?"
"I don't believe, I know. I know for a fact that Harry Potter is a Gryffindor and is almost fifteen years old now. I also know for a fact that no one by the name Lillian Mary Austin has attended Hogwarts."
"So if you are telling the truth, how do we get back?" asked Harry, grudgingly accepting that Dumbledore was telling the truth.
"I don't know," said Dumbledore "There have been many theories about parallel dimension traveling but no one has ever been able to prove it. It has remained more of fiction then fact… that is, until you arrived here."
"But you have to find a way to get us back! We can't stay here. I mean there's another me here and obviously no one can know!"
"I know that Harry, but how are we supposed do something that no one has ever done before?"
"We came here when we cast a spell on the sand on us. Maybe we can do the same again and we'll go back."
"I thought of that, but if that were true you could end up in another universe which is not your own and you could forever be stuck looking for your own universe out of the millions that could be there!"
"You don't understand!" hissed Harry, "I have to go back!"
"Believe me Harry I want you to go back as much as you want to get back. But it will take time."
Harry huffed and clenched his fists.
"Now we have to arrange for a place you can stay and make sure Voldemort doesn't find out about this," said Dumbledore.
"Voldemort!" gasped Harry and Lillian.
"Oh dear, I forgot," muttered Dumbledore "You are two years behind this world after all."
"Voldemort's back!" demanded Harry.
"Yes," said Dumbledore solemnly "He came back this summer. You were there when it happened, I mean your counterpart was there when it happened."
"I was there and I did nothing about it?" said Harry incredulously.
"We will discuss this later Harry. Now we have to make a temporary accommodation for the two of you until we find a way to get you back."
Dumbledore then took out a piece of paper from his pocket and began to write something on it.
"Read this," he said, giving the piece of paper to Lillian and Harry.
"The headquarters of the order of the phoenix can be found at number 12 Grimmauld place."
"Grimmauld place!" said Harry with surprise. "That's Sirius's house!"
"You know about Sirius?" asked Dumbledore, surprised again.
"Err… You aren't talking about Sirius Black, the mass murderer are you?" asked Lillian nervously.
"He's innocent," said Harry casually, "He was framed by a vermin named Peter Pettigrew who lives in the form of a rat named Scabbers."
Lillian gasped. "That's why you wanted Ron's rat so bad!"
"Yeah," replied Harry, "But it's of no use now, until we get back."
"How do you know Sirius is innocent Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"It doesn't matter," said Harry.
Dumbledore frowned. He realized what Lillian meant when she said Harry kept to himself. She meant that he never shared anything with anybody and always kept his secrets with himself and no one else.
"Was Pettigrew captured in this world professor?" asked Harry.
"I'll let the others answer your questions once we get to Grimmauld place," he said.
"Others? Whom are you talking about?"
"You'll see when we get there."
"Get where?" asked Lillian.
"Grimmauld place," said Dumbledore. "Now step into the fire and say the destination clearly."
One by one all three disappeared in a swirl of fire and came out in the fire place of Grimmauld place.
"Follow me and don't make a sound, I don't want people to see a thirteen year old Harry when they expect to see fifteen year old one," said Dumbledore to the dimensional travelers.
He led them out of the kitchen and took them to a room on the first floor.
"Wait here, I'll call for you in a moment," said Dumbledore.
"Where are you going?" asked Harry.
"For a meeting," replied Dumbledore shortly and walked out.
Harry and Lillian exchanged a look.
"What do you think?" asked Lillian.
"I think we should find a way back as soon as possible. The more time we spend here the lesser are the chances of going back where we belong."
"What kind of meeting do you think the headmaster's gone for?"
"One in which he tells his most faithful followers about us," replied Harry with a snort.
Lillian looked at Harry strangely but didn't comment.
"Wonder if we'll get to meet the other you," said Lillian airily. "I mean at least one of you will be a decent guy… after all the other you is in Gryffindor."
"Ha, ha, very funny," said Harry sarcastically. "I can imagine what kind of idiot he might be."
"Awww come on Potter, I didn't know you liked insulting yourself!"
Harry gave her nasty look.
"Why don't you shut up for sometime please… your voice is like a nail being scratched on a black board."
"And you think you're the next Bryan Adams!"
"No, but I'm sure I'd fare better than you in a competition."
"Huh, you think. They'd prefer to hear a rat squeak than hear your voice."
"Whatever Freckles," snapped Harry.
Lillian huffed in anger… "Jack Ass," she muttered.
There was silence between the two for a while, but it wasn't to last.
"What happened to you when we arrived here?" asked Lillian.
Harry didn't answer.
"Both times your head started pounding was when you removed your wand."
Harry turned towards her sharply. He hadn't realized that!
"Must be coincidence," he said.
"And you became alright when you vanished your wand or whatever it is you do. I certainly don't think that is coincidence."
"Why don't you worry about yourself Freckles," he snapped.
"Just trying to start a conversation… jeez, you don't need to go all snippy…"
"Whatever," muttered Harry and turned to the other end of the room.
Suddenly the door opened and Dumbledore walked in.
"Professor," said Lillian, sounding relieved.
Dumbledore looked around and smiled. "Well I just had a meeting with a few members of the order and they have been informed of the latest developments."
"What in Merlin's name is the order?" asked Harry.
"Ah, my mistake, you wouldn't have heard of it … yet. It is a secret society dedicated to fighting Voldemort."
"How did he come back anyway?" asked Harry. "Last I saw him he was just a spirit in someone else's body."
"I will let the others explain everything to you," he said.
"Who are these others!" demanded Harry.
"Members of the order," replied Dumbledore. "Now follow me and you can introduce each other. I meanwhile shall go back to Hogwarts and see if I can find a way to send you back."
"Then I'm coming with you," said Harry immediately.
"No," said Dumbledore. "If someone saw you it would become problematic. People will start asking questions and ultimately Voldemort will find out and I do not even want to imagine what he would try to do."
Harry glared at Dumbledore but knew he was right. "Fine… I'll be a good boy and not do anything catastrophic."
"Thank you Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.
"Not," added Harry under his breath.
"I heard that," muttered Lillian.
"Great," said Harry, rolling his eyes.
The party of three entered the kitchen. Harry and Lillian had their breaths held. But to their surprise they found only seven people inside.
Harry's eyes instantly went to the thin long haired man whom he knew was his godfather.
Sirius too was staring at Harry unable to digest what he had just heard and what he was seeing.
Kingsley Shaklebolt, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Alastor Moody, Sirius and Snape too… who was looking very unpleasant at the moment, were the only ones present in the room.
"Your order has only nine people including you professor?" asked Harry lightly, breaking the silence.
"I thought Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Sirius could explain the arrangements to Harry and Lillian, I have to get back to the castle. I shall meet you all during the next meeting." He said and immediately left the room.
All the adults were staring at the two dimensional travelers.
"Are you hungry dears?" asked Mrs. Weasley, going straight into her mother mode.
"No," said Harry rudely.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," said Lillian.
Mrs. Weasley looked surprised at the familiarity shown by Lillian.
"You know me from where you've come?" she asked.
"Err… Yes, I spent half of my summer vacation at the burrow."
"And what about you Harry dear?" she asked kindly.
"Excuse me?" said Harry.
"He doesn't know you in our world," Lillian said quickly.
"Oh I see," said Mrs. Weasley looking a bit disappointed. "Well why don't you come along to the kitchen dear," she said to Lillian. "I'll fix something for you."
After they were gone Harry turned to the rest of the group.
"Forgive my wife," said the man sitting beside Sirius whom Harry recognized as Mr. Weasley. "This is how she reacts when she is nervous."
Harry didn't reply but just stared at Sirius.
"So you're Harry Potter from a different dimension eh?" said the man looking like he had been in a war too many.
Harry just nodded. He wasn't feeling very comfortable being in a room with people he didn't know… well barring Sirius.
"How do we know you're not a death eater in disguise," he growled.
"You don't," said Harry simply and got an approving look from the scarred Auror.
"This is so weird!" muttered Tonks. She scrunched her eyes and turned her hair long covering her eyes and turned them yellow.
Harry gaped at her, "How did you do that!"
"Me..! I'm a shape shifter! I can change into whatever I what," said Tonks brightly, her hair reducing in length and turning purple.
"Cool," muttered Harry.
"I think we should introduce ourselves," said Lupin. "I don't think Harry knows all of us."
"I know you, Sirius, Professor Snape and Mr. Weasley," said Harry.
"Oh… that makes things easier… the woman with the purple hair is Nymphado..."
"Just Tonks," growled Tonks.
"Nymphadora Tonks," continued Lupin. "Who prefers to be called only Tonks, the man with the magical eye is Alastor Moody."
Moody just nodded at Harry.
"And this is Kingsley Shacklebolt," he said finally, pointing towards the dark looking man.
"Pleased to meet you," said Kingsley in his deep voice.
"You too," muttered Harry.
"Well I have to go back to the ministry or Fudge will get suspicious," said Kingsley. "Arthur, its your shift tonight," he said and walked out.
"I better get going too," growled Moody. "I'll see you later, Arthur, Remus, Sirius, Tonks."
Snape left without anyone even realizing it.
There was another stretch of uncomfortable silence after Snape left. Nobody seemed to know what to say and everyone was feeling extremely weird seeing a thirteen year old Harry when they knew the fifteen year old Harry was in Privet Drive.
Harry wasn't feeling very good himself. He was stuck in some different dimension or world or whatever with Austin of all people and there were a number of people staring at him as if he was an alien from outer space. How he missed his private room in Hogwarts right now!
Finally the silence was broken by Sirius, who seemed to be itching to say something.
"How do you know who I am?" he asked.
"Sorry?"
"You just started your third year right?"
"Yeah."
"So how do you know who I am? In this world Harry finds out the truth about me at the end of his third year in Hogwarts. But you said you already knew me and you don't seem to think of me as a mass murderer."
"I got to know you at the end of third year? Back home you kind of saved my life before the start of the year."
"What!" exclaimed Sirius "I did!...How?"
Harry glanced at Mr. Weasley and Remus. They immediately understood he was uncomfortable around them.
"Well I think we'll see how Molly and your friend are holding up," said Mr. Weasley quickly. "They sure have been gone a long time," he said laughing nervously and dragged Remus out with him.
"Why don't you sit?" said Sirius.
"Yeah sure," muttered Harry and took a seat opposite him.
"How come you're not comfortable around Arthur but you are around me?"
Harry chose not to answer him but to ask one of his own questions.
"What happened in my third year in this world?"
Sirius was startled. "Well…" he began slowly, "After I escaped from Azkaban, I went to see you at Privet Drive."
He paused.
"I remember seeing you running from the house with your trunk. It certainly was a sight seeing you huffing and panting while lugging a heavy trunk behind you," he said with a laugh.
"I wanted to talk to you then but it was my horrible luck that you accidentally summoned the knight bus and boarded it."
Harry looked up sharply.
"Judging by the look on your face I don't think that's what happened in your world," he said quietly.
"No," replied Harry.
"What happened there?" Sirius asked hesitantly.
Harry didn't reply.
"If you don't want to tell me it's alright," said Sirius, a bit disappointed "But I hope you know that you can trust me."
"It's not that. I was just wondering how many differences are there between this world and my own," said Harry.
Harry paused.
"In my world… I was kind of attacked by the Dursley's and I retaliated with magic… … causing a lot of damage to them.
I ran from the house under my invisibility cloak and somehow managed to reach the park where I collapsed."
Harry took a deep breath recalling that night.
"I was hurt pretty bad and had almost lost consciousness when I saw this huge black dog coming towards me."
Harry was now staring into Sirius's eyes.
"The dog then turned into a man, much to my surprise and then I blacked out. That's how I met you and found out the truth."
"That's certainly not how things turned out over here," said Sirius with a laugh. "Though I am glad to know you caused a lot of damage to those pathetic muggles!" he said with a sudden grin.
Harry grinned too. "Glad you approve. The other you approved too."
"Ah… the other me… are you and I living together?"
"I spent my entire summer in this dump with you," replied Harry.
"And Dumbledore knew about that?"
Harry grinned again, "He still doesn't know where I spent my summer and I don't intend to let him know until that rat is captured. Speaking of which did you capture him!"
Sirius sighed. "No we didn't. He escaped the night you found out the truth and went back to Voldemort."
Harry looked horrified. "Is that how Voldemort came back? Pettigrew helped him!"
Sirius looked away from Harry. "Yes."
"Wait . . . If Pettigrew wasn't captured, that means you're still on the run!"
"That I am. But luckily Kingsley, the Auror you met is in charge of my manhunt and is feeding the ministry information that I am currently in Tibet," he said with a bitter smile. "The down side is Dumbledore doesn't want me to leave the house because he thinks someone could recognize me. And my big disguise is useless because little Peter would have told Voldemort all about me."
Harry eyes grew cold at the name of Dumbledore. "That man thinks he's doing what's best for everyone but he fails to realize that the others might want something else," growled Harry.
The only thing Harry forgot was he had told Sirius the same thing! Do not leave the house under any circumstances!
"He just wants to keep me safe Harry," said Sirius heavily "And he is right. I am a wanted man not only by the ministry but by Voldemort too… because if Voldemort captures me, he could make my Harry do anything he wants just to save me."
Harry's heart stung, when Sirius referred to this worlds Harry as his Harry. Right now talking to Sirius made him forget all about where he was. But that little sentence brought him back to reality. It reminded him how close he had grown to Sirius in the summer and how much he actually missed him.
"Anyway tell me more about your school life! I wonder if it's been as chaotic as our Harry's!"
Harry grinned. "How much has Dumbledore told you about me?"
"Not much. He just explained to us how you two had come to be in this world and told us you would be staying here for a while until he found a way to send you back. Though it took a lot of effort to convince everyone especially Moody."
"What do you want to know?" asked Harry.
"Well you are in Gryffindor that's for sure," he began but paused at Harry grin.
"You are in Gryffindor aren't you?"
Harry shook his head.
"Good lord, please tell me you aren't in Slytherin!"
"Sorry to disappoint. I am a Slytherin."
"How is this possible! I mean Lily and James were Gryffindor's and our Harry is a Gryffindor… but, but how!" demanded Sirius.
"It was the sorting hats choice not mine and besides I'm happy being a Slytherin, at least I'm not an idiotic Gryffindork."
"Hey," yelled Sirius indignantly. "Sweet Merlin," he said suddenly, "What if the sorting hat considered putting our Harry in Slytherin!"
Harry looked at Sirius in amusement.
"God I need a Firewhiskey," he muttered summoning a bottle to himself.
"Your reaction was exactly the same in my world," Harry said with a grin. "Only there was no other Harry there."
"Really? What did I do?"
"You offered me a sip of Firewhiskey."
Sirius gaped at him, "The thought just crossed my mind!" He paused, "Did you take it?"
"It feels like fire erupting in your lungs," he said, "Makes me sick actually."
"Hmmm! Wonder if Harry would take one if I offered him," he said thoughtfully.
The door leading to the kitchen suddenly opened and Mrs. Weasley came marching in. "Sirius Black, did you just summon a bottle of Firewhiskey!" she demanded.
"Err… no?" tried Sirius.
"Then what is that in your hand?"
"Oh this! Harry just offered it to me!"
Mrs. Weasley glared at Sirius who seemed to shrink in his chair. "Shame on you Sirius!" she yelled, "Drinking in front of a thirteen year old!"
"I don't see him protesting!"
"That is not the point! Accio Firewhiskey!" she said, summoning the bottle to her and marched back to the kitchen.
Sirius let out a sigh as soon as she had gone.
"Is she always like this?" asked Harry with a frown.
"Worse," muttered Sirius. "She's been at war with the house ever since she's arrived. Cleaning every room single handedly and making me help her too!"
"Why not just use magic?"
"Too dangerous," said Sirius, "God only knows what kind of creatures live in this house and how they would react to the use of magic."
Harry was laughing inside. They couldn't even do a little research and find a more powerful cleaning spell which could do the job within seconds! But he wasn't going to tell them . . . yet. He would have fun watching them clean this house barehanded!
"And she's also bringing Ron and Hermione over tomorrow, says she needs more help."
"No!" cried Harry.
"Sorry?"
"Weasley and Granger are coming here!"
"Weasley and Granger?" muttered Sirius looking confused until it struck him. "Oh right, you're in Slytherin and they're in Gryffindor!"
"Excellent detective work Sherlock," said Harry sarcastically.
"My god, here you are best friends and there you are enemies!" said Sirius with a grin. "I can't wait to see how they react when they meet you!"
Harry put his head between his hands, "I can imagine how happy Austin is going to be," he groaned.
"Austin? Wait . . . Don't tell me she's a Gryffindor?"
"She is," grumbled Harry.
"Then what were you two doing together?" asked Sirius with a mischievous look on his face.
"Arguing, and doing nothing what you're thinking about."
Sirius laughed. "I still can't get over the fact you're a Slytherin! I mean how can a Potter be a Slytherin!"
"You'll get over it. . . In about a months time," grumbled Harry.
The kitchen door opened again and this time Lillian, Mrs. Weasley and Lupin walked in.
"Where's Tonks and Arthur?" asked Sirius.
"Went back to the ministry, they had work to do," said Remus. "I see you and Harry have been talking quite a bit."
"Yeah, just exchanging details about each others worlds," he said.
"Lillian here has been telling us the same," he said with a glance towards Harry.
"Really, what has she been telling you?" asked Harry.
"Nothing much just the differences, like your house for instance and the way events have played out in your world," said Lupin with a shrug and Mrs. Weasley glanced at Harry nervously.
"I see," said Harry indifferently, "Well I better go to bed," he said. "It's been a long day and I need some rest."
"Do you know where to sleep?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"I'll sleep in Regulus's room," replied Harry. "I'm sure Sirius won't mind."
"But, that room hasn't been cleaned," she said helplessly.
But Harry had already left the room.
"Don't worry about it Mrs. Weasley," said Lillian comfortingly, "He'll manage himself."
"Oh dear, I hope he gets along with Ron and Hermione," she said, looking worried.
Lillian snorted, "I'm looking forward to it, and his meeting with his other self."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Ronald Weasley! You better get down this minute else we shall leave without you!" screamed Mrs. Weasley. "Hermione and Ginny are already ready and we are just waiting for you!"
"Coming, coming, mom," yelled back Ron. "Pig just won't get into his cage!"
"I honestly don't know why he calls his owl a pig," huffed Ginny.
"I can understand why Ron calls him Pig," said Hermione with a snigger.
Ginny glared at Hermione shutting her up instantly.
"Ronald!" screamed Mrs. Weasley again.
There was a noise of something falling and seconds later Ron was sliding down the stairs cage in one hand and trunk in another.
"Finally," muttered Hermione.
"Alright listen up you three," said Mrs. Weasley, "Here read this piece of paper," she said handing them a small piece of paper.
"The order of the," began Ron, but Mrs. Weasley shushed him.
"Talk about it when we get there, anybody could be listening!"
Ron and Hermione exchanged a look.
"Now get into the fireplace and say the destination. And when you get there I want all of you to stay where you are and do not wander off! Do you understand!"
"Yes mother," muttered Ron and Ginny.
"Good, now hurry up dears," she said, "We're already late."
One by one all the Weasley's and Hermione disappeared through the fire place and found themselves in the darkest of houses they had ever seen.
"What the hell is this place?" muttered Ron.
"This is Sirius's parent's house," said Mrs. Weasley, the distaste evident in her voice. "Now follow me quietly. I don't want anything unpleasant to wake up."
"Unpleasant!" squawked Ron.
Mrs. Weasley just shushed him again and took them straight to the dining room where Sirius and the Weasley twins were waiting for them.
"Sirius!" exclaimed Ron and Hermione together.
Sirius just grinned at them. "How are you three," he asked cheerfully.
"We're fine," said Hermione, "We've just been worried about Harry."
"Ah, Harry," muttered Sirius suddenly becoming serious. "Now that's a complicated matter."
"Why what's wrong!" asked Hermione, "did something happen to Harry?" she asked urgently.
"No, no," he said hastily, "It's not what you think."
"Then what?" demanded Ginny, "Why did you get all serious when we mentioned his name?"
"Because my name's Sirius," he said jokingly. Unfortunately nobody laughed.
"Err…. I'll let your mother explain it to you," he said sighing.
Mrs. Weasley glared at Sirius. She clearly didn't want to be the one explaining the situation to the kids.
"Oh well, you all better sit down," she said wearily.
"What's going on mum?" asked Ginny nervously.
"Well since you are living in the headquarters now, I think you all should know an outline of what is going on before you decide to do so by other means," she said with a glance at Fred and George.
"Yesterday there was an accident at Hogwarts."
"An accident!" exclaimed the twins.
"Let me finish," snapped Mrs. Weasley. She took a deep breath and continued. "There was an accident which resulted in the most unimaginable outcomes. Only Professor Dumbledore knows how it happened exactly."
"Hermione, didn't you use a time turner in your third year?" she asked.
"Yes?" said Hermione slowly.
"Well according to Albus, there exist an infinite number of parallel dimensions or worlds… and each of these worlds are similar and dissimilar to our own."
All the Weasley's were confused but Hermione looked to be in deep thought.
"The theory of dimensional traveling," said Hermione.
"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley, "Well, apparently there was an accident in one of those worlds which has resulted in a Harry Potter and another girl traveling to this world."
Everybody's mouth dropped open. Sirius was quietly sniggering at there reactions.
"Priceless," he said to himself.
"Harry's gone to a different world?" asked Ron.
"No you idiot, another Harry has accidentally traveled to this world!" said Ginny.
"But how?" whispered Hermione.
"Well there seems to have been an accident with your time turner. It apparently broke and some how they were transported to this world."
Hermione gasped.
"Wait a minute," said Fred.
"Hermione had a time turner in their third year?" asked George.
"Yeah," said Ron, "She was using it to attend three classes at once. Barking mad if you ask me."
"Blimey! Attending three classes at once! What possessed you Hermione?" said Fred.
Hermione blushed.
"This is not the time for this," snapped Mrs. Weasley. "Now I want you to behave yourselves when you meet Harry and Lillian. I don't want you to play any pranks or pick up any fights."
"Who's Lillian?" asked Fred.
"The girl who came with Harry."
"We've never heard of her," said Ron.
"That's because she doesn't exist in our world," said Sirius suddenly. "Harry is not the same as our Harry. In fact I didn't see any similarities between the two. That's why your mother wants you to behave because we don't want any tension in the house. There's enough as it is."
"But its Harry," said Ron, "He's our best friend!"
"Not in his world," said Sirius quietly.
There was silence.
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"You'll see, I really don't want to spoil the nice reunion," he said with a grin.
"What about this Lillian?" asked Ginny.
"She's nice, you three are best friends in her world so I'm sure you'll get along," he said gesturing at Ron and Hermione.
"What!" exclaimed the two together.
"And one more thing," added Sirius.
"What now?"
"They are in their third year."
There was another round of silence.
"They are in third year?" repeated Hermione slowly.
"Yes, you had your time turner in your third year remember? They seem to have traveled to a world ahead of their own."
"Amazing," murmured Hermione. "When do we get to meet them?" she asked.
"Well Lillian is up and Harry is still sleeping," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Wait," said Ginny suddenly.
"What?"
"You still haven't told us why we are here and what the 'Order of the Phoenix' is."
"It's a secret society meant to fight Voldemort," came a voice from the door way.
Everyone turned sharply to find a very much younger and healthier Harry Potter leaning casually against the door.