Chapter 21 – Settling in

"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 Harry Potter leaning casually against the door.

"Harry!" exclaimed Sirius.

Molly looked disapproving and the rest of the Weasley's and Hermione just stared.

"Hey Sirius," said Harry, "Where's Kreacher? I'm really hungry."

"Why do you want Kreacher?"

"For food… breakfast?" said Harry.

"Kreacher doesn't cook Harry," said Sirius with a frown, "He's a good for nothing house elf. Molly made some bacon and eggs though, they're in the kitchen."

"Oh, alright, thanks," he said and walked out, not even sparing the others a glance.

"Was that Harry!" asked Hermione.

"Yup, that's Harry of the other world!" said Sirius dramatically.

"He looks a little different," said Ron.

"Of course you idiot," said Ginny, "He's a thirteen year old Harry."

"Language Ginny!" scolded Mrs. Weasley.

"No, Ron's right," said Fred.

"What do you mean?"

"First of, he wasn't wearing his glasses, secondly he seems to be a little taller than our Harry at that age and thirdly, he looks much healthier."

Everybody gaped at the twins.

"What! We're very observant you know…" said George.

"Yeah, you have to be observant when you're planning pranks," added Fred.

Almost everyone laughed. But Mrs. Weasley was frowning at the twins.

"Wish you would use you're talents in better ways rather than playing pranks all the time."

Fred sighed. "Dear mother, playing pranks is a talent!"

"I agree!" said Sirius, grinning like a loon.

"Oh grow up Sirius," snapped Molly.

"Anyway, why do you think he's so different?" asked Hermione.

"Maybe those muggles he lives with took good care of him," said Ron.

Mrs. Weasley and Sirius snorted. "I doubt those kind of people can change in any universe," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Than why?"

"You'll have to meet him and kind out for yourself. I don't have a clue either," said Mrs. Weasley. "Anyway before you all start hounding him and asking him questions, I want you to go upstairs and chose a room for yourselves. There are three of them which have been cleaned and I want it done in 15 minutes and I want you back here in another 20. Do you understand?" she said sternly.

"Yes, mum," grumbled all the Weasley's.

"Wait," said Ginny suddenly.

"What is it Ginny?"

"If this is a secret organization meant to fight Voldemort, then are we here to help too!" she asked in an excited tone.

"No, you're here to clean up this house and stay out of everyone's way," said Mrs. Weasley sharply. "Now get going or else you lot will get no dinner."

All of them looked outraged.

"That's not fair!" cried Ron.

"Get moving now!" shouted Mrs. Weasley making them scamper.

-x-x-x-x-x-

The Original World

Dumbledore was having the worst day of the year. News of Harry James Potter and Lillian Mary Austin's disappearance had spread throughout the castle and now he had just received a letter from the minister demanding an explanation before the news got to the Daily Prophet and speculations of Sirius Black being involved spread throughout the wizarding community.

Dumbledore sighed as he finished reading the letter. He knew that the minister didn't want any trouble from the Prophet regarding his failure to capture Black.

Getting up from his table he threw some floo powder into the fire place and called for Snape, Lupin and McGonagall.

One by one all three came out of the fire place in a swirling ball of green flames.

"What is it Albus?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Well I called you here to talk about our current situation regarding Mr. Potter and Ms. Austin's disappearance.

"What happened to them?" asked Lupin, looking concerned. "All I know is that they were talking outside the charms classroom and then they were gone!"

"Please sit Remus," said Dumbledore kindly "That is why I have called you here, to tell you the whole story."

Lupin glanced at Snape and McGonagall, "Do they know what happened?"

"Yes," replied Dumbledore. "But that is not the problem. The problem is that people are asking questions and we need to come with a plan fast before anyone finds out the truth."

"But what happened!" asked Lupin.

"Are you aware that Ms. Granger was given a time turner to attend all her classes?" asked Dumbledore.

"No," said Remus, his eyes widening in shock.

"Day before yesterday, Ms. Granger slipped in the charms corridor and her time turner broke next to Harry and Lillian."

"Oh my god, don't tell me," whispered Lupin.

"Nobody knows what happened next but Harry and Lillian vanished and their whereabouts are not known," said Dumbledore with a sigh.

"You don't think they have gone back in time!"

"That is the only possible explanation," said Dumbledore. "And if that's what has happened Merlin only knows how far back they traveled too. The only thing we can do right now is wait and hope they find a way back."

"But they're thirteen years old! How in Merlin's name will they find a way back! It's impossible!"

"I know that Remus," said Dumbledore tiredly, "But that's the most we can do right now."

"Can't we get a time turner and try to recreate what happened! Maybe if we do that we can find a way to get them back!" cried Lupin.

Everyone was silent.

"Now why didn't I think of that?" muttered Dumbledore, sounding amused.

"Honestly," huffed Lupin.

"And how are we going to obtain a time turner?" said Snape with a sneer on his face. "Getting one for that Granger brat was hard enough and now you want one more, just to break it and see what happens?"

"We have to do something Severus," snapped Lupin.

"There's not much a werewolf can do Lupin, and personally I think we are better of without Potter."

"That's enough Severus," said Dumbledore quietly, preventing a confrontation between Lupin and Snape. "This is not the time to fight with each other. We have to give a statement to the school."

"Tell them Potter was foolish enough attempt a spell he had no idea about and he ended up splinching himself," said Snape irritably.

"Severus!" said McGonagall, looking shocked.

"Well it is an idea," muttered Dumbledore.

"Albus! You can't possibly tell the school that!" said McGonagall.

"No, no, of course not," said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eyes. "Not the way Severus said it, but we could say something along those lines without lying too much."

Suddenly an owl swooped into the office and dropped a letter in front of the headmaster and flew away.

"That was a ministry owl," said Lupin.

"No doubt from Fudge," muttered Dumbledore as he opened the letter. His eyes grew somber as he read the letter.

"What is it Albus?" asked McGonagall.

"Fudge is coming here today, in about an hour's time. He wants to know what's going on and he's bringing the head of the department of mysteries along with him."

"Will you tell them the truth?" asked Lupin.

"Of course not, I'll tell them what Severus said. Harry was attempting to do a spell but unfortunately mispronounced it resulting in their forceful apparition from the castle. They were found just outside the castle wards in a coma and are in the care of Madam Pomfrey. Their condition is stable and they will recover in time."

McGonagall frowned disapprovingly. "What if he wants to see them?"

"Nobody is allowed to see them until Madam Pomfrey says so. Even I'm not allowed to see them," he said. He knew it was a feeble excuse but then he had magic to make it perfectly believable.

"Oh alright then," said McGonagall, her shoulders drooping in defeat. "Tell them what you want but we have to find a way to bring them back fast else sooner or later the truth will come out."

"I know Minerva," said Dumbledore, "And I have a plan."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It was night time in Hogwarts and all the students were discussing was the disappearance of Harry and Lillian. The Gryffindor's blamed Harry and the Slytherin's blamed Lillian. The Ravenclaw's and the Hufflepuff's remained neutral.

But to everyone's surprise Draco Malfoy chose to keep quiet and say nothing about the incident! Most thought he didn't want to confront all the Gryffindor's together and others thought he was planning something big.

But all of them were wrong. For the past two days Draco was busy researching in the library, nobody knew what he was trying to find.

It was past nine and all the Slytherin third years sitting in the common room discussing what everybody was talking about, Harry's disappearance.

"Do you think he's going to be alright?" whispered Daphne.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Tracey, "And when he wakes up, I'm sure the truth will come out."

"The truth?"

"That, that Austin bitch was the one who tried to curse him and caused the accident!"

Draco rolled his eyes.

"I don't get it," said Blaise.

"Don't get what?" asked Nott.

"Harry's never done a spell wrong before. If there's one thing he's best at, its spell casting and I don't believe that he'd make such a mistake that would result in a forced apparition!"

"You think Dumbledore is not telling the full story?" asked Daphne.

"I don't know," said Blaise, "Hopefully we'll find out more once Harry gets better."

"Can't we visit him?"

"Dumbledore says no one is allowed to see them until they get better," said Draco with a shrug, "Very suspicious, if you ask me."

"Whatever, now I guess I can't ask him out to Hogsmeade."

All the boys stared at her, while the girls stared giggling.

"What!" exclaimed Daphne, "He is cute."

"Harry would have a heart attack if he heard you," muttered Blaise.

"And I'm sure he wouldn't refuse," she added.

"No, he would have shaved your head off and sealed your lips together," whispered Blaise to Draco.

"What did you say!" asked Daphne narrowing her eyes.

"Nothing, nothing, drama queen," said Blaise airily. "Anyway guess I'll go to bed now."

"Yeah, me to," said Tracey with a yawn. "We got transfiguration first thing tomorrow."

"Coming Draco?" asked Nott.

"No, I'll just hang around here for a bit," he said, "You guys go ahead."

"Finally," said Draco, as soon as all his classmates disappeared. He dug his hands into his pocket and removed the broken time turner he found in the charms corridor.

"What the hell is it?" he asked himself for the hundredth time.

He had gone through a number of books trying to find out what the object was and hadn't got a single clue.

Sighing he put the broken object back into his pocket and headed out of the common room. All this thinking was making him hungry.

He went back to his room and found Nott fast asleep. Trying not to make much noise he opened his trunk and removed a shriveled looking hand. Nobody would be able to see him that way.

Quietly he sneaked out of the common room and made his way to the kitchen. There was not a sound in the castle; it was as quiet as a grave.

Very creepy thought Draco, a shiver running down his back.

Suddenly he heard someone talking. Who could be out here he wondered and made his way towards the voices.

As he went round the bend he saw Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall talking in low voices. He could barely hear them but didn't dare go any closer for the fear of Dumbledore catching him.

He saw the headmaster begin casting various spells on the wall. He didn't have a clue what was going on but he was sure it had to do with Harry and the Mudblood's disappearance.

"There seems to be a large concentration of magic here," said Dumbledore, after casting a number of spells.

"What does that mean?" asked McGonagall.

"It means that Harry and Lillian didn't vanish at the spot the time turner hit them, they went through the wall."

"What! How is that possible?" exclaimed McGonagall.

"I don't know but I have a few ideas as to what could have happened now."

"Albus, will they ever come back?"

"They will. I can guarantee that," said Dumbledore confidently.

"How do you know that," demanded McGonagall. "Just today morning you were saying you don't know how to bring them back and now you're confident they will get back! What are you hiding Albus!"

"I know they will come back because it has to be that way. If Harry does not return from wherever he has gone to, Voldemort will win."

McGonagall gasped, "What does You Know Who have to do with this?"

"Minerva, Voldemort might be in hiding right now but he will rise again. And when he rises, we will need Harry by our side."

"Why would we need him! He is just a boy, a wizard in training."

"Minerva, you've seen the power the boy has, and let me tell you that he is only one who can defeat Voldemort once and for all!"

"What are you talking about Albus!"

"What I am trying to say is- Harry must come back because it is his destiny to fight Voldemort! I have been monitoring Voldemort's activities closely and he is becoming stronger day by day! You know what happened in Harry's first year. Voldemort's return was only delayed! Sooner or later he will come back and this peace we have enjoyed for twelve years will soon end and the wizarding world will be in darkness again."

"If you're so sure he's going to return, why can't you finish him off once and for all! Do it while he's still weak!"

"You don't understand Minerva, Harry Potter is the only one who can defeat Voldemort."

"How do you know that!" demanded Minerva.

Dumbledore looked into professor McGonagall's eyes. "Because of a Prophecy made thirteen years ago."

"A prophecy," said McGonagall skeptically. "Albus you should know better than to believe that! There are no true seers these days. All you will find are frauds like our divinations professor!"

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Come to my office," he said. "I have something to show you."

Draco pressed himself against the wall, his heart racing faster than a Firebolt as the two professors went past him.

He was so confused! He hadn't heard their full conversation but he had heard enough to make him go into panic mode. Harry and the Mudblood had vanished from the face of the earth and not even the headmaster knew where they were! And to top it off the headmaster thought the dark lord was going to return to full power sooner or later!

He ran back to the common room, hunger forgotten. He had to inform his father about what he had heard. His father would know what to do!

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The Alternate World

"Hey Mom, why can't the house elf do all this work!" complained Ron.

"Kreacher is not right in the head Ronald," said Mrs. Weasley in a warning tone. "Don't waste your time talking and concentrate on scrubbing!"

"This is worse than detention," muttered Ron.

"You said it," grumbled Ginny. "Why can't we use magic to clean up this mess!" she asked her mother.

"Because it's too dangerous," said Mrs. Weasley irritably. "One more word from you and you'll be scrubbing the entire floor instead of one shelf!"

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked Ginny.

"Don't know," muttered Ginny "Last I saw her she was in the bathroom."

"You saw her in the bathroom?"

"No you dolt, I saw her entering the bathroom."

"Oh," said Ron, his ears going red.

"Have you seen that Lillian yet?" asked Ron quickly.

"Yup, she was sleeping in our room."

"Oh! How does she look?"

"Don't know," said Ginny, "She was sleeping with the bed sheet over her head. We tried to wake her but she wouldn't budge. She still hasn't woken up."

On cue, Lillian entered the room. Her hair was in a mess and she was still in her night dress. Rubbing her eyes, she made her way to the kitchen unaware that there were four curious eyes following her movement.

"Was that her?" muttered Ron.

"Who else could it be?" said Ginny, "She's the only girl other than Hermione and me in this house."

"She looked really sleepy," said Ron with a snigger.

"And hungry," added Ginny, "Total Gryffindor material… did you talk to the other Harry yet?"

"No, mum says he's sleeping in a different room. She said he choose his own room and refused to let anyone share it with him."

"Huh, doesn't sound like the Harry we know does he?"

"Not at all, mum was mighty peeved with him but didn't say anything."

"So he's not in Gryffindor then," said Ginny.

"Why do you say that?" asked Ron, surprised.

"Use your head you moron. If he were in Gryffindor wouldn't he be friends with you and Hermione?"

"Not necessarily. Maybe we aren't such good friends in his world. Maybe him and Neville are best friends!" he said with a shudder.

"How come we didn't see them yesterday?"

"Don't know," he said shrugging. "Mum says they Harry spent the whole day in his room while Lillian was with Dumbledore."

"Why?"

"Don't know… that's what mum told me when I asked her."

"What are you two doing!" screeched Mrs. Weasley. "It's been half an hour since you started and you haven't even completed half the work!"

Ron and Ginny winced.

"Fred and George have already finished their work and you two are busy chatting!"

"We're hungry mom! How can we work on an empty stomach!" said Ron indignantly.

"You've already eaten Ronald Bilius Weasley," growled Mrs. Weasley.

Ginny sniggered.

"But I'm hungry!" he said, "We didn't have much to eat at all!"

"Yeah mum, we didn't eat much," added Ginny quickly.

Mrs. Weasley scowled. "Well go to the kitchen and eat your fill then," she said.

The two got up smiling victoriously.

"And after you finish eating we're going to tackle all the carpets," she said wiping the smiles off their faces.

"Well at least we can take our time eating," muttered Ginny, nudging Ron to follow her before Mrs. Weasley gave them anymore work.

"Why in Merlin's name is she on a crusade to get this house clean!" exclaimed Ron indignantly.

"She wants us to be working all day instead of causing trouble all day," said Ginny. "Take Fred and George for example, they've already taken a few weird bugs to experiment on for their joke shop!"

"They have?"

"Yeah, they wanted to test them on you bit I told them not to else you would go crying to mummy," she said, sniggering.

"I would not!" said Ron hotly.

"Yes you would."

"Would not..." said Ron, but his voice died out as they entered the kitchen.

"Hey," said Lillian cheerfully, munching on a piece of toast.

"Hey!" said Fred and George, "Lillian was just telling us about all the pranks we've played in her world,' said Fred.

"And from her description about us, we're exactly the same!" said George.

"Ha ha, now move away from the toast before I hex you," said Ginny.

"And that is our dear Gin-Gin," said Fred with a sigh. "The spitfire of the family," added George.

Lillian giggled.

A yellowish purple ball zoomed towards George making him dive for cover.

"You're not allowed to use magic Ginny!" cried Ron.

"Oh shut up you coward," snapped Ginny. "Any magic done in this house cannot be detected by the ministry."

"How do you know that?" demanded Ron.

"Sirius told me. Now are you done talking George?" she said menacingly.

"You see why we're scared of her," Fred told Lillian quietly but had to duck as another ball came hurtling towards him.

"Don't listen to these morons Lillian, they're nothing but trouble."

"And you're not?" demanded George.

"I never get caught!" she said smugly.

"I don't know how you got sorted to Gryffindor with an evil mind like yours," said Fred, hiding behind Lillian.

"You're in Gryffindor!" asked Lillian, surprised.

All the Weasley's looked towards Lillian disbelief written all over their faces.

"Why are you so surprised?" asked Ginny.

"Well, that's because, umm... you're not in Gryffindor?" she said slowly.

"I am in which house then?" she asked.

"Err... the same house as Harry," she said quickly.

The Weasley's sagged with relief.

"For a moment I thought you were going to say I was in Slytherin," said Ginny with a laugh.

"Yeah, fancy that!" said Lillian laughing as well.

"Oh by the way," said Fred suddenly, "Which house is Harry in?"

Lillian froze. "He didn't tell you?"

"We haven't even met him properly yet," said Ron.

"Oh, well, he's in..."

"I'm in Slytherin," said Harry from the door. He certainly liked to make surprise entrances.

The day could not be full of anymore surprises for the Weasley's!

"What are you doing here," said Lillian, narrowing her eyes.

"Is it a crime to have breakfast?" asked Harry coolly.

"No, but you have a tendency of showing up at wrong places at the wrong time."

"So do you," replied Harry, "In fact you like to drag others into whatever shit you're into."

Lillian was about to retort when Ron interrupted.

"You're in Slytherin!" he said looking absolutely shocked.

Harry looked at him and smirked, "Yeah," he said.

"I'm in Slytherin!" squeaked Ginny, looking thunderstruck.

"You are," said Harry, "Very popular amongst us too," he added.

"W-what?" stammered Ron. "Ginny is in Slytherin?"

Fred and George stared at Harry. "You're world is so screwed up!" they said together.

Harry looked at them coldly, "I'd say it was yours that is so screwed up. Honestly, how in Merlin's name was I sorted into Gryffindork!"

Whatever doubts everybody in the room had about the Harry's evaporated that instant. All of them came to the same conclusion; this Harry was way different from their own!

Lillian sighed. "Trust Potter to start an argument," she thought.

"And why is that!" asked Ron hotly. Whatever excitement he had about meeting a different version had just vanished.

"Why is what?" said Harry. He was enjoying himself, he had been getting bored of being stuck in this house and had decided to irritate Lillian a bit but was even more glad when he saw the Weasley's with her!

"What's wrong with Harry being a Gryffindor or wait, you being a Gryffindor..." he said, his voice dying out as he tried to figure out what to call him.

"Because Gryffindor's are dumb," said Harry simply, "And I know that I'm not dumb."

"Arrogant," muttered Ginny.

"Oh hey Ginny, Forgot you were here. I honestly don't know how a person like you got sorted into Gryffindor!"

"How does it matter?" she said coldly.

"Oh, how nice to see you all bonding," said Mrs. Weasley, who had just entered the kitchen.

"Oh we were just talking Mrs. Weasley," said Harry sweetly.

"That's nice to hear," she said happily, "Now are you kids done eating?"

"Yes mom," muttered the Weasley kids.

"Good then I want you to get back to work. Lillian, Harry, would you be a dear and help them out to get this house clean?"

"Yes," said Lillian.

"No," said Harry.

Everybody stared at Harry in disbelief. Nobody had the guts to say no to Molly Weasley. No One!

"I beg your pardon?" said Mrs. Weasley.

"I said no, I'm not going to waste my time cleaning this house," said Harry, "I've got better things to do."

That said Harry walked out of the kitchen, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"The audacity of that guy!" burst out Ron.

"I agree," said Fred, "Who does he think he is!"

"I swear, he's nothing like our Harry," said Ginny indignantly, "This guy is just plain nasty."

"Like Malfoy," added Ron.

Lillian quietly listened to there conversation but inside she was fuming. "Why couldn't that moron just be polite for once," she thought, "The next time I see him, I am so going to knock the stuffing out of him!" she thought venomously.

"Why the pissed of look, Lillian," asked George, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Oh nothing, was just thinking," she said, hastily.

"Thinking what?"

"Stuff," she said evasively, she didn't want to tell them she was thinking about ways to torture Harry!

Suddenly Mr. Weasley burst into the room. "Molly, emergency meeting. Kids, back to your rooms now!" he said sharply.

"Why," asked Ron at once, "What happened?"

"Ron, just go to your room now!" he said firmly.

"But what happened!"

Mr. Weasley looked at them solemnly and said, "Harry's just been attacked by Dementor's."