Chapter 28 – Through The Portal
Harry'' was bored.
He was lying on his bed playing with the portkey from the Mona Lisa. The portkey which most probably lead to the Potter's ancestral home... probably.
Sighing he got up and started walking around him room. He had been extremely restless since Dumbledore had floo called them and asked Lillian and him to be ready within an hour.
That had been four hours ago.
He could not come up with any reason that might indicate the reason behind the headmasters delay was beginning to get extremely annoyed with the old man.
There no doubt that the only reason Dumbledore would ask them to pack was if he had found a way to send them home. Harry'' thought about the time he had spent in this world and couldn't help but think it was all just a bad dream.
Getting stranded in an alternate reality, meeting a wimpy version of yourself, staying with the people you don't get along with, seeing yourself become what you'd never expect to become.
"Very bizarre," muttered Harry''. "But then, so is magic."
But it wasn't all that bad, he thought. He had managed to get what he would have never ever obtained in his world. A portkey from a painting that had long been destroyed in his world.
Harry'' couldn't help but feel this was part of his destiny. Maybe he was meant to come to this world. Maybe he was meant to get the portkey and find his ancestral home, where he might find something which will define his path yet again.
The way he saw it, life was just a path from one point to another. In between were innumerable twists and turns which lead to the final point and it was his job to navigate through all the possible routes to the end and survive. Entering this reality was just another route to the end.
.
.
.
.
"Or maybe all that is just plain and simple bullshit. Just like the afterlife is bullshit and destiny is bullshit."
He paused and held his hands behind his back and began to pace around his room again.
"Or maybe not. Maybe everyone has a fixed destiny and all that is not bullshit. Afterlife cannot be bullshit because of the presence of ghosts."
He stopped and let his arms fall limp.
"I have got to stop thinking about this!" he exclaimed.
He had a habit of agreeing and contradicting himself at the same time and then finally coming to a conclusion which he would contradict again and begin the process all over again. That is how he spent most of his time in Hogwarts. Most of his housemates simply think he is wasting time sitting idle when actually his mind is filled with ideas which are constantly being contradicted and modified until a solution is reached where there was no contradiction possible.
Harry'' would sometimes force himself to stop thinking the way he did because it would only give him a headache a few hours later. Even while talking to someone he would constantly think about what he was going to say and keep contradicting it until he found an answer he could not contradict and it would barely take him a few seconds.
Out of all the people that knew Harry'', Blaise Zabini, his roommate could say that he knew Harry'' the best. He knew about his elemental ability, his habits when he woke up in the morning, the things that irritate him, his ability to spot things that could not be spotted at first glance, the ease with which he performs spells thought to be difficult even to the students three years ahead of them. But whatever Blaise knew was only what Harry showed him.
Even he does not know Harry'' truly. He does not know what makes Harry'' truly happy or what are the things that would make him interested or if there were any girls he was interested in. Things like that. Like how Harry'' finds ancient runes the most interesting subject of all. Hogwarts only covers a fraction of what ancient runes was all about. But with the books he had found in the Potter vault, he had learnt about the art of creating spells, why each movement was so important in a spell, how each moment could change the spell.
He found practicing and learning new spells easy. But to understand the working of each spell was what captured his attention the most.
It was things like these that interested Harry''. Things that demand a lot of thinking, things that require complex thinking, things that could not be achieved by a common witch or wizard.
This is what Harry'' unconsciously wanted the most. To achieve things that normal people could not. To strive to be recognized for his own achievements and not for something he could not even remember clearly.
And it was this very nature of his that made the sorting hat place him in Slytherin and made Dumbledore extremely wary of him, for the last person who use to think like that ended up to become the darkest wizard in the history of the wizarding world.
But Harry'' Potter also had the elder wand, the wand of destiny and nobody but Harry'' knew what the purpose of the wand holder was. Nobody truly knew what the wand was.
Those who knew about only saw it was a weapon with which one could never be defeated in a duel. But they didn't know it would be unbeatable only if it accepts someone who had the potential to become stronger than its previous true master.
And the purpose of the person who would become the master of the wand was to destroy the creature called evil.
This person was Harry'' Potter who had accepted this responsibility at the tender age of eleven.
This is why he would not become what Dumbledore feared he could become. Simply because Harry'' firmly thought his purpose was to defeat evil. Not become the very thing he had to destroy.
If someone asked him why would be accept such a responsibility. It was because the wand had given him a purpose when he didn't know what to do with his life. When at the Dursley's his purpose was to survive, but after coming to Hogwarts there was no purpose except the one to do well in school and have friends. Harry'' felt out of place among the students at Hogwarts although he never showed it and then the wand had given him a purpose again and Harry had accepted it... even though it frightened him.
Dumbledore did not know it, but Harry'' was already the person he wanted him to become. The more Dumbledore tried to interfere in Harry's'' life, the more he distanced himself from said boy.
In a cruel way, leaving Harry'' with the Dursley's was the right decision to make. For if he had not, Harry'' would have never learnt to reach his magical core and access it in ways no wizard had ever managed before. He would not think the way he does now and would have never obtained the allegiance of the elder wand.
Dumbledore's original idea was to leave Harry'' with people who would not pamper him and spoil him. He did not realize they would hate, hit and isolate him. It was these very things that made Harry''what he is today.
If Dumbledore's plan had worked the way he wanted it to, Harry'' would simply be another wizard in an ocean of wizards. He would never be the genius he is now and would be mediocre at best.
This is what Harry'' was. He was hungry for knowledge, wasn't afraid of speaking his mind when required, was cautious when necessary, intelligent, powerful and still growing. He had learnt how to hide and control his emotions well. He knew how to survive and considered no one his superior. He took orders from no one and made his own rules. He always wanted there to be a purpose to life and he would do everything to achieve it.
A knock on the door, brought Harry'' out of his internal debate regarding destiny and fate.
"Who is it?" he asked in an irritable voice.
It was Harry senior.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"No."
Harry rolled his eyes and entered anyway, shutting the door behind him.
"I thought I said no?"
"Dumbledore floo called," said Harry.
Harry'' raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"Get your stuff down. Dumbledore said he was coming in half an hour."
"He said he would be here in an hour about four and a half hours ago, so I think I'll wait here until he arrives."
"And Mrs. Weasley has prepared an early dinner since the two of you are leaving tonight."
"I suppose all the redheads are down there too," said Harry'' with a grimace.
"Of course," said Harry. "You might not have interacted with anyone but Lillian sure got to know almost everyone here."
"Freckles is an idiot."
Harry chuckled. "She's friendly. Maybe you should try it, it's not very hard."
"Ha-ha, very funny," said Harry'' deadpanned.
"I'm serious," said Harry, "You just have to smile once in a while and not snap and insult anyone who talks to you."
"You're not serious, that's your godfather."
Harry gasped. "Was that a joke! Are you feeling okay?" he asked in mock concern.
Harry'' sighed. "Are you going to leave or do I have to throw you out?"
Grinning Harry opened the door and was about to leave but he stopped and turned back looking a little nervous.
Harry'' frowned. "What's with the look?"
"Err... Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else."
"Something other than jokes?"
"I wanted to talk to you about the scar."
"The scar? Why?"
"Has... has it ever hurt?"
"Has it hurt? Why?"
"Has it?"
Harry'' frowned in thought. "Just once. In my first year when I looked at Voldemort's spirit."
"It has never hurt since you arrived here? Or at any other time in your third year?"
"No, why are you asking me this anyway?"
Harry took a deep breath. "Every since Voldemort has returned my scar has this constant throb of pain in it. It's like a minor headache just in one spot," he said.
Harry'' was quiet.
"At first I thought it was a normal headache but sometimes I can hear his voice in my sleep. Initially I discarded it as a dream but it keeps coming back at night and I know its not a dream."
"Are you saying you're having visions?"
"No, not visions. I can just hear his voice. But then when I woke up yesterday, I knew I spell I had never heard of before. I looked it up in the Black Library and turns out it's a dark spell."
"What was it?" asked Harry'' with interest.
"I'd rather not say. It was rather... disgusting."
"Try me."
"Voro Iecur. It is a spell which..."
"Which replaces the insides of your kidneys with acid? Very nasty curse."
Harry looked shocked. And was about to question his counterpart about his knowledge of such dark spells before Harry'' spoke before he could.
"I know the spell simply because I've read a lot of dark arts books not because I want to use those spells but simply to have a counter to them should I ever have the need to protect myself from such spells."
"Oh... I see... But why?"
"That's a stupid question."
Harry looked down feeling stupid indeed. It was a stupid question.
"But why in your third year itself. Sure maybe I should be doing what you're doing, but I have a reason. What about you?"
"Did you really think a person like Voldemort would let you live after you deprived him of a body all those years ago and prevented his resurrection in your first year?"
"I never expected him to come back," admitted Harry.
"I did. You should always foresee all possible scenarios and prepare accordingly."
"I'm not you," said Harry.
"No, you're not. And you never will be."
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.
"Do you think you're the one who is going to defeat Voldemort!" asked Harry suddenly.
His younger counterpart scoffed. "That's a stupid question again. From my point of view I know I'll be the one to kill him."
"And why is that?"
Harry'' shrugged. "I'd rather not say."
Harry looked at him incredulously. "How can you think you're going to stand a chance against him! He's the most powerful dark lord in history for crying out aloud!"
"I know I can beat him," said Harry'' quietly. "I know I have the ability and power to destroy him and avenge the death of my parents. I won't allow my mother's sacrifice go in vain.
.
.
Can you say the same about yourself?"
Harry stared at Harry'' with pain flooding his eyes.
"Look at history," continued Harry''. "You and I defeated him as a baby. You fought him in your first year, you fought a younger version of him in your second and then in the graveyard and survived. Don't you see a pattern? You were meant to fight him and once the wizarding world accepts his return they are going to look towards you to protect them. The sooner you accept that fact, the better it will be for you."
Harry laughed bitterly. "Protect them? The same people who want me thrown in Azkaban because I told them the truth about Voldemort! The same people who would just love to spit in my face if I walked past them!"
Harry'' shrugged. "This is what I think is going to happen. It's logical. Voldemort is not going to stay underground forever. He is going to be surface one day and the common people will be looking for a hero to save them. Years ago it was Dumbledore and now it's you."
"I'm no hero," said Harry at once. "I don't even have a tenth of the knowledge Dumbledore has."
"Then do something about it. Stop doing everything Dumbledore and the rest of his puppets tell you. Stop doing that ridiculous house cleaning and start learning new spells. You have Sirius living with you and maybe you should ask him to train you and improve your dueling skills instead of just rotting in this house."
Harry just looked forward impassively.
"It's your decision. Follow a path laid out for you by someone else or make a fork in that path and make one for yourself."
"I suppose that someone is Dumbledore."
"Who else could it be?"
"Maybe we should get going," said Harry suddenly, not feeling like continue this conversation anymore. "Dumbledore could be here any minute."
Harry'' sighed. "Go ahead and call me when he actually reaches here."
Harry turned to leave without a word but was stopped again, this time by his younger self.
"Harry wait."
"What?"
"Why did you tell me about the scar?"
"Just wanted you to be prepared if it ever happened to you. You and I maybe every different, but the scar is common to the both of us."
"Maybe," said Harry''.
Harry shrugged. "You needed to know about it. You dislike Dumbledore too much to go to him for help if you ever have the problems I have with my scar."
"You got that right," muttered Harry''.
Harry smiled. "That's why I thought you'd appreciate a little advice about it."
"I do appreciate it but somehow I doubt it will affect me the same way it did to you."
"Why?" asked Harry curiously.
Harry'' just shook his head. "Forget about it," he said, thinking about Dobby and the disgusting blackish green thing in his magical core.
"Tell me something Harry. Have you ever had any problems casting spells?" asked Harry''.
"No," said Harry looking confused.
"Once I'm gone, ask Dumbledore if he has ever placed any magical blocks on you."
"Magical what!"
"Block. A spell to restrict use of magic. Dumbledore put one on me before he placed me with the Dursley's. According to him, I was quite powerful as a child and he didn't want me performing accidental magic around the Dursley's and freak them out."
"You think he placed one on me!" he asked in slight panic.
"I don't, but you should ask him anyway."
"You don't think he placed a block on me? Why?"
"If I told you, you'd feel offended," said Harry'' with a grin.
"Try me."
"Our personalities aren't the only thing different between us. I'm much more powerful than you too and I don't think you were that powerful as a kid for Dumbledore to have placed a block on you."
Harry indeed felt extremely offended. His counterpart made him feel like a poor excuse for a wizard. He had managed to the Patronus Charm when he was thirteen! He wasn't that weak!
"You talk like you're Merlin himself," said Harry, in an annoyed tone.
"Of course I'm not Merlin," said Harry'' with a snort. "I could probably be more powerful than him," he added under his breath.
"What was that?" asked Harry.
"Nothing."
"You know, Mary beat you in a duel, so I bet she's as strong as you or maybe even more," said Harry.
Harry'' spluttered. "What!"
"You know, the time you had to spend a month with her for a fist fight in the great hall," said Harry, now grinning broadly, their previous conversation pushed to the back of their minds but not forgotten.
"I'll have you know that I won that duel and it was Freckles who started the fight!" he said indignantly.
"Not the way Mary tells it," he said, grinning even more widely. He had found a way to unnerve the usually calm boy.
"She's an idiot," said Harry''. "I bet she couldn't do a simple disarming charm if you asked her."
"You know Harry''," said Harry casually, rubbing his nails on his shirt. "The way you talk about her gives me the impression you like her."
"WHAT! Are you out of your feeble little mind!"
"Its like Ron and Hermione. Though they argue a lot, I'm sure they actually like each other a lot."
Harry'' looked at his elder self in disgust. "You're mad."
"You're in denial."
"Say's the guy who keeps staring at Ginny's assets."
It was Harry's turn to splutter. "I do not stare at Ginny's... things!"
"Don't you think she has reasonably large boobs for someone of her age?" asked Harry'' with a smirk.
"Yes, I mean no! I don't know because I don't look at them!" he said putting his arms up.
"Sure, sure," said Harry'' in a patronizing way.
Harry growled.
"You know, we should be downstairs. Mrs. Weasley might have had dinner ready by now," said Harry.
"Lead the way pervert."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The pair reached downstairs without incident. Harry'' grimaced when he saw the entire Weasley clan in the living room.
Ron was sitting by the fire place talking with Hermione, Lillian and Tonks. Remus, Sirius and Mr. Weasley were having a conversation. The twins were sitting with the two eldest brothers hearing their stories about the countries they had visited.
Ginny was helping Mrs. Weasley lay the table.
"Psst Harry."
"What?"
"Look at Ginny," he said. "She's wearing a white shirt and you can practically see through them when she gets close to the light."
"I am not having this conversation with you!" he said hotly and made his way quickly towards the fire place.
Harry'' chuckled and slowly made his way to the arm chair in the corner of the room. He sank into the chair comfortably observing everyone in the room. His eyes landed on Remus and Mr. Weasley and he realized that Sirius had gone.
Frowning he tried to locate the man.
"Boo," said a voice behind him in an attempt to scare him and failed miserably.
"I was wondering where you disappeared to," said Harry''.
"I thought I'd try to scare you but looks like it didn't work."
Harry'' smiled.
"Hmm, you should do that more often."
"What's with everyone telling me to smile more?" said Harry'' annoyed.
"It makes you look good! Your dad had a smile that could make the ladies swoon." Sirius paused. "Well except for your mother and you have the same smile! It's time you used it. And in the process if you ever find a chick how doesn't fall for your smile, she'll be the one whom you're going to spend the rest of your life with."
"That's the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard Sirius," said Harry''.
"It may seem bullshit now, but five or maybe seven years later, you'll think back and realize how right your godfather was," he said with a dreamily look on his face.
"Five to seven years is a long time."
"Time flies, but that isn't the reason I'm here."
"Then what is?"
"I came to give a goodbye present of sorts."
"A goodbye present?"
"Yup, you see, you made me realize that following Dumbledore's orders is not always... necessary and I ought to make some decisions on my own even if the old man just wants to keep me safe."
"Glad to see someone agrees with me."
"Yeah, and I realized that me staying in this hell hole and rotting is only going to kill me."
"So what have you planned?"
Sirius cast a silencing charm around them. "I'm going to Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts!" said Harry'' raising his eyebrows. "Now there's a hot zone."
"Harry might disagree with me, so I'm not going to tell him until I reach there and talk to him face to face."
"May I ask what you're going to do there when you arrive?"
"Train him, teach him how to fight. Sitting here and doing nothing is not going to help him and he needs someone to guide him in a different direction than the one Dumbledore is guiding him in."
Harry'' looked extremely pleased. "You know, that's exactly what I told him not less than an hour ago."
"You did!"
"Yep, more or less what all you just said with a little more detail."
"What exactly did you tell him?"
"If he wants to talk to you about it, he'll talk. Else forget about it. Point is that I don't want him to lose the battle that is coming. He might not be me but he is me you understand?"
"You might not like him that much but you don't want to see a different you go down without a fight. Yeah I get you. But you should know that Harry will never go down without a fight. He believes in himself."
"He believes in what is right and honorable. He has absolutely no faith in his abilities and power. If he is anything or even remotely similar to me. Then I can tell you his abilities are far beyond what a normal wizard capabilities are."
"Are you saying you have powers a normal wizard doesn't have?"
"Don't ask me questions you know I'm not going to answer. All I'm asking you to do is make that son of bitch understand his worth and power. He has absolutely no self worth. From what I gather, the only reason he has been successful in whatever he has set out to accomplish is only because of desperation and sheer will power, but not belief in his own abilities."
"Do you know the extent of your abilities?" asked Sirius.
Harry'' looked at Sirius is the eye. "What do you think?" he counter questioned.
"I think you do."
"You thought right."
"So when we went to Paris, did you have a back up plan?"
Harry'' paused and then smiled. "In a way, yes."
Sirius laughed. "You're a curious boy Harry'', and extremely mature for a boy of your age."
Harry'' shrugged. "I do my best."
"But let's put these things aside. I came here to give you a gift."
Harry'' leaned back in his chair.
"Lean forward dammit."
"So it's knowledge then," said Harry'' leaning forward.
"Not exactly. Tell me have you ever heard of the book, the marauders secret to failure?"
"The marauders secret to what!"
"Failure," said Sirius with a grin. "A catchy title don't you think?"
"Would certainly keep me away from it," he said.
"Or make you insanely curious as to what it could contain," added Sirius.
Harry'' nodded. "I see your point. So what about it?"
Sirius's grin grew wider. "Have you ever considered becoming an animagus?"
"Whatever it was Harry'' was expecting, it certainly wasn't this. "Become an animagus!" he said in shock.
"That's what I said."
"Well, I might have thought about it once or twice," he said with a frown. "I do have a book which as detailed explanation about becoming one though."
Sirius scoffed. "We had books too, but trust me, no book is like the marauders book of failure. Ask your Sirius about it and ask him to give you a clue to its location."
"You aren't going to give it to me!"
"Of course not. All our marauder stuff except for the cloak was hidden in Hogwarts. The map was in Filch's office and the book elsewhere."
"Speaking of the map, I got to somehow get it from the twins in my world."
"Good luck with that Harry'' and don't forget to ask me about the clue."
"Are you going to tell Harry about it?"
"Maybe when I get to..." Sirius suddenly froze.
"What is it?"
"Food," he said in a trance like state and hurried to the table.
Harry'' looked in the direction Sirius went and saw Mrs. Weasley carrying a huge chicken along with a dozen delicacies floating behind her.
"Food," whispered Harry'' in a trance like state and hurried in same direction as Sirius.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Dumbledore was tired and irritated.
He had spent the whole evening with Minister Fudge and his undersecretary showing them around the castle while they inspected it and six hours later they were still there sitting in his office sipping a cup of tea.
"Here's the thing Dumbledore. While the castle is in marvelous shape, you still haven't found a professor for the Defense against the Dark Arts post."
"I assure you minister, that I am still looking for one and I'm quite close to obtaining one."
"Well you see, that is the problem. Every professor you have hired has either had a disability or has been a murderer or has been a dark creature."
"If you are referring to Professor Lupin, then let me tell you he was one of the finest professors this school has had the honor of hiring.
"Hem, hem."
"Yes, Dolores?" he asked politely while wanting to transfigure her into a toad and throw her in the lake. Maybe the giant squid could do everyone a favor and consume her.
"Professor Lupin has had one of the worst records in the history of this school. Added to that, he was a dark creature and a danger to every student in this prestigious school."
"May I inquire as to who submitted the report on Professor Lupin?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.
"It was Lucius Malfoy, headmaster."
"And is Lucius Malfoy not suspended as a member of the board of directors?"
"He is."
"Then I wonder as to how a suspended member was allowed to write a report on Professor Lupin and why did the ministry accept it?"
"How the ministry functions is none of your concern Dumbledore," snapped Fudge turning red. "We are basically here to assign Dolores Umbridge as the new Dark arts professor."
"You mean Defense against the dark arts don't you Minister," mocked Dumbledore.
"Yes, of course. Since you have been unable to find a teacher with only a week remaining for term to begin. The ministry will be appointing a qualified employee from the ministry and Dolores Umbridge meets the necessary qualifications."
"Forgive me, but did you not receive a T in your defense owl undersecretary?"
Umbridge turned red. "I believe you are mistaken headmaster. Here is my OWL and NEWT results," she said handing him a sheet of paper. And sure enough there were two bright O's beside the DADA in both sheets."
"I might be mistaken but I am sure you did not select DADA in after your OWL Dolores. I also have the Hogwarts records to prove it."
"Then the Hogwarts records are wrong!" said Fudge forcefully. "Dolores Umbridge is the new DADA professor and the sooner you accept it the better it will be for all of us."
"Then perhaps you will allow me to test her," said Dumbledore with steel in his voice.
"She has already been tested at the ministry."
"I believe that the headmaster has final authority over all appointments of professors in this school."
"Educational Decree Number 18 overrules the authority of the headmaster."
Dumbledore frowned. "I am unfamiliar with educational decree number 18."
Fudge grinned victoriously. "I was enforced just yesterday headmaster. It basically allows the ministry to have final say in the appointment of any professor at Hogwarts and in this case Dolores. Good day headmaster. Dolores will be here at the start of term," he said and walked out with the undersecretary right behind his heels.
"Merlin save this school," said Dumbledore with a sigh. As soon as the wards signaled their departure, he carefully dismantled all the listening charms Umbridge had tried to place when she thought he wasn't watching.
Once that was done, he opened his drawer and removed two vial of glittering sand and slipped it into his pocket. IT had taken him barely fifteen minutes to break into the department of mysteries andborrow a time turner.
He then threw a pinch of floo powder said the required address and vanished in a swirl of green flames.
When Dumbledore arrived at Number 12 Grimmauld place, he expected to find a cheery dinner taking place, not find Mrs. Weasley yelling and screaming at her two youngest, Sirius, Remus and Mr. Weasley attempting to put out flames from a burning table and Ms. Austin apologizing to anyone who'd listen to her.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on here?" he said out loud.
All movement seized for a moment before resuming again.
Dumbledore was perplexed.
Suddenly Mrs. Weasley shrieked loudly. "It's the headmaster!"
Thank you for acknowledging my presence Molly. Now can someone please explain what happened here, Remus?
Remus sighed. "I'm not really sure what happened headmaster. But it all started with a food fight between Ron and Ginny."
"Oh dear," said Dumbledore.
"I think Ronald here first tried hitting Hermione with a pea but missed and hit his younger sister who as we all know as a temper to match Molly's retaliated by throwing a piece of chicken leg that smacked him on the nose. Ron here got angry too and threw a scoop of ice cream that hit Ms. Austin in the face and that's when it gets weird."
"What do you mean?"
"Well Mary tried to avoid the ice cream by leaning back. But it did hit her and she fell back and the whole table suddenly caught fire!" said Fred.
Dumbledore frowned.
"The weirdest thing is that the table caught fire because a fire ball came out of her hands when she fell."
"A fire ball!"
"Yes! Harry'' here says that it's accidental magic and she has always had a severe reaction to cold things. But I don't think accidental magic can happen at the age of thirteen."
Dumbledore looked around and found Harry'' sitting on the couch with his legs stretched out eating a large bowl of chocolate ice cream."
"Has this happened before, Harry''?" he asked.
Harry'' looked up lazily. "How does it matter? You're here to take us back aren't you?" He glanced at Lillian who was looking quite nervous.
"That is right," replied Dumbledore.
Harry'' stood up, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's roll!"
Dumbledore rubbed his forehead. "I'm sure everyone would like to know what happened here Harry''."
"And I want to get out of here as soon as possible and I'm sure Freckles feels the same way. The fire thing has happened before and our Dumbledore knows about it."
"Do you know why it happens Ms. Austin?"
"It's accidental magic professor," she said following Harry'' strategy. "Our Dumbledore says it's because err… my magic hasn't quite matured yet and these incidents might keep happening."
Harry'' applauded Lillian in his mind.
"I see," said Dumbledore quietly.
Harry'' moved to Lillian's side. " Now can we leave professor?"
Dumbledore nodded, the twinkle back in his eye. "I'm sure you'd like to say good bye to everyone."
"Goodbye Bitches," said Harry''.
There were gasps of outrage and a few wands pulled out which immediately went back with a glare from Mrs. Weasley. Lillian simply rolled her eyes and went and hugged Hermione, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm going to miss you all," she said tearfully.
"Oh for Christ's sake," muttered Harry''.
"What don't we get a hug?" said Harry in mock sadness.
"No, you guys stink."
Ron gasped, "No we don't!"
Lillian laughed. "Just kidding." She went and hugged both Harry and Ron and said bye to everyone else.
"Set your Potter's arse on fire for us Mary," shouted the twins.
Harry'' was getting really impatient and sickened by all the drama.
"Well, goodbye then," she said again, walking over to Dumbledore who was standing next to the fire place.
"Just say Hogwarts Ms. Austin and you'll be taken to my office," said Dumbledore handing a little floo powder to Lillian and then to Harry''.
"Hogwarts!" shouted Lillian and vanished in a blaze of green fire.
Dumbledore motioned Harry'' to go ahead.
"After you headmaster," said Harry'' politely.
Dumbledore frowned and then nodded and he too vanished.
Harry'' turned around and faced the crowd in the room and the few who were looking at him with disdain.
"Well bye then, hope we never see each other again," he said with a smirk.
"Get out of here Potter," said Ron.
Harry'' smiled again and suddenly Harry felt extremely wary.
He then raised his hands and waved. Surprised by this gesture they others waved back but then their eyes widened in horror as they saw copious amounts of water gathering around Harry's'' hands.
There were a few screams and shouts filled with panic as the water hit them like a punch in the gut.
And when the water receded Harry'' Potter was no where to be seen.
"What the hell was that!" said Ron spitting water out of his mouth looking extremely shaken.
"He, he did it without his wand," muttered Hermione in awe and confusion.
Everybody was helping each one and the other to their feet each looking confused and shook up.
Harry went to help Ginny and stopped in his tracks. Ginny was wearing a white T-shirt and wet white T-shirts on girls without bra equals to transparent white T-shirt on said girl.
Harry swallowed a gulp and tried to keep his gaze on Ginny's face. He could practically feel the heat in his face and kept screaming in his mind, "That's Ron's baby sister! That's Ron's baby sister."
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Ginny, walking up to him looking concerned.
"Yeah… umm... I'm fine!" squeaked Harry.
"You sure? You look quite... red?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shook up that's all," he said with a nervous laugh.
"Aren't we all," she said.
"Err... maybe we should go and change don't you think?" said Harry looking down once again and cursing himself.
Ginny scoffed. "Are you a wizard or what?" she said. She quickly checked to see if her mother was looking and quickly cast a drying charm on Harry and her.
Harry gave a huge sigh a relief.
"Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," she said with a grin and went off to help her mother with the rest of the cleaning.
"Had a nice view?" said a low voice from behind him.
He turned around cracking his neck and saw it was Sirius, much to his relief.
"Sirius! I don't know what you're talking about."
Sirius simply winked at him. "Don't worry," he said, "Your hormones are going to start going crazy. You're fifteen you know."
"So?"
"Get a girlfriend and have a good snog," he said. "You'll feel much better."
Harry blushed. "I'm not much of a ladies man Sirius. I think there are more important things to do rather then go looking for a girlfriend."
Sirius scoffed. "When you go to Hogwarts, ask some hot chick out on a date to Hogsmeade and you'll end up in a broom cupboard feeling like it's the most important thing in the world."
Harry stared at Sirius.
"It could be Ginny too you know," he said with a wink.
Harry removed his shoe and threw it at Sirius.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Harry'' fell out of the floo feeling extremely sick. Fire travel or anything to do with fire always made his sick.
"Are you alright Mr. Potter?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Harry''.
"Sit down," he said gesturing to the empty chair next to Lillian.
"Aren't we going to the charms corridor?"
"There are a few things I need to explain first."
Harry'' sat.
"A few weeks after you arrived a letter came out of the portal you two came through and it was addressed to me from me." That was a lie. The letter had arrived long before their arrival but they needn't know that.
"It was a letter from your Dumbledore who had somehow managed to discover the portal and send the letter to me by recreating the way you ended up here."
"So?"
"He explained to me how to send you back and the risks that went with them."
"Risk?" said Lillian.
"Yes, you should know that there are infinite number of alternate dimensions and going through the portal could dump you in anyone of them. But the letter your Dumbledore sent me had your spectacles attached to it so I'm assuming there is a link between you and your world that made sure the letter ended up in this reality."
"So if we go through the portal, it is likely that we could end up in another alternate world," said Lillian.
"Yes, but most likely you will end up in your own because the link should work both ways. If a letter could find you then you should be able to get back to your world."
"So what's the problem?" asked Harry''.
"When you go through the portal, I want you both to concentrate on getting back to your own world and concentrate hard. We know nothing about this portal and if by any chance it can sense the desire of the traveler, it might just lead to the world you want it to lead you to."
"What if we end up in another world? Then what?" asked Lillian.
"That is why I'm giving you this," he said and pulled out the vial of the time sand.
"If you end up in a world not you own, use this and get out of there."
He handed the vial to Harry''.
"So we're going to leave the same way we came. With time sand and a spell," said Harry''.
"Yes."
"Quite simple. Can't believe it took you that long to figure it out."
"If I did then you wouldn't have been able to steal the Mona Lisa," said Dumbledore.
Harry'' feigned ignorance. "Don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Dumbledore chuckled. "The muggle authorities were most perplexed when they found the painting near the entrance of the museum."
"Imagine that."
"And I assume you cannot control your elemental ability Ms. Austin?"
"I don't know what your talking about headmaster," she said looking bewildered.
Dumbledore chuckled again. "You two are quite the pair," he said. "I can imagine the trouble you get into at Hogwarts."
"She gets into trouble not me," said Harry'' jerking his finger at Lillian. "If I ever get into trouble its because she dragged me into it."
Lillian smirked.
"And you let her drag you into it?"
"My common sense abandons me when she starts ranting and raving about conspiracies and plots," he said.
"I don't rant and rave! And I was right in our first year," she said indignantly.
"And if we would have gone to Professor Snape like I suggested, I wouldn't have ended up in the hospital wing," he shot back.
The two continued to argue until they reached the corridor and Dumbledore had a bright smile underneath his moustache and beard.
"We're here," announced Dumbledore. "Please step back."
The pair took a step back and Dumbledore removed the powerful spell concealing the runes on the wall.
"Wow," said Harry'' when the runes came into sight.
Lillian nodded. "Never thought something like this would be concealed on this wall."
"These runes are very old and I myself cannot interpret them. They are extremely complex and of course, serves as a portal to different dimensions."
"So how are we doing this?" asked Harry''.
"Stand next to the wall," said Dumbledore.
Harry'' and Lillian walked together and stood next the wall.
"Maybe you should hold hands," said Dumbledore. "You wouldn't want to end up in two different worlds would you?"
The two exchanged a glance and Lillian slipped her hand into Harry's'' without complaints from either. This wasn't a moment to argue about holding hands.
Dumbledore pulled out another vial from his pocket and showered the two with the time sand.
"Good Luck Harry'', Lillian," he said and raised his wand.
Harry'' and Lillian held each others hands tightly holding their breaths.
"Scroufigy," said Dumbledore and the two dimensional travelers were swallowed by darkness.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
There were almost instantly thrown out of the portal and Harry landed on the ground hard followed by Lillian who fell on him knocking the wind out of him.
"Oof," gasped Harry pushing her off him. "Couldn't you fall somewhere else?"
"Like I forced myself to land on you," she bit back. "Where are we anyway?"
Both got to their feet and realized they weren't at Hogwarts anymore. Harry summoned his wand and lit its end.
They were in a cave without any exit. He looked back and there was a wall with the same runes that were there in Hogwarts.
"We certainly aren't in Hogwarts anymore," said Harry.
"10 points for stating the obvious Potter," said Lillian. "But does this mean we aren't in our world?"
"Oh you're in your own world alright," said a voice from behind them.
Harry and Lillian turned sharply their wands at the ready.
"Whoa, whoa, came down. I mean you no harm," said the man.
Harry and Lillian stepped closer as the man came into the light. He looked like he was little over sixty with grey hair and a slightly wrinkled face. He wasn't too tall and was dressed in casual muggle clothes.
"Who are you?" asked Lillian.
"Well, I'm just an old man who's wondering my two kids from Hogwarts have invaded my cave."
"Bullshit," said Harry. "You knew we were from another world and according to you we're back in our own. So you know who we are but we don't know who you are."
The man chuckled. "Glad to see you mind is a little sharp."
"Thank you," said Lillian. "And I'll repeat Potter's question, who are you?"
"Don't you want to get out of this cave first?" asked the man, producing a glass ball which was glowing blue from within his robes.
Both the thirteen year olds had guarded expressions on their face.
"Why should we trust you?" asked Harry.
"Do you see any other way out of this place?" asked the man mildly.
Harry slowly lowered his wand and the man smiled.
"You said we were back in our own world. Then why aren't we at Hogwarts?"
"You really didn't think there was only one portal in the world did you?" asked the man humorously. "If you really want to know I can monitor the entry and exit of anyone who uses the portal. So instead of you coming out of the portal in Hogwarts. I made sure you'd come out here!" he said cheerfully.
"Why?" asked Lillian sharply. His cheerful demeanor was beginning to test her patience.
The man looked surprised. "Well to meet the only fire and ice elemental's in the world of course!" he said like it were the most obvious thing.
Both students were shocked and raised their wands again taking a step back.
The man laughed. "Why don't you take a hold of this portkey and I'll answer all your questions."
"How about I set you on fire and watch your skin melt until you answer our questions," growled Lillian.
"Hmm, fire elementals do have a temper don't they Harry?"
Now Harry and Lillian were getting a little freaked out. This man knew practically everything about them!
He laughed again.
"How long has it been since we left," asked Harry slowly, not lowering his wand.
The man rubbed his chin frowning. "Well I suppose it was about half a second the instant you came out from the portal and now its about five minutes since you entered the portal in Hogwarts."
The elementals gaped at him. "You're lying," said Harry at once.
"Am I?"
"Its not possible," agreed Lillian.
"You sure?" he asked playfully stepping closer.
Harry raised his wand higher.
"Oh my," said the man suddenly.
"What?" asked Harry.
"Tell me something young man. Did your wand chose you or you just happened to find it and began to use it!"
That was the limit.
A number of ice shards burst out of Harry's hand and headed towards the man at incredible speed.
There was no way the man could avoid them but shockingly the shards just dissolved into water as they neared him and splashed harmlessly at his feet.
Harry was unable to hide his shock. "Who are you?" he hissed.
Now the man smiled. Apparently he was waiting for one of them to react. "My name is Nicolas Flamel, young Potter. And you are currently in my domain."
"Nicolas Flamel!" gasped Lillian.
"Yes, Ms. Austin. And I have been waiting for an opportunity to meet the two of you."
"Flamel," said Harry in slight confusion. "Nicolas Flamel is supposed to be dead."
"That's not true," said Flamel. "Just because Albus destroyed the stone, doesn't mean I'm going to die immediately."
"Can you prove it?"
"Take the portkey and you'll have all the proof you need," he said.
"Maybe we should do as he says," whispered Lillian. "There's no point in just waiting here. After you attacked him, we know we can't hurt him but I'm sure he can hurt us."
Harry nodded and the two of them pocketed their wands and put on finger each on the portkey.
Nicolas smiled. "I'm glad you chose to trust me."
"We don't trust you," said Lillian. "We just don't have a better option."
"I like you already," said Flamel, as the portkey activated.