AUTHOR NOTE
Slide by Slide the Series Episode #101
Episode Title: Granger Betrayed
Starring:
Harry Potter as Harry Seven
Jane Granger as Hecate
Ronald Weasley as Ron Campbell
Guest Starring
Hermione Jean Granger as the betrayed one
Harry Potter as Lord Potter of the Wizengamut Defeater of Voldemort.
Ginevra Potter as Lady Potter, Lady of the manor and
Ronald Weasley as Detective Chief Auror of Enforcement Division
Luna Lovegood as the true friend indeed.
Introducing:
Emma Rose Granger as the daughter of contention.
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Brought to you by Fruity Crispy Owls. The only cereal that's a hoot to eat.
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Hermione looked over the scans for the world she was considering again. The usual suspects showed up on the scan, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna. However her signature was oddly muted on one scan or non-existent on another. This bothered her and she did not like being bothered.
Harry and Ron came strolling in with Jane behind them. Harry gave his wife a kiss and grabbing the briefing folder settled into his chair. Ron took his folder and gave Jane hers as they took their places at the round table.
"Okay this is a weird one. The usual suspects are on the scanner, except for my counterpart. She is but she isn't there."
"Could she be a ghost." Jane asked carefully.
"Maybe. I suppose. The scanner reads for magical signatures not individual life signs."
"So maybe your counterpart has something wrong with her magic?" Ron pointed out.
"Maybe. I have no idea and that is bothering me. So your mission will be to find her and see what's going on."
"Hey after spending the last year bouncing back and forth with 1996 this should be a milk run right?" Harry laughed.
"Curdled probably." Ron observed.
"Okay guys get your head in the game. This world has a 1 to 1 time parity with a negative 3 offset, meaning that its not 2009 there but 2006, average magic levels and you can see the list of who showed up on the scans. I want full Moody levels of paranoia. Take no chances."
"I never take chances." Harry pouted.
"Okay how are we going to find her once we're over there?"
"Well the wrist scanners as well as good old fashioned foot work.
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"Okay I'm going to open the gate at the nearest point to the scans for her I can get. It seems to be in Crawley so be extra careful. We don't know how the statute is over there."
"Got it boss. Smoke me a kipper skipper." Harry called out as the gate opened.
"I am really going to get dad for showing him those programs." Hermione muttered under her breath as they went through the doorway.
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They came out in an alleyway in a government residential district. Moderately tall apartment buildings lined the streets with car parks between them. It had no character and no magical feeling at all.
"Great any idea where she is in this mess?" Ron grumbled.
Harry was checking his scanner, "I think she's in that building up on the fifth floor. Someone magical is at least. Weak signal."
"Great. Hey I'm picking up a magical aura from the lobby. Standard scanning charm." Ron said checking his own scanner.
"Okay well we'll have to shield ourselves. Let's go and be careful."
===xxxx======xxxx====xx
Entering the building with their magical auras subdued to any sensors they looked at the directory by the lift and finding H. Granger 508 nodded as they headed up in the lift.
Arriving on the fifth floor they soon found the apartment. Shifting their appearance Harry rang the bell.
A familiar voice called out from the other side, "Who is it?"
"Uh Miss Granger my name is Harry Seven. I'd like to talk to you about a research project I'm working on."
"What sort of project?"
"One that I'd really rather not stand in the corridor and shout through a closed door ma'am. I mean you no harm." Harry tried to sound as harmless and empathic as possible.
Over the comm-link, "Ron go watch the lobby and make sure what's going on stays quiet."
"Got it."
A moment later the door opened enough for Harry to see the dark brown eye of Hermione staring at him through the crack in the door. Her brown hair was a short, frizzy, mess. "I'm not supposed to have contact with anyone from that world you know."
"Trust me I'm not going to turn you in or cause any trouble. I just want to talk with you." Harry smiled his best possible smile.
She looked like she was going to hesitate then causing Harry to make a last attempt, "I can pay you for your time. Nothing funny or anything just a gesture of good faith."
She frowned then closed her eye for a minute. The door slid shut then Harry heard some locks being removed and it opened again.
"My poverty but not my will doth consent." She said gesturing him inside.
Harry smiled as he crossed the threshold. " Then I do pay they poverty and not thy will." Jane in her feline form following him.
"Sorry this is my cat Hecate. She goes everywhere with me."
"Oh a very lovely cat. I like cats." Hermione said smiling. "And you recognized the quote?"
"Oh yes. Let's just say a good friend of mine introduced me to the bard a long time ago and its stuck."
Harry looked around the neat, trim apartment. There were a few child's toys, girl's dolls, scattered around. Pictures on the wall of Hermione and a small dark haired girl with big green eyes.
"So uh. I guess have a seat. What did you want to talk about?"
"I'm researching the war and trying to figure out how the great Hermione Granger wound up here in this place and this situation."
"I thought it was pretty obvious what happened." She snorted.
"UH well if you want the one sided tale to be the only one that history gets fine. But I was hoping to hear your side of the story, what happened from you."
"Really? They'll allow you to publish that?" She seemed shocked.
"Well I'll do my best to fight for it. I have to admit I was a couple years ahead of you in school and always thought you were the most amazing student."
She smiled honestly at that, "Uh thank you Mr Seven. I have to confess I don't remember you at all."
"Oh I was just another Hufflepuff. No big deal. Hecate behave."
"Mawr-raw-ru" was what Hermione heard but Harry heard, "The girl sleeping in the next room smells familiar."
"Sorry. My daughter probably left her snack out again. She's eight years old in September."
"Ahh. Okay." Harry said noting that down on a notepad.
"Thank you for not using magic here. I normally would have told you to hit the road but I could use some money and to be honest contact with that world is still something I miss."
"Well you spent a great deal of your formative years there, having adventures with Harry Potter." Harry stopped when he saw the outright hatred and loathing cross her face. "Right sorry. Bad blood there."
"Just a bit. I mean after all he was only the one to cast the deciding vote in the Wizengamut to throw me out of the wizarding world for life." She sourly said.
"Right. I still don't understand that." Harry was trying not to get angry but this was not sounding right at all.
"Maybe you should ask him. Mr Big-shot upwardly mobile." She grumped.
"UH he is not exactly taking guests or interviews right now."
"Probably heard you're not going to be as flattering to him as the rest of the media. One reason Luna stopped reporting on him and his precious Ginny altogether."
"Right. So uh do you have any contact with anyone in the magical world?"
"Well I suppose you'll keep their names out of this but Luna and Neville still do what they can. Luna stopped caring about other's opinion of course and visits often. She's Rose's godmother."
"Rose?"
"Emma Rose my daughter. I uh named her after my mother when I realized I wouldn't be seeing her ever again." She sadly sighed.
"Right sorry about that."
Suddenly Harry's comm-link buzzed in his ear, "We have trouble coming in. Local me and two aurors all just came hustling in the doors."
"MEOW!"
"Yeah I know Hecate." Harry said jumping up. "Were you expecting company today?"
"Not until dinner when Luna shows up."
"Well you've got aurors inbound." Harry declared.
"What? They m-must have detected you."
"Sorry about this. Go hide with your daughter. We'll deal with them." Harry said pushing her towards the bedroom.
"Who are you?"
"A friend. Now hide." He said shoving her into the bedroom. Over the comm-link, "I hope you are working to beat them up here."
"I took the time to disable the sensors in the lobby. You're going to be on your own for a couple minutes."
"Okay. As long as we can prevent reinforcements."
"That was the idea."
"If we have to gate out run and hide. We'll come back for you."
"You better. Otherwise you get to deal with the Luna's."
There was a brief knock at the door before it flung itself open and the local Ronald Weasley came striding in. He was a bit confused for a moment to see the sandy blonde haired, gold rimmed glasses wearing man sitting on the couch.
"Who are you?"
"Hi I'm Harry Seven. You're Ronald Weasley aren't you?"
"Yeah. Now where is Granger?" Ronald said drawing his wand.
"Wow. So the stories about the falling out of the trio are true?"
"We were never a trio it turns out. That bitch was just using us. Now where is she?" He said stepping forward ignoring Hecate as she ran across the room behind the kitchen counter.
"Well you see she just stepped out to pick up a few things. We were going to be having lunch and she asked me to wait here."
"Yeah a likely story. Search the place. Find the kid." Ron ordered.
"Hold on. That won't be required." Ron said coming in behind the aurors.
The brief moment of confusion in the locals permitted Harry, Jane and Ron to take them down in a flurry of stunners.
"I have a feeling this might draw some attention. Hermione you can come out now."
Hermione carefully came out holding a small dark haired girl who was looking at everyone with half-asleep eyes. "What did you do? I am going to get killed now."
"Just relax. We're going to take you someplace safe."
The local Hermione looked up and saw that Jane was packing everything swiftly and efficiently into a bag she had found. "She's me? She looks like me?"
"She is a interdimensional variant of you we picked up in one of our adventures. I'll explain more when we're back home. Ron?"
"Four apparates arriving in the lobby. Three on the roof. Geez we rattled their cages."
"Is that everything Jane?"
"Bare walls and empty rooms."
Harry called for a wormhole. When it opened most of the kitchen vanished but Ron and Jane grabbed the local Hermione and Rose taking them through. Harry bent over and slung the local Ron over his shoulders as he leapt through.
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The gate closed behind them with a sudden schlorping noise as an arm and part of a leg fell to the floor.
"Sorry about that. Is everyone ok?" Hermione called from the control booth.
"Yeah. We need this Ron taken to interrogation and find out what they wanted." Harry said sliding him off his shoulders to a security team member.
Jean Granger was looking around holding her daughter staring at everything in absolute confusion.
"Hi. You okay?"
"Where are we?"
"Well the most basic answer is that we are not on your homeworld anymore. We are in a parallel dimension to yours. My wife, Hermione up there in the booth, along with some very close friends, developed a way to travel interdimensionally. You're safe and although some of the faces will look the same remember we are not the people you knew back home."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well how many Hermione's do you see right now?"
Jean looked around and saw Jane smiling at her holding the bags with the contents of her apartment. There was the one up in the control booth who was talking to what looked like Padma which made two she could see. Standing off to the side the man that had been a mousy brown haired average guy was shifting and transforming into Ron Weasley?
"Just who are you?"
"Okay. Please remain calm. Like I said I'm a friend." Harry said as he dropped his disguise.
Jean took a step back in shock and fear. Her eyes narrowed as she looked like she was afraid Harry was going to lash out at her.
"NO. NO!" Jean turned to run only to find Luna, or a Luna, walking into the room with what looked like Lavender Brown. She stopped and slumped to the floor.
"Okay. Looks like she's gone into shock. Help me get her to medical." She heard someone shout just before the lights went out.
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Jean Granger woke up in a hospital bed. She knew that's what it was the moment she felt consciousness return, even before she felt the wires and sensors attached to herself.
She opened her eyes to see Emma sleeping on a bed tucked in the corner of the room. She had her favorite teddy bear and was in her pajamas. A tray table with jello cups and juice boxes of some kind had been shoved aside.
She leaned back and tried to process what happened. Her day had started normally, fixing breakfast, reading with Rose, she had called Luna and talked to her for several minutes. Then just after lunch the strange Harry Seven had shown up. They had been talking when Ron and some aurors had arrived and she suddenly found herself thrust into a bad Dr Who episode. Only with Harry as a good guy.
The door opened and Lavender Brown came in. She was wearing a healer's gown and muggle medical uniform. She smiled at Jean who shook her head. The last she had seen of Lavender was her funeral after being mauled to death by Fenrir.
"You're dead." Jean managed to croak out after a minute.
"In your world it appears so. Fortunately for me we're not in your world." She smiled politely.
"Right that's what he said." She mumbled in confusion.
Pulling over a chair Lavender sat down beside the bed. "Look I'm sorry this is happening in such a rush. Normally they try to take their time when they make contact but apparently you had a bit of an emergency."
"Is that what that was?" She chuckled.
"Around here it was more of an unplanned annoyance. But yes." Lavender chuckled gently.
"So where is here?"
"Here is what they call the Alpha Universe. The building you're in is part of the Granger Institute a multi-platform research and development facility designed to integrate magic and technology in socially beneficial ways."
"You rehearsed that very well."
"Sorry. You get to hear it quite often and develop a certain sense of pride. People around here really believe in that."
Jean snorted as she laid back in the bed. "Glad its worked out for someone. The local Hermione is in charge of this madhouse?"
"Yes. Her and a few others. She has final say though since her name's on the letterhead she declared. Shes a martinet but a fair one." Lavender winked conspiratorially.
"So this interdimensional stuff. You guys go looking for people in trouble or what?" Jean asked ignoring the wink.
"Well I mostly stay here and help out as much as possible. I've only been through the gate once on an orientation mission. It was interesting to say the least."
"But the Harry and Ron from here?"
"Yeah his saving people thing just couldn't be contained to one dimension. He has to go out and look for trouble." Lavender wryly nodded.
"Oh." She lapsed into silence.
"So. Hermione was wondering if you felt up to talking with her." Lavender conversationally asked after several minutes of silence had elapsed.
"I suppose if its not too late."
"Its nine o clock on Sunday."
"Oh. I guess I took a bit of a nap."
"Just a bit. That's okay it let us do some scans on you and get to know Rose a bit. Shes a darling."
"Yeah she is." Jean smiled proudly.
"Okay. Well just relax I'll let Hermione know you're feeling up to a visit."
"Yeah sure."
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Harry was sitting in Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks. He was glaring at the book in front of him written by Rita Skeeter called the Crimes of Hermione. If he glared much harder the book might burst into flames. The History of Hogwarts and History of the Final Battle sat on the table beside the offending tome. Harry would glare at them on occasion as well.
Ron was sitting there watching the crowd. It was a Sunday afternoon and there was a fair crowd as usual. Hagrid was in the corner talking to what appeared to be Seamus Finnigan. Susan Bones was serving at the bar. Her corseted figure making Ron think of large advertising balloons.
"Hey mate. I know it looks like she got a raw deal here. But glaring at the damn book isn't going to make it go away."
"How could he say that about her? Those quotes. He stabbed her in the back like she meant nothing to him."
"Different world mate. Maybe this one isn't right in the head."
"You heard what your counterpart said. How she was a menace and he was tricked by her. Fooled by her manipulations."
"I know. I know. But then I've never been right in the head in the first place." Ron mumbled under his breath.
"You're making excuses. This world seems pretty normal up until Dumbledore died. Then things went off the rails. They go on the Horcrux hunt, and when they come back and defeat Riddle suddenly Harry's denouncing Hermione as a threat to the wizarding world and that his one true love Ginny Weasley was his entire motivation. Ron goes right along with him and an adoring public eats it up. Next thing you know she's got her magic bound and she's exiled from the magical world."
"Yeah I know. We need to find Luna." Ron agreed.
"She wasn't at the Rookery. Scans indicated she was at the Ministry. You don't suppose they arrested her do you?" Harry frowned.
"Maybe. The local Hermione did say she was the only one still in contact with her." Ron pointed out.
"Aside from Neville. We should go visit Lord Longbottom eh?"
"Yeah Hecate's watching the Rookery and will let us know if Luna comes back."
Taking and putting the books in their packs the duo walked out without sparing a second glance at anyone, even the pneumatically cheerful Susan.
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Jean was sitting talking to Rose when the door opened and her counterpart walked in.
"Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting."
"No Rose and I were just talking about what's going on."
"Hi not mommy." The girl sweetly said smiling at Hermione.
"Hi Rose. Our Luna brought some of our children over if you want to go play with them."
"Can I mommy?" She turned to Jean with a huge winsome look.
"She'll be safe?"
"They'll be in the lounge just down the hall. Luna, Miranda and Rhonda will be there along with the full staff of the facility."
"Oh okay I guess."
Hermione took Rose's hand as she hopped down and ran over. Opening the door Hermione spoke with someone who said something that made Rose laugh as they left.
"So. Now what?"
"Well we scanned your body and discovered how they bound your magic. They cut you open and carved magic suppression runes into your breastbone. Rather barbaric but effective."
"Oh. That explains the scar." She said running her hand between her breasts.
"Yes. Now we have a top notch thoracic surgeon on staff here. He has the hands of a surgeon. We could remove the bone which would restore your natural magical power and then regrow it with skele-gro. I've already talked to him. If you want to be a witch again."
Jean looked at her strangely, "I don't know what to say. Why are you doing this?"
"Because we don't like to see people hurt. We can help so we want to help."
"I'll owe you everything." Jean sniffed trying not to cry.
"We can work that out later. We won't expect you to jump into anything. Plus you'll probably have some rehab and work to get back used to having magic again after you recover."
"So Harry here is a nice guy?"
"One of the best. A bit clueless sometimes but he muddles through."
"He isn't going to expect me to do anything for him is he?"
Hermione looked surprised but shook her head. "If you're implying he'll ask for sexual favors first off Harry is a person who would burn a planet if someone was doing something against their will. Secondly he has more than enough sexual partners to satisfy him, so he doesn't need to go out looking for more. You would have full choice and say in what you do with him as an adult. If you never do more than shake his hand he'll be perfectly happy with you."
"You sound pretty sure about that."
"Well I am his wife after all. Or at least one of them." She chuckled.
"One of them? He has more than one?"
"Well Rhonda, she was another rescue from another universe, is technically his wife for the magical world and Lady Potter. I'm the one for the muggle world and Selene is technically the Lady Black for that bloodline. Then there is Jane as she's a bit of a friend with benefits, as is the local Luna. Ron has his Luna's, all three of them, so they are happy. All of them really nice and lovely. Although the one had a bit of a rough time in her world so is a bit more on the fragile side of things than not but we all love her and support her and it helps."
"Well that's nice. What about Ginny? What kinda of person is she here?"
"Nice. A bit of a tomboy. She's Ginny Longbottom. Plays for the Holyhead Harpies as seeker and writes for the Prophet sports page on occasion. They're talking about maybe having some kids coming up here soon."
"So her and Harry have nothing together?"
"No. They had a brief summer fling long ago but they agreed they had nothing in common that would have made a long term basis so they broke up."
"And Molly Weasley was okay with that?"
"Uh yeah. She has so many grand-kids running around that she hasn't stopped grinning. All the boys have had kids with their wives. Charlie's in Romania still so we don't see him as often but I think Percy and Bill are in competition to see who can knock out the most Weasleys."
"Oh. This seems like a very different place."
"Well yeah. I mean we had a different set of circumstances, different backgrounds, different way things went. Another reason I wanted to study the different dimensions to see what the results of the what-ifs. The decision trees would be."
"Oh. Makes sense I guess. To follow knowledge like a sinking star."
"Beyond the utmost bounds of human thought. I know. I like that quote. One version of me has it tattooed across her lower back."
"So how many of us have you found?"
"Well you're the tenth."
"Are we all with Harry?"
"So far, mostly. We found one that was with Cho but there was outside circumstances involved in that one. It was the world Jane came from. The other one was the world Rhonda and another me called Jean came from. You're only the third one not with him."
"I was briefly. In the tent."
"That's how Rose came about?" Hermione gently asked.
"Yeah we had just survived getting attacked by Nagini in Godric's Hollow. We had gotten away safe and set up camp. I gave him a purgative to make sure he hadn't been bitten. The next morning I woke up to him cuddling with me and one thing led to another and we made love. He told me he loved me and that I meant everything to him. We spent the day together cuddled. Then Ron showed up that night. Harry started growing distant again. Shutting me out. Pushing me away. I even told him I was pregnant with his baby and he got offended. He suggested I go to a clinic and get rid of it. I helped him finish Voldemort because we had to destroy him but I was going to go and get my parents without him and keep my baby."
Hermione looked shocked and confused at the counterpart who was crying gently. She handed her a tissue and sighed. "That doesn't sound like any Harry I have encountered. He called for an open gateway to be dropped on a person for harming a child. The idea that a Harry would willingly suggest it just screams something is wrong."
"I don't know. Can we get up and go see Rose and the others?"
"Yeah sure. No problem."
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Arriving at the Longbottom estate Harry and Ron took a few minutes to make sure their disguises were active and then convinced the local Neville to see them.
Harry looked around as they were led into the lounge. This Neville was still physically fit but it was obvious he was becoming soft. The picture of him, Hannah Abbot and a small girl hanging over the fireplace let Harry know that he was a family man here.
"So Mr Seven you said you wanted to speak with me about a research project?"
"Yes. I'm working on a study of how the Golden Trio broke apart so suddenly and spectacularly. The way it seemed like one minute Hermione Granger was a hero and the next she was being treated like a worse traitor than Malfoy even."
Neville looked from Harry to Ron then shook his head, "I have no idea what happened. I didn't get involved."
"Have you spoken with Miss Granger?"
"Not since she was exiled. She was declared a outlaw and we could get in trouble contacting her."
Harry noted that Neville was a bit shifty and evasive when he said that but ignored it. "What about Harry Potter do you still talk to him."
"Not often. Our social circle's don't align very often. Mainly when we have a Wizengamut meeting."
"The two of you used to be friends."
"Once upon a time yeah. Things drifted apart though after the war."
"What was different afterwards?"
"Well I mean he was busy consolidating his position as Lord Potter and Hero of Hogwarts. Ginny and him had a lot of catching up to do. No wonder she got pregnant so quick after he got back."
"She got pregnant? Like you're sure the child is his?"
"Well yeah of course. Harry takes those kind of accusations very seriously. He challenged Dean Thomas to a duel to the death for claiming that Ginny had cheated on him."
Harry and Ron looked at each other in shock, "HE fought Dean Thomas to death?" Ron exclaimed in surprise.
"No he did show him mercy, eventually. That was the last time anyone ever said they saw her cheating on him or anything." Neville carefully explained as if he was choosing his words.
"But I get the feeling there have been instances where things might be a bit more complicated."
Neville seemed to consider his words. He looked at the wall for several seconds before nodding, "There have been a few times I thought I caught her doing something a bit compromising. Plus I've heard talk from a few people around. Nothing but speculation mind you but she has visited several other individuals, unescorted."
"Really? That seems slightly improper. What about Harry? Does he have a bit on the side too?"
Neville shook his head emphatically. "OH no. No. He's a loyal and devoted husband and father."
Harry nodded and moved on as Neville seemed to be getting agitated.
"Look I don't know what your plan is but if you go pushing these kinds of speculation I can tell you Harry will not be happy or allow it." Neville leaned forward to emphasize his words.
"If everything goes the way I'm hoping his opinion won't matter." Harry said coldly.
Standing up Neville gave a nervous cold smile, "Look I think I've said all I should. So let's just call it a day Mr Seven."
"Certainly. I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."
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"Well that was interesting." Ron observed once they were back out on the road.
"Did it seem like he was nervous?"
"Just a bit Harry. Look we need to get back with Jane and see what's going on."
"I know."
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Meeting in the woods outside the Rookery with Jane the three were sitting under a invisible tent.
"Okay she hasn't been back all day. I did go take a look at the Burrow since its just over the way. You would not believe it."
"Try me." Ron grunted eating some field rations.
"The old dilapidated place is gone. A nice new stone and wood structure is there with a new car in the driveway. Nice out buildings. The place looks like the Weasleys came up in the world when Ginny married Potter." Jane pointed out.
"Yeah and Arthur is Minister for Magic, Percy is head of the Department of International Magical Trade, Bill is Defense Professor at Hogwarts, Ron is like third in the Auror department, and George is running one of the most successful joke shops in the country." Harry snorted as he looked at the book of who's who and current Prophet.
"So the Weasleys have all benefited greatly since the war?" Ron frowned.
"It would seem that way." Harry snapped the book shut.
===xxxx======xxxx=====xx
Jean had met the other Potter, Weasley children. A couple of the Lunas and Rhonda. She had found Rhonda to be quite an interesting person. When Hermione, Rose and her returned to the room she was staying in she sighed.
"Hermione. We don't have to go back to our world?" She asked nervously.
"No you can apply for asylum here. Our Percy is in charge of the office that handles that. He is pretty cool with it, although he said he is going to start assigning serial numbers if we get anymore Lunas or Hermiones..." She chuckled.
"I could go by my middle name Jean."
"Sure. You'd only be the second Jean. Although she goes by the last name Perkwith now as she got married."
"Perkwith? I don't know anyone by that name from our world."
"She was a nice brown haired girl. Wore glasses and her hair in pigtails. Her and Jean run a bed and breakfast in Dartmouth."
"She's a lesbian?"
"Yeah. Pretty much infinite possibilities exist. We found a bimbo version of us, although most of us seem to be Gryffindors it is possible we could be in another house. There might even be an evil version out there. Who knows."
"Yeah I guess so. Dad would have had his mind blown apart from all of this."
"I know. He finds it amazing. We took him through into one of the safe worlds and I thought he would never stop geeking out."
"Maybe I could meet them someday?" Jean asked wistfully.
"Yeah. They of course know about the verse. And have pretty much treated all of us as their daughter. With open arms."
"I miss my parents. I thought I would get to rescue them."
"Well maybe once we figure out what happened with you we can do so."
"I guess. But why are you still investigating what happened to me?"
"According to Harry things are not adding up. He wants to run a while longer and see what he turns up."
"I doubt he'll change anything. And I don't want to try and get back with that Harry no matter what. Its over. I'm not even sure about your Harry."
"I know. Its perfectly understandable. Does Rose know?"
"No. I've not told her."
"She has a magical core. That's why Ron was coming for her when we rescued you."
"I was afraid of that." Jean sighed.
"Well its your decision what you tell her. We'll support it no matter what."
"Thanks. You're speaking for your Harry again?"
"I'm speaking for the entire family. In the end though its your choice."
"I'll consider it. Especially if I'm going to be staying here."
"Right." Hermione said squeezing her counterpart's hand.
===xxxx======xxxx=====xx
It was early the next morning when Luna arrived back at the Rookery. Lights had gone on in the windows and smoke came from the chimney. He wasn't sure what was going on but he needed to talk to her.
Checking to see if anyone else had followed her or if they had placed any tracking charms on the property he approached the front door with Hecate walking beside him in her feline form.
"Okay. I'm not detecting anything unusual. Anything on your end Ron?" Harry asked over the comm-link.
"An observer at the end of the lane, plus a remote probe over on the path to the Burrow." Ron reported back.
"Okay so they'll know she has a guest soon."
"Yep. Want me to take out their observer?" Ron almost sounded eager.
"Who is it?"
"Zabini."
"Blaise Zabini is an auror?"
"Yep."
"No. Leave him for now. I'm at the front door." Harry growled but pulled a facade of calm over his features as he rang the bell.
The curtain moved quickly then a window in the door opened. "Who are you?" Luna's guarded voice called out from within the room, her face hidden in shadows.
"I'm Harry Seven. I'm a friend of our mutual muggle-born."
"Yeah right."
"She's safe. They can't touch her." he quickly said before the window literally closed in his face.
It slowly came back open. "Explain."
"You're being observed. May I come in and talk."
The window shut gently then the door opened. Harry sighed and walked in. Looking around he saw the eclectic mess that Luna's home always seemed to be. Once one understood her though they saw the order and organization in her system.
Looking at her though he almost dropped his disguise as she was cradling her left arm. She had a black eye and busted lip.
"What happened to you?" He growled though.
"Maw-warer." Hecate called out as well.
"I had a discussion with Lord Potter where his daughter went."
"Harry Potter did this to you?" He was rapidly losing his patience with his local counterpart.
"Not directly. He never gets his hands dirty. His buddies in the department did all the hitting."
Over the comm-link he called out, "Ron turn Zabini inside out and get ready to get up here."
"Uh might be a bit more difficult to turn him now. Local me and a squad of aurors showed up a few seconds ago."
"Okay stay clear."
"Do I know you? Who are you?" Luna asked studying him.
"Its rather complicated to explain. But I swear to you. Her and her daughter are safe. They're beyond this world's ability to touch them and we can take you to them if you want." He said reaching out for her.
She stepped back but otherwise made no other defensive moves. "I don't know you. Why would you help?"
"Because I am part of a growing organization dedicated to helping people in trouble. My companion Hecate and I came here unaware of what was going on and discovered Hermione's problems. We helped get her out of here and now they're coming for you."
"Harry, they're moving in a standard containment pattern. Looks like they are setting up anti-apparates."
"Understood." He said over the link, to Luna he asked, "How long for you to pack what you want to take with you?"
"I have already been packing since I got home. I was going to run away. So only a few seconds." She replied.
"Okay because there is a squad of Aurors out there setting up a containment field. We'll get a gate and be gone before they do."
"Whatever you're talking about Mister." Luna said shrugging.
Harry hit the interdimensional comms on his bracer. "Base I need a gate like two minutes ago."
"Understood Harry. Are you under fire?" Padma's voice rang out.
"Not yet but going to be coming danger close." He replied glancing out the window to see someone hastily drop their head behind some shrubs.
"Understood." Padma said already speaking to the other gate technician with her.
Luna had picked up a large backpack and was trying to put it on when Jean transformed into her human form. Luna looked at her in confusion for a second before Jean took the pack, "Here let me help."
"Thank you. I look forward to the explanation for all of this."
"Trust me you'll get a kick out of it." Jane said with a grin.
The gate formed in the side of the living room wall. Luna's eyes grew wide before Jean tugged her along with her into the singularity. Harry looked out the window and saw the local Ron running toward the house. He couldn't resist and hit him with a bone breaker right in the chest dropping him like a rock. He turned and though he hated to do this he cast fiend fyre to cover his tracks and dove through the singularity. Let them try and figure anything out from the ashes.
====xxxx======xxxxx=======xxx
The new arrival Luna was taken to medical along with Jane when Hermione came running in. "Harry what happened?"
"They beat her up trying to find out where Hermione and her daughter had gone. When I showed up to talk to her at the Rookery a full squad of Aurors arrived. I think they want to talk to me."
"Great. Maybe its time to close this out and move on." Hermione said taking his hand.
"NO. This Harry has something wrong with him. He's not right in the head. I need to know what happened to him to make him turn like this. He was the one behind Luna's beating." Harry yanked his hand away breathing hard.
"Harry. You gave me oversight and final mission planning authority. I'm shutting it down for this world. We got Hermione and her daughter and now Luna out of there. Whatever happened to him what good would finding out do for them? For the world in general."
"It would make me feel a lot better."
"Would it really? I think you're just upset that a version of you didn't turn out to be the ultimate boy scout you thought you should be."
The gate opened as Ron came striding through, "Damn Harry you had to light the place up?"
"Sorry I was feeling a moment of pique." He snarled before rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well at least it gave me a distraction to get out of there." Ron shook his head.
"Yeah. Did they lose anyone?" Harry reluctantly asked.
"Maybe, I'm not sure. Between the stuff Luna had in the house already and your spell it was crazy. A giant purple flame monster was towering over the place just before it exploded."
"Harry what did you do?" Hermione rounded on her husband.
"I might have cast a bit of fiend fyre."
"That is more than just a moment of pique." She frowned at him.
"I need to go get cleaned up." He turned and stalked off.
Hermione started to follow him when Ron put his hand on her shoulder, "Let him have a moment. You didn't read the way the local Harry talked about Hermione. Like she was dirt. I mean Malfoy used to be more polite."
"Harry's seeing a side of himself that he doesn't like." Hermione sighed.
"Yeah I'm not overly fond of the git myself right now either." Ron agreed.
=====xxxx=====xxxx=====xx
The next morning Harry, Jane, Ron and Hermione met in a briefing room.
"Okay Harry you feeling better?"
"No. Maybe." He grunted.
"Okay well Lavender talked to the new Luna. She brought up a possibility for what happened. Its possible that the Harry of IDW345-s3x is being love potioned."
Harry's head perked up. "Love potioned?"
Hermione nodded, "At the very least. And it does fit with the circumstances. A sudden deep passion for Ginny, hatred for Hermione. Anger at anyone who would cause him to question his feelings."
"So what can we do?" Jean asked sullenly.
"Not much. First of all there is proving that he really is potioned. That means getting him and his blood into our labs. Secondly without knowing for certain who was doing the potioning and why purging him could cause a much larger issue. And third that world is mostly stable. We've got the victims out and they are safe. I don't see how any more meddling would do any good."
"It would let us know who potioned him into doing that!" Harry said slapping his hands on the table.
"I think we can pretty much figure that out man." Ron quietly said.
"I agree. From all of the data you gathered it looks like for whatever reason the Weasleys are the ones who profited the most from being Harry's replacement family. As a result they are the most likely suspects. George is a master potioneer in our world no doubt he is skilled over there as is Molly." Hermione pointed out.
"So they just get to walk all over him and we do nothing?"
"Harry what do you want to do? Go in and kick all of the Weasleys in the head until they apologize for what they did? The books we brought back show that even if they stood in front of the Wizengamut at most they might get a slap on the wrist. That's assuming we could prove who we are without causing an interdimensional war or something." Ron shook his head angrily.
"But they're you own family doing that."
"No man. They are copies of my family. Alternate reality zombies that only exist when I pretend they do. My family is here. On this side of the looking glass." Ron stared straight at Harry.
"Okay. Fine. Case closed. Bad guys win." Harry snarled as he stood up.
"Harry wait!" Jane commanded.
He turned with his nostrils flaring.
"The bad guys did not win. Hermione and Emma Rose are here. With us. She might even, with help, consider you a friend some day. Her friend Luna is here with her so she's not alone. We broke even at best yeah but the bad guys did not win." Jane pleaded with him to see her point of view.
Harry seemed to slump before giving a curt nod and storming out of the room.
"Okay. We'll mark this in the database as a Code Yellow only visit with caution. Maybe we'll check up on things in a few years." Hermione said.
Ron pulled his briefing folder in front of him as Jane settled back into her chair. Her body shifting into her felinoid form so she could allow her tail to swish.
"Ron you and Hecate will go back to IDW324-57-px3 and see how they're doing. If the potions are still working or not."
"Right okay."
====xxxxx=======xxxx
Harry wandered the corridors of the base without really noticing where he was going until he finally walked into a lounge with Rhonda and a Hermione and Luna. William James and Andrew had been playing with Lillian and Emma Rose.
"Daddy!" Lillian called out when she saw him standing on her 6 year old legs and rushing over to him.
"Hey sweet pea. How are you?" He said sweeping her off the floor and swinging her around in her flying pose before setting her back on the floor.
"I'm having fun. This is Emma Rose." The girl said dragging her dad into the room. He saw the Luna stiffen slightly as did Jean as he had been told she would call herself.
"Hello Emma Rose. How are you?"
"Hello sir. I'm fine." She said in that ingenious 8 year old tone.
"Good I'd like to go over and talk to your mommy for a bit so you have fun okay?" He said with a smile.
"Okay." She said going back to the board game her and the boys had been playing with Lillian sort of involved with Rhonda's help.
Coming over he sat down in a chair near Jean.
"Hello. I'm sorry for startling you."
"Its okay. I'm noticing a few differences. You don't wear glasses."
"No I don't. Mundanes figured out how to restore twenty twenty vision with surgery and someone on Hermione's staff here figured out how to improve it with magic so the process is even better."
"Nice you also move a lot more relaxed. Like you don't have to prove yourself."
"Probably because I don't. We're all a team here. Everyone has earned their place one way or another a hundred times over."
"I haven't." Jean said.
"Not yet. You're still new to the neighborhood." He smiled in friendly teasing.
"Maybe. But I am grateful. Thank you."
"I just wish we could have done more to fix things. But we're going to close the door on that world."
"Probably for the best neither Luna nor I want to go back. We've got nothing left over there."
"Right well welcome to the neighborhood. Hope you like it."
"I think we will." Luna said carefully.
======xxxxx======xxxx=====xx
"Harry you're brooding again. Why don't you go take a drive or something." Ron chucked a notebook at him in the office.
"Actually what I was thinking of doing was going back and having a talk with myself."
"Mate, bad idea. Very bad idea. Hermione already programmed that in the machine to not be dialable. Not without her override code."
"So. That ideas out." Harry grumbled flipping the notebook back at Ron.
"Look I get you're upset with him. But its not going to do any good letting it eat at you. Hey you wanna go over to p93sd? I got enough cash to buy the Luna Doll from the executive collection. She wanted me to bring one home and see how anatomically correct it really is." He said wiggling his eyebrows.
"Nah maybe later. You go have fun." Harry snorted in amusement at his friend. He still found the world where he was the big damn hero an exciting place of course.
"Okay suit yourself. Just relax man. Take some time and let it go." He said clapping Harry on the shoulder on his way out.
Harry got up and wandered the base again. Finding himself into the long term resident area he paused in front of the door to the recent Hermione. He had been avoiding her but decided to finally bite the bullet and talk to her. Knocking he stood patiently.
She opened the door with a curious expression looking at Harry in surprise and slight resignation maybe. Harry was not sure.
"Uh Hi. I hope I'm not bothering you. I was just wanting to see how you're doing."
"Oh. I'm doing okay. I have surgery scheduled day after tomorrow to get the magic bindings removed."
"Oh. That's good I guess right?"
"I suppose. There is going to be some risk of course. I've been talking to Luna and making arrangements for Rose." She paused then looked like she was thinking hard about something. She stepped into the corridor pulling the door shut behind her.
"Uh if I die."
"I doubt you will. They have a great team here."
"I know but there is always a chance. Rose doesn't know who her father is. And I know you're not the Harry Potter that fathered her but I've talked to Luna and your Hermione and I would like you to be involved with her. Making sure she has a father figure at least in her life."
Harry took a half step back in surprise, "Uh. Are you sure? I thought you hated your Harry."
"As I've had pointed out you're not the same Harry Potter as the one who betrayed me, and I'm not there. So will you?" She asked with a small grin.
"Uh yeah. Sure. Even when you recover if you want." He said with a smile.
"I suppose. Although to be honest. I may intellectually know you are not him, emotionally I'm having some trouble." She swallowed as she confessed.
"I can understand that. I'm glad you're just willing to talk and give me a chance to be a friend."
"I can do that."
===xxxx=====xxxx====xx
Hermione Jean was laying on a biobed as she waited for the rest of the team to get into the room and begin the surgery. She had been prepared and was feeling slightly calm and numb. The nurses and technicians were chatting and trying to keep her calm when the doctors walked in.
"Okay Hermione. I'm Dr Elizabeth Piper. I'll be lead on this today. How are you feeling?"
"Nervous."
"Well that's to be expected. I'd be a bit concerned if you weren't. Now just relax and breathe deeply. We'll have you back in business no problem."
"Okay." Hermione said as they put her under for the operation.
Once she was out and the scans and area set the Dr started working.
"Okay make sure when we start the bone saw that I have plenty of suction. I don't want any bits and bobs going off on their own."
"Aye ma'am."
A few minutes of cutting and Dr Piper sighed, "Okay there we are. Looks like they didn't do anything too tricky. Thank heaven for that."
====xxxxx=====xxxx=====xxx=====xx
Hermione Jean woke up groggy and achy. She raised her hand to her chest and felt a slight sore spot but otherwise seemed to be normal. The fact she was breathing and able to move and think certainly helped her relax.
She looked around the dimly lit room. Sprawled in a chair in the corner was a drooling Harry Potter. His head thrown back and his arms dangling by his side. She smiled slightly at how uncomfortable he must be and how like her Harry had been before he changed this was. He was a important businessman and had responsibilities, family, and he was waiting for her to wake up.
Luna was quietly sitting beside the bed in another chair only she was meditating it looked like. She took a second look to make sure and saw that yes it was her Luna. The hair was wavier, the nose slightly more patrician, and the body a bit more lithe.
Luna must have sensed her stirring as she opened her eyes and smiled at Hermione Jean. "Hello. How do you feel?"
"Like someone has been tap dancing through my chest but otherwise okay." she softly groaned. "How's Rose?"
"She's with the local versions of me. We've been taking turns staying with you, except him. Its like he on a long watch." Luna said gesturing with her head towards Harry.
"The locals must be upset with him."
"They said its better than him brooding or trying to bypass some security protocol to go back and talk to our Harry." The way she said talk made Hermione Jean understand that fists might be involved in that conversation.
"Oh. Okay." She didn't know what else to say.
"Do you want me to get you anything?" Luna asked as she squeezed Hermione Jean's hand.
"No not right now." She said. "I just wanna get some more rest."
"That's probably for the best."
=====xxxxx======xxxx=====xx
Hermione Jean awoke again an undetermined amount of time later. She looked around and saw that Harry wasn't in the chair which made her feel slightly, disappointed? She wasn't sure. She did see the local version of herself there reading something on an electronic device of some sort, occasionally touching it with a stylus and signing or making notes. She looked up though when she heard Hermione Jean stirring.
"Hello, Rose is with Luna and Harry getting a bit of tutoring with some of the other kids."
"Oh. Thank you." Hermione said sitting up.
"No problem. I'm sure you know how important learning is to us." The local Hermione said with a smile.
"Yeah. So. How did it go?"
"Well they got all the bone fragments and runes out of you. They fortunately didn't leave nay other surprises or anything which is good. We were half afraid they might have done something like tattoo runes on the inside of your flesh or something but they didn't. So you were left unconscious while the bones regrew. Which according to the last scan they are good as new. So now you tell me how you feel?"
Hermione Jean looked into herself. Reached inside to feel her magic and was rewarded with a tingling buzz in her chest that she had not felt for several years. A warmth throughout her body.
"I feel it! I feel my magic!" She crowed excitedly.
"Okay good. That's great. You'll probably have to go through some rehabilitation with it. Sort of like if you'd broken your leg, but I'm sure you'll be back in the swing of things soon enough."
"Okay yeah. No problem. I can do that. Then what?"
"Well we have a few programs in place to help bring you up to speed socially, culturally and educationally to the standards of this world. Some internships, paid ones, at the Institute that will help you get your footing and then you can see what you want to do with your life. There are a lot of options available now, a lot more than there used to be." Hermione explained.
"Great. I'll have to find a place to live and get Rose in school and I guess she is down for Hogwarts?"
"Minerva is already looking forward to her joining them. If you want her to. As for a place to stay we have cottages in Godric's Hollow that we have set up for displaced persons. Not far from the estate but far enough to be on your own if you want."
"I don't want to be a burden."
"You, Rose and Luna won't be. Luna's already considering working with Luna and Selene in the magical creatures preserve in Cornwall. Rose is getting on smashingly with the other kids and the cottages are part of our way of helping you get adjusted. You're not going to be a burden, trust me."
"And Harry won't expect me to do anything will he?" She frowned.
"Harry will expect you to be a friend at most, if you don't want that he will respect you. He has a rather fondness for Hermiones but he also respects our choices and decisions."
"Like the lesbian one you mentioned."
"Right her and Sally are good friends and come to dinner often. Harry was I guess best man or Bride's maid at their wedding. Dad gave her away. So like I said its all good whatever you choose we'll make it work."
Hermione Jean leaned back. "I think I'm going to like it here."
Giving her counterpart a pat on the hand. "Good. Welcome home Hermione."