Author Note: The common theme in this episode is identity.
Episode Six: Who Are You?
Starring: Harry Potter as the hero
Hermione Jean Weasley nee Granger as the stalwart companion
Hermione Potter as the brains.
Co-starring: Ronald Weasley as barkeep
Ginny Granger as the one they worry about
Hermione Granger as the loving husband
Introducing
Hermione Granger as the cute kid.
Special Guest Star
Harry J. Potter
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Brought to you by flaming colon hot sauce. For those times when you really don't like your underwear.
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Hermione had galloped back to the house after the strange version of her husband had vanished in the swirl of light. She made sure her daughter was keeping up with her, fortunately her daughter was a fine runner as well.
As she neared their house on the edge of Hogsmeade and slowed down. She did not want to panic her husband as he still had a few issues from the war and if she came galloping in mane and tail streaming he would go to full combat alert. Penelope slowed beside her laughing thinking it was a fun game.
Entering their large stable, house, combination she walked through to the lounge where Luna and Harry were sitting playing a game of four dimensional chess. Harry was no better at that than he was the usual two dimensional but sitting and playing with Luna made her happy. Sometimes she was even gracious enough not to beat Harry too soundly.
Daniel James their other son was sitting on the floor playing with Aphrodite the cat and Luna's youngest Meridian. The two of them were rolling a ball against the wall and laughing as the young cat chased it.
Luna's oldest daughter Celestia watched her mother moving her pieces through the board intently. Of course she did everything intently.
"Hey dear, how was the great berry hunt?" Harry asked enthusiastically getting up to come and hug his wife and daughter. Climbing on a stool to meet his wife half-way so they could kiss on the lips.
"It was interesting. What if I told you I got a visit from a you, but he was from another dimension?" she asked cautiously.
"I would ask if you had let any of the berries ferment before eating them." Harry laughed.
Luna looked at her with her head tilted, "Is that likely something you would say?"
"We had a man who looked like you daddy show up and he asked a bunch of silly questions then he went through a magic swirly thing and vanished." Penelope said in a rush.
Harry narrowed his eyes at her then looking at Hermione said, "So that really happened?"
"Yes. I think we have a lot we need to talk about." Hermione said.
===xxx
Harry Potter walked out of the gateway onto the world that the local Hermione that called herself Chubs lived. He did not remember what the exact designation for the world was but Hermione knew which world he was talking about. She shook her head and said have inspecting the gateway installation.
He was officially here to see how the local Hermione, aka Chubs, was integrating into the Multi-Versal Agency network and get more information about this world. Ron was still on leave integrating his new bond with Luna. His other Lunas had accepted her and joined with her in their own bonds. Harry had worried they were forming some kind of hive mind of Lunas but Ron convinced him, and more importantly Hermione that that wasn't the way it was going to be. They would just know what each other was feeling and be better able to support and handle each other. Harry still waited to see what was going on but so far it did not seem to be a problem.
Seeing the local Hermione standing in the control room he smiled. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans that hung low on her wide hips, a T-shirt that was playing peak-a-boo with her belly button. Showing a nice muffin top. Her black bra under the white-shirt on unashamed display. She looked at harry and grinned.
"Hey boi. Whazzup?" She said greeting him cheerfully. She was a huge Quidditch fan, enjoyed drinking, Chili Cheese fries and O'Tolley's fast food. She had enjoyed crossing over to Alpha as that let her get back on the broom again since she didn't spend a lot of time in th magical community on this world.
"Not much we was getting things set up. Got the reactor and all that gizmos installed. The cover story is going good so all I need to do is get some more people hired in." She said walking around to him.
"Good. I'm glad to hear that." he grinned watching her walk.
"Yeah so you wanna hit the Remington for some lager and lunch?" She asked with a nod of her head. They had set up in an empty store front just a block over from the Remington pub which was Chub's favorite hang out.
Downing a few pints of lager and a plate of chili cheese fries they headed back down the street to the facility. Going into her office as Facility Manager they collapsed on the couch together.
"I am going to need to take a nap. Damn you can drink boi." she elbowed Harry.
"So the local me can't?" he asked.
She shook her head before laughing, "Nah. He's a great guy but drinks those fizzy girly things. Neville's the man in their relationship."
"Oh. More than I really cared to know." Harry admitted.
Chubs shook her head, "Yeah. Kinda weird thinking you and him are the same person sorta."
"You get used to it. I mean you're essentially another Hermione. A variation on what she could have been." He observed.
"Hey! I'm all me. The OG that they wanna be. The real Hermione!" She rapped quickly before laughing.
Harry nodded, "Okay. That works too." Then fell against her soft thighs laughing so hard.
She sighed, stroking Harry's hair, "You know I was his beard before him and Neville came out. I knew he had some different feelings when we was growing up but I kinda had hopes. You know? That's how I wound up with Ron. He was at least interested in me and available."
"Oh. Sorry I guess." Harry sympathized putting his feet up on the couch as he made himself comfortable on her leg.
"Yeah not much to be sorry about. I got two great kids out of it, and there were some happy times. We just couldn't make a go of it." She shrugged. Harry enjoyed the few from his location.
"That happens to some people I suppose." Harry agreed.
"Yeah, Not you thought has it?"
Harry chuckled agreeably. "Okay good point. I do seem to have quite a lot of good luck getting compatible females in my life."
"Well you're a really nice guy." She said letting her hand trail down his cheek across his chest to rest lightly on his lower stomach.
Harry cleared his throat having sobriety start to reassert itself. He spun around until he was back sitting upright on the couch staring at her. "Yeah. I guess I am. Kinda weird the way my life has worked out. I never figured on the path its taken."
She turned to face Harry, putting her arm on the back of the couch she grinned at him, "And yet here you are."
Taking a deep breath he agreed, "Yeah here I am."
She swallowed before licking her lips, "So you got to get back anytime soon?"
Harry shook his head. With Ron on sabbatical and them having finally created several other teams, especially working with the other agency, he was rather free of time constraints. Moving closer to her he said, "No. I've got most of the afternoon free."
She shifted so their faces were close together, "Good. I was rather hoping you'd say that."
===xxx
Harry felt well ridden and pleasured. Chubs had been quite energetic and enthusiastic in their sex. It had not been lovemaking. It had been animalistic rutting for sheer pleasure first. He relaxed floating in pure bliss.
"Damn that was the best fuck I ever had." She purred against his chest. Her mammoth mammaries smashed against his chest.
"I certainly enjoyed." he sighed.
"So maybe next time we can actually get to a bed?" She chuckled.
"Maybe." he laughed. The high-low pitched tweedle of his comm-bracer interrupted them at that point.
"Aww shit duty calls eh?" Chubs said with a hefty sigh.
Harry looked around before saying, "Accio bracer." When it was in his hand he activated the unit, "Potter"
"Harry, I need you to report back I have a mission for you." Hermione's voice came through.
"Is there a problem?" He immediately asked rolling out from under Chubs while looking for his trousers.
"Not exactly, we sent a probe through this morning and it found something weird on this world." Hermione frowned when she said that, he could hear it in her voice. She hated weird and things that could not be explained. Although if the explanation was the word Luna she just shrugged and sighed.
Harry sighed, "Could you narrow down weird? Are we talking Luna level weird or Snape washing his hair level weird?"
"Dumbledore wearing something that wasn't bedazzled level." Hermione said.
Chubs laughed, "WHOA. That is weird."
"IS that Chubs?" Hermione asked flatly.
"Yeah, we were in, uh, conference." Harry said quickly.
"Well get your trousers on and get back here, bring her with you." Hermione then clicked off.
"Well, I don't think this is going to be about having a threesome is it?" Chubs said.
===xxx
Hermione pulled up the various images their probe had taken on its visit to the other world.
"Okay looks pretty normal." Harry said watching people walk around Hogsmeade in a variety of clothes. Ranging from normal muggle denims and T-shirts to Victorian and Anglo-Saxon garb.
"Yeah what ya got yer knickers in a twist over? This almost looks like it could be from back home." Chubs asked leaning forward to look at the images closer.
"The problem I am having is that preliminary scans indicate that there is a Harry Potter in that universe and no Ginny Weasley. However this image was captured." She pressed a button and a large image of Hermione Granger and Ginny were sitting with Lavender and a small dark reddish brown haired boy at a table outside of the Three Broomsticks. The face was unmistakably Ginny Weasley.
Harry sat up frowning, "That is most assuredly a Ginny Weasley."
"I know." Hermione, "However according to the Wizarding Wireless she is Ginny Granger."
"Ginny Granger? They got gay marriage on that world already?" Chubs said appreciatively.
"I do not know. However they talk about her Quidditch career and her life partner Hermione. She apparently officially had a child with Harry Potter according to a brief comment on a radio program. Other than that she has spent the last several years playing for the Holyhead Harpies, an amazing seeker. Apparently took the team to the world cup last year." Hermione continued her briefing.
"Wicked. So you wanna know wassup wit this?" Chubs gestured towards the screen where Ginny and the young boy were laughing about something as a girl walked by.
"Yes. I do. The radio program was talking about if he would wind up being a prodigy like his father as this was his first year at Hogwarts." Hermione said watching the probe feed. "Then they went into a brief memorial for the lost Harry Potter. Lamenting as to how his career might have been."
"Is this live?" Harry asked. He was still not entirely comfortable hearing about the death of Harry Potter, even if it was an alternate version of himself it felt too close to home.
"No, this was recorded about mid-morning. Local time is a 1 to 1 ratio, with a divergence of milliseconds." Hermione read off the data. "It doesn't look like a Hogsmeade weekend so maybe he had special permission. The radio is rather quiet when it comes to Hermione and what she does. Other than being the proud, supportive partner of a Quidditch superstar."
Harry considered, "Okay. Chubs go get outfitted and meet me in the gate room in twenty. Hecate is on maternity leave. Ron's still out so is it just us?" Harry had turned to Hermione with that question.
"Yes. Neville and Ginny are working with EP to deal with a situation they have." Hermione replied.
"EP?" Chubs asked in confusion.
"Elseworlds Project. A setup similar to this run by another Hermione who discovered Interdimensional travel by accident." Harry explained.
"Oh." Chubs nodded.
===xxx
Harry and Chubs came out of the wormhole on a small hilltop just outside Hogsmeade. It was off the beaten paths but gave a great view of the valley and the school in the distance.
"Okay. You still look a bit like a Hermione so you need to." Harry had started to say when Chubs nodded and took her wand out. Tapping herself on the head she transformed into a blue eyed, blonde version of herself.
"Well, I guess that should work." Harry said uncertainly.
Chubs laughed, "Hey, I've learned over the years, with a rack like this most people are not even aware I have eyes much less what color they are." She said making sure her jumper was tight enough to make people aware of the contents.
"Okay good point." Harry said, "I usually go by the name Harry Seven. What name do you want to use?"
She frowned then said, "Call me Barbara."
"Okay. Scanner indicates Hermione is in Hogwarts, Ron and Harry Potter are at the Broomsticks and Lavender is in the castle too." Harry said snapping the scanner shut before starting to walk.
Chubs joined him as he shifted his appearance into mild mannered Harry Seven. "Wow you look like a librarian."
"Thanks." Harry said.
"That wasn't a compliment." Chubs said walking along. She stifled a laugh at Harry's hurt expression before winking at him.
===xxx
The two of them entered the village and headed straight for the pub. Hermione would get her books before they left but Harry wanted to see the local Harry or what was going on as he had double checked a few times and Harry Potter was still showing as located in the Three Broomsticks. He had no idea how much longer he would be there.
"So how do you want to run this?" Chubs asked looking around.
"I'm not sure. If Ginny is in there I guess you go talk to her while I try to scan for the local Harry." Harry said.
Chubs shrugged, "Okay."
They entered the pub to see that it had the usual sort of crowd sitting around on a lazy mid-afternoon. Ron was standing behind the bar talking to Ginny who was sitting on a stool laughing and flicking her hair.
Harry glanced at Chubs who said, "Hey babe why don't you go grab a seat while I get us some beers?"
Harry shrugged and decided to let her take the lead. "Okay. I'll take a butterbeer."
"Of course dear." She said patting him on the cheek.
Ron looked up when Chubs came over, no further then her bustline Chubs was not surprised. "What'll you have?"
"A butterbeer for my husband and a lager for me." Chubs said commandeering a stool beside Ginny.
"Right up." Ron said turning to draw the beverages.
Chubs looked at Ginny, "Oh hey! Yer Ginny G. Wow. I'm impressed by your skills."
Ginny turned with a grin, "Uh thanks. I just play."
"Play nuthing. You fly like a goddess. A valkyrie in the sky. Its like you ain't even got a broom and are just doing it." Chubs gushed enthusiastically. Ron her drink on the bar then carried Harry's over to him.
"Here ya go bud. Looks like your wife's going to be a few." Ron laughed.
"Thanks. Does this happen often?" Harry asked looking around the place. It had some Quidditch memorabilia, Chudley Cannons and Holyhead Harpies in equal prominence as well as the four house teams of Hogwarts. There was a small shrine to Harry Potter on one wall that seemed to be well taken care of.
Ron shrugged, "Often enough. She's used to it though."
"Oh well thanks. My wife is a really big fan of your sister. Didn't she date Harry Potter?" Harry asked.
Ron chuckled, "Well, they had a son together so you could say they did." Though the way he said it made Harry wonder. Something seemed slightly off like it was a well rehearsed phrase.
"Oh yeah. I don't pay attention much. I'm from Canada originally. My wife is from London." Harry shrugged.
"Oh alright mate. Well enjoy." He said then turned and went back to his duties.
Harry pulled out his scanner and opened it. Fortunately Hermione had built them to look like a small book so he could look like he was reading something while patiently waiting for his wife to get done being a fan-girl.
He frowned when he ran a magical signature scan. He looked up then back at the screen in disbelief. Harry Potter was supposedly sitting right next to Hermione Granger, aka Chubs. Harry was very confused and concerned. When he ran a DNA scan it showed Ginny Weasley. He ran the self diagnostics and scans several times.
Chubs was still complimenting and discussing Quidditch moves so Harry tried to fiddle with the settings to refine and focus the scan on the person beside Chubs. The body was fully female. Had the genetic code of Ginny Weasley, but the magical signature of Harry Potter. Beyond that there was nothing else the scanner could tell Harry. He was confused and grumpy but could not find any reason to walk up and openly say anything.
Chubs and Ginny seemed to be engrossed in their conversation so Harry finished his drink and with a nod stood up and wandered off. He found a secluded area so activated his bracer.
Hermione responded, "What is it harry?"
"Well I found Harry potter. Only he seems to be Ginny Weasley." Harry said quickly.
Harry could feel her frown through the communicator when she asked, "What do you mean he seems to be Ginny Weasley? Is he under poly-juice or transfigured to look like her."
"No the scanner says the DNA matches with our Ginny. But the magical signature is that of Harry Potter. I ran it three times. It picked up Ron, it picked up Chubs. The machine isn't broken. I ran the diagnostics on it twice."
Hermione seemed to be thinking before she said, "Have you tried talking to her?"
"Chubs is right now. Acting like a fan-girl so we'll see how that goes." harry said.
"Okay. Get the books and let her deal with Ginny er Harry. Whatever. We'll go from there."
"Aye-aye mon capitain." Harry said logging out.
===xxx
Harry came back to the three-broomsticks a half hour later. Ginny was sitting at the bar chatting with Ron.
"So where's Barbara?" Harry asked remembering Chub's cover name quickly.
"She had to hit the loo. She'll be back in a minute." Ginny said as Harry slid onto a stool at the bar. "She's quite the woman."
"Yeah you can say that again." Harry laughed, "So you and her seem to be getting along."
Ginny shrugged, "Its nice to talk to someone who really understands the game. She's got a great feel for it."
"Yeah. She played chaser, but backup seeker." He remembered her telling him.
"Nice."
They settled into an awkward silence before Chubs came back out. She was smirking and slid onto the bar stool quickly giving Harry a kiss.
"Woof. I feel better after that, though you do not wanna go in there without a bubble head you know what I mean?" She laughed.
Ron shook his head with a sigh while Ginny laughed. Harry shook his head.
"So we better get going. It was really nice to meet you." Chubs said standing up.
"No problem. Do you still want that autograph?" Ginny asked.
Chubs got into the bag and pulled out a Quidditch book handing it over. Smiling when the red head handed it back with a brief note in the front cover.
===xxx
Sitting in the briefing room back on Alpha Hermione was looking at Chubs with a perplexed expression, "What do you mean Harry has become Ginny?"
"Look. I know you like to get all the facts and data and stuff but this person might have been Harry Potter at one time only they've practiced being Ginny Weasley for so long that they are not going to drop the charade just for us." Chubs said with a shrug. "He's got a lot of the mannerisms of being a bird down pat. Like he practices but he reminds me of Harry when he's trying to be butch."
"So you don't really think we should investigate further?"
"Nah. You got the books. They got each other and don't seem like they're having troubles. Leave em be." Chubs said waving her hand in the general direction of out there.
"I have to agree. There doesn't seem to be too much for us to do there. They defeated their Voldemort years ago, Harry got killed during the battle by having his body destroyed. Ginny and Hermione came out as lesbian lovers and Ginny had Harry's love child. Pretty open and shut."
Hermione sighed, "Well at least if Rogue harry encounters her she won't be kidnapped or anything."
"Nah the way Ginny talked about Hermione they are in deep love. Ron's been a good friend and brother to Ginny and its all good with them." Chubs said. "She said Hermione's working on a way for the two of them to have kids."
"Hey don't you have a way of that?" Harry asked remembering Jean and Abigail talking about that.
"Not quite yet. There's still a few quirks to work out before we go into human trials." Hermione said.
"Other than that I can't think of any reason to contact them." Harry said, not sure if he wanted to know what sort of quirks she was talking about.
"Okay well we'll make a note of them and keep them under observation I guess. Good work you two." Hermione complimented them.
"Yeah I enjoyed that. Might be nice to do it again." Chubs said.
Harry nodded his agreement. "Although is Ron going to be joining us anytime soon?"
Hermione tilted her head slightly saying, "I think so. They seem to have come to some kind of equilibrium and he is acting mostly normal. The Lunas said it was the shock and sudden overload of being joined that caused the problems. They're all acting pretty much back to normal, whatever that is for Luna."
"Well I think this calls for a pint and some chips at the pub eh?" Harry asked.
Chubs jumped up, "Hell yeah. Let's go."
Hermione stood up, "I better come too. Someone's going to have to keep you two out of trouble."
Harry grinned, this was looking like a good evening indeed.
===xxx
The wormhole opened then closed. Snapping open his scanner the being who looked at it frowned slightly. The time difference for this world was off. He was standing in 1985 and the Hermione Granger of this world was six years old.
He almost opened the wormhole again but decided to check on her anyhow. At this age her life couldn't be that bad. He looked at her location and saw that it was in the east end of Crawley, in the public projects. Narrowing his eyes he revised his earlier assessment.
Apparating to the projects he walked past a druggie sticking a needle in his arm. Harry exploded the man's heart with a glance and wave of his hand. While he generally had no problem with people hurting themselves this was the building young Hermione lived within and she did not need to see that sort of filth.
He arrived at the apartment the scanner showed her within. He tapped his glasses and looked through the door to see a squalid mess with a dirty white shirt wearing brown haired man sitting on a couch smoking a cigarette while drinking a beer. The frizzy brunette sitting at the table had a cigarette and beer in front of her too. She was reading some trashy gossip magazine. He only saw a few toys in the room.
Opening the door with a wave of his hand he strode into the room.
The man inside lurched to his feet, "Bloody hell who the fook do you think you are."
Harry raised his hand shoving the man back into the couch hard enough it moved several inches. The woman looked scared but did not scream or move.
"We don't got no money or nuttin worth stealing." She bleated out.
"Your daughter where is she?" Harry growled.
"You want her? What do you want with her?" The woman asked, her eyes growing wide in fear.
"Just tell me where she is." Harry's eyes had begun to glow as he reached into the woman's mind.
Her name was Helen Granger. She was the wife of Charles, a local carpenter that was out of work more often than not. He had a short temper and no problem hitting her or their daughter when they bothered him. When their daughter did strange and unusual things.
He pushed into her feelings for her daughter and discovered she resented her existence. She had been heading for better things she thought and then Charles got her knocked up and her parents made them get married. Things had not been good and she did what she could to get by. She wished that she had not had her daughter.
He smiled cruelly, "Helen Granger. You resent the gift of motherhood. You resent your daughter and wish you had never had her. I am going to give you what you want." He hissed in his deep growling voice.
She stammered in fear as he reached out and touched her forehead, erasing all memories of Hermione, all thoughts of her. All evidence she had ever existed in her mind. He was not gentle as he did so and some other memories might have been destroyed as well but he did not mind.
Turning to the man who beat a defenseless six year old. The alleged man Harry thought. He had knocked him out earlier and wanted him to understand what pain truly was. He shattered the bones in the legs and arms of his subject. Waking him Harry smiled as he struggled to move then cried out in agony as the small shards of his bones pierced his flesh. Harry J. did not like the sound so banished the vocal cords of his subject.
"I have removed the bones of your arms and legs. I just removed the vocal cords you used to abuse and berate the ones who you should have praised and loved. I am telling you this because you have been a cruel and vicious animal who deserved nothing more than a slow death. I shall now provide you with that." Harry then shattered the ribs, spine and pelvis of Charles Granger. Turning them into slivers of bone no larger than a toothpick. He left the skull alone so that the suffering would last longer. Satisfied that the fear and pain in Charles' eyes was sufficient he smiled and burned them out.
Harry stood up and went to the room behind which a small girl huddled. She was clutching a ragged teddy bear. She had red puffy eyes and was cradling her left arm which had bruises on it.
"Its okay honey. I'm a friend here to save you." He said gently kneeling before the girl.
She looked at Harry with her brown eyes. "Are you an angel?"
Harry smiled, "That is open for debate. Do you have a name?"
"My name is really big. Gramma gave it to me before she went to heaven. Are you going to take me to heaven?"
Harry shook his head, "No. I am going to take you to someone who will love you and give you a very good life."
"Can I bring Paddy?" She asked holding her bear out to him. "He lost his eye but he's my only fwend." She said earnestly.
Harry touched the bear which glowed briefly before having both button eyes and all of his stitches reappear. His stuffing back full and round. "Of course you can. Paddy will be a good friend for you." Harry suddenly had an idea. Instead of taking her from this world he would save another life tonight. Two maybe, maybe even more. As young as she was she would have the entire rest of her life ahead of her and hopefully a certain young black haired wizard would be lucky enough to appreciate her and gain her attention.
"Tank you mister." She said.
"You're very welcome my precious little friend." He said touching her forehead.
===xxx
Pandora Lovegood, her husband Xenophilus and their daughter Luna all woke up to the rising sun. Coming down the circular stairs in their wizard's tower, Luna being floated along by her laughing father as her mother sighed.
The three of them stopped when they saw the brown haired little girl in a white dress curled on their couch with a black haired young boy. A note was pinned to the back of the couch which Pandora carefully pulled off to read.
"Greetings and salutations, I am a friend. Before you are Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. They are orphans. They need to have a good and loving family, that will take care of them. They have not had a good life so far. They will need some care and patience and love. I know you and your husband will be able to provide a good home for them. Please be careful in your spell research though Pandora, your daughter needs you more than you will ever know, and now you have two more I place in your charge. Do all you can for them please."
Luna had gone to the couch and poked the brown haired girl who woke up with a startled expression until she looked into the silvery blue eyes of the tall blonde woman standing next to the small girl who had poked her. "Are you going to be my new mummy? The angel said I would have a family that loved me."
Pandora swept the girl into her arms hugging her, "Yes. Yes I'll be your new mummy."
===xxx
In the Surrey of that same world, Albus Dumbledore stood by the edge of a very large crater that had once been the housing development of Little Whinging. It was rapidly filling with water as muggle emergency crews and media all tried to figure out what to do. Unsure of what else to do Albus Dumbledore apparated back to his castle in the Highlands of Scotland to confer with his staff.
(Review Responses)
Tekexplorer: Cool. Thanks. I'm glad you enjoy these as they do not seem to be everybody's cuppa tea.
OfficerDonNZ: There is a story behind Rogue Harry. It is not a happy one indeed. I will eventually reveal it. And thank you, I liked the fleshing out of the other Hermiones as well. With Slide by Slide being a sort of backbone that all of the other stories can be linked into through the multi-verse we will encounter some of the others at one point or another.