Author's Note

Heya! Welcome to the third chapter of my story!

I apologize for the abrupt ending of the second chapter. I was learning how formatting works here, so posted it before I was truly ready to do so. Going forward, I'm hoping to post at least one chapter a month. I'm anticipating each chapter to be between 5000-10000 words depending on how it flows along with how my freetime goes! I have a rough outline and some storyboarding down for how I'd like the story to go, but I'm rapidly learning that some of these characters seem to have minds of their own and then there's all these ideas I have in my head, but getting them out here is really hard, and the ones that do, are threatening to make this story even longer! To paraphrase Crispin Glover's character from BTTF, "What if they don't like it, I'm just not sure I can handle that kind of rejection." …Of course he became a famous author at the end, so here's hoping writing fanfics for fun and non-profit can help me get some practice and maybe if I'm really lucky, get me on that path! :)

Thank you all who have followed and/or favorited this story so far! I truly understand now what other fanfic authors mean when they say how inspiring and motivating that is!

v/r,

Dimicron

CHAPTER 3

After Draco left, while still having the compartment to himself, Harry had much to ponder. He'd discovered that he was able to reveal some of his avatar abilities to Draco, likely indicating that Draco was going to be one as well. Obvious lineage changes with both Daphne and Hermione. Not many with Draco, and for Harry, he only recently realized that his eyes were more blue than green. History changes between what he was expecting and what both Draco and Hermione had experienced. Even slight differences between what he was told by Daphne originally and what she said just before this trip to where he was now. Is there truly a multiverse? This seems to confirm it. That means that the Veil is not truly a means of execution, as it was used historically, but it's actually a tear into a different universe. A tear came to Harry's eye at that thought that somewhere and somewhen… his Sirius could still be alive.

With that thought, the dam truly broke. Harry's emotional control slipped. Tears for his friends. His parents. His family, his true uncles, Sirius and Remus.

Harry swore to make this world the best in their memory.

His eyes were still a bit teary as Daphne and Hermione returned.

"Are you ok?" Daphne asked, concerned seeing his tear-streaked face.

"I will be, thanks. Thank you to you both. I know we have a very weird road in front of us, as I know there is something that brought us all here to this time. And I know my luck has never been the best. But with your help, all of us, we will do the right things and we will conquer any challenges in front of us."

With a blush, Hermione replied, "Thanks Harry. You know I'll always have your back after you saved me from that troll in our original first year. Maybe let's not have a repeat of that though. Even if I know I'm more powerful here than ever, I can only imagine the titan you're likely to be. Especially if we can get you to actually study this go around!"

Daphne, needing to interject as Hermione took a breath, said, "Grainger, Hermione, if I may, I have every intention of giving you a challenge. Harry, correct me if I'm wrong, but are you having any problems recalling a lot of info from our starting point?"

"Yes, now that you mention it. It was starting for me before we even left our original universe though."

Hermione blurted out, "Wait, that's it! It all fits! There truly is a multiverse! We are proof, all of us! Harry, Daphne, you guys saw different versions of events than what I saw. Now we're here together where yet another new version of events are unfolding! Not to mention how different most of us seem to look!"

"That's pretty much what I was just thinking on when you guys came back. That somewhere and somewhen, my Sirius is out there still."

"I see why that would have you emotional Harry." Hermione said gently squeezing his shoulder.

With a shudder, the Hogwarts Express started braking.

"I see you guys are already wearing your robes. Excuse me for a moment please." As Harry grabbed his and jogged off.

The trip across Black Lake was, if possible, even more magical as Harry rode, per Hagrid's instructions of only 3 to a boat, with Hermione and Daphne. Were these boats smaller? Or was Harry, and everyone else bigger?

Leaving it for the moment, as the boats began arriving and the students began to disembark. Harry looked over the rest of the firsties. He was shocked at both how different they looked as well as how many of them were still recognizable. Then again, with the different ancestries plus everyone being 13 to start with, the NEWT years must be a lot of fun as an adult.

The Sorting proceeded much as Harry remembered, with a few exceptions. Theodore Nott ended up in Ravenclaw. Milicent Bulstrode ended up in Gryffindor. Making room for both Harry and Hermione to be Slytherin. The Patil sisters were not mentioned. Instead, Gryffindor got an extra McLaggen in the form of Cadogan McLaggen. And no Ron Weasley. Harry felt a touch of sadness at that. The Hat was not able to comment on its reasoning to anyone. Curiously, Slytherin was quietly excited to have Harry join them. Sitting in front with the rest of the staff, even Snape toasted him as Harry walked to his new seat.

Harry glanced around the Great Hall on the way to his seat at the Slytherin table. Catching the eyes of the Hufflepuff Head Girl Nymphadora Tonks, he gave her a small smile. His memories of her and Remus playing in his mind's eye as he gently continued his walk to his seat. Must do better he thought to himself.

After the firsties were dismissed to their common rooms, Harry found himself almost on auto-pilot, walking with Daphne and Hermione. Following along with the other firsties and the prefects. Reaching the entrance to the common room, Prefect Gemma Farley said, "All right you lot, listen up. This spot is our entrance to our Common Room and Dorms. Unless any of you lot happen to be a parselmouth, the password is-"

"§Open!"

As the common room opened, Gemma said, "Yeah… or just say, 'Rise Slytherin' for the rest of us non-parselmouths."

With a both surprised and expectant look, everyone glanced at Harry. Catching on, Harry flashed his biggest rogue's smile, and with a "Thanks!" he walked into the Slytherin common room… for the second time in his life.

As everyone else was proceeding into the common room, Snape was waiting.

"Good evening you lot. It's come to my attention that we have a new parselmouth finally. Mr. Potter, please step forward."

Allowing a moment for Harry to step forward, Snape continued, "Per the traditions of our House, Parselmouths become the Leader of their Year at first year, Speaker for our house at third year, and guaranteed Prefect status. Know that I expect great things for you Mr. Potter. Your mother was one of my most cherished friends and she had a talent for Potions and Charms. I expect you to do your best and outdo us all, is that clear?"

"Yes Sir."

"Excellent, moving on, you will find that parselmouth can… open many doors for you within this house, as well as serving as a master password. I expect you to notify one of our Prefects or myself should you feel the need to change any passwords."

"No problem, Sir."

"Excellent. For all of you, other houses here at Hogwarts are not always the most understanding, trusting, or forgiving of us. Therefore, we have a strict policy with two main rules. First, though we may disagree within these walls, outside we do our best to stand together. Second, never travel alone, only travel with at least one and preferably two others. The Weasley twins from Gryffindors and the Moon sisters from Ravenclaw are well known to play 'pranks' on Slytherin students. Though while the Moon sisters will typically only do retaliation pranks, the Weasleys are well known to try to get the first prank in always. Any questions?"

As most of the firsties shook their heads in the negative, Snape said, "Very well. Mr. Malfoy, please come here. The rest of you, please proceed down the male or female hall as appropriate. You'll find each of your names already assigned to your own room."

As Harry entered his own room, he could only wonder why he didn't let himself go to Slytherin the first time.

The next morning, after they all got cleaned up and ready for their day, Harry, Hermione, Daphne, and Draco met just inside the common room, near the exit.

Draco, deciding that he needed to try to start off on the best foot, presented a flower, a lily and a yellow rose, to both Daphne and Hermione. "I know I can be a prat at times, and have been worse in my past, but I would like to reiterate my vow that I will be a brother to Harry and you both in all things as long as you would have me."

"Brothers, Draco." Harry replied.

With a smirk belying her appearance, Daphne said, "I can live with that, Draco."

Hermione stuttered, "I-it'll take me some time Mal-Da-Draco. I know it was mostly Bellatrix was forced you to do those ugly things to me where I'm from. B-but it'll… I mean… I need…"

Harry just put his hand on Hermione's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. She wasn't his Hermione, but she was close. Harry thought to himself, "It's as Draco said, For want of a nail." Aloud, Harry said, "We have your back, hermione. Whatever you need, we will try to make it happen for you."

With a quick agreement from all, they decided it was time for a spot of breakfast.

Dumbledore was waiting just outside, "Ah, Mr. Potter, just who I was hoping to have a chat with. Would you prefer to talk one on one, or with your friends, or we can include Professor Snape as well."

"Us four is fine Sir, as long as…" Harry looked to his companions, who all smiled and shrugged. "Yes, we are good, Sir."

"Very well. I must ask for your wand, Mr. Potter. You see, we detected some rather strange, rather powerful magic aboard the Hogwarts Express. While the wards were overloaded and unable to detect who cast it, we were finally able to determine that a level of magic roughly at the same or greater power as an unforgivable was cast somewhere near you, Mr. Potter. Clearly, with you still alive, we doubt that is what it was, however I should like to check your wand, if you don't mind, to try to rule out that it was you and hopefully determine if it was just something else with your wand that could potentially explain it, or if it was something else."

Handling it gently, Harry held it handle side out to the Headmaster. "Here you go Sir. I've barely used it."

"Indeed? That should make this quick." Muttering the incantations to check the history and details of the wand. "Curious…" The Headmaster mumbled to himself. "I see this wand has as its core a tailfeather from my beloved phoenix, Fawkes." Losing himself for a moment, just barely above the volume of a breath, he quietly muttered, "We miss that bird." The four Slytherins did not seem to hear, it was so quiely uttered. More loudly, for them to hear, The Headmaster said, "I see the bonding and the trace. A few whips and flourishes of it, but, as no magic was pushed to it, no effects seem to have been generated. This is a clean and very new, very unused wand. Suprisingly unused for a Half-Blooded, Muggle-raised firstie. I see I shall have to keep a close eye on you, though knowing your father's history and who he was friends with, I should not be surprised… regardless, this wand is clear, and you four are free to go. Enjoy your first year at Hogwarts!"

Continuing on to the Great Hall, taking shortcuts rarely known even by those in their NEWT years, they quickly made it to their destination.

The four sat at the end of the tables, where firsties usually tended to sit. Nearby, they introduced themselves, and each other to the other Slytherin firsties: First was Tracy Davis, Half-Blood Heiress to the Noble House of Davis, a tall auburn haired girl. Next was Blaise Zabini, probably the tallest firstie in Hogwarts and one of only 3 Muggleborn in Slytherin today. He isn't a member of the nobility, nor any British style 'House of Zabini' though… there are so many rumors about his mother and her mafia connections. Finally there was Gregory Goyle, Heir to the Ancient House of Goyle. Not noble, but a decent enough 'working class' bloke.

The first day began similarly to how Harry remembered, though it was Longbottom and Finnegan who were late for Transfiguration, with Professor McGonagal showing off her animagus form, of a big Norwegian Forest Cat and not just the generic Tabby that Harry was expecting, and threatening to turn Finnegan into a pocketwatch before ordering them to their seats. Harry would earn Slytherin 15 points, with another 5 by Hermione for them being the first two to complete transfiguring the matchstick into a needle.

Potions at the end of the day was surprisingly fun for Harry. Professor Snape was fair and even-handed in dealing with the students. He did tend to expect his Slytherin students to know the correct answer, however he would carefully guide other houses to it as long as they would show that they were learning. Overall, Harry actually enjoyed learning from this version of the Professor.

At the end of the day in their free time after classes, the four looked at each other, and with a silent nod, all went up to the seventh floor. It was time to visit the Room of Requirement.

"Draco, I'm sure this isn't going to be easy for you, but I'd like to request the Room of Lost Things. I need to check on two things. That Vanishing Cabinet you were working on where I'm from. And something else too. If you don't mind."

"No Harry, go ahead. I don't think the cabinet will be there yet though. Think it was put there after the Weasley twins found and used it in a prank and one of the 5th Year Prefects vanished for a few weeks."

The door slowly appeared as Hogwarts herself granted access.

Walking in, as each time before, Harry was just amazed at how much stuff was in here. Harry was also assaulted by memories… Ginny hiding the Advanced Potions book of the Half-Blood Prince. Harry finding the Diadem the first time. Escaping the raging inferno.

"All right, now that we're in one of the safer rooms where we can talk. The real reason I wanted to come here. I'll go first, but I suspect we all will have things to tell each other. I was told this yesterday, I am the Master and Avatar of Death. I was told that I would only be able to say that to fellow Avatars, so… I suspect you guys are all my fellow Avatars?"

"Fate." Draco said. "I can see how things should be, and what potential outcomes are. I can also see magical auras, though that does hurt my eyes after a bit."

"Magic." Daphne replied. "I can cast anything windlessly and silently, only with my intent. I need to practice and train though. Need to build my magical strength up, because it is very tiring."

"Time." Hermione said with a giggle. "I was told because of my perfect record of no paradoxes caused when using the timeturner in my previous third year, I was being granted that, and that basically I'm a living timeturner. I was strongly warned that there can and will only be one of me though. So theoretically I will vanish when future me uses her powers. That's probably the best way to phrase that."

'Brilliant. So, we all will be massively overpowered. I was also told that there is a 5th traveler, and according to a prophecy I witnessed, when at Gringotts, we likely won't meet them this year. Draco, can you maybe tell us? That would be kind of too easy compared to what I'm used too though."

"No. They're somewhere in the Continent, but I can't tell who. I see a thread of attachment to you, harry, and you Hermione, and… myself… but I can't see who."

"No matter. Continent, and an attachment to three of us… Viktor Krum? Or Fleur Delacour? Could be interesting. No matter for now. There's something else. As part of my becoming an Avatar, the entity calling himself Death unlocked my bloodlines. I am a metamorphmagus via the Ancient and Noble House of Black, at the cost of never being able to become an animagus. Potters are some of the strongest conjurers and transfigurers, so I can expect to be abnormally good there still. I have access to parselmagic via the Most Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin as I have true parseltounge now. Finally, and Death would not tell me what this means, but he had phrased it exactly like this: 'The blood of the Peverell's flows through you. You are not just a child of this world. You will have access to far more than you can dream as a demon of air and darkness.' That doesn't sound ominous at all."

Draco said, "Harry, this is important. The House of Slytherin and the House of Peverell both predate the Ministry. If you can summon the ring of either in front of say The Headmaster, and Ministry Department Head, or a Senior Account Manager at Gringotts, then you can become emancipated and claim your Lordship immediately. Those two houses are inactive at present. Peverell has been for well over a millenia. Slytherin merged with the Gaunt family, but if you are able to call the Slytherin ring, then you could claim the Gaunts as well. Slytherin has been inactive for centuries. Gaunt for maybe 50 years, the last Gaunt died out when Voldemort would have been Hogwarts aged."

"Wow, should I do that right away?"

"No Harry." All three replied at the same time. Daphne, with a glance towards Draco said, "Save that for if something comes up where you need leverage on anyone from the Ministry. Reactivating an inactive house is both incredibly easy, and incredibly dangerous. Especially as we don't truly know the lay of the land, so to speak, for the Wizengamot yet."

"She has the right of it Harry. It is not yet the best time to do that."

Hermione said, "Jumping back to the 'Blood of the Peverell's' thing… the way it's phrased, could you be part extraterrestrial?"

"I don't know." Harry replied, "Do we have any way of knowing? And, well, what does it mean?"

"It has to be tied to the Veil. I've never seen magic work with it the way yours did to get us here Harry." Daphne said.

"Veil-Travel." Draco said, in a strangely hollow voice. His eyes regained their normal color as he looked around confusedly, "What is everyone looking at me for?"

Daphne, looking at Harry, "Harry, please try to focus. Think of the Veil. Think of walking through it. Picture it in your mind. Destination. Determination. Deliberation. Focus your entire being on that Veil. Then step through. And don't forget to come right back!" she said with a smile.

Harry, with more than a bit of trepidation, thought that seemed likely. Especially after Mr. Avatar of Fate Draco said the word Veil-Travel. With a sigh, he cleared his mind. Closing his eyes and focusing his intent, he went to take a step. He felt a flash of intense cold. Opening his eyes, he saw a cold circular stone room. His back was to the Veil. Wiggling his toes in his shoes, moving his fingers, he then did the time-honored male check, speaking softly aloud, "Testicles, spectacles, wallet, and watch. Oh, thank Merlin. Or the Peverells in any case. Now, how to get back."

"Interesting. Had we not been down here, we never would have dreamed of this. Millennia of study. And never once has anyone, or anything for that matter, ever come out of the Veil. Who are you? And I mean who are you, really?" Harry heard as three figures dispelled the disillusion around themselves, revealing three figures wearing dark grey cloaks with their faces remaining hidden by shadow.

Now truly wishing he had brought Daphne or Draco with him, Harry tried the first bluff that came to mind, "Would you believe me if I said Peverell family secret?"

"Hmph. I would. Indeed, I would be required to, as that is the family that donated the Veil to us, and this location for the ministry so very long ago, and that was specifically one of the terms. However, I require proof that you are eligible to act for the Most Ancient House of Peverell."

"You are Unspeakables, I presume? I will prove this to you, but I require that it be held in your confidence for the time being. I am currently 13, and do not, at this time anyways, wish to become emancipated."

"I see. We can arrange that. You have our word that it shall be done. As a gesture of trust, I am Chief Unspeakable Algernon Croaker. I believe that my nephew is in your year at Hogwarts, though he'd be a Gryffindor like his father, and not the Ravenclaw we'd hoped for."

Thinking quickly to himself that it worked the first time, Harry mostly repeated his earlier request, "I solemnly swear that I, Harry James Potter Peverell, hereby petition all under magic for the right to bear the Heir's Ring for House Peverell"

Harry saw stars, no, entire solar sytems, planets, by the hundreds. Thousands possibly. He heard strange echoes in a deep hollowly metallic voice he'd never heard before and language he could not understand. He saw strange symbols, runes maybe, he could not comprehend, and yet some he just knew what they could do.

Meanwhile, from the Unspeakable's viewpoint, it was as though Harry fell into a dark pit. Maybe a black hole. There was just a vaguely black outline where he was standing.

Then suddenly it was over. As the second claimed house, Harry now had a simple black band around his left little finger. This ring was, odd, to say the least. It was completely non-reflective. It was like a thin black line of shadow had severed Harry's finger. There was nothing else on it that could be seen. Looking at it, Harry's right finger touched it. It expanded a bit, and while he could not see anything, he could feel some odd shapes, no, symbols, engraved on the ring.

"Hi Guys!" Harry said to the Unspeakables.

"So, a Peverell returns to us. Again, it is the legend." Turning to face the other two, Croaker said, "Code Infrared. The sleeper has awakened. Perform the prerequisites and other requirements, however do not, I repeat, do not go public with this yet. Do not change or modify the Wizengamot without my express permission. Make no mention of this anywhere. This is now classified at our highest level. Us three are to be the only ones read in to this until we have Mr. Peverell's consent to go live, or should he force our hand by going live with this himself." Turning back to face Harry, "I realize it may not be possible, but when you do plan to go public with this, I would appreciate a head's up prior. We will help plow the row for you, so to speak. It is the least we can do. It is exciting to see as a prophecy reaches fruition."

"Your help, and discretion, is greatly appreciated."

"I realize that you may not know this, and further will likely need to double-check this, if you are able to, however… know that The Ancient and Noble House of Croaker stands ready to assist the Most Ancient and Noble House of Peverell according to our ancient, and never cancelled, alliance. You'll likely find that The Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom did to the Croakers as The Ancient and Noble House of Potter did to the Peverells, absorbing the last of our child-rearing members and finally absorbing the name. So much history. Lost in the wars."

"Like tears in the rain." Harry said.

"Poetic, for a replicant. Muggles and their imaginations. I think, now that you are back, we're in for some interesting times. Historically, The Peverell were nearly always harbingers of change. Seems we are due for some more interesting times."

"You have no idea Sir."

"Any other requests?"

"Are any further Veil executions planned? If so, please cancel them."

"No, executions are performed by the Dementors now. Sometimes by accident, the Dementors are only semi-controllable at the best of times, and their language is incomprehensible to all. But a very large majority are per Ministry Order. As is, it serves as an additional deterrent to committing crimes. Don't want to tempt fate, then don't break the law."

"Hmm. Is there any chance that I could get a list of any prisoners in Azkaban that are members of a few houses I'm interested in along with their crimes? If also possible, I would hugely appreciate any court records as well."

"Perhaps. Define few. Would not be quick."

"Black. Greengrass. Pettigrew. Lupin. Malfoy. Lestrange."

"I can pare down three of those now. No Lupin's, Pettigrew's, or Malfoy's in Azkaban. Another one, Lestrange is a dead house, no surviving members after a Black, Bellatrix Black the kinslayer ended that house single handedly almost 12 years ago. She's only in Azkaban because her cousin, the current Lord of House Black, Sirius Black vanished from Azkaban just a few weeks ago with only a large dog's skeleton found in the cell."

"I-I see. Sirius. He is. Er… was, I guess. He was an unregistered animagus. A large black dog, jokingly called it a grim."

"Merlin's Magnificent Manhood. Shite." Turning to the other Unspeakables, "Confirm that. Find those bones. Confirm that they're magical. Or if we had an escape." Turning Back to Harry as the other two Unspeakables sprinted off, "You know don't you, that Dementors do not see the same way we do. They would not perceive a dog, even an animagus in animal form. So we'd never get the escape alarm. And an animagus that dies in their animal form is locked in that form. I doubt that Barty Crouch would have cast the deceased animagus reversion charm on that dog, common sense seems to have skipped his generation."

"Is it possible for me to meet a Dementor? I may be able to get their help."

"Is this another Peverell thing?"

"Let's go with that, yes."

With a sigh, Croaker said, "This will be interesting. Follow me to the apparition point, will take you a bit to get keyed into the wards."

"I may know a faster way, but you will need to add this to the list of Peverell Family Secrets…"

"I can live with that."

Walking over to the Veil, Harry put his hand on the side on it, on a spot that was ever so slightly weathered as if from generations of hands that had rubbed it on that spot. As he did so, the courtyard of Azkaban was vaguely visible in the Veil.

Croaker walked around it, "Wow, we never imagined. An apparition gateway. Clearly keyed to only allow Peverell to use it as such. I've lost count of how many researchers, ministry workers, volunteers, executions, and accidents we know have gone through this portal. To think… never mind, this is too dangerous. Peverell Family Secret, I shall speak no more on this."

"If you'll trust me Sir, please jump in. I'll be right after you."

Looking Harry in the eye, he hesitated, "Moment of truth, eh?" Nodding, he jumped through.

Harry followed.